Significant progress has been obtained since the III Brazilian Consensus Conference on H. pylori infection held in 2012, in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil, and justify a fourth meeting to establish updated guidelines on the current management of H. pylori infection. Therefore, the Núcleo Brasileiro para Estudo do Helicobacter pylori e Microbiota (NBEHPM), association linked to Brazilian Federation of Gastroenterology (FBG) held its fourth meeting again in Bento Gonçalves, RS, Brazil, on August 25-27, 2017. Twenty-six delegates, including gastroenterologists, endoscopists, and pathologists from the five regions of Brazil as well as one international guest from the United States, participated in the meeting. The participants were invited based on their knowledge and contribution to the study of H. pylori infection. The meeting sought to review different aspects of treatment for infection; establish a correlation between infection, dyspepsia, intestinal microbiota changes, and other disorders with a special emphasis on gastric cancer; and reassess the epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of H. pylori infection. Participants were allocated into four groups as follows: 1) Epidemiology and Diagnosis, 2) Dyspepsia, intestinal microbiota and other afections, 3) Gastric Cancer, and, 4) Treatment. Before the consensus meeting, participants received a topic to be discussed and prepared a document containing a recent literature review and statements that should be discussed and eventually modified during the face-to-face meeting. All statements were evaluated in two rounds of voting. Initially, each participant discussed the document and statements with his group for possible modifications and voting. Subsequently, during a second voting in a plenary session in the presence of all participants, the statements were voted upon and eventually modified. The participants could vote using five alternatives: 1) strongly agree; 2) partially agree; 3) undecided; 4) disagree; and 5) strongly disagree. The adopted consensus index was that 80% of the participants responded that they strongly or partially agreed with each statement. The recommendations reported are intended to provide the most current and relevant evidences to management of H. pylori infection in adult population in Brazil.

Background/Aims The diagnosis of functional heartburn is important for management, however it stands on fragile pH monitoring variables, ie, acid exposure time varies from day to day and symptoms are often few or absent. Aim of this study was to investigate consistency of the diagnosis of functional heartburn in subsequent days using prolonged wireless pH monitoring and its impact on patients’ outcome. Methods Fifty proton pump inhibitotor refractory patients (11 male, 48 years [range, 38–57 years]) with a diagnosis of functional heart-burn according to Rome III in the first 24 hours of wireless pH monitoring were reviewed. pH variables were analysed in the following 24-hour periods to determine if tracings were indicative of diagnosis of non-erosive reflux disease (either acid exposure time > 5% or normal acid exposure time and symptom index ≥ 50%). Outcome was assessed by review of hospital files and/or telephone interview. Results Fifteen out of 50 patients had a pathological acid exposure time after the first day of monitoring (10 in the second day and 5 in subsequent days), which changed their diagnosis from functional heartburn to non-erosive reflux disease. Fifty-four percent of non-erosive reflux disease vs 11% of functional heartburn patients ( P < 0.003) increased the dose of proton pump inhibitors or underwent fundoplication after the pH test. Outcome was positive in 77% of non-erosive reflux disease vs 43% of functional heartburn patients ( P < 0.05). Conclusions One-third of patients classified as functional heartburn at 24-hour pH-monitoring can be re-classified as non-erosive reflux disease after a more prolonged pH recording period. This observation has a positive impact on patients’ management.

The basis of pharmacological treatment of the gastroesophageal reflux disease is the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) which provide effective gastric acid secretion blockade. However, PPI therapy failure may occur in up to 42% of patients. The main causes for therapeutic failure are non-acid or weakly acid reflux, genotypic differences, presence of comorbidities, wrong diagnosis and lack of treatment compliance. Noncompliance is an important issue and should be carefully observed. Several studies addressed patient compliance and 20-50% of patients may present lack of compliance to the PPI prescribed. When symptoms persist depite adherence has been confirmed, it is recommended to substitute the prescribed PPI to another of the same class or alternatively, prescription of a double dose of the same drug. When even so the symptoms persist, other causes of failure should be assigned. In particular cases of PPI failure, fundoplication surgery may be indicated.

