Effect of oral omeprazole in reducing re-bleeding in bleeding peptic ulcers: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic therapies and continuous intravenous omeprazole can decrease the morbidity and duration of hospital stay of patients with high-risk peptic ulcer. AIM: To evaluate the role of oral omeprazole in high-risk bleeders. METHODS: After injection therapy of 160 patients with high-risk peptic ulcer, 80 received oral omeprazole and 80 received placebo, and all were followed up. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine patients (71 omeprazole and 78 placebo) completed the study. Eleven patients were excluded from the study. Thirty-seven (25%) patients had gastric ulcer and 112 (75%) had duodenal ulcer. Fifty-seven (38%) ulcers showed visible vessels, 80 (54%) showed oozing of blood and 12 (8%) showed a spurting artery. Only one patient died (placebo group). The mean hospital stays were 62.8 +/- 28.6 h and 75 +/- 39 h in the omeprazole and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.032). The mean amounts of blood transfused were 1.13 +/- 1.36 and 1.68 +/- 1.68 bags in the omeprazole and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.029). The re-bleeding rate was lower in the omeprazole group than in the placebo group (12 vs. 26, respectively; P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Oral omeprazole is effective in decreasing the hospital stay, re-bleeding rate and the need for blood transfusion in high-risk ulcer bleeders treated with endoscopic injection therapy.

Pulmonary symptoms and spirometric values in Kangan Sour Gas Refinery workers.

In this study, the author measured the frequency of symptoms and/or alterations in respiratory functions in workers of the sour gas refining industry. All workers (n = 62) were employed in the most-exposed units of the Kangan Sour Gas Refinery. The refinery is approximately 250 km east of Bushehr Port along the Persian Gulf. This cross-sectional study involved a comprehensive health questionnaire, standardized clinical examinations by physicians blinded to subjects' symptoms and concerns, and multiple spirometric values. Although gas refinery workers experienced more respiratory symptoms than the 30 controls (i.e., 37.7% vs. 23.3%, respectively), who were matched for age and smoking status, pulmonary function data were not statistically different (p > .05) between the groups. The authors concluded, therefore, that in Kangan Sour Gas Refinery workers there were no respiratory or spirometric values associated with chronic low-dose exposure to sour gas plant emissions, including hydrogen sulfide.

Comparison of oral and intravenous proton pump inhibitor on patients with high risk bleeding peptic ulcers: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the rate of rebleeding following endoscopic hemostatic therapy in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers. This study compares the efficacy of oral omeprazole vs intravenous pantoprazole in decrease of rebleeding of peptic ulcer patients. METHODS: One hundred and six patients with high risk peptic ulcer were randomized to receive either oral omeprazole (80 mg BID for 3 days) or IV pantoprazole (80 mg bolus and 8 mg/hour infusion for 3 days) followed by omeprazole (20 mg each day for 30 days). All patients underwent upper endoscopy and endoscopic therapy within 24 hours. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were excluded from the study. Forty four patients were randomly allocated into omeprazole group and 41 patients to IV pantoprazole group. Both groups were similar for factors affecting the outcome. Bleeding reoccurred in five patients of omeprazole group and four patients in pantoprazole group (11.4% vs 9.8 %). The mean hospital stay and blood transfusion were not different in both groups. CONCLUSION: Oral omeprazole and IV pantoprazole had equal effects on prevention of rebleeding after endoscopic therapy in patients with high risk bleeding peptic ulcers.