Effects of probiotics or broccoli supplementation on Helicobacter pylori eradication with standard clarithromycin-based triple therapy

Background/Aims@#The eradication failure rate of standard triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin) for Helicobacter pylori infection has increased owing to antibiotic resistance in Korea. We assessed whether Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic or broccoli sprout extract sulforaphane supplementation could increase the H. pylori eradication rate and/or reduce antibiotic-associated adverse events. @*Methods@#A total of 217 patients with H. pylori-positive chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer disease were recruited. Clarithromycin resistance was assessed in all patients by testing for A2142G and A2143G point mutations in H. pylori 23S rRNA using a dual-priming polymerase chain reaction (PCR) oligonucleotide. Thirty-four patients (17.3%) were clarithromycin-resistant and were excluded from the study. Finally, 183 patients with infections not resistant to clarithromycin were randomly assigned to triple therapy only (group A, n = 61), triple therapy plus probiotics (group B, n = 61), or triple therapy plus sulforaphane (group C, n = 61) groups. CYP2C19 polymorphisms were examined at position G681A of exon 5 and G636A of exon 4 by PCR with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. H. pylori eradication was assessed by 13C-urea breath test 4 weeks after treatment completion. @*Results@#The eradication rates were similar among the groups both in the intention- to-treat (A = 85.2%, B = 89.6%, and C = 81.6%) and per-protocol (A = 89.2%, B = 86.8%, and C = 96.3%) analyses. The frequencies of overall adverse events in the groups also did not differ (A vs. B: p = 0.574; A vs. C: p = 1.000). @*Conclusions@#Probiotic or sulforaphane with triple therapy for H. pylori infection neither increased the eradication rate nor reduced the occurrence of adverse events.

Clarithromycin resistance and female gender affect Helicobacter pylori eradication failure in chronic gastritis

BACKGROUND/AIMS@#The eradication rate of the first-line triple therapy (a proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin) for Helicobacter pylori infection has gradually decreased in Korea. We evaluated whether clinical parameters, clarithromycin resistance, and CYP2C19 genotype can affect the eradication failure.@*METHODS@#A total of 203 patients with H. pylori-positive chronic gastritis were consecutively enrolled. They received clarithromycin-based triple therapy for 7 days. A clarithromycin resistance test was performed by detection of A2142G and A2143G point mutations in H. pylori 23S rRNA. The CYP2C19 genotype was examined for polymorphism G681A of exon 5 and G636A of exon 4 by polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism. Eradication was assessed by a ¹³C-urea breath test 4 weeks after treatment.@*RESULTS@#Of 203 patients, 190 completed the study. The eradication rate was 64.0% according to intention-to-treat analysis and 68.4% by per-protocol analysis. CYP2C19 genotypes were identified as follows: 75 poor metabolizers, 75 intermediate metabolizers, and 40 rapid metabolizers. Nonetheless, this polymorphism was not significantly associated with eradication failure (p = 0.682). Clarithromycin resistance was detected in 33/190 patients (17.4%), and their eradication rate was zero. Clarithromycin resistance (odds ratio [OR], 19.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.35 to 35.09) and female gender (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.15 to 4.25) were significantly associated with eradication failure. The other clinical parameters such as age, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, the body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes were not significantly associated with eradication.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Clarithromycin resistance and female gender are factors affecting H. pylori eradication failure in patients with chronic gastritis.

The Natural Course of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Super-Elderly Patient

As the mean life expectancy increases, the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in superelderly patients (>85 years old) is expected to increase in Korea. However, their clinical features, treatments, and treatment outcomes are unclear. Herein, we present a case of a large single HCC and its natural course in an 86-year-old man who refused any treatment following histologic diagnosis.

Acute Phlegmonous Gastritis Developing after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection That Was Successfully Treated by Antibiotics Alone / 대한내과학회지

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used to treat a variety of gastric lesions including early gastric cancer and gastric adenoma. Bleeding and perforation are the most common complications of ESD. However, a rare and fatal bacterial stomach infection, termed acute phlegmonous gastritis, can also develop after ESD. We treated a patient with a high fever who complained of severe abdominal pain after ESD. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a diffuse, submucosal, minimally attenuated lesion and mucosal irregularity. The clincial presentation and the CT findings were compatible with acute phlegmonous gastritis and the patient was successfully treated with antibiotics alone. The case is worth reporting because acute phlegmonous gastritis is a very rare complication of ESD.

A case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosed after kidney transplantation

We report the first case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) diagnosed after kidney transplantation in Korea. RHS is a disease caused by latent varicella-zoster characterized to involve geniculate ganglion of the seventh cranial nerve. Patients who have undergone kidney transplantation can be easily affected by viral infections because of their immune-compromised status. A 35-year-old man with hypertensive end-stage renal disease underwent kidney transplantation. Two months after surgery, the recipient was diagnosed with RHS and treated with antivirals and steroids. However, after using the antiviral agents for the recommended duration, facial paralysis occurred as a new presentation and he required further treatment. Otalgia and periauricular vesicles improved, but the facial palsy remained.

A Case of Aortoesophageal Fistula due to Esophageal Cancer Treated with Endovascular Stent Grafting / 대한내과학회지

Hemorrhage into the esophagus due to aortoesophageal communication is very rare but life-threatening with high morbidity and mortality. Because of this, most cases of aortoesophageal fistula are confirmed by autopsy. However, we report herein a case of a 62-year-old male with an aortoesophageal fistula who was successfully treated with endovascular stent-grafting. The patient had undergone esophageal stent insertion due to esophageal cancer and experienced hematemesis and hemodynamic shock due to an aortoesophageal fistula. Emergency endoscopy was unable to identify the source of the hemorrhage due to massive bleeding. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a focal pseudoaneurysm at the descending aorta and diffuse thinning of the esophageal wall, which were treated with endovascular stent-grafting. Although aortoesophageal fistulas are usually fatal, implantation of a covered stent into the esophagus may help prevent massive bleeding, providing valuable time to treat the patient.