New regimens as first-line eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in patients allergic to penicillin: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori eradication in penicillin-allergic patients is challenging. The effective regimen is lacking in areas with high antibiotic resistance and tetracycline unavailable. Minocycline, cefuroxime, and full-dose metronidazole are promising drugs. AIMS: To compare the eradication rate, safety, and compliance among three new bismuth quadruple therapies for first-line H. pylori eradication in penicillin-allergic patients. METHODS: This randomized trial was conducted on 450 naive patients with H. pylori infection and penicillin allergy. The 14-day minocycline-metronidazole-containing (minocycline 100 mg twice daily and metronidazole 400 mg four times/day), minocycline-cefuroxime-containing (minocycline 100 mg twice daily and cefuroxime 500 mg twice daily), and cefuroxime-metronidazole-containing (cefuroxime 500 mg twice daily and metronidazole 400 mg four times/day) bismuth quadruple therapies were randomly assigned to the participants. Safety and compliance were assessed within 3 days after eradication. Urea breath test was performed 4-8 weeks after eradication to evaluate outcome. RESULTS: The differences of eradication rates in either intention-to-treat (84.0%, 82.7%, and 23 82.0%, p = .896) or per-protocol (91.7%, 90.9%, and 88.2%, p = .599) analysis among minocycline-metronidazole, minocycline-cefuroxime, and cefuroxime-metronidazole-containing bismuth quadruple therapies were statistically insignificant. The incidence of adverse events (35.1%, 22.6%, and 28.9%) and compliance (90.5%, 91.8%, and 91.9%) were similar. Taste distortion, nausea, and anorexia were more common in metronidazole-containing regimens, and dizziness was more common in minocycline-containing regimens. The allergy was rare (~3%). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacies of three bismuth quadruple therapies containing minocycline, cefuroxime, and full-dose metronidazole (pairwise) for first-line H. pylori eradication in penicillin-allergic patients were similarly satisfactory with relatively good safety and compliance. The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registration (ChiCTR1900023702).

Individualized diagnosis and eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection based on gene detection of clarithromycin resistance in stool specimens: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Empiric therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection results in significantly increased antibiotic resistance and decreased eradication efficacy. The genotypic testing of clarithromycin resistance from stool specimens is a promising method for individualized diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to determine the status of research and application on this method through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and WAN FANG database were searched for relevant literature. The quality of included diagnostic articles was evaluated using the quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. A bivariate random-effect model was conducted to calculate the diagnostic accuracy of genotypic testing of clarithromycin resistance. RESULTS: A total of 16 diagnostic-related were included and analyzed after exclusions. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic meta-analysis were 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90-0.96) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.93-1.00), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.98). The genotypic testing in stool samples had heterogeneous sensitivity (Q = 37.82, p < .01, I2  = 37.82) and specificity (Q = 60.34, p < .01, I2  = 93.72) in detecting clarithromycin resistance. Purification method, stool sample weight, real-time PCR, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing as reference accounted for the heterogeneity of pooled sensitivity, while patient age, purification method, stool sample weight, and real-time PCR for the heterogeneity of pooled specificity. CONCLUSION: The genotypic testing of clarithromycin resistance from stool specimens is an accurate, convenient, noninvasive, and rapid detection technology, providing a definitive diagnosis of clarithromycin resistance and guiding the rational antibiotic selection.

Bismuth, esomeprazole, metronidazole and amoxicillin or tetracycline as a first-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Due to general unavailability and common side effects of tetracycline, the clinical application of bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) is greatly limited. Whether amoxicillin can replace tetracycline in BQT remains unknown. This study aimed to compare the eradication rate, safety and compliance between amoxicillin-containing and tetracycline-containing BQT as a first-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication. METHODS: This randomized trial was conducted on 404 naïve patients for H. pylori eradication. The participants were randomly assigned to 14-day amoxicillin-containing (bismuth potassium citrate 110 mg four times/day, esomeprazole 20 mg twice daily, metronidazole 400 mg four times/day and amoxicillin 500 mg four times/day) and tetracycline-containing (tetracycline 500 mg four times/day and the other three drugs used as above) BQT. Safety and compliance were assessed within 3 days after eradication. Urea breath test was performed 4-8 weeks after eradication to evaluate outcome. RESULTS: As for the eradication rates of amoxicillin-containing and tetracycline-containing BQT, the results of both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses showed that the difference rate of the lower limit of 95% confidence interval was above -10.0% (intention-to-treat analysis: 81.7% vs. 83.2%, with a rate difference of -1.5% [-6.3% to 9.3%]; per-protocol analysis: 89.0% vs. 91.6%, -2.6% [-4.1% to 9.3%]). The incidence of adverse events in amoxicillin-containing BQT was significantly lower than tetracycline-containing BQT (29.5% vs. 39.7%). Both groups achieved relatively good compliance (92.0% vs. 89.9%). CONCLUSION: The eradication efficacy of amoxicillin-containing BQT was non-inferior to tetracycline-containing BQT as a first-line regimen for H. pylori eradication with better safety and similar compliance.

