Risk factors and therapeutic response in Chinese patients with peptic ulcer disease

AIM:To assess the risk factors and the eff icacy of medications of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers among Chinese patients in Taiwan.METHODS:Patients with peptic ulcers,diagnosed by upper endoscopy,were retrospectively collected between January 2008 and December 2008.The differences were compared.RESULTS:Among all 448 cases,254(56.6%) and 194(43.4%) patients had gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers respectively.Patients with gastric ulcers were younger than those with duodenal ulcers.Although more men existed,there was a female predominance in middle-aged cases.Patients with duodenal ulcers had a higher rate of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection(62.4% vs 43.3%,P = 0.001),and those with gastric ulcers owned a significantly higher amount of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) use(7.5% vs 1.5%,6.7% vs 2.1%,P = 0.001).Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking had no different impact between these two groups.Proton-pump inhibitors and H2-receptor antagonists(H2RA) were effective,but significantly less so in cases with duodenal ulcers receiving H2RAs,or in those with H.pylori infection and a history of NSAID use.CONCLUSION:Patients with gastric ulcers had lower H.pylori infection but more aspirin or NSAID use.Antisecretory therapy was ineffective in gastric ulcers underwent H2RA treatment,and cases combined H.pylori infection and NSAID use.

Adjuvant heparanase inhibitor PI-88 therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence

AIM: To demonstrate that administering heparanase inhibitor PI-88 at 160 mg/d is safe and promising in reducing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) recurrence for up to 3 year following curative resection. METHODS: A total of 143 patients(83.1% of the 172 participants in the phase Ⅱ study) participated in the follow-up study. Of these patients, 50 had received no treatment, 48 had received 160 mg/d PI-88, and 45 had received 250 mg/d PI-88 during the phase Ⅱ trial. Safety parameters and the following efficacy endpoints were investigated:(1) time to recurrence;(2) diseasefree survival; and(3) overall survival. RESULTS: PI-88 at 160 mg/d delayed the onset and frequency of HCC recurrence, and provided a clinically significant survival advantage for up to 3 years after treatment compared with those of the control group:(1) the recurrence-free rate increased from 50% to 63%, and(2) time to recurrence at the 36 th percentile was postponed by 78%. The efficacy of administering PI-88 at 250 mg/d was confounded by a high dropout rate(11 out of 54 patients). Additionally, subgroup analyses of patients with(1) multiple tumors or a single tumor ≥ 2 cm; and(2) hepatitis B or C revealed that administering PI-88 at 160 mg/d conferred the most significant survival advantage(56.8% improvement in disease-free survival, P = 0.045) for patients with both risk factors for recurrence. CONCLUSION: Administering PI-88 at 160 mg/d is a safe and well-tolerated dosage that may confer significant clinical benefits for patients with HCC.

Risk factors and metabolic abnormality of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Either non-obese or obese Chinese population

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) occurs not only in obese individuals but also in non-obese ones. The aim of this study was to focus on the association between NAFLD and metabolic events in a non-obese or obese Chinese population.Methods: Data collected from subjects registered at Taichung Veterans General Hospital from January to December 2009 were analyzed. The exclusion criteria were alcoholics, chronic hepatitis B or C. Patients included in analyses were assigned to four groups according to sonography of their liver(normal or NAFLD), and body mass index(BMI) levels(non-obese if BMI < 25 kg/m~2 or obese if BMI ≥ 25 kg/m~2).Results: There were 745, 208, 770 and 285 patients enrolled in four groups labeled non-obese normal liver(group A), non-obese NAFLD(group B), obese normal liver(group C) and obese NAFLD(group D),respectively. The highest ratio of metabolic syndrome existed in the group B(26.9%), followed by group A(11.7%), group D(10.9%) and finally the group C(5.2%). The positive association with NAFLD in non-obese individuals was significant in triglyceride(OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.02) and glucose(OR = 1.02; 95% CI:1.01–1.03), while the positive association with NAFLD in obese subjects was only significant in triglyceride(OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.02). The positive association was most significant in all cases(adjusted OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.78–3.24), especially in non-obese individuals(OR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.92–4.12).Conclusions: Non-obese NAFLD subjects displayed a higher proportion of metabolic abnormality. Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia had the most positive strength association with NAFLD.

The association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND： Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease（NAFLD） is associated with features of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NAFLD and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population. METHODS： Data from subjects were retrospectively collected from 2006 to 2009. The exclusion criteria included significant consumption of alcohol and chronic hepatitis B and C. The patients were assigned to two groups according to ultrasound findings： normal group and fatty liver group. The liver function of patients was determined by assessing serum alanine aminotransferase（ALT）. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS： A total of 7568 subjects were enrolled and 5736（75.8%） and 1832（24.2%） patients were assigned to the normal and fatty liver groups, respectively. The fatty liver group had significant male predominance（69.7% vs 56.0%）, higher body mass index（mean, 26.67 vs 23.55 kg/m^2） compared with the normal group. There were 441（7.7%） and 377（20.6%） cases with metabolic syndrome in the normal and fatty liver groups, respectively, with significant difference（P=0.001）, and the subgroup of 385 cases with fatty liver and elevated ALT had higher prevalence（28.8%） of metabolic syndrome. The strongest association of an individual component of metabolic syndrome with NAFLD was hyperlipidemia（adjusted OR=2.55, 95% CI： 2.22-2.94）.CONCLUSION： The individuals with NAFLD had a higher ratio of metabolic syndrome. Hyperlipidemia had the strongest positive association with NAFLD.

