 Discussant: J.G. Brasseur (Philadelphia) Recent advances in understanding the Motor function and Dysfunction of the foregut Recognized Esophageal Motor Disorders Achalasia / LES - Diffuse Esophageal Spasms - Nutcracker Esophagus - Transitional Forms  How should "ineffective esophageal motility" be defined? R.Tutuian (Zurich) What is more important for the bolus transport through the esophagus: peristalsis, upright or sitting position, or quality of food? R. Romagnoli (Turin) Is there a relationship between the proportion of longitudinal or circular muscle and the motility of the esophageal body? J. Sarosiek (Kansas City) What is the origin of tonic contractions in the LES? J.G. Brasseur (Philadelphia) What is the mechanism of action of transmural pressure in the esophageal wall? M. Riegler (Vienna) Should the phrase "hormonal regulation of the LES" be discarded? R.W. McCallum (Kansas City) Is LES relaxation clearly neurogenic and dependent on vagal control during swallowing? R.K. Goyal (Boston) What is the significance of increased esophageal muscle mass in primary motility disorders? R.K. Mittal (San Diego) Is there a neural pathway from the stomach to LES that causes sphincter relaxation? Among the available GI function tests, which ones provide the most relevant information on motility of the esophagus? G.W. Falk (Cleveland) What is the relevance of the pressure trough separating the proximal and distal esophageal body motor patterns? J.G. Brasseur (Philadelphia) How can complete relaxation of the LES in patients with typical achalasia be explained? J.E.Richter (Philadelphia) What is pseudo-achalasia? Does it exist in young people? P. Funck-Jensen (Aarhus) Does the absence of pathological neural abnormalities in DES exclude a neurogenic origin? D.O. Castell (Charleston) What are the absolute manometric criteria for making the diagnosis of DES? E.H. Metman (Tours) What is the relationship between vigorous achalasia and DES with LES abnormalities? E.H. Metman (Tours) What criteria differentiate DES from nutcracker esophagus? V. Nilton Felix (Sao Paulo) Does the clinical expression of nutcracker esophagus resemble that of the functional GI disorders? R.E. Clouse (St Louis) Can sensory function of the esophageal body be predicted by motility pattern? R. Tatum (Seattle) Is differentiation of DES from the other spastic disorders, including nutcracker esophagus, of clinical relevance? R.W. McCallum (Kansas City)    Monday, September 4, 9:45 - 12:00 p.m. Non-Cardiac Chest Pain - Functional Heartburn - Globus Sensory structure responsible for sensing pain in the esophagus: do we know what it looks like? W.L.Neuhuber (Erlangen) What are the functional characteristics of esophageal sensory nociceptors? Projection of esophageal primary sensory neurons in the spinal cord: what is the location and relevance? Y. Taché (Los Angeles) Descending control: does it influence visceral pain? A.M. Drewes (Aalborg) Where in the cerebral cortex is esophagus represented? R. Shaker (Milwaukee) Can esophagus sense mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli? What is the underlying mechanism? H. Gregersen (Aalborg) Acid Sensitivity and esophageal hypersensitivity; Is it peripheral or central? Q. Aziz (Salford) What is the biomechanical basis for esophageal pain? G.J. Brasseur (Philadelphia) Does longitudinal muscle contraction cause esophageal pain? R.K. Mittal (San Diego) What is the role of drug treatment in the management of esophageal pain? C. Scarpignato (Parma) What is the role of sympathetic tone in esophageal pain? G. Tougas (Basel) What is the role of mucosal barrier in acid-induced pain? R.C. Orlando (New Orleans) Can non acid reflux cause esophageal symptoms? D. Sifrim (Leuven) Vanilloid receptor in reflux-induced pain: Is it the culprit? J. Tack (Leuven) Psychophysiological model of esophageal pain: does it explain the unexplained? R.E. CLouse (St Louis) Heartburn in non erosive reflux disease: if it is not acid, then what is it? J. Tack (Leuven) Targeting GABAB and glutamate receptors: is it the way to go for treating esophageal symptoms? A. Lehmann (Môlndal) Achalasia and esophageal pain: what is the prevalence and possible mechanism? A.M. Drewes (Aalborg) Reflux induced esophageal distension: does it cause heartburn/pain? N. Tipnis (Milwaukee) Globus: what causes that sensation? I.J.S. Cook (Sydney) 
How can the relationship between the brain stem circuits and foregut motility be proven experimentally? Can the cortical sensory and motor control of the foregut be demonstrated by non-invasive methods? What are the effects and implications of electrical stimulation of the esophagus on cerebral evoked responses? A.R. Hobson (Salford) How can stresses and strains at the receptor sites be measured? H. Gregersen (Aalborg) What are the connections of the medullar swallow center? What is the relationship between cerebral neuronal activation and responses and mechanical behaviour of the pharynx and esophagus? A. Schindler (Milan) How does the larynx protect itself from acid regurgitation? E. Brossard (Lausanne) Do we know enough about the local reflexive control of UES function to target pharmacotherapy for extra-oesophageal complications of GERD? A.M. Drewes (Aalborg) How should we measure oesophago-pharyngeal regurgitation: pH, impedance, other? R. Shaker (Milwaukee) What are the anatomical elements contributing to the structure of the UES? R.K. Goyal (Boston) What is the significance of a crico-pharyngeal bar and is it synonymous with UES achalasia? R.O. Dantas (Riberao Preto) What happened to the pharyngeal webs / Plummer-Vinson syndrome of iron deficiency anemia? R.K. Goyal (Boston) Do we have valid and reliable means of quantifying severity of pharyngeal dysphagia ? B. Martin-Harris (Charleston) Is oro-pharyngeal dysphagia a good indication for naso-endoscopy? R. Shaker (Milwaukee) Does laryngo-pharyngeal sensory testing have any value in predicting dysphagia outcome? L.F. Johnson (Birmingham – AL) Is it possible to establish a protocol for video-fluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing? A. Wuttge-Hannig (Munich) What is to be expected from the new techniques of high resolution manometry? G.S. Hebbard (Melbourne) How do you determine the cause for pharyngeal dysphagia when the cause is not obvious? D.G. Thompson (Salford) When is altered Can activation of peripheral sensory pathways be exploited to treat neuromyogenic pharyngeal dysphagia?  