Data are available such that choice of Helicobacter pylori therapy for an individual patient can be reliably predicted. Here, treatment success is defined as a cure rate of 90% or greater. Treatment ...outcome in a population or a patient can be calculated based on the effectiveness of a regimen for infections with susceptible and with resistant strains coupled with the knowledge of the prevalence of resistance (ie, based on formal measurement, clinical experience, or both). We provide the formula for predicting outcome and we illustrate the calculations. Because clarithromycin-containing triple therapy and 10-day sequential therapy are now only effective in special populations, they are considered obsolete; neither should continue to be used as empiric therapies (ie, 7- and 14-day triple therapies fail when clarithromycin resistance exceeds 5% and 15%, respectively, and 10-day sequential therapy fails when metronidazole resistance exceeds 20%). Therapy should be individualized based on prior history and whether the patient is in a high-risk group for resistance. The preferred choices for Western countries are 14-day concomitant therapy, 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy, and 14-day hybrid sequential-concomitant therapy. We also provide details regarding the successful use of fluoroquinolone-, rifabutin-, and furazolidone-containing therapies. Finally, we provide recommendations for the efficient development (ie, identification and optimization) of new regimens, as well as how to prevent or minimize failures. The trial-and-error approach for identifying and testing regimens frequently resulted in poor treatment success. The described approach allows outcome to be predicted and should simplify treatment and drug development.
CONTEXT Tumor recurrence is a major issue for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative liver resection. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between nucleoside analogue use ...and risk of tumor recurrence in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)−related HCC after curative surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A nationwide cohort study between October 2003 and September 2010. Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Among 100 938 newly diagnosed HCC patients, we identified 4569 HBV-related HCC patients who received curative liver resection for HCC between October 2003 and September 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The risk of first tumor recurrence was compared between patients not taking nucleoside analogues (untreated cohort, n = 4051) and patients taking nucleoside analogues (treated cohort, n = 518). Cumulative incidences and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated after adjusting for competing mortality. RESULTS The treated cohort had a higher prevalence of liver cirrhosis when compared with the untreated cohort (48.6% vs 38.7%; P < .001), but lower risk of HCC recurrence (n = 106 20.5% vs n = 1765 43.6%; P < .001), and lower overall death (n = 55 10.6% vs n = 1145 28.3%; P < .001). After adjusting for competing mortality, the treated cohort had a significantly lower 6-year HCC recurrence rate (45.6%; 95% CI, 36.5%-54.6% vs untreated, 54.6%; 95% CI, 52.5%-56.6%; P < .001). Six-year overall mortalities for treated cohorts were 29.0% (95% CI, 20.0%-38.0%) and for untreated 42.4% (95% CI, 40.0%-44.7%; P < .001). On modified Cox regression analysis, nucleoside analogue use (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.55-0.81; P < .001), statin use (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.53-0.87; P = .002), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin use (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.73-0.88; P < .001) were independently associated with a reduced risk of HCC recurrence. Multivariable stratified analyses verified the association in all subgroups of patients, including those who were noncirrhotic (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.76) and diabetic (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31-0.89). CONCLUSION Nucleoside analogue use was associated with a lower risk of HCC recurrence among patients with HBV-related HCC after liver resection.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be a cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its high prevalence challenges current surveillance strategies. We aimed to evaluate HCC incidences in ...different risk stratifications for noncirrhotic NAFLD. Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we located 31,571 patients with NAFLD between the years 1998 and 2012. After excluding other causes of hepatitis, underlying cirrhosis or malignancy, 18,080 patients were recruited for final analysis. Cumulative incidences of HCC were analyzed after adjusting for competing mortality. With a median follow-up duration of 6.32 years in the study cohort, the 10-year cumulative incidence of HCC was 2.73% 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.69-3.76%. Hepatoprotectant was used as a surrogate marker for elevated serum alanine transaminase (ALT). After adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, gout, statin use, metformin use and aspirin use, elevated ALT was independently associated with an increased HCC risk hazard ratio (HR) 6.80, 95% CI: 3.00-15.42; p < 0.001. Multivariate stratified analysis verified this association in all subgroups (HR> 1.0). Moreover, increased age (HR 1.08 per year, 95% CI: 1.05-1.11) and statin use (HR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.12-0.68) were also identified as independent risk factors. The 10-year cumulative HCC incidence was highest in older (age >55 years) patients with ALT elevation (12.41%, 95% CI: 5.99-18.83%), but lowest in younger patients without ALT elevation (0.36%, 95% CI: 0-1.08%). The incidence of HCC was relatively low in patients with clinically noncirrhotic NAFLD, however, HCC risk was significantly increased in older patients experiencing an elevated serum ALT.
Summary
Background
There remains an unmet need for convenient biomarkers to assess the risks of discontinuing nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
Aim
To investigate if ...hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) is an independent of surface antigen (HBsAg) for risk prediction of NA cessation.
Methods
This prospective multicentre study enrolled 