Study of the Effect of Zhuang Medicine Aponeurotic System Triple Therapy on Lumbar Disc Herniation and Alpha-1 Acid Glycoprotein Level

Objective:To analyze the application effect of Zhuang medicine aponeurotic system triple therapy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and its effect on the level of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein(alpha-1 AGP).Methods:200 patients with lumbar disc herniation were selected and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,100 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional acupuncture,and the treatment group was treated with manipulation+fire needling+cupping.The alpha-1-AGP levels before and after treatment,as well as the lumbar spine function and pain scores before and after treatment,and the adverse reactions occurred during treatment between the two groups were compared.Results:Before treatment,there was no significant difference in alpha-1 AGP levels,lumbar function,and pain scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the lumbar function scores of the two groups were significantly increased,with the treatment group having higher scores than the control group(P<0.05);the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was 2.00%,which was much lower than the control group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Appropriate application of Zhuang medicine aponeurotic system triple therapy in the clinical treatment of lumbar disc herniation can promote the improvement of alpha-1 AGP index level,reduce the pain degree of patients,and improve their lumbar spine function.At the same time,Zhuang medicine also has significant advantages in terms of safety,while ensuring the efficacy and safety of the treatment.

H pylori eradication:A randomized prospective study of triple therapy with or without ecabet sodium

AIM: To investigate whether adding ecabet sodium to the standard triple therapy for H pylori infection improve eradication rate. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-seven H pylori-infected patients were randomly assigned to standard triple therapy (group A, n = 129) or triple therapy plus ecabet sodium (group B, n = 128). Successful eradication was defined as a negative 13C-urea breath test 6-8 wk after completion of treatment. RESULTS: After completion of therapy, 194/257 patients showed negative 13C-urea breath test results. According to intention-to-treat analysis, the infection was eradicated in 93/129 (72.1%) patients in group A and 101/128 (78.9%) in group B (P = 0.204). Per-protocol analysis showed successful eradication in 93/118 (78.8%) patients from group A and 101/114 (88.6%) from group B (P = 0.044). There were no significant differences in the side effects experienced by the patients in the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the addition of ecabet sodium improves the efficacy of the standard triple therapy for H pylori.

Comparison of sequential and 7-,10-,14-d triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM:To compare the effectiveness of sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection with that of triple therapy of varying durations.METHODS:The 460 patients enrolled in this study had H.pylori-associated gastritis or a gastric or duodenal ulcer.After screening,H.pylori-infected patients were randomly assigned to receive either conventional triple therapy for 7,10 or 14 d,or a new 10-d sequential therapy.Each of the 4 treatment groups included 115 patients.The outcomes of eradication therapy were assessed 4 wk after treatment by the urea breath test and histology.RESULTS:The overall eradication rate was 81.0%,and eradication rates were 75.7% for 7-d conventional triple therapy,81.9% for 10-d conventional triple therapy,84.4% for 14-d conventional triple therapy,and 82.0% for 10-d sequential therapy.Neither intention-to-treat analysis nor per protocol analysis showed significant differences in eradication rates using sequential therapy or the standard triple therapy(P = 0.416 and P = 0.405,respectively).CONCLUSION:There are no significant differences between 10-d sequential eradication therapy for H.pylori and any duration of standard triple treatment in Korean patients.

Eradication of H pylori infection in a rural population: One-day quadruple therapy versus 7-day triple therapy

AIM： To compare the one-day quadruple therapy with a standard 7-d triple therapy for H pylori eradication in a rural population of China. METHODS： A total of 396 patients with 13C-urea breath test positive for H pylori were assigned into two groups： 239 patients received one-day quadruple therapy （amoxicillin 2000 mg qid; metronidazole 500 mg qid; bismuth citrate 900 mg qid and lansoprazole 60 mg once daily） and 157 patients received 7-d standard triple therapy （amoxicillin 1000 mg bid; clarithromycin 500 mg bid and lansoprazole 30 mg bid）. All the patients underwent a 13C-UBT to assess the eradication of Hpylori infection six weeks after treatment. RESULTS： Two hundred and twenty-nine patients completed the one-day therapy （95.8%） and 148 patients completed the 7-d therapy （94.2%）. The oneday therapy eradicated H pylori infection in 64 patients （27.95%）. In contrast, 103 patients （69.59%） were Hpylori negative after the 7-d therapy （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： This pilot study suggests there is no beneficial effect of the one-day therapy in treatment ofHpylori infection compared with the 7-d standard therapy.

Omeprazole-based triple therapy with low-versus high-dose of clarithromycin plus amoxicillin for H pylori eradication in Iranian population

AIM： To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of H pylori eradication in an omeprazole-based triple therapy with high and low dose of clarithromycin and amoxicillin. METHODS： One hundred and sixty H pylori positive patients were randomly assigned to two groups based on the following 2 wk investigation; （1） group A or low-dose regimen received omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d, clarithromycin 250 mg b.i.d and amoxicillin 500 mg b.i.d; and （2） group B or high-dose regimen received omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d, clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d and amoxicillin 1000 mg b.i.d. During the study Hpylori status was assessed by histology and rapid urease test prior and by 13C-urea breath test 6 wk after the therapy. Standard questionnaires were administered to determine the compliance to treatment and possible adverse events of therapy. Data were subject to x^2 to compare the eradication rates in the two groups. The significant level of 95% （P ≤ 0.05） was considered statistically different. RESULTS： We found that the per-protocol eradication rate was 88% （68/77） in group A, and 89% （67/75） in group B. The intension-to-treat eradication rate was 85% （68/80） in group A and 83.75% （67180） in group B. Overall adverse events were 26% in group A and 31% in group B. The adverse events were generally mild in nature and tolerated well in both groups with a compliance of 98% in group A vs 96% in group B. CONCLUSION： The omeprazole-based low dose regimen of darithromycin and amoxicillin for two weeks in Hpylori eradication is as effective as high dose regimen in Iranian population.

Novel triple therapy for hemorrhagic ascites caused by endometriosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Massive hemorrhagic ascites caused by endometriosis is exceedingly rare,and the treatment strategy remains controversial.Here,we report a case of endometriosis with massive hemorrhagic ascites treated with a novel triple therapy including conservative surgery,gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist,and then dienogest.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old nulliparous patient was admitted to Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University,and exploratory laparoscopy was performed.A total of 9500 mL of brown ascites was aspirated from the pelvic cavity,the bilateral ovaries strongly adhered to the posterior of the uterus and were fixed to the pelvic floor,and endometriotic cysts were not observed in either ovary.The pelvic and abdominal peritonea were covered with patchy red,white,and brown endometriotic lesions and defects.Partial surgical resection of endometriotic lesions on the peritoneum was performed while we simultaneously collected multiple peritoneal biopsies.The final pathological diagnosis was endometriosis coupled with hemorrhagic necrotic tissue.CONCLUSION Postoperative injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was provided three times,followed by dienogest administration,and we will continue to follow up with this ongoing treatment.

One-year follow-up study of Helicobacter pylori eradication rate with ^(13)C-urea breath test after 3-d and 7-d rabeprazole-based triple therapy

AIM: To investigate the long-term role of a 3-d rabeprazole-based triple therapy in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori)-infected active peptic ulcers. METHODS: We prospectively studied 115 consecutive patients with H pylori-infected active peptic ulcers. H pylori infection was confirmed if any two of H pylori DNA, histology, and rapid urease test were positive. Patients were assigned to either an open-labeled 3-d course of oral amoxicillin 1 000 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or 7-d course of oral amoxicillin 1 000 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. Subsequently, all patients received oral rabeprazole 20 mg once daily until the 8th wk. Three months after therapy, all patients were followed-up endoscopically for the peptic ulcer, H pylori DNA, histology, and rapid urease test. One year after therapy, H pylori infection was tested using the 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: The ulcer healing rates 3 mo after therapy were 81.0% vs 75.4% for the 3-d and 7-d groups [intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, P=0.47] respectively, and 90.4% vs 89.6% for the 3-d and 7-d groups [per-protocol (PP) analysis, P=0.89] respectively. The eradication rates 3 mo after therapy were 75.9% vs 73.7% for the 3-d and 7-d groups (ITT, P=0.79) respectively, and 84.6% vs 87.5% for the 3-d and 7-d groups (PP, P=0.68) respectively. One year after therapy, seventy-five patients returned to receive the 13C-urea breath test, and the eradication rates were 78.4% vs 81.6% in 3-d and 7-d groups (PP, P=0.73) respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed the eradication rates against H pylori infection 3 and 12 mo after triple therapy were not different between the 3-d and 7-d rabeprazole-based groups. Therefore, the 3-d rabeprazole-based triple therapy may be an alternative treatment for peptic ulcers with H pylori infection.

