On Concomitants of Record Values from Generalized Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstem Distribution

In this paper, we derive the distributions of concomitants of record values from generalized Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstern family of bivariate distributions. We derive the single and the product moments of the concomitants for the general case. The results are then applied to the ease of the two-parameter exponential marginal distributions. Using concomitants of record values we derive the best linear unbiased estimators of parameters of the marginal distributions. Moreover, two methods for obtaining predictors of concomitants of record values are presented. Finally, a numerical illustration is performed to highlight the theoretical results obtained.

Magnetic resonance imaging of extraocular rectus muscles abnormalities in acute acquired concomitant esotropia

AIM:To investigate the difference of medial rectus(MR)and lateral rectus(LR)between acute acquired concomitant esotropia(AACE)and the healthy controls(HCs)detected by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).METHODS:A case-control study.Eighteen subjects with AACE and eighteen HCs were enrolled.MRI scanning data were conducted in target-controlled central gaze with a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner.Extraocular muscles(EOMs)were scanned in contiguous image planes 2-mm thick spanning the EOM origins to the globe equator.To form posterior partial volumes(PPVs),the LR and MR cross-sections in the image planes 8,10,12,and 14 mm posterior to the globe were summed and multiplied by the 2-mm slice thickness.The data were classified according to the right eye,left eye,dominant eye,and non-dominant eye,and the differences in mean cross-sectional area,maximum cross-sectional area,and PPVs of the MR and LR muscle in the AACE group and HCs group were compared under the above classifications respectively.RESULTS:There were no significant differences between the two groups of demographic characteristics.The mean cross-sectional area of the LR muscle was significantly greater in the AACE group than that in the HCs group in the non-dominant eyes(P=0.028).The maximum cross-sectional area of the LR muscle both in the dominant and non-dominant eye of the AACE group was significantly greater than the HCs group(P=0.009,P=0.016).For the dominant eye,the PPVs of the LR muscle were significantly greater in the AACE than that in the HCs group(P=0.013),but not in the MR muscle(P=0.698).CONCLUSION:The size and volume of muscles dominant eyes of AACE subjects change significantly to overcome binocular diplopia.The LR muscle become larger to compensate for the enhanced convergence in the AACE.

Research progress on dynamic monitoring of ctDNA and drug resistance related concomitant mutations in non-small cell lung cancer

Owing to significantly prolonged survival,targeted therapy has become standardized recommendation for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with mutated driver genes.However,the genetic status of lung cancer patients is dynamic.By dynamically monitoring the evolution of genes status,differential genes and concomitant genes related to progressive disease could be confirmed early,so as to achieve a more accurate and comprehensive insight of the whole process management of targeted therapy for lung cancer patients.Under the guidance of accurate genetic testing results,it is helpful to provide patients with more effective,long-term,and stable individualized targeted therapy.

Acute acquired concomitant esotropia with congenital paralytic strabismus:A case report

BACKGROUND An unusual case of acute acquired concomitant esotropia(AACE)with congenital paralytic strabismus in the right eye is reported.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old woman presented with complaints of binocular diplopia and esotropia of the right eye lasting 4 years and head tilt to the left since 1 year after birth.The Bielschowsky head tilt test showed right hypertropia on a right head tilt.She did not report any other intracranial pathology.A diagnosis of AACE and right congenital paralytic strabismus was made.Then,she underwent medial rectus muscle recession and lateral rectus muscle resection combined with inferior oblique muscle myectomy in the right eye.One day after surgery,the patient reported that she had no diplopia at either distance or near fixation and was found to be orthophoric in the primary position;furthermore,her head posture immediately and markedly improved.CONCLUSION In future clinical work,in cases of AACE combined with other types of strabismus,we can perform conventional single surgery for both at the same time,and the two types of strabismus can be solved simultaneously.