-Context -Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common digestive diseases and an important cause of distress to patients. Diagnosis of this condition can require ambulatory pH monitoring. Objectives -To determine the diagnostic yield of a wireless ambulatory pH monitoring system of 48-hours, recording to diagnose daily variability of abnormal esophageal acid exposure and its symptom association. Methods -A total of 100 consecutive patients with persistent reflux symptoms underwent wireless pH capsule placement from 2004 to 2009. The wireless pH capsule was deployed 5 cm proximal to the squamocolumnar junction after lower esophageal sphincter was manometrically determined. The pH recordings over 48-h were obtained after uploading data to a computer from the receiver that recorded pH signals from the wireless pH capsule. The following parameters were analyzed: (1) percentual time of distal esophageal acid exposure; (2) symptom association probability related to acid reflux. The results between the first and the second day were compared, and the diagnostic yield reached when the second day monitoring was included. Results -Successful pH data over 48-h was obtained in 95% of patients. Nearly one quarter of patients experienced symptoms ranging from a foreign body sensation to chest pain. Forty-eight hours pH data analysis was statistically significant when compared to isolated analysis of day 1 and day 2. Study on day 2 identified seven patients (30.4%) that would be missed if only day 1 was analyzed. Three patients (18.7%) out of 16 patients with normal esophageal acid exposure on both days, showed positive symptom association probability, which generated an increase in diagnostic yield of 43.4%. Conclusion -Esophageal pH monitoring with wireless capsule is safe, well tolerated, does not require sedation. The extended 48-h period of study poses an increased yield to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.

RESUMO -Contexto -Dor torácica não-cardiogênica ou dor torácica funcional é síndrome clínica com elevada prevalência no mundo ocidental, podendo estar presente entre 15% a 30% dos pacientes com coronariografias normais. Tem importante impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes e associa-se com considerável aumento da utilização dos serviços de saúde. INTRODUÇÃODor torácica não-cardiogênica (DTNC), também denominada dor torácica não-cardíaca, é a dor retroesternal do tipo anginoso cuja origem não é cardiogênica. Apresenta elevada prevalência: nos Estados Unidos, por exemplo, até um quarto da população adulta refere a queixa. Por outro lado, dentre os pacientes que se submetem a coronariografia para investigação de dor torácica 10% a 30% apresentam laudos normais (2) . Destes, muitos continuam incomodados pelo sintoma apesar de estarem conscientes do seu caráter benigno e da inexistência de doença cardíaca associada. A DTNC tem importante impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes e está associada a considerável aumento de utilização dos serviços de saúde (2) . O completo entendimento do mecanismo fisiopatológico está por ser determinado. As causas da DTNC nem sempre são claras e sua origem pode estar relacionada ao trato digestivo, com destaque para a hipersensibilidade visceral (13) , mas também, pode estar associada às entidades que comprometem o aparelho musculoesquelético, aparelho respiratório e distúrbios psicológicos (36) . O Consenso Roma III considerou a aplicação do termo "dor torácica funcional de presumível origem esofágica" para aqueles pacientes com episódios de dor torácica retroesternal de qualidade visceral sem explicação aparente, tendo sido previamente afastadas a origem cardíaca e as hipóteses diagnósticas de doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) e distúrbios da motilidade esofágica (16) . Recentemente, novas modalidades diagnósticas e esquemas terapêuticos estão em investigação e algumas poderão desempenhar papel importante papel no contexto clínico destes pacientes.Para fins da presente atualização, foram investigadas fontes selecionadas como artigos de revisão, consensos, diretrizes e revisões sistemáticas de literatura com metaanálise. Foram consideradas as publicações dos últimos 5 anos nas seguintes bases de dados: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library e LILACS. Outras publicações relevantes, algumas anteriores ao período de tempo analisado, foram também incluídas. EPIDEMIOLOGIAA prevalência da DTNC não é conhecida na maioria dos países latino-americanos mas, pelo fato da DTNC estar frequentemente associada à DRGE, convêm analisar a prevalência desta última. De fato,

