Need for standardization and harmonization of Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: As with other infectious diseases, Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens should be guided by susceptibility testing to achieve excellent success rate, especially in the era of high antibiotic resistance. However, susceptibility testing for H. pylori is rarely performed, which can be partly ascribed to the current lack of standardization of testing methods and the lack of unified consensus on the antibiotic resistance breakpoints. The aim of this review was to call for an international consensus on standardization and harmonization of H. pylori susceptibility testing. METHODS: We summarize and compare the advantages and disadvantages of four different phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods (agar dilution, E-test, disk diffusion, and broth microdilution) and the molecular susceptibility testing method for H. pylori. RESULTS: The standard phenotypic testing methods and the molecular testing methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Compared to the standard phenotypic methods, the molecular testing method does not require successful H. pylori culture, and therefore, is much more rapid and convenient for clinical use. However, the currently available molecular testing method is only suitable for detecting clarithromycin and quinolone susceptibility profiles in H. pylori. Although the standard AST is time-consuming, it is currently the only way to test the susceptibility of H. pylori to all the commonly used antibiotics. CONCLUSION: To make H. pylori susceptibility testing become a clinical routine, an international consensus on standardization and harmonization of H. pylori AST is needed. Future efforts are needed for optimizing broth culture of H. pylori, and developing commercial AST plates for achieving high throughput and automated susceptibility testing for H. pylori.

East-Asian Helicobacter pylori strains synthesize heptan-deficient lipopolysaccharide.

The lipopolysaccharide O-antigen structure expressed by the European Helicobacter pylori model strain G27 encompasses a trisaccharide, an intervening glucan-heptan and distal Lewis antigens that promote immune escape. However, several gaps still remain in the corresponding biosynthetic pathway. Here, systematic mutagenesis of glycosyltransferase genes in G27 combined with lipopolysaccharide structural analysis, uncovered HP0102 as the trisaccharide fucosyltransferase, HP1283 as the heptan transferase, and HP1578 as the GlcNAc transferase that initiates the synthesis of Lewis antigens onto the heptan motif. Comparative genomic analysis of G27 lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic genes in strains of different ethnic origin revealed that East-Asian strains lack the HP1283/HP1578 genes but contain an additional copy of HP1105 and JHP0562. Further correlation of different lipopolysaccharide structures with corresponding gene contents led us to propose that the second copy of HP1105 and the JHP0562 may function as the GlcNAc and Gal transferase, respectively, to initiate synthesis of the Lewis antigen onto the Glc-Trio-Core in East-Asian strains lacking the HP1283/HP1578 genes. In view of the high gastric cancer rate in East Asia, the absence of the HP1283/HP1578 genes in East-Asian H. pylori strains warrants future studies addressing the role of the lipopolysaccharide heptan in pathogenesis.

Total Glucosides of Paeony Attenuates Ulcerative Colitis via Inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

The therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) in treating ulcerative colitis remain to be clarified. Mouse model of ulcerative colitis was treated with TGP and the indexes including scores of disease activity index, gross morphologic damage and histological damage, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were determined. Patients with ulcerative colitis received TGP capsule therapy and the indexes including efficacy of colonoscopy and histology, scores of Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (UCAI) and Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ), and inflammatory parameters were assessed. The expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were measured in colonic tissues of mice and patients. TGP treatment significantly increased weight, decreased scores of disease activity index, gross morphologic damage and histological damage, and reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase in mouse model. Patients treated with TGP capsule had significantly higher relief rates of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloody purulent stool, decreased UCAI and increased SIBDQ scores, and lower levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio than those patients with routine therapy. The overall response rate of TGP capsule was significantly higher than that of routine therapy. TGP treatment significantly suppressed the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in colonic tissues of both mouse model and patients with UC. TGP shows a good therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis in animals and human patients, and the underlying mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling by TGP.

