Peptic ulcer characteristics in oral opium and non-opium user patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a frequent medical issue. The primary risk factors for bleeding peptic ulcers are Helicobacter pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The association between acute gastric/duodenal ulcer and opium use has been previously proposed; however, there is no available data on endoscopic findings of patients with acute UGIB who use opium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present descriptive cross-sectional study, endoscopic data of 50 consecutive patients with oral opium use and 50 consecutive patients without any opium use who were admitted for UGIB were recorded. The size (5-10 mm, 11-20 mm, or more than 20 mm), number (single, double, or multiple), and location of the ulcers (esophagus, gastric corpus including the fundus and body, antrum, angulus, or duodenum) were examined by endoscopy in both groups. RESULTS: Three or more ulcers were observed in 46% and 16% of patients with oral opium use and without opium use, respectively (P-value = 0.001). The rate of giant ulcers (> 20 mm) was significantly higher in patients who used oral opium (40% vs. 12%; P-value = 0.007). Esophageal ulcers were also more common in oral opium users (30%) than non-users (8%) with UGIB (P-value = 0.01). Nevertheless, the location of the ulcers between the two groups generally was not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that multiple, large peptic ulcers in GIB are potential complications of oral opium use. This could aid the needed modifications in the treatment protocol for these patients.

IMPROVEMENT OF ERADICATION THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH DUODENAL ULCER ASSOCIATED WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To evaluate the efficacy of the drug VitD children with H.pylori-associated duodenal ulcer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Two treatment groups of children with DU were formed: I - 60 children with H. pylori-associated DU, who received the optimal scheme of anti- Helicobacter therapy (AHBT) for Chernivtsi region; II - 62 children with H. pylori-associated DU who received a modified treatment regimen: AGBT + VitD at a dose of 2000 IU / day for 1 month. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated taking into account the Relative Risk Reduction (RRR) of the adverse event and Number Needed to Treat (NNT). RESULTS: Results: All children with DU and a positive H. pylori infection test showed changes in serum VitD levels: 81.9% deficiency and 18.1% insufficiency. Successful eradication was achieved in 77.1% of children, in particular in the first group 73.3%, in the second - 82.2%. Predictors of successful eradication are the duration of infection, H. pylori CagA (+), VitD level. When using the VitD treatment regimen in children with DU associated with CagA (+) strain H.pylori, RRR was observed 2.29 times (χ2 = 6.34, pφ<0.05) with NNT 1.59. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Due to the reduced level of serum VitD in children with H. pylori-associated DU, it is advisable to include in the treatment regimen the adjuvant component of AHBT in the form of VitD. Predictors of effective eradication of H. pylori are CagA (+) strain of H. pylori, duration of infection and VitD level.

A case of unexplained duodenal ulcer and massive gastrointestinal bleed.

A 73-year-old man was displaying symptoms of massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. Surgical actions were performed to control the bleed caused by an erosive duodenal ulcer with duodenal perforation. When investigating the culprit of this case, the pain medications prescribed two weeks prior by a traditional Chinese medicine doctor raised attention. The patient's admission serum sample and the pain medications from unknown sources were analyzed using a clinically validated liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method. The NSAIDs diclofenac, piroxicam, and indomethacin were identified, as well as some other synthetic drugs and natural products. The patient's concurrent exposure to multiple NSAIDs significantly increased the risk of upper GI complications. It is reasonable to argue that the high-dose use of the NSAIDs was a major cause of the duodenal ulcer and GI bleed. In addition, the identified natural products such as atropine and ephedrine have well-documented toxicities. It is important to increase the visibility of unregulated medications, and the capability to perform untargeted mass spectrometry analysis provides a unique diagnostic advantage in cases where exposure to toxic substances is possible.

