Comparison of gastric body and antral pH: a 24 hour ambulatory study in healthy volunteers.

Simultaneous ambulatory records of gastric antral and body pH were made over 24 hours in nine healthy volunteers by means of endoscopically positioned and anchored glass electrodes. Intragastric pH was temporarily raised after the endoscopy with the median pH value 30 minutes after the procedure being 3.9 (range 1.5-7.0) for the antrum and 4.1 (range 1.5-7.0) for the body. Daytime pH (median pH value between 12 00 h and 23 00 h) was lower in the antrum (median = 1.9, range 1.6-2.6) than in the body (median = 2.7, range 1.8-4.5) (p less than 0.05) and this was because of the rise in pH on eating being less marked in the antrum than in the body. The median peak pH recorded during the evening meal was only 4.1 (range 2.4-6.2) in the antrum compared with 6.3 (range 4.4-6.7) in the body (p less than 0.01). Preprandial pH (median value over the hour prior to the evening meal) was similar in the antrum (median = 1.9, range 1.2-2.5) and body (median = 1.9, range 1.3-2.8). Night-time pH (median pH value between 23 00 h and 05 00 h) in six subjects remained low and was similar in the antrum (median = 1.4, range 1.2-1.7) and body (median = 1.3, range 1.1-1.7). In two subjects, however, there were episodes of raised night-time pH which were more marked in the antrum than in the body. Antral biopsies showed gastritis in four of the nine normal volunteers, which in three was associated with the presence of campylobacter-like organisms. This study shows the significant regional variations in day and night-time intragastric pH.     

Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring pattern of resistant hypertension

OBJECTIVE: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a tool to diagnose resistant hypertension (RH). The objective of this study is to describe the pattern of 24-h ABPM in patients using at least three anti hypertensive drugs without blood pressure (BP) control, classifying them as true RH or white-coat RH. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving resistant hypertensives that were submitted to clinical, laboratory and 2D-echocardiographic evaluation. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was used to diagnose true or white-coat RH. The chi-squared test was used for comparisons among categorical variables and Kruskall-Wallis test for continuous ones. RESULTS: Of the 286 patients, 161 (56.3%) were classified as true RH and 125 (43.7%) as white-coat RH. Sex, age, office BP and the cardiovascular risk factors for both groups were similar. True resistant hypertensives had more target organ damage then white-coat resistant hypertensives; nephropathy (40.1 versus 23.9%, P=0.007) and left ventricular hypertrophy (83.3 versus 76.3%, P=0.05). In ABPM, the true RH group had a smaller nocturnal systolic and diastolic BP reduction (6.4+/-8.8 versus 9.8+/-7.5 mmHg, P=0.0004; 10.4+/-9.6 versus 13.6+/-9.2 mmHg, P=0.001) and 68.7% of them were non-dippers versus 49.6% in the white-coat RH group (P=0.001). True RH also had a larger 24 h pulse pressure (65.8+/-13.7 versus 51.5+/-10.0 mmHg, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a fundamental tool to diagnose RH, and to check treatment efficacy. The presence of a greater pulse pressure and a lower nocturnal blood pressure reduction in true RH patients may be responsible for this increased cardiovascular risk profile.     

Physical and pH properties of gastroesophagopharyngeal refluxate: a 24-hour simultaneous ambulatory impedance and pH monitoring study

