Indications of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment and Its Influence on Prescriptions and Effectiveness (Hp-EuReg).

BACKGROUND: The influence of indications for Helicobacter pylori investigation on prescriptions and effectiveness is unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of indications for H. pylori investigation on prescriptions, effectiveness, compliance, and tolerance. METHODS: International, prospective, non-interventional registry of the management of H. pylori infection by European gastroenterologists (Hp-EuReg). Treatment-näive patients registered from 2013 to 2023 at e-CRF AEG-REDCap were analyzed. The effectiveness was assessed by modified intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 53,636 treatment-naïve cases from 34 countries were included. Most frequent indications were: dyspepsia with normal endoscopy (49%), non-investigated dyspepsia (20%), duodenal ulcer (11%), gastric ulcer (7.7%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (2.6%). Therapy effectiveness varied by indication: duodenal ulcer (91%), gastric ulcer (90%), preneoplastic lesions (90%), dyspepsia with normal endoscopy (89%), GERD (88%), and non-investigated dyspepsia (87%). Bismuth-metronidazole-tetracycline and clarithromycin-amoxicillin-bismuth quadruple therapies achieved 90% effectiveness in all indications except GERD. Concomitant clarithromycin-amoxicillin-tinidazole/metronidazole reached 90% cure rates except in patients with non-investigated dyspepsia; whereas sequential clarithromycin-amoxicillin-tinidazole/metronidazole proved optimal (≥90%) in patients with gastric ulcer only. Adverse events were higher in patients treated for dyspepsia with normal endoscopy and duodenal ulcer compared with the remaining indications (23% and 28%, p < 0.001). Therapeutic compliance was higher in patients with duodenal ulcer and preneoplastic lesions (98% and 99%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In Europe, patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers and preneoplastic lesions showed higher H. pylori treatment effectiveness. Bismuth and non-bismuth quadruple therapies achieved optimal results in almost all indications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02328131.

Fish: A Promising Screening Tool for Malignancy After Augmentation Cystoplasty?

INTRODUCTION: Malignancy after augmentation cystoplasty (AC) is reported up to 5.5 %. We assessed the use of urine fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) screening for bladder malignancy after AC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 36/98 patients under follow-up who have completed tenth year after ileal AC were included prospectively. Twenty-four (66.7 %) patients were tested with FISH initially and overall 28 (77.8 %) patients with conventional cytology (CC). Twenty-four (66.7 %) patients with FISH analysis also had cytology analysis. Blinded from the cytology results, 32 (88.9 %) patients who were consented underwent cystoscopy with random biopsy (native bladder, ileal segment, ileovesical junction). Two patients those were tested with FISH did not consented cystoscopy. This study was registred to the government registry (No: 71146310). RESULTS: Mean follow-up time after AC was 15.4 ± 4.8 years. 2/32 (5.6 %) patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in cyctoscopic biopsy. FISH analysis of 3/24 (12.5 %) patients demonstrated abnormal findings consistent with malignancy. Two FISH malignant patients were patients who had adenocarcinoma. The third patient's biopsy was benign and the third year control cystoscopy was normal. 2/4 patients with malignant CC had adenocarcinoma and 2/4 patients had benign biopsy. The sensitivity and specificity of FISH in our series were 100 % and 95 % respectively. Whereas the sensitivity and specificity of CC was 100 % and 91.6 % respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite limited number of patients in this study, FISH showed higher specificity than CC in this series. FISH is a promising tool for malignancy screening after AC. TYPE OF STUDY: Diagnostic Studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Similar overall survival with reduced vs. standard dose bevacizumab monotherapy in progressive glioblastoma.

INTRODUCTION: Bevacizumab has demonstrated activity in glioblastoma (GBM), but the true benefits and optimal dose-schedule are debated. A lower dose-schedule than standard-dose bevacizumab (10 mg/kg 2-weekly) might offer similar benefits with lower costs. At our Institution, patients are randomly assigned at time of primary diagnosis to Neuro-Oncologists, who have varying practices in terms of bevacizumab dose-schedule upon progression. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis we examined overall survival (OS), measured from first administered bevacizumab dose until death, according to dose-schedule. Patients with de novo WHO Grade IV GBM who received standard- or reduced-dose (5 mg/kg 2-weekly) bevacizumab were included. MGMT methylation status and time from diagnosis to bevacizumab start were examined as prognostic variables. Clinical benefit and a comparative cost analysis were assessed. RESULTS: In total, 1127 bevacizumab doses were administered to 118 patients [Median: 7, Range: 1-44]. Median OS (mOS) was 5.8 months. 69 (59%) patients received standard-dose bevacizumab (mOS: 5.97 months) and 49 patients received reduced-dose (mOS: 5.7 months). No statistically significant difference in OS between dosing schedule was seen (HR: 1.11, P-value: .584). Patients with MGMT methylated tumors (43%) had improved OS compared to those with unmethylated tumors; 7.03 vs 4.97 months (HR: 0.61, P-value: .027). If all patients were treated with reduced-dose bevacizumab, an estimated €2.4M cost reduction would be observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, reduced-dose bevacizumab schedule resulted in similar OS to standard-dose bevacizumab monotherapy with substantial cost savings. MGMT methylation appears to convey a survival benefit in the setting of bevacizumab treatment for progressive GBM.

