Objective To explore the similarities and differences in endoscopic and pathological characteristics between elderly and non-elderly patients with Barrett esophagus (BE). Methods Three hundred and seventy-one cases with BE were divided into elderly group (n=254) and nonelderly group (n=117). The detection rate, endoscopic findings and pathological changes were assessed. Results The detection rate of BE was 2.9% in the elderly, and 0. 9% in the non-elderly(χ2 =127.8, P＜0.01). The 112 cases (44.1%) of the elderly had reflux symptoms, and so did 87cases (66.7%) of the non-elderly (χ2 =55.9, P＜0.01). The detection rate of BE in the two groups was increased year by year from 2004 to 2008. The detection rate of ring pattern was significantly higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group (28.7% vs. 10.3%, χ2=14.5, P＜0.01). Nonelderly patients had higher rate of island pattern than elderly patients (59.5% vs. 71.7%, χ2=4.7,P＜0.05). There were significant differences in the rate of specialized intestinal metaplasia between elderly and non-elderly patients (42.1% vs. 27.4%, χ2=6.9, P＜0.01). The difference in low and medium grade intraepithelial neoplasm between the two groups had statistical significance (21.3% vs.11.1%, χ2=4.9, P＜0.05). There were two cases with adenocarcinoma in elderly group, but no case was found in non-elderly group. The detection rate of H. pylori was comparable between elderly group and non-elderly group (35.5% vs. 40.9%, χ2=0.40, P＞0.05). Conclusions The elderly patients have the 3.2 times higher detection rate of BE than non-elderly patients. The detection rates of specialized intestinal metaplasia and intraepithelial neoplasm are higher in elderly group than in nonelderly group.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic varices ligation(EVL) plus endoscopic varices sclerotherapy(EVS)for esophageal varices hemorrhage in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods Fifty?two liver cirrhosis patients with esophageal varices bleeding were randomly divided into EVL group(n=24)and EVLS group(n=28)according to random numbers generated by computer after first EVL. The EVL group continued undergoing EVL, and the EVLS group was treated by EVS. The interval of treatment was 2 weeks till varices disappeared. All patients were followed up for 18 months with endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). The efficacy,changes of esophageal varices and perforating veins, varices recurrence and rebleeding were observed. Results There was no significant difference of complete cure rate between EVLS group and EVL group[67.9%(19/28)VS 62.5%(15/24),P>0.05]. The mean session of treatment(2.68±1.0 VS 1.83±0.7,P<0.05), and perforating veins obliteration rate after treatment in EVLS group was higher than that in EVL group[70.8%(17/24)VS 23.8%(5/21),P<0.05]. During 18 months of follow?up,there was no significant difference of rebleeding rate between the two groups[3.6%(1/28)VS 12.5%(3/24),P>0.05],and the varices recurrence rate was higher in EVL group than that in EVLS group[77.3%(17/22)VS 44.0%(11/25), P<0.05]. Child?Pugh class B patients in EVL group had a higher varices recurrence rate compared to that in EVLS group[75.0%(9/12)VS 31.5%(5/16), P<0.05]. Endoscopic recurrences occurred in patients with non?occlusive perforating veins. Conclusion EVL plus EVS sequential procedure is safe and effective for treatment of esophageal varices hemorrhage,especially for Child?Pugh class B patients.Perforating veins may play a key role in the development of esophageal varices and recurrence after endoscopic therapy. EUS findings can direct the endoscopic therapy and predict the variceal recurrence.