Re-assessment of the disk diffusion technique for routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the disk diffusion technique against E-test as a routine antibiotic susceptibility testing method for Helicobacter pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Susceptibilities of 301 H pylori clinical isolates were simultaneously profiled by E-test and disk diffusion method for levofloxacin (5-µg disk), clarithromycin (15-µg disk), metronidazole (5-µg disk), amoxicillin (10-µg disk), and tetracycline (30-µg disk). Furazolidone susceptibility was evaluated using a 100-µg disk only. The correlation between MICs by E-test and inhibition zone diameters by disk diffusion was assessed by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Correlation between inhibition zone diameters and MICs was found for levofloxacin (r = -.932), clarithromycin (r = -.894), and to a minor extent metronidazole (r = -.820). Using the linear regression analysis, the inhibition zone diameter breakpoints were calculated to be 29 mm for levofloxacin, 41 mm for clarithromycin, and 15 mm for metronidazole corresponding to the EUCAST-recommended MIC breakpoints. The susceptibility agreement between E-test and disk diffusion for levofloxacin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole was 98.6%, 96.0%, and 96.7%, respectively. The inhibition zone diameters recorded for the amoxicillin, tetracycline, and furazolidone were large (approximately 60 mm in mean), and a poor correlation was found between inhibition zone diameters and MICs for amoxicillin (r = -.594) and tetracycline (r = -.490). CONCLUSIONS: The disk diffusion can be used as a routine H pylori susceptibility testing method for levofloxacin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole in clinical practice under the described technical conditions. The use of disk diffusion for amoxicillin, tetracycline, and furazolidone susceptibility testing needs to be further studied.

Management of Helicobacter pylori infection by clinicians: A nationwide survey in a developing country.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Developing countries are making efforts to improve health management. Practice deviating from the guideline means inefficient control. The study aims to investigate the management of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection from a developing country perspective. METHODS: An authoritative survey was conducted in 14th (2014) and 17th (2017) Congress of Gastroenterology China, respectively. The Maastricht V/Florence consensus report was invoked as the evaluation criterion. RESULTS: A total of 4182 valid samples were included in this study. Most of the respondents (94%) updated knowledge by lectures. Respondents had a different awareness rate of H pylori-related diseases, ranging from 45% to 95%. Up to 40% of the respondents did not follow the recommendations for the diagnosis. Choice accuracy of eradication regimens and antibiotic combinations was <70%. About 20% of the respondents did not pay attention to the confirmation after the eradication. The situation had been improved in 2017 when compared with that in 2014 (all P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that influencing factors including nongastroenterologists, bachelor degree and below, the primary professional title, hospital location, and a small proportion of H pylori infection in daily practice related to the deviation of consensus (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the management of H pylori infection has been improved in a developing country, there is still a gap between the real-world practices and the consensus. Influencing factors should be taken into account in decision-making, and the corresponding population should be strengthened with precision training during the promotion of the guideline.

