Antimicrobial resistance of H. pylori to the outcome of 10-days vs. 7-days Moxifloxacin based therapy for the eradication: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance decreases success of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication. Recently published results show low rate of resistance and better compliance with moxifloxacin based regiments. AIMS&METHODS: Whether 7 days moxifloxacin with lansoprasole and amoxycillin can be compared with 10 days moxifloxacin with lansoprasole and amoxycillin according to moxifloxacin resistance. Patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia who had culture and histology positive Hp infection (n = 150) were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group (n = 75) received moxifloxacin 400 mg/d during 7 days and the other (n = 75) received moxifloxacin 400 mg/d during 10 days. All patients received amoxycillin 1 g twice daily, lansoprasole 30 mg twice daily. All Hp cultures were tested for sensitivity to moxifloxacin. RESULTS: 138 patients (92%) completed the study, 68 in the first group and 70 in the second. Eradication rates were 84% (57/68) and 76% (57/75) in the 7 days moxifloxacin group and 90% and 84% in the second group (63/70, 63/75) according to the PP and ITT analysis; p = n.s. Among 129 patients (86% of study group), 6% of strains were primary resistant to moxifloxacin. Eradication of moxifloxacin sensitive/resistant strains was 98%/66%, p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: According to our results we recommend 7 days moxiflixacin based triple therapy.

Prognostic value of venoarterial carbon dioxide gradient in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

AIM: To investigate the changes in the venoarterial carbon-dioxide gradient (V-a Pco(2)) and its prognostic value for survival of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: The study was conducted in General Hospital Holy Spirit from January 2004 to December 2007 and included 71 conveniently sampled adult patients (25 women and 46 men), who fulfilled the severe sepsis and septic shock criteria and were followed for a median of 8 days (interquartile range, 12 days). The patients were divided in two groups depending on whether or not they had been mechanically ventilated. Both groups of patients underwent interventions with an aim to achieve hemodynamic stability. Mechanical ventilation was applied in respiratory failure. Venoarterial carbon dioxide gradient was calculated from the difference between the partial pressure of arterial CO(2) and the partial pressure of mixed venous CO(2), which was measured with a pulmonary arterial Swan-Ganz catheter. The data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, along with a calculation of the hazard ratios. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between non-ventilated and ventilated patients, with almost 4-fold greater hazard ratio for lethal outcome in ventilated patients (3.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.64-9.03). Furthermore, the pattern of changes of many other variables was also different in these two groups (carbon dioxide-related variables, variables related to acid-base status, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, lactate, body mass index, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Simplified Acute Physiology II Score, and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score). Pco(2) values (with a cut-off of 0.8 kPa) were a significant predictor of lethal outcome in non-ventilated patients (P=0.015) but not in ventilated ones (P=0.270). CONCLUSION: V-a Pco(2) was a significant predictor of fatal outcome only in the non-ventilated group of patients. Ventilated patients are more likely to be admitted with a less favorable clinical status, and other variables seem to have a more important role in their outcome.

The importance of P-glycoprotein multidrug transporter activity measurement in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

P-glycoprotein is important in local antibiotic resistance. Aim was to evaluate the role of P-glycoprotein in local antibiotic resistance in patients with antral gastritis during antibiotic therapy to Helicobacter pylori infection. In the group of 53 patients with pathohistologically verified gastritis and microbiologically confirmed H. pylori infection (no signs of antimicrobial resistance) we have determined P-glycoprotein activity in gastric mucosa biopsy specimens, and compared them with the P-glycoprotein activity in 12 control subjects with normal endoscopic findings. The H. pylori positive patients were treated according to Maastricht protocol with short-term 7-day therapy consisting of two antibiotics (amoxicillin and azithromycin/metronidazole and clarithromycin) and a proton pump inhibitor P-glycoprotein activity was determined in rhodamine dye efflux test and quantified by ratio of the mean fluorescence (RMF) in flow cytometry analysis. H. pylori was successfully eradicated in the first cycle in 20 patients, whereas therapy was continued in 33 patients. The mean pre-treatment RMF values were higher in patients with H. pylori infection then in control subjects (p < 0.0046). RMF was also higher in patients with multiple therapeutic failure than in those with successful H. pylori eradication (p < 0.0001). RMF increased significantly during the antibiotic therapy (p < 0.05). P-glycoprotein might be one of the causes of therapy failure in patients with H. pylori. Our study confirms the importance of quantitative evaluation of P-glycoprotein expression during antibiotic treatment response.

