Optimal Duration of Bismuth-Containing Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is crucial due to its rising prevalence and increasing resistance. Bismuth-containing quadruple therapies (BcQTs) have been proposed as a viable treatment option; however, the optimal duration for it remains contentious. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of short-term BcQT (defined as 7 or 10 days) with a standard 14-day course. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted for randomized controlled trials published in English until June 20, 2024. Eligibility criteria were applied to identify relevant studies. Summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the included studies regarding eradication rates, adverse effects, and compliance. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and was previously registered in PROSPERO under registration number CRD42024547773. RESULTS: This meta-analysis finally included 15 trials involving a total of 4505 patients. The eradication rates for short courses of BcQT were lower than those for the 14-day course (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99). However, the eradication rate for the 10-day therapy was comparable to that of the 14-day therapy (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.00). Subgroup analyses of antibiotic combinations indicated that tetracycline and metronidazole combinations yielded similar H. pylori eradication rates in the 7-day versus the 14-day BcQT (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.84-1.02). In the potassium-competitive acid blocker subgroup, the eradication rates remained similar across the 14-day group and the short-course treatment groups, whether evaluating the short-term treatment groups as a whole or the 7- and 10-day subgroups separately. Additionally, the adverse effects and compliance associated with the short course of BcQT were comparable to those of the 14-day therapy. CONCLUSION: A 10-day course of BcQT may represent the optimal treatment duration. Nevertheless, the choice of antibiotic combination should be guided by the regional antibiotic resistance patterns of H. pylori, as combinations with lower resistance rates are more effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO number: CRD42024547773.

Antibiotic Resistance of Helicobacter pylori in Mainland China: A Focus on Geographic Differences Through Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Empirical treatment needs to be supported by regional data, but knowledge of interregional differences is currently lacking in China. This study aimed to summarize and map the primary and secondary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in different regions of mainland China. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases were systematically reviewed for studies published between 1 January 2000 and 15 July 2023. Data related to primary and secondary H. pylori antibiotic resistance rates were included. Random-effects models were used to synthesize the pooled resistance rates. RESULTS: Ultimately, 74 studies were included in the final analysis. A total of 16 provinces reported resistance data. The overall resistance rates of H. pylori in mainland China were 30.72% (95% CI 27.53%-33.99%) to clarithromycin, 70.14% (95% CI 29.53%-37.46%) to metronidazole and 32.98% (95% CI 28.73%-37.37%) to levofloxacin; for amoxicillin, tetracycline, and furazolidone, the rates were 2.41% (95% CI 1.43%-3.60%), 2.53% (95% CI 1.19%-4.28%) and 1.54% (95% CI 0.28%-3.62%), respectively. Spatial and temporal differences were observed. The resistance rates increased after treatment failure; however, secondary resistance to amoxicillin, tetracycline and furazolidone were still low across the vast majority of study regions. CONCLUSION: Surveillance of the updated prevalence of antibiotic resistance of H. pylori for different regions is warranted, which should factor into clinical decision making and guideline recommendations.

Tetracycline Three Times Daily Versus Four Times Daily in Bismuth-Containing Quadruple Therapy as the First-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Multicenter, Noninferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for patients newly diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of tetracycline administered three times daily versus four times daily in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for first-line treatment of H. pylori infection. METHODS: This multicenter, noninferiority, randomized controlled study, conducted in China, recruited treatment-naïve adults with H. pylori infection, randomized 1:1 into two treatment groups to receive either of the following bismuth-containing quadruple therapies: esomeprazole 20 mg twice-daily; bismuth 220 mg twice-daily; amoxicillin 1000 mg twice-daily; and tetracycline 500 mg three times daily (TET-T) versus 500 mg four times daily (TET-F). At least 6 weeks post-treatment, a 13C-urea breath test was performed to evaluate H. pylori eradication. RESULTS: In total, 406 patients were randomly assigned to the two treatment groups. Intention-to-treat eradication rates were 91.63% (186/203; 95% confidence interval [CI] 87.82%-95.44%) versus 90.15% (183/203; 95% CI 86.05%-94.25%) (p = 0.0005) and per-protocol eradication rates were 95.34% (184/193; 95% CI 92.36%-98.31%) versus 95.72% (179/187; 95% CI 92.82%-98.62%) (p = 0.0002) for the TET-T and TET-F group, respectively. TET-T-treated patients had a lower incidence of adverse effects than TET-F-treated patients (21.61% vs. 31.63%, p = 0.024), with no significant differences in compliance to treatment between the groups. CONCLUSION: As a first-line therapy for H. pylori infection, the eradication rate of the TET-T therapy was noninferior to that of the TET-F therapy while significantly reducing the incidence of adverse reactions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05431075.

Efficacy of Tetracycline Three Times Daily was Comparable to That of Four Times Daily for Helicobacter pylori Rescue Treatment: A Multicenter, Noninferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal dosage of tetracycline remains unclear for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Frequent dosing requirements may decrease patient adherence and increase the incidence of adverse events, potentially reducing treatment efficacy. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of different tetracycline dosages in rescue treatment for H. pylori infection. METHODS: A total of 406 patients needing H. pylori rescue treatment were enrolled. Patients were randomized into two groups and received bismuth-containing quadruple therapies as follows: esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily, bismuth 220 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and tetracycline 500 mg either three (TET-T group) or four (TET-F group) times daily. At least 6 weeks after treatment completion, a 13C-urea breath test was performed to evaluate H. pylori eradication. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat (ITT) eradication rates were 91.13% (185/203) and 90.15% (183/203) (p = 0.733), the modified ITT (MITT) eradication rates were 94.87% (185/195) and 95.31% (183/192) (p = 0.841), and the per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 94.79% (182/192) and 95.21% (179/188) (p = 0.851) in the TET-T group and TET-F group, respectively. The eradication rates for the TET-T group were not inferior to those of the TET-F group in ITT, MITT, and PP analyses. The incidence of adverse effects was significantly lower in the TET-T group than in the TET-F group (23.65% vs. 33.50%, p = 0.028). No significant differences were observed in treatment compliance between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The dose of tetracycline administered three times daily showed comparable efficacy to that administered four times daily, while significantly reducing the incidence of adverse events. The combination of tetracycline and amoxicillin in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy achieved a high eradication rate in H. pylori rescue treatment.

Bismuth-Containing Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized Clinical Trial of 10 and 14 Days.

BACKGROUND: Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy is the first-line treatment for eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The optimal duration for H. pylori eradication using bismuth-containing quadruple therapy remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical effects of the 10- and 14-day bismuth-containing quadruple treatment regimen to eradicate H. pylori. METHODS: Treatment-naïve patients with H. pylori infection (n = 1300) were enrolled in this multicenter randomized controlled study across five hospitals in China. They were randomized into 10- or 14-day treatment groups to receive bismuth-containing quadruple therapy as follows: vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily; bismuth 220 mg twice daily; amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily; and either clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily or tetracycline 500 mg four times daily. At least 6 weeks after treatment, we performed a 13C-urea breath test to evaluate H. pylori eradication. RESULTS: The per-protocol eradication rates were 93.22% (564/605) and 93.74% (569/607) (p < 0.001) and the intention-to-treat eradication rates were 88.62% (576/650) and 89.38% (581/650) (p = 0.007) for the 10- and 14-day regimens, respectively. Incidence of adverse effects was lower in patients who received 10- vs. 14 days of treatment (22.59% vs. 28.50%, p = 0.016). We observed no significant differences in the compliance to treatment or the discontinuation of therapy because of severe adverse effects between the groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with the 14-day bismuth-containing quadruple regimens, the 10-day regimen demonstrated a non-inferior efficacy and lower incidence of adverse effects. Therefore, the 10-day regimen is safe and tolerated and could be recommended for H. pylori eradication (NCT05049902).

Clarifying varied Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies: A comprehensive review.

