Comparison of the efficacy between the dual therapy of tegoprazan and the quadruple therapy of tegoprazan: A randomized, controlled, multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Tegoprazan (TPZ), a potassium-competitive acid blocker, exerts a strong acid-suppression effect and a rapid onset of action. However, research on TPZ-amoxicillin (TA) dual treatment is limited. Here, we compared the safety and efficacy of TPZ-amoxicillin dual treatment and TPZ, bismuth potassium citrate, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (TBAC) quadruple therapy in patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection over a 14-day treatment period. METHODS: A total of 236 patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori were enrolled in this multi-center, prospective, open-label, and randomized controlled study. Patients randomly received either TA dual or TBAC quadruple therapy. The incidence of adverse reactions and treatment compliance were recorded and then analyzed. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that H. pylori-eradication rates were 83.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78.2%-91.3%) and 81.4% (95% CI 74.2%-88.5%) for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.606). The per-protocol analysis revealed that the H. pylori-eradication rates were 88.3% and 84.8% for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively (P = 0.447). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the TA group than in the TBAC group (4.2% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.004). Moreover, the TA group demonstrated substantially higher treatment compliance than the TBAC group (94.1% vs. 89.0%, P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: The TA dual therapy successfully eradicated H. pylori with a high eradication rate and a low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, this treatment is recommended as an alternative course for patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection.

Efficacy and safety of vonoprazan-based dual therapy and esomeprazole-based dual therapy in eradicating primary Helicobacter pylori infection: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: According to the Maastricht VI/Florence consensus report, potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) may improve Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 213 H. pylori treatment-naive patients aged between 18 and 70 years were treated with two regimens. The two regimens are VDT: 20 mg vonoprazan twice a day and 1 g amoxicillin three times daily and EDT: 20 mg esomeprazole four times a day and 750 mg amoxicillin four times daily. 13 C-urea breath tests were used to evaluate eradication rate 4-6 weeks after treatment. Based on propensity score matching (PSM), this retrospective study analyzed the eradication rates, adverse events (AEs), compliance, and antibiotic resistance rates in VDT and EDT groups. RESULTS: On intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, the eradication rate in VDT group (89.0%; 95% CI 81.7-96.3) was non-inferior to that in EDT group (87.7%; 95% CI 80.1-95.3; p = 0.796). The corresponding per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 94.1% (95% CI 88.4-99.8) and 92.8% (95% CI 86.7-98.9; p = 1.000), respectively. There were no significant between-group differences with respect to compliance or incidence of AEs. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of 14-day VDT and EDT were comparable. Therefore, 14-day VDT or EDT may be recommended for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection.

Eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori in treatment-naive patients following 14-day vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial in China.

BACKGROUND: Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) are recommended for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections, but dual therapy of P-CAB with amoxicillin has been poorly studied. The current study compared the efficacy, adverse reactions, compliance, and effects on gut microbiota of 14-day vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy with esomeprazole, bismuth potassium citrate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole (EBAM) quadruple therapy in treatment-naive patients with H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, randomized, and controlled, non-inferiority study. Patients (n = 194) enrolled from six centers were randomly divided into either the VA or EBAM group. H. pylori eradication was determined using 13 C urea breath tests (UBT) 4-6 weeks post-treatment. Fecal samples were collected, and gut microbial populations were analyzed by 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing technology. RESULTS: Eradication rates of H. pylori in the VA and EBAM groups were 88.7% and 91.8%, respectively, according to intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis; 95.6% and 96.7% with per-protocol (PP) analysis; and 94.5% and 96.7% with modified ITT (mITT) analysis (all p > 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the VA group was significantly lower compared to the EBAM group, and compliance within both groups was good. There was no difference in α-diversity or microbial composition in the VA and EBAM groups at one-month post-treatment compared to baseline, except for a markedly reduced abundance of Bacteroides in the EBAM group. CONCLUSION: VA therapy achieved excellent eradication rates with low adverse reactions, good compliance, and little impact on gut microbiota. VA therapy should be recommended as a first-line treatment against H. pylori.

