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Background/Aims@#Compared with other regimens, concomitant therapy (CT) used as a first-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with higher eradication rates. We compared the efficacy of tailored therapy (TT) using bismuth added to standard triple therapy (STT) with CT. @*Methods@#This consecutive study performed between September 2020 and 2021 included 210 patients with H. pylori infection. Two participating gastroenterologists prescribed TT and CT. Multiplex PCR assays were performed before eradication therapy to identify the relevant point mutations and confirm clarithromycin resistance in the TT group (n=105). Patients who showed negative PCR results received 14-day STT and those with positive PCR results received a 14-day regimen of bismuth added to STT. The other group (n=105) received 10-day CT. @*Results@#Based on per-protocol analysis, eradication rates in the TT and CT groups were 89.2% (91/102) and 81.6% (84/103), respectively. We observed no statistically significant intergroup differences in eradication rates (P=0.12). The frequency of estimated clarithromycin resistance confirmed using multiplex PCR assays was 32.4% (34/105), and the eradication rate associated with bismuth add-on STT was 76.5% (26/34) in patients with clarithromycin resistance. @*Conclusions@#Considering the current and emerging trends in antibiotic resistance, a therapeutic strategy using TT (bismuth add-on STT) is recommended to minimize unnecessary administration of antibiotics.
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Chronic inflammation due to a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a representative cause of gastric cancer that can promote gastric carcinogenesis by abnormally activating immune cells and increasing the inflammatory cytokines levels. H. pylori infections directly cause DNA double-strand breaks in gastric epithelial cells and genetic damage by increasing the enzymatic activity of cytidine deaminase. Eventually, gastric cancer is induced through dysplasia. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is an important cause of gastric cancer because of a H. pylori infection. In addition, the changes in gastric microbiota and the mucosal inflammatory changes associated with a co-infection with the Epstein-Barr virus are associated with gastric cancer development. DNA damage induced by H. pylori and the subsequent responses of gastric stem cells have implications for gastric carcinogenesis. Although the pathogenesis of H. pylori has been established, many uncertainties remain, requiring more study.
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Background/Aims@#The effects of probiotic supplementation on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of continuous probiotic administration on eradication rates, recrudescence, and symptom response following completion of a course of H. pylori therapy. @*Methods@#This prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed between June 2018 and 2020. Twohundred seventy patients who received a standard triple regimen for H. pylori eradication, were included in the study. Participants were randomized to receive a probiotic as adjunctive therapy (Enterococcus faecium 4.5×108 and Bacillus subtilis 5.0×107; Medilac-S®, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Seoul, Korea) or a placebo (one tablet thrice daily) for 28 days, following H. pylori eradication. Participants who showed successful eradication underwent a repeat 13C-urea breath test after 6 months. @*Results@#Eradication rates in the probiotic and placebo groups were 77.1% and 72.4%, respectively (P=0.48) using per-protocol analysis. Using intention-to-treat analysis, eradication rates were 67.4% and 65.9%, respectively (P=0.43). Of 149 patients who were followed-up after 6 months, four patients had recrudescence (2.7%). Recrudescence rates did not differ between the probiotic and placebo groups. Of the 76 patients who had non-ulcer dyspepsia, 60 (78.9%) showed symptom resolution after 6 months. This beneficial effect was most pronounced in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (P=0.02). @*Conclusions@#Consecutive probiotic supplementation following H. pylori eradication therapy did not increase eradication rates or decrease recrudescence rates.
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Background/Aims@#Helicobacter pylori eradication may prevent the recurrence of gastric epithelial neoplasia after endoscopic treatment. However, H. pylori eradication therapy is unlikely to prevent gastric cancer. This study determined the longterm results and clinical outcomes of patients with gastric epithelial neoplasia based on H. pylori infection status and microsatellite stability (MSS). @*Methods@#Patients diagnosed with gastric epithelial neoplasia who underwent an endoscopic mucosal resection or submucosal dissection between 2004 and 2010 were included in this retrospective study. During the follow-up period (range, 4 to 14 years), disease recurrence was monitored, and tissue examinations were conducted for seven sets of microsatellite loci initially linked to the tumour suppressor gene locus. When H. pylori infection was identified, patients underwent eradication therapy. @*Results@#The patients (n = 120) were divided into three groups: H. pylori-negative with MSS, H. pylori-positive with MSS, and microsatellite instability (MSI). After H. pylori eradication, the rate of metachronous recurrence was significantly different in the MSI (28.2%) and MSS groups (3.7%, p < 0.01). The mean duration of recurrence was 77 months (range, 24 to 139) in the MSI group. There was no recurrence after eradication therapy in patients who were positive for H. pylori in the MSS group. @*Conclusion@#H. pylori eradication could help prevent gastric cancer recurrence in patients with stable microsatellite loci. Careful, long-term monitoring is required in patients with unstable microsatellite loci.
