紫地合剂联合质子泵抑制剂治疗消化性溃疡出血的临床疗效观察

【目的】观察具有收敛止血、清热凉血功效的紫地合剂联合质子泵抑制剂(proton pump inhibitions,PPIs)治疗消化性溃疡出血(peptic ulcer bleeding,PUB)的临床效果。【方法】回顾性收集2019年12月至2023年5月在广州中医药大学第一附属医院急诊病区住院的281例PUB患者,根据治疗方案的不同将其分为对照组143例和观察组138例。对照组患者在一般治疗基础上给予PPIs治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上给予紫地合剂口服治疗,疗程为3 d。观察2组患者治疗前后格拉斯哥-布拉奇福德出血评分(GBS)、血红蛋白量(HGB)、血小板总数(PLT)、血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Cr)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)水平的变化情况,并比较2组患者的平均住院时间和临床疗效。【结果】(1)治疗3 d后,观察组的总有效率为97.10%(134/138),对照组为91.61%(131/143),组间比较(χ^(2)检验),观察组的疗效优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)治疗后,2组患者的GBS评分均较治疗前降低(P<0.05),且观察组对GBS评分的降低作用优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(3)观察组的平均住院时间为(5.81±1.02)d,较对照组的(6.13±1.12)d有所缩短,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(4)治疗后,2组患者外周血HGB、PLT水平较治疗前升高(P<0.05),BUN水平较治疗前降低(P<0.05),且观察组对外周血HGB、PLT水平的升高作用及对BUN水平的降低作用均明显优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(5)治疗过程中,2组患者的外周血AST、ALT、Cr水平均未见升高,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。【结论】紫地合剂联合PPIs治疗PUB效果显著,有助于改善相关血常规和生化指标,缩短住院时间,其疗效优于单纯使用PPIs治疗。

Effect of acetyl L-carnitine on human retinal pigment epithelium-19 cells in hypoxic conditions

AIM:To investigate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine(ALCAR)on cell viability,morphological integrity,and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression in human retinal pigment epithelium(ARPE-19)cells using a hypoxic model.METHODS:In the first set of experiments,the optimal CoCl_(2) dose was determined by exposing ARPE-19 cell cultures to different concentrations.To evaluate the effect of ALCAR on cell viability,five groups of ARPE-19 cell culture were established that included a control group,a sham group(200μM CoCl_(2)),and groups that received 1,10 and 100 mM doses of ALCAR combined with 200μM CoCl_(2),respectively.The cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The morphological characteristics of cells were observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope.The levels of VEGF and HIF-1α secretion by ARPE-19 cells were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)assay.RESULTS:ARPE-19 cells were exposed to different doses of CoCl_(2) in order to create a hypoxia model.Nevertheless,when exposed to a concentration of 200μM CoCl_(2),a notable decrease in viability to 83% was noted.ALCAR was found to increase the cell viability at 1 mM and 10 mM concentrations,while the highest concentration(100 mM)did not have an added effect.The cell viability was found to be significantly higher in the groups treated with a concentration of 1 mM and 10 mM ALCAR compared to the Sham group(P=0.041,P=0.019,respectively).The cell viability and morphology remained unaffected by the greatest dose of ALCAR(100 mM).The administration of 10 mM ALCAR demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the levels of VEGF and HIF-1α compared with the Sham group(P=0.013,P=0.033,respectively).CONCLUSION:The findings from the current study indicate that ALCAR could represent a viable therapeutic option with the potential to open up novel treatment pathways for retinal diseases,particular relevance for age-related macular degeneration(AMD).However,to fully elucidate ALCAR’s application potential in retinal diseases,additional investigation is necessary to clearly define the exact mechanisms involved.