Improving Cost Savings and Patient Outcomes with Hepatitis C Triple Therapy Treatment in the Medicaid Population

One of the major infections that plague our world today, hepatitis C, has been causing liver disease in humans since early history. Over time, human ingenuity has allowed us to develop more effective treatments, but at traditionally massive monetary costs. In order to combat such costs, PerformRx came up with three ways to drive costs downward but also increase different outcomes for the Pennsylvania Medicaid population it serves. By restricting access to drugs via prior authorizations, tracking members within a DTM （drug therapy management） program, and giving members touchscreen tablet devices, there was an observed cost savings and a better ability to service members. Even though there was little impact on overall member outcomes, these initial interventions were the right steps to be innovative and create a beneficial scenario for both members and clients.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine plus triple therapy in treating Helicobacter pylori-induced chronic atrophic gastritis: a meta-analysis and cumulative meta-analysis

Objectives:To evaluate the benefits of traditional Chinese herbal medicine(TCHM)plus triple therapy(TT)in the management of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)-induced chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG).Methods:A comprehensive access and electronic database search were carried out from inception to June 2020.Prospective randomized trials(TCHM plus TT vs.TT)were selected to assess the eradication rate of H.pylori(ER of H.pylori),clinical symptom relief rate(SRR),treatment-related adverse reactions(TRAR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)in the meta-analysis and cumulative meta-analysis(CMA).Meta-regression analysis was used to analyze heterogeneity between studies and publication bias.Results:33 studies contained 3,226 participants were included.Compared with the TT group,TCHM plus TT group showed a significantly higher ER of H.pylori(OR=4.14,95%CI:3.21-5.35;P=0.000)and SRR(OR=4.50,95%CI:3.59-5.64).Meanwhile,the TRAR of TCHM plus TT remedy was significantly lower than TT monopoly(RR=0.43,95%CI:0.29-0.64;P=0.000).The results of the CMA,sorted by publication year,duration of treatment,and sample size,confirmed that combined treatment remedy was superior to TT monopoly in respect of ER of H.pylori and SRR.Conclusions:The present study obtained reliable and convincing evidence suggesting that TCHM plus TT remedy was efficacious and safe in treating H.pylori-induced CAG.

Role of high-dose amoxicillin dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in an Irish cohort:A prospective study

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infections may cause chronic gastritis,peptic ulcer disease,gastric cancers,and other conditions outside of the gastrointestinal tract.Hence,it is important to diagnose and treat it early.H.pylori is resistant to certain drugs in traditional eradication therapy,so alternative therapy protocols are needed,such as high-dose amoxicillin dual therapy(HDADT).This article aims to comment on a recent paper by Costigan et al in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.In this study,the authors recruited 139 patients diagnosed with H.pylori,all treated with HDADT.Of these,93 were treatment-naïve and 46 had received at least one alternative treatment in the past.Four weeks after the end of the treatment,the urea breath test was administered to estimate the eradication rate.The total eradication rate was 56%(78/139),62%for the treatment-naïve arm and 43%for the previous treatment arm,thus indicating a lower success rate for the arm that had previously received a different treatment regimen.In conclusion,a therapeutic approach with first-line HDADT may potentially be a better treat-ment,but the results are not sufficient to recommend the use of this regimen in a country with high levels of dual resistance.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori in surgical practice:A randomised trial of triple versus quadruple therapy in a rural district general hospital

AIM: To compare a lansoprazole-based triple versus quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) eradication with emphasis on side effect prof ile,patient compliance and eradication rate at a rural district general hospital in Wales,United Kingdom. METHODS: One hundred one patients with H pylori infection were included in the study. Patients were randomised to receive triple therapy comprising of lansoprazole 30 mg,amoxycillin 1 g,clarithromycin 500 mg,all b.d. (LAC),or quadruple therapy comprising of lansoprazole 30 mg b.d.,metronidazole 500 mg t.d.s.,bismuth subcitrate 240 mg b.d.,and tetracycline chloride 500 mg q.d.s. (LMBT). Cure was defi ned as a negative 13C urea breath test 2 mo after treatment. RESULTS: Seven patients were withdrawn after randomisation. Fifty patients were assigned to LAC group and 44 to LMBT group. The intention-to-treat cure rates were 92% and 91%,whereas the per-protocol cure rates were 92% and 97%,respectively. Side effects were common,with 56% experiencingmoderate to severe symptoms in the LAC group and 59% in the LMBT group. Symptoms of vomiting,diarrhoea and black stools were significantly more common in the LMBT group. Patient compliance was 100% for triple therapy and 86% for quadruple therapy (P < 0.01). One-third of patients in both groups were still taking acid-reducing medications at six-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: One-week triple and quadruple therapies have similar intention-to-treat eradication rates. Certain side effects are more common with quadruple therapy,which can compromise patient compliance. Patient education or modifi cations to the regimen are alternative options to improve compliance of the quadruple regimen.

Impact of triple antithrombotic therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in real-world practice

Objective The optimal antithrombotic regimen for patients on oral anticoagulation （OAC） after acute coronary syndrome （ACS） and percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） remains debated. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OAC plus clopidogrel with or without aspirin in a real-world setting. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from an international, multi-center registry be- tween 2003 and 2014 （n = 15,401）. Patients with ACS and receiving OAC after PCI were screened. The composite primary endpoint was 1-year all-cause death, re-infarction, or severe bleeding. Results The final analysis enrolled 642 patients including 62 patients （9.7%） with OAC and clopidogrel （dual therapy）, and 580 patients （90.3%） with the combination of aspirin, OAC and clopidogrel （triple therapy）. Pa- tients on triple therapy were more often female and were more likely to have comorbidities. There was no significant difference regarding the primary end point between dual therapy with triple therapy patients [17.74% vs. 17.24%; unadjusted hazard ratio （HR）： 1.035; 95% confi- dence interval （CI）： 0.556-1.929; adjusted HR： 1.026; 95% CI： 0.544-1.937]. However, the re-infarction rate was significantly higher in dual therapy than triple therapy patients （14.52% vs. 5.34%; unadjusted HR： 2.807; 95% CI： 1.329-5.928; adjusted HR： 2.333; 95% CI： 1.078-5.047）. In addition, there was no difference between two regimes in all-cause death and severe bleeding. Conclusions In real-life patients with ACS following PCI and with an indication of OAC, triple therapy was not associated with an increased rate of adverse out- comes compared to dual therapy. Moreover, it decreased risk of re-infarction and did not increase risk of severe bleeding.

Effect of Wei’s triple nine needling therapy on flash visual evoked potentials in rats with traumatic optic neuropathy

