Clinical trials

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, with around 80% of patients experiencing nighttime symptoms. The prolonged nighttime reflux increases esophageal acid exposure, leading to complications like erosive esophagitis and extra-esophageal symptoms such as asthma and chronic cough. These symptoms disrupt sleep and affect daytime work and quality of life. Diet significantly influences GERD; high-fat foods, spicy foods, caffeine, carbonated beverages, and fermentable oligosaccharides disaccharides monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) can worsen symptoms by lowering the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter or delaying gastric emptying. Eating before bed or lying down immediately after meals can also aggravate symptoms. Treatment typically includes weight loss, bed elevation, smoking and alcohol cessation, avoiding meals before bedtime, and certain food restrictions. However, most dietary studies are observational, and there is limited evidence from randomized controlled trials. Proton pump inhibitors are standard treatments, but about 40% of patients do not achieve satisfactory symptom relief after treatment. Many of these patients suffer from disorders of gut-brain axis interaction (DGBI), characterized by visceral hypersensitivity and heightened esophageal vigilance. Additionally, these patients often have comorbid functional gastrointestinal disorders, increasing diagnostic complexity and leading to poor treatment outcomes. The interaction between visceral hypersensitivity, psychological distress, and central sensitization in GERD patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders remains unclear. This study aims to explore GERD symptoms and their influencing factors from multiple perspectives and propose non-pharmacological treatment strategies. The research focuses on nighttime reflux symptoms, dietary interventions, and the interaction between functional gastrointestinal disorders and GERD, providing empirical support to improve patients' symptoms and quality of life. The results of this study will help clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms related to GERD, esophageal DGBI, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, the research findings will provide effective treatment strategies for patients with refractory reflux and DGBI in clinical settings.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a challenging gastrointestinal disorder, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are typically the first line of treatment. However, up to 40% of GERD patients experience little to no relief or only partial relief of their symptoms after receiving PPI therapy. Among these patients, who do not respond to high-dose PPIs taken twice daily, more than 90% exhibit conditions related to brain-gut axis communication disorders, such as esophageal hypersensitivity and functional heartburn. Visceral hypersensitivity and esophageal hypervigilance are the two key causes of esophageal symptoms in this group of patients. According to the Rome IV consensus on esophageal disorders, five categories are identified: functional chest pain, functional heartburn, globus sensation, functional dysphagia, and esophageal hypersensitivity. The diagnostic criteria state that patients must have chronic esophageal symptoms, and any structural, inflammatory, or motility abnormalities must be excluded. Therefore, diagnosing brain-gut axis communication disorders in the esophagus requires upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, esophageal pH-impedance testing, and high-resolution esophageal manometry. Neuromodulators, which regulate peripheral and central pain sensitivity, are a cornerstone of pharmacological treatment for brain-gut axis communication disorders and associated symptoms. Additionally, growing evidence supports the use of brain-gut axis behavioral therapies, such as gut-directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to effectively treat these disorders. However, research on neuromodulators and CBT in brain-gut axis communication disorders remains limited, and their efficacy is still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and role of CBT in treating brain-gut axis communication disorders. The information gained from this research will help clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms related to brain-gut axis communication abnormalities and refractory GERD symptoms. Furthermore, the findings will guide the development of effective treatment strategies for patients with brain-gut axis communication disorders who do not respond to PPI therapy in clinical practice.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) poses a challenging medical condition to manage, with up to 40% of patients showing refractory to standard medical intervention, which usually begins with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Among these cases, esophageal disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), such as reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn, or GERD patients with concurrent occurrences of these conditions, constitute more than 90% of the patients who did not respond to twice-daily PPI treatment. Esophageal visceral hypersensitivity and hypervigilance are the two pathways that drive esophageal DGBI and symptoms. The Rome IV esophageal disorders, encompassing functional chest pain, functional heartburn, globus, functional dysphagia, and reflux hypersensitivity, are defined by present with symptoms originating from the esophagus without detectable evidence of structural, inflammatory, or motor disorders. Diagnosing esophageal DGBI necessitates testing involving endoscopy, pH-impedance monitoring, and high-resolution manometry. Neuromodulators form the basis of the pharmacological strategy for managing various esophageal DGBI and symptoms, modulating both peripheral and central hyperalgesia. Increasing evidence supports the use of brain-gut behavioral therapies, such as gut-directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy, as effective treatments for a variety of DGBIs. However, the efficacy of neuromodulators in treating esophageal DGBI and related symptoms remains largely unexplored. The primary objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of neuromodulators in managing esophageal DGBI. Additionally, investigators will explore various classes of neuromodulators and subtypes of esophageal DGBI to ascertain whether there are differing levels of effectiveness across these conditions. The findings from this study will contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of esophageal DGBI and GERD with refractory symptoms. These clinical insights may then offer valuable guidance for future therapeutic approaches in DGBI patients who experience esophageal symptoms and do not respond to PPI treatment.