Reflux Esophagitis Due to Immune Reaction, Not Acute Acid Burn Nov 20, 2009
(May 31, 2006) Two new Mayo Clinic studies draw attention to the risk factors and possible genetic basis for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma). These studies will be presented Monday, May. (Science Daily)
People With Heart Devices Can 'Digest' Advanced Diagnostic Technology Safely Oct 28, 2009
27, 2009) A new Mayo Clinic study suggests that video capsule endoscopy (CE), a procedure that uses wireless technology in diagnosing intestinal disease, is safe for patients with heart devices. Wireless electrical gadgets, such as cell phones, have been shown to interfere with implanted heart devices, including pacemakers and defibrillators. (Science Daily)
Barrett's esophagus patients have same survival rates as general population Oct 27, 2009
-- New Mayo Clinic research has found that survival rates of patients with Barrett's esophagus, () which can be a precursor for esophageal cancer, are no different than the survival rates for the general population ... Barrett's esophagus is most often diagnosed in people who have long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) -- a chronic regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the lower esophagus ... A diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus can be concerning because it increases the risk of... (EurekAlert!)
Damien still making a difference today Oct 11, 2009
Walton was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus in October 2007 and learned that he had a pre-cancerous condition with no cure once it develops into cancer. "The doctors all said there was nothing they could do," Walton said. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Acid Reflux Doesn't Just Cause Heartburn Sep 25, 2009
The condition is called "Barrett's esophagus. "Fortunately, only about one in 200 patients with Barrett's esophagus develops cancer each year. And over the last year a treatment called has been found to be extremely effective in treating Barrett's esophagus that is starting to show signs that it may turn into cancer ... There is currently a controversy about who should be endoscopically screened to look for evidence of Barrett's esophagus. (CBS News -- Health)
Minimally Invasive Treatment Found Effective For Esophageal Cancer Sep 14, 2009
The Mayo Clinic Barrett's Esophagus Unit offers a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate early symptoms, devise a surveillance schedule and perform all tests and medical and surgical treatments. Esophageal cancer arising from Barrett's esophagus is increasing in frequency faster than any other cancer in the United States, and the tumor is lethal ... About 10 percent of patients with chronic acid reflux develop the tissue changes characteristic of Barrett's esophagus, which can lead to cancer. (Science Daily)
Queen's offers latest acid reflux treatment Sep 9, 2009
Art Ushijima, Queen's president and chief executive officer, said the treatment "will allow our gastroenterologists to better treat and manage their patients with the disease known as Barrett's esophagus." ... It is a major contributor to Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition, said Dr. Christopher Aoki, gastroenterologist ... Surgery has been the only option available in Hawaii for Barrett's esophagus, Aoki said. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett’s Esophagus Sep 3, 2009
NEJM -- Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett's Esophagus ... Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett's Esophagus ... To the Editor: Shaheen et al. (May 28 issue)1 report on radiofrequency ablation of endoscopically evident, non-nodular, dysplastic Barrett's esophagus as compared with a sham procedure. (New England Journal of Medicine)
New Therapy Spares Organ in Early Esophageal Cancer Sep 3, 2009
This is good news, as esophageal cancer arising from Barrett's esophagus is increasing in frequency faster than any other cancer in the United States, and 90 percent of patients die within five years of being diagnosed, according to a news release from the Mayo Clinic. Esophageal cancer is diagnosed in its early stages about 20 percent of the time, Dr. Ganapathy Prasad, of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic and lead author on the study, published in the... (MEDLINEplus)
GERD negatively impacts sleep quality, results in considerable economic burden Sep 1, 2009
Nocturnal acid reflux may be especially damaging because acid exposure is of longer duration and has been associated with complications of esophagitis, including Barrett's esophagus and cancer ... "The drug had the effect of enabling subjects to 'sleep through' reflux events, thereby increasing nocturnal acid exposure. This suggests that hypnotic use by GERD patients could lead to increased risk for complicated disease. In fact, nocturnal reflux is the leading cause of Barrett's esophagus, a... (EurekAlert!)
