Background A novel transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure using the EsophyX system with SerosaFuse fasteners was designed to reconstruct a full-thickness valve at the gastroesophageal junction through tailored delivery of multiple fasteners during a single-device insertion. The safety and efficacy of TIF for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated in a prospective multicenter trial. Methods Patients (n = 86) with chronic GERD treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included an irreducible hiatal hernia [ 2 cm. Results The TIF procedure (n = 84) reduced all hiatal hernias (n = 49) and constructed valves measuring 4 cm (2-6 cm) and 230°(160°-300°). Serious adverse events consisted of two esophageal perforations upon device insertion and one case of postoperative intraluminal bleeding. Other adverse events were mild and transient. At 12 months, aggregate (n = 79) and stratified Hill grade I tight (n = 21) results showed 73% and 86% of patients with C50% improvement in GERD health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores, 85% discontinuation of daily PPI use, and 81% complete cessation of PPIs; 37% and 48% normalization of esophageal acid exposure; 60% and 89% hiatal hernia reduction; and 62% and 80% esophagitis reduction, respectively. More than 50% of patients with Hill grade I tight valves had a normalized cardia circumference. Resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was improved significantly (p \ 0.001), by 53%. EsophyX-TIF cured GERD in 56% of patients based on their symptom reduction and PPI discontinuation. Conclusion The 12-month results showed that EsophyX-TIF was safe and effective in improving quality of life and for reducing symptoms, PPI use, hiatal hernia, and G.

D. fragilis and G. lamblia were the most frequently encountered parasites in our study population. Improved diagnostic tests are essential tools to study the prevalence and pathogenesis of D. fragilis.

Background The current literature suggests that there has been a decrease in opportunistic diseases among HIV‐infected patients since the widespread introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1995. Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of HAART and CD4 lymphocyte count on diseases of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract, digestive symptoms, and endoscopic and histological observations. Methods A review of 706 HIV‐infected patients who underwent GI endoscopy was undertaken. The cohort was divided into three groups: group 1 (G1), pre‐HAART, consisting of 239 patients who underwent endoscopy between January 1991 and December 1994; group 2 (G2), early HAART, consisting of 238 patients who underwent endoscopy between January 1999 and December 2002; and group 3 (G3), recent HAART, consisting of 229 patients who underwent endoscopy between January 2005 and December 2008. Parameters studied included age, gender, opportunistic chemoprophylaxis, antiretroviral therapies, CD4 cell counts, symptoms, observations at the first UGI endoscopy and histology. Results When G1, G2 and G3 were compared, significant increases were seen over time in the following parameters: the percentage of women, the mean CD4 cell count, and the frequencies of reflux symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), inflammatory gastropathy, gastric ulcer and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. Significant decreases were seen in the frequencies of the administration of anti‐opportunistic infection prophylaxis, odynophagia/dysphagia, acute/chronic diarrhoea, candida oesophagitis, nonspecific oesophageal ulcer and Kaposi sarcoma. No significant change was observed in the other parameters, i.e. digestive bleeding, duodenal ulcer and inflammatory duodenopathy. Conclusion These results suggest a correlation between the improvement of immunity as a result of more efficient antiviral therapy and the decrease in the frequency of digestive diseases in AIDS, mainly opportunistic pathologies. However, HP infection, reflux symptoms and GERD have increased in the HAART era.

The clinical outcomes at 3 years following TIF, patient satisfaction, healing of erosive esophagitis, and cessation of PPI medication support long-term safety and durability of the TIF procedure for those with initial treatment success. Although complete normalization of pH studies occurred in a minority of patients, successful cases showed long-term durability.

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