After 2 years of follow-up, LHM, as compared with pneumatic dilation, was not associated with superior rates of therapeutic success. (European Achalasia Trial Netherlands Trial Register number, NTR37, and Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN56304564.).

Regarding the various components of the metabolic syndrome, in patients with adrenal incidentalomas and SH, surgery is beneficial.

Objective: Few data are available regarding the need of steroid substitutive therapy after unilateral adrenalectomy for adrenal incidentaloma (AI). It is unknown whether, before surgery, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis secretion parameters can predict post-surgical hypocortisolism. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate whether, in AI patients undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy, postsurgical hypocortisolism could be predicted by the parameters of HPA axis function. Design: Prospective, multicenter. Methods: A total of 60 patients underwent surgical removal of AI (surgical indication: 29 subclinical hypercortisolism (SH); 31 AI dimension). Before surgery, SH was diagnosed in patients presenting at least three criteria out of urinary free cortisol (UFC) levelsO60 mg/24 h, cortisol after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg-DST)O3.0 mg/dl, ACTH levels!10 pg/ml, midnight serum cortisol (MSC)O5.4 mg/dl. Two months after surgery, HPA axis function was assessed by low dose ACTH stimulation test or insulin tolerance test when needed: 39 patients were affected (Group B) and 21 were not affected (Group A) with hypocortisolism. The accuracy in predicting hypocortisolism of pre-surgical HPA axis parameters or their combinations was evaluated. Results: The presence of O2 alterations among 1 mg-DSTO5.0 mg/dl, ACTH!10 pg/ml, elevated UFC and MSC has the highest odds ratio (OR) for predicting post-surgical hypocortisolism (OR 10.45, 95% confidence interval, PZ0.001). Post-surgical hypocortisolism was predicted with 100% probability by elevated UFC plus MSC levels, but not ruled out even in the presence of the normality of all HPA axis parameters. Conclusion: Post-surgical hypocortisolism cannot be pre-surgically ruled out. A steroid substitutive therapy is indicated after unilateral adrenalectomy for SH or size of the adenoma.European Journal of Endocrinology 162 91-99

The enteric nervous system of the lower esophageal sphincter area is impaired in patients with "idiopathic achalasia," and the abnormalities involve ICC and neurons in many patients. The triggering factors for these abnormalities are, however, still unknown.