Current global variations exist in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication regimens. Triple therapy (TT), bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT), and high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) currently represent the predominant regimens. These regimens diverge in terms of treatment duration, the utilization of susceptibility testing, acid-inhibiting drug administration, and patient education. We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review on these H. pylori treatment regimens. Our review aims to provide standardized treatment recommendations for H. pylori, reducing the risk of amalgamating findings from diverse eradication regimens. Recent research suggests that the optimal treatment duration for TT and BQT may be 14 and 10 days, respectively. Selecting the appropriate treatment duration for HDDT should rely on regional research evidence, and 14 days may be the optimal duration. The incorporation of susceptibility testing in TT is of paramount importance. In the case of BQT, the absence of susceptibility testing may be considered as an option, contingent upon cost and availability, and should be determined based on local antibiotic resistance patterns and the efficacy of empirical regimens. The type and dosage of acid-inhibiting drug would affect the efficacy of these regimens. Acid-inhibiting drugs should be selected and applied reasonably according to the population and therapies. Adequate patient education plays a pivotal role in the eradication of H. pylori. In regions with accessible local research evidence, the 10-day empirical BQT regimen may be considered a preferred choice for H. pylori eradication.

Global evolving patterns and cross-country inequalities of inflammatory bowel disease burden from 1990 to 2019: a worldwide report.

AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global disease. We aim to summarize the latest epidemiological patterns of IBD at the national, regional and global levels to give well-deserved attention and outline facilitating measures to reduce the disease burden. METHODS: We collected the incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of IBD in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. We further calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) to qualify the temporal trends of IBD burden by sex, age and region over the past 30 years. RESULTS: Globally, a total of 404.55 thousand incident cases, 4898.56 thousand prevalent cases, 41.00 thousand deaths and 1622.50 thousand DALYs of IBD were estimated in 2019. The age-standardized DALYs decreased from 27.2 in 1990 to 20.15 per 100,000 people in 2019, with an EAPC of -1.04. The high socio-demographic index regions presented pronounced age-standardized rates (ASRs) consistently over the last 30 years. The high-income North America had the highest ASRs in 2019, followed by Western Europe and Australasia. No gender difference was observed after being stratified by sex. CONCLUSIONS: The accumulated IBD patients are expected to increase in the future due to the increased rate of IBD in developing countries, and social aging in developed countries. Understanding the changes in epidemiological patterns helps to provide evidence to mitigate the rising burden of IBD.

G6PD gene detection in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and analysis of related risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common disorder in neonates, with premature infants at higher risk of developing the disorder. OBJECTIVE: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene detection was used to determine the incidence of G6PD deficiency and analyze the etiologies of G6PD deficiency in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia in the Zunyi region with the aim of providing scientific evidence for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: For the gene detection, 64 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia were selected as the observation group and 30 normal neonates were selected as the control group, and the risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia were investigated by using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the neonates in the observation group, 59 cases had the G1388A mutation (92.19%) and 5 cases had the G1376T mutation (7.81%). No mutation was detected in the control group. In the observation group, the proportion of neonates who were born prematurely, with artificial feeding, with the age of starting feeding of more than 24 h, the time of first bowel movement of more than 24 h, premature rupture of membranes, infection, scalp hematoma, and perinatal asphyxia was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p< 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that prematurity, infection, scalp hematoma, perinatal asphyxia, the age of starting feeding of more than 24 h, and the time of first bowel movement over 24 h were risk factors for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The G1338A and G1376T mutations were important features of the genetics of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and genetic detection together with the prevention of prematurity, infection, scalp hematoma, perinatal asphyxia, the age of starting feeding, and the time of first bowel movement would help reduce the incidence of this disease.

