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Query: UMLS:C0017168 (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
 11,783 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Sarcoidosis remains a fascinating illness that almost always affects the respiratory tract but often involves many other organs as well. Although many patients seem to have only an intrathoracic illness, with perhaps one other site or organ involved, others can experience a severe multi-organ disease. The inciting stimulus, even if unknown, can elicit an immunologic host response-the non-caseating granuloma-in almost every organ. It is intriguing that this stimulus can be so widespread throughout the body, while the biology of the disease can be so variable. Many series of patients with sarcoidosis have reported the multiple organs involved and the clinical presentation. Our series of 67 patients (40 female, 27 male, mean age 38.7 years +/- 13.2 (SD) at time of diagnosis) generally mirrors the clinical pattern found in five comparison series that span the past 60 years. However, more emphasis is given in this series to associated medical conditions that can complicate the presentation of sarcoidosis, as well as to co-morbid illnesses that must be managed in addition to the patient's sarcoidosis. Although most patients had intrathoracic sarcoidosis diagnosed at initial evaluation (40%), many had other organs or bodily sites involved in addition (or subsequently) as the illness evolved. Confounding the initial patient evaluation were two factors: (1) the presence of an occupational respiratory exposure(s) (n = 25 or 37% of patients); (2) a previously diagnosed malignancy (n = 6 or 9%) that heightened the possibility of a primary malignancy presenting in the chest, or the reactivation of a prior malignancy (breast, thyroid, and lymphoma) that could metastasize to the lung. Symptoms present when a patient's diagnosis was established usually differentiated respiratory and/or abdominal organ involvement. Although respiratory symptoms could be absent (n = 18 or 27%) for many patients with incidental thoracic findings, most had typical ones, including exertional dyspnea. For patients with an abdominal presenting illness (n = 11 or 16%), nonspecific digestive and abdominal symptoms were experienced as well as arthralgias. Almost every patient had at least one important other illness that factored significantly into the management of their sarcoidosis. Older patients had more illnesses, such as cardiovascular illness, diabetes mellitus, neurologic problems, and functional gastrointestinal symptoms. Depression affected all ages and was probably underrecognized; more emphasis on this illness is needed. Obesity was associated with disordered sleep syndromes, but not invariably so, as half the subjects had a good body habitus. Thus, many of the other illnesses experienced by sarcoidosis patients are common problems that middle-aged people develop. However, digestive and gastroenterological symptoms seemed disproportionately frequent in this series. This is a component of multi-organ sarcoidosis that has not received extensive coverage in the literature. Approximately one-third of sarcoidosis patients had one of two very common problems-gastroesophageal reflux or irritable bowel syndrome. But these are common problems, and it is thus necessary to separate these symptoms from those associated with abdominal visceral involvement of sarcoidosis. Although liver and/or splenic involvement with sarcoidosis do not cause organ dysfunction or insufficiency, they can contribute to abdominal symptoms. Finally, it remains of interest whether inflammatory bowel disease-Crohn's disease in particular-is another organ manifestation of sarcoidosis, or is it unrelated?
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PMID:Sarcoidosis: impact of other illnesses on the presentation and management of multi-organ disease. 1248 22

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. In the United States, in 1999, 27% of adults had a body mass index >30 kg/m(2), almost double the prevalence of 20 years earlier. The estimated mortality from obesity-related diseases in the United States is approximately 300,000 annually and growing. In the future, mortality related to obesity is expected to exceed that of smoking. Numerous diseases are caused or made worse by obesity. These include type 2 diabetes; hypertension; dyslipidemia; ischemic heart disease; stroke; obstructive sleep apnea; asthma; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; gastroesophageal reflux disease; degenerative joint disease of the back, hips, knees, and feet; infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome; various malignancies; and depression. Type 2 diabetes is perhaps the most visible obesity-related problem. Present in at least 14 million Americans, it leads to serious complications and premature death. It is largely caused by obesity, and is generally cured by weight loss. The quality of life of the obese is markedly reduced, and the costs to health care systems are great. Preventive programs have yet to affect the rising prevalence. An effective solution is needed.
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PMID:The extent of the problem of obesity. 1252 43

Possibly the most important outcomes of bariatric surgery involve changes in obesity-related illness, quality of life (QOL), and psychologic well-being. Dramatic improvement or resolution of serious medical comorbidity accompanies the weight loss following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with the LAP-BAND (INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, CA). There are major improvements in the conditions of the metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Improvement in insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function associated with weight loss induces remission in the majority of type 2 diabetics and reduces the risk of others developing type 2 diabetes. Improvement in dyslipidemia is characterized by raised high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower triglyceride concentrations. Together with lower blood pressure, these changes provide a substantial reduction in cardiovascular risk. Other medical conditions caused or aggravated by obesity are also significantly improved, including sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux. Weight loss is associated with improved fertility and more favorable pregnancy outcomes. All aspects of QOL improve substantially, especially physical disability, and post-weight-loss QOL measures approximate those of the general population. There are also major improvements in body image and reduction in depressive illness. These changes provide perhaps the most compelling data regarding the value of LAP-BAND surgery and underlie the great satisfaction experienced by patients.
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PMID:Changes in comorbidities and improvements in quality of life after LAP-BAND placement. 1252 52

In this paper the author reviews the epidemiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as the etiology, methods of study, esophageal pathology association, and medical and surgical treatment of obesity as related to GERD.
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PMID:Up to date. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) influence of obesity. 1255 62

A 1991 National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference concluded that severely obese adults could be eligible for bariatric surgery if they had a body mass index (BMI) > or =35 kg/m(2) with or > or =40 kg/m(2) without obesity comorbidity. It was thought at that time that there were inadequate data to support bariatric surgery in severely obese adolescents. An estimated 25% of children in the United States are obese, a number that has doubled over a 30-year period. Very little information has been published on the subject of obesity surgery in adolescents. Therefore we reviewed our 20-year database on bariatric surgery in adolescents. Severely obese adolescents, ranging from 12 to less than 18 years of age, were considered eligible for bariatric surgery according to the National Institutes of Health adult criteria. Gastroplasty was the procedure of choice in the initial 3 years of the study followed by gastric bypass, which was found to be significantly more effective for weight loss in adults. Distal gastric bypass (D-GBP) was used in extremely obese patients (BMI > or =60 kg/m(2)) before 1992 and long-limb gastric bypass (LL-GBP) was used for superobese patients (BMI > or =50 kg/m(2)) after 1992. Laparoscopic gastric bypass was used after 2000. Thirty-three adolescents (27 white, 6 black; 19 females, 14 males) underwent the following bariatric operations between 1981 and June 2001: horizontal gastroplasty in one, vertical banded gastroplasty in two, standard gastric bypass in 17 (2 laparoscopic), LL-GBP in 10, and D-GBP in three. Mean BMI was 52 +/- 11 kg/m(2) (range 38 to 91 kg/m(2)), and mean age was 16 +/- 1 years (range 12.4 to 17.9 years). Preoperative comorbid conditions included the following: type II diabetes mellitus in two patients, hypertension in 11, pseudotumor cerebri in three, gastroesophageal reflux in five, sleep apnea in six, urinary incontinence in two, polycystic ovary syndrome in one, asthma in one, and degenerative joint disease in 11. There were no operative deaths or anastomotic leaks. Early complications included pulmonary embolism in one patient, major wound infection in one, minor wound infections in four, stomal stenoses (endoscopically dilated) in three, and marginal ulcers (medically treated) in four. Late complications included small bowel obstruction in one and incisional hernias in six patients. There were two late sudden deaths (2 years and 6 years postoperatively), but these were unlikely to have been caused by the bariatric surgical procedure. Revision procedures included one D-GBP to gastric bypass for malnutrition and one gastric bypass to LL-GBP for inadequate weight loss. Regain of most or all of the lost weight was seen in five patients at 5 to 10 years after surgery; however, significant weight loss was maintained in the remaining patients for up to 14 years after surgery. Comorbid conditions resolved at 1 year with the exception of hypertension in two patients, gastroesophageal reflux in two, and degenerative joint disease in seven. Self-image was greatly enhanced; eight patients have married and have children, five patients have completed college, and one patient is currently in college. Severe obesity is increasing rapidly in adolescents and is associated with significant comorbidity and social stigmatization. Bariatric surgery in adolescents is safe and is associated with significant weight loss, correction of obesity comorbidity, and improved self-image and socialization. These data strongly support obesity surgery for those unfortunate individuals who may have difficulty obtaining insurance coverage based on the 1991 National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference statement.
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PMID:Bariatric surgery for severely obese adolescents. 1255 91