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Background/Aims@#Globally, the population aged 80 years or older is growing faster due to the rising life expectancy. Korea has already entered into an advanced aged society, and a post-aged society is expected in 2025. This study evaluated the patterns of gastrointestinal disease in the population aged 80 years or older during the recent decade in Korea.Method: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to the gastrointestinal department of Suwon St. Vincent’s hospital, Incheon St. Mary’s hospital, and Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital ― general hospitals of Seoul-Gyeonggi province in Korea. It was a repeated cross-sectional study in 2009 and 2019. @*Results@#The number of admitted patients aged 80 years or older increased from 549 (9.0%) in 2009 to 1,073 (14.4%) in 2019 (p<0.01). As for the in-hospital mortality, there was no significant difference (p=0.25). On the other hand, the combined morbidities increased, and the duration of admission also increased (7.2±7.8 days vs. 8.1±8.2 days, p=0.03). The number of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and patients who are bleeding associated with drugs users increased (p<0.01). The proportion of lower gastrointestinal disease decreased (p<0.01) because of the decrease in procedure-related admissions (p<0.01). The number of those with pancreaticobiliary tract disease increased markedly (p<0.01), and the rate of cases that could not perform the procedure decreased (p=0.04). @*Conclusion@#The patterns of gastrointestinal disease in the population aged 80 years or older have changed in the recent decade in Korea. Hence, more preparation for this medical environment is needed.
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Background/Aims@#The treatment of gastric cancer remains unsatisfactory. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of immunohistochemical staining in gastric cancer. @*Methods@#We analyzed 505 (279 early staged, 226 advanced-staged) gastric cancer tissues from patients who underwent radical gastric resection between January 2014 and December 2016. Available surgical specimens immunohistochemically stained for p53, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human EGFR 2 (HER-2), E-cadherin, and Ki-67 were reviewed. We evaluated the association between positivity to various biomarkers and disease recurrence, disease-free survival, lymph node metastasis, and microscopic lymphovascular invasion. @*Results@#The median follow-up duration was 32.5 months (range, 7 to 70). Advanced gastric cancer cases showed high Ki-67 expression; other cases showed unremarkable expression. Concerning disease recurrence, lymphatic invasion, and disease-free interval, all biomarkers had no prognostic effects. HER-2-positive stage I gastric cancer tended to occur in old patients and in the upper one-third of the stomach (p = 0.01). HER-2 positivity was significantly correlated with disease recurrence (p = 0.01), lymphatic invasion (p = 0.03), and vascular invasion (p = 0.03) in stage I cases. @*Conclusions@#Only HER-2 was associated with the recurrence of stage I gastric cancer. HER-2-positive stage I gastric cancer requires additional therapy despite curative resection.
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Background/Aims@#This study aimed to investigate the possibility of in situ diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection during endoscopic examination. The predictive infection value was estimated using the endoscopic Kyoto scoring system (EKSS), and specific endoscopic findings were evaluated for diagnosing H. pylori infection in H. pylori naïve patients and those with a eradication history. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 836 patients with H. pylori infection were analyzed. The state of the infection was predicted using the EKSS and specific endoscopic findings. @*Results@#Patients were classified into two groups: the H. pylori naïve group and the group with a the bacterial eradication history. The area under the curve (AUC) on receiver operating characteristics analysis was 0.90 for EKSS in H. pylori naïve patients and 0.83 for the other group patients. For patients with open type atrophy and/or intestinal metaplasia, EKSS (24.4%; 95% CI, 12.4~0.3%) and regular arrangement of collecting venules (RAC) (46.3%; 95% CI, 30.7~62.9%) showed low specificities. Mucosal swelling (66.2%; 95% CI, 62.5~69.7%) and sticky mucus (80.5%; 95% CI, 74.8~85.2%) presented relatively high positive predictive values for H. pylori infection in naïve patients, whereas reflux esophagitis, hematin, red streak, and duodenitis exhibited high negative predictive values in patients with a H. pylori eradication history (98.0%; 95% CI, 96.4~99.1%). @*Conclusions@#EKSS and RAC are excellent tools for predicting H. pylori infection. However, they have a limited role in patients with open type atrophy and/or intestinal metaplasia. Specific endoscopic findings could help predict the infection state.
