Conclusion: Chronic KD after HTx is associated with

impai

Conclusion: Chronic KD after HTx is associated with

impaired maximal exercise capacity and decreased ventilatory efficiency. GFR is a strong independent non-exercise-derived predictor of peak VO(2) in these patients. J Heart Lung Transplant 2009;28:446-52. Copyright (C) 2009 by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.”
“Background Rural-urban female migrant workers living in factories are a special majority group in the city of Shenzhen, China. These female workers came from different provinces of mainland China. The health-related issues and quality of life (QOL) of this migrator have become serious public health and social problems, which have not been well Selleckchem AZD1480 characterized. This study aimed to explore the QOL and related factors of rural-urban female migrant workers living in factories in China.

Methods In total, 3,622 rural-urban female migrant workers completed the Health Survey Short Form (SF-36).

Sociodemographic characteristics, health status and job satisfaction during the past 6 months were also collected.

Results Subjects had an average of 2.53 +/- 1.93 (median = 2.00, quartile interval = 3.00) diseases. The two-week Morbidity Rate was 21.9%, and only 14.0% of the subjects were satisfied with their current job. Compared to Chinese female norms, the participants scored lower in seven concepts domains of SF-36 (role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional and NVP-HSP990 mouse mental health). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age, education level, work duration and job AG-014699 solubility dmso satisfaction, two-week Morbidity Rate, anemia symptoms and muscular soreness proved to be significant predictors for all the 7 domains (except for physical functioning). Digestive system disease was a significant predictor in 5 out of 7 domains, while urinary system disease and gynecological disease were significant predictors in 4 out of 7 domains.

Conclusions In general, QOL in rural-urban female migrant workers was lower than Chinese female norms. Improving

their job satisfaction and controlling job-related disease appears to be critical to improving their QOL.”
“Background: Determination of coronary flow reserve (CFR) is increasingly being used in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). We aimed to identify determinants of CFR in heart transplantation (HT).

Methods: CFR was measured by transthoracic echocardiography in 119 HT recipients (97 men, 22 women; 50 +/- 12 years of age at HT and 8 +/- 5 years post-Ht). CFR was expressed as the ratio of hyperemic (adenosine infusion at a rate of 0.14 mg/kg) to basal diastolic flow velocity. Rejection scores (RS) on endomyocardial biopsy were calculated. Angiographic CAV was analyzed using a qualitative grading system.

Oral bioavailability of 10 mg of ritonavir in solid dispersion pr

Oral bioavailability of 10 mg of ritonavir in solid dispersion prepared by solvent evaporation (SE1) and melt BIBF 1120 mw method (MM1) was compared with pure drug after oral administration of solid dispersion and pure drug to Albino Wistar rats of either sex. The results suggested formation of eutectic solid dispersion. In vitro dissolution studies was performed in 0.1 N HCl and biorelevant media showed enhanced dissolution rate as compared to pure drug in

both FeSSIF media and 0.1 N HCl. The apparent rate of absorption of ritonavir from SE1 (C (max) 20221.37 ng/ml, t (max) 0.5 h) was higher than that of MM1 (C (max) 2,462.2, t (max) 1 h) and pure drug (C (max) 1,354.8 ng/ml, t (max) 0.5 h). On the basis of the result obtained, it was concluded that solid dispersion is a good approach to enhance solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble ritonavir.”
“This article deals with the study of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal

buy Galardin (PDLC) films that consisted of micro-droplets of liquid crystals (LCs) dispersed in a polymer matrix. The PDLC films were fabricated by the photoinduced phase separation method under room-temperature conditions. To determine the extent of the effects of the molecular structures and their physical properties of different mixtures of monomers and LCs on the morphology and electrooptical properties of the PDLC films, various mixtures were used. A detailed discussion of the obtained results is given. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 1424-1430, 2011″
“Background: Penicillium marneffei is a dimorphic pathogenic fungus endemic in Southeast Asia that usually causes disseminated disease, mainly in immunocompromised individuals,

especially those with HIV infection. Untreated cases are usually fatal. The only known natural reservoir exists in bamboo rats and there is no firm evidence that these animals are involved in direct transmission to humans. The risk of infection is not restricted to those living in endemic areas; HIV-infected individuals who travel to Southeast Asia have also become infected by P. marneffei. Hence, there must exist sources to which even tourists are exposed on a short-term basis.