OBJECTIVES: Frequency occurrence of nonacidic and nonliquid reflux events in the pharynx has not been systematically studied. The aim of the present study was to characterize the physical (liquid, gas, and mixed gas/liquid) and pH properties of the gastroesophagopharyngeal refluxate. METHODS: We performed a total of 31 24-h simultaneous ambulatory pharyngoesophageal impedance and pH recordings in 11 GERD patients, 10 patients with reflux-attributed laryngitis, and 10 healthy controls. RESULTS: On average, the total number of reflux events (all kinds) in the pharynx was less than half of that in the proximal esophagus (18 +/- 4 vs 50 +/- 4, p < 0.01). Most of the pharyngeal reflux events were gas events and were observed in all three studied groups. Prevalence of these gas reflux events ranged between 0 and 74. The number of gas reflux events accompanied by a minor pH drop in laryngitis patients (1 (0-36)) was significantly higher than those in GERD and controls (0 (0-2) and 0 (0-1), respectively, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of nonacidic gas reflux events among the three groups (GERD: 10 (2-57), laryngitis: 11.5 (0-51), controls: 10.5 (0-27)). Impedance recording identified a total number of 566 events in the pharynx. Of these, a total of 563 events were compatible with gas reflux events, 101 events were accompanied by minor drops in intrapharyngeal pH, whereas 460 events were not accompanied by any pharyngeal pH change. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent impedance and pH recordings detect significantly more events qualifying as reflux in the pharynx than pH recordings alone. A substantial majority of these events are gaseous refluxes both with and without minor pH drops. Gas reflux events with weak acidity appear to be more common among patients with reflux-attributed laryngeal lesions compared to GERD patients and controls.     

Twenty-four hour ambulatory ECG monitoring of junior high school students in Miki City

To evaluate incidence of serious arrhythmias among school age youths, 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring was performed in 100 junior high school students, including 60 subjects with some ECG abnormalities and 40 without. With this monitoring 2 cases with multifocal VPCs and 2 cases with paired VPCs or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia were found; the case with VT died suddenly after having been lost during careful follow up. It is emphasized from these results that ambulatory ECG monitoring is quite useful in selected cases in this age group and careful follow up of students with advanced grade VPCs is very important.     

Normal values of 24‐hour ambulatory esophageal impedance‐pH monitoring in a rural South African cohort of healthy participants

There are no data on 24‐hour multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring in African populations. The purpose of this study was to provide the normal values of esophageal impedance and pH monitoring in a rural African populations. South African healthy rural participants were recruited and underwent 24 hours of esophageal impedance and pH monitoring. The median and the 95th percentiles of the total reflux episodes were 49 and 97, respectively, of which the corresponding number of acidic, weakly acidic, and weakly alkaline reflux were 15 and 55, 17 and 51, and 8 and 36, respectively. The compositions of the total reflux were 5 and 21 for liquid, 27 and 72 for mixed, and 10 and 39 for gas reflux, respectively. The median bolus clearance was 18 seconds and the median bolus exposure was 14 minutes/24 hours. The proximal extent was 6%. The 95th percent time of esophageal exposure to acid was 8.6 in 24 hours. Female and overweight participants were associated with an increased number of reflux events. There were more reflux episodes, and of which, more were weakly alkaline compared with previous similar studies. The findings provide reference values of gastroesophageal reflux for a South African rural population.     

Wireless oesophageal pH monitoring: feasibility, safety and normal values in healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE: A new wireless technique for oesophageal pH monitoring has recently been introduced (Bravo). To implement this technique in clinical practice, values of normal oesophageal acid exposure need to be defined in a large age- and gender-matched healthy population. The aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility and safety of the wireless technique and to establish normal values for oesophageal acid exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven asymptomatic subjects underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with transoral placement of a radio-transmitting capsule 6 cm above the squamocolumnar junction. Oesophageal acid exposure was monitored via a portable receiver during 48 h. RESULTS: Seven men were excluded from the study: capsule dysfunction in 1 and oesophagitis in 6. Fifty subjects (25 M, 25 F, median age 42 years) were included in the study. The radio-transmitting capsule was successfully attached to the oesophageal mucosa in all cases and there were no complications. During pH monitoring 2 capsules were prematurely detached after 32 and 36 h, respectively. The median percentage time with oesophageal pH of less than 4 was 0.7% on day 1 and 1.0% on day 2 (p = 0.033) and the 95th percentile for the 48-h recordings was 4.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory pH monitoring using the Bravo system is feasible and appears to be safe. This is the first study to establish normal values for oesophageal acid exposure in a large age- and gender-matched healthy population and offers a basis for the use of the wireless technique in clinical practice.     

Wireless oesophageal pH monitoring: Feasibility,safety and normal values in healthy subjects

Objective

A new wireless technique for oesophageal pH monitoring has recently been introduced (Bravo®). To implement this technique in clinical practice, values of normal oesophageal acid exposure need to be defined in a large age- and gender-matched healthy population. The aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility and safety of the wireless technique and to establish normal values for oesophageal acid exposure.