Tolerability of selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors used for the treatment of rheumatological manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to reduce inflammatory pain and swelling in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with rheumatological manifestations. While these drugs effectively reduce musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, long-term use is limited by gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects (AEs) and disease exacerbation. As an alternative to NSAIDs, selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors were developed to improve GI safety and tolerability. COX-2 inhibitors include drugs such as celecoxib, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, etoricoxib, and lumiracoxib. Rofecoxib and valdecoxib have been withdrawn from the market worldwide due to safety concerns (most importantly for cardiovascular adverse events) and lumiracoxib has been withdrawn in many countries due to liver toxicity. However, celecoxib and etoricoxib continue to be available for use in many countries. Several studies have examined whether COX-2 inhibitors can be safely used for the treatment of rheumatological manifestations of IBD with inconsistent results. Some investigators report acceptable safety profiles associated with these drugs while others found that COX-2 inhibitors are associated with high rates of disease exacerbation. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the tolerability and safety of COX-2 inhibitors used for the treatment of rheumatological manifestations of IBD. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases from inception to 19 September 2013: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL. The search was not limited by language. Additional trials were identified by manually searching the reference lists of relevant papers and conference proceedings and through correspondence with experts and pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared COX-2 inhibitors to placebo were considered for inclusion. Participants were adult patients with IBD presenting with rheumatological manifestations of at least two weeks duration. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial eligibility and extracted data. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with disease exacerbation as defined by the included studies. Secondary outcomes included GI adverse effects, renal toxicity, cardiovascular and thrombotic events. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis where patients with missing final outcomes were assumed to have had an exacerbation of IBD. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for dichotomous outcomes. The overall quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE criteria. MAIN RESULTS: There were no RCTs that assessed the tolerability or safety of the withdrawn COX-2 inhibitors rofecoxib, valdecoxib, or lumiracoxib. Two RCTs (n = 381 IBD patients with rheumatological manifestations) were included in the review. One study (n = 159) compared etoricoxib (60 to 120 mg/day) to placebo in IBD patients with quiescent or active ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. The other study (n = 222) compared celecoxib (200 mg twice daily) to placebo in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis. Both studies were judged to be at low risk of bias. The two included studies were not pooled for meta-analysis due to differences in patient populations and treatment duration. There was no statistically significant difference in exacerbation of IBD between etoricoxib and placebo. After 12 weeks of treatment the IBD exacerbation rate was 17% (14/82) in the etoricoxib group compared to 19% (15/77) in the placebo group (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.69). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome was low due to very sparse data (29 events). There was no statistically significant difference in exacerbation of ulcerative colitis between celecoxib and placebo. After two weeks of treatment 4% (5/112) of celecoxib patients experienced an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis compared to 6% (7/110) of patients in the placebo group (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.23 to 2.14). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome was low due to very sparse data (12 events). The study comparing etoricoxib to placebo documented but did not report on AEs. The proportion of patients who experienced AEs was similar in the celecoxib and placebo groups (21% and 17%, respectively, P > 0.20). No patients in either group died or experienced serious adverse events. Eleven percent of patients in the celecoxib and placebo groups experienced GI AEs (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.46 to 2.07). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome was low due to very sparse data (24 events). GI AEs led to premature withdrawal from the study in 3% of patients in celecoxib and placebo groups respectively. GI AEs included increased stool frequency, rectal bleeding, and inflamed mucosa. No patients experienced any cardiovascular adverse events. Renal toxicity or thrombotic AEs were not reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The results for disease exacerbation and AEs between the COX-2 inhibitors celecoxib and etoricoxib and placebo were uncertain. Thus no definitive conclusions regarding the tolerability and safety of the short term use of celecoxib and etoricoxib in patients with IBD can be drawn. The two included studies suggest that celecoxib and etoricoxib do not exacerbate IBD symptoms. However, it should be noted that both studies had relatively small sample sizes and short follow-up durations. Clinicians need to continue to weigh the risks and benefits of these drugs when treating patients IBD patients with rheumatological manifestations in order to avoid disease exacerbation and other adverse effects. Further RCTs are needed to determine the tolerability and safety of celecoxib and etoricoxib in these patients.

Discrimination of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum according to geographical origin by near-infrared spectroscopy combined with a deep learning approach.

Recently, deep learning has presented as a powerful approach to overcome the deficiencies of the conventional biochemical approaches. In this study, a method for discriminating medicinal plant Tetrastigma hemsleyanum from different origins was proposed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and deep learning models. Support vector machine (SVM), self-adaptive evolutionary extreme learning machine (SAE-ELM), and convolutional neural network (CNN) were used to process the near-infrared spectral data (4000-5600 cm-1). The results indicated that the average recognition accuracy of SVM on the test set samples (n = 60) reached 90%. The average recognition accuracy of SAE-ELM was 98.3%, while CNN correctly discriminated 100% of T. hemsleyanum from different origins. Notably, CNN avoids tedious redundant data preprocessing and is also able to save the trained model for the next call to achieve rapid detection. As above, this study provides an effective deep learning-based method for discriminating the geographical origins of T. hemsleyanum as well as providing a convenient and satisfactory approach to ensure the famous-region of other medicinal plants.

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori among a Chinese Tibetan population.