Design and methods: Penicillium is known to infect dogs and this animal is common in the streets and temple areas of Chiang VX-770 cost Mai, where there is one of the highest incidences of P. marneffei infection in the world. Dogs have not been well studied as a possible reservoir. To investigate this possibility, we took nasal swabs from 83 outdoor dogs and performed culture and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect P. marneffei.

Results: We found that approximately 13% of nasal swabs from dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand were positive when tested by two different PCR methods, but culture results were negative. Sequencing the products from both PCR reactions showed 100% identity with P. marneffei, whereas no other known fungi shared both sequences.

Results: There were 17 to 32 mentored cases needed to become comp

Results: There were 17 to 32 mentored cases needed to become competent in LN, followed by up to 5 observed cases in the mentee’s own center. Subsequently, Fedratinib mouse data from the first 105 cases (80 LN and 25 laparoscopic nephroureterectomies [LNU]) performed by the three surgeons after the end of their training

without observation by their mentor were retrospectively collected and analyzed. There were three conversions (2.9%). For LN and LNU, respectively: median operative time was 140 minutes (65-390 min) and 180 minutes (90-300 min); median estimated blood loss was 30mL (0-2000mL) and 50mL (0-2000 mL); median postoperative stay was 4 days (2-45 days) and 6 days (3-27 days). Four (3.8%) patients find protocol needed a postoperative transfusion. There was no 30-day mortality.

Conclusion: Mentees matched the median British

Association for Urological Surgeons (BAUS) registry operative time (LN, 120-180 min, LNU, 180-240 min) and had lower conversion rates (2.9% vs 6.4% for BAUS). Mentees matched median BAUS database reported blood loss (LN and LNU <500 mL) and length of stay (LN-4 days, LNU-5 days). This modular training program allows urologists to become independent in LN after a short period of focused training in the training center followed by a short period of mentoring in the mentee’s own center.”
“A time course study was conducted to investigate disease development and molecular defense response in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants colonized by a mixture of five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, namely, Glomus mosseae, G. intraradices, G. clarum, Gigaspora gigantea, and Gigaspora margarita, and post-infected with the soil-borne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Results showed that pre-colonization

of bean plants by AM fungi significantly reduced disease severity and disease incidence. DNA fingerprinting using the differential display technique revealed a genetic polymorphism (86.8 %) in bean plants that resulted ABT-737 datasheet from the colonization by AM fungi. Two genetic mechanisms were recorded: (1) switching on of new genes and (2) induction of other active genes, including the defense genes chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase, to a highly expressed state.”
“Galli-Galli disease is considered as a rare variant of Dowling-Degos disease, sharing the same clinical features of reticulate hyperpigmentation of the flexures. Histopathologically, there is acantholysis and suparabasal lacunae. Grover disease (transient acantholytic dermatosis) is a transient dermatosis which clinically presents as an eruption of erythematous excoriated papules located on the trunk and histologically with dyskeratosis and acantholysis. Grover disease has occasionally been reported in patients with chronic renal failure, human immunodeficiency virus infection, hematological malignancies, bone marrow allotransplantation, and renal transplantation.

0-7 5 and a temperature range of 25-37 degrees C The K(m) and V(

0-7.5 and a temperature range of 25-37 degrees C. The K(m) and V(max) values for O-nitrophenol-beta-D-galactopyranoside Selleckchem PLX3397 (ONPG) were 1.20 mM and 1,000 mu mol/min.mg protein, respectively. The response surface methodology was found to be useful in optimizing and determining the interactions among process variables in beta-galactosidase enzyme production. Hence, this study fulfills the lack of using mathematical

and statistical techniques in optimizing beta-galactosidase enzyme production in stirred tank bioreactor.”
“Portulacerebroside A (PCA) is a novel cerebroside compound isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. The present results showed that PCA significantly inhibited cell viability time-and dose-dependently, elicited chromatin aggregation and fragmented nuclei, and enhanced the percentage of apoptotic cells. Furthermore PCA remarkably increased the protein phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK, disrupted mitochondrial membrane penetrability, and triggered the release AZD6094 of mitochondrial cytochrome c and AIF to cytosol. Treatment with PCA also evidently activated caspase-9 and caspase-3 but not caspase-8. These results suggest that PCA-induced apoptosis is associated with activation of the p38 MAPK-and JNK-triggered mitochondrial death pathway. PCA possibly has the high potential for clinical applications in treating liver cancer and improving cancer chemotherapy.

