M. B. Fennerty

Systematic review: the economic impact of irritable bowel syndrome.

Background : Although little mortality is associated with irritable bowel syndrome, curative therapy does not exist and thus the economic impact of this disorder may be considerable.

Assessment of oesophageal motor function in patients with dysphagia or chest pain: the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative experience

Background : Available prospectively acquired data on the distribution of oesophageal motor abnormalities in patients being evaluated for non‐cardiac chest pain and/or dysphagia are relatively scarce.

The omeprazole test is as sensitive as 24‐h oesophageal pH monitoring in diagnosing gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease in symptomatic patients with erosive oesophagitis

Ambulatory 24‐h oesophageal pH monitoring and a short course of high dose omeprazole can be used as diagnostic modalities for GERD. However, comparative studies of the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of both strategies have not been performed.

Systematic review: The role of bile acids in the pathogenesis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and related neoplasia

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 34: 146–165

Direct comparative trials of the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors in the management of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease

Background : Five proton pump inhibitors are now available for use in North America. Claims of differences in the clinical efficacy of different strengths and/or agents have been made.

Efficacy of esomeprazole 40 mg vs. lansoprazole 30 mg for healing moderate to severe erosive oesophagitis.

Background : Secondary analyses from previous studies indicated that esomeprazole was more effective than lansoprazole and omeprazole in healing moderate or severe (Los Angeles grades C or D) erosive oesophagitis (EE).

The clinical and economic impact of competing management strategies for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder in the primary care setting. Traditional management strategies consist of sequentially intensive therapeutic trials followed by invasive diagnostic testing for nonresponders. A high dose proton pump inhibitor trial (the ‘proton pump inhibitor test’) has been shown to be an accurate diagnostic alternative, and may be an efficient initial approach to patients with GERD symptoms.

Randomised clinical trial: MiraLAX vs. Golytely – a controlled study of efficacy and patient tolerability in bowel preparation for colonoscopy

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 33–40

Systematic review: is there excessive use of proton pump inhibitors in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease?

Background : Proton‐pump inhibitors are often recommended for continuous use in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, but this may not be necessary in all patients.

Systematic review: peginterferon vs. standard interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Background : Randomized controlled trials over the last decade have demonstrated incremental improvement in the treatment efficacy of chronic hepatitis C with combination interferon and ribavirin therapy when compared with interferon monotherapy.