Esophageal pH monitoring developed a dependable external reference electrode. Using this technique to monitor esophageal acid exposure patients for periods up to 24 hours, DeMeester and Johnson were able to identify the most important parameters of esophageal acid exposure, and they developed a composite pH score to quantify gastroesophageal reflux. The initial 24-hour pH studies required hospitalization until the introduction of microcircuits in the 1980s that allowed portable esophageal pH monitoring in an outpatient setting. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease in western countries. In the United States, 7% of the population experiences heartburn daily and 44% at least once a
Milk-alkali syndrome most gastric ulcers was identified and drugs other than antacids were developed to treat heartburn - namely acid-reducing drugs like H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors - the incidence of milk-alkali syndrome greatly diminished. However, as a result of increased osteoporosis awareness and the routine use of calcium supplements to prevent it, the incidence has again increased. Milk-alkali syndrome In medicine, milk-alkali syndrome is characterized by high blood calcium and metabolic alkalosis caused by taking in too much calcium and absorbable alkali; common sources of calcium and alkali are dietary supplements taken to prevent osteoporosis and antacids. If untreated, milk-alkali