Improving the standard sequential treatment of Helicobacter pylori with either extended treatment or by adding bismuth

Background and study aims: Standard sequential treatment for Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] eradication has less success because of increasing clarithromycin resistance. Extended treatment and bismuth containing regimens were, therefore, investigated

Patients and methods: Consecutive H. pylori-positive patients with dyspepsia were randomly allocated to one of the three sequential regimens: The first group was given lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. plus amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. for the first 5 days, followed by lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d. for the second 5 days [standard sequential, SS]. The second group was given the same regimen but for 7 + 7 days instead of 5 + 5 days [extended sequential, ES]. In the third group, colloidal bismuth 600 mg b.i.d. was added to the second regimen for 14 days [extended sequential + bismuth subcitrate, ES + B]. Urea breath test or histology was performed before enrolment and 6 weeks after the end of treatment to detect H. pylori

Results: A total of 280 patients were included in the study. Per-protocol eradication rates were 62% [56/90], 72% [56/78], and 75% [54/72] in patients who received SS, ES, and ES + B regimens, respectively. Moreover, intention-to-treat eradication rates were 53% [56/104], 62% [56/90] and 62% [54/86], respectively. The differences in eradication rates between the groups were not statistically significant

Conclusion: Although prolonging of the sequential treatment to 14 days may be considered, addition of bismuth to the regimen is of no avail

Personality disorders in pateints with multiple sclerosis: Prevalence and association with depressive and anxiety disorders and clinical features

Objective: This study examines the current prevalence of mood, anxiety and personality disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the impact of personality disorders on clinical features of MS and the existence of depressive and anxiety disorders. Methods: The study sample comprised of 55 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 56 control subjects. Axis I diagnoses including mood and anxiety disorders and personality disorders were ascertained by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition / Clinical Version and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM, Revised Third Edition Personality Disorders, respectively. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to determine degree of disability due to MS. Results: The prevalence of any mood, any anxiety and any personality disorders in patients with MS were 40.0%, 38.2% and 45.5%, respectively, which are significantly higher than the control subjects. Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder and obsessivecompulsive personality disorder were more frequent in patients with MS compared to the controls. In comparison to MS patients without personality disorders, MS patients with personality disorders had a more frequent occurence of any mood disorder, any anxiety disorder, major depression, posttraumatic stress disorders and MS attacks, and higher scoresof EDSS. Conclusions: Mood, anxiety and personality disorders are frequently seen in patients with MS. The results also suggest that personality disorders may negatively affect the existence of mood and anxiety disorders as well as the clinical course of MS in the patients.

A Neuro-Behcet's Case Operated with the Intracranial Mass Misdiagnosis

Behcet's disease (BD) is an inflammatory systemic disorder with oral and genital ulcers, as well as ophthalmologic and cutaneous symptoms. Neurological manifestations in BD represent between 2.2% to 50% of the cases. The 25-year-old male patient, diagnosed with BD three years earlier, was admitted to our clinic with complaints of recurrent headaches. Tumor-like-parenchimal involvement was detected on a cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The lesion was removed surgically and then he suffered from right hemiparesis and epilepsy. Pathological examination of the lesion noted a demyelinating non-tumoural etiology. A neuro-Behget's case with parenchymal involvement has been examined in light of the literature, in terms of a tumor and a demyelinating disease differential diagnosis.