Aim: To evaluate the primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from a Chinese Tibetan population. Methods & materials: Gastric biopsies from 400 H. pylori treatment-naive Tibetan patients were collected for H. pylori isolation. Susceptibility to amoxicillin (AML)/clarithromycin (CLR)/levofloxacin (LEV)/metronidazole (MTZ)/tetracycline (TET)/rifampicin (RIF)/furazolidone (FZD) was determined by E-test or a disk diffusion assay. Results: Biopsies from 117 patients were H. pylori culture positive (29.3%). The primary resistance rates to MTZ, CLR, LEV, RIF, AML, TET and FZD were 90.6, 44.4, 28.2, 69.2, 7.7, 0.8 and 0.8%, respectively. Interestingly, 42.7% of the strains had simultaneous resistance to CLR and MTZ. Conclusion: Among Tibetan strains, primary resistance rates were high for CLR/MTZ/LEV, whereas primary resistance rates to AML/TET/FZD were low. The high resistance to RIF is a concerning finding.

Susceptibility-guided bismuth quadruple therapies for resistant Helicobacter pylori infections.

Increasing Helicobacter pylori resistance to antibiotics has ledthat molecular testing is appropriate as a sub to adoption of seven different bismuth quadruple therapies (BQT) in China without differentiation of first-line or second-line regimens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of susceptibility-guided BQT for patients who had experienced previous treatment failures. A total of 133 patients was included and H. pylori was successfully cultured from 101 patients (75.9%) for subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Based on the AST results, 88 patients completed one of five AST-guided 14-day BQT regimens: esomeprazole and bismuth colloidal pectin, along with either, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (EBAC), amoxicillin and levofloxacin (EBAL), amoxicillin and furazolidone (EBAF), amoxicillin and tetracycline (EBAT), or tetracycline and furazolidone (EBTF). H. pylori eradication rates were 100% for EBAC (5/5), EBAL (13/13), EBAF (14/14), and EBTF (43/43), but 76.9% for EBAT (10/13). The three patients that failed the EBAT regimen were all cured after subsequent treatment with the EBTF regimen. Our study demonstrates the excellent efficacy of the AST-guided BQT for referred H. pylori patients, and that the current EBAT regimen, used in clinics, needs to be optimized. In addition, 57 of the isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Analysis of the sequences revealed that point mutations in 23S rRNA correlated well with the phenotypic clarithromycin resistance with a concordance of 91.2%, while the concordance between phenotypic levofloxacin resistance and gyrA point mutations was 82.3%. This suggests that molecular testing is appropriate as a substitute for AST as a more rapid and cost-effective method for determining clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance in Chinese patients.

Dietary exposure to pesticide residues and associated health risks in infants and young children - Results of the French infant total diet study.

A total diet study (TDS) was undertaken to estimate the chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues and health risks for the French infants and young children below 3 years old. As a whole, 516 pesticides and metabolites were analysed in 309 food composite samples including 219 manufactured baby foods and 90 common foods, which cover 97% of infants and young children's diet. These composite samples were prepared using 5,484 food products purchased during all seasons from 2011 to 2012 and processed as consumed. Pesticide residues were detected in 67% of the samples and quantified in 27% of the baby food samples and in 60% of the common foods. Seventy-eight different pesticides were detected and 37 of these quantified at levels ranging from 0.02 to 594 µg/kg. The most frequently detected pesticides (greater than 5% samples) were (1) the fungicides 2-phenylphenol, azoxystrobin, boscalid, captan and its metabolite tetrahydrophthalimide, carbendazim, cyprodinil, difenoconazole, dodine, imazalil, metalaxyl, tebuconazole, thiabendazole, (2) the insecticides acetamiprid, pirimiphos-methyl and thiacloprid, (3) the herbicide metribuzin and (4) the synergist piperonyl butoxide. Dietary intakes were estimated for each of the 705 individuals studied and for 431 pesticides incl. 281 with a toxicological reference value (TRV). In the lower-bound scenario, which tends to underestimate the exposure, the TRV were never exceeded. In the upper-bound scenario that overestimates exposure, the estimated intakes exceeded the TRV for dieldrin and lindane (two persistent organic pollutants) and propylene thiourea, a metabolite of propineb. For these three substances, more sensitive analyses are needed to refine the assessment. For 17 other detected and/or prioritised pesticides, the risk could not be characterised due to the lack of a valid TRV, of certain food analyses or the absence of analytical standards for their metabolites.

Human dietary exposure to chemicals in sub-Saharan Africa: safety assessment through a total diet study.