Objective:To investigate the effect of Wei’s triple nine needling therapy on the N2-P2 wave of the flash visual evoked potential(FVEP)in rats of the of the transverse directional pulling model.Methods:Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly grouped,nine were in normal control group without any treatment,and the remaining 27 were surgically modelled in the right eyes.Eighteen of these rats were randomly divided into a Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group and a model group of nine rats each after the TON model was made using the transverse quantitative retraction method.The other 9 rats were sham-operated,and only the optic nerve was exposed without retraction.On the next day of modelling,the Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group was treated with Wei’s triple nine needling therapy for 20 minutes/1 time/1 day for 14 days.The model group,sham-operated group and normal control group were not intervened.Wei's triple nine acupoints were represented as follows:1st link:"Jingming"(BL1)and"Chengqi"(ST1);2nd link:"Sizhukong"(SJ23)penetrating"Taiyang"(EX-HN5);and the third:"Fengchi"(GB 20)and"Taichong"(LV3).The FVEP of each group was observed on 1d,7d and 14d.The FVEP of each group was observed on 1d,7d and 14d.Results:Compared with the model group,the N2 wave latency and P2 wave latency were shortened in the Wei’s triple nine needling therapy on 1d(P<0.05,P<0.01);on 7d,their N2 wave latency was shortened(P<0.01)and the N2-P2 wave amplitude was increased compared with the model group(P<0.05);on 14d,their P2 wave latency was shortened(P<0.05)and the N2-P2 wave amplitude was increased.There was no statistical difference in N2 wave latency,P2 wave latency and N2-P2 wave amplitude in the sham-operated group on 1d,7d and 14d(P>0.05).The delayed N2 and P2 wave latencies in the model group did not improve from 1d to 14d(P>0.05)and the amplitude decreased throughout,showing a significant difference on 14d compared to 1d(P<0.05).In contrast,the N2 wave latency in Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group was not significantly different until 7d to 14d(P<0.05);its P2 wave latency,although significantly delayed from 1d to 7d(P<0.05),recovered on 14d and reached a level that was not statistically different from 1d and 7d(P>0.05).There was also no significant decrease in N2-P2 wave amplitude between 1d and 14d in Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group(P>0.05).Conclusion:In this experiment,the TON rat model was successfully established by the transverse quantitative retraction method,and the treatment of TON rats with Wei’s triple nine needling therapy reduced the P2 wave delay of the FVEP electrophysiological signal and increased the N2-P2 amplitude,which had a certain positive effect on the repair of optic nerve injury,probably related to its effect of improving the conduction function of the optic nerve and protecting the retinal ganglion cells that had not been degenerated and necrosed.

From biomarker discovery to combined therapies:Advancing hepatocellular carcinoma treatment strategies

This editorial reviews advances in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treatment,focusing on a triple therapy approach and biomarker discovery.Zhang et al discuss the synergistic potential of transarterial chemoembolization combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitors.Meanwhile,Li et al identify protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor II(PTPN2)as a biomarker for poor prognosis and immune evasion in HCC.The studies highlight the importance of combined therapies and biomarkers in improving HCC treatment efficacy and patient outcomes,with PTPN2 emerging as a potential therapeutic target.This article supplements the aforementioned studies with more recent research advancements,focusing on the molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of biomarkers.

Helicobacter pylori:High dose amoxicillin does not improve primary or secondary eradication rates in an Irish cohort

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication rates have fallen globally,likely in large part due to increasing antibiotic resistance to traditional therapy.In areas of high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance such as ours,Maastricht VI guidelines suggest high dose amoxicillin dual therapy(HDADT)can be considered,subject to evidence for local efficacy.In this study we assess efficacy of HDADT therapy for H.pylori eradication in an Irish cohort.AIM To assess the efficacy of HDADT therapy for H.pylori eradication in an Irish cohort as both first line,and subsequent therapy for patients diagnosed with H.pylori.METHODS All patients testing positive for H.pylori in a tertiary centre were treated prospectively with HDADT(amoxicillin 1 g tid and esomeprazole 40 mg bid×14 d)over a period of 8 months.Eradication was confirmed with Urea Breath Test at least 4 wk after cessation of therapy.A delta-over-baseline>4%was considered positive.Patient demographics and treatment outcomes were recorded,analysed and controlled for basic demographics and prior H.pylori treatment.RESULTS One hundred and ninety-eight patients were identified with H.pylori infection,10 patients were excluded due to penicillin allergy and 38 patients refused follow up testing.In all 139 were included in the analysis,55%(n=76)were female,mean age was 46.6 years.Overall,93(67%)of patients were treatment-naïve and 46(33%)had received at least one previous course of treatment.The groups were statistically similar.Self-reported compliance with HDADT was 97%,mild side-effects occurred in 7%.There were no serious adverse drug reactions.Overall the eradication rate for our cohort was 56%(78/139).Eradication rates were worse for those with previous treatment[43%(20/46)vs 62%(58/93),P=0.0458,odds ratio=2.15].Age and Gender had no effect on eradication status.CONCLUSION Overall eradication rates with HDADT were disappointing.Despite being a simple and possibly better tolerated regime,these results do not support its routine use in a high dual resistance country.Further investigation of other regimens to achieve the>90%eradication target is needed.

