Monika A. Kwiatek

High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) is a recent development used in the evaluation of esophageal function. Our aim was to assess the inter-observer agreement for diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders using this technology. Practitioners registered on the HRM Working Group website were invited to review and classify (i) 147 individual wa...

Dysphagia and noncardiac chest pain can be associated with spastic and hypercontractile esophageal motor disorders, provided that structural lesions, inflammation, and gastroesophageal reflux are excluded. Currently one of the best methods used to identify and classify esophageal contractile abnormalities is esophageal manometry. In the last years,...

This study aimed to apply novel high-resolution manometry with eight-sector radial pressure resolution (3D-HRM technology) to resolve the deglutitive pressure morphology at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) before, during, and after bolus transit. A hybrid HRM assembly, including a 9-cm-long 3D-HRM array, was used to record EGJ pressure morphology...

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides direct, non-invasive measurements of gastric function and emptying. The inter-observer variability (IOV) of MR volume measurements and the most appropriate analysis of MR data have not been established. To assess IOV of total gastric volume (TGV) and gastric content volume (GCV) measurements from MR images a...

The following contains commentaries on distensibility testing using the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP); the use of the distention test of the esophageal body in the clinic diagnosis of noncardiac chest pain; the functional lumen imaging in gastroesophageal reflux disease-impaired esophagogastric junction; a multimodal pain model for the esop...

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoO) is a chronic disease characterised by significant symptoms and challenging treatment regimens. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a useful way to direct patient care. EoO symptoms and treatment may impact patient HRQOL. Currently, there is no reliable and valid measure of adult EoO patient HRQOL. To validate t...

Recently, an 'acid pocket' has been described in the proximal stomach, particularly evident postprandially in GERD patients, when heartburn is common. By creating a low density gel 'raft' that floats on top of gastric contents, alginate-antacid formulations may neutralise the 'acid pocket'. To assess the ability of a commercial high-concentration a...

The esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is a complex structure that challenges accurate manometric recording. This study aimed to define EGJ pressure morphology relative to the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) during respiration with 3D-high resolution manometry (3D-HRM). A 7.5-cm long 3D-HRM array with 96 independent solid-state pressure sensors (axial sp...

Esophageal symptoms often co-occur. A validated self-report measure encompassing multiple esophageal symptoms is necessary to determine their frequency and severity both independently and in association with each other. Such a questionnaire could streamline the diagnostic process and guide patient management. We aimed to develop an integrative meas...

The manometric diagnosis of distal esophageal spasm (DES) uses "simultaneous contractions" as a defining criterion, ignoring the concept of short latency distal contractions as an important feature. Our aim was to apply standardized metrics of contraction velocity and latency to high-resolution esophageal pressure topography (EPT) studies to refine...

Although most of the patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have mucosal and structural changes that could potentially explain their symptoms, it is unclear whether EoE is associated with abnormal esophageal motor function. The aims of this study were to evaluate the esophageal pressure topography (EPT) findings in EoE and to compare them wit...

The purpose of this review is to consider the neuromuscular mechanism of LES contractility both by itself and in relation to the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) complex in order to appreciate the intricacies of EGJ valvular function.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory illnesses marked by unpredictable disease flares, which occur spontaneously and/or in response to external triggers, especially personal health behaviors. Behavioral triggers of flare may be responsive to disease self-management programs. We report on interim findings of a randomized contro...

This study aimed to analyze the mechanical properties of the esophagus in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) using the functional luminal imaging probe (EndoFLIP; Crospon Medical Devices, Galway, Ireland). Thirty-three EoE patients (22 male; age range, 23-67 years) and 15 controls (6 male; age range, 21-68 years) were included. Subjects were evaluated...

found that phase II-like contraction was prolonged and that no phase III contraction occurred during the infusion of MA-2029. The duration from the start of infusion of the motilin antagonist and phase III contraction was significantly longer (182 ± 12 min) than that in controls (71 ± 6 min, P<0.05). These results indicate that motilin has no effec...

Esophageal manometry is frequently used to assess for weak peristalsis. Although commonly used clinically, there are currently no validated metrics of weak peristalsis in high-resolution esophageal pressure topography (EPT). This study aimed to develop a classification of weak peristalsis in EPT based on a comparative analysis of control subjects a...

Increased esophagogastric junction (EGJ) compliance is a key abnormality in GERD leading to increased volumes of reflux. To date, EGJ distensibility has been measured only with investigational barostat-based prototype devices. The aim of the study was to test the endoscopic functional luminal imaging probe (EndoFLIP), a new commercially available t...

Globus sensation is a bothersome and difficult symptom to treat. The aims of this study were to evaluate the acceptability and utility of hypnotically-assisted relaxation (HAR) in decreasing the perception of globus sensation and the effect of HAR on interdeglutitive upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure. Sixteen subjects with persistent globus...

This study aimed to correlate oesophageal bolus transit with features of oesophageal pressure topography (OPT) plots and establish OPT metrics for accurately measuring peristaltic velocity. About 18 subjects underwent concurrent OPT and fluoroscopy studies. The deglutitive Contractile Front Velocity (CFV) in OPT plots was subdivided into an initial...

The aim of the study was to compare the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) compliance in response to controlled distension in fundoplication (FP) patients and controls using the functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP). FP aims to replicate normal EGJ distensibility. FLIP is a new technology that uses impedance planimetry to measure intraluminal cross-s...

Some patients with suspected achalasia are found on manometry to have preserved peristalsis, thereby excluding that diagnosis. This study evaluated a series of such patients with functional esophagogastric junction (EGJ) obstruction. Among 1,000 consecutive high-resolution manometry studies, 16 patients had functional EGJ obstruction characterized...

This study assessed the effects of meal volume (MV) and calorie load (CL) on gastric function. MRI and a minimally invasive fiber-optic recording system (FORS) provided simultaneous measurement of gastric volume and pressure changes during gastric filling and emptying of a liquid nutrient meal in physiological conditions. The gastric response to 12...

This study used high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) to determine pressure topography thresholds of peristaltic integrity predictive of incomplete esophageal bolus clearance. A total of 16 normal controls and 8 patients with dysphagia were studied using a solid-state HRIM assembly incorporating 36 manometric sensors and 12 impedance segments....

In conducting clinical high-resolution oesophageal pressure topography (HROPT) studies we observed that after subjects sat upright between series of supine and upright test swallows, they frequently had a transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation (TLOSR). When achalasia patients were studied in the same protocol, they exhibited a similar HRO...

Our aim was to assess pressure dynamics within the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) in sliding hiatus hernia (HH) during normal peristalsis and to compare the pressure profiles of HH patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms (HH-GERD) to HH patients with dysphagia (HH-dysphagia). High-resolution manometry studies in 230 consecutiv...

Uniform postgastric processing of the gastric emptying (GE) marker 13C-acetate (Ac) is an unverified assumption behind its widespread application to measure GE. This study assessed the postgastric processing of Ac administered by intraduodenal (i.d.) infusion simulating different physiological conditions. 13CO2 in breath was assessed in three group...

Gastric emptying (GE) may be driven by tonic contraction of the stomach ('pressure pump') or antral contraction waves (ACW) ('peristaltic pump'). The mechanism underlying GE was studied by contrasting the effects of clonidine (alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist) and sumatriptan (5-HT(1) agonist) on gastric function. Magnetic resonance imaging provided non...

The assessment of gastric accommodation and emptying by different methodologies provides inconsistent results. We aimed to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), barostat and 13C-acetate breath test (BT) for the assessment of gastric volume responses and emptying in healthy controls (HC) and patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Eight HC and...

Although globus sensation is a common symptom, its pathogenesis is poorly defined. The aim of this study was to quantify the timing and magnitude of respiratory variation in upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure with high-resolution manometry (HRM) in patients with globus sensation, normal controls, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) pa...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined by either subjective complaints indicative of problematic gastroesophageal reflux or objective complications directly attributable to reflux. Studies focused on GERD-related symptoms suggest a worldwide increase in prevalence of approximately 4% per year. Epidemiologic data indicate that possible co...

This study analysed the association between oesophageal transition zone (TZ) defects [characterized by a delay and/or spatial gap between the terminus of the proximal oesophageal (striated muscle) contraction and the initiation of the distal oesophageal (smooth muscle) contraction] and dysphagia in a large patient cohort. Four hundred consecutive p...

Although the diagnosis of achalasia hinges on demonstrating impaired esophagogastric junction (EGJ) relaxation and aperistalsis, 3 distinct patterns of aperistalsis are discernable with high-resolution manometry (HRM). This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and treatment response of these 3 subtypes. One thousand clinical HRM stud...

The single technological advancement that Bravo pH monitoring offers over conventional pH monitoring is the elimination of the transnasal catheter. This was not a trivial advance in terms of technologic achievement. Development of a delivery system that could temporarily place a wireless capsule on the esophageal mucosa was extremely difficult to e...

Limitations of existing pH recording methodology have been the impetus for the emergence of new technologies focused on improving ambulatory pH monitoring. The Bravo pH capsule system (Bravo, Medtronic, Shoreview, MN) is one of the recent advances that utilize a wireless system to improve patient compliance and extend the period of monitoring. Thes...

This study aimed to devise a scheme for the systematic analysis of esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) studies displayed using topographic plotting. A total of 400 patients and 75 control subjects were studied with a 36-channel HRM assembly. Studies were analyzed in a stepwise fashion for: (a) the adequacy of deglutitive esophagogastric junc...

This study aimed to localize the gastric-to-esophageal pH transition point relative to the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) high-pressure zone in controls and GERD patients. Ten controls and 10 GERD patients were studied. Subjects had an endoclip placed at the SCJ prior to a pH catheter pull-through (upright and supi...

Assessing deglutitive esophagogastric junction (EGJ) relaxation is an essential focus of clinical manometry. Our aim was to apply automated algorithmic analyses to high-resolution manometry (HRM) studies to ascertain the optimal method for discriminating normal from abnormal deglutitive EGJ relaxation. All 473 subjects (73 controls) were studied wi...

Successful diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), its effect on esophageal symptoms, and the choice of subsequent clinical management are dependent on the sensitivity and accuracy of systems used to detect reflux. Recent advances in technology often circumvent the limitations of still widely used catheter-based pH systems, which monit...

Gastric emptying (GE) has a considerable variability, but data on reproducibility of gastric volume measurements are sparse. We aimed to study the reproducibility of postprandial gastric volume responses and GE using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in healthy controls (HC) and patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Eight HC and eight FD patients...

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms occur frequently in the general population, making them among the most common indications responsible for patients consulting the healthcare system. Consequently, understanding and characterization of the upper GI symptoms is important for the diagnosis and assessment of organ dysfunction. In practice, assessmen...

Visceral hypersensitivity is considered a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Targeting visceral hypersensitivity seems an attractive approach to the development of drugs for functional GI disorders. This review summarizes current knowledge on targets for the treatment of visceral hypersensitivity, and t...

The effects of macronutrients on gastric volume changes, emptying, and gastrointestinal symptoms are incompletely understood. Three liquid meals of 500 ml (fat emulsion, 375 kcal; protein solution, 375 kcal; glucose solution, 400 kcal) were infused into the stomach of 12 healthy volunteers on three occasions. Studies were performed in seated body p...

To quantify healthy postprandial: 1) propagation, periodicity, geometry, and percentage occlusion by distal antral contraction waves (ACWs); and 2) changes in ACW activity in relationship to gastric emptying (GE). Using 1.5-T MR scanner, nine healthy fasted volunteers were examined in the right decubitus position after ingestion of 500 mL of 10% gl...

Supplementation with uridine offers the possibility of a new and promising approach to nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor-associated mitochondrial toxicity. We investigated the metabolic effects of short-course treatment with the uridine-enriched food supplement NucleomaxX on hepatic mitochondrial function in thymidine-analogue tre...