Prediction of Esophageal Stricture after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Patients with Early Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) treatment of early esophageal cancer is effective and safe. It is currently the first-line treatment for early esophageal cancer. However, a common side effect is the development of esophageal strictures after ESD. This study was designed to identify the risk factors for esophageal stricture development and to predict its occurrence after ESD. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 150 consecutive patients with early esophageal cancer treated with ESD at Daping Hospital, Chongqing, were enrolled between January 2016 and December 2020. Data on patient demographics, esophageal tumor characteristics, procedure-related factors, and postoperative situations were collected. We identified independent risk factors of esophageal stricture formation using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. The predictive probability was obtained after multivariate logistic analysis. In addition, patients were divided into six groups based on these risk factors and the rate of esophageal stricture in each group was analyzed. RESULTS: The postoperative esophageal stricture rate was 14% (21/150). Tumor location (OR = 5.655, 95% CI: 1.245-25.691, P = 0.025) and circumferential resection range (OR = 16.113, 95% CI: 4.294-60.466, P < 0.001) are independent risk factors for the development of esophageal strictures. According to predictive probability analysis and the rates of stricture in six groups, we developed a possible flow chart to predict stricture formation. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor location and circumferential resection range are reliable risk factors to predict the occurrence of esophageal strictures. Our prediction flow chart suggests that tumors with a circumferential resection range of 1/2-3/4 and located above the upper thoracic segment or a circumferential resection range of > 3/4 have a high risk of postoperative stricture. Thus, timely and effective preventive measures should be taken in these patients following ESD.

High-dose dual therapy versus culture-based susceptibility-guided therapy as a rescue regimen for Helicobacter pylori infection: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although the Maastricht VI/Florence consensus report recommended high-dose proton pump inhibitor-amoxicillin dual therapy as possible rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection, clinical evidence of its efficacy was lacking. Objectives: To compare the efficacy, safety, patient compliance, and cost between high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) and culture-based susceptibility-guided therapy (CB-SGT) as a rescue regimen for H. pylori infection. Design: A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: In all, 146 patients with a history of eradication failure were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive HDDT or CB-SGT. HDDT consisted of esomeprazole 20 mg and amoxicillin 750 mg, both given four times per day (qid). CB-SGT consisted of esomeprazole 20 mg twice daily (bid), amoxicillin 1000 mg bid plus clarithromycin 500 mg bid, metronidazole 400 mg bid, or levofloxacin 500 mg daily (qd) for sensitive patients, in that order. For patients with triple resistance, a bismuth-containing regimen with a high dose of metronidazole was chosen, including esomeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth 220 mg bid, amoxicillin 1000 mg bid, and metronidazole 400 mg qid. All regimens were given for 14 days. Results: The eradication H. pylori rates achieved with HDDT in the intention-to-treat (ITT), per-protocol, and modified ITT analyses were all 84.9% [62/73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 76.5-93.9%], compared with 83.6% (61/73, 95% CI: 74.9-92.3%), 84.7% (61/72, 95% CI: 76.2-93.2%), and 84.7% (61/72, 95% CI: 76.2-93.2%) with CB-SGT, respectively. For patients with CYP2C19 polymorphisms of intermediate/poor metabolizers, the eradication rates of HDDT and CB-SGT were 90.70% (39/43, 95% CI: 77.86-97.41%) and 84.21% (32/38, 95% CI: 68.75-93.98%), respectively. The difference between groups was 6.49% (95% CI: -8.00% to 20.97%), and the non-inferiority p value was 0.0128. For patients with a treatment interval of more than 3 months, the eradication rates of the two regimens reached 88.71% (95% CI: 78.11-95.34%) and 71.97% (95% CI: 70.02-90.64%). The difference between groups was 6.74% (95% CI: -5.71% to 19.20%), with a non-inferiority p value of 0.0042. Patient adherence was high in both groups. The HDDT had a lower cost and rate of side effects (p < 0.001) compared with CB-SGT. Conclusions: HDDT can reach an eradication rate of 85% in treatment-experienced patients of H. pylori infection and 91% in patients with CYP2C19 polymorphisms of intermediate/poor metabolizers, with good compliance, lower side effects and costs, and less use of antibiotics. In conclusion, HDDT offers an effective rescue regimen for H. pylori infection. Registration: This clinical trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trail Registry (trail registration number: ChiCTR1900025044).