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Background/Aims@#Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Prucalopride is a dihydrobenzofurancarboxamide derivative with gastrointestinal prokinetic activities and is recommended as an appropriate choice in patients unresponsive to laxatives. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of prucalopride in Korean patients with chronic constipation, in whom laxatives were ineffective. @*Methods@#This prospective, non-interventional post-marketing surveillance of prucalopride was conducted from 2012 to 2018 at 28 hospitals in Korea. Adults who received prucalopride for the symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation were included. The patients received 2 mg of prucalopride once daily or 1 mg once daily in patients older than 65 years. The baseline characteristics, adverse events (AEs), and seven-point scale of Clinical Global Impression-Improvement were collected. @*Results@#Of 601 patients, 67.7% were female, and the mean age was 62.3 years. Three hundred patients (49.9%) were older than 65 years. At the baseline, 70.0% of patients reported less than two instances of spontaneous complete bowel movements per week. AEs were reported in 107 patients (17.7%), including headache (3.2%) and diarrhea (2.8%). Seven serious AEs (SAEs) were reported in five patients (0.8%). The SAEs were resolved without complications; there were no cases of death. All SAEs were assessed as ‘unlikely’ causality with prucalopride. In 72.7% of patients, chronic constipation was improved by the prucalopride treatment during the study period. @*Conclusions@#This study demonstrated the promising safety and efficacy profile of prucalopride in clinical practice. Thus, prucalopride should be considered in patients with chronic constipation when bowel symptoms are refractory to simple laxatives.
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Background/Aims@#It is still unknown whether cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 polymorphisms influence Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, especially in eastern Asia. We aimed to evaluate how changes in proton pump inhibitor (PPI) strategies could be used to overcome the effects of CYP2C19 polymorphism on H. pylori eradication rate when it is used as the second-line regimen after the failure of standard triple therapy. @*Materials and Methods@#We performed a retrospective observation study of 675 patients in whom standard triple therapy for H. pylori infection was not effective between January 2009 to December 2018. All patients underwent a classic bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (10 to 14-day regimen), and their eradication rates were evaluated for several years. We compared the eradication rates in patients with or without the second-line PPI switch. Further, we assessed differences in eradication rates with or without the strategy using esomeprazole and rabeprazole, which are not influenced significantly by CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism. @*Results@#The eradication rate was 81.0% in individuals who received the second-line PPI switch, but it was 74.8% without switching (P=0.14). In the strategy using esomeprazole and rabeprazole, the eradication rate was 84.6%, compared to 76.5% in the control group (P=0.03). Finally, in the group of patients who switched to rabeprazole, the eradication rates were 85.6%, compared to 77.6% in the group who switched to pantoprazole (P=0.05). @*Conclusions@#Switching to PPI, which is not influenced by CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism, increases the efficiency of eradication after the failure of standard triple therapy.
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Background/Aims@#Local and systemic factors, such as diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, are considered risk factors for the recurrence of choledocholithiasis after successful endoscopic clearance. Local factors include the presence of bile sludge, common bile duct (CBD) diameter, and CBD angulation. Among them, it is unclear if acute CBD angulation is preferable to the recurrence of a CBD stone. @*Methods@#PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library databases, and google website were searched for randomized controlled trials reported in English and undertaken until August 2019. Meta‐analysis was performed on all randomized controlled trials for the recurrence of CBD stones between the patients with acute CBD angulation. @*Results@#Eight randomized trials (1,776 patients) were identified, and the total recurrent rate of CBD stones was 18.8% (334/1,776). A CBD angle ≤145° was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrent CBD stone (OR=2.65, p<0.01). In two prospective studies, acute CBD angulation was not proven to be associated with a recurrence (p=0.39). @*Conclusions@#Approximately 20% of patients with a CBD stone showed recurrence after the complete clearance of the CBD stone, and a CBD angle ≤145° could increase the risk of recurrence. Overall, a large-scale prospective study should be necessary.
