title: Structural analysis in medicine--hiatal hernia, heartburn, Hercules, and the Hydra.
abstract: In this issue, we report that esophagitis is associated with the presence of a hiatal hernia, but not with smoking or the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. This editorial argues that our sampling and statistical methods were appropriate. We discuss how these methods can be employed in future studies.
authors.forename: T Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sontag
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000503:physiopathology; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008961:Models, Structural; D011312:Pressure; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects