Effect of enhanced external counterpulsation therapy on myeloperoxidase in lowering cardiovascular events of patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a slowly progressive disease with high morbidity and mortality; therefore, the management using pharmacological treatments frequently fails to improve outcome. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), a non-invasive treatment, may serve as alternative treatment for heart failure. This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of EECP on myeloperoxidase (MPO) as inflammatory marker as well as cardiac events outcome. Methods: This was an open randomized controlled clinical trial on 66 CHF patients visiting several cardiovascular clinics in Manado between January-December 2012. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups, i.e. the group who receive EECP therapy and those who did not receive EECP therapy with 33 patients in each group. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) as inflammatory marker was examined at baseline and after 6 months of observation. Cardiovascular events were observed as well after 6 months of observation. Unpaired t-test was use to analyze the difference of MPO between the two groups, and chi-square followed by calculation of relative risk were used for estimation of cardiovascular event outcomes. Results: MPO measurement at baseline and after 6 months in EECP group were 643.16 ± 239.40 pM and 422.31 ± 156.26 pM, respectively (p < 0.001). Whereas in non EECP group, the MPO values were 584.69 ± 281.40 pM and 517.64 ± 189.68 pM, repectively (p = 0.792). MPO reduction was observed in all patients of EECP group and in 13 patients (48%) of non-EECP group (p < 0.001). Cardiovascular events were observed in 7 (21.21%) and 15 (45.45%) of patients in EECP and non-EECP groups, respectively (p = 0.037). Conclusion: EECP therapy significantly decreased the level of MPO as inflammatory marker and this decrease was correlated with the reduction of cardiovascular events in CHF patients.

The gastro-esophageal reflux disease questionnaire using Indonesian language: A language validation survey.

Background: The aims of this study were to test the usefulness of the Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GERDQ) in the diagnosis of GERD, to validate the GERDQ written in Indonesian language, and to evaluate the reliability of the GERDQ for use in Indonesian-speaking GERD patients (Virginia study). Methods: This was a prospective survey of 40 patients diagnosed with GERD, based on an endoscopic examination, in 3 cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya) from 15 January to 15 May 2009. Patients were asked to complete the GERDQ, and the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed. Results: The percentages of respondents who reported symptoms lasting 4–7 days were as follows: 68% had a burning sensation behind the breastbone (heartburn); 65% had stomach content (fluid) move upwards to the throat or mouth (regurgitation); 70% had a pain in the centre of the upper abdomen; 58% had nausea; 63% had difficulty sleeping because of the heartburn and/or regurgitation; and 63% took additional medication for heartburn and/or regurgitation. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.83, indicating that all of the questions in the Indonesian-language GERDQ are valid and reliable for Indonesian GERD patients. Conclusions: This study achieved the primary objectives and showed that the GERDQ is valid and reliable for use with Indonesian-speaking GERD patients. The results were consistent with those of the DIAMOND study, which showed that the GERDQ can be used to diagnose GERD on the basis of the reported symptoms.

A comparison of 5 or 7 days of rabeprazole triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Aim A combination of PPI and 1000 mg amoxicillin/500 mg clarithromycin twice daily for 2 weeks has been proven effective in the eradication of H. pylori. Most studies suggested that treatment for 7 and 10 days may be equally effective. Few data are available on the effi cacy of 5-day triple therapy. Aim of this study was to compare 5-day and 7-day rabeprazole triple therapy for eradication of H. pylori infection. Methods We prospectively studied 60 consecutive H. pylori-infected patients who came to hospitals in six centres in Indonesia and who underwent upper endoscopy and biopsy. H. pylori infection was confi rmed if two rapid urease tests (Pronto Dry) and histology or urea breath test were positive. Patients were assigned to either an open-labelled 5-day or 7-day course of oral amoxicillin 1000 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and rabeprazole 10 mg b.i.d. (RAC). Four weeks after therapy, all patients had a repeated UBT for evaluation of the presence of H. pylori. Results Of the 60 patients (42 males and 18 females) with mean age (± SD) 47.63 ± 13.93 years, range 21–74 years, 25 patients (41.7%) had 5-day treatment and 35 patients (58.3%) had 7-day treatment. With 5-day treatment, 18 patients (72%) and with 7-day treatment 32 patients (91.4%) became negative for H. pylori infection. The eradication failure was found on 7 patients (28.0%) in 5-day treatment and 3 patients (8.6%) in 7-day treatment. Conclusions The study showed that the eradication of H. pylori infection by triple rabeprazole-based treatment in 7-day is still better than in 5-day.