Standard triple, bismuth pectin quadruple and sequential therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of standard triple, bismuth pectin quadruple and sequential therapies for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) eradication in a randomized, double-blinded, comparative clinical trial in China. METHODS: A total of 215 H. pylori -positive patients were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into three groups: group A (n = 72) received a 10-d bismuth pectin quadruple therapy (20 mg rabeprazole bid , 1000 mg amoxicillin bid , 100 mg bismuth pectin qid , and 500 mg levofloxacin qd ); group B (n = 72) received the sequential therapy (20 mg omeprazole bid , 1000 mg amoxicillin bid , in 5 d, followed by 20 mg omeprazole bid , 500 mg tinidazole bid , 500 mg clarithromycin bid , for another 5 d); group C (n = 71) received a standard 1-wk triple therapy (20 mg omeprazole bid , 1000 mg amoxicillin bid , 500 mg clarithromycin bid ). After all these treatments, 20 mg omeprazole bid was administrated for 3 wk. H. pylori status was assessed by histology, 13C-urea breath test and rapid urease test at baseline and 4-6 wk after completion of treatment. Ulcer cicatrization was assessed by gastroscopy. χ 2 test (P < 0.05) was used to compare the eradication rates and ulcer cicatrisation rates among the three groups. RESULTS: The eradication rate was 83.33% (60/72) in group A, 88.89% (64/72) in group B, and 80.56% (58/71) in group C. The ulcer cicatrisation rate was 86.44% (51/59) in group A, 90.16% (55/61) in group B, and 84.91% (45/53) in group C. The sequential therapy yielded a higher eradication rate and ulcer cicatrisation rate than the standard triple and bismuth pectin quadruple therapies. Statistically, the eradication rate of group B was significantly different from groups A and C (P < 0.05), but the difference of ulcer cicatrisation rate and side effects was not statistically significant among the three groups (P > 0.05). The three protocols were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The sequential therapy has achieved a significantly higher eradication rate, and is a more suitable first-line alternative protocol for anti-H. pylori infection compared with the standard triple and bismuth pectin quadruple therapies.

Rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: Report of an efficacy study

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of a standard triple therapy (comprising rabeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, noting factors that influence the outcome and documenting any adverse events.

Triple, standard quadruple and ampicillin-sulbactam-based quadruple therapies for H pylori eradication:A comparative three-armed randomized clinical trial

AIM： To compare the effectiveness of triple, standard quadruple and ampicillin-sulbactam-based quadruple therapies for Hpylori eradication in a comparative three-armed randomized clinical trial. METHODS： A total of 360 H pylori-positive patients suffering from dyspepsia and aging 24-79 years with a median age of 42 years were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into the following three groups： group A （n = 120） received a standard 1-wk triple therapy （20 mg omeprazole b.i.d., 1000 mg amoxicillin b.i.d., 500 mg clarithromycin b.i.d.）, group B （n = 120） received a 10-d standard quadruple therapy （20 mg omeprazole b.i.d., 1000 mg amoxicillin b.i.d., 240 mg colloidal bismuth subcitrate b.i.d., and 500 mg metronidazole b.i.d.）, group C （n = 120） received the new protocol, i.e. 375 mg sultamicillin （225 mg ampicillin plus 150 mg sulbactam） b.i.d. （before breakfast and dinner）, instead of amoxicillin in the standard quadruple therapy for the same duration. Chi-square test with the consideration of P 〈 0.05 as significant was used to compare the eradication rates by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses in the three groups.RESULTS： The per-protocol eradication rate was 91.81% （101 patients from a total of 110） in group A, 85.84% （97 patients from a total of 113） in group B, and 92.85% （104 patients from a total of 112） in group C. The intention-to-treat eradication rate was 84.17% in group A, 80.83% in group B, and 86.67% in group C. The new protocol yielded the highest eradication rates by both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses followed by the standard triple and quadruple regimens, respectively. However, the differences were not statistically significant between the three groups. CONCLUSION： The results of this study provide further support for the equivalence of triple and quadruple therapies in terms of effectiveness, compliance and sideeffect profile when administered as first-line treatment for H pylori infection. Moreover, the new protocol using ampicillin-sulbactam instead of amoxicillin in the quadruple regimen is a suitable first-line alternative to be used in regions with amoxicillin-resistant Hpylori strains.