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Background/Aims@#This study examined the clinical features and prognosis of patients with mucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC), non-mucinous gastric carcinoma (NMGC), and signet ring cell gastric carcinoma (SRC). @*Methods@#A retrospective cohort study was performed, enrolling 65 patients with MGC from January 2007 to December 2016.During the same period, 1,814 patients with histologically proven gastric cancers underwent curative or palliative operations. One hundred and ninety-five NMGC patients were selected as the 1:3 age- and sex-matched control groups. In addition, 200 SRC patients were identified. This study evaluated the demographic features of the patients, pathologic features of the tumor, and the predictive factors, such as the recurrence-free survival and overall survival. @*Results@#The recurrence rates were significantly high in MGC than in NMGC or SRC (both p<0.01). The proportion of early gastric cancer was lower in the MGC group than in the other groups (p<0.01). In addition, metastatic lymph nodes were found more frequently in the MGC group (p<0.01), and the proportion of initial pT4, M1 stage, was highest in the MGC group. The recurrence-free survival and overall survival in the MGC group were significantly lower than those in the NMGC or SRC. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with the same American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage of each cancer group showed a similar prognosis. @*Conclusions@#MGC frequently presents an advanced stage with an unfavorable prognosis compared to NMGC or SRC. On the other hand, MGC of the same AJCC stage had a similar prognosis to NMGC and SRC.
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Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been implicated in the development and progression of gastric cancers. A number of recent studies have been published evaluating the chemopreventive effect of aspirin and non steroidal anti inflammatory drungs (NSAIDs) against gastric cancer. Aspirin and NSAIDs use may reduce the risk of gastric cancer incidence and death, whereas other studies have reported contradictory results. Therefore, further study should be needed to clarify the role of aspirin and NSAIDs in the chemoprevention of gastric cancer.
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Background/Aims@#This study examined the clinical features and prognosis of patients with mucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC), non-mucinous gastric carcinoma (NMGC), and signet ring cell gastric carcinoma (SRC). @*Methods@#A retrospective cohort study was performed, enrolling 65 patients with MGC from January 2007 to December 2016.During the same period, 1,814 patients with histologically proven gastric cancers underwent curative or palliative operations. One hundred and ninety-five NMGC patients were selected as the 1:3 age- and sex-matched control groups. In addition, 200 SRC patients were identified. This study evaluated the demographic features of the patients, pathologic features of the tumor, and the predictive factors, such as the recurrence-free survival and overall survival. @*Results@#The recurrence rates were significantly high in MGC than in NMGC or SRC (both p<0.01). The proportion of early gastric cancer was lower in the MGC group than in the other groups (p<0.01). In addition, metastatic lymph nodes were found more frequently in the MGC group (p<0.01), and the proportion of initial pT4, M1 stage, was highest in the MGC group. The recurrence-free survival and overall survival in the MGC group were significantly lower than those in the NMGC or SRC. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with the same American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage of each cancer group showed a similar prognosis. @*Conclusions@#MGC frequently presents an advanced stage with an unfavorable prognosis compared to NMGC or SRC. On the other hand, MGC of the same AJCC stage had a similar prognosis to NMGC and SRC.
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Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been implicated in the development and progression of gastric cancers. A number of recent studies have been published evaluating the chemopreventive effect of aspirin and non steroidal anti inflammatory drungs (NSAIDs) against gastric cancer. Aspirin and NSAIDs use may reduce the risk of gastric cancer incidence and death, whereas other studies have reported contradictory results. Therefore, further study should be needed to clarify the role of aspirin and NSAIDs in the chemoprevention of gastric cancer.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is known to correlate with disease activity and can be used as a predictor for relapse or treatment response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We evaluated the usefulness of FC as a biomarker for disease activity in patients with IBD using both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a quantitative point-of-care test (QPOCT). METHODS: Fecal samples and medical records were collected from consecutive patients with IBD. FC levels were measured by both ELISA and QPOCT and patient medical records were reviewed for clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic data. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients with IBD were enrolled, 55 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 38 with Crohn's disease (CD). The mean FC-ELISA levels were 906.3 ± 1,484.9 μg/g in UC and 1,054.1 ± 1,252.5 μg/g in CD. There was a strong correlation between FC-ELISA level and clinical activity indices (p < 0.05). FC-ELISA level was significantly lower in patients with mucosal healing (MH) compared to those without MH in UC (85.5 ± 55.6 μg/g vs. 1,503.7 ± 2,129.9 μg/g, p = 0.005). The results from the QPOCT corresponded well to those from ELISA. A cutoff value of 201.3 μg/g for FC-ELISA and 150.5 μg/g for FC-QPOCT predicted endoscopic inflammation (Mayo endoscopic subscore ≥ 1) in UC with a sensitivity of 81.8% and 85.8%, respectively, and a specificity of 100% for both. CONCLUSIONS: FC was strongly associated with disease activity indices, serologic markers, and endoscopic activity in patients with IBD. QPOCT can be used more conveniently than ELISA to assess FC in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Humans , Colitis, Ulcerative , Crohn Disease , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Inflammation , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex , Medical Records , Point-of-Care Systems , Recurrence , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Addressing the increasing antibiotic resistance, including clarithromycin resistance, which affects Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy, is a challenge for clinicians. Antibiotic resistance is the main reason for H. pylori eradication failure and the resistance rate for clarithromycin may drastically increase, up to 38.5%, due to 23S ribosomal RNA point mutations. Therefore, the standard triple regimen is no longer suitable as the first-line treatment in most regions. However, there is a growing interest in personalized care for patients. Increased eradication rates of tailored therapy based on antibiotic susceptibility have been reported using nucleic acid-based techniques for clarithromycin resistance with a focus on the first-line eradication therapy of H. pylori infection. Herein, we discuss the eradication therapy for H. pylori, with a diagnostic test and appropriate treatment for clarithromycin resistance.
