Therapeutic response to ramucirumab + folfiri in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric tumors are important gastrointestinal malignancies, and the prediction of therapeutic responses and related factors are important to improve the prognosis. Hence the aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic response to ramucirumab + folfiri in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Methods and Materials: In this prospective cohort, 13 consecutive patients with metastatic gastric cancer attending Taleghani Hospital that underwent ramucirumab + folfiri therapy were enrolled, and the therapeutic response among them was determined. Results: The results in this study demonstrated that initial therapeutic response was 92.3% and the Progression-free Survival (PFS) was 16.2 months (84.6%) (CI95%:13.2-19.3). The nine-month PFS was 69.2%. Total survival was 16.7 months (CI95%:13.5-19.9). Conclusion: Ultimately, according to the obtained results, it may be concluded that the therapeutic response to ramucirumab + folfiri in a patient with metastatic gastric cancer is good, and the use of this regimen is recommended.

Epidemiologic and Pathologic Study of Pancreatic Cancer in Hamadan, Iran (2008 to 2018).

PURPOSE: Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer death in cases. The study was conducted to determine the epidemiologic and pathologic of pancreatic cancer METHODS: A case series study was conducted retrospectively at Beheshti Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. A total of 409 cases that had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from 2008 to 2018 were reviewed. The variables included age, gender, occupation, pathological type, location involved, early symptoms, metastasis status, prognosis, and treatments were extracted from the files and recorded in checklist. Data were analyzed by using SPSS/20 software. RESULTS: Pancreatic cancer has been increasing trend in terms of time (2008-2018). Pancreatic cancer was most common age in the sixth decade of life and is more common in men than women. There was a significant relationship between aging and the incidence of pancreatic cancers (P < 0.05). Most of the subjects were urban (50.4%). The frequencies of smoking, alcohol, and drugs were 34.5, 15.6, and 14.0%, respectively. Also, there was no statistically significant relationship between smoking, alcohol, and drugs and pancreatic cancer (P > 0.05). The frequency of pancreatic cancers included adenocarcinomas (66.7%), unknown (25.2%), mucinous adenocarcinomas (4.2%), and carcinoma (3.9%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic cancer has been increasing trend in terms of time. Pancreatic cancer was most common age in the sixth decade of life and is more common in men than women. The most common type of pancreatic cancer was adenocarcinoma. Diagnosis usually occurs at higher stages. More preventive considerations were found to be beneficial among this population.

The effects of IL-8, IL- 6, and IL-1 on the risk of celiac disease: a Bayesian regression analysis.

AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the association between serum levels of interleukin IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 genes as well as interferon (IFN)-γ and the risk of celiac disease (CD). BACKGROUND: The role of serum cytokine levels in the pathophysiology of CD is still an open field to be explored. METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 110 patients with CD and 46 healthy controls referring to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Expression levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. RESULTS: The Bayesian intervention odds ratio (OR) and Highest Posterior Density (HPD) interval were 1.133 (95% credible interval 1.018- 1.269), 0.947 (95% credible interval 0.898 - 0.996) and 1.004 (95% credible interval 1.001- 1.009) for IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 respectively. CONCLUSION: The serum level of IFN-γ has no effect on the risk of CD, but given the OR and the HPD interval obtained for serum levels of IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8, with one unit increase in IL-1 serum, the risk of CD grows by 1.13 times while one unit increase in IL-6 serum reduces the risk of CD by 15%. Finally, regarding IL-8, the risk of CD increases by 0.004 times with a unit increase in IL-8 serum.

Detection of B. fragilis group and diversity of bft enterotoxin and antibiotic resistance markers cepA, cfiA and nim among intestinal Bacteroides fragilis strains in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

