The Effects of Combined Vitamin E and C for Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Antioxidant therapy is a promising treatment option for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after failure of lifestyle modification. We aimed to explore the efficacy of combined vitamin E and C therapy compared to no treatment for NAFLD. METHODS: A literature search was performed in Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to 28th April 2020. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on randomized controlled trials that assessed vitamin E and C co-treatment in NAFLD. Quality of evidence was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Assessed outcomes were changes in imaging findings, histological features, and serum transaminases. Subgroup analyses that compared adult versus children were further explored. RESULTS: Four studies (n=260) satisfied our eligibility criteria. Vitamin co-treatment  did not improve ultrasonographic liver brightness, histological parameters of hepatocyte injury (steatosis, lobular inflammation, and ballooning), fibrosis grading (standardized mean difference [SMD ]: 0.02, 95% CI: -0.40 to 0.45, I2=13%), serum aspartate transaminase (mean difference [MD]: -0.05, 95% CI: -2.59 to 2.50, I2=0%), and serum alanine transaminase (MD: 2.82, 95% CI: -2.11 to 7.76, I2=57%). Subgroup stratifications illustrated similar findings. CONCLUSION: Vitamin co-treatment may have limited efficacy in NAFLD. However, we have little confidence in our effect estimates due to bias and other major constraints.

Prognostic factors for survival in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer ranks as a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Information of prognostic factors related to gastric cancer are limited. AIM: This study aimed to gather clinical data and prevalence of prognostic factors related to gastric adenocarcinoma in Thailand. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand between January 2010 and July 2018. Gastric adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled and followed up for at least 5 years. Total of 210 gastric tumor patients were enrolled. One hundred patients were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinomas (57 men and 43 women, mean age = 61.1 years). The leading presenting symptoms were weight loss (65%), followed by dyspepsia (54%) and UGI bleeding. Common clinical manifestations were thrombocytosis (26%), followed by syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH; 15%). Eosinophilia was present in early cancer (25.0% vs 6.5%, P = .123), while SIADH and thrombocytosis were more common in advanced stages (16.3% vs 0%, P = .602, and 28.3% vs 0%, P = .108, respectively). SIADH was significantly related to reduced 1-year survival rate compared to normal serum sodium levels (21.4% vs 71.4%, OR 0.109, 95% CI 0.024-0.497, P = .004). Five-year survival rates were worse in patients with SIADH, but better in patients with eosinophilia compared to patients without these conditions (0% vs 27.8%, P = .058 and 20.0% vs 7.8%, P = .375, respectively). CONCLUSION: Thrombocytosis and SIADH were common in gastric cancer. SIADH was significantly correlated with poor 1-year survival. These clinical manifestations might be useful for predicting gastric cancer prognosis.

High Effective of 14-Day High-Dose PPI- Bismuth-Containing Quadruple Therapy with Probiotics Supplement for Helicobacter Pylori Eradication: A Double Blinded-Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is important risk factors for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy has recently been the first-line regimen recommended in many European countries but has limited efficacy in ASEAN especially Thailand. This study was aim to evaluate efficacy of high dose PPI Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy with probiotics supplement for H. pylori eradication. Methods: In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study, H. pylori infected patients were randomized to receive 7-or 14-day high dose PPI- bismuth-containing quadruple therapy with or without probiotics supplement. Probiotic was 37.5 mg Lactobacillus reuteri (Biogaia®) in tablet twice daily. CYP2C19 genotyping and antibiotic susceptibility tests were also done. H. pylori eradication was defined as a negative 13C-urea breath test at least 4 weeks after treatment. Results: 100 subjects were enrolled (72 females, 28 males, mean age=54 years). Antibiotic resistance was 15.6% for clarithromycin, 34.1% for metronidazole. CYP2C19 genotyping was performed in both group and revealed 13%, 50% and 37% for poor, intermediate and rapid metabolizers, respectively. Overall eradication rates of 7-day and 14-day regimens with probiotic were 68% and 96%; P value=0.027. The eradication rate for all patients with poor and rapid metabolizers were 100% with 14-day regimen. 14-day regimen with probiotics can provide 100% eradication with clarithromycin resistance, metronidazole resistance or dual clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance group. Furthermore, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and bitter taste were significantly lower in patients with probiotics group compared with placebo (6%vs.26%, P=0.002,OR=0.126,95% CI=0.03-0.53; 4%vs.18.0%, P=0.017, OR= 0.155,95% CI=0.03-0.81 and 4%vs.26%, P= 0.001,OR= 0.08, 95%CI= 0.016-0.41, respectively). Conclusions: The 14-day high dose PPI- bismuth-containing quadruple therapy with probiotic can provide an excellent cure rate for H. pylori infection as first line treatment irrespective of CYP2C19 and antibiotic resistance pattern. Adding probiotic also significantly reduced treatment-related adverse events and improve the patients' compliance.

Cytomegalovirus Colitis in an End-Stage Renal Disease Patient Presenting with Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

The authors report a case of cytomegalovirus colitis which is one of uncommon causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis. Our patient presented with recurrent episodes of massive hematochezia within 2 months. He had the underlying end-stage renal disease, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension and gout. Colonoscopy revealed multiple clean base ulcers at rectum and sigmoid colon. An active bleeding lesion was rectal ulcer with non bleeding visible vessel which was successfully treated with hemoclipping. The diagnosis of cytomegalovirus colitis was confirmed by pathology from colonic tissues which showed compatible patterns of cytopathic change. Human immunodeficiency virus serology was negative. He was treated with with ganciclovir intravenously for 1 week after the pathological finding was reported. To our knowledge, cytomegalovirus infection should be considered as causative pathogen of colitis and colonic ulcers in end-stage renal disease patients.