V_E烟酸酯与甲硝唑复配在牙膏中的应用

本文通过VE 烟酸酯与甲硝唑复配在牙膏中的应用与测试分析 ,验证了VE 烟酸酯在止血、抗炎、改善微循环等方面的功效 。

Superior Vana Cava Syndrome: A Therapy by Intra-vascular Stenting

Objective To study the techniques and clinical applications of intra-vascular stenting in the treatment of superior vana cava obliteration syndrome (SVS). Methods In 9 cases of SVS, primary lesions were all confirmed as malignancy (primary pulmonary carcinoma of right upper lobe) histolo-pathologically. By route of right femoral vein, SVS catheterization and DSA was made. The length of the strictures and the diameters of normal superior vana cavae (SVC) were measured for the choice of appropriate stents. The option of stemt diameter is 10% larger than that of normal SVCs. The upper and lower ends of the stent should be 1–2 cm protruding from the ends of the stricture. The stent was dilated with a balloon after its successful placement. Therapy of original lesions was continued together with anticoagulant. Stents were observed about their positions by fluoroscopy or chest films, and about patency of SVC by Doppler. Results After the placement of a stent, DSA revealed the contrast media in the SVCs passed along smoothly, diameters of SVCs almost normal, collateral branches diminished remarkably. Average SVC pressure was decreased from 26.4 cmH2O before the placement down to 15.7 cmH2O, with an obvious difference (P<0.01= by statistics. Related clinical symptoms and signs disappeared or relieved. Subsidised were swelling of head and neck, upper extremities and chest. Excretion of urine increased. Gorgeous superficial veins in the chest could not be detected any more. Conclusion The therapy of intra-vascular stenting to treat SVS is microinvasive, simple and effective. Key words superior vana cava syndrome - tumor - stent - image diagnosis - interventional therapy

Pediatric gastrointestinal bleeding: Perspectives from the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology

There are many causes of gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB) in children, and this condition is not rare, having a reported incidence of 6.4%. Causes vary with age, but show considerable overlap; moreover, while many of the causes in the pediatric population are similar to those in adults, some lesions are unique to children. The diagnostic approach for pediatric GIB includes definition of the etiology, localization of the bleeding site and determination of the severity of bleeding; timely and accurate diagnosis is necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality. To assist medical care providers in the evaluation and management of children with GIB, the "Gastro-Ped Bleed Team" of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition(SIGENP) carried out a systematic search on MEDLINE via Pub Med(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) to identify all articles published in English from January 1990 to 2016; the following key words were used to conduct the electronic search: "upper GIB" and "pediatric" [all fields]; "lower GIB" and "pediatric" [all fields]; "obscure GIB" and "pediatric" [all fields]; "GIB" and "endoscopy" [all fields]; "GIB" and "therapy" [all fields]. The identified publications included articles describing randomized controlled trials, reviews, case reports, cohort studies, casecontrol studies and observational studies. References from the pertinent articles were also reviewed. This paper expresses a position statement of SIGENP that can have an immediate impact on clinical practice and for which sufficient evidence is not available in literature. The experts participating in this effort were selected according to their expertise and professional qualifications.

Central serotonergic and noradrenergic receptors in functional dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia is a symptom complex characterised by upper abdominal discomfort or pain, early satiety, motor abnormalities, abdominal bloating and nausea in the absence of organic disease. The central nervous system plays an important role in the conducting and processing of visceral signals. Alterations in brain processing of pain, perception and affective responses may be key factors in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia. Central serotonergic and noradrenergic receptor systems are involved in the processing of motor, sensory and secretory activities of the gastrointestinal tract. Visceral hypersensitivity is currently regarded as the mechanism responsible for both motor alterations and abdominal pain in functional dyspepsia. Some studies suggest that there are alterations in central serotonergic and noradrenergic systems which may partially explain some of the symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Alterations in the autonomic nervous system may be implicated in the motor abnormalities and increases in visceral sensitivity in these patients. Noradrenaline is the main neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system and again alterations in the functioning of this system may lead to changes in motor function. Functional dyspepsia causes considerable burden on the patient and society. The pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia is not fully understood but alterations in central processing by the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems may provide plausible explanations for at least some of the symptoms and offer possible treatment targets for the future.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding etiology score for predicting variceal and non-variceal bleeding