[The Parkinson puzzle]. / A Parkinson-puzzle.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most frequent progressive degenerative disorders with unknown origin of the nervous system. The commutation of the disease on Guam led to the discovery of a neurotoxin which was also found in other continents. This neurotoxin was identified in the common cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Early clinical observations suggested some loose correlations with gastric and duodenal ulcer and Parkinson's disease, while recent studies revealed a toxin, almost identical to that found in cyanobacteria in one strain of Helicobacter pylori, which proved to cause Parkinson like symptoms in animals. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that there is a slowly progressive poisoning in Parkinson's disease. The disease specific alpha-sinuclein inclusions can be found in nerve cells of the intestinal mucosa far before the appearance of clinical symptoms indicating that the disease may start in the intestines. These results are strengthened by the results of Borody's fecal transplants, after which in Parkinson patients showed a symptomatic improvement. Based on these observations the Parkinson puzzle is getting complete. Although these observations are not evidence based, they may indicate a new way for basic clinical research, as well as a new way of thinking for clinicians. These new observations in psycho-neuro-immunology strengthen the fact that immunological factors may also play a critical factor facilitating local cell necrosis which may be influenced easily.

Successful nutritional therapy for superior mesenteric artery syndrome.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is an uncommon cause of duodenal outlet obstruction. Symptoms and signs suggestive of this condition are nonspecific, and a high index of suspicion coupled with appropriate imaging studies are necessary for diagnosis. We present the case of a 70-year-old man who developed SMA syndrome following prolonged hospitalisation for a surgically treated bleeding duodenal ulcer. His SMA syndrome resolved after successful nonoperative management based on accepted guidelines for nutritional therapy, thus avoiding the need for reoperation and its attendant risks in a malnourished patient.

Wernicke's encephalopathy after cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neurological disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency. We report a case in a young patient who underwent a cephalic duodenopancreatectomy with a bleeding duodenal ulcer refractory to endoscopic and surgical treatment, requiring total parenteral nutrition, without thiamine supplementation.

[The use of ozone and low-intensive laser irradiation in complex treatment of complicated duodenal ulcer].

The study is based on the examination of 12 patients with perforative duodenal ulcer and 24 patients operated on recurrent bleeding duodenal ulcer. Some component of the immune system, such as T- and B-lymphocytes rates, immunoglobulin rate and macrophagal activity, were decreased prior the beginning of the complex treatment. Normalisation of humoral and cell immunity was registered on 10-12 days after the beginning of the ozone and low-intensive laser irradiation.

Primary Antibiotic Resistance of Helicobacter pylori Strains and Eradication Rate according to Gastroduodenal Disease in Korea / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was performed to evaluate whether the prevalence rates of primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isolates and the eradication rate of H. pylori could be different between cancer and non-cancer patients. METHODS: H. pylori were isolated from gastric mucosal biopsy specimens obtained from 269 Koreans, who did not have any eradication therapy history and were diagnosed as one of the following diseases; chronic gastritis, benign gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer or gastric cancer. The susceptibilities of the H. pylori isolates to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin were examined with the agar dilution method. In addition, eradication rate of H. pylori was evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the primary antibiotic resistance to above eight antibiotics among chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Furthermore there was no difference of antibiotic resistance between cancer and non-cancer patients, and there was no difference of eradication rate of H. pylori according to disease. CONCLUSIONS: Primary antibiotic resistance and H. pylori eradication rate were not different between cancer and non-cancer patients.