(C) 2013 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Introduction: The response of Crohn’s disease (CD) to infliximab is initially good, although a loss of efficacy is observed over time. Dose escalation has been recommended in such cases.

Aims: To study the response to an intensified infliximab regimen in patients with CD; and to evaluate the adverse effects associated with intensification of therapy and identify predictors of loss of response.

Methods: We performed EVP4593 research buy a retrospective multicenter survey of all patients with CD who had been treated with at least the 3 induction doses of standard infliximab therapy, and for whom treatment had to be intensified due to loss of response. We analyzed the efficacy of the intensified regimen.

Results:

Thirty-three patients were included. After the first intensification dose, 79% of patients had a clinical response (33.5% complete response, 45.5% partial response). In the long term, 83%, 69%, 47%, and 29% of patients who had an initial response to the intensification maintained the response at 6, 12, 18, and 36 months, respectively. The loss of efficacy after escalation was 43% per patient-year of follow-up. One patient had an infusion reaction after 36 doses. One patient developed a herpes zoster infection.

Conclusions: A high proportion of patients whose dose of infliximab is increased due to loss of efficacy respond initially. However, nearly half lose the response after one year. The safety profile of an intensified infliximab regimen is good. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.

05) The incidences of adverse events were low and similar in bot

05). The incidences of adverse events were low and similar in both groups. Our experience suggests that BPH configuration has little effect on the efficacy and safety of GreenLight HPS (TM) laser PVP.”
“Mother-infant relationship has always interested CA4P in vivo researchers worldwide. This paper reviews the development of the concept of mother infant bonding through the years.”
“Background-Report cards of

risk-adjusted mortality rates of individual cardiac surgeons have been publicly available in New York State since 1991. A survey of New York cardiologists in 1996 found that these report cards had little effect on their referral recommendations to cardiac surgeons. It is unknown whether the influence of report cards on referral behavior has changed over time.

Methods and Results-We surveyed cardiologists in New York State in 2011 to determine their awareness of cardiac surgeon report cards, their use of the report card in formulating judgments about the quality of cardiac surgeons and selecting cardiac surgeons for referral GW4869 Apoptosis inhibitor of patients, and discussion

of the report with patients in need of cardiac surgery. The relation between demographic (age, sex) and professional (teaching, board certification, faculty appointment, general cardiology practice, and hospital employee) characteristics and the influence of report cards on referral decisions was assessed using chi(2) for categorical variables and t test for continuous variables. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to determine the independent association of any variable with P<0.1 on univariate analysis. Almost all (94%) cardiologists were aware of report cards of cardiac surgeons. The influence of the report cards on cardiologists’ referral decisions was limited, with 25% of cardiologists reporting a moderate or substantial influence on referral decisions. The report card was not discussed Transmembrane Transporters inhibitor with any patients by 71% of cardiologists. The mean age of cardiologists reporting moderate or substantial influence of report cards was 58 years

compared with 54 years for those who reported no/little influence (P=0.012). Fewer cardiologists who reported moderate or substantial influence were board certified (91% versus 99%; P=0.003). On multivariate analysis, general cardiology practice and employment by a hospital were independently associated with greater report card influence (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.05; P=0.13).

Conclusions-After 20 years of public reporting and almost universal awareness of cardiac surgeon report cards, in 2011, cardiologists in New York State made little use of this information and rarely discussed it with patients at the time of referral for cardiac surgery.”
“Acute stress disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that may occur in patients within four weeks of a traumatic event. Features include anxiety, intense fear or helplessness, dissociative symptoms, reexperiencing the event, and avoidance behaviors.