AIM： To identify clinical parameters, and develop an Upper Gastrointesinal Bleeding （UGIB） Etiology Score for predicting the types of UGIB and validate the score. METHODS： Patients with UGIB who underwent endoscopy within 72 h were enrolled. Clinical and basic laboratory parameters were prospectively collected. Predictive factors for the types of UGIB were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and were used to generate the UGIB Etiology Score. The best cutoff of the score was defined from the receiver operating curve and prospectively validated in another set of patients with UGIB. RESULTS： Among 261 patients with UGIB, 47 （18%） had variceal and 214 （82%） had non-variceal bleeding. Univariate analysis identified 27 distinct parameters significantly associated with the types of UGIB. Logistic regression analysis identified only 3 independent factors for predicting variceal bleeding; previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease （OR 22.4, 95% CI 8.3-60.4, P 〈 0.001）, red vomitus （OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.8-11.9, P = 0.02）, and red nasogastric （NG） aspirate （OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-8.3, P = 0.011）. The UGIB Etiology Score was calculated from （3.1× previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease） ＋ （1.5× red vomitus） ＋ （1.2× red NG aspirate）, when 1 and 0 are used for the presence and absence of each factor, respectively. Using a cutoff ≥ 3.1, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value （PPV）, and negative predictive value （NPV） in predicting variceal bleeding were 85%, 81%, 82%, 50%, and 96%, respectively. The score was prospectively validated in cases （46 variceal and 149 another set of 195 UGIB non-variceal bleeding）. The PPV and NPV of a score ≥ 3.1 for variceal bleeding were 79% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION： The UGIB Etiology Score, composed of 3 parameters, using a cutoff ≥ 3.1 accurately predicted variceal bleeding and may help to guide the choice of initial therapy for UGIB before endoscopy.

Effect of adrenomedullin on neuron apoptosis, infarction volume and expression of Egr-1 mRNA after focal ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Objective To observe the influence of adrenomedullin （ADM） on neuron apoptosis, infarction volume of brain, and the expression of early growth response 1 （Egr-1） mRNA in ischemia-reperfusion rats. Methods The arteria cerebri media was tied for 2 h to construct the ischemia model. Infarction volume was detected by triphenltetrazolium chloride （T＇I＇C） staining, neuronal apoptosis and necrosis was detected with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick labeling （TUNEL） method, and the Egr-1 mRNA expression was examined by in situ hybridization （ISH）. Results Infarction volume after ischemia-reperfusion is （269 ± 20） mm^3. Infarction volume after injection of ADM through different ways are femoral vein （239 ± 17） mm^3 （decreased by 11.2%）, arteria carotis （214 ± 14） mm^3 （by 20.4%） and lateral cerebral ventricle （209 ± 13） mm^3 （by 22.3%）, respectively. The results indicate that injecting ADM through arteria carotis and lateral cerebral ventricle is much more effective than it through femoral vein （P 〈 0.05）. The TUNEL-positive cells in cerebral cortex or hippocampus are few in the sham operation group, but much more in the ischemia-reperfusion group. After being supplied with ADM, especially through arteria carotis interna or lateral cerebral ventricle way, the TUNEL-positive cells decreased obviously. Expression of Egr- 1 mRNA was low in the cerebral cortex of the sham operation group rats, enhanced in the ischemia and reperfusion group rats, and enhanced markedly after treatment with ADM, especially through arteria carotis interna or lateral cerebral ventricle way （P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion Injection of ADM through different ways could alleviate neural dysfunction, decrease neuron apoptosis and brain infarction volume, and increase the expression of Egr- 1 mRNA.

Clinical presentation and endoscopic management of Dieulafoy's lesions in an urban community hospital