Simultaneous Neurocysticercosis and Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in a Patient Living with HIV—Case Report

Background: Simultaneous central nervous system infection by more than one pathogen is very uncommon, even in individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Purpose and methods: We report a clinical case of an HIV positive patient with simultaneous biopsy-confirmed neurotoxoplasmosis and neurocysticercosis. Results and conclusion: In this report, we present a rare occurrence of two simultaneous parasitic infections of the central nervous system in a patient with advanced immunosuppression due to HIV-1 infection. Despite the limited data available regarding the prevalence of such co-infections, this case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and promptly identifying concurrent neurologic diseases to enable accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment in these patients.

生物检材中氧乐果及其分解物的GC-MS分析

A method was established for the analysis of omethoate and it’s concomitants and decomposed product in biological samples by GC-MS.This method is rapid,reliable and accurate.

Long-term outcomes of a phase Ⅱ randomized controlled trial comparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy with or without weekly cisplatin for the treatment of locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background:Salvage treatment for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is complicated and relatively limited.Radiotherapy,combined with effective concomitant chemotherapy,may improve clinical treatment outcomes.We conducted a phase Ⅱ randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concomitant weekly cisplatin on locally recurrent NPC.Methods:Between April 2002 and January 2008,69 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic locally recurrent NPC were randomly assigned to either concomitant chemoradiotherapy group(n = 34) or radiotherapy alone group(n = 35).All patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy.The radiotherapy dose for both groups was 60 Gy in 27 fractions for 37 days(range 23-53 days).The concomitant chemotherapy schedule was cisplatin 30 mg/m^2 by intravenous infusion weekly during radiotherapy.Results:The median follow-up period of all patients was 35 months(range 2-112 months).Between concomitant chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy groups,there was only significant difference in the 3-year and 5-year overall survival(OS) rates(68.7%vs.42.2%,P = 0.016 and 41.8%vs.27.5%,P = 0.049,respectively).Subgroup analysis showed that concomitant chemoradiotherapy significantly improved the 5-year OS rate especially for patients in stage rT3-4(33.0%vs.13.2%,P = 0.009),stages Ⅲ-Ⅳ(34.3%vs.13.2%,P = 0.006),recurrence interval >30 months(49.0%vs.20.6%,P = 0.017),and tumor volume >26 cm^3(37.6%vs.0%,P = 0.006).Conclusion:Compared with radiotherapy alone,concomitant chemoradiotherapy can improve OS of the patients with locally recurrent NPC,especially those with advanced T category(rT3-4) and stage(lll-IV) diseases,recurrence intervals >30 months,and tumor volume >26 cm^3.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection:Meeting the challenge of antimicrobial resistance

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is paramount for the management of prevalent gastrointestinal disorders including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Due to the wide increase in prevalence of H. pylori resistance to antibiotics, clarithromycin-based triple therapies are not any more suitable for unconditional empiric use, and should not be recommended, unless local resistance to this antibiotic is low (< 20%). Alternative strategies have been proposed to overcome the issue of increasing clarithromycin resistance, and some of them are already implemented in clinical practice. These comprise: (1) adoption of novel, more effective, empirical treatments: bismuth quadruple, sequential, non-bismuth quadruple (concomitant), dual-concomitant (hybrid), and levofloxacin-based regimens, the latter mainly designated as second-line/rescue options; (2) perspectives for a susceptibility-guided (tailored) therapeutic approach based on culture-free molecular testing methods; and (3) adjunct use of probiotics to improve eradication rates. The present article is aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of current and emerging strategies in the treatment of H. pylori infection, focusing on the challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Comparison of concomitant and subsequent cholangiocarcinomas associated with hepatolithiasis:Clinical implications

