Introduction and Aims: GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD) is very common in western countries. GERD is increasing, has profound effects on health economics, disturbs the patient's health-related quality of life, and increases the risk for development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. GERD is considered to be infrequent in developing countries. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of GERD among Iranians.Materials and Methods: Major GERD symptoms (heartburn and acid regurgitation) were assessed through an interview by trained general practitioners in three different Iranian populations in 2002: Tehran University freshmen (n=3008), healthy blood donors in Tehran (n=3517), and participants in Golestan cohort study on esophageal carcinoma in Gonbad, north-east of Iran (n=1066). Presence of heartburn or acid regurgitation was considered as GERD and their frequencies were calculated during the last 12 months prior to recruitment.Results: Three episodes per week or more of GERD symptoms were recorded in 2.1% of university freshmen (mean age 19.1±2.1 years), 4.7% of blood donors (mean age 37.3±10.8 years), and 18.4% of the cohort study participants (mean age 51.3 ± 11.7 years). One to two episodes of GERD symptoms a week were reported in 5.1% of the university freshmen, 5.6% of blood donors and 12.7% of the cohort study participants.Conclusions: GERD symptoms are frequent among Iranians. There was also a trend toward increasing frequency of GERD with increasing age. A GERD symptom is more prevalent in Iran than other Asian countries and is comparable to that of western countries.

Background: There is anecdotal evidence regarding the simultaneous occurrence of vesicoureteral REFLUX (VUR) and GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD), which indicates the probability of pathophysiological commonality. Objectives: In the present study, we evaluated the concurrence of VUR and GERD in children candidates for the voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) study. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 children between 1 and 14 years old referred to a tertiary referral teaching hospital for VCUG in 2019-2020. All subjects underwent ultrasound to assess GERD and VCUG to rule out VUR. Results: According to the ultrasound assessment, 14. 5% of subjects were diagnosed with GERD: 8. 3% in males and 18. 4% in females. VURwas detected in 48. 4% of children (50. 0% in males and 47. 4% in females) using VCUG. Overall, seven (23. 3%) had concomitantVUR and GERD: 4. 2% in boys and 15. 8% in girls, indicating no difference between the two genders (P = 0. 125). The prevalence of concurrent GERD and VUR was also independent of age. In the two groups with and without VUR, the prevalence of GERD was 23. 3% and 6. 2%, respectively, indicating a relative risk of 2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1. 32-3. 02, P = 0. 001). Conclusions: Regarding the relationship between GERD and VUR, despite the deletion of physiologic GER cases, the pathophysiological overlap between the two phenomena could be considered.

Background: Scintigraphy remains the gold standard to study gastric emptying. We used this method to demonstrate the impact of delayed gastric emptying on GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD), one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. Materials and methods: For this case-control study, Scintigraphy was performed on 16 patients with documented GERD and 16 asymptomatic normal volunteers. The test meal was composed of two labeled fried eggs with two slices of bread, and 150 ml of unlabeled water. Images were obtained in anterior and posterior projections in 30-minute intervals for a total period of two hours. Gastric emptying curves T1/2 (the estimated time required for the stomach to empty one-half of its original meal (and RA120 (gastric retention activity at 120 minute) were used for gastric emptying evaluation. Results - Seven (43.75%) of patients had deviation in their gastric emptying curves compared to normal limits. Mean T1/2 and RA120 of the patient group were 95.8±54.0 minutes and 33.0 ± 15.9 percent compared to 64.9±14.5 minute and 20.3 ±8.4 percent of asymptomatic control group respectively ,demonstrating a significant different (p<0.04 for T1/2 and p<0.01 for RA120). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between delayed gastric emptying and GERD, particularly related to distal gastric function.