A population-based study of Helicobacter pylori: Does asymptomatic infection mean no gastroscopic lesions?

OBJECTIVES: We determined the common clinical characteristics of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and investigated the relationship between H. pylori infection, and clinical symptoms, and gastroscopic manifestations. Our focus was specifically on the clinical manifestations in asymptomatic patients. METHODS: We obtained the physical examination data of patients who underwent the 14C urea breath test between January 2018 and December 2020 at our Hospital. Basic demographic data, questionnaire data on clinical symptoms, and clinical examination data of the patients were also collected, and the correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 2863 participants were included in the study. The overall H. pylori infection rate was 26.30%. The clinical symptoms between H. pylori-positive patients and H. pylori-negative patients did not differ significantly (P > .05). However, H. pylori-positive patients exhibited more severe gastroscopic manifestations (P < .001). The 14C urea breath test disintegrations per minute (DPM) values in H. pylori-positive patients correlated with their serum pepsinogen and gastrin-17 levels. With an increase in the DPM value, more combinations of clinical symptoms appeared in the patients. Among H. pylori-positive patients, DPM levels in asymptomatic patients were lower than those in symptomatic patients (P < .001). However, gastroscopic manifestations did not vary significantly between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Patients infected with H. pylori showed no specific gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients with asymptomatic infection showed lower DPM levels, but their gastroscopic manifestations were similar to those of patients with symptomatic infection, and their lesions were more severe than H. pylori-negative people.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided intraportal injection of autologous bone marrow in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Recently, stem cell therapy has been extensively studied as a promising treatment for decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC). Technological advances in endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) have facilitated EUS-guided portal vein (PV) access, through which stem cells can be precisely infused. AIM: To investigate the feasibility and safety of fresh autologous bone marrow injection into the PV under EUS guidance in patients with DLC. METHODS: Five patients with DLC were enrolled in this study after they provided written informed consent. EUS-guided intraportal bone marrow injection with a 22G FNA needle was performed using a transgastric, transhepatic approach. Several parameters were assessed before and after the procedure for a follow-up period of 12 mo. RESULTS: Four males and one female with a mean age of 51 years old participated in this study. All patients had hepatitis B virus-related DLC. EUS-guided intraportal bone marrow injection was performed in all patients successfully without any complications such as hemorrhage. The clinical outcomes of the patients revealed improvements in clinical symptoms, serum albumin, ascites, and Child-Pugh scores throughout the 12-mo follow-up. CONCLUSION: The use of EUS-guided fine needle injection for intraportal delivery of bone marrow was feasible and safe and appeared effective in patients with DLC. This treatment may thus be a safe, effective, non-radioactive, and minimally invasive treatment for DLC.