AIM:To identify rates of occurrence,common clinical and endoscopic features,and to review the outcome of endoscopic management of Dieulafoy's lesions in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract in an urban community hospital setting. METHODS:Endoscopic data from esophagogastroduo denoscopies (EGDs),done at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center,Brooklyn,NY between 2000 and 2006 were reviewed to identify patients with Dieulafoy's lesions. Demographic data,medical history,examination findings,lab data,endoscopic findings and details of therapy for patients treated for Dieulafoy's lesions were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS:Dieulafoy's lesions were documented to be the cause of bleeding in approximately 1% of patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding,while they were detected in only 2 patients when the indications for EGDs were different from active GI bleeding. When we analyzed EGDs performed in patients above age 65 years presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding,prevalence of Dieulafoy's lesions approached 10 percent. The most common location of the lesion was the body of stomach (7),followed by the cardia (4) and the esophagus (2). One patient had this lesion in the fundus and one patient in the duodenal apex. All patients were initially treated endoscopically with epinephrine injection,in eight cases heater probe was applied following epinephrine and endoscopic clips were applied in two cases. All but one of the patients did well in near and intermediate term follow-up (average follow-up period of 18 mo). One patient died of multi-organ failure during the same hospital stay. Average length hospital stay was 7 d.CONCLUSION:Community hospital gastroenterologists and endoscopists should be aware that Dieulafoy's lesions are an uncommon cause of upper GI bleeding among elderly patients. Early accurate diagnosis through emergent endoscopy and endoscopic therapy,especially in patients with multiple co-morbid conditions,can be very effective and life saving.

Correlation of transient elastography with hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension: A study of 326 patients from India

AIMTo study the diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography (TE) for detecting clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in Indian patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.METHODSThis retrospective study was conducted at the Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology, and Pancreatico-Biliary Sciences, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, on consecutive patients with cirrhosis greater than 15 years of age who underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and TE from July 2011 to May 2016. Correlation between HVPG and TE was analyzed using the Spearman&#x02019;s correlation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were prepared for determining the utility of TE in predicting various stages of portal hypertension. The best cut-off value of TE for the diagnosis of CSPH was obtained using the Youden index.RESULTSThe study included 326 patients [median age 52 (range 16-90) years; 81% males]. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was cryptogenic (45%) followed by alcohol (34%). The median HVPG was 16.0 (range 1.5 to 30.5) mmHg. Eighty-five percent of patients had CSPH. A significant positive correlation was noted between TE and HVPG (rho 0.361, P &#x0003c; 0.001). The area under ROC curve for TE in predicting CSPH was 0.740 (95%CI: 0.662-0.818) (P &#x0003c; 0.01). A cut-off value of TE of 21.6 kPa best predicted CSPH with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93%.CONCLUSIONTE has a fair positive correlation with HVPG; thus, TE can be used as a non-invasive modality to assess the degree of portal hypertension. A cut-off TE value of 21.6 kPa identifies CSPH with a PPV of 93%.

Should anticoagulants be administered for portal vein thrombosis associated with acute pancreatitis?

Venous complications in patients with acute pancreatitis typically occur as a form of splenic,portal,or superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and have been detected more frequently in recent reports.Although a well-organized protocol for the treatment of venous thrombosis has not been established,anticoagulation therapy is commonly recommended.A 73-year-old man was diagnosed with acute progressive portal vein thrombosis associated with acute pancreatitis.After one month of anticoagulation therapy,the patient developed severe hematemesis.With endoscopy and an abdominal computed tomography scan,hemorrhages in the pancreatic pseudocyst,which was ruptured into the duodenal bulb,were confirmed.After conservative treatment,the patient was stabilized.While the rupture of a pseudocyst into the surrounding viscera is a well-known phenomenon,spontaneous rupture into the duodenum is rare.Moreover,no reports of upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by pseudocyst rupture in patients under anticoagulation therapy for venous thrombosis associated with acute pancreatitis have been published.Herein,we report a unique case of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to pancreatic pseudocyst rupture into the duodenum,which developed during anticoagulation therapy for portal vein thrombosis associated with acute pancreatitis.

Trends on gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality:Where are we standing?

Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and its management are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.The predisposing factors that led to the occurrence of these hemorrhagic instances are largely linked to the life style of the affected persons.Designing a new strategy aimed at educating the publics and improving their awareness of the problem could effectively help in eradicating this problem with no associated risks and in bringing the mortality rates down to almost zero.