Subject(s)
Humans , Clarithromycin , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Drug Resistance , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Helicobacter pylori , Helicobacter , Point Mutation , RNA, Ribosomal, 23SABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological parameters of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and to investigate the effect of tumor site on clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients treated for a surgically confirmed gastric GIST were retrospectively evaluated between January 2001 and June 2016. The risk level was determined on the basis of the tumor size and number of mitoses. The risk level, recurrence rate, and survival rates were evaluated on the basis of the site of the gastric GISTs. RESULTS: The 97 patients identified included 42 men and 55 women. The median follow-up period was 36 months (range: 12~72 years). Of the 97 patients, 57 (58.7%) and 40 (41.3%) patients had proximally and distally located gastric GISTs, respectively. The high- and low-risk groups had higher proportions of proximally and distally located tumors, respectively (P=0.033). The recurrence rates of proximal and distal GISTs were 8.8%, and 2.5%, respectively (P=0.307). The overall survival rate was not associated with the site of the gastric GISTs (P=0.549). CONCLUSIONS: No relevant associations were found among recurrence, overall survival, and gastric GIST location.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Follow-Up Studies , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors , Mitosis , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Stomach Neoplasms , Survival RateABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Diagnosis , Gastritis, Atrophic , Helicobacter pylori , HelicobacterABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rebleeding is associated with mortality in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB), and risk stratification is important for the management of these patients. The purpose of our study was to examine the risk factors associated with rebleeding in patients with PUB. METHODS: The Korean Peptic Ulcer Bleeding registry is a large prospectively collected database of patients with PUB who were hospitalized between 2014 and 2015 at 28 medical centers in Korea. We examined the basic characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients in this registry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with rebleeding. RESULTS: In total, 904 patients with PUB were registered, and 897 patients were analyzed. Rebleeding occurred in 7.1% of the patients (64), and the 30-day mortality was 1.0% (nine patients). According to the multivariate analysis, the risk factors for rebleeding were the presence of co-morbidities, use of multiple drugs, albumin levels, and hematemesis/hematochezia as initial presentations. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of co-morbidities, use of multiple drugs, albumin levels, and initial presentations with hematemesis/hematochezia can be indicators of rebleeding in patients with PUB. The wide use of proton pump inhibitors and prompt endoscopic interventions may explain the low incidence of rebleeding and low mortality rates in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Hemorrhage , Incidence , Korea , Mortality , Multivariate Analysis , Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage , Peptic Ulcer , Prospective Studies , Proton Pump Inhibitors , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Early detection of gastric cancer is important to improve prognosis. Early detection enables local treatment, such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Therefore, we investigated whether early detection of gastric cancer could reduce healthcare costs by comparison according to stage and treatment modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical care costs were investigated according to tumor stage and initial treatment modality in 1,188 patients newly diagnosed with gastric cancer at 7 medical institutions from December 2011 to June 2012. Total medical care costs during the first-year after diagnosis (total first-year costs) were examined, including the costs of initial treatment, post-initial treatment, and inpatient and outpatient visits. RESULTS: Stage I (75.3%) was the most common cancer stage. ESD was the second most common treatment following surgery. Total first-year costs increased significantly from stages I to IV. The costs of initial treatment and post-initial treatment were lowest in patients with stage I cancer. Among patients with stage I cancer, total first-year costs were significantly lower when treated by ESD; in particular, initial ESD treatment costs were much lower than others. CONCLUSIONS: The cost of healthcare has increased significantly with increasing cancer stages. ESD can greatly reduce medical care costs of gastric cancer. Thus, early detection of gastric cancer is important to reduce healthcare costs.