Nocturnal exposure of the esophagus to acid occurs frequently in patients with LA grades C and D esophagitis. Thus, the existence of NAB with resulting nocturnal acid reflux should be considered when the patient with high-grade esophagitis shows resistance to PPI treatment.

Tolerance to famotidine occurs during continuous administration for 14 days, as previously shown in ranitidine studies.

The prevalence of EE in Japanese patients by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has now been documented.

The prevalence of organic colonic diseases in patients who met the Rome III criteria was at an acceptably low level, indicating that the Rome III criteria are adequately specific for the diagnosis of IBS without performing a colonoscopy examination.

Background/Aims: The clinical characteristics of esophageal eosinophilia (EE), which is essential for diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), have not been fully clarified in a Japanese population. The aim of this study was to analyze the reliability of symptoms and endoscopic findings for diagnosing EE in Japanese individuals. Methods: We prospectively enrolled subjects who complained of esophageal symptoms suggesting EoE and/or those with endoscopic findings of suspected EoE at the outpatient clinics of 12 hospitals. Diagnostic utility was compared between the EE and non-EE groups using logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 349 patients, including 319 with symptoms and 30 with no symptoms but endoscopic findings suggesting EoE were enrolled. Of those with symptoms, 8 (2.5%) had EE, and 3 were finally diagnosed with EoE. Of those without symptoms but endoscopic findings, 4 had EE. Among 8 symptomatic patients, 7 had abnormal endoscopic findings suspicious of EoE. Although dysphagia was a major symptom in EE, none of the presenting symptoms was useful for diagnosis of EE. Among the endoscopic findings, linear furrow was the most reliable (OR = 41.583). Conclusion: EE is uncommon among patients with esophageal symptoms in Japanese individuals. The most useful endoscopic finding for diagnosis of EE was linear furrow, whereas subjective symptoms were not supportive.

The combination of crystal violet chromoendoscopy and pit pattern diagnosis is considered to be useful for the surveillance of short-segment Barrett's esophagus.

The degree of arterial stiffness in H. pylori-positive young subjects is higher than that in H. pylori-negative young subjects. However, no difference between the arterial stiffness values of H. pylori-seropositive and -seronegative elderly individuals was observed.

The prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in UC patients with clinical and endoscopic remission findings was significantly higher than that of control subjects. Furthermore, the prevalence rate in patients with complete endoscopic remission was decreased. These findings suggest that residual low-grade inflammation may influence the presence of IBS-like symptoms in UC patients in remission.