AIM:To compare the outcomes of concomitant cholangiocarcinoma(C-CCA)and subsequent cholangiocar-cinoma(S-CCA)associated with hepatolithiasis. METHODS:From December 1987 to December 2007, 276 patients underwent hepatic resection for hepa-tolithiasis in Changhua Christian Hospital.Sixty-five patients were excluded due to incomplete medical records and the remaining 211 patients constituted our study population base.Ten patients were diag-nosed with C-CCA based on the preoperative biopsy or postoperative pathology.During the follow-up period, 12 patients developed S-CCA.The diagnosis of S-CCA was made by image-guided biopsy or by pathology if surgical intervention was carried out.Patient charts were reviewed to collect clinical information.Parameters such as CCA incidence,interval from operation to CCA diagnosis,interval from CCA diagnosis to disease-related death,follow-up time,and mortality rate were calculated for both the C-CCA and S-CCA groups.The outcomes of the C-CCA and S-CCA groups were math-ematically compared and analysed. RESULTS:Our study demonstrates the clinical implications and the survival outcomes of C-CCA and S-CCA. Among the patients with unilateral hepatolithiasis,the incidence rates of C-CCA and S-CCA were fairly similar (4.8%vs 4.5%,respectively,P=0.906).However,for the patients with bilateral hepatolithiasis,the incidence rate of S-CCA(12.2%)was higher than that of C-CCA (4.7%),although the sample size was limited and the difference between two groups was not statistically sig-nificant(P=0.211).The average follow-up time was 56 mo for the C-CCA group and 71 mo for the S-CCA group.Regard to the average time intervals from operation to CCA diagnosis,S-CCA was diagnosed after 67 mo from the initial hepatectomy.The average time intervals from the diagnoses of CCA to disease-related death was 41 mo for the C-CCA group and 4 mo for the S-CCA group,this difference approached statistical sig-nificance(P=0.075).Regarding the rates of overall and disease-related mortality,the C-CCA group had signifi-cantly lower overall mortality(70%vs 100%,P=0.041) and disease-related mortality(60%vs 100%,P=0.015) than the S-CCA group.For the survival outcomes of two groups,the Kaplan-Meier curves corresponding to each group also demonstrated better survival outcomes for the C-CCA group(log rank P=0.005).In the C-CCA group,three patients were still alive at the time of data analysis,all of them had free surgical margins and did not have pathologically proven lymph node metastasis at the time of the initial hepatectomy.In the S-CCA group,only one patient had chance to undergo a second hepatectomy,and all 12 S-CCA patients had died at the time of data analysis. CONCLUSION:C-CCA has better outcomes than S-CCA.The first hepatectomy is crucial because most patients with recurrent CCA or S-CCA are not eligible for repeated surgical intervention.

A review of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis, treatment, and methods to detect eradication

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) affects nearly half of the world’s population and, thus, is one of the most frequent and persistent bacterial infections worldwide. H. pylori is associated with peptic ulcer disease, gastric ulcers, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer. Various diagnostic methods exist to detect infection, and the choice of one method or another depends on several factors, such as accessibility, advantages and disadvantages of each method, cost, and the age of patients. Once H. pylori infection is diagnosed, the clinician decides whether treatment is necessity, according to the patient’s clinical condition. Typically, eradication of H. pylori is recommended for treatment and prevention of the infection. Cure rates with the standard triple therapy are acceptable, and effective quadruple therapies, sequential therapies, and concomitant therapies have been introduced as key alternatives to treat H. pylori infection. In this work, we review the main diagnostic methods used to identify H. pylori infection and to confirm eradication of infection. In addition, key factors related to treatment are reviewed.