Tuesday, September 5, 10:20 - 12:35 p.m. J.E. PANDOLFINO (USA) - D. SIFRIM (Belgium) Discussant: L. Miller (Philadelphia) What is the role of radiology in the detection and evaluation of esophageal stenosis, diverticula and hiatal hernias? F.I. Habib (Rome) What is the value of the esophageal capsule endoscopy in detection of esophageal mucosal abnormalities? R. Eliakim (Haifa) What can be expected from 3-dimensional EUS in staging of esophageal cancer? J.R. Armengol Miro (Barcelona) For the most accurate diagnosis of superficial carcinomas, what is the compared value of ultrasoundminiprobe and of the radial scanning echo-endoscope? Is video-fluoroscopy the best technique for evaluation of dysphagia? P. Pokieser (Vienna) What can be expected from concurrent manometry and video recording of barium swallow? P. Clave (Mataro) What is the predictive role of the degree of esophageal emptying by timed barium swallows in the evaluation of patients with achalasia? E.H. Metman (Tours) What is the advantage of high resolution manometry compared to conventional manometry in the diagnosis of dysphagia? R.E. Clouse (St Louis) Can intraluminal esophageal impedance improve the fluoroscopic evaluation of patients with dysphagia? R. Tutuian (Zurich) What are the current indications of radiology in patients with GERD? F.I. Habib (Rome) Are there specific indications of esophageal scintigraphy in GERD? T.K. Chaudhuri (San Antonio) What is the role of esophageal intraluminal impedance in the evaluation of patients with GERD with persistent symptoms “on” PPI? R. Tutuian (Zurich) Can intraluminal impedance measurement be used as a screening test for Barrett's esophagus? D. Sifrim (Leuven) What is the role of radiology in patients with chest pain? Ch. Hannig (Munich) Is there a reliable correlation between the radiographic and manometric findings for diagnosing esophageal motor disorders? K.R. .De Vault (Jacksonville) What information can be expected from EUS in patients with NCCP? R.K. Mittal (San Diego) Can manometry-EUS measurements give a clinical useful information on the functioning of the circular and longitudinal muscle in patients with dysphagia or chest pain? J.G. Brasseur (Philadelphia) What can be expected from the four-electrode impedance planimetry in the evaluation of esophageal wall tension and sensitivity in patients with chest pain? H. Gregersen (Aalborg) What information can be expected from the neuro-physiologic techniques (magneto-encephalography, PET scan, functional MRI) in the evaluation of patients with functional disorders of the esophagus? A.R. Hobson (Salford) How can we use cortical evoqued potentials to distinguish patients with esophageal hypersensitivity? A.R. Hobson (Salford)  Wednesday, September 6, 7:15 - 9:30 a.m. G.S. HEBBARD (Australia) - R.W. McCALLUM (USA) Discussant: L.F. Johnson: (Birmingham – AL) Biomechanics Of Hiatal Hernias - Extraesophageal Manifestations Of GERD H. Pylori - pH And Manometry Recording Techniques What is the prevalence of GERD in far East countries? B. Wong (Hong Kong) What is the distribution of values for post-prandial and nocturnal gastric acidity in GERD with erosive esophagitis and no esophagitis? M. Cicala (Rome) What proportion of patients suffering from GER have oro-pharyngeal symptomatology? R. Tutuian (Zurich) What is the role of GERD in functional esophageal disorders? What is the pattern of esophageal contractions in GERD? J.G. Brasseur (Philadelphia) In patients with heartburn, can a correlation with esophageal acid perfusion be demonstrated? R.C. Orlando (New Orleans) Does prolonged acid suppression with PPIs increase the severity of HP-related gastritis? Should Prokinetics be added to PPIs in maintenance GERD therapy? G. Tougas (Basel) What is the mechanism responsible for the therapeutic effect of radio-frequency energy delivery to the GEJ for GERD? G. Triadafilopoulos (Stanford) What are the characteristics of esophageal motility in patients with hiatal hernia? J.E .Pandolfino (Chicago) What is the value of intra-luminal manometry? M. Fox (London) Why does hiatal hernia rarely exist with achalasia? V. Nilton Felix (Sao Paulo) What are the mechanisms of the association between HP infection and GERD? J. Saroziek (Kansas City) What is the role of HP infection in the development of carditis? R. Malekzadeh & S. Nasseri-Moghaddam (Tehran) Is there a relationship between gastric dysrythmias and HP infection? R.W. McCallum (Kansas City) Does H. pylori change gastric emptying? G. Tougas (Basel) Do the benefits of eradication of HP in peptic ulcer disease justify the potential risks of developing GERD? K.E.L. McColl (Glasgow) Gastric emptying before and after fundoplication: does it really change? J.E. Pandolfino (Chicago) Does multiple rapid swallowing test improve the assessment of LES function? R. Penagini (Milan) What are the drawbacks of the trans-nasal or trans-oral bravo pH monitoring system? |