Relationship between use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and irritable bowel syndrome: A populationbased cohort study

AIM To investigate the relationship between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI)use and the subsequent development of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS).METHODS This retrospective,observational,population-based cohort study collected data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database.A total of 19653patients newly using SSRIs and 78612 patients not using SSRIs,matched by age and sex at a ratio of 1:4, were enrolled in the study from January 1,2000 to December 31,2010.The patients were followed until IBS diagnosis,withdrawal from the National Health Insurance system,or the end of 2011.We analyzed the effects of SSRIs on the risk of subsequent IBS using Cox proportional hazards regression models.RESULTS A total of 236 patients in the SSRI cohort(incidence,2.17/1000 person-years)and 478 patients in the comparison cohort(incidence,1.04/1000 person-years)received a new diagnosis of IBS.The mean follow-up period from SSRI exposure to IBS diagnosis was 2.05years.The incidence of IBS increased with advancing age.Patients with anxiety disorders had a significantly increased adjusted hazard ratio(a HR)of IBS(a HR=1.33,95%CI:1.11-1.59,P=0.002).After adjusting for sex,age,urbanization,family income,area of residence,occupation,the use of anti-psychotics and other comorbidities,the overall a HR in the SSRI cohort compared with that in the comparison cohort was1.74(95%CI:1.44-2.10;P<0.001).The cumulative incidence of IBS was higher in the SSRI cohort than in the non-SSRI cohort(log-rank test,P<0.001).CONCLUSION SSRI users show an increased risk of subsequent diagnosis of IBS in Taiwan.

Transarterial embolization of metastatic mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma

This paper introduces an innovative treatment for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. A 71-yearold patient had a stable liver condition following treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, but later developed symptomatic mediastinal metastasis. This rapidly growing mediastinal mass induced symptoms including cough and hoarseness. Serial sessions of transarterial embolization (TAE) successfully controlled this mediastinal mass with limited side effects. The patient's survival time since the initial diagnosis of the mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma was 32 mo, significantly longer than the 12 mo mean survival period of patients with similar diagnoses: metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and a liver condition with a Child-Pugh class A score. Currently, oral sorafenib is the treatment of choice for metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Recentstudies indicate that locoregional treatment of extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinomas might also significantly improve the prognosis in patients with their primary hepatic lesions under control. Many effective locoregional therapies for extrahepatic metastasis, including radiation and surgical resection, may provide palliative effects for hepatocellular carcinoma-associated mediastinal metastasis. This case report demonstrates that TAE of metastatic mediastinal hepatocellular carcinoma provided this patient with tumor control and increased survival time. This finding is important as it can potentially provide an alternative treatment option for patients with similar symptoms and diagnoses.

The impact of intravenous cefazolin to the outcomes of cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices bleeding

Background and Method: Prophylatic antibiotics in cirrhotic patients with acute esophageal varices (EV) bleeding has been shown to increase survival and decrease the rate of bacterial infections and recurrent bleeding. This study aimed to compare the outcome of intravenous cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin, in the cirrhotic patients with EV bleeding. 92 consecutive cirrhotic patients with EV bleeding but without evidence of infection were retrospectively analyzed from December 2006 to February 2009, and 50 with cefazolin prophylaxis and 42 without antibiotic prophylaxis were enrolled in the antibiotic prophylaxis group and control group respectively. The outcomes were compared between both groups. Results: The incidence of infection was significantly lesser in the antibiotic prophylaxis group than that of the control group (6% vs. 33.3%, P prophylaxis group when compared with control group (6.6 vs. 7.8 days). Conclusion: Intravenous cefazolin can effectively reduce the rate of infection in cirrhotic patients with acute EV bleeding, but cannot significant benefit for preventing recurrent EV bleeding and mortality within 10 days after initial bleeding.

Etiologies of Dyspepsia among a Chinese Population: One Hospital-Based Study

Background and Methods: Dyspepsia refers to a collection of upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and the causes may be either organic or functional. The aim of this study was to investigate the etiologies of dyspepsia among a Chinese population in Taiwan. Patients who underwent upper endoscopy for symptoms of dyspepsia were retrospectively analyzed between January and December 2008. Exclusion criteria included cirrhosis with varices, heart-burn sensation as the main symptom, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatobiliary abnormalities, prior gastric surgery, and use of anti-acid medication for more than 2 months. Patients were classified according to the findings of upper endoscopy. Results: Data from the medical records of 2062 patients were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Normal endoscopic findings, gastritis, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, reflux esophagitis and esophageal or gastric malignancy accounted for 1174 (56.9%), 215 (10.4%), 254 (12.3%), 194 (9.4%), 182 (8.8%) and 43 (2.1%) cases, respectively. The overall ratio of H. pylori infection was 28.4%. The ratio was the highest in duodenal ulcers and the lowest in reflux esophagitis. A significantly higher ratio of patients with gastric ulcers had a history of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) usage. Conclusion: Patients with organic dyspepsia, compared to those with functional dyspepsia, were older, male, and had a higher H. pylori infection ratio, a positive relationship with aspirin or NSAIDs usage, and more risk factors. These findings demonstrate that upper endoscopy has a high diagnostic yield in patients in this group.