Systematic reviews of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the prevention and treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) haemorrhage, as well as to compare this with H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA), Helicobacter pylori eradication (in infected patients) or no therapy, for the prevention of first and/or subsequent bleeds among patients who continue to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Also to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of PPI therapy, compared with other treatments, for the prevention of subsequent bleeds in patients who had previously experienced peptic ulcer (PU) bleeding. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases and major conference proceedings were searched up to February 2006. REVIEW METHODS: Data were collected from the systematic reviews addressing each research objective. These were then entered into an economic model to compare the costs and quality-adjusted life-days of alternative management strategies over a 28-day period for patients who have had UGI bleeding. A Markov model with a Monte Carlo simulation used data from the systematic reviews to identify the most cost-effective treatment strategy for the prevention of UGI bleeding (first and subsequent) among NSAID users using an outcome of costs per quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) over a lifetime from age 50 years. RESULTS: PPI treatment initiated after endoscopic diagnosis of PU bleeding significantly reduced re-bleeding and surgery compared with placebo or H2RA. Although there was no evidence of an overall effect of PPI treatment on all-cause mortality, PPIs significantly reduced mortality in subgroups when studies conducted in Asia were examined in isolation or when the analysis was confined to patients with high-risk endoscopic findings. PPI treatment initiated prior to endoscopy in UGI bleeding significantly reduced the proportion of patients with stigmata of recent haemorrhage (SRH) at index endoscopy compared with placebo or H2RA, but there was no evidence that PPI treatment affected clinically important outcomes. Giving oral PPI both before and after endoscopy, with endoscopic haemostatic therapy (EHT) for those with major SRH, is preferred to all others on cost-effectiveness grounds at any threshold over 25,000 pounds per QALY, even if only short-term effects are taken into account, and at any threshold over 200 pounds per life-year gained if long-term effects are included. The risk of NSAID-induced endoscopic gastric and duodenal ulcers was reduced by standard doses of PPI and misoprostol, and double doses of H2RAs. Standard doses of H2RAs reduced the risk of endoscopic duodenal ulcers. PPIs reduced NSAID-induced dyspepsia. PPIs were superior to misoprostol in preventing recurrence of NSAID-induced endoscopic duodenal ulcers, but PPIs were comparable to misoprostol in preventing the recurrence of NSAID-induced endoscopic gastric ulcers. Full-dose misoprostol reduced bleeding, perforation or gastric outlet obstruction due to NSAID-induced ulcers, but misoprostol was poorly tolerated and associated with frequent adverse effects. H. pylori eradication treatment was equally effective with PPI treatment for the primary or secondary prevention of endoscopic ulcers in NSAID users. H. pylori eradication treatment was more effective than placebo for the primary prevention of endoscopic PU and for the prevention of re-bleeding from PU in NSAID users. With regard to primary and secondary prevention of bleeding PU in NSAID users, the two most cost-effective strategies are H. pylori eradication alone, and H. pylori eradication followed by misoprostol (substituted by a PPI, if misoprostol is not tolerated) at an additional 4810 pounds per QALY. In patients who had previously experienced a bleed from a PU, re-bleeding was less frequent after H. pylori eradication therapy than after non-eradication antisecretory therapy, whether or not the latter was combined with long-term maintenance antisecretory therapy. CONCLUSIONS: PPI treatment compared with placebo or H2RA reduces mortality following PU bleeding among patients with high-risk endoscopic findings, and reduces re-bleeding rates and surgical intervention. PPI treatment initiated prior to endoscopy in UGI bleeding significantly reduces the proportion of patients with SRH at index endoscopy but does not reduce mortality, re-bleeding or the need for surgery. The strategy of giving oral PPI before and after endoscopy, with EHT for those with major SRH, is likely to be the most cost-effective. Treatment of H. pylori infection was found to be more effective than antisecretory therapy in preventing recurrent bleeding from PU. H. pylori eradication alone or eradication followed by misoprostol (with switch to PPI, if misoprostol is not tolerated) are the two most cost-effective strategies for preventing bleeding ulcers among H. pylori-infected NSAID users, although the data cannot exclude PPIs also being cost-effective. Further large randomised controlled trials are needed to address areas such as PPI administration prior to endoscopic diagnosis, different doses and administration of PPIs, as well as the primary and secondary prevention of UGI bleeding.

Estado actual del tratamiento quirúrgico de la úlcera péptica perforada en el Hospital Regional de Talca: Experience of a regional hospital / Emergency surgical treatment of perforated peptic ulcer

La perforación de una úlcera péptica corresponde a una infrecuente y siempre grave complicación de la enfermedad ulcerosa. El tratamiento quirúrgico es la terapia de elección. Se operaron 22 pacientes (21 hombres) con una edad promedio de 50 años. Tres enfermos tenían el diagnóstico de úlcera péptica previo a la emergencia actual. El síntoma más frecuente de consulta fue el dolor epigástrico de inicio súbito en 21 (95,4 por ciento) pacientes. El diagnóstico se realizó con radiografía de tórax de pie o de abdomen simple en 11 enfermos. Se realizó sutura simple de la úlcera en 12 (54,5 por ciento) pacientes, sutura más epiploplastía en 7 (31,8 por ciento) y resección gástrica en tres enfermos (13,6 por ciento). Siete (31,8 por ciento) pacientes presentaron complicaciones post operatorias, de los cuales fallecieron 2 (9,1 por ciento) como consecuencia de la sepsis asociada. Se realizó un seguimiento endoscópico a 9 pacientes (45 por ciento) sobrevivientes al episodio agudo. En 5 de ellos se demostró que la úlcera péptica aun permanecía activa. A dos de estos últimos pacientes se les realizó, en forma electiva una cirugía resectiva definitiva. Se concluye que la perforación de una úlcera péptica corresponde a un cuadro grave, que se asocia a una morbilidad y mortalidad significativa. El tratamiento quirúrgico local es la terapia de elección para el episodio agudo, sin embargo este no es definitivo y no evita la recidiva.