Material and methods

Fifty-seven asymptomatic subjects underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with transoral placement of a radio-transmitting capsule 6 cm above the squamocolumnar junction. Oesophageal acid exposure was monitored via a portable receiver during 48?h.

Results

Seven men were excluded from the study: capsule dysfunction in 1 and oesophagitis in 6. Fifty subjects (25?M, 25 F, median age 42?years) were included in the study. The radio-transmitting capsule was successfully attached to the oesophageal mucosa in all cases and there were no complications. During pH monitoring 2 capsules were prematurely detached after 32 and 36?h, respectively. The median percentage time with oesophageal pH of less than 4 was 0.7% on day 1 and 1.0% on day 2 (p=0.033) and the 95th percentile for the 48-h recordings was 4.4%.

Conclusions

Ambulatory pH monitoring using the Bravo® system is feasible and appears to be safe. This is the first study to establish normal values for oesophageal acid exposure in a large age- and gender-matched healthy population and offers a basis for the use of the wireless technique in clinical practice.     

Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure in a population of elderly men

OBJECTIVES: The principal aim was to study ambulatory and office blood pressure in a population of elderly men. We also wanted to describe the prevalence of hypertension and investigate the blood pressure control in treated elderly hypertensives. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of a population of elderly men, conducted between 1991 and 1995. SUBJECTS: Seventy-year-old men (n = 1060), participants of a cohort study that began in 1970. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Office and 24 h ambulatory blood pressure. RESULTS: Average 24 h blood pressure in the population was 133 +/- 16/75 +/- 8 mmHg, and daytime blood pressure 140 +/- 16/80 +/- 9 mmHg. Corresponding values in untreated subjects (n = 685) were 131 +/- 16/74 +/- 7 and 139 +/- 16/79 +/- 8, respectively. An office recording of 140/90 mmHg corresponded to an ambulatory pressure of 130/78 (24 h) and 137/83 mmHg (daytime) in untreated subjects. In subjects identified as normotensives according to office blood pressure (n = 270), the 95th percentiles of average 24 h and daytime blood pressures were 142/80 and 153/85 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension, defined as office blood pressure greater than or = 140/90 mmHg, was 66%. Despite treatment, treated hypertensives (n = 285) showed higher office (157/89 vs. 127/76 mmHg) and 24 h ambulatory (138/78 vs. 122/71 mmHg) pressures than normotensives (P < 0.05). Fourteen per cent of the treated hypertensives had an office blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a basis for 24 h ambulatory blood pressure reference values in elderly men. The study confirms previous findings of a high prevalence of hypertension at older age. It also indicates that blood pressure is inadequately controlled in elderly treated hypertensives.     

Variations in results of simultaneous ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring

Twenty-four-hour esophageal pH monitoring is regarded as the gold standard investigation for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) (1) and the possibility of an incorrect answer, false positive or false negative, is only rarely considered (2). However, when a group of infants in this hospital had such pH studies performed on two consecutive days, considerable differences in the results were found (3). This also had been reported from other centers (4–6). It seems likely that most of the differences were due to true biological variability in the amount of GER from day to day, but it remains possible that variation in the accuracy of the equipment in detecting acid reflux was also involved.     

24-H pharyngeal pH monitoring in healthy volunteers: a normative study

BACKGROUND: Gastropharyngeal reflux has been associated with disorders of the upper and lower airways. It may be shown by pharyngeal pH-metry, but reports on normality in healthy volunteers are scarce. No definite consensus has been reached considering the upper limit of normality (ULN). The aim of the present study was therefore to quantify the occurrence of pharyngeal acid exposure (pH < 4) in healthy volunteers and, further, to examine its relation to acid exposure of the oesophagus and oesophageal motility and its occurrence in relation to age, sex, and body position. METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers underwent ambulatory 24-h pH-metry, using antimony electrodes positioned 2 cm above the upper oesophageal sphincter and 5 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter on the basis of manometry. Technical artefacts were excluded before calculation of all results. RESULTS: Gastropharyngeal reflux occurred in most healthy volunteers without any significant relation to age, sex, or body weight. Pharyngeal acid reflux occurred mainly in the upright position. The ULN for pharyngeal acid exposure time was assessed to 0.9% (0.2% after exclusion of mealtimes). The ULN for the number of acid events in the pharynx was 18 (6.1). The corresponding ULNs for the oesophagus were 7% and 84. CONCLUSION: Gastropharyngeal reflux may be effectively monitored by ambulatory pH-metry. The present study provides reference limits, a prerequisite for evaluating the pathophysiologic importance of the phenomenon.     

