Breath test for differential diagnosis between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel disease:An observation on non-absorbable antibiotics

AIM： To estimate the prevalence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth （SIBO） among patients with an earlier diagnosis of irritable bowel disease （IBS） in our geographical area, and to collect information on the use of locally acting non-absorbable antibiotics in the management of SIBO. METHODS： A non-interventional study was conducted in 73 consecutive patients with a symptom-based diagnosis.. RESULTS： When the patients underwent a ＂breath test＂, 33 （45.2%） showed the presence of a SIBO. Arcer treatment with rifaximin 1200 mg/d for seven days in 32 patients, 19 （59.4%） showed a negative ＂breath test＂ one week later as well as a significant reduction of symptoms, thus confirming the relationship between SIBO and many of the symptoms claimed by patients. In the other 13 patients, ＂breath test＂ remained positive, and a further cycle of treatment with ciprofloxacin 500 mg/d was given for 7 additional days, resulting in a negative ＂breath test＂ in one patient only. CONCLUSION： （1） about half of the patients with a symptomatic diagnosis of IBS have actually SIBO, which is responsible for most of the symptoms attributed to IBS; （2） only a ＂breath test＂ with lactulose （or with glucose in subjects with an intolerance to lactose） can provide a differential diagnosis between IBS and SIBO, with almost identical symptoms; and （3） the use of non-absorbable antibiotics may be useful to reduce the degree of SIBO and related symptoms; it must be accompanied, however, by the correction of the wrong alimentary habits underlying SIBO.

Systematic review of absorbable vs non-absorbable sutures used for the closure of surgical incisions

AIM: To report a systematic review of published randomized controlled trials(RCTs) investigating the role of absorbable suture(AS) against non-AS(NAS) used for the closure of surgical incisions.METHODS: RCTs investigating the use of AS vs NAS for the closure of surgical incisions were statistically analysed based upon the principles of meta-analysis and the summated outcomes were represented as OR.RESULTS: The systematic search of medical literature yielded 10 RCTs on 1354 patients. Prevalence of wound infection(OR = 0.97; 95%CI: 0.56, 1.69; Z = 0.11; P = 0.92) and operative morbidity(P = 0.45) was comparable in both groups. Nonetheless, the use of AS lead to lower risk of wound break-down(OR = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.04, 0.39; Z = 3.52; P 【 0.0004).CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis of 10 RCTs demonstrates that the use of AS is similar to NAS for skin closure for surgical site infection and other operative morbidities. AS do not increase the risk of skin wound dehiscence,rather lead to a reduced risk of wound dehiscence compared to NAS.

980 nm High Power Semiconductor Laser Stacked Arrays with Non-absorbing Window

980 nm InGaAs/GaAs separate confinement heterostructure （SCH） strained quantum well （QW） laser with non-absorbing facets was fabricated by using thermal treatment. Microchannel coolers with a five-layer thin oxygen-free copper plate structure were designed and fabricated through thermal bonding in hydrogen ambient. The highest CW （continuous wave） output power of 200 W for 5-bar arrays packaged by microchannel coolers was presented.

Rifaximin vs conventional oral therapy for hepatic encephalopathy:A meta-analysis

AIM: To characterize the efficacy of rifaximin in the management of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) as several randomized controlled studies have shown contradictory results on its effectiveness in comparison to other oral agents. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis of all eligible trials identifi ed through electronic and manual searches. Twelve randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria with a total of 565 patients. RESULTS: The clinical effectiveness of rifaximin was equivalent to disaccharides or other oral antibiotics[odds ratio (OR) 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94-4.08] but with a better safety profi le (OR 0.27; 95% CI: 0.12-0.59). At the completion of treatment protocols, patients receiving rifaximin showed lower serum ammonia levels [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -10.65; 95% CI: -23.4-2.1; P = 0.10], better mental status (WMD = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.57-0.08; P = 0.15) and less asterixis (WMD -0.1; 95% CI -0.26-0.07; P = 0.25) without reaching statistical signifi cance. On the other hand, other psychometric outcomes such as electroencephalographic response and grades of portosystemic encephalopathy were superior in patients treated with rifaximin in comparison to the control group (WMD = 0.21, 95% CI: -0.33-0.09, P = 0.0004; and WMD = -2.33, 95% CI: -2.68-1.98, P = 0.00001, respectively). Subgroup and sensitivity analysis did not show any signifi cant difference in the above fi ndings. CONCLUSION: Rifaximin appears to be at least as effective as other conventional oral agents for the treatment of HE with a better safety profi le.