However, no studies have used ASP-RNAi

to address the iss

However, no studies have used ASP-RNAi

to address the issue of HBV lamivudine resistance. In this study, we applied ASP-RNAi into two long-term eukaryotic cell lines of full-length HBV containing either lamivudine-resistant mutants (HBV-YIDD) or wild type (HBV-WT) which we generated in previously. The designed siRNAs were also used in this eukaryotic expression system together with lamivudine. ELISA and real-time PCR were performed to monitor virus-specific protein synthesis and viral DNA replication. The results showed that the base substitutions conferring marked ASP-RNAi appeared to be largely present in positions 1, 3, 6, 11, 12, 15 and 19 of the sense strand of siRNAs which were different from the most sensitive positions of this application in eukaryotes. In addition, siRNA-lamivudine combinations Etomoxir price did not possess the prominent anti-HBV activity we expected because of some unknown mechanisms. These findings recapitulated many of the features of ASP-RNAi in hepadnaviruses which provided a new insight into the development of a potent strategy against HBV drug resistance.”
“Planar-type Ni/vacuum/Ni tunnel junctions ABT-737 ic50 based on ferromagnetic nanogaps were fabricated by field-emission-induced electromigration in an approach that we call “”activation.”"

In the activation method, we were simply and easily able to control the tunnel resistance of the nanogaps from 1.6 M Omega to 169 k Omega

by adjusting only the magnitude of the field emission current. The resistance of the junction formed by the BIBF 1120 mouse activation was varied by applying external magnetic fields, and the magnetoresistance (MR) ratio was approximately 12.2% at 16 K with a bias voltage of 0.72 mV. Furthermore, after the bias voltage was increased from 0.72 to 7.3 mV, the MR ratio decreased from 12.2% to 6.2%. When the applied bias voltage was fixed at 1.6 mV, the MR ratio was decreased from 11.6% to 1.2% by increasing the measurement temperature from 16 to 270 K. These results imply that it is possible to easily fabricate planar-type Ni/vacuum/Ni ferromagnetic tunnel junctions via activation. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3565198]“
“Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare 3 different solid screw implant fixture designs of stepped cylindric tapered, straight cylindric nontapered, and cylindric with vertical groove tapered on stress distribution in the posterior mandible at a fixed interimplant distance of 1.0 cm.

Study design. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was used to compare stress distribution around the endosseous titanium implants using 3 different implant fixture geometries. Two identical dental implants of 3 commercially available fixture designs were embedded in each model with a fixed interimplant distance of 1.0 cm.

Thick blood smears, dried blood spots and clinical status have be

Thick blood smears, dried blood spots and clinical status have been AMN-107 molecular weight collected from 3,354 randomly chosen children aged 6 months to 12 years using two cross-sectional surveys (during the dry and rainy seasons) in eight areas from four ecological strata defined according to building density and land tenure (regular versus irregular). Demographic characteristics, socio-economic information, and sanitary

and environmental data concerning the children or their households were simultaneously collected. Dependent variables were analysed using mixed multivariable models with random effects, taking into account the clustering of participants within compounds and areas.

Results: Overall prevalences of CSP-antibodies and P. falciparum infections were 7.7% and 16.6% during the

dry season, and 12.4% and 26.1% during the rainy season, respectively, with significant differences according to ecological strata. Malaria risk was significantly higher among children who i) lived in households with lower economic or education levels, iii) near the hydrographic network, iv) in sparsely built-up areas, v) in irregularly built areas, vi) who did not use a bed net, vii) were sampled during the rainy season or click here ii) had traveled outside of Ouagadougou.

Conclusion: Malaria control should be focused in areas which are irregularly or sparsely built-up or near the hydrographic network. Furthermore, urban children would benefit from preventive interventions (e. g. anti-vectorial devices or chemoprophylaxis) aimed at reducing malaria risk during and after travel in rural areas.”
“The preferential solvation parameters, that is, the differences between the local and bulk mole fractions of the solvents in solutions of the sunscreen compound ethylhexyl triazone (EHT) in ethyl acetate (EtAc) + ethanol (EtOH) binary mixtures are derived from their thermodynamic properties by means of the inverse Kirkwood-Buff integrals (IKBI) method. From solvent effect

