preprints.org > medicine and pharmacology > gastroenterology and hepatology > doi: 10.20944/preprints202312.2003.v1

Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 25 December 2023 / Approved: 26 December 2023 / Online: 26 December 2023 (14:21:30 CET)

Modern gastroenterology, which occupies the pages of scientific journals without alternative, began as an initiative of manufacturers of diagnostic equipment. For widespread advertising, they selected practical doctors who were not familiar with the methodology of science and superficial knowledge of physiology. This is how a group led by DeMeester arose, which in 1976 published the DeMeester score, i.e., the normal limit for esophageal pH monitoring. pH <4, less than 4% of the time per day was considered normal, i.e., it was unreasonably claimed that such reflux is physiological. This article proves that this study was carried out with numerous methodological errors, which led to an erroneous conclusion. For a long time, pH monitoring was considered the gold standard and with its help hypotheses were proposed that form the basis of modern gastroenterology. The article proves the fallacy of 13 hypotheses, which are presented as theories. Numerous articles using pH monitoring have publicized this method. Practitioners became "great scientists", equipment manufacturers became successful businessmen. Over time, they found other groups of practitioners to promote devices for impedance ph monitoring, high-resolution manometry, and many others. At the same time, a network of reviewers who believe in the infallibility of the luminaries do not allow studies that contradict their faith to be published. Thus, fundamental science was destroyed, which alone could assess the harm of false research both for science and for patients. Conclusion This study provides a list of hypotheses, that were previously considered theories, but since scientific evidence has proven these assumptions to be false, they should be excluded from subsequent use and citation.

gastroenterology; gastroesophageal reflux disease; x-ray diagnosis; pH monitoring; physiology; hypothesis

Medicine and Pharmacology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology

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