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition which develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications. Heartburn and regurgitation are the typical symptoms of GERD. The treatment of GERD encompasses lifestyle modifications, pharmacological, endoscopic, and surgical therapy. The majority of the patients respond to 4-8 weeks of proton-pump inhibitors therapy, but 20-42% will demonstrate partial or complete lack of response to treatment. While these patients have been considered as having refractory heartburn, a subset of them does not have GERD or have not been adequately treated. The main causes of refractory heartburn include: poor compliance; inadequate proton-pump inhibitors dosage; incorrect diagnosis; comorbidities; genotypic differences; residual gastroesophageal reflux; eosinophilic esophagitis and others. Treatment is commonly directed toward the underlying cause of patients' refractory heartburn.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. Frequent use and long-term maintenance of these drugs drew the attention of researchers for sporadic adverse effects reports. Objective: The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss appropriate data and causality related to these adverse events and PPIs. Methods: A narrative review was conducted by systematizing information about safety and adverse events on PPIs from 2015 to 2020. A structured search on Pubmed was performed to identify systematic reviews and meta-analysis investigating the following situations: a) gastric cancer; b) micronutrients deficiency; c) acid rebound; d) infections; e) fractures; f) dementia; g) kidney disease; and h) sudden death and cardiovascular changes. Results: Recent studies have potentially associated PPIs with some adverse events as osteoporosis-related fractures. There are also reports of intestinal infections, including Clostridium difficile, besides poor vitamins absorption and minerals such as vitamin B12, magnesium, and iron. Furthermore, there are some dementia, pneumonia, kidney disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke reports. For kidney diseases, studies consistently suggest that the use of PPI may be associated with an increased risk of adverse kidney events, especially in the elderly, with long-term PPI use and pre-existing kidney disease. Another additional question is whether chronic PPI use would also lead to the onset of gastric cancer. The abrupt discontinuation of PPIs is also related to increased gastric acid production above pre-PPI treatment levels; this phenomenon is called acid rebound. Conclusion: The key to mitigate adverse effects is the rational use of PPIs at the lowest effective dose and in the shortest possible duration. Although these adverse effects have a potential clinical impact, their causal association is still subject to validation.

BACKGROUND: The high-resolution manometry has been a significant advance in esophageal diagnostics. There are different types of catheter and systems devices to capture esophageal pressures that generate variable data related to Chicago Classification (CC) and consequently influence normal values results. There are not normative data for the 24-channel water-perfused high-resolution manometry system most used in Brazil with healthy volunteers in supine posture. OBJECTIVE: To determine manometric esophageal normative values for a 24-channel water-perfused high-resolution manometry catheter in supine posture using healthy volunteers according to CC 3.0 parameters. METHODS: A total of 92 volunteers with no gastrointestinal symptoms or medications affecting GI motility underwent esophageal high-resolution manometry by standard protocol. Age, gender and manometry parameters analyzed using Alacer software were collected. The median, range, and 5th and 95th percentiles (where applicable) were obtained for all high-resolution manometry metrics. Normal value percentiles were defined as 95th integrated relaxation pressure, 5th-100th distal contractile integral, and 5th distal latency. RESULTS: The mean age was 40.5±13.2 years. Our normative metrics were integrated relaxation pressure <16 mmHg and distal contractile integral (708-4111 mmHg.cm.s) distal latency was <6 s and peristaltic break size (>4 cm). For EGJ-CI the range 5th-95th was 21.7-86.9 mmHg.cm.s. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of normative data for the 24-channel water-perfused system in supine posture. It revealed higher integrated relaxation pressure and distal latency duration which suggest the need to change CC 3.0 cutoffs for this system. It is observed that there is a tendency that DCI >7000 mmHg.cm.s may represent the lower limit of hypercontractility, and when <700 mmHg.cm.s (<5% percentile) interpreted as ineffective esophageal motility or failcontraction. Also compared to Chicago 3.0, higher integrated relaxation pressure and duration of distal latency were found. We emphasize that these data must be confirmed by future studies.