January 2012

MicroRNAs regulate methionine adenosyltransferase 1A expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
Yang H, Cho ME, Li TW, Peng H, Ko KS, Mato JM, Lu SC

For a complete reference, please click here.

September 2012

Recent Advances of miRNA involvement in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma
Ko K, Peng H, Tang H, Cho M, Peng J, Aller M, Yang H.

Article not available in PubMed. Published in Open Journal of Internal Medicine, 2012, volume 2(3), pages 135-162.

January 2012

Esomeprazole for the treatment of GERD in infants ages 1-11 months
Winter H, Gunasekaran T, Tolia V, Gottrand F, Barker PN, Illueca M.

For a complete reference, please click here.

July 2011

Esomeprazole for the Treatment of GERD in Infants Ages 1–11 Months
Winter H, Gunasekaran T, Tolia V, Gottrand F, Barker PN, Illueca M.

For a complete reference, please click here.

January 2011

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in adolescents: is there a difference in different racial and ethnic groups
Gunasekaran TS, Dahlberg M.

For a complete reference, please click here.

November 2009

Effects of esomeprazole treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease on quality of life in 12- to 17-year-old adolescents: an international health outcomes study
Gunasekaran T, Tolia V, Colletti RB, Gold BD, Traxler B, Illueca M, Crawley JA.

• Background: Although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in adolescents, the way GERD effects health-related quality of life in adolescents has not been studied. Therefore, the object was to study the effect of GERD on the health-related quality of life in adolescents. Methods: This study included adolescents age 12 to 17 years with GERD to receive esomeprazole 20 or 40 mg once daily for 8 weeks. The Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire consists of 25 questions grouped into 5 categories: emotional distress, sleep disturbance, food/drink problems, physical/social functioning, and vitality. The questionnaire was completed at the beginning and end of the study. Results: 134 adolescents completed the questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study. At the beginning, scores indicated that GERD had a negative effect on the health-related quality of life of these adolescents, especially in the categories of vitality and emotional distress, and problems with food/drink. At the end of the study, scores for all 5 categories improved significantly.
  
  Conclusion: GERD had a negative effect on the quality of life in adolescents. After esomeprazole treatment, improvements occurred in all categories of the questionnaire for these adolescents.

For a complete reference, please click here.

June 2009

Prescribing proton-pump inhibitors to irritable infants: where is the evidence?
Gunasekaran T, Singla S, Dahlberg M

• Infants with gastroesophageal reflux present with multiple symptoms, including irritability. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often prescribed. Evidence demonstrates that there has been a four-fold increase in the use of PPIs in recent years, including children as young as 2 weeks old. This article addresses the multiple issues in using PPIs in infants. Extreme caution should be used in prescribing PPIs to this vulnerable age group, particularly those less than 6 months of age. Until more data are available, we suggest that PPIs be used only in infants with well-documented gastroesophageal reflux disease or as part of a clinical trial.

January 2008

Prevalence and associated features of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a caucasian-predominant adolescent school population.
Gunasekaran TS, Dahlberg M, Ramesh P, Namachivayam G

We wanted to find out how common it was for 14-18 year-old high school students to have esophageal symptoms and associated gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. We also wanted to know how many of these students saw a physician or received medications.

We analyzed 1,286 questionnaires. The study sample consisted of 57% Caucasians and 57% males, with an average age of 15.7 years.

Results: 714 students (56%) reported at least one esophageal or respiratory symptom. Esophageal symptoms reported were: heartburn (22%), regurgitation (21%), and difficulty swallowing (15%). Respiratory symptoms reported were: shortness of breath (24%), wheezing (20%), and cough (18%). Students with at least one esophageal symptom were more likely to experience at least one respiratory symptom than were students with no esophageal symptoms (52% vs. 25%; p,0.001). Cigarette, alcohol, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use were risk factors for both respiratory and esophageal symptoms. Of those experiencing one or more symptom, 4% reported that the symptom(s) affected their daily activities, 23% visited a physician, and 25% took medication in the past year.

Conclusions: Esophageal symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease are frequent in high school students. Fewer than 25% of students with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms saw a physician and/or took medications.

For a complete reference, please click here.