BACKGROUND: Human dietary exposure to chemicals can result in a wide range of adverse health effects. Some substances might cause non-communicable diseases, including cancer and coronary heart diseases, and could be nephrotoxic. Food is the main human exposure route for many chemicals. We aimed to assess human dietary exposure to a wide range of food chemicals. METHODS: We did a total diet study in Benin, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria. We assessed 4020 representative samples of foods, prepared as consumed, which covered more than 90% of the diet of 7291 households from eight study centres. By combining representative dietary surveys of countries with findings for concentrations of 872 chemicals in foods, we characterised human dietary exposure. FINDINGS: Exposure to lead could result in increases in adult blood pressure up to 2·0 mm Hg, whereas children might lose 8·8-13·3 IQ points (95th percentile in Kano, Nigeria). Morbidity factors caused by coexposure to aflatoxin B1 and hepatitis B virus, and sterigmatocystin and fumonisins, suggest several thousands of additional liver cancer cases per year, and a substantial contribution to the burden of chronic malnutrition in childhood. Exposure to 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from consumption of smoked fish and edible oils exceeded levels associated with possible carcinogenicity and genotoxicity health concerns in all study centres. Exposure to aluminium, ochratoxin A, and citrinin indicated a public health concern about nephropathies. From 470 pesticides tested across the four countries, only high concentrations of chlorpyrifos in smoked fish (unauthorised practice identified in Mali) could pose a human health risk. INTERPRETATION: Risks characterised by this total diet study underscore specific priorities in terms of food safety management in sub-Saharan Africa. Similar investigations specifically targeting children are crucially needed. FUNDING: Standards and Trade Development Facility.

Sub-Saharan Africa total diet study in Benin, Cameroon, Mali and Nigeria: Pesticides occurrence in foods.

In the framework of the first regional Total Diet Study in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3696 foodstuffs, commonly consumed in Benin, Cameroon, Mali and Nigeria were purchased, prepared as consumed and pooled into 308 composite samples. Those core foods were tested for up to 470 pesticides residues by liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. 39 pesticides were detected with 294 total occurrences, including 47.3% organophosphate pesticides and 35.7% pyrethroids. More specifically, 6 substances represented 75.5% of all 3 organophosphates and 3 pyrethroids: chlorpyrifos (22.4%) cypermethrin (18.0%) dichlorvos (13.6%), lambda cyhalothrin (8.2%), permethrin (7.5%) and profenofos (5.8%). One pesticide or more was detected in 45.8% of samples. Strikingly, several pesticides were quantified in 2 composite samples of smoked fish from Mali: chlorpyrifos (5236-18 084 µg/kg), profenofos (30-182 µg/kg), cypermethrin (22-250 µg/kg), cyfluthrin (16-117 µg/kg), lambda cyhalothrin (9-17 µg/kg) and permethrin (3-6 µg/kg).

Validation and application of analytical method for glyphosate and glufosinate in foods by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A reliable and sensitive method was developed for simultaneous determination of glyphosate and glufosinate in various food products by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Based on extraction, derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate and purification on solid phase extraction column, quantification was done by using isotopic-labeled analytes as internal standard and calibration in matrix. Good selectivity and sensitivity were achieved with a limit of quantification of 5 µg/kg. The recoveries of these two pesticides ranged from 91% to 114% with inter-day and relative standard deviation of 3.8-6.1% in five matrices of cereal group spiked at 5, 10, and 20 µg/kg. An accuracy profile was performed for method validation, demonstrating the accuracy and precision of the method for the studied food groups. The verification results in expanded food groups indicated extensive applicability for the analysis of glyphosate and glufosinate. Finally, the developed method was applied to analyze 136 food samples including milk-based baby foods from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety. Glyphosate residues were detected in two breakfast cereal samples (6.0 and 34 µg/kg). Glufosinate residues were found in a sample of boiled potatoes (9.8 µg/kg). No residues were detected in the other samples, including milk-based baby foods with limits of detection ranging from 1 to 2 µg/kg. The method has been applied for routine national monitoring of glyphosate and glufosinate in various foods.

