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Although it is well-known that Barrett's esophagus is a major risk factor for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma, our understanding of the pathogenesis, causes of progression and optimal clinical management is limited. This viewpoint considers the problems of managing Barrett's esophagus, which include defining the condition and determining the value of surveillance and interventional strategies.
Helminth parasites mostly have been eliminated in industrialized parts of the world, where the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the highest. The authors propose that helminths protect the bowel by downregulating inflammatory responses. Evidence for the immune regulatory effect of helminths in animal models of colitis and in human IBD is discussed.