studies, it is found that EHT is sensitive to solvation effects, so the preferential solvation parameter delta x(EtAc,EHT), is negative in ethanol-rich and ethyl acetate-rich mixtures but positive in compositions from 0.36 to 0.71 in mole fraction of AcEt at 298.15 K. It is this website conjecturable that in EtOH-rich mixtures the interaction by acidic hydrogenbonding by EtOH on basic sites of the sunscreen compound plays a relevant role in the solvation. The more solvation by AcEt in mixtures of similar solvent compositions could be due mainly to polarity effects. Finally, the slight preference of this compound for EtOH in AcEt-rich mixtures could be explained in terms of the common participation of basic sites in both solvents and/or the acidic site of EtOH with the respective counterparts of ethylhexyl triazone. Nevertheless, the specific solute-solvent interactions remain unclear.

The lesions in 4 of the patients included the right paravermal zo

The lesions in 4 of the patients included the right paravermal zone of the rostral cerebellar hemisphere, which is regarded as an important area for speech function. The lobulus simplex was most highly involved in all 5 patients. We present the importance of

lobulus simplex for speech function, as in the fMRI data of previous reports, based on the localization of cerebellar infarcts in patients with isolated dysarthria.”
“Weak and dysfunctional health systems in low-income countries, particularly PXD101 nmr in sub-Saharan Africa, are recognised as major obstacles to attaining the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Some progress is being made towards achieving the targets of Millennium Development Goal 6 for tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and malaria, with the achievements largely

resulting from clearly defined strategies and intervention delivery systems combined with large amounts of external funding. This article is divided into four main sections. The first highlights the crucial elements that are needed in low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa to deliver good quality health care through CH5183284 general health systems. The second discusses the main characteristics of infectious disease and TB control programmes. The third illustrates how TB control and other infectious disease programmes can help to strengthen these components, particularly in human resources; infrastructure; procurement and distribution; monitoring, evaluation and supervision; leadership and stewardship. The fourth and final section looks at progress made to date at the international level in terms of policy and guidelines, with some specific suggestions about this might be moved forward at the national level. For TB Selleckchem HIF inhibitor and other infectious disease programmes to drive broad improvements in health care systems and patient care, the lessons that have been learnt must be consciously applied to the broader health system, and sufficient financial input and the engagement of all players arc essential.”
“Background: Blood Oxygen Level

Dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) is a novel imaging tool that detects changes in tissue oxygenation. Increases in renal oxygenation in response to a standard 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus have been evaluated to assess kidney viability in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). The effect of prior exposure to furosemide on the ability of BOLD MR techniques to evaluate renal function is unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that chronic loop diuretic therapy is associated with attenuated responses in renal tissue oxygenation as measured by BOLD MR with an acute 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus in participants undergoing evaluation for RAS.

Methods: Thirty-eight participants referred for evaluation of RAS were recruited for this study. We examined renal cortical and medullary BOLD signal (T2*) intensities before and after a 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus.

Technical difficulties in a vascular access are mainly encountere

Technical difficulties in a vascular access are mainly encountered before 18 weeks of gestation. https://www.selleckchem.com/epigenetic-reader-domain.html At an earlier gestational age, intraperitoneal

transfusion may gain the days necessary to perform an intravascular transfusion more safely. Obstet Gynecol 2011;118:1323-9) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e318235e3bb”
“N-Aryl-4-phenylbut-3-enamides reacted with arenesulfenyl chlorides in chloroform to give N,4-diaryl-3-arylsulfanyl-4-chlorobutanamides, whereas in acetic acid in the presence of lithium perchlorate N-[4-arylsulfanyl-5-phenyltetrahydrofuran-2-ylidene]arenaminium perchlorates were obtained. Reactions of arenesulfenyl chlorides with N,4-diarylbut-3-enamides having strong electron-donating groups in positions 3 and 4 of the N-aryl substituent afforded 5-aryl-4-arylsulfanyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-2-ones.”
“MEA (monoethanolamine)/AQ pulping of wheat and rye