Management of acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding:Current policies and future perspectives

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB) is a gastroenterological emergency with a mortality of 6%-13%.The vast majority of these bleeds are due to peptic ulcers.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Helicobacter pylori are the main risk factors for peptic ulcer disease.Endoscopy has become the mainstay for diagnosis and treatment of acute UGIB,and is recommended within 24 h of presentation.Proton pump inhibitor(PPI) administration before endoscopy can downstage the bleeding lesion and reduce the need for endoscopic therapy,but has no effect on rebleeding,mortality and need for surgery.Endoscopic therapy should be undertaken for ulcers with high-risk stigmata,to reduce the risk of rebleeding.This can be done with a variety of modalities.High-dose PPI administration after endoscopy can prevent rebleeding and reduce the need for further intervention and mortality,particularly in patients with high-risk stigmata.

A Case of Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma in the Liver

A 15-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with a 9-month history of upper abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Her history showed no indication of hepatitis. Her abdomen appeared to be even and soft, and the liver and spleen could not be felt below the costal margin. Percussion pain in hepatic region was negative. Gastroscopy showed no abnormalities. An abdominal ultrasound examination revealed the presence of hepatic hypoechoic areas and an abdominal CT scan showed multiple roundlike low-density masses in both hepatic lobes. The edges of the focal lesions were smooth and continuous, with a heterogeneous center, the round-like edges were enhanced, but the enhancement in the focal lesions was not obvious.

Melena-associated regional portal hypertension caused by splenic arteriovenous fistula

Regional portal hypertension is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.We reported an extremely rare case in which regional portal hypertension was associated with both the splenic arteriovenous fistula and chronic pancreatitis.In June 2010,our patient,a 41-year-old man,was admitted to a local hospital due to a sudden melena and dizziness without haematemesis and jaundice.The splenic arteriovenous fistula in this patient was successfully occluded through transcatheter arterial embolization.At the 12-mo follow-up,our patient was in good condition.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on long-term oral anticoagulation therapy: Endoscopic findings, clinical management and outcome

AIM: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a severe complication in patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulant therapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the causes and clinical outcome of these patients. METHODS: From January 1999 to October 2003, 111 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) were hospitalized while on oral anticoagulants. The causes and clinical outcome of these patients were compared with those of 604 patients hospitalized during 2000-2001 with AUGIB who were not taking warfarin. RESULTS: The most common cause of bleeding was peptic ulcer in 51 patients (45%) receiving anticoagulants compared to 359/604 (59.4%) patients not receiving warfarin (P<0.05). No identifiable source of bleeding could be found in 33 patients (29.7%) compared to 31/604 (5.1%) patients not receiving anticoagulants (P=0.0001). The majority of patients with concurrent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (26/35, 74.3%) had a peptic ulcer as a cause of bleeding while 32/76 (40.8%) patients not taking a great dose of NSAIDs had a negative upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic hemostasis was applied and no complication was reported. Six patients (5.4%) were operated due to continuing or recurrent hemorrhage, compared to 23/604 (3.8%) patients not receiving anticoagulants. Four patients died, the overall mortality was 3.6% in patients with AUGIB due to anticoagulants, which was not different from that in patients not receiving anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Patients with AUGIB while on long-term anticoagulant therapy had a clinical outcome, which is not different from that of patients not taking anticoagulants. Early endoscopy is important for the management of these patients and endoscopic hemostasis can be safely applied.

Role of transcatheter arterial embolization for massive bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcers

Intractable bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aggressive treatment with early endoscopic hemostasis is essential for a favourable outcome. In as many as 12%-17% of patients,endoscopy is either not available or unsuccessful. Endovascular therapy with selective catheterization of the culprit vessel and injection of embolic material has emerged as an alternative to emergent operative intervention in high-risk patients. There has not been a systematic literature review to assess the role for embolotherapy in the treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding from gastroduo-denal ulcers after failed endoscopic hemostasis. Here,we present an overview of indications,techniques,and clinical outcomes after endovascular embolization of acute peptic-ulcer bleeding. Topics of particular relevance to technical and clinical success are also discussed. Our review shows that transcatheter arterial embolization is a safe alternative to surgery for massive gastroduodenal bleeding that is refractory to endoscopic treatment,can be performed with high technical and clinical success rates,and should be considered the salvage treatment of choice in patients at high surgical risk.