The aim of this study was to assess, with a specially prepared questionnaire, the prevalence of reflux-like dyspepsia in a population of 40 patients morbidly obese, Body Mass Index (BMI) 46.2+/- 1.7 kg/m2, comparing the results with those deriving from the analysis of 20 healthy volunteers (BMI 20.9+/-1.7 kg/m2). The prevalence of esophageal symptoms in all obese patients was 45%, versus 15% in controls. There was a significant direct correlation between obesity and reflux-like dyspepsia (p<0.05). Patients who are morbidly overweight should be encouraged to lose weight, as the very first step in fighting Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease.
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PMID:[Reflux-like dyspepsia in obese patients]. 1258 5

Lung function in a healthy individual varies in a circadian rhythm, with peak lung function occurring near 4:00 PM (1600 hours) and minimal lung function occurring near 4:00 AM (0400 hours). An episode of nocturnal asthma is characterized by an exaggeration in this normal variation in lung function from daytime to nighttime, with diurnal changes in pulmonary function generally of > 15%. The occurrence of nocturnal asthma is associated with increased morbidity and inadequate asthma control, and has an important negative impact on quality of life (QOL). Newer data have shed light on physiologic and immunologic mechanisms that underlie the nocturnal development of airway obstruction. It remains controversial whether nocturnal asthma is a distinct entity or is a manifestation of more severe asthma. The current data do not resolve these two alternatives, as well-controlled studies have reached opposite conclusions. However, the clinical associations of gastroesophageal reflux disease and obesity appear to be strong. The treatment of asthma with effective controller agents can reduce nighttime symptoms, improve psychometric outcomes, and improve QOL.
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PMID:Nocturnal asthma. 1262 2

In 2002 SMA Nutrition organised several regional study days where expert speakers discussed issues including childhood obesity, under-nutrition, gastro-oesophageal reflux and the importance of essential nutrients.
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PMID:Issues in infant and toddler nutrition. 1263 Jan 46

The evidence for an association between asthma and obesity in adults, and in children and adolescents, is reviewed. Few studies in adults measured height and weight, whereas the majority in children did. Evidence for the association is strong, but that for a gender interaction is weak. There is sufficient evidence to rule out asthma preceding obesity as an explanation, and that increased perception of symptoms in the obese, or a purely mechanical effect, is responsible. However, direct causality is unlikely, because in children the association is of recent origin, and trends in obesity do not explain the rising prevalence of asthma. Atopy was not associated with obesity in a large adult study. Potential explanations that require further investigation are that gastroesophageal reflux as a result of obesity causes asthma, that physical inactivity may promote both obesity and asthma, and that the diets of obese subjects may potentiate asthma.
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PMID:Obesity and asthma: evidence for and against a causal relation. 1269 7

Concern has been expressed about the rapid increase in the incidence of esophageal carcinoma in the United States. This rise is due to an increase in the number of cases of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Because of the relatively small number of cases of esophageal carcinoma, the absolute risk of developing this cancer in the United States remains small. Potential origins for this increase in esophageal adenocarcinoma are examined in this review, including the risk induced by obesity, low dietary antioxidants, high dietary fat, family history of breast cancer, smoking, gastroesophageal reflux, and Barrett's esophagus. The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma is inversely associated with infection by Helicobacter pylori organisms. A better understanding of risk factors involved in the increased incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is important for development of new preventive strategies for this serious disorder.
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PMID:The changing face of esophageal malignancy. 1273 39


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