Efficacy and safety of high-dose esomeprazole and amoxicillin dual therapy versus bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: A high-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-amoxicillin dual therapy has been investigated for treatment of patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Currently, the efficacy of this dual therapy remains inconclusive, with controversial findings from various single-center clinical trials. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) compared with the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) in treatment-naive patients with H. pylori infection. Design: A multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: Three hundred and forty treatment-naïve patients with H. pylori infection were prospectively recruited from seven participating hospitals. The enrolled patients were randomized into one of two treatment groups: the HDDT group (esomeprazole, 20 mg four times daily; amoxicillin, 750 mg four times daily) and the BQT group (esomeprazole, 20 mg, twice daily; bismuth potassium citrate, 600 mg, twice daily; amoxicillin, 1 g, twice daily; metronidazole, 400 mg, four times daily). The primary outcome was eradication rate, and secondary outcomes were safety and patient compliance. Results: The eradication rates in the HDDT group versus the BQT group were 86.47% versus 87.06% on intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, 91.88% versus 92.50% on modified ITT (MITT) analysis, and 91.77% versus 93.04% on per-protocol (PP) analysis, with no significant differences between the two groups. The patient compliance rates in the HDDT group versus the BQT group were 97.02% versus 95.86%, and no significant difference was found between the two groups. Notably, the HDDT group exhibited significantly lower incidence in the drug-induced adverse events (AEs) compared to the BQT group (16.67% versus 47.94%). Conclusion: HDDT is equally efficacious in eradicating H. pylori infection and resulted in good patient compliance and safety compared with BQT. These findings provide evidence in support of HDDT as a first-line treatment for H. pylori infection. Registration: This clinical trial was registered at The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (trial registration number: ChiCTR2000039096).

Chinese Consensus Report on Family-Based Helicobacter pylori Infection Control and Management (2021 Edition).

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection is mostly a family-based infectious disease. To facilitate its prevention and management, a national consensus meeting was held to review current evidence and propose strategies for population-wide and family-based H. pylori infection control and management to reduce the related disease burden. METHODS: Fifty-seven experts from 41 major universities and institutions in 20 provinces/regions of mainland China were invited to review evidence and modify statements using Delphi process and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation system. The consensus level was defined as ≥80% for agreement on the proposed statements. RESULTS: Experts discussed and modified the original 23 statements on family-based H. pylori infection transmission, control and management, and reached consensus on 16 statements. The final report consists of three parts: (1) H. pylori infection and transmission among family members, (2) prevention and management of H. pylori infection in children and elderly people within households, and (3) strategies for prevention and management of H. pylori infection for family members. In addition to the 'test-and-treat' and 'screen-and-treat' strategies, this consensus also introduced a novel third 'family-based H. pylori infection control and management' strategy to prevent its intrafamilial transmission and development of related diseases. CONCLUSION: H. pylori is transmissible from person to person, and among family members. A family-based H. pylori prevention and eradication strategy would be a suitable approach to prevent its intra-familial transmission and related diseases. The notion and practice would be beneficial not only for Chinese residents but also valuable as a reference for other highly infected areas.

10-Day and 14-day high-dose dual therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistent eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori have been reported worldwide with dual therapy, perhaps owing to the difference in dose administration and treatment duration. This retrospective study aimed to determine whether high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) with different regimens leads to different eradication rates. The study compares the efficacy and safety of HDDT 10-day vs 14-day and investigates the factors that might affect the eradication rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two comparable treatment groups were based on propensity score matching (PSM). Patients were divided into two groups based on the therapy they underwent: 10-day HDDT and 14-day HDDT (20 mg esomeprazole and 750 mg amoxicillin, administered four times daily). The eradication rates, adverse events (AEs), patient compliance, CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms, and antibiotic resistance rates of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The intention to treat (ITT) analysis showed that the eradication rates for 10-day and 14-day groups were 78.4% (95% CI 69.6%-87.2%) and 89.7% (95% CI 83.3%-96.2%; p = .039), respectively, while the per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 80.0% (95% CI 71.3%-88.7%) and 92.9% (95% CI 87.4%-98.5%; p = .014), respectively. The corresponding drug-related AEs were 6.8% (6/88) and 5.7% (5/88; p = .755). No significant differences were observed between the compliance rates of the two groups. The CYP2C19 gene polymorphism had no effect on the eradication rates of the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the 14-day HDDT affords a higher H. pylori eradication rate than the 10-day HDDT.

SHARPIN stabilizes ß-catenin through a linear ubiquitination-independent manner to support gastric tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by dysregulated post-translational protein modifications, especially ubiquitination is causally linked to cancer development and progression. Although Lys48-linked ubiquitination is known to regulate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, it remains largely obscure how other types of ubiquitination, such as linear ubiquitination governs its signaling activity. METHODS: The expression and regulatory mechanism of linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling was examined by immunoprecipitation, western blot and immunohistochemical staining. The ubiquitination status of ß-catenin was detected by ubiquitination assay. The impacts of SHARPIN, a core component of LUBAC on malignant behaviors of gastric cancer cells were determined by various functional assays in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Unlike a canonical role in promoting linear ubiquitination, SHARPIN specifically interacts with ß-catenin to maintain its protein stability. Mechanistically, SHARPIN competes with the E3 ubiquitin ligase ß-Trcp1 for ß-catenin binding, thereby decreasing ß-catenin ubiquitination levels to abolish its proteasomal degradation. Importantly, SHARPIN is required for invasiveness and malignant growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, a function that is largely dependent on its binding partner ß-catenin. In line with these findings, elevated expression of SHARPIN in gastric cancer tissues is associated with disease malignancy and correlates with ß-catenin expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a novel molecular link connecting linear ubiquitination machinery and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling via SHARPIN-mediated stabilization of ß-catenin. Targeting the linear ubiquitination-independent function of SHARPIN could be exploited to inhibit the hyperactive ß-catenin signaling in a subset of human gastric cancers.

High dose PPI-amoxicillin dual therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori resistance to amoxicillin remains rare in many regions. Proton pump inhibitor-amoxicillin-containing high dose dual therapy (HDDT) has been proposed to treat H. pylori infection. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of PPI-amoxicillin HDDT for treatment of H. pylori infection in comparison with other regimens. METHODS: Databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, were searched to find relevant publications. Randomized controlled trials comparing HDDT with control regimens for H. pylori eradication in adult patients were included. The primary outcome was eradication rate by intention-to-treat analysis. Adverse events were analyzed as second outcome. RESULTS: A total of 15 trials with 3818 patients qualified for inclusion. The eradication rate of HDDT was neither significantly inferior nor superior to the recommended regimens such as triple therapy, bismuth quadruple therapy, and non-bismuth quadruple therapy [relative risk (RR): 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96-1.05, p = 0.870]. This finding was robust through subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. Trial sequential analysis showed that HDDT was equivalent to control regimens, and further similar trials were unlikely to alter the conclusions of this analysis. The frequency of adverse events was significantly lower in HDDT group (RR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.37-0.64, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HDDT was equivalent to recommended first-line or rescue regimens with fewer adverse effects. The evidence from this meta-analysis supports the use of HDDT as first-line or rescue treatment for H. pylori infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019133002.

Salivary Pepsin as an Intrinsic Marker for Diagnosis of Sub-types of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-related Disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the value of salivary pepsin in discriminating sub-types of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and GERD-related disorders. METHODS: Overall, 322 patients with different sub-types of GERD and 45 healthy controls (HC) were studied. All patients took Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) and underwent endoscopy and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and manometry. Salivary pepsin concentration (SPC) was detected by using colloidal gold double-antibody immunological sandwich assay. Oral esomeprazole treatment was administrated in the patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and extra-esophageal symptoms (EES). RESULTS: Compared to HC, patients with erosive esophagitis, NERD, EES, EES plus typical GERD symptoms, or Barrett's esophagus had a higher prevalence of saliva and SPC (all P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the positive rate for pepsin in patients with functional heartburn or GERD with anxiety and depression, compared to HC. After esomeprazole treatment, the positive rate and SPC were significantly reduced in NERD (both P < 0.001) and in EES ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Of the 64 NERD patients, 71.9% (n = 46) were positive for salivary pepsin, which was significantly higher than the rate (43.8%, n = 28) of pathological acid reflux as detected by 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Salivary pepsin has an important significance for the diagnosis of GERD and GERD-related disorders. Salivary pepsin and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring may complement with each other to improve the diagnostic efficiency.

Efficacy of modified esomeprazole-amoxicillin dual therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection: an open-label, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori resistance to amoxicillin was less than 5% in most countries. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-amoxicillin dual therapy dosing four times daily (q.i.d.) for 14 days could achieve an eradication rate of more than 85%. It is unclear whether dual therapy with shorter treatment duration or lower dosing frequency could also attain a satisfactory cure rate. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of two modified esomeprazole-amoxicillin dual therapies, 10-day q.i.d. and 14-day three times daily (t.i.d.) dual therapy, and investigate the factors that might affect the eradication rates. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A total of 253 patients were screened for eligibility and 208 patients were randomly assigned to 10-day dual therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg and amoxicillin 750 mg, all given four times daily) or 14-day dual therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg, all given three times daily). RESULTS: In the intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rates for 10-day and 14-day groups were 79.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 70.2-87.4%] and 83.5% (95% CI: 74.3-90.5%) as first-line therapies; and 80% (95% CI: 44.4-97.5%) and 76.9% (95% CI: 46.2-95.0%) as rescue therapies. The adverse event rates were 5.9% and 5.0% for 10-day and 14-day groups, respectively. Smoking and compliance significantly affected the efficacy of PPI-amoxicillin dual therapies. CONCLUSION: The eradication rate of 10-day q.i.d. dual therapy was unacceptable, while that of the 14-day t.i.d. dual therapy was borderline acceptable for first-line therapy. The two dual therapies were well tolerated with few adverse effects.