Background: Peptic ulcer perforation is an uncommon by devastating complication that requires emergency surgical treatment. Aim: To review the results of surgical treatment of peptic ulcer perforation in a Chilean Regional Hospital. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of 22 patients (age range 21-88 years, 21 males) operated for a perforated peptic ulcer, between 1995 and 2000. Results: The most common presentation symptom was acute epigastric pain in 21 patients. The diagnosis was done with a plain abdominal X ray obtained in the standing position, in 11 patients. A simple suture of the ulcer was done in 12 patients, suture plus epiploplasty in seven and gastric resection in three. Seven patients (32 percent) had postoperative complications and two (9 percent) died as a consequence of an associated septic process. An endoscopic follow up was done in nine patients and in two, the peptic ulcer remained active. These two patients were subjected to an elective excisional surgery. Conclusions: Local surgical correction of peptic ulcer perforation is the emergency treatment of choice but does not avoid ulcer relapse.

Continuous infusion of pantoprazole versus ranitidine for prevention of ulcer rebleeding: a U.S. multicenter randomized, double-blind study.

OBJECTIVES: No North American randomized study has compared ulcer rebleeding rates after endoscopic hemostasis in high-risk patients treated with high-dose intravenous (IV) proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or IV histamine-2 receptor antagonists. Our hypothesis was that ulcer rebleeding with IV pantoprazole (PAN) would be lower than with IV ranitidine (RAN). METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, U.S. study. Patients with bleeding peptic ulcers and major stigmata of hemorrhage had endoscopic hemostasis with thermal probes with or without epinephrine injection, then were randomly assigned to IV PAN 80 mg plus 8 mg/h or IV RAN 50 mg plus 6.25 mg/h for 72 h, and subsequently had an oral PPI (1/day). Patients with signs of rebleeding had repeat endoscopy. Rebleeding rates up to 30 days were compared in an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: The study was stopped early because of slow enrollment (total N = 149, PAN 72, RAN 77). Demographics, APACHE II scores, ulcer type/location, stigmata, and hemostasis used were similar. The 7- and 30-day rebleeding rate was 6.9% (5 of 72 patients) with PAN and 14.3% (11 of 77) for RAN (p= 0.19). Rebleeds occurred within 72 h in 56% and between 4 and 7 days in 44% of patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 4%. Nonbleeding severe adverse events were more common in the RAN than in the PAN group (14 [18.1%]vs 7 [9.7%], p= 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the small sample size of this study, there was an arithmetic but not significant difference in ulcer rebleeding rates.

[Efficacy of the drinking magnesium-calcium sulfate mineral water in the combined treatment of duodenal ulcer comorbid with gastroesophageal reflux].

Thirty patients with duodenal ulcer in remission running in combination with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were divided into two groups. Patients of group 1 received medication (omeprasol 20 mg twice a day, motilium 10 mg 3 times a day) and mineral water Klyuchi (200 ml 3 times a day). Patients of group 2 received the same medication but no mineral water. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed by the data obtained at esophagogastroduodenofibroscopy, morphological study of gastric and esophageal biopsies, 24-h pH-metry of the esophagus and the stomach. The results suggest that the addition of mineral water Klyuchi to standard medication of GERD shortens correction of clinical, endoscopic and morphological manifestations of the disease.

Porphyria cutanea tarda associated with an acute gastrointestinal bleed: the roles of supplemental iron and blood transfusion.

We describe a case of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) induced by blood transfusion and oral iron supplementation in an 80-year-old white woman. The patient experienced acute blood loss from 2 duodenal ulcers 2 months prior to presentation. During her hospitalization for the gastrointestinal bleed, her anemia was treated with blood transfusion, iron supplementation, and erythropoietin. Multiple blistering lesions developed on her skin 2 months after hospital discharge. Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with a diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda. Treatment included discontinuation of iron therapy, local skin care, and phlebotomy, which prevented the development of more lesions. The roles of iron overload and chronic renal disease in the pathogenesis of the porphyria are discussed.