NYU Langone Medical Center researchers find altered micriobiome prevalent in the diseased esophagus Aug 1, 2009
Chronic inflammation associated with GERD can lead to the development of Barrett's esophagus, precancerous condition ... Researchers collected and sequenced bacteria from the esophagus of 34 patients, both healthy and those suffering from GERD (specifically esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus) ... In contrast, an altered type of microbiome dominated by Gram-negative bacteria was contained in greater proportions in those patients with esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus. (EurekAlert!)
Chemical Fingerprint Of Barrett's Esophagus Identified Jun 18, 2009
ScienceDaily (June 17, 2009) Canadian Light Source (CLS) staff scientist Luca Quaroni and Dr. Alan Casson, Head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) used the synchrotron's infrared microscope to identify tissue afflicted with a condition known as Barrett's Esophagus from chemical fingerprints associated with the disease, which can lead to esophageal cancer ... Barrett's Esophagus (BE) occurs when the cells that normally line the esophagus the tube that connects... (Science Daily)
NEJM study finds radiofrequency ablation can reverse Barrett's esophagus, reduce cancer risk Jun 3, 2009
A common result of prolonged gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus is associated with increased risk for esophageal cancer. NEW YORK (May 29, 2009) -- Patients who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for a prolonged period have an increased risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition where the tissue lining the esophagus becomes damaged by stomach acid and transformed into something like the inside of the stomach ... "The current standard of care for... (EurekAlert!)
Technique Eradicates Problems In Most Patients With Barrett's Esophagus May 29, 2009
ScienceDaily (May 28, 2009) A procedure that uses heat generated by radio waves to treat Barrett's esophagus, a condition caused by acid reflux (severe heartburn), can eliminate signs of the potentially cancer-causing disorder and reduce the risk that the disease will progress ... Findings from the first multicenter trial of the procedure, called radiofrequency ablation, could mean patients have an alternative to surgery for treating Barrett's esophagus ... "Patients with Barrett's esophagus can... (Science Daily)
Heat Therapy May Help Prevent Esophageal Cancer May 29, 2009
Barrett's esophagus patients benefit from destruction of abnormal cells, study shows ... WEDNESDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for precancerous Barrett's esophagus, researchers have found ... In people with Barrett's esophagus, repeated acid reflux causes cells that line the esophagus to be replaced by cells similar to those found in the intestine, according to background information provided in a news release. (MEDLINEplus)
Study in the New England Journal of Medicine Shows Non-Surgical Treatment for Pre-Cancerous Condition of Esophagus is Effective and Reduces Risk for Cancer Development May 28, 2009
Data show superiority of endoscopic ablation therapy using the HALO System for eradicating Barrett's esophagus in randomized, multicenter, sham controlled trial ... May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a clinical study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine reveal that ablative therapy using the HALO system (BARRX Medical, Inc.) is highly effective for complete eradication of a pre-cancerous condition of the esophagus called Barrett's esophagus afflicting more than 3 ... The study... (PR Newswire)
Heat found effective against throat condition May 28, 2009
In a study of 127 people suffering from a heartburn-related problem known as Barrett's esophagus, only about 1 percent who had a procedure that uses heat to burn off precancerous spots went on to develop cancer over the next year ... Barrett's esophagus occurs when stomach acid backs up into the throat, causing an abnormal growth. (Boston Globe)
Radiofrequency Ablation — Great for Some or Justified for Many? May 28, 2009
1,2 This type of esophageal cancer develops from a precursor lesion known as Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which the normal squamous esophageal lining is replaced by columnar epithelium containing intestinal metaplasia. In a small subgroup of patients, Barrett's esophagus may undergo a transition from low-grade or high-grade dysplasia to esophageal adenocarcinoma ... The current standard of care is to enroll patients with Barrett's esophagus in endoscopic surveillance programs and to... (New England Journal of Medicine)
Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett’s Esophagus with Dysplasia May 28, 2009
NEJM -- Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett's Esophagus with Dysplasia ... Radiofrequency Ablation in Barrett's Esophagus with Dysplasia ... Background Barrett's esophagus, a condition of intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus, is associated with an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Osteoporosis Drugs Might Not Raise Cancer Risk Apr 28, 2009
"Although there is uncertainty about whether the use of oral bisphosphonates increases the risk of esophageal cancer, it seemed prudent to disclose the reports, advise against the use of these drugs in patients with Barrett's esophagus, and recommend definitive studies," she wrote. Wysowski also pointed out that oral bisphosphonates can affect the esophagus in negative ways and so could "plausibly" be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. (MEDLINEplus)
Wine Protects Against Barrett's Esophagus Apr 17, 2009
Wine seems to protect against the development of Barrett's esophagus, as does higher educational status, according to a study published in the March issue of Gastroenterology. Patients with Barrett's esophagus have a 30- to 125-fold increased risk of developing esophageal cancer when compared to the general population, Dr. Ai Kubo, of Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, and colleagues report ... "Little is known regarding the effect of alcohol on Barrett's esophagus, especially related to... (Newsmax)
Biodegradable gel being studied as a treatment for esophageal cancer Apr 16, 2009
This abnormal cellular change is known as Barrett's esophagus. A person could ultimately develop cancer of the esophagus as a result of developing Barrett's. (EurekAlert!)
The Cough That Could Be Deadly Mar 26, 2009
This abnormal cellular change is known as Barrett's esophagus, which rarely becomes cancerous. Related. (ABC News)
Wine consumption may be linked to lower risk of esophageal cancer, studies find Mar 5, 2009
In one study, researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California, found that drinking one glass of wine a day was associated with a more than 50 percent reduction in the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, though there was no reduction in risk among adults who drank liquor or beer. Barrett's esophagus, an erosion of the esophageal lining that can be caused by chronic heartburn or acid reflux, increases the odds of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma 30-fold to 40-fold. (International Herald Tribune)
Wine May Cut Risk of Esophageal Cancer Mar 5, 2009
Research Shows That Moderate Wine Drinkers May Have Less Risk of Barrett's Esophagus, A Pre-Cancerous Condition ... But findings from three newly published studies suggest that drinking wine in moderation may help protect against esophageal adenocarcinoma or a precancerous condition, Barrett's esophagus ... Wine Drinking and Barrett's Esophagus. (CBS News)
N.Y. County Votes To Ban BPA Baby Bottles Mar 5, 2009
Research Shows That Moderate Wine Drinkers May Have Less Risk of Barrett's Esophagus, A Pre-Cancerous Condition. . (CBS News)
Wine May Be Protective against Esophageal Cancer Mar 4, 2009
MONDAY, March 2 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking a glass of wine a day may lower the risk of Barrett's esophagus, a condition that precedes esophageal cancer. Barrett's esophagus, which affects about 5 percent of the population, occurs when heartburn or acid reflux permanently damages the lining of the esophagus ... In this Kaiser Permanente study, researchers looked at 953 men and women in Northern California and found that those who drank one or more glasses of red or white wine a day were 56... (MEDLINEplus)
Drinking wine lowers risk of Barrett's esophagus, precursor to nation's fastest growing cancer Mar 2, 2009
Kaiser Permanente study is first & largest to examine connection between alcohol & Barrett's esophagus ... Drinking one glass of wine a day may lower the risk of Barrett's Esophagus by 56 percent, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in the March issue of Gastroenterology ... Barrett's Esophagus is a precursor to esophageal cancer, the nation's fastest growing cancer with an incidence rate that's jumped 500 percent in the last 30 years. (EurekAlert!)
Alcohol types and socioeconomic status are associated with Barrett's esophagus risk Mar 1, 2009
Bethesda, MD (March 1, 2009) Although the relationship between alcohol and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is well established, studies investigating the association between alcohol intake and reflux esophagitis (RE), Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) have reported inconsistent findings. Furthermore, little is known regarding the effect of alcohol on BE, especially related to alcohol types. (EurekAlert!)
Scattered Light Rapidly Detects Tumor Response To Chemotherapy Feb 7, 2009
Wax and colleagues at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are currently conducting a pilot clinical trial in humans using a similar technology for early detection of pre-cancerous cells in the epithelial lining of the esophagus, a condition known as Barrett's Esophagus. The Duke research was supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. (Science Daily)