Expression of NF-kB and COX-2 in Young Versus Older Patients with Sporadic Colorectal Cancer.

Aim: to distinguish the expression of NF-kB and COX-2 between young and older group of sporadic colorectal cancer patients. Methods: this was a comparative study between sporadic CRC patients aged 40 years or younger and patients aged 60 years or more. Expression of NF-kB and COX-2 were assessed by immunohistochemical method using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against human p65 NF-kB and COX-2 proteins. Results: there were 98 cases of sporadic colorectal cancers between 1999 and 2007 obtained from the Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia, Jakarta and Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Padjajaran University, Bandung. There were 60 patients aged 60 years or more and 38 patients aged 40 years or less. Most tumors were located in the distal colon. Positive expression of NF-kB was found in 72 (73.5%) cases, whereas COX-2 expression was found in 48 (49.0%) cases. No significant difference of NF-kB and COX-2 expression between young and older patients. Conclusion: the expression of nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) in Indonesian patients with sporadic colorectal cancer was high. However, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was only expressed in half of patients. There was no significant difference of NF-kB and COX-2 expressions between patients aged 40 years or less and patients aged 60 years or more. Further studies are needed to elaborate the role of inflammation in sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis.

Irritable bowel syndrome: current review on pathophysiology and diagnotic aspects.

Until now, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been one of gastrointestinal disorders which have not been fully understood. Clinically, there are some findings that indicate the role of inflammatory process in pathogenesis of IBS; such as, the onset of IBS that occurs after an episode of gastroenteritis (post-infective IBS (PI-IBS)). Although there is less evidence supporting genetic factors in pathogenesis of IBS, there are some reports about serotonin release in the plasma correlated to predominant constipation symptom. In contrast, increased serotonin release in IBS cases correlated to predominant diarrhea symptom. The stress-mast cell axis is one of pathophysiologic pathway that is expected to be able to explain the correlation between stress and characteristics found in IBS symptoms. Psychosocial factor has been well-considered to have important role in pathogenesis of IBS. Diagnosis of IBS is based on history of pain or abdominal discomfort that correlated to abnormal defecation pattern, without any obvious alarm sign. Nowadays, there is no specific laboratory test or physical or biochemical marker pathognomonic for IBS; therefore, clinical symptoms become the main modality in diagnosing IBS. This article will discuss the pathophysiology and diagnosis of IBS which will be helpful for clinicians in the management of IBS in daily practice.

Hepatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder.

Hepatoid carcinoma is a special type of extrahepatic tumor associated with hepatic differentiation, and has the morphological and functional features of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder is very rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of hepatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder in a 71-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain and was first diagnosed as cholelithiasis with cholecystitis. The microscopic findings of the gallbladder after cholecystectomy showed an area of tumor with polygonal cells, eosinophilic cytoplasm, distinct cell borders, round vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli, arranged in trabecular pattern resembling hepatocellular carcinoma intermingled with areas of adenocarcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma. The specimen from the pancreas also showed the same type of tumor cells. Histochemically, some of tumor cells were positive for Victoria Blue, Stein, and PAS. The immunohistochemistry for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) showed strong intra cytoplasmic positivity, both in tumor cells with hepatic differentiation and tumor cells with bile duct epithelium differentiation. Based on these findings, this case was diagnosed as hepatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder with metastasis to the pancreas. This is the first case that has been reported in our department.