Background: pH monitoring 24h is used to diagnose atypical gastroesophageal reflux disease or can be applied to consider surgery for cases poorly respond with medical treatment. Objective: To study clinical signs, gastroscopic and oesophageal histopathologic features, pH monitoring 24h in the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Subjects and method: The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease treated at Bach Mai Hospital from November 2005 to October 2006. 73 patients with GERD diagnosed according to Romell criteria were underwent gastroscopy and biopsy. 15 patients having extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease were underwent gastroesophageal reflux monitoring pH. Results: 31 (42.4%) patients had oesophagitis in which 67.7% grade A, 6.5% grade D and C, 2.7% Barret, and 53.4% having gastritis associated. 61 % oesophagitis and 13.9% Barret were seen on the biopsy. 40% (6/15) patients had abnormal pH monitoring but there was no statistically significant difference in pH monitoring between the group having oesophagitis from those without oesophagitis (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Among 15 patients underwent Ph monitoring, the rate of patients with abnormal pH monitoring was 40%. There was no statistically significant difference of pH monitoring result between patients with or without esophagus lesion.
Gastroesophageal Reflux/pathology ; etiology

Background: The genus Alpinia is one of the diverse genera in Thua Thien Hue province, in which many species have been used as medicine. But until now, studies on A. vietnamica have rarely been reported. Objectives: The present study was aimed at the determination of microscopic characteristics and chemical compositions as well as evaluating the antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of A. vietnamica. Materials and methods: A. vietnamica was collected in Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province. Anatomic structures and powder properties were determined by the microscopic method. Phytochemical screening was conducted by specific chemical reactions. The Folin-Ciocalteau method and the aluminum chloride-flavonoid assay, respectively, were used to quantify the total polyphenol (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC). Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, while acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity was evaluated using the Ellman method. Results: The microscopic characteristics of this species have been described. Phytochemical analysis results revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, and tannins in A. vietnamica. The ethanol extract from the aerial part of A. vietnamica had higher polyphenol and flavonoid contents than the underground part extract. Moreover, this extract also displayed a stronger DPPH radical scavenging and exhibited AChE inhibitory activities. Conclusion: This is the first report on the microscopic characteristics, chemical compositions, and biological activities of A. vietnamica.