We compared frequency of the members of B. fragilis group in 100 and 20 colon biopsy specimens of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and non-IBD patients. Agar dilution and PCR were orderly used to detect minimal inhibitory concentration of ampicillin, imipenem, and metronidazole, and carriage of related resistance genes cepA, cfi, and nim. B. fragilis group was detected in 38% of IBD (UC: 36/89; CD:1/11) and 25% (5/20) of non-IBD patients. While B. vulgatus (UC: 20/36, CD: 1/2, control: 1/6); B. fragilis (UC: 18/36, CD: 1/2, control: 5/6); B. ovatus (UC: 2/36); B. caccae (UC: 1/36); and B. eggerthii (UC: 1/36) were characterized, colonization of B. thetaiotamicron, B. merdae, B. distasonis, B. stercoris and B. dorei species was not detected in these specimens. Co-existence of B. fragilis + B. vulgatus (5 patients) and B. vulgatus + B. caccae (1 patient) was detected just in UC patients. bft was detected among 31.5% (6/19) of B. fragilis strains in the IBD and 40% (2/5) in the non-IBD groups. Nearly, 73.6% of the strains from the patient group and 80% in control group harbored cepA; 31.5% and 20% in the patients and control groups harbored cfiA, and none of them harbored nim determinant. Co-occurrence of the cepA and cfiA was orderly detected in 10.5% (2/19) and 20% (1/5) of the strains in these groups. The resistance rates were detected as 95.8% (23/24 (to ampicillin (MIC range of ≤0.5-≥16 µg/ml), 0% to metronidazole and 29.1% to imipenem (7/24, MIC range ≤4-32 µg/ml). Nearly 25% (6/24) of the strains were resistant to ampicillin and imipenem, simultaneously. No statistically significant difference was detected between the IBD and control groups for drug resistance phenotypes. Statistical analysis showed significant associations between resistance to ampicillin or imipenem and carriage of cepA or cfiA, respectively (p value = 0.0007). PCR results on the extracted plasmids confirmed their roles in carriage of cfiA and cepA. These data provide guide for antibiotic therapy and highlights wide distribution of ß-lactam resistant B. fragilis strains in patients with IBD and non-IBD intestinal disorders.

Correlation between the Intensity of Helicobacter pylori Colonization and Severity of Gastritis.

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of chronic gastritis is infection with Helicobacter pylori. Identifying the relationship between intensities of colonization and activity of gastritis helps the clinician in more effective treatment and posttreatment follow-ups. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, endoscopic gastric biopsy samples of 544 patients who complained symptoms of dyspepsia for more than three months referring to the laboratory were studied. To determine the colonization rate of H. pylori and other pathological findings, Giemsa and H&E stains were, respectively, used. RESULTS: Among 544 subjects, 47 (8.64%) patients had no gastritis, 203 (37.32%) had mild gastritis, 278 (10.51%) suffered moderate gastritis, and 16 (2.94%) had severe gastritis. In this study, patients with mild H. pylori colonization rates had the highest level of mild activity (33.52%); in contrast, those with severe H. pylori colonization had the highest level of severe activity (43.75%). 93.96% of people with severe H. pylori colonization suffered from moderate and severe chronic gastritis. There is a significant statistical relationship between the intensity of H. pylori colonization and histopathological findings including intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, and lymphoid follicle formation. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present study, with increasing intensity of H. pylori colonization, chronicity and activity of gastritis and its complications increase.

The effect of the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection on the glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To evaluate the possible long-term effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on Hemoglobin A1c and fasting blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori causes the gastrointestinal tract inflammation, which it plays an important role in distortion of glucose and lipids absorption that altered lipid metabolism and energy harvesting and develops type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and has been linked to impaired blood glucose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this clinical trial, patients with type 2 diabetes and confirmed Helicobacter pylori infection were recruited from the endocrinology clinic of the Shahid Beheshti University Tehran, Iran. Before and after 3 months of eradication therapy fasting blood samples were taken and glycalated hemoglobin levels and fasting blood sugar levels were measured. RESULTS: 85 (27 male 31.8%, 58 female 68.2%) patients with the mean age of 52.±4.7 years were recruited. 52 (62%) had successful Helicobacter pylori eradication (16 male, 30.8% and 36 female, 69.2%). The mean glycalated haemoglobin levels before successful treatment was 8.7±1.1 and after treatment was 8.3±0.9 and difference was significant (p<0.001). Mean IgG level of serology was 3.3±1.1 and the correlation with glycalated haemoglobin was significant (p=0.02) (r=0.4). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the Helicobacter pylori treatment can improve the mean glycalated haemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes. More investigations will be required to evaluate the effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication among different age groups and in relation to obesity status, diabetes and other disease, and it may be beneficial for patients at risk of diabetes to be checked for the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

