Efficacy and safety of sequential therapy versus standard triple therapy in Helicobacter pylori eradication in Kashmir India: a randomized comparative trial.

BACKGROUND: Increasing resistance against Helicobacter pylori has resulted in reduced eradication rates. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether eradication rates for H. pylori infection with sequential therapy is better than standard triple therapy. PATIENTS: Patients with endoscopy documented peptic ulcer and H. pylori infection confirmed by histology and rapid urease test. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized into two groups; 134 received standard triple therapy (pantoprazole 40 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1 g each administered twice daily) for 10 days and 138 received sequential regimen (pantoprazole 40 mg plus amoxicillin 1 g twice daily for 5 days followed by 40 mg pantoprazole, 500 mg clarithromycin, and 500 mg tinidazole each administered twice daily for 5 days). Eradication was confirmed by histology and rapid urease test. Compliance and adverse effects were determined by the recovery of empty medicine strips and questioning. RESULTS: The eradication rates with sequential therapy were significantly greater than with standard therapy on both intention-to-treat analysis (76.0 % vs. 61.9 %, p = 0.005; difference, 14.1 % [95 % CI, 6.5-19 %] and per protocol analysis (84.6 % vs. 67.4 %, p = 0.002; difference, 17.2 % [95 % CI, 8.5-23.5 %]). The incidence of side effects did not differ between the two therapy groups. One patient in standard therapy discontinued treatment due to side effects. LIMITATION: Cultures were not performed. Loss to follow up was 5.2 % in standard therapy and 6.5 % in sequential therapy. CONCLUSION: Sequential therapy was significantly more effective than standard therapy for eradicating H. pylori infection in peptic ulcer disease in Asian patients. Side effects were similar.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the effect of its eradication on symptoms of functional dyspepsia in Kashmir, India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection has regional variation. Effect of eradication of H. pylori on symptoms of functional dyspepsia is uncertain, and the data in Asian scenario are scanty. The study aimed to see H. pylori positivity rate in patients of functional dyspepsia and the effect of its eradication on symptoms. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was the study design used. Patients of functional dyspepsia defined as per Rome 2 criteria were tested for H. pylori infection by rapid urease test and gastric biopsy. H. pylori-positive patients were randomly allocated to triple therapy (20 mg of omeprazole, 500 mg of clarithromycin, and 1000 mg of amoxicillin orally two times daily) and omeperazole plus identical placebo for 2 weeks. Symptoms were assessed with the weekly Likert scale. RESULTS: H. pylori positivity rate in functional dyspepsia was 1160/2000 (58%). At 6 weeks, the eradication rate for H. pylori in triple therapy and placebo group was (181/259 [69.8%] and 13/260 [5.0%], P = 0.001), respectively. On intention-to-treat analysis, the symptom resolution at 1 month was (157/259 [60.7%] and 136/260 [52.3%], P = 0.38), respectively. At 12 months, H. pylori eradication and healing of gastritis in triple therapy and placebo group were (116/174 [66.7%] and 12/180 [6.7%], P = 0.001) and (132/174 [75.9%] and 11/180 [6.1%], P = 0.001), respectively. On intension to treat, the resolution of symptoms in triple therapy and placebo group was (95/217 [43.7%] and 72/195 [36.9%], P = 0.13). CONCLUSION: There is high H. pylori positivity rate in patients of functional dyspepsia. The eradication of H. pylori does not resolve the symptoms despite healing of gastritis.

64-section multiphase CT enterography as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Small bowel follow through (SBFT) and enteroclysis have low sensitivity in picking up lesions in obscure gastrointestinal bleed (OGIB). Computed tomographic enterography (CT-EG), performed with 64-slice multiphase CT system by using large volumes of ingested neutral enteric contrast material, has high spatial and temporal resolution in visualization of the small bowel wall and lumen. The role of 64-slice multiphase CT-EG in the evaluation of OGIB is still evolving, and data on this role are scarce. We evaluated the efficacy of 64-slice multiphase CT-EG using polyethylene glycol (PEG) electrolyte solution as neutral contrast in patients of OGIB. METHODS: CT-EG was performed with 64-slice multiphase CT system using large volume (2,000 mL) of PEG electrolyte solution as oral contrast in patients of OGIB. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (21 men, age 41.4 [13.5] y, range 19-70 year) with OGIB underwent CT-EG; 20 patients had overt OGIB whereas 15 patients had occult OGIB. Among 15 patients with occult OGIB, 10 patients had iron deficiency anemia (IDA) with fecal occult blood test (FOBT) positive and 5 had IDA with FOBT negative. Thirty-two patients (92 %) completed the procedure successfully. The total time taken for the ingestion of 2,000 mL of PEG electrolyte solution was median 64 (range 60-78) minutes. Adequate luminal distension of small bowel was seen in 29 (90.6 %) patients for successful interpretation of radiological images. Fifteen of 32 (46.9 %) patients had positive findings on CT-EG; 12 of them underwent exploratory laparotomy. The surgical findings were in conformity with CT-EG findings in all patients, which included gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST; n = 6), carcinoid (1), Meckel's diverticulum (1), small bowel adenocarcinoma (2) and jejunal vascular malformation (2). CONCLUSION: 64-slice multiphase CT-EG is a useful investigation in the evaluation of both occult and overt OGIB.