Increased activity of Pgp multidrug transporter in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM: To determine whether local antibiotic resistance involves P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated active drug out-pumping during Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection treatment with classic antibiotic therapy. METHODS: Pgp activity was determined in gastric mucosa biopsy specimens obtained from 53 patients with pathohistologically verified gastritis and microbiologically confirmed H pylori infection, and compared with the Pgp activity in 12 control subjects with normal endoscopic findings. The H pylori positive patients were treated with short-term 7-d therapy consisting of two antibiotics (amoxicillin and azithromycin/metronidazole and clarithromycin) and a proton pump inhibitor. Pgp activity was determined by flow cytometry in the test of rhodamine dye efflux and quantified as mean fluorescence ratio (RMF). RESULTS: Upon the first cycle, H pylori was successfully eradicated in 20 patients, whereas therapy was continued in 33 patients. In the course of antibiotic therapy, RMF increased (P<0.05) and gastric cells showed higher rhodamine dye efflux. The mean pre-treatment RMF values were also higher (P<0.0001) in patients with multiple therapeutic failure than in those with successful H pylori eradication and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Pgp might be one of the causes of therapy failure in patients with H pylori and antibiotic therapy could be chosen and followed up on the basis of the Pgp transporter local activity.

How to treat an extensive form of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia?

We report a case of a 42-year-old man with a rare disorder known as primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, which is characterized by dilated intestinal lymphatics that lead to the development of protein-losing enteropathy. The patient presented with a grand mal seizure caused by malabsorption-derived electrolytes and a protein disorder. Signs of the disease, including chronic diarrhea and peripheral edema, manifested 10 years ago, but a diagnosis was never made. The diagnosis was suspected because of the clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, imaging and endoscopic findings. Hyperemic and edematous mucosa of the small intestine corresponded to scattered white spots with dilated intestinal lymphatics and whitish villi in the histological specimen of the biopsied jejunal mucosa. Although numerous therapeutic strategies are available, only octreotide therapy proved to be an effective means of therapeutic resolution in this patient. Although the patient had a partial remission following the use of a slow release formula of octreotide, his prognosis, clinical course, and future treatment challenges are yet to be determined.

Elevated serum values of procollagen III peptide (PIIIP) in patients with ulcerative colitis who will develop pseudopolyps.

AIM: To assess the impact of procollagen III peptide as a marker of collagenesis in the development of pseudopolyps in patients with ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Development of pseudopolyps was monitored in 25 patients with ulcerative colitis classified according to Powell-Tuck index as mild (n=12) or moderate (n=13) form of disease. Patients with a mild form of disease were treated with oral mesalazine medication (2-4 g/day) and local mesalazine preparation (suppository). Patients with a moderate form of disease received oral mesalazine medication (2-4 g/day), local mesalazine preparation (suppository) and local methylprednisolone at an initial dose of 60 mg/day, followed by dose tapering. How many significant variables (previously determined by analysis of variance) were elevated in the groups with and without pseudopolyp developement was observed. ROC analysis for calculation of new index was made. RESULTS: Serum values of procollagen III peptide (PIIIP), C-reactive protein (CRP) and C4 complement component (C4) were statistically significantly lower in the group of patients free from pseudopolyp development than those who developed one or more pseudopolyps (0.45+/-0.12 vs 1.42+/-0.70, P<0.0027; 7.6+/-4.7 vs 17.8+/-9.17, P<0.035; and 0.46+/-0.11 vs 0.34+/-0.16, P<0.068, respectively) at endoscopic conrtrols with patohistologically samples during 13 months. There were no statistically significant differences in the values of C3, ceruloplasmin and IgM between the two groups (P>0.05). Discrimination function analysis yielded highest standardized cannon coefficients for PIIIP (0.876), CRP (0.104), C3 (-0.534) and C4 (0.184) (P<0.036). The elevation in two of three laboratory variables (PIIIP, CRP and C4) reached sensitivity of 93 % and specificity of 90 % in the development of pseudopolyps. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that an increase in two of the three laboratory parameters (PIIIP, CRP and C4) could improve the accuracy of prediction of the development of pseudopolyps. When using PIIIP, CRP and C4 on decision making, the positive predictive value and accuracy were 90 % and 92 %, respectively.

Youth and AIDS--a study of attitudes, knowledge, behavior and risks in the post-war Croatia.

According to the latest reports, the Eastern Europe currently exhibits the greatest relative increase in the number of newly registered HIV infections in the world. At the same time, Central Europe remains relatively spared from the epidemic, with reported rates significantly lower than those in both Eastern and Western Europe. Croatia geographically affiliates to Central Europe, but it has two specific potential risk factors in comparison to neighboring countries: recent War events and a summer season when immigration of large number of tourists from Central and Eastern Europe is expected. Therefore, it is critical to examine AIDS attitudes in young people, increase their knowledge, monitor their behavior and warn on risks in order to prevent larger spread of epidemics from Eastern Europe to Croatia. In this study, we report on a large related survey and education program among 17-year-old high school pupils that was conducted in years immediately following the War (1996-1999).