The efficacy and safety of adding the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardiito standard triple therapy for eradication of H.pylori: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: Evaluating the efficacy and safety of adding the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardiito standard triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori. BACKGROUND: Several probiotics such as Saccharomyces boulardii have been investigated for their clinical efficacy. This probiotic, inhibit H. pylori urease by lowering the gastric pH, adhesion of H. pylori to gastric epithelial cells, stabilize the gastric barrier function and reduce the side effects of antibiotics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial we evaluated 160 adult patients with biopsy confirmed H. Pylori infection referred to gastroenterology ward of Taleghani hospital. The patients were randomized into two treatment regimens: patients in group A (n = 80) were given amoxicillin (1000 mg, b.i.d), clarithromycin (500 mg, b.i.d), omeprazole (20 mg, b.i.d) and probiotic of saccaromyces boularidi (Yomogi) (250 mg, b.i.d) for 14 days, moreover patients in group B (n = 80) were given amoxicillin (1000 mg, b.i.d), clarithromycin (500 mg b.i.d) and omeprazole (20 mg,b.i.d) for 14 days. RESULTS: 160 patients (66 male 41.25%, 94female 58.75%) with the mean age of 47.1±11.4 years were evaluated. The success rate for H. pylori eradication in group A was higher 75(87.5%) than group B 65 (81.2%), but the difference between two groups was not significant (p = 0.350). Moreover, in case group side effects as nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and bloating were significantly lower than control group in first and second weeks. CONCLUSION: This study showed that saccaromyces boularidi decreased the adverse effects associated with H.pylori therapy but did not significantly decrease the eradication rate of H.pylori.

Anxiety and depression in a sample of Iranian patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that up to 50% to 70% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who seek treatment have psychiatric comorbidity. The aim of this study was to report the history of anxiety and depression in IBS patients. METHODS: The study, designed as a cross-sectional, was performed in a consecutive sample of individuals diagnosed with IBS in the Gastroenterology Clinic of Taleghani Hospital, Tehran province, Iran from October 2010 to October 2011. IBS was diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. All participants were asked about perceived psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety in the past six months. RESULTS: 153 treatment-seeking IBS patients were entered to the study. The mean age of IBS patients with history of psychiatric symptoms (33.9 years) was relatively lower than those without this history (39.3 years); p< 0.05. There was a significant difference regarding mean age of diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) patients with history of psychiatric symptoms (26.8 years) and without such history (37.9 years); p< 0.05. However, such a difference was not seen among other types of IBS. The most frequent psychiatric symptoms were reported by the constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) patients followed by mixed-IBS (IBS-M) and the least rate was seen in IBS-D. CONCLUSION: Approximately half of IBS patients reported anxiety and/or depression. IBS-C patients experienced higher proportions of anxiety and depression. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None.

Evaluation of psychological aspects among subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome.

CONTEXT: While some studies have found disparities between subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), others did not found such differences. AIM: This study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in psychological features between the subtypes of IBS. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed on all consecutive outpatients IBS diagnosed (from Oct. 2010 to Oct. 2011) in Taleghani Hospital gastroenterology clinic, Tehran, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 153 consecutively diagnosed IBS patients (using Rome III criteria); including 80 constipation-predominant (IBS-C), 22 diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), and 51 mixed IBS (IBS-M) were asked to complete the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare nominal variables. One-way ANOVA was used to compare continuous variables. RESULTS: Although IBS-C patients were more suffered from psychiatric disorders, there were no statistical differences between mean score of IBS-C, IBS-D, and IBS-M patients regarding to all of SCL-90-R subscales and three global indices including Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI) and Positive Symptom Total (PST) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our finding showed that there are no different symptomatic profiles between IBS subtypes.

A patient with chronic hepatitis C and a pancreatic mass in endoscopic ultrasound.

We report a rare case of pancreas tumor (lymphoma) in a patient with a history of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without treatment, with a high viral load (20,199,805 IU/ml). He presented with abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss and sweating. Computed tomography showed a hypodense mass located in the head of the pancreas, and immunohistochemistry of a specimen obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration revealed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the pancreas, B cell type. An association of HCV infection with pancreatic lymphoma has only been reported rarely in the literature and its clinical significance is uncertain.

Cholangiocarcinoma: an-eight-year experience in a tertiary-center in Iran.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon malignancy of the bile duct, occurring in nearly 2 out of 100,000 people. It is a type of adenocarcinoma that originates in the mucous glands of the epithelium, or surface layers of the bile ducts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic results and factors associated with survival, morbidity and mortalityof cholangiocarcinoma cases in Iranian patients. METHOD: In this retrospective study the hospital medical records of 283 patients with a primary or final diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma who had been admitted to gastroenterology ward of our hospital from 2004 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: 283 patients (180 male, 63%, and 103 female, 38.6%) with a mean age of 59.7±14.4 years were studied. The most frequent symptoms were painless jaundice (190, 66.9%), abdominal pain (77, 27%), pruritus 133 (46.8%) and weight loss (169, 59.5%). The most frequent associated risk factors and diseases were as follows: gallstones (72, 25.4%), diabetes (70, 24.6%), HBV infection (52 (18.3%), HCV infection 43 (15%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (16, 5.6%) and smoking (120, 42.3%). The most frequent type of cholangiocarcinoma in ERCP and MRCP was hilar. The mean survival time was 7.42±5.76 months. CONCLUSION: The mean survival time in our study was lower than one year. Moreover the most frequent risk factors and associated diseases were smoking, gallstones and diabetes. Painless jaundice, abdominal pain and weight loss were the most clinical features related to cholangiocarcinoma. Additionally survival time did not correlate with risk factors, associated diseases and clinical presentations, but was linked to biliary metallic stenting and surgery.

Non-Helicobacter pylori, non-NSAIDs peptic ulcers: a descriptive study on patients referred to Taleghani hospital with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the number and proportion of various causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and actual numbers of non-NSAID, non-Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) peptic ulcers seen in endoscopy of these patients. BACKGROUND: The number and the proportion of patients with non- H.pylori, non-NSAIDs peptic ulcer disease leading to upper gastrointestinal bleeding is believed to be increasing after eradication therapy for H.pylori. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients referred to the emergency room of Taleghani hospital from 2010 with a clinical diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (hematemesis, coffee ground vomiting and melena) were included in this study. Patients with hematochezia with evidence of a source of bleeding from upper gastrointestinal tract in endoscopy were also included in this study. RESULTS: In this study, peptic ulcer disease (all kinds of ulcers) was seen in 61 patients which were about 44.85% of abnormalities seen on endoscopy of patients. Among these 61 ulcers, 44 were duodenal ulcer, 22 gastric ulcer (5 patients had the both duodenal and gastric ulcers). Multiple biopsies were taken and be sent to laboratory for Rapid Urease Test and pathological examination. About 65.53% of patients had ulcers associated with H.pylori, 9.83% had peptic ulcer disease associated with NSAIDs and 11.47% of patients had ulcers associated with both H.pylori and consumption of NSAIDs. 13.11% of patients had non-NSAIDs non- H.pylori peptic ulcer disease. CONCLUSION: The results of this study supports the results of other studies that suggest the incidence of H.pylori infection related with duodenal ulcer is common, and that non-H pylori and non-NSAIDs duodenal ulcer is also common.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma might be the cause of intractable nausea and vomiting in patient with coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder which leads to chronic inflammation of the gut. Untreated CD is associated with upper gastrointestinal malignancies, Small-bowel lymphoma and adenocarcinoma are recognized complications of untreated coeliac disease (CD). We report the case of a 43-year-old male suffering from CD who was treated with a gluten-free diet one year, presenting with complaints of intractable nausea and vomiting. After several studies, He underwent push enteroscopy, which identified one large mass lesion in the third part of duodenum. However, histopathological examination showed adenocarcinoma. Subsequently, a duodenal segment resection was performed. After surgery, the patient recovered well and left our hospital in good condition. Clinicians should take into small bowel adenocarcinoma is rare but associated with CD particularly in CD patients with worrying symptoms such as nausea and vomiting unresponsiveness to treatment and these patients should be screened for long term complications like malignancy.