Long-Term Outcome of Gastric Mild-Moderate Dysplasia: A Real-World Clinical Experience.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The natural course of gastric mild-moderate dysplasia in a country with high incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is relatively unknown. We aimed to determine the long-term cumulative incidence of and risk factors for advanced neoplasia in patients with gastric dysplasia. METHODS: This was a single-center observational study including all consecutive patients diagnosed with gastric mild-moderate dysplasia between 2000 and 2017. Follow-up data were collected until December 2019. We determined the cumulative incidence of advanced neoplasia and identified risk factors with Cox regression. RESULTS: A total of 3489 consecutive participants were followed for a median of 4.19 years from initial mild-moderate dysplasia diagnosis. The median surveillance interval between index endoscopy and next follow-up endoscopy was 1.08 years, and more than half of patients had at least 3 surveillance gastroscopies. During the study period, the majority of participants did not show disease progression, either with dysplasia not detected (51.4%) or with persistent dysplasia (46.1%). There were 88 (2.9%) patients (5.13 per 1000 patient-years) who progressed to advanced neoplasia within a median of 4.3 years. The annual incidence of advanced neoplasia and GC were 0.43% and 0.26%, respectively, within 5 years of mild-moderate dysplasia diagnosis. Increasing age, male sex, moderate dysplasia, dysplasia detected in fundus or cardia at index endoscopy, and persistent Helicobacter pylori infection during follow-up were independent risk factors for developing advanced neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Even in a country with high incidence of GC, the majority of patients with gastric mild-moderate dysplasia did not experience disease progression in the long term. Intensified surveillance during the first 5 years after mild-moderate dysplasia detection is suggested.

Bismuth, esomeprazole, metronidazole, and minocycline or tetracycline as a first-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the general unavailability, common adverse effects, and complicated administration of tetracycline, the clinical application of classic bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) is greatly limited. Whether minocycline can replace tetracycline for Helicobacter pylori ( H . pylori ) eradication is unknown. We aimed to compare the eradication rate, safety, and compliance between minocycline- and tetracycline-containing BQT as first-line regimens. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 434 naïve patients with H . pylori infection. The participants were randomly assigned to 14-day minocycline-containing BQT group (bismuth potassium citrate 110 mg q.i.d., esomeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., metronidazole 400 mg q.i.d., and minocycline 100 mg b.i.d.) and tetracycline-containing BQT group (bismuth potassium citrate/esomeprazole/metronidazole with doses same as above and tetracycline 500 mg q.i.d.). Safety and compliance were assessed within 3 days after eradication. Urea breath test was performed at 4-8 weeks after eradication to evaluate outcome. We used a noninferiority test to compare the eradication rates of the two groups. The intergroup differences were evaluated using Pearson chi-squared or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and Student's t -test for continuous variables. RESULTS: As for the eradication rates of minocycline- and tetracycline-containing BQT, the results of both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses showed that the difference rate of lower limit of 95% confidence interval (CI) was >-10.0% (ITT analysis: 181/217 [83.4%] vs . 180/217 [82.9%], with a rate difference of 0.5% [-6.9% to 7.9%]; PP analysis: 177/193 [91.7%] vs . 176/191 [92.1%], with a rate difference of -0.4% [-5.6% to 6.4%]). Except for dizziness more common (35/215 [16.3%] vs . 13/214 [6.1%], P = 0.001) in minocycline-containing therapy groups, the incidences of adverse events (75/215 [34.9%] vs . 88/214 [41.1%]) and compliance (195/215 [90.7%] vs . 192/214 [89.7%]) were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The eradication efficacy of minocycline-containing BQT was noninferior to tetracycline-containing BQT as first-line regimen for H . pylori eradication with similar safety and compliance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR 1900023646.

Ginsenoside Rk1 regulates glutamine metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma through inhibition of the ERK/c-Myc pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers in the world. Recently, suppression of glutamine metabolism has become one of the hottest therapy targets for cancer treatment. There is a growing amount of research that indicates that ginsenosides possess good anti-tumor activity. However, the effect of ginsenoside Rk1 on glutamine metabolism in HCC is unclear. In this study, Rk1 was demonstrated to be effective at inhibiting the proliferation of HCC through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Especially, Rk1 was shown for the first time to inhibit glutamine metabolism in HCC. Rk1 downregulates GLS1 expression, and consequently decreases the GSH production, stimulating ROS accumulation to induce apoptosis. In addition, transcriptomic results showed that the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway was enriched in HepG2. Rk1 exerts an inhibitory effect on glutamine metabolism in HCC by regulating the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway, and inducing apoptosis in vitro and in vivo with less toxicity. Therefore, ginsenoside Rk1 could be a promising candidate for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection: incidence and influential factors.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication has been widely used. The recurrence rate of H. pylori after eradication and its related factors are gaining more and more attention. Our study aimed to determine the recurrence rate of H. pylori infection after successful eradication, and analyze its influential factors. METHODS: We prospectively studied 1050 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms who were diagnosed as H. pylori infection by gastroscopy and underwent eradication therapies from April 2013 to January 2014. The C-urea breath test (UBT) or Warthin-Starry (WS) staining was done at 8 to 12 weeks after the therapy. Patients with successful eradication were followed by repeated UBT or gastroscopy at one year and 3 years after therapy, as well as, questionnaire surveys. Recurrence was considered if the UBTs or WS staining of biopsy were positive. One-year and 3-year recurrence rates were calculated, and analyzed the differences between recurred patients and others in basic data, sociological characteristics, lifestyle. RESULTS: A total of 743 patients finished the 1-year follow-up, and the 1-year recurrence rate was 1.75%. Of the 607 patients who finished the 3-year follow-up, 28 patients recurred, and the 3-year recurrence rate was 4.61%. Analysis of variance showed that low-income, poor hygiene condition of dining out place, and receiving invasive diagnoses or treatments were significant risk factors for H. pylori infection recurrence. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the combination of invasive diagnoses or treatments, the level of income, and the hygiene standard of dining out place were significant and independent influential factors of the recurrence of H. pylori. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-year and 3-year recurrence rates of H. pylori infection after eradication therapy are 1.75% and 4.61%. Low-income, poor hygiene condition of dining out place, and a combination of invasive diagnoses or treatments are independent risk factors of H. pylori recurrence.