Efficacy and safety of a 14-day modified concomitant therapy for refractory Helicobacter pylori infection: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: After three treatment failures, Helicobacter pylori infection is deemed refractory as antibiotic treatment options become significantly limited. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a 14-day modified concomitant therapy for managing refractory H. pylori infection. METHODS: Patients who had failed to respond to three or more rounds of H. pylori therapies were recruited for this study. They received a 14-day modified concomitant therapy, including esomeprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and furazolidone 100 mg twice daily and tetracycline 500 mg four times daily. Demographic data, adverse events, and patient compliance were recorded. The presence of H. pylori was reevaluated 6 weeks following treatment. Eradication rate was assessed as the primary outcome. RESULTS: Overall, 59 participants received the 14-day modified concomitant therapy. In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, the eradication rate was 84.7% (50/59) and 89.3% (50/56), respectively. H. pylori was successfully isolated from 75.0% (12/16) of patients. The resistance rate of H. pylori to metronidazole, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin was 91.7% (11/12), 58.3% (7/12), and 50.0% (6/12), respectively. Resistance to amoxicillin, furazolidone, or tetracycline was not observed. The frequency of adverse events was 35.6% (21/59), with no serious adverse events reported. CONCLUSION: The 14-day modified concomitant therapy appears to be appropriate for refractory H. pylori infection and is particularly promising for the Chinese population. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to verify its efficacy, especially in the current environment of increasing antibiotic resistance.

Vonoprazan is noninferior to proton pump inhibitors in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: A propensity score matching analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan (VPZ) versus proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in clarithromycin-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (C-BQT) for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. METHODS: Medical records of patients in whom H. pylori was eradicated between 1 July 2018 and 31 December 2021 were retrieved retrospectively from the Outpatient Unit of Qilu Hospital. Efficacy, safety, and compliance were compared between VPZ-based and PPI-based C-BQT, containing vonoprazan 20 mg or proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole 30 mg or esomeprazole 20 mg), bismuth 220 or 200 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg, twice daily for 2 weeks by 1:1 propensity score matching analysis. The trial was registed on ClinicalTrials.gov (registration no. NCT05301725). RESULTS: The H. pylori eradication rates of VPZ-based and PPI-based therapies were 88.8% (151/170) and 87.6% (149/170) in the intention-to-treat analysis, 94.1% (144/153) and 91.1% (144/158) in the per-protocol analysis, respectively. The noninferiority of VPZ to PPI was confirmed in all analyses (P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was 30.0% (51/170) and 27.1% (46/170) in the VPZ-based and PPI-based groups, respectively. VPZ-based and PPI-based therapies were well tolerated and showed good patient compliance without significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: VPZ-based therapy resulted in a satisfactory eradication rate and was well tolerated for H. pylori eradication, which are comparable to PPIs in C-BQT as a first-line treatment for H. pylori infection.

Breast milk jaundice affects breastfeeding: From the perspective of intestinal flora and SCFAs-GPR41/43.

Breast milk jaundice (BMJ) is one of the main factors leading to interruption or early termination of breastfeeding. Interrupting breastfeeding to treat BMJ may increase the adverse consequences for infant growth and disease prevention. The Intestinal flora and metabolites are increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic target in BMJ. First, dysbacteriosis can lead to a decrease in the metabolite short-chain fatty acids. At the same time, SCFA can act on specific G protein-coupled receptors 41 and 43 (GPR41/43), and a decrease in SCFA downregulates the GPR41/43 pathway, leading to a diminished inhibition of intestinal inflammation. In addition, intestinal inflammation leads to a decrease in intestinal motility and a large amount of bilirubin enters the enterohepatic circulation. Ultimately, these changes will result in the development of BMJ. In this review, we will describe the underlying pathogenetic mechanism of the intestinal flora effects on BMJ.

Dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection.

ABSTRACT: Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) has long been recommended for Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) eradication in China. Meanwhile, in the latest national consensus in China, dual therapy (DT) comprising an acid suppressor and amoxicillin has also been recommended. In recent years, the eradication rate of H. pylori has reached >90% using DT, which has been used not only as a first-line treatment but also as a rescue treatment. Compared with BQT, DT has great potential for H. pylori eradication; however, it has some limitations. This review summarizes the development of DT and its application in H. pylori eradication. The H. pylori eradication rates of DT were comparable to or even higher than those of BQT or standard triple therapy, especially in the first-line treatment. The incidence of adverse events associated with DT was lower than that with other therapies. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the effects of dual and quadruple therapies on gastrointestinal microecology. In the short term, H. pylori eradication causes certain fluctuations in the gastrointestinal microbiota; however, in the long term, the gastrointestinal microbiota eventually returns to its normal state. In the penicillin-naïve population, patients receiving DT have a high eradiation rate, better compliance, lower incidence of adverse reactions, and lower primary and secondary resistance to amoxicillin. These findings suggest the safety, efficacy, and potential of DT for H. pylori eradication.