Primary Intestinal Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Natural Killer/T-cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder: A Disease Mimicking Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Primary intestinal Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]-associated natural killer/T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder [PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD] is a rare clinical entity, which is difficult to differentiate from inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We present a series of Chinese patients with PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD to increase awareness among clinicians of this condition. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD at West China hospital between 2014 and 2016 were included. Clinical and histopathological characteristics were reviewed, and key aspects of differential diagnosis were presented. RESULTS: Twelve patients diagnosed with PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD were identified. Initial symptoms included intermittent fever [11/12 patients], abdominal pain [9/12], haematochezia [8/12], and diarrhoea [3/12]. Main endoscopic findings included multisegmental irregular, variable-sized ulcers, isolated giant ulcers, and diffuse inflammation. Colon and ileocaecum were mainly affected in 11 patients. The main PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD immunophenotypic profile of the infiltrating cells was CD3ε-positive NK/T cells characterised by positive T-cell intracellular antigen-1 and granzyme B, with CD5 deletion. In situ hybridisation was positive for EBV-encoded small RNAs 1/2 in all patients. Eleven patients were misdiagnosed with ulcerative colitis [4/11], Crohn's disease [4/11], or tuberculosis [TB, 3/11], owing to the similar endoscopic and histopathological features. The mean number of endoscopic procedures performed before reaching the diagnosis of PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD was 3.58; in four patients, the diagnosis was confirmed only after surgical resection following complications. CONCLUSIONS: PIEBV+ NK/T-LPD may be difficult to differentiate from IBD or TB owing to overlapping endoscopic and pathological findings. Early identification of EBV reactivation in tissue samples is essential for the accurate diagnosis.

Prognostic Significance of Molecular Analysis of Peritoneal Fluid for Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Accurately distinguishing serosal invasion in patients with gastric cancer (GC) prior to surgery can be difficult. Molecular analysis of peritoneal fluid (MAPF) for free cancer cells with higher sensitivity than other methods; however, its prognostic value for GC remains controversial, precluding its application in clinical practice. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and other databases were systematically searched. Thirty-one studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and peritoneal recurrence-free survival (PRF). RESULTS: The current meta-analysis focused on patients with GC and negative cytological diagnoses. The results showed that positive MAPF status (MAPF+) led to poorer prognoses for OS (HR 2.59, 95% CI 1.99-3.37), DFS (HR 4.92, 95% CI 3.28-7.37) and PRF (HR 2.81, 95% CI 2.12-3.72) compared with negative MAPF status (MAPF-). Moreover, among the patients with GC who received curative treatment, the MAPF+ patients had poorer prognoses for OS (HR 3.27, 95% CI 2.49-4.29), DFS (HR 3.90, 95% CI 2.74-5.57) and PRF (HR 5.45, 95% CI 3.70-8.03). A meta-analysis of multivariate-adjusted HRs demonstrated that MAPF+ status was an independent prognostic factor for patients with GC who underwent curative treatment (OS: HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.47-3.28; PRF: HR 3.44, 95% CI 2.01-5.87). Using the identical target genes (CEA, CEA/CK20) as molecular markers, the patients with GC who were MAPF+ had significantly worse prognoses for OS (CEA: HR 3.03, 95% CI 2.29-4.01; CEA/CK20: HR 4.24, 95% CI 2.42-7.40), DFS (CEA: HR 3.99, 95% CI 2.24-7.12; CEA/CK20: HR 4.31, 95% CI 1.49-2.48) and PRF (CEA: HR 4.45, 95% CI 2.72-7.31; CEA/CK20: HR 6.46, 95% CI 3.62-11.55) than the patients who were MAPF-. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The above results demonstrate that MAPF could be a prognostic indicator for patients with GC who have a negative cytological diagnosis and/or are receiving curative treatment. MAPF could provide clinicians with additional prognostic information that could aid in developing individualized treatment plans prior to surgery. The widely used target genes CEA, CEA/CK20 were confirmed to be valuable MAPF markers for predicting the prognosis of GC.