Angiographic evaluation and management of acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Although most cases of acute nonvariceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage either spontaneously resolve or respond to medical management or endoscopic treatment,there are still a significant number of patients who require emergency angiography and transcatheter treatment.Evaluation with noninvasive imaging such as nuclear scintigraphy or computed tomography may localize the bleeding source and/or confirm active hemorrhage prior to angiography.Any angiographic evaluation should begin with selective catheterization of the artery supplying the most likely site of bleeding,as determined by the available clinical,endoscopic and imaging data.If a hemorrhage source is identified,superselective catheterization followed by transcatheter microcoil embolization is usually the most effective means of successfully controlling hemorrhage while minimizing potential complications.This is now wellrecognized as a viable and safe alternative to emergency surgery.In selected situations transcatheter intra-arterial infusion of vasopressin may also be useful in controlling acute gastrointestinal bleeding.One must be aware of the various side effects and potential complications associated with this treatment,however,and recognize the high re-bleeding rate.In this article we review the current role of angiography,transcatheter arterial embolization and infusion therapy in the evaluation and management of nonvariceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Optimal injection volume of epinephrine for endoscopic treatment of peptic ulcer bleedinq

AIM： To define the optimal injection volume of epinephrine with high efficacy for hemostasis and low complication rate in patients with actively bleeding ulcers. METHODS： This prospective, randomized, comparative trial was conducted in a medical center. A total of 228 patients with actively bleeding ulcers （spurting or oozing） were randomly assigned to three groups with 20, 30 and 40 mL endoscopic injections of an 1：10000 solution of epinephrine. The hemostatic effects and clinical outcomes were compared between the three groups. RESULTS： There were no significant differences in all background variables between the three groups. Initial hemostasis was achieved in 97.4%, 98.7% and 100% of patients respectively in the 20, 30 and 40 mL epinephrine groups. There were no significant differences in the rate of initial hemostasis between the three groups. The rate of peptic ulcer perforation was significantly higher in the 40 mL epinephrine group than in the 20 and 30 mL epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.05）. The rate of recurrent bleeding was significantly higher in the 20 mL epinephrine group （20.3%） than in the 30 （5.3%） and 40 mL （2.8 %） epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.01）. There were no significant differences in the rates of surgical intervention, the amount of transfusion requirements, the days of hospitalization, the deaths from bleeding and 30 d mortality between the three groups. The number of patients who developed epigastric pain due to endoscopic injection, was significantly higher in the 40 mL epinephrine group （51/76） than in the 20 （2/76） and 30 mL （5/76） epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.001）. Significant elevation of systolic blood pressure after endoscopic injection was observed in the 40 mL epinephrine group （P 〈 0.01）. Significant decreasing and normalization of pulse rates after endoscopic injections were observed in the 20 mL and 30 mL epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.01）.CONCLUSION： Injection of 30 mL diluted epinephrine （1：10000） can effectively prevent recurrent bleeding with a low rate of complications. The optimal injection volume of epinephrine for endoscopic treatment of an actively bleeding ulcer （spurting or oozing） is 30 mL.

Epinephrine plus argon plasma or heater probe coagulation in ulcer bleeding

AIM:To compare the effectiveness of argon plasma coagulation (APC) and heater probe coagulation (HPC) in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.METHODS:Eighty-five (18 female,67 male) patients admitted for acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastric or duodenal ulcer were included in the study.Upper endoscopy was performed and HPC or APC were chosen randomly to stop the bleeding.Initial hemostasis and rebleeding rates were primary and secondary end-points of the study.RESULTS:Initial hemostasis was achieved in 97.7% (42/43) and 81% (36/42) of the APC and HPC groups,respectively (P < 0.05).Rebleeding rates were 2.4% (1/42) and 8.3% (3/36) in the APC and HPC groups,respectively,at 4 wk (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION:APC is an effective hemostatic method in bleeding peptic ulcers.Larger multicenter trials are necessary to confirm these results.