Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease articles from across Nature Portfolio

At the squamocolumnar junction of mice and humans,a new study has identified a unique population of transitional basal cells that express molecular markers of both oesophageal stratified squamous epithelium and gastrointestinal columnar epithelium. These transitional basal cells are an attractive candidate for the cell of origin for Barrett oesophagus.

Various mechanisms eliciting symptoms in GERD and its most common phenotypic presentation, nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), have been suspected and investigated. One study now suggests that superficial nerves in the oesophageal epithelium might have a key role in the pathogenesis of NERD and could represent a potential target for topical therapies.

Since the recognition of reflux oesophagitis as a disease entity, scientists and clinicians have commonly assumed that the first step in its pathogenesis was a loss of superficial epithelial cells, brought about by caustic acid injury. However, new data suggests that it is time to reconsider this concept.

Chronic kidney disease has joined the growing list (pneumonia, myocardial infarction, hip fracture, Clostridium difficile infections, acute interstitial nephritis, hypomagnesaemia) of putative risks associated with chronic PPI use based on results from an observational epidemiological study. However, the low hazard ratio (<1.5) makes it doubtful that this association is a causal relationship.