ABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylori infection poses significant health risks, such as gastric adenocarcinoma, necessitating accurate diagnosis and effective treatment in primary care. This study evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of the serological current infection marker (CIM) test in identifying current H. pylori infection. The CIM test samples from 159 participants undergoing gastroscopy were collected, and H. pylori-positive outpatients received triple therapy based on histology or rapid urease test results. Following treatment, 45 patients underwent a 13C-urea breath test and the CIM test for eradication assessment. For pre-eradication, the CIM test demonstrated 89.6% sensitivity, 95.7% specificity, 93.8% positive predictive value, 92.6% negative predictive value, and 93.1% accuracy. Following post-eradication, the CIM test exhibited sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 71.4%, 92.1%, 62.5%, 94.6%, and 88.9%, respectively, using the 13C-urea breath test as the reference standard. The CIM test showcased commendable diagnostic performance, emphasizing its efficacy in both pre- and post-eradication scenarios. Notably, the accuracy, non-invasiveness, user-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness of the CIM test advocate for its recommendation as a preferred diagnostic tool in primary care settings for H. pylori infection detection.
ABSTRACT
Colonic mucosal injury is rare, but may severely fatal, complications following the administration of calcium polystyrene sulfonate resins. The incidence rate is about 0.57%, administered without sorbitol, and increases to 1.8% when it is concomitant with sorbitol, especially in postoperative patients. In this case report, we demonstrated the case of a 77-year-old female with stage 3b chronic kidney disease presented with in-hospital hematochezia after 3 weeks of calcium polystyrene sulfonate administration. The colonoscopic findings showed several serpiginous ulcers with some oozing at descending and sigmoid colon. The histological findings revealed some focal inflammation and ulcerations with crystal-like materials, compatible with cation exchange resins. The recent in vitro study, explaining the pathogenesis of cation exchange resin-associated colonic mucosal injury, was also reviewed.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical value of carcinoembryonic-antigen-related cell-adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) in predicting the severity of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS: We evaluated 40 healthy subjects and 40 HCC patients by collecting venous blood for the comparison. Serum CEACAM1 was detected using the Human CEACAM1 ELISA Kit. Other laboratory chemistries were analyzed by standard methods. RESULTS: The serum level of CEACAM1 was not different between HCC patients and healthy subjects (p=0.0069). There was a correlation between serum CEACAM1 level and total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin. There was also a statistically significant difference among serum CEACAM1 levels stratified by BCLC staging and MELD score at the cut-point of 18. Lower platelet count, higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were observed in HCC patients. CONCLUSION: An increase of serum CEACAM1 level was associated with cholestasis. The role of this molecule in HCC diagnosis was unclear. However, serum CAECAM1 may be useful to predict the severity in HCC patients.