Current approach to treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy(MHE)corresponds to the earliest stage of hepatic encephalopathy(HE).MHE does not present clinically detectable neurological-psychiatric abnormalities but is characterized by imperceptible neurocognitive alterations detected during routine clinical examination via neuropsychological or psychometrical tests.MHE may affect daily activities and reduce job performance and quality of life.MHE can increase the risk of accidents and may develop into overt encephalopathy,worsening the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.Despite a lack of consensus on the therapeutic indication,interest in finding novel strategies for prevention or reversion has led to numerous clinical trials;their results are the main objective of this review.Many studies address the treatment of MHE,which is mainly based on the strategies and previous management of overt HE.Current alternatives for the management of MHE include measures to maintain nutritional status while avoiding sarcopenia,and manipulation of intestinal microbiota with non-absorbable disaccharides such as lactulose,antibiotics such as rifaximin,and administration of different probiotics.This review analyzes the results of clinical studies that evaluated the effects of different treatments for MHE.

Therapeutic effect of two methods on avulsion fracture of tibial insertion of anterior cruciate ligament

BACKGROUND The tibial stop of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) is fan-shaped and attached to the medial groove in front of the intercondylar spine,which is located between the anterior horn of the medial and lateral meniscus.The incidence of this fracture is low previously reported,which is common in children and adolescents.With the increase of sports injury and traffic injury and the deepening of understanding,it is found that the incidence of the disease is high at present.AIM To explore the difference between open reduction and internal fixation with small incision and high-intensity non-absorbable suture under arthroscopy in the treatment of tibial avulsion fracture of ACL.METHODS Seventy-six patients with tibial avulsion fracture of anterior cruciate ligament diagnosed and treated in Guanyun County People’s Hospital from April 2018 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the surgical methods,they were divided into group A(40 cases) and group B(36 cases).Patients in group A were treated with arthroscopic high-strength non-absorbable suture,and patients in group B were treated with small incision open reduction and internal fixation.The operation time,fracture healing time,knee joint activity and functional score before and after operation,and surgical complications of the two groups were compared.RESULTS The operation time of group A was higher than that of group B,and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05);the fracture healing time of group A was compared with that of group B,and the difference was not statistically significant(P > 0.05);The knee joint function activity was compared between two groups before operation,3 mo and 6 mo after operation,and the difference was not statistically significant(P > 0.05);the knee joint function activity of group A and group B at 3 mo and 6 mo after operation was significantly higher than that before operation(P < 0.05);the limp,support,lock,instability,swelling,upstairs,squatting,pain and Lysholm score were compared between the two groups before and 6 mo after operation,and the difference was not statistically significant(P > 0.05);the scores of limp,support,lock,instability,swelling,upstairs,squatting,pain and Lysholm in group A and group B at 6 mo after operation were significantly higher than those before operation(P > 0.05);the surgical complication rate of group A was 2.63%,which was lower than 18.42% of group B,and the difference was statistically significant(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION Both small incision open reduction and internal fixation and arthroscopic high-strength nonabsorbable sutures can achieve good results in the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion fractures.The operation time of arthroscopic high-strength non-absorbable sutures is slightly longer,but the complication rate is lower.

Prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy: Focusing on gut microbiota

The gut flora plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the complications of cirrhosis. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents a broad continuum of neuropsychological dysfunction in patients with acute or chronic liver disease and/or porto-systemic shunting of blood flow and it manifests with progressive deterioration of the superior neurological functions. The pathophysiology of this disease is complex, as it involves overproduction and reduced metabolism of various neurotoxins, particularly ammonia. Management of HE is diversified and requires several steps: elimination of precipitating factors, removal of toxins, proper nutritional support, modulation of resident fecal flora and downregulation of systemic and gut-derived inflammation. This review will provide an overview of gut barrier function and the influence of gut-derived factors on HE, focusing on the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of HE and the recent literature findings on its therapeutic manipulation.