Omeprazole as adjuvant therapy to endoscopic combination injection sclerotherapy for treating bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic endoscopy has provided a new means of treating bleeding peptic ulcers. Additional medical therapy may enhance the therapeutic benefit. Hemostasis is highly pH dependent and is severely impaired at low pH. Proton pump inhibitors, by achieving a significantly higher inhibition of gastric acidity, may improve the therapeutic outcomes after endoscopic treatment of ulcers. PATIENT AND METHODS: We enrolled 166 patients with hemorrhage from duodenal, gastric, or stomal ulcers and signs of recent hemorrhage, as confirmed by endoscopy. Twenty-six patients had ulcers with an arterial spurt, 41 patients had active ooze, 37 had a visible vessel, and 62 patients had an adherent clot. All patients received endoscopic injection sclerotherapy using 1:10,000 adrenaline and 1% polidocanol and were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole (40 mg orally) every 12 hours for 5 days or an identical-looking placebo. The outcome measures used were recurrent bleeding, surgery, blood transfusion, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Six (7%) of 82 patients in the omeprazole group had recurrent bleeding, as compared with 18 (21%) in the placebo group (P = 0.02). Two patients in the omeprazole group and 7 patients in the placebo group needed surgery to control their bleeding (P = 0.17). One patient in the omeprazole group and 2 patients in the placebo group died (P = 0.98). Twenty-nine patients (35%) in the omeprazole group and 61 patients (73%) in the placebo group received blood transfusions (P <0.001). The average hospital stay was 4.6 +/- 1.1 days in the omeprazole group and 6.0 +/- 0.7 days in the placebo group (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of oral omeprazole to combination injection sclerotherapy decreases the rate of recurrent bleeding, reduces the need for surgery and transfusion, and shortens the hospital stay for patients with stigmata of recent hemorrhage.

Regular-dose versus high-dose omeprazole in peptic ulcer bleeding: a prospective randomized double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that profound acid inhibition along with endoscopic therapy might prevent rebleeding and reduce mortality in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding. The aim of the study was to test the possible equivalence of a high dose and the regular dose of omeprazole in peptic ulcer bleeding. METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized double-blind study involving 142 patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding (Forrest classification I-II: spurting or oozing bleeding, non-bleeding visible vessel, clot and black base). One-hundred-and-two (71.8%) patients received endoscopic treatment (adrenaline injection and/or heater probe) in pre-entry. Patients were randomly assigned to receive the regular dose of omeprazole intravenously (20 mg once a day for 3 days, i.e. 60 mg/72 h) or a high dose of omeprazole (80 mg bolus + 8 mg/h for 3 days, i.e. 652 mg/72 h). Rebleeding, surgery and death were the outcome measures. RESULTS: Six (8.2%) of the 73 patients receiving the regular dose of omeprazole and 8 (11.6%) of the 69 patients receiving the high dose of omeprazole rebled (P = 0.002 for equivalence, equivalence limit 0.15). Three (4.1%) of the former patients and 5 (7.2%) of the latter group underwent surgery. Four (5.5%) patients in the regular-dose and 2 (2.9%) in the high-dose group died within 30 days. CONCLUSION: Under the defined tolerance limits, the regular dose of omeprazole is as successful as a high dose in preventing peptic ulcer rebleeding.

[Actovegin treatment of duodenal ulcer associated with ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus]. / Lechenie aktoveginom bol'nykh iazvennoi bolezn'iu dvenadtsatiperstnoi kishki, sochetannoi s ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa i sakharnym diabetom.

Actovegin, a deproteinized hemoderivative, was used to correct bioenergetic defects of duodenal mucosa, to reduce inflammatory-cell infiltration, to stimulate blood supply of patients with duodenal ulcer associated with ischemic heart disease or diabetes mellitus. As shown by the results obtained in 194 patients (119 males and 75 females), adjuvant actovegin in patients with duodenal ulcer associated with ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus stimulates the ulcer healing, prolongs the recurrence-free interval. It can be used both in outpatient departments and specialized hospitals.