Effect of bed head elevation during sleep in symptomatic patients of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Nocturnal gastro-esophageal reflux causes heartburn and sleep disturbances impairing quality of life. Lifestyle modifications, like bed head elevation during sleep, are thought to alleviate the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. We tested the hypothesis that bed head elevation might decrease recumbent acid exposure compared to sleeping in a flat bed. METHODS: Patients of symptomatic nocturnal reflux and documented recumbent (supine) reflux verified by esophageal pH test entered the trial. On day 1, baseline pH was measured while the patient slept on a flat bed. Then patients slept on a bed with the head end elevated by a 20-cm block for the next 6 consecutive days from day 2 to day 7. The pH test was repeated on day 2 and day 7. Each patient acted as his own control. RESULTS: Twenty of 24 (83.3%) patients with mean age of 36 ± 5.5 years completed the trial. The mean (± SD) supine reflux time %, acid clearance time, number of refluxes 5 min longer and symptom score on day 1 and day 7 were 15.0 ± 8.4 and 13.7 ± 7.2; P = 0.001, 3.8 ± 2.0 and 3.0 ± 1.6; P = 0.001, 3.3 ± 2.2 and 1.0 ± 1.2; P = 0.001, and 2.3 ± 0.6 and 1.5 ± 0.6; P = 0.04, respectively. The sleep disturbances improved in 13 (65%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Bed head elevation reduced esophageal acid exposure and acid clearance time in nocturnal (supine) refluxers and led to some relief from heartburn and sleep disturbance.

Incidence of colorectal cancer in Kashmir valley, India.

BACKGROUND: There is wide variation in the incidence of colorectal cancer globally and also within the same country among different racial or ethnic groups. The present population-based study was undertaken to determine the incidence of colorectal cancer in Kashmiri population which is non-migratory and ethnically homogeneous having stable food habits. METHODS: Over a period of one year, all newly diagnosed and histological proved cases of colorectal cancer in all possible areas, where such patients are diagnosed and treated were prospectively registered. RESULTS: A total of 212 cases of colorectal cancers were registered; of them 113 (53.3%) originated in the colon and other 99 (46.7%) in rectum. Male to female ratio was 1.2:1. The crude incidence rate of colorectal cancer was 3.65/100,000; it was 3.78 in males, and 3.50/100,000 in females. The incidence rates for colorectal cancer in Muslims and Hindus were different. The crude incidence rate for colorectal carcinoma was highest for district Srinagar 6.19/100,000 (urban area) and lowest for district Kupwara (rural area) 1.59/100,000. The highest numbers of cases were detected in the age group 55-59 years (n = 34). The age-specific rate for colorectal carcinoma was highest in the age group 55-59 years (17.21/100,000), followed by 65-69 years (14.86/100,000). The age standardized incidence rate was 4.52/100,000 per year. The truncated age adjusted incidence rates in age group 35-64 years was 8.31/100,000; while that for colorectal carcinoma was 8.77/100,000 in males and 7.66/100,000 in females. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the incidence of colorectal cancer in Kashmir valley is similar to that reported in the rest of India.

Correlation of hepatic venous pressure gradient with variceal bleeding, size of esophageal varices, etiology, ascites and degree of liver dysfunction in cirrhosis of liver.

An elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) has been associated with risk of variceal bleeding, and outcome and survival after variceal bleeding. In this pilot study, we measured HVPG in 40 patients with liver cirrhosis and studied its relationship with etiology of liver disease, esophageal variceal size, history of variceal bleeding or ascites, biochemical liver tests and Child-Pugh class. There was no procedurerelated complication. The mean (SD) HVPG was similar in patients who had history of variceal bleeding as compared to those who did not (15.4 [2.8] mmHg vs. 13.9 [2.7] mmHg, p=0.1); HVPG had no significant association with etiology of cirrhosis (p=0.4). HVPG levels were significantly higher in patients with larger esophageal varices (grade III/IV vs. I/II: 15.2 [2.7] mmHg vs.13.1 [2.8] mmHg, p=0.04), poorer Child-Pugh class (B or C versus A), and presence of ascites (p=0.04). Thus, HVPG correlated with variceal size, Child-Pugh class, and presence of ascites, but not with variceal bleeding status.