A new look at anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy

With the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance,the treatment success of standard triple therapy has recently declined to unacceptable levels (i.e.,80% or less) in most countries.Therefore,several treatment regimens have emerged to cure Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection.Novel first-line anti-H.pylori therapies in 2011 include sequential therapy,concomitant quadruple therapy,hybrid (dual-concomitant) therapy and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy.After the failure of standard triple therapy,a bismuth-containing quadruple therapy comprising a proton pump inhibitor (PPI),bismuth,tetracycline and metronidazole can be employed as rescue treatment.Recently,triple therapy combining a PPI,levofloxacin and amoxicillin has been proposed as an alternative to the standard rescue therapy.This salvage regimen can achieve a higher eradication rate than bismuth-containing quadruple therapy in some regions and has less adverse effects.The best second-line therapy for patients who fail to eradicate H.pylori with first-line therapies containing clarithromycin,amoxicillin and metronidazole is unclear.However,a levofloxacin-based triple therapy is an accepted rescue treatment.Most guidelines suggest that patients requiring third-line therapy should be referred to a medical center and treated according to the antibiotic susceptibility test.Nonetheless,an empirical therapy (such as levofloxacin-based or furazolidone-based therapies) can be employed to terminate H.pylori infection if antimicrobial sensitivity data are unavailable.

Hybrid therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection:A systemic review and meta-analysis

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of hybrid therapy with other recommended regimens using metaanalysis.METHODS: Bibliographical searches for randomized trials comparing hybrid and other therapies were performed in Pubmed, the Cochrane Library and relevant congresses up to February 2015 using the following keywords(all fields and/or me SH):("Helicobacter pylori " or "H. pylori") and("hybrid therapy" or "sequential-concomitant therapy"). metaanalyses were performed with Cochrane Review manager 5.1. The random effect model proposed by Der Simonian and Laird and the mantel-Haenszel method were used to estimate the pooled relative risk and 95%CI of the efficacy outcomes between hybrid therapy and other eradication therapies. RESULTS: Eight studies(2516 subjects) met entry criteria. The antimicrobial resistance in the study groups ranged from 6.9% to 23.5%. The mean cure rates of hybrid therapy by intention-to-treat(ITT) and perprotocol analyses were 88.5%(n = 1207; range: 80.0% to 97.4%) and 93.3%(n = 1109; range: 85.7% to99.1%), respectively. meta-analysis showed there was no significant difference in ITT eradication rate between hybrid and sequential therapy(relative risk: 1.01; 95%CI: 0.92-1.11). Subgroup analysis revealed hybrid therapy was more effective than sequential therapy in the non-Italian populations(95%CI: 1.01-1.18) and was only less effective in one, Italian population(95%CI: 0.83-0.98). There was no significant difference in eradication rate between hybrid therapy and concomitant therapy(95%CI: 0.93-1.02). No head-tohead comparisons of hybrid therapy and standard triple therapy or bismuth quadruple therapy were found. However, a multicenter, randomized trial showed that reverse hybrid therapy was superior to standard triple therapy(95.5% vs 88.6% ITT; P = 0.011).CONCLUSION: Hybrid therapy appears to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for H. pylori infection in the era of increasing antibiotic resistance.

Nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Chinese regions: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIM: To evaluate the applicability of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication in Chinese regions.METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy between sequential therapy or triple therapy for H. pylori eradication in Chinese regions. The defined Chinese regions include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The primary outcome was the H. pylori eradication rate; the secondary outcome was the compliance with therapy. The Pub Med, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published in the period up to March 2016 with no language restriction.RESULTS: We reviewed six randomized controlled trials and 1616 patients. In 3 trials comparing concomitant quadruple therapy with triple therapy, the H. pylori eradication rate was significantly higher for 7-d nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than for 7-d triple therapy(91.2% vs 77.9%, risk ratio = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.09-1.25). In 3 trials comparing quadruple therapy with sequential therapy, the eradication rate was not significant between groups(86.9% vs 86.0%). However, higher compliance was achieved with concomitant therapy than with sequential therapy.CONCLUSION: The H. pylori eradication rate was higher for nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than for triple therapy. Moreover, higher compliance was achieved with nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than with sequential therapy. Thus, nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy should be the first-line treatment in Chinese regions.