Cardia and non-cardia gastric cancer risk associated with Helicobacter pylori in East Asia and the West: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimation of population attributable fraction.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the region-specific relative risk of cardia/non-cardia gastric cancer (CGC/NCGC) associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and quantify its contribution to gastric cancer burden using population attributable fraction (PAF). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central databases were searched by two reviewers until April 20, 2022. The association between H. pylori infection and NCGC/CGC was assessed using pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). PAF was calculated using the formula of H. pylori prevalence and the pooled OR. RESULTS: One hundred and eight studies were included. A significant association was observed between H. pylori infection and NCGC in East Asia (OR, 4.36; 95% CI: 3.54-5.37) and the West (OR, 4.03; 95% CI: 2.59-6.27). Regarding CGC, a significant association was found only in East Asia (OR, 2.86; 95% CI: 2.26-3.63), not in the West (OR, 0.80; 95% CI: 0.61-1.05). For studies with a follow-up time of ≥10 years, pooled ORs for NCGC and CGC in East Asia were 5.58 (95% CI: 4.08-7.64) and 3.86 (95% CI: 2.69-5.55), respectively. Pooled OR for NCGC was 6.80 (95% CI: 3.78-12.25) in the West. PAFs showed that H. pylori infection accounted for 71.2% of NCGC, 60.7% of CGC in East Asia, and 73.2% of NCGC in the West. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric cancer burden associated with H. pylori infection exhibits important geographical differences. Prolonged follow-up period could overcome the underestimation of the magnitude of the association between H. pylori infection and CGC/NCGC. Customized strategies for H. pylori screening and eradication should be implemented to prevent gastric cancer.

Transmission routes and patterns of helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the stomach, can cause chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, as well as gastric cancer as a Class I carcinogen. However, the modes of H. pylori transmission are not clear. This review aims to clarify the transmission routes and patterns of H. pylori and identify efficacious prevention measures. METHODS: Studies of H. pylori transmission were identified using PubMed, the Web of Science, and Cochrane Central; the retrieval deadline was October 2022. RESULTS: The transmission routes of H. pylori are discussed, focusing on the five primary transmission routes, namely fecal-oral, oral-oral, gastric-oral, anal-oral, and genital-oral. We propose that H. pylori is contracted through multiple transmission routes. Additionally, we summarize the key transmission patterns of H. pylori, including person-to-person and animal-to-human transmission, as well as foodborne and occupational exposure. CONCLUSION: Fecal-oral appears to be the most common H. pylori transmission routes. Although the oral-oral pathway is also important, the evidence does not support that this route of transmission is universal. The gastric-oral route occurs primarily in children and patients who are prone to vomiting. Meanwhile, the anal-oral and genital-oral routes remain hypothetical. Person-to-person and foodborne infections represent the predominant transmission patterns of H. pylori, whereas strong environmental and occupational limitations are associated with animal-to-human and occupational exposure.

The cure rate of 10-day bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication is equivalent to 14-day: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer. However, the optimal duration for H. pylori eradication therapy remains controversial. Most studies have mainly focused on triple therapy, and there is insufficient research on bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effect of the 10-day bismuth-containing quadruple treatment regimen with the 14-day regime in eradicating H. pylori. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials published in English until May 2022 according to the eligibility criteria. Summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for eradication rates, adverse effects, and compliance were calculated for included studies. Four studies, involving 1173 patients, were eligible for inclusion. The eradication rate was similar in the 10-day treatment group and the 14-day treatment group in the intention-to-treat analysis (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.01). Meanwhile, the incidence of adverse effects was lower in patients who received 10 days of treatment than in those who received 14 days of treatment and patients' compliance was almost the same between two groups. Compared to the 14-day bismuth-containing quadruple regimens, 10-day regimens had similar efficacy and lower incidence of adverse effects. Therefore, the 10-day regimen is safe and well-tolerated and should be recommended for H. pylori infection.

Abnormalities in microbial composition and function in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis: A single-center observational study.

Objective: To investigate the features and functions of the intestinal microbiota in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a single center in China. Methods: We collected clinical information and stool samples from 19 participants in our center, including 9 infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and 10 control infants. DNA was extracted from the samples, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyse the participants' gut microbiota. Functional prediction was achieved using PICRUSt2. Results: Alpha diversity analysis found that similar levels of bacterial richness and diversity were found in the gut microbiota of infants with NEC and control infants (P = 0.1800), whereas beta diversity analysis suggested that the overall structures of the gut microbiota were significantly different (P = 0.0020). The Mann-Whitney U test of bacterial composition and abundance analysis revealed that the abundance levels of Proteobacteria (P = 0.03049) and Firmicutes (P = 0.01011) significantly differed between the two groups at the phylum level. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in the NEC group. At the genus level, the abundance levels of Enterococcus (P = 0.0003), Streptococcaceae (P = 0.0109) and Lactobacillales (P = 0.0171) were significantly decreased in infants with NEC. Furthermore, the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) method showed 12 bacterial taxa with significant differences in relative abundances in the two groups. Interestingly, members of Proteobacteria were enriched in NEC samples. In addition, functional prediction suggested that the microbial changes observed in infants with NEC resulted in a decline in galactose metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and phosphotransferase system (PTS) pathways (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study shows the compositional and functional alterations of the intestinal microbiota in NEC, which will help demonstrate the relationship between the gut microbiota and NEC pathogenesis.

Efficacy of bismuth for antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is increasing worldwide, and bismuth quadruple therapy has been recommended as a first-line regimen in many areas. This study aimed to investigate whether bismuth would improve the eradication rate (ER) of clarithromycin-/metronidazole-/levofloxacin-resistant H. pylori strains and how much additional efficacy bismuth could achieve. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central databases for randomized controlled trials were systematically searched by two independent reviewers until 15 January 2022. Pooled ERs of clarithromycin-/metronidazole-/levofloxacin-resistant H. pylori strains were compared between bismuth-containing and non-bismuth therapies. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Eight studies enrolling 340 individuals were included. The RRs of pooled ERs compared between bismuth-containing and non-bismuth therapies were 1.83 for clarithromycin-resistant strains (95% CI 1.16-2.89, pooled ER: 76.9% vs. 36.6%, p = .009, I2  = 0%), 1.39 for metronidazole-resistant strains (95% CI 1.09-1.78, pooled ER: 86.8% vs. 60.9%, p = .008, I2  = 37%), 2.75 for dual clarithromycin/metronidazole-resistant strains (95% CI 1.01-7.52, pooled ER: 76.9% vs. 18.2%, p = .05, I2  = 0%), and 1.04 for levofloxacin-resistant strains (95% CI 0.56-1.93, pooled ER: 63.4% vs. 54.3%, p = .90; I2  = 60%). Bismuth significantly increased the ERs of clarithromycin-, metronidazole-, and dual-resistant strains by 40%, 26%, and 59%, respectively. Subgroup analysis of treatment duration showed that the significantly higher eradication rate for antibiotic-resistant strains in bismuth-containing therapy than non-bismuth therapy was only observed in 14-day treatment regimens and not in 7-day regimens (p = .02 and .17, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Bismuth was most effective in improving the ERs of dual-resistant H. pylori strains, followed by clarithromycin- and metronidazole-resistant strains. Prolonged treatment duration might effectively improve the efficacy of bismuth in overcoming antibiotic resistance.