Preoperative Evaluation of Liver Parenchyma of Potential Donors in Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic steatosis carries a risk of postoperative liver dysfunction in donors and graft nonfunction in recipients. This article discusses the evaluation of fatty infiltration in donor liver parenchyma on multidetector computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methods of hepatic fat estimation include measurement of hepatic attenuation in HU and calculation of the liver attenuation index (LAI). Liver attenuation values reflect the degree of steatosis. Average attenuation of liver parenchyma is calculated by placing the circular region of interest of at least 1 cm2 area at multiple places in the liver on noncontrast CT images. Splenic attenuation is measured by placing the circular region of interest at its upper, middle, and lower poles. The LAI is the difference between mean hepatic attenuation and mean splenic attenuation. RESULTS: A total of 52 donors were evaluated as potential recipients (34 men, 18 women; mean age, 33.2 years; range, 23-55 years). In 34 donors liver attenuation index (LAI) values were from 2 HU to 22 HU. An LAI > 5 HU correctly predicted the absence of significant macrovesicular steatosis. These donors were acceptable for a liver transplant. The LAI values of -10 to 5 HU were suggestive of mild to moderate steatosis (6%-30%); 18 (34.6%) volunteers did not proceed to donation because of negative LAI < -5 HU. In 2 cases with LAI of -7 and LAI of -8 liver biopsy was performed, and 30% steatosis was confirmed in the pathohistologic examination. Unacceptable liver biopsy result was considered as contraindication for donation. The LAI values of < -10 HU were suggestive of moderate to severe hepatic steatosis of 30% or greater. In these cases liver biopsy is not needed, as such donors are not acceptable for liver transplant. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography imaging provides a detailed evaluation of fatty infiltration in donor liver parenchyma.

Semi-Rigid Ureteroscopy Should Not Be the First Option for Proximal Ureteral Stones in Children.

PURPOSE: To investigate the factors that predict the success and complication rates of semi-rigid ureteroscopy (URS) in pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the database including 182 patients who underwent URS between 2001 and 2016. The possible factors that might affect the outcome were age, gender, stone laterality, largest stone size, number of stones, stone location, orifice dilatation status, and caliber of ureteroscope. RESULTS: The mean age was 68.1 (7-204) months, and male-to-female ratio was 94:88. Operative side was left for 97, right for 82, and bilateral for 3 patients. One hundred and forty-four patients had a single stone, and 38 patients had multiple stones. The median largest stone size was 7 (2-20) mm. Postoperative ureteral stenting was performed in 150 (86.2%) patients. The overall success rate was 84.6%, while 81.6% and 85.4% in 8F URS and 4.5F URS groups, respectively (p = 0.560). Stone-free rate was higher among patients who were older than 36 months, distal ureteral stones and single stones (p = 0.012, 0.002, and 0.009, respectively). Complication rate was higher for proximally located stones (p = 0.029). The mean follow-up was 23.9 ± 32.5 months. CONCLUSION: URS is a safe procedure with acceptable success rates in the pediatric population. Younger age, multiple stones, and proximal location are the predisposing factors for failure, whereas proximal location was the only factor for complication occurrence. Therefore, semi-rigid ureteroscopy should not be the first choice in the treatment of proximal ureteral stones, and alternative methods should be preferred, if available.

