GERD: A New Understanding of Pathology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment transforms the assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from its present state, which is largely dependent on clinical definition and management, to a more objective scientific basis that depends on pathologic assessment. Sequential chapters in this single-author book describe the fetal development of the esophagus, the normal adult state, and the way exposure to gastric juice causes epithelial and lower esophageal sphincter damage at a cellular level. It allows recognition of the pathologic manifestations of lower esophageal sphincter damage and develops new histopathologic criteria for quantitating such damage. This understanding provides new pathologic criteria for definition and diagnosis of GERD from its earliest cellular stage. Algorithms based on measurement of sphincter damage can identify, even before the onset of clinical GERD, persons who will never develop GERD during life, those who develop GERD but remain with mild and easily controlled disease, and those who will progress to severe GERD with failure to control symptoms, Barrett esophagus and adenocarcinoma. Aggressive early intervention in the last group with the objective of preventing disease progression to its end points of uncontrolled symptoms and adenocarcinoma becomes feasible. Provides a new method of assessment of GERD that has never previously been presented, creating a pathway to control Describes a new pathologic test based on standard histology that can define lower esophageal sphincter damage Sequential chapters outline the way GERD progresses from the perspective of the amount of damage to the lower esophageal sphincter Provides new avenues of clinical research and technologic innovations in pathology and treatment aimed at preventing esophageal adenocarcinoma
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is one of the most common maladies of mankind. Approximately 40% of the adult population of the USA suffers from significant heartburn and the numerous antacids advertised incessantly on national television represents a $8 billion per year drug market. The ability to control acid secretion with the increasingly effective acid-suppressive agents such as the H2 blockers (pepcid, zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (nexium, prevacid) has given physicians an excellent method of treating the symptoms of acid reflux. Unfortunately, this has not eradicated reflux disease. It has just changed its nature. While heartburn, ulceration and strictures have become rare, reflux-induced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is becoming increasingly common. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia is now the most rapidly increasing cancer type in the Western world. The increasing incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has created an enormous interest and stimulus for research in this area. GERD brings together a vast amount of disparate literature and presents the entire pathogenesis of reflux disease in one place. In addition to providing a new concept of how gastroesophageal reflux causes cellular changes in the esophagus, GERD also offers a complete solution to a problem that has confused physicians for over a century. Both clinical and pathological information about reflux disease and its treatment are presented. GERD is meant to be used as a comprehensive reference for gastroenterologists, esophageal surgeons, and pathologists alike. Outlines how gastroesophageal reflux causes cellular changes in the esophagus Brings together the pathogenesis of the disease in one source and applies it toward clinical treatment Tom DeMeester is THE leading international expert on reflux disease; Parakrama Chandrasoma is one of the leading pathologists in the area Book contains approximately 350 illustrations Ancillary web site features color illustrations: www.chandrasoma.com
This outstanding new edition is reorganized to emphasize major topics in pathology while promoting a clinical understanding of the mechanisms of disease. An outstanding collection of more than 740 illustrations, many in color, reinforce important principles
Gastroesophageal reflux is one of the most common maladies of mankind. Approximately 40% of the adult population of the USA suffers from significant heartburn and the numerous antacids advertised incessantly on national television represents a $8 billion per year drug market. The ability to control acid secretion with the increasingly effective acid-suppressive agents such as the H2 blockers (pepcid, zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (nexium, prevacid) has given physicians an excellent method of treating the symptoms of acid reflux. Unfortunately, this has not eradicated reflux disease. It has just changed its nature. While heartburn, ulceration and strictures have become rare, reflux-induced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is becoming increasingly common. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia is now the most rapidly increasing cancer type in the Western world. At present, there is no histologic test that has any practical value in the diagnosis of reflux disease. The only histologic diagnostic criteria are related to changes in the squamous epithelium which are too insensitive and nonspecific for effective patient management. It is widely recognized that columnar metaplasia of the esophagus (manifest histologically as cardiac, oxyntocardiac and intestinal epithelia) is caused by reflux. However, except for intestinal metaplasia, which is diagnostic for Barrett esophagus, these columnar epithelia are not used to diagnose reflux disease in biopsies. The reason for this is that these epithelial types are indistinguishable from "normal" "gastric" cardiac mucosa. In standard histology texts, this "normal gastric cardia" is 2-3 cm long. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Chandrasoma and his team at USC produced autopsy data suggesting that cardiac and oxyntocardiac mucosa is normally absent from this region and that their presence in biopsies was histologic evidence of reflux disease. From this data, they determined that the presence of cardiac mucosa was a pathologic entity caused by reflux and could therefore be used as a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic criterion for the histologic diagnosis of reflux disease. They call this entity "reflux carditis". In addition, the length of these metaplastic columnar epithelia in the esophagus was an accurate measure of the severity of reflux disease in a given patient. At present, there is some controversy over whether cardiac mucosa is totally absent or present normally to the extent of 0-4 mm. While this should not be a deterrent to changing criteria which are dependent on there normally being 20-30 cm of cardiac mucosa, there has been little mainstream attempt to change existing endoscopic and pathologic diagnostic criteria in the mainstream of either gastroenterology or pathology. The ATLAS will be the source of easily digestible practical information for pathologists faced with biopsies from this region. It will also guide gastroenterologists as they biopsy these patients. The American Gastroenterological Association claims there are 14,500 members worldwide who are practicing physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, there are 12,000 board certified pathologists in the U.S. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia is now the most rapidly increasing cancer type in the Western world Approximately 40% of the adult population of the U.S. suffers from significant heartburn and the numerous antacids advertised on national television represents an $8 billion per year drug market
Applied linguistics as a discipline embodies a wide canvass of knowledge pertaining to language studies. One dimension of this knowledge that has whetted the appetite of scholars is student academic writing. Professor Chandrasoma´s book critically explores academic interdisciplinarity, a relatively new area of student writing in our contemporary contexts, from different perspectives: approaches to ESL/EFL/EAP, disciplinary integration, linguistic capital, pedagogical practices in applied linguistics, generically diverse assessment tasks, extra-disciplinarity, pedagogic desire, curricular issues, and socio-economic imperatives. His work also offers a comprehensive study of how student writers grapple with interdisciplinary knowledge in the academy. In Chapter two, the author introduces a typology of interdisciplinarity, and he substantiates his claims with empirical evidence, thus demystifying its abstract and vague definitions abounding in the literature. This is an area where he really breaks fresh grounds. The intellectual intensity of this book emerges largely from the novel concepts introduced in his discussions on interdisciplinary integration in the university curricula in the last two decades. Since almost every discipline has crossed its boundaries, student writing has become a more complex and intricate academic exercise as has never been before. Professor Chandrasoma emphasizes the need for knowledge for specific purposes programs peripheral to the currently used English for academic/specific purposes programs in universities in order to enculturate novice student writers into the new culture of interdisciplinary integration. This seminal work proposes critical interdisciplinarity as a sustainable pedagogical practice to cope with a plethora of difficulties encountered by student writers at various stages of constructing their texts. The book meets a long felt need as evidenced by the paucity of literature on interdisciplinary studies in particular reference to student writing. Hence this book is an asset to language teachers, academic support advisors, curriculum developers, researchers in linguistics, and student writers. As far as academic disciplines are concerned, the book has a specific focus on English language (ESL/EFL/EAP), applied linguistics, and education. The book will also serve as an invaluable resource for various programs where academic literacies are vital. In particular it lends itself to programs such as foundation studies, developmental education, and interdisciplinary studies both at graduate and postgraduate levels in universities and colleges.
An exciting new resource with a unique, problem-oriented approach and spectacular photographs, this book includes new information on cardiac mucosal changes in gastroesophageal reflux disease not available in any other text. The book covers surgical pathology, cytopathology, exfoliative and fine needle aspiration, clinical and endoscopic correlations and much more, and also provides the best references for further research.
Is Enlightenment the Road to Heaven, Nirvana...or Nowhere? Many religions believe in some equivalent of Heaven or Hell, where one is transported after death to live in eternal bliss or agony. Buddhists believe that one is repeatedly reborn until Nirvana is attained. And still others, overtly or secretly, entertain the possibility that we go nowhere; our lives end at death, and our bodies disintegrate. People lead their lives based on a code of morality. For the deeply religious, the source of this code is their scripture and church, which convey the word of their God. Their road to enlightenment and Heaven is written in the Book. For the Buddhist, however, who has no God, the source of one's morality is inborn and changed by life experience. The way a person deals with this change toward increasing wisdom is the Buddhist road to enlightenment and Nirvana. In Enlightened Enough, Parakrama Chandrasoma applies Buddhist philosophy in its most basic form to the way he conducts his life. The methods-aimed at achieving enlightenment and Nirvana when applied to daily living-increase wisdom and promote happiness during this lifetime. Whether Heaven, Hell, Nirvana, or nothingness awaits us, stripping away external influences and focusing within to address our inner spiritual being is our best chance to create a contented and peaceful existence during our mortal life here on earth.
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