Mutant selection window of clarithromycin for clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Clarithromycin-resistance is becoming a global health concern in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The mutant prevention concentration (MPC) represent the propensities of antimicrobial agents to select resistant mutants. The concentration range between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the MPC is defined as mutant selection window (MSW). In this study, we aimed to determine the cause of increasing clarithromycin resistance by investigating the MSW for clinical isolates of H. pylori. RESULTS: A retrospective subgroup, which included 68 clarithromycin-sensitive H. pylori strains, was selected from a double-blind trial. The MICs and MPCs were determined using agar plate assays. Genotypic tests were performed using Sanger sequencing. All isolates were wild-type, and 33.82% (23/68) had a 0.016 mg/L MIC, 45.59% (31/68) had a 0.031 mg/L MIC, 16.18% (11/68) had a 0.062 ≤ MIC ≤ 0.125 mg/L, and 4.41% (3/68) had a 0.25 mg/L MIC. The MPC50/90 (mg/L) of the isolates were: 0.062/0.125, 0.125/0.5, 0.25/0.25 and 1/2, respectively. The MPCs showed a moderate correlation with the MICs (rs = 0.65, P < 0.0001). Using published data and MPC90, we calculated the time inside the MSW (TMSW) for low- and high-dose (200 or 500 mg bid) clarithromycin that were 6 and 0 h, 24 and 4 h, 15 and 2 h, 5 and 17 h for the strains with MICs (mg/L) of 0.016, 0.031, 0.062-0.125, and 0.25, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that in the clarithromycin-sensitive clinical isolates of H. pylori, low-dose clarithromycin may lead to decreased drug sensitivity or even clarithromycin resistance; strains with a 0.25 mg/L MIC display a high risk of treatment failure.

Comparison of Polyethylene Glycol versus Lactulose Oral Solution for Bowel Preparation prior to Colonoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare a lactulose oral solution with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) formulation for colonoscopy preparation using the following metrics: quality of cleansing, colonoscopy outcomes, patient/physician satisfaction, and patient tolerability. METHODS: The enrolled patients were randomly divided into two groups and received a single 2 L dose of either PEG (PEG group) or lactulose (Lac group). The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) was used for assessing the cleansing quality of the bowel preparations. Patient tolerability and adverse events were obtained through the completion of questionnaires. RESULTS: The lactulose oral solution showed superior bowel cleansing compared to PEG, as evidenced by higher BBPS scores in the Lac group for all segments of the colon (P < 0.05). The detection rates of polyps and intestinal lesions in the Lac group (30.68% and 36.36%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the PEG group (12.50% vs. 13.63%, respectively). For the degree of satisfaction, the Lac group had significantly higher scores compared to the PEG group, as evaluated by both the patients and endoscopist. PEG was associated with an increased incidence of nausea. There were no statistical differences between the groups in terms of vomiting, abdominal pain or fullness, dizziness, unfavorable palatability, dry mouth, palpitation, tinnitus, and tongue numbness. CONCLUSION: A single 2 L dose of a lactulose oral solution had higher efficacy, improved tolerability, and acceptable safety for bowel preparation when compared to the same volume of PEG. Thus, a lactulose oral solution may be a potential bowel-cleansing option for colonoscopy preparation.