Optimizing clarithromycin-containing therapy for Helicobacter pylori in the era of antibiotic resistance

The efficacy of triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection has dramatically declined over the last decade,largely related to increasing clarithromycin resistance rates.From a microbiological standpoint,bismuth quadruple therapy is the ideal replacement since it combines drugs for which resistance does not impair its efficacy.Nonetheless,several obstacles such as availability,complexity or tolerance prevent a general implementation of bismuth quadruple therapy,so nonbismuth quadruple regimens remain the best firstline treatment in clinical practice in many geographical areas.We review the rationale and efficacy of several optimization tools(increasing the length of duration,high-dose acid suppression,probiotics),which have been largely evaluated over the last 5 years to increase the effectiveness of standard triple therapy.Then,we update available evidence on the effectiveness of several non-bismuth quadruple therapies(sequential,concomitant,hybrid,miscellaneous therapy),which have gained interest lately.We also revise evidence on the efficacy of the aforementioned optimization tools for non-bismuth quadruples schemes and,finally we provide a novel regionalized therapeutic algorithm,based on novel formulas recently developed for predicting the outcome of non-bismuth quadruple regimens,upon local antibiotic resistance rates.

Hybrid, sequential and concomitant therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM: To compare hybrid therapy(HT) with traditional sequential therapy(ST) and concomitant therapy(CT) for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication.METHODS: We performed an electronic search of Pub Med, Embase, and the CENTRAL database. Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of HT were included in the meta-analysis. The primary outcome was the eradication rate of H. pylori. The secondary outcomes included the compliance rate and adverse event rate. Effect estimates were pooled using the random-effects model.RESULTS: Twelve studies were included. Pooled results showed no significant differences in eradication rate between HT and ST in per-protocol(PP) analysis(RR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.94-1.12, P = 0.59) or in intention-totreat(ITT) analysis(RR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.89-1.12, P = 0.94). HT and ST showed similarly high compliance rate(96% vs 98%, P = 0.55) and acceptable adverse event rate(30.3% vs 28.2%, P = 0.63). No significant results were seen in the eradication rate between HT and CT in PP analysis(RR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.96-1.05, P = 0.76) or in ITT analysis(RR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.95-1.03, P = 0.47). HT displayed a slightly higher compliance rate than CT(95.8% vs 93.2%, P < 0.05). The adverse event rates of HT and CT were similar(39.5% vs 44.2%, P = 0.24).CONCLUSION: Compared with ST or CT, HT yields a similar eradication rate, high compliance rate, and acceptable safety profiles.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: Past, present and future

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is a major human patho-gen associated with significant morbidity and mortal-ity. However, after decades of efforts, treatment of H. pylori remains a challenge for physicians, as there is no universally effective regimen. Due to the rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, mainly to clar-ithromycin, efficacy of standard triple therapies has declined to unacceptably low levels in most parts of the world. Novel regimens, specifically experimented to improve the therapeutic outcome against antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains, are now recommended as first-line empirical treatment options providing high ef-ficacy(reportedly > 90% in intention to treat analysis) even in high clarithromycin resistance settings. These include the bismuth quadruple, concomitant, sequential and hybrid therapies. Due to the rapid development of quinolone resistance, levofloxacin-based regimens should be reserved as second-line/rescue options. Adjunct use of probiotics has been proposed in order to boost eradication rates and decrease occurrence of treatment-related side effects. Molecular testing meth-ods are currently available for the characterization of H. pylori therapeutic susceptibility, including genotypic detection of macrolide resistance and evaluation of the cytochrome P450 2C19 status known to affect the me-tabolism of proton pump inhibitors. In the future, use of these techniques may allow for culture-free, non-invasive tailoring of therapy for H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori:Future perspectives in therapy reflecting three decades of experience

The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance has created a need to reassess the established Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication protocols,and to develop new ones.Various bacterial and host factors are evaluated,and their contribution to eradication failure is estimated.For a long time being considered the cornerstone eradication scheme,the standard triple therapy has been replaced with novel,more efficient regimens,namely sequential and concomitant,along with the emergence of a new design of bismuth quadruple therapy.A rescue levofloxacin based regimen has overcome the fear of therapy failure due to higher prevalence of dual resistant(clarithromycin and metronidazole)H.pylori.Culture-free and efficient susceptibility test are reestablishing the concept of tailored therapy,making eradication success close to originally desirable rates.Alleviating therapy side effects and improving patient compliance are as important as choosing appropriate eradication schemes,so various probiotic compound supplements are taken into consideration.Finally,we summarize the emerging efforts and obstacles in creating efficientH.pylori vaccine.