Gastroesophageal and laryngopharyngeal reflux detected by 24-hour combined impedance and pH monitoring in healthy Chinese volunteers

OBJECTIVE: To define the normative data of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in healthy Chinese volunteers. METHODS: Healthy volunteers without gastrointestinal and throat disease and symptoms were enrolled and underwent 24‐hour impedance‐pH monitoring. RESULTS: A total of 37 healthy volunteers completed all the tests (female 54.1%; age 38.0 ± 15.2 years). Of 1862 GER, 49.6% were mixed, 40.9% were liquid and 9.5% were gas. More than half (54.9%) were acid. The median and 95th percentile numbers of GER were 52 and 71, respectively. The number of LPR was eight, of which two were mixed and the others were liquid. Only one episode of reflux was classified as acid LPR. The median and 95th percentile numbers of LPR were 0 and 2, respectively. More liquid reflux were associated with LPR (P = 0.02). Age had no influence on GER and LPR reflux profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Few LPR occurred in healthy Chinese volunteers and they were rarely acid when they reached the larynx. LPR was mostly associated with liquid reflux.     

Twenty-four hour intraesophageal pH monitoring in children and adolescents with scleroderma and mixed connective tissue disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate esophageal dysmotility and gastroesophageal reflux, which are important, but often occult features of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in children and adolescents with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and scleroderma. METHODS: We carried out intraesophageal 24 h pH monitoring of 14 patients with scleroderma and MCTD. RESULTS: We observed an elevated reflux index in 64% of the patients. An increased number of reflux events was found in 85%. Reflux events > 5 min were noted in 50% of the patients, which is indicative of possible development of esophagitis. Only 3 patients presented clinical symptoms. Four of 5 patients with localized scleroderma revealed a pathological reflux index. We found no relationship between gastroesophageal reflux, age of patients, duration of disease, and Raynaud's phenomenon. CONCLUSION: GI involvement in children with scleroderma or MCTD is more frequent than clinical symptoms indicate. An active diagnostic investigation for GI dysmotility and gastroesophageal reflux is necessary to detect these complications.     

Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure profile of a new,sustained-release preparation of nicardipine

Summary The 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile of a new sustained-release preparation of nicardipine was assessed in 16 patients with essential hypertension (supine cuff diastolic BP>95 mmHg). Twenty-four hour ambulatory intraarterial BP monitoring (Oxford system) before treatment revealed a mean (SD) daytime BP of 174 (19) mmHg systolic and 105 (8) mmHg diastolic, and a mean nighttime BP of 142 (26) mmHg systolic and 83 (12) mmHg diastolic. Sustained release nicardipine (60 mg) was administered twice daily for 4–6 weeks and the ambulatory BP monitoring repeated. No significant change in heart rate occurred throughout the 24-hour period. However, there was a significant reduction (p<0.0001) in the mean daytime BP of 21 (13) mmHg systolic and 12 (9) mmHg diastolic and of mean nighttime BP of 21 (15) mmHg systolic and 13 (11) mmHg diastolic. A similar reduction in hourly mean BP occurred throughout the whole 24-hour period, including the steep early morning rise in BP. Although vasodilatory-type side effects occurred, they were generally mild to moderate and transient. This preparation produces a significant reduction in BP throughout the 24-hour period without reflex tachycardia.     

Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure for the management of antihypertensive treatment: a randomized controlled trial

The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of 24-h blood pressure (BP) measurement in the management of antihypertensive therapy improves BP in patients with sustained hypertension. Patients with sustained hypertension (office BP > or =140/90 mm Hg, and 24-h systolic BP > or =130/80 mm Hg) were randomly assigned to a strategy using 24-h BP to manage antihypertensive treatment (target <130/80 mm Hg) or to a standard strategy using office BP (target <140/90 mm Hg). The primary end point was change in 24-h systolic BP at 1 year of follow-up. We included 136 patients in the primary analysis. After 1 year of follow-up, the change in 24-h systolic BP was significantly greater in the ambulatory BP group compared with the office BP group (mean difference (95% confidence interval) -3.6 (-7.0, -0.3), P=0.03). Intention-to-treat analysis revealed essentially unchanged results. The mean number of antihypertensive drugs per participant at 1 year of follow-up was 1.76+/-1.1 and 1.95+/-0.9 in the ambulatory and office BP group, respectively (P=0.049). The benefit of ambulatory BP monitoring was mainly seen in patients with previously known hypertension (mean difference -7.2 (-11.6, -2.8), P=0.002), but not in those with newly detected hypertension (mean difference 0.2 (-4.9, 5.4), P=0.93). In conclusion, using 24-h BP for the management of antihypertensive therapy in patients with sustained hypertension leads to a greater BP reduction compared with a standard treatment strategy using office BP, although fewer antihypertensive drugs were used in the ambulatory BP group.     

Twenty-four hour, ambulatory blood pressure responses following acute exercise: impact of exercise intensity

OBJECTIVES: Mild to moderate acute, endurance exercise has generally been shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive (HT) individuals. Whether a slightly more strenuous bout of exercise can elicit a greater and more prolonged BP reduction is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two, 30-min exercise bouts, conducted at 50% and 75% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), on the quantity and quality of BP reduction over a 24-h period. METHODS: Sixteen, Stage 1 and 2 non-medicated, HT (8 men/8 women) subjects were matched with normotensive (NT) men and women (n = 16). All subjects were evaluated for VO2max with a symptom-limited treadmill test and then completed a 30-min exercise bout at 50% and 75% of VO2max as well as a control (no exercise) session in random fashion on separate days. Twenty-four hour ambulatory BPs were measured after both the exercise and control settings. Data was assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post-exercise and control session. RESULTS: A repeated-measures ANOVA showed non-significant differences between HT men and women and that both exercise intensities, relative to the control session, significantly (P<0.05) reduced systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BPs. NT subjects showed non-significant reductions following both intensities. The reductions in the HT men and women averaged 4 and 9 mm Hg (SBP)/5 and 7 mm Hg (DBP) for 50% and 75%, respectively. On average, the HT subjects (men and women combined) maintained significant SBP reductions for 13 h after the 75% bout compared to 4 h after the 50% intensity. Likewise, DBP was reduced for an average of 11 h following the 75% bout compared to 4 h after the 50% intensity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an exercise bout conducted between 50-75% VO2max significantly decreases SBP and DBP in HT subjects and that a greater and longer-lasting absolute reduction is evident following a 75% of maximum bout of exercise.     

Evaluation of pirenzepine on gastric acidity in healthy volunteers using ambulatory 24 hour intragastric pH-monitoring.

The effect of pirenzepine on 24 hour intragastric acidity was studied in 10 healthy volunteers using ambulatory 24 hour intragastric pH-monitoring in a double blind crossover study. Tests were performed on the seventh day of ingestion of either placebo, 75 mg pirenzepine or 150 mg pirenzepine per day. The drugs were given at two doses at 8.30 am and 8.30 pm. Mean nocturnal hydrogen ion activity during placebo treatment was 68 mmol/l +/- 9 SEM and was reduced by 75 mg (26%, p less than 0.01) and 150 mg of pirenzepine (36%, p less than 0.01), respectively. Mean diurnal hydrogen ion activity was 32 mmol/l +/- 6 SEM and was not significantly reduced (p greater than 0.1) by either dose of pirenzepine (4% and 12% respectively). Thus, the effect of pirenzepine on intragastric acidity is small, even with high doses of the drug, and becomes apparent only during the night.     