[2-Component silicone compounds in the emergency surgery of gastrointestinal hemorrhages]. / Dvukhkomponentnye silikonovye kompozitsii v neotlozhnoi khirurgii zheludochno-kishechnykh krovotechenii.

Based upon their clinico-experimental investigations the authors prove advantages of the two-component silicon compositions over oil preparations for the arrest of gastro-intestinal bleedings. Such compositions are recommended for patients whose treatment by traditional methods of hemostasis proved to be ineffective due to some causes which is often observed in elderly and senile patients.

Randomised comparison between adrenaline injection alone and adrenaline injection plus heat probe treatment for actively bleeding ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare endoscopic adrenaline injection alone and adrenaline injection plus heat probe for the treatment of actively bleeding peptic ulcers. DESIGN: Randomised prospective study of patients admitted with actively bleeding peptic ulcers. SETTING: One university hospital. SUBJECTS: 276 patients with actively bleeding ulcers detected by endoscopy within 24 hours of admission: 136 patients were randomised to endoscopic adrenaline injection alone and 140 to adrenaline injection plus heat probe treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Initial endoscopic haemostasis; clinical rebleeding; requirement for operation; requirement for blood transfusion; hospital stay, ulcer healing at four weeks; and mortality in hospital. RESULTS: Initial haemostasis was achieved in 131/134 patients (98%) who received adrenaline injection alone and 135/136 patients (99%) who received additional heat probe treatment (P = 0.33). Outcome as measured by clinical rebleeding (12 v 5), requirement for emergency operation (14 v 8), blood transfusion (2 v 3 units), hospital stay (4 v 4 days), ulcer healing at four weeks (79.1% v 74%), and in hospital mortality (7 v 8) were not significantly different in the two groups. In the subgroup of patients with spurting haemorrhage 8/27 (29.6%; 14.5% to 50.3%) patients from the adrenaline injection alone group and 2/31 (6.5%; 1.1% to 22.9%) patients from the dual treatment group required operative intervention. The relative risk of this was lower in the dual treatment group (0.17; 0.03 to 0.87). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the dual treatment group than the adrenaline injection alone group (4 v 6 days, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The addition of heat probe treatment after endoscopic adrenaline injection confers an advantage in ulcers with spurting haemorrhage.

Efficacy of primed infusions with high dose ranitidine and omeprazole to maintain high intragastric pH in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding: a prospective randomised controlled study.

BACKGROUND: In healthy subjects, continuous infusions of high dose ranitidine and omeprazole produce high intragastric pH values. AIM: To test the hypothesis that both drugs also maintain high intragastric pH values in patients with bleeding ulcers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In two parallel studies, 20 patients with bleeding duodenal ulcers and 20 patients with bleeding gastric ulcers were randomly assigned to receive either ranitidine (0.25 mg/kg/hour after a bolus of 50 mg) or omeprazole (8 mg/hour after a bolus of 80 mg) for 24 hours. Intragastric pH was continuously recorded with a glass electrode placed 5 cm below the cardia. RESULTS: Both drugs rapidly raised the intragastric pH above 6. During the second 12 hour period, however, the percentage of time spent below a pH of 6 was 0.15% with omeprazole and 20.1% with ranitidine (p = 0.0015) in patients with duodenal ulcer; in patients with gastric ulcer it was 0.1% with omeprazole and 46.1% with ranitidine (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Primed infusions of omeprazole after a bolus produced consistently high intragastric pH values in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers, whereas primed infusions with ranitidine were less effective during the second half of a 24 hour treatment course. This loss of effectiveness may be due to tolerance.

Macrolides, azalides, and streptogrammins.

AIDS: The Third International Conference on the Macrolides, Azalides, and Streptogramins was held in Lisbon, Portugal. Conferees were given news on the latest advances in the development of innovative antibiotics belonging to these increasingly important groups of drugs, and learned of their expanding clinical indications. The following areas were emphasized at the conference: multiresistant gram-positive bacteremias in patients with serious underlying infections, azithromycin's effectiveness against acute community-acquired pneumonia, results of clarithromycin plus ethambutol in HIV-infected patients with MAC bacteremia, duodenal ulcers associated with Helicobacter pylori infections, and use of roxithromycin against AIDS-related cryptosporidium diarrhea.^ieng