straw and bleaching of the produced pulps were investigated. The delignification behaviour of wheat and rye straw using varying MEA/water and liquor/straw ratios was studied. Furthermore, the impacts of mono-, di-, tri-ethanolamine/water mixtures and addition of KOH to the cooking liquor were monitored. The best results were achieved with a MEA/water ratio of 50/50 at a liquor/straw ratio between 3:1 and 4:1. The use of the mixture of mono-, di-, tri-ethanolamine instead of MEA only was not effective for straw pulping. The effect of adding KOH to the MEA pulping liquor was negligible. The Roscovitine order results of MEA pulping of both straw species were compared with results for production and bleaching of soda and soda/AQ reference pulps. At similar degree of delignification, the MEA pulps showed 10% higher yield (based on straw), which demonstrates the unusually high selectivity

of MEA in straw pulping. The MEA straw pulps showed fairly low brightness and were more difficult to bleach than the corresponding soda pulps. Nevertheless, it is possible to bleach MEA pulps to more than 80% ISO brightness, applying an ECF bleaching sequences (O-Q-OP-DQ-P). With regard to bleachability, yield and strength properties the rye straw pulp sample performed much better than wheat straw pulp sample. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“OBJECTIVE: To estimate continuation selleck products rates, complications, and psychiatric hospitalizations among women with bipolar disorder using levonorgestrel-releasing or copper-containing intrauterine devices (IUDs) as compared with those using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate or sterilization for birth control.

METHODS: Data for this cohort study were obtained from a nationwide health insurance claims database on an employed, commercially insured population. Women aged 18-44 years with a prior diagnosis of bipolar disorder (n=849) who were using the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, a copper-containing IUD, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or sterilization were evaluated.

(Endocr Pract 2012;18:62-65)”
“Background: The severity and

(Endocr Pract. 2012;18:62-65)”
“Background: The severity and dysmorphology that results from the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures is CBL0137 not uniform. Less striking phenotypes may be more easily missed on routine screening, possibly leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare the age at initial presentation for the different forms of craniosynostosis.

Methods: The authors reviewed the records of all patients who underwent open craniofacial repair of craniosynostosis at a single

institution from 1996 to 2009. Relationships between type of suture fusion and age at initial consultation were compared.

Results: Two hundred eleven patients (136 males, 75 females) were identified. Indications included sagittal (n = 96), metopic (n = 39), unicoronal (n = 33), bicoronal (n = 24), multisutural (n = 15), bilambdoidal (n = 3), and unilambdoidal (n = 1) synostoses. Seventeen 3-MA ic50 patients (8.1%) had a craniosynostosis syndrome and 5 (2.4%) had a syndrome or disorder not typically associated with craniosynostosis [ X-linked hypophosphatemic

rickets (n = 3), achondroplasia (n = 1), and Beckwith Wiedemann (n = 1)]. Median age at initial consultation was 4.1 months; there was no gender difference. Patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets presented at a significantly older age than nonsyndromic patients or those with a known craniosynostosis syndrome. Those with multisutural synostosis presented at a significantly older age than patients with sagittal or bicoronal synostosis.

Conclusions: Patients with multisutural involvement or X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets had a significant delay in presentation for craniosynostosis. The latter group of patients may especially benefit from routine surveillance for craniosynostosis Lazertinib solubility dmso given their advanced age at diagnosis.”
“Purpose Achalasia is a rare, but well-defined primary esophageal motor disorder. Classic therapeutic approaches include botulinum toxin

injection, balloon dilation, and surgical myotomy of the lower esophageal sphincter. This report summarizes our experience with different treatment modalities for achalasia.

Methods Forty-three patients with achalasia treated in our hospital were subdivided according to therapeutic strategy: endoscopic botulinum toxin injection into the lower esophageal sphincter (EBTI; n=7), endoscopic esophageal balloon dilation (EBD; n=16), surgical myotomy after failed esophageal balloon dilation (EBD-HM; n=14), and first-line surgical myotomy (HM; n=6). Therapeutic efficiency was evaluated comparing standardized symptom scores preoperatively and at follow-up.

Results There was no mortality and no significant difference between the groups for age, sex, or morbidity. The mean follow-up was at 9, 35, 38, and 17 months. At follow-up, recurrent or persistent symptoms were found in 71.4%, 6.3%, 35.7%, and 16.7% in EBTI, EBD, EBD-HM, and HM, respectively.