[Investigation of the effect of Na-butyrate on TNBS induced rat colitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Na-butyrate on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced rat colitis and discuss its mechanism. METHODS: 0.85 ml of 50% ethanol enema containing 30 mg TNBS was instillated into rat colon to produce distal colitis. On the 5th day after TNBS enema, the rats were divided into 3 groups and were given respectively 100 mmol/L Na-butyrate, 100 mg/kg SASP or 0.9% saline enema daily. On the 19th day, macroscopical, histological injury scores of colonic mucosa and tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were evaluated, and the mitotic index in Na-butyrate group was compared with that in SASP group. RESULTS: Diarrhea was apparently improved, weight gain was not apparently different, the scores of macroscopical and histological injury and MPO activity decreased in the SASP group and the Na-butyrate group, compared with the control (P < 0.05). However, there was not obvious difference between the Na-butyrate group and SASP group (P > 0.05). Mitotic index in Na-butyrate group was higher than that in SASP group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Na-butyrate enema can expedite the restoration of the experimental colitis, and its therapeutic effect is as good as that of SASP.

[Analysis of surgical treatment for severe ulcerative colitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of different procedures in the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis (UC) requiring colectomy. METHODS: A total of 29 UC inpatients who underwent colectomy at the West China Hospital between January 1996 and December 2008 were included in this study. Except two cases who underwent partial colectomy, patients were divided into total colectomy group (TC group, n=7) and total proctocolectomy group (TPC group, n=20), meanwhile divided into ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA, n=8) group, straight end-to-end anastomosis (ileoanal or ileorectal and ileostomy) group (n=14)and ileostomy group (n=5). Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Cleveland Global Quality of Life (CGQL) instrument. RESULTS: The complication rate was 60.0% in TPC group and 57.1% in TC group (P>0.05). The recurrence rate was 15.0% in TPC group and 57.1% in TC group (P<0.05). The complication rate was 6/8 in IPAA group and 50.0% (7/14) in straight end-to-end anastomosis group (P>0.05). The frequency of daily bowel movements in IPAA group was significantly lower than that in straight end-to-end anastomosis group at 1 year after the surgery (5.6+/-1.7 versus 9.1+/-2.9, P<0.05). QOL was significantly improved postoperatively for all the patients(P<0.01). Patients who underwent IPAA had a better QOL than those of straight end-to-end anastomosis group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TPC-IPAA is the ideal procedure of severe UC with acceptable complication rate, satisfactory quality of life and functional outcome.

Diallyl trisulfide inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in inflammed mucosa of ulcerative colitis.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expression in inflammed mucosa of ulcerative colitis and its possible mechanism. Colonic biopsies from ulcerative colitis were treated with 0, 1, 5, and 10 microM DATS for 24 hr. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and concentrations of TNF-alpha in supernatants were measured. mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha in biopsies were analyzed by RT-PCR. The expression of NF-kappaB P65 in tissues was studied by immunohistochemistry. Concentrations of TNF-alpha in supernatants of biopsies treated with 5 and 10 microM DATS were lower than those of untreated biopsies. There were fewer lamina propria mononuclear cells whose NF-kappaB P65 expression in nuclei was positive, and less mRNA expression of TNF-alpha in biopsies treated with 10 microM DATS than in untreated biopsies. There were no differences in LDH activities in supernatants between tissues treated with DATS and untreated tissues. DATS could downregulate TNF-alpha production and inhibit NF-kappaB activation in lamina propria mononuclear cells of inflammed mucosa, without any effect on the viability of colonic tissue cells.

[The growth inhibition of colorectal adenoma cells by sulindac and its mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the growth inhibition of colorectal adenoma cells by sulindac and identify the possible mechanisms. METHODS: The colorectal adenoma cells from human sporadic adenomatous polyps were cultured, and then treated with sulindac. The cell viability was examined by MTT colorimetric assay; the S-phase fraction and the percentage of apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Following sulindac treatment at different concentrations for 24, 48 and 72 hours, reduction of the cell viability was time- and dose-dependent. After 48-hour-treatment, S-phase fraction was decreased and the percentage of apoptosis was increased; both indexes of all groups except 0.3 mmol/L group were different from those of controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggested that sulindac could inhibit the growth of the colorectal adenoma cells, and its mechanisms might be related to suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis.