Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Smooth muscle specimens were taken from the lower esophageal sphincter of patients suffering from achalasia or hiatus hernia with gastro-esophageal reflux. The specimens were analysed for neurohormonal peptides using immunochemistry and immunocytochemistry. Control specimens were obtained from patients subjected to esophageal resection because of esophageal cancer. The concentration of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was higher and the VIP nerve supply greater in patients with hiatus hernia than in control patients. The VIP nerve supply and the content of this peptide was lower in patients with achalasia than in controls. The same tendency was observed for substance P and enkephalin although the changes in their concentrations were not statistically significant. Enkephalin fibers were few, both in specimens from control patients and from patients with hiatus hernia; they could not be detected in specimens from patients with achalasia. Never fibers containing somatostatin or gastrin/cholecystokinin could not be detected in any of the groups and somatostatin and gastrin/cholecystokinin could not be measured in extracts of the lower esophageal sphincter. We propose that changes in the concentration of neuropeptides may at least contribute to manifestations of achalasia and of decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure and gastro-esophageal reflux.
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PMID:Regulatory peptides in the lower esophageal sphincter of man. 258 Dec 86

Experimental achalasia dogs produced with Deloyer's method showed higher resting pressure at the gastroesophageal junction and the increase in LES pressure in response to tetragastrin and cholecystokinin. Dose-response curve of the LES to each dose of tetragastrin in achalasia dog shifted to the left. Resting LES pressure in 11 patients with achalasia was 42.73 +/- 23.31 cm H2O. It increased significantly after intramuscular injection of 5 micrograms/kg of tetragastrin and fluoroscopic observation showed the tonic contraction of the lower esophagus and cardia. After the performance of Jekler-Lhotka operation, LES pressure decreased to lower values sufficient to prevent the gastroesophageal reflux. Comparing 5 kinds of hiatal herniorrhaphies in dogs, LES pressure increased postoperatively in the following order: Nissen, Belsey Mark IV, Stensrud, Hill and Harrington methods. Responses to tetragastrin increased after Nissen and Belsey Mark IV methods. In 12 out of 21 clinical cases of sliding esophageal hiatal hernia who had undergone Nissen-Rossetti method adding fundopexy and posterior gastropexy, preoperative esophageal manometry showed HPZ of 24.98 +/- 8.87 cm H2O in peak value and 5.1 +/- 3.46 cm in length. Seven cases showed the biphasic pattern and 5 cases showed the negative response to tetragastrin. Postoperative manometry showed HPZ of 31.42 +/- 18.46 cm H2O in peak value and 4.5 +/- 1.73 cm in length. One case showed the biphasic pattern and 3 cases showed the negative response to tetragastrin.
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PMID:[Gastrointestinal hormones and operations for achalasia of the esophagus and sliding esophageal hiatal hernia: their surgical significance]. 408 31