Dual versus single antiplatelet therapy for patients with long-term oral anticoagulation undergoing coronary intervention： a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective The main aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy and safety of dual versus single antiplatelet therapy for pa- tients taking oral anticoagulation （OAC） after coronary intervention. Background The optimal regimen remains controversial for patients taking OAC after coronary intervention. Methods PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for eligible studies including data of triple therapy （TT） versus OAC plus single antiplatelet therapy for patients requiring OAC after coronary intervention. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event （MACCE）. The safety outcome was major bleeding. Results Fourteen studies with 32,825 patients were included. Among prospective studies, patients with TT had a trend toward a higher risk of major bleeding [odds ratios （OR）： 1.56, 95% confidence interval （CI）： 0.98-2.49, P = 0.06] and a markedly higher risk of all-cause death （OR; 2.11, 95% CI： 1.10-4.06 P = 0.02） compared with OAC plus clopidogrel. Meanwhile, TT was associated with decreased risks of MACCE （OR： 0.63, 95% CI： 051-0.77 P 〈 0.0001）, all-cause death （OR： 0.45, 95% CI： 0.20-0.97, P = 0.04）, and stroke/transient ischemic attack （TIA）/peripheral embolism （PE） （OR= 0.29, 95% CI： 0.09~3.96, P = 0.04） compared with OAC plus aspirin. Conclusions For pa- tients requiring OAC after coronary intervention, OAC plus clopidogrel may bring more clinical net benefit than TT, whereas OAC plus aspirin should be the last choice. More large-size randomized control trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Two-day enema antibiotic therapy for parasite eradication and resolution of symptoms

BACKGROUND Blastocystis hominis(B.hominis)and Dientamoeba fragilis(D.fragilis)are two protozoan parasites of human bowel that are found throughout the world.There is still debate about the pathogenicity of these protozoans,despite them being commonly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and can cause health issue in both children and adults.These parasites are usually transmitted through faecal-oral contact particularly under poor hygiene conditions or food/water contamination.Once a person is infected,the parasites live in the large intestine and are passed in the faeces.AIM To investigate the effect of triple antibiotic therapy using enema infusion in the treatment of B.hominis and D.fragilis infections.METHODS This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in a single medical centre,which included fifty-four patients(≥18 years)who were positive for D.fragilis,B.hominis or both between 2017 and 2018.The treatment consisted of triple antibiotics that were infused over two consecutive days through rectal enema.Faecal samples were collected from participants pre-and post-treatment and were tested for parasites using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction.Patients’symptoms were recorded prior and after the treatment as well as patient demographic data.RESULTS Patients(n=54),were either positive for B.hominis(37%),D.fragilis(35%)or both(28%).All patients completed the two-day treatment and no serious adverse effect was reported.The most common side effect experienced by the patients during the treatment was urine discolouration which was cleared by six weeks of followup.Common symptoms reported prior to treatment were diarrhoea,abdominal pain,constipation and fatigue.Other symptoms included abdominal discomfort,dizziness and blood in the stool.Eighty-nine percent of patients completed a final stool test post-treatment.At six weeks post-treatment,79%of patients cleared the parasites from their faeces.Symptoms such as abdominal discomfort,dizziness and blood in the stool decreased significantly at both seven days and six weeks post-treatment(P<0.040).The enema retention time,bowel preparation,previous antibiotic treatment or previous gastrointestinal problems had no significant effect on parasite eradication.CONCLUSION Overall,eradication of parasites and improvement of clinical outcomes were observed in treated patients,showing the efficacy of this combination to eradicate the parasites and provide positive clinical outcome.