A group of 40 healthy individuals (27 women and 13 men) participated in a handgrip test and were retested 1-2 months later. A strain-gauge sensor with a digitised signal and computerized printout was used. A 5-s maximal squeeze test was first made three times, followed by one endurance test with 45%-55% power of the maximal value. The best maximal value was most often (42%) achieved in the third (initial test) or second (retest) attempt. The reproducibility of maximal value was very good; the Pearson correlation coefficient between initial test and retest (r = 0.98) was even slightly higher than in studies with older analogue instruments. The difference of maximal values [361 (SD 109) N, initial test and 368 (SD 110) N, retest] was insignificant. A moderate 12% long-term change in maximal value was statistically significant. Reproducibility of the power factor (integrated area of power with time) was also very good in this short test, correlating closely (r = 0.98-0.99) with the maximal value. Other indexes (grip rate, fatigue percentage and relaxation rate) were not stable enough to be practical. Endurance results were somewhat variable (r = 0.73), which implied in the main variable motivation. Only marked changes of over 50% in endurance were statistically significant. Endurance power increased significantly in the retest, which, in spite of an r-value of 0.82, would make its use in a follow-up study difficult. We found the computer-based handgrip test both precise and practical in assessing maximal voluntary strength; endurance was more difficult to reproduce.

Supragastric belch was more common in globus patients, suggesting the possible role of this condition in globus sensation. However, globus patients in this series had no acid or non-acid GERD or elevated UES pressure.

Guarantor of the article: Perttu ArkkilaThis study was presented as a poster at FNM 2018-the 3 rd Meeting of the Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and published as Abstract 367 in Neurogastroenterology and Motility 2018 Vol 30, Issue S1, page 160 under the title "Comparison of behavioral therapy and standardized doctor's information in reducing symptoms of supragastric belching", J.

Esophageal manometry is an important investigation method but its direct impact on patients' well-being has not been studied. A structured questionnaire was given to all patients (n=92) after the manometry during one calendar year. The response rate was 91%. A total of seventy-one patients also reported their health status during the next 24 h. No serious side-effects were recorded. About half of the respondents regarded manometry as an easy or fairly easy investigation. The most common problems were irritation of nose and throat. In total, 48% of the respondents had mild to moderate late symptoms after manometry, usually soreness of the throat or nose lasting for some hours. The manometry was more troublesome to women than to men. It is concluded that esophageal manometry is generally a benign and fairly tolerated investigation, and the high level of anxiety that many patients show before the manometry is not well justified.