Optimal treatment strategy for Helicobacter pylori:Era of antibiotic resistance

Standard triple therapy, consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, plus amoxicillin and clarithromycin, has been the most commonly used first-line treatment regimen for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication for many years worldwide. However, as a result of increased resistance to antibiotics, H. pylori eradication rates with use of standard triple therapy have been declining and recently reached &#x0003c; 80% in many countries. Several new strategies to enhance the eradication rate of H. pylori have been studied. Currently, among the alternative first-line eradication regimens, concomitant and hybrid regimens have shown excellent results and could be the optimal treatment option. Although clinical usefulness of rescue therapy for patients in whom eradication of H. pylori with non-bismuth quadruple regimen has failed is unclear, levofloxacin-based quadruple therapy has shown promise as a rescue treatment. The choice of third-line therapy depends on factors such as the local pattern of antibiotic resistance, drug availability, and previous treatment. We hope that a simple method for detection of antibiotic susceptibility using polymerase chain reaction would be a possible alternative to administration of &#x0201c;tailored treatment&#x0201d; in the era of increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.

Successful laparoscopic splenectomy after living-donor liver transplantation for thrombocytopenia caused by antiviral therapy

Although interferon (IFN) based therapy for recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation has been widely accepted, it induces various adverse effects such as thrombocytopenia, resulting in its interruption. Recently, concomitant splenectomy at the time of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been tried to overcome this problem, but this procedure leads to several complications such as excessive intraoperative bleeding and serious infection. A 60-year-old female received LDLT using a left lobe graft from her second son for liver failure caused by hepatitis C-related cirrhosis. Six months after LDLT, she was diagnosed as recurrent HCV infection by liver biopsy. IFN monotherapy was started from 7 mo after LDLT and her platelet count decreased to less than 50 000/μL, which thus made it necessary to discontinue the treatment. We decided to attempt laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) under general anesthesia. Since intra-abdominal findings did not show any adhesion formations around the spleen, LS could be successfully performed. After LS, since her platelet count immediately increased to 225 000/μL 14 d after operation, IFN therapy was restarted and we could convert the combination therapy of IFN and ribavirin, resulting in no detectable viral marker. Inconclusion, LS can be performed safely even after LDLT, and LS after LDLT is a feasible and less invasive modality for thrombocytopenia caused by antiviral therapy.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection:Which regimen first?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a well-known human pathogen that plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancies. Although H. pylori is susceptible to several antimicrobials, this infection has proven challenging to cure because of the increasing prevalence of bacterial strains that are resistant to the most commonly used antimicrobials, particularly clarithromycin. An effective (i.e., &#x0003e; 90%) first-line therapy is mandatory for avoiding supplementary treatments and testing, and more importantly for preventing the development of secondary resistance. This study reviews the recent literature on first-line therapies for H. pylori. The eradication rates following standard triple therapy (a proton pump inhibitor plus amoxicillin and clarithromycin) for H. pylori infection are declining worldwide. Several first-line strategies have been proposed to increase the eradication rate, including extending the treatment duration to 14 d, the use of a four-drug regimen (bismuth-containing quadruple, sequential, and concomitant treatments), and the use of novel antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones. However, the efficacy of these regimens is controversial. A first-line eradication regimen should be based on what works best in a defined geographical area and must take into account the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in that region.