Eradication Efficacy of Modified Dual Therapy Compared with Bismuth-Containing Quadruple Therapy as a First-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness, adverse events, patient adherence, and costs of modified dual therapy compared with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for treating Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese patients. We also sought to determine whether modified dual therapy could be used as an alternative first-line treatment for H. pylori infection. METHODS: A total of 232 H. pylori-infected, treatment-naive patients were enrolled in this open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups: the 14-day modified dual therapy group and the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy group. Eradication rates, drug-related adverse events, patient compliance, and drug costs were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The modified dual therapy group achieved eradication rates of 87.9%, 91.1%, and 91.1% as determined by the intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and modified intention-to-treat analyses, respectively. The eradication rates were similar compared with the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy group: 89.7%, 91.2%, and 90.4%. In addition, modified dual therapy ameliorated variations in the CYP2C19, IL-1B-511, and H. pylori VacA genotypes. There were no significant differences in the compliance rates between the 2 groups. The modified dual therapy group exhibited significantly less overall side effects compared with the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the cost of medications in the modified dual therapy was lower compared with that in the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Modified dual therapy at high dose and administration frequency is equally effective and safer and less costly compared with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy.

Comparison of procedural sequences in same-day painless bidirectional endoscopy: Single-center, prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)-colonoscopy and colonoscopy-EGD sequences for patients subjected to same-day bidirectional endoscopy under remifentanil and propofol sedation. METHODS: A total of 209 eligible outpatients scheduled for diagnostic same-day bidirectional endoscopy between 16 February 2016 and 30 April 2016 were randomly assigned to the EGD-colonoscopy (n = 106) and colonoscopy-EGD (n = 103) sequence groups. Primary endpoint was total dose of propofol required for the procedure. Secondary endpoints included duration of endoscopy, patient satisfaction, adverse effects, endoscopy findings, and cardiopulmonary responses of the patients. RESULTS: Patients in the two groups were similar in terms of demographic and clinical data (P > 0.05). EGD-colonoscopy sequence group had lesser requirement of propofol for sedation (P < 0.05), faster recovery (P < 0.001), and lesser influence on mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the endoscopy (P < 0.05). Duration of EGD and colonoscopy, patient satisfaction, adverse effects, and pathological findings did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The EGD-colonoscopy sequence may be considered the preferred sequence for same-day bidirectional endoscopy as a result of less cardiovascular stress, lessened need for sedation with propofol, and faster recovery.

Multicenter Study of Antibiotic Resistance Profile of H. pylori and Distribution of CYP2C19 Gene Polymorphism in Rural Population of Chongqing, China.

This study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile of H. pylori and the distribution of CYP2C19 gene polymorphism in rural population of Chongqing, China. 214 and 111 strains of H. pylori were isolated from rural and urban patients, respectively. 99.53%, 20.09%, and 23.36% of the isolates in rural patients were found to be resistant to metronidazole, clarithromycin, and levofloxacin, while the resistant rate in urban patients was 82.88%, 19.82%, and 24.32%. The multiple antibiotic resistance percentage significantly increased from 28.26% (below 45 years) to 41.80% (above 45 years) in rural patients. Up to 44.39%, 45.79%, and 9.81% of rural patients from whom H. pylori was isolated were found to be extensive metabolizers, intermediate metabolizers, and poor metabolizers. No correlation was observed between antibiotic resistance profile of H. pylori and genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 among rural population. There was a high prevalence of H. pylori strains resistant to metronidazole, clarithromycin, and levofloxacin in rural patients in Chongqing, China. The choice of therapy in this area should be based on local susceptibility patterns. Amoxicillin, gentamicin, and furazolidone are recommended as the first-line empiric regimen.

A 21-35 kDa Mixed Protein Component from Helicobacter pylori Activates Mast Cells Effectively in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) seem to involve in the etiology of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). But studies of the pathogenic mechanism are very little. METHODS: In this study, we detected the serum-specific anti-H. pylori IgG and IgE antibodies in 211 CSU and 137 normal subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), evaluated the direct activation effects of H. pylori preparations and its protein components on human LAD2 mast cell line in vitro, and analyzed the specific protein ingredients and functions of the most effective H. pylori mixed protein component using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and ELISA assay. RESULTS: In CSU patients, the positive rate of anti-H. pylori IgG positive rate was significantly higher than that in normal controls, and the anti-H. pylori IgE levels had no statistical difference between H. pylori-infected patients with and without CSU. Further studies suggested that H. pylori preparations can directly activate human LAD2 mast cell line in a dose-dependent manner and its most powerful protein component was a mixture of 21-35 kDa proteins. Moreover, the 21-35 kDa mixed protein component mainly contained 23 kinds of proteins, which can stimulate the release of histamine, TNF-a, IL-3, IFN-γ, and LTB4 by LAD2 cells in a dose-dependent or time-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: A 21-35 kDa mixed protein component should be regarded as the most promising pathogenic factor contributing to the CSU associated with H. pylori infection.