Implementation of WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection: A propensity score matching analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate if the WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction could affect treatment outcomes of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication compared with conventional patient education (CPE) alone. METHODS: Patients treated for H. pylori infection for the first time at our clinic from 1 July 2019 to 31 July 2021 were retrospectively included and divided into the CPE and WeChat groups. Both groups received CPE including verbal education and a specifically designed printout with detailed instructions. Those in the WeChat group were required to join a physician-managed WeChat group chat and they were encouraged to ask questions for clarification. Baseline characteristics were matched using propensity score matching between the two groups. Relevant knowledge and instructions were occasionally shared. Eradication rate, compliance, and adverse events in the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 348 patients were included after propensity score matching. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed eradication rate of 85.6% in the WeChat group and 80.5% in the CPE group (P = 0.199), whereas the per-protocol eradication rate was 91.1% and 88.2% (P = 0.399), respectively. Compliance did not differ between the two groups (WeChat group vs CPE group: 92.5% vs 91.4%, P = 0.693). The incidences of adverse events were also comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: CPE utilization already yields fair H. pylori eradication rate; however, the WeChat-based patient-doctor interaction did not yield better results. More appropriate managements are needed in the future to explore the impact of the WeChat platform on H. pylori eradication.

Low compliance to post-screening recommendations in a family-based Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment program: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intra-family transmission is an important Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection route. Family-based screening and treatment of H. pylori is a promising strategy. However, limited data are available on patient compliance with post-screening recommendations for such a strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of families from six regions in Shandong, China, from July 2021 to February 2022 was conducted. Demographic characteristics, prior testing, and treatment for H. pylori, prior gastroscopy, symptoms, and family history were collected. Infection status of participants was determined using the 13 C-urea breath test. Infected participants were recommended to undergo eradication treatment, confirmation testing, and gastroscopy per expert consensus. Participants were monitored for 6 months to record recommendation compliance in a real-world setting. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing compliance with the recommendations. RESULTS: The study included 1173 individuals from 386 families with the overall infection rate of 36.7%. The recommendation compliance for eradication treatment, confirmation testing, and gastroscopy was 69.3% (271/391), 32.5% (88/271), and 6.1% (19/309), respectively. Factors that increased the risk of lower compliance were male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.917, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.233-2.981), and living in a non-urban area (OR, 1.954, 95% CI, 1.241-3.074), for treatment recommendations; having more than one infected family member (OR, 2.138, 95% CI, 1.237-3.698), and a lower family income (¥100,000-¥300,000 per year, OR, 7.247, 95% CI, 1.788-29.363; or <¥100,000 per year, OR, 7.294, 95% CI, 1.832-29.042), for confirmation testing recommendations; and being asymptomatic (OR, 3.009, 95% CI, 1.105-8.196), for gastroscopy recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Post-screening recommendation compliance for this family-based H. pylori screening and treatment program was unsatisfactory. Further studies focusing on pre-screening education are warranted to improve compliance.

Clinical practice of Helicobacter pylori infection management by gastroenterologists in secondary and tertiary hospitals: A stratified sampling cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection by gastroenterologists from secondary and tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, China, where there is a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. METHODS: A questionnaire-based, stratified sampling survey was conducted from June 1 to August 30, 2021. The ratio of secondary to tertiary hospitals was set at 2:1. An electronic questionnaire was sent to the gastroenterologists via the WeChat platform. RESULTS: A total of 89.09% (1053/1182) gastroenterologists were included. Overall, 34.19% and 60.59% of gastroenterologists recommended screening for and treating H. pylori infection in patients without any competing factors. The most preferred testing method in secondary and tertiary hospitals was the 13 C-urea breath test (53.92% and 80.48%), but the reexamination rate of results close to the cut-off value was low (55.10% and 59.48%). Gastroenterologists preferred bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (secondary and tertiary hospitals: 96.67% and 98.53%), but the antibiotic combination prescribed for patients with penicillin allergy was suboptimal in secondary hospitals. The overall post-treatment follow-up rate was 64.58%, and gastroenterologists in secondary hospitals were more proactive than those in tertiary hospitals (69.41% vs 60.04%, P = 0.001). Less than 80% of gastroenterologists emphasized the importance of post-treatment reexamination to their patients. Only a minority of gastroenterologists in secondary and tertiary hospitals (30.79% and 34.36%) achieved acceptable eradication rates (exceeding 80%). CONCLUSIONS: Deficiencies exist in gastroenterologists from secondary and tertiary hospitals, and the H. pylori eradication rate is relatively low. Training programs for gastroenterologists are warranted to strengthen their comprehension of guidelines.