Esophageal function testing with combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and manometry: multicenter study in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and manometry (MII-EM) assesses esophageal function by simultaneous measurement of both pressure and bolus transit. Normative data for this method have not been published. The aim of this study was to establish normative data for combined MII-EM and to correlate liquid and viscous bolus transit by impedance with esophageal contractions by manometry. METHODS: Forty-three normal volunteers recruited from 4 centers (15 women, 28 men; age range, 21-72 years) underwent combined MII-EM with a catheter containing 4 impedance-measuring segments and 4 solid-state pressure transducers. Each center recruited and analyzed subjects independently, according to pre-established criteria. Each subject received 20 x 5 mL swallows, 10 liquid and 10 viscous material. Tracings were analyzed manually for bolus presence time, bolus head advance time, segmental transit times, total bolus transit time, contraction amplitude, duration, and onset velocity. RESULTS: Ninety-seven and four-tenths percent of manometrically normal liquid and 96.1% of manometrically normal viscous swallows had complete bolus transit by impedance. Almost half (47.2%) of manometrically ineffective liquid and 34.7% of ineffective viscous swallows had complete bolus transit, whereas 91.7% of manometric simultaneous liquid swallows and 54.5% of simultaneous viscous swallows had complete bolus transit. More than 93% of normal individuals had at least 80% complete liquid or at least 70% complete viscous bolus transit. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes normative data for combined MII-EM. Combined MII-EM may be a more sensitive tool in assessing esophageal function compared to standard manometry because impedance can distinguish different bolus transit patterns. Studies in patients with manometrically defined esophageal motility abnormalities should help clarify the functional importance of manometric ineffective and simultaneous swallows.     

三种奥美拉唑胶囊健康人的生物利用度及其对胃内24小时pH值的影响

目的 比较３种奥美拉唑产品（洛赛克、奥克、奥美拉唑）４０ｍｇ在健康人的生物利用度及对胃内２４ＰＨ值的影响。方法 交叉试验设计：１８例健康志原者（男１２例,女６例）被随机分成３组,每组交叉服用洛塞克、奥克、奥美拉唑胶囊１次４０ｍｇ,交叉间隔时间７天。结果 药代动力学研究结果表明相对于奥克胶囊与奥美拉唑胶囊,洛赛克胶囊有吸收速度快、血药浓度高与持续时间长及生物利用度高的优点。胃内２４Ｐ俞 不同胶囊服用     

Normal values and influence of anthropometric and demographic factors on ambulatory cutaneous electrogastrography in healthy volunteers.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous Electrogastrography (EGGc) is a technique used for recording the Gastric Electrical Activity by means of electrodes placed on the abdominal skin. The aim of the present study was to determine normal values in healthy volunteers as well as the influence of factors such as age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI) and echographic location of the gastric antrum. METHODS: An abdominal echography was initially performed in 35 of the 44 healthy volunteers in order to locate the gastric antrum and to place along its axis the skin electrodes, whereas in the other 9, the electrodes were placed according to anatomical references. Afterwards, the echography was also performed in those 9 volunteers in order to have all the 44 baseline echographic records. In every case, a record of ambulatory EGGc over 60 minutes was obtained, along with other record over the same period after eating a standard meal. The analysis of data was conducted through visual inspection and combined computer analysis. RESULTS: Eighty per cent of the study subjects showed a dominant frequency ranging from 2 to 4 cpm during both periods. After the meal, the parameters showed a characteristic variation. A significant difference was found when comparing subjects under 40 years of age versus subjects between 40 and 60 years of age in terms of preprandial dominant frequency instability coefficient (DFIC) (p = 0.002) and bradygastria (p = 0.03). Subjects with BMI < 25 kg/m2 showed preprandially a smaller dominant power instability coefficient (DPIC) (p = 0.035) and a greater Dominant Power (DP) (p = 0.045). In subjects without echographic control, DFIC (p = 0.001), bradygastria (p = 0.016) and tachygastria (p = 0.02) were more frequent, with a shorter period of normogastria (p = 0.001) during the postprandial period. CONCLUSIONS: Normogastria is the predominant rhythm in healthy people, although brief dysarrhythmias can be recorded that do not have any pathological meaning. Age and BMI, but not sex, seem to influence the Gastric Electrical Activity. The percentage of gastric dysarrhythmias decreases when the electrodes are placed along the longitudinal axis of the gastric antrum through echographic control.