Is There Any Difference Between Questionnaires on Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic properties of 3 different scoring systems (Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score [DVSS], Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Symptoms Score [DVISS], Incontinence Symptom Index-Pediatric [ISI-P, for children older than 11 years]) that are used to evaluate lower urinary tract symptoms in pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four participants were evaluated by detailed history, physical examination, 3 different scoring systems (DVSS, DVISS, ISI-P), ultrasonography, and uroflowmetry. Depending on the tests, cases were stratified as healthy or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) by 2 urologists who were blinded to the questionnaires. Patients were reevaluated by the same tests and questionnaires 3 months after treatment. Diagnostic properties of questionnaires were calculated. Additionally, parents were asked to scale the improvement of symptoms subjectively from 0% to 100% to correlate to each of the three scoring systems. RESULTS: The mean ages of the normal and the LUTS groups were 9.1 ± 2.6 years and 10.1 ± 2.8 years, respectively (P = .301). Gender (male:female) distribution was 21:21 in the LUTS group and 25:17 in the control group (P = .381). In terms of diagnosis, DVISS has the highest accuracy (sensitivity: 81%, specificity: 97.6%, accuracy: 89%) followed by ISI-P (sensitivity: 55.6%, specificity: 100%, accuracy: 82%) and DVSS (sensitivity: 54.8%, specificity: 97.6%, accuracy: 76%). The similar order was valid for the 23 patients older than 11 years (accuracy for DVISS: 87%, for ISI-P: 82%, and for DVSS: 78%). In terms of response to treatment, all 3 tests showed good correlation with parents' ratings (DVSS: P < .001, DVISS: P = .005, ISI-P: P = .042). CONCLUSION: Although DVISS had the highest accuracy in distinguishing the patients from healthy controls, all 3 questionnaires seem to be equivalent for the evaluation of response to treatment.

The nomogram conundrum: a demonstration of why a prostate cancer risk model in Turkish men underestimates prostate cancer risk in the USA.

PURPOSE: The utility of a nomogram is based on the patient population it is designed for-and their inherent properties and biases. Our aim was to demonstrate the variability in predictive model accuracy and utility between different populations. METHODS: Our model is based on 761 men who underwent initial TRUS biopsy at a single institution in Turkey. Patients were included if they had at least 10 cores on biopsy and PSA level <20 ng/ml. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to develop a new nomogram. External validity was tested with two different cohorts one from another institution in Turkey (N = 136) and cohort from USA (N = 2242). RESULTS: Prostate cancer (PCa) and high-grade PCa was diagnosed in 249/761 (32.7 %) and 101/761 (13.3 %) patients from Ankara, Turkey, respectively. Predictors of PCa were age (p < 0.0001, OR 2.11), PSA (p = 0.044, OR 1.44), PV (p < 0.0001, OR 0.38), %fPSA (p = 0.016, OR 0.72), and abnormal DRE (p < 0.0001, OR 2.05). The predictive accuracy (c-index) of our nomogram was 73 %. C-indices of 71 and 70 % were recorded in external validation cohorts from Turkey and the USA, respectively. Virtually ideal calibration was recorded for the internal validated predictive model, and good calibration was recorded when applied to the Istanbul cohort. However, the model/nomogram underestimates PCa risk in the US cohort. CONCLUSION: This is the first nomogram predicting the risk of PCa at initial biopsy in a Turkish population and provides a good risk estimation tool with good predictive accuracy and calibration in the Turkish populations. However, our study demonstrates the poor transferability of predictive tools to widely different populations.

Protective effects of phosphodiesterase-4-specific inhibitor rolipram on acute ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat kidney.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Rolipram, a phosphodiesterase-4-inhibitor, on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into 5 different groups of 6 rats. Nothing was done to the control group. In the second group, the renal pedicle was clamped for 30 minutes. In the third group, 1 mg/kg of Rolipram was given by intraperitoneal injection 30 minutes before clamping. The fourth group received the same injection when the clamp was placed, as did the fifth group 30 minutes after the clamp was opened. Clamping time was set at 30 minutes. Twenty-four hours later, nephrectomy was performed in all the groups. Half of each kidney was examined histopathologically. Levels of biochemical agents, such as malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, were measured in the other half. RESULTS: The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly decreased and reached control levels in the group in which Rolipram was administered 30 minutes after reperfusion (P = .07). The catalase and superoxide dismutase activities obtained from renal homogentisates of the ischemia groups were evaluated; there were striking increases in tissue levels of these 2 enzymes in the groups in which Rolipram was administered during ischemia and 30 minutes after ischemia (P < .001). Histopathologically, there was no significant difference in inflammation between the Rolipram-administrated groups compared with group 1 (control) and group 2 (IRI). Tubular necrosis and apoptosis was significantly lower in group 5 than the other groups, except group 1 (P < .001). CONCLUSION: We suggest that in surgical procedures that can lead to renal IRI, the administration of Rolipram can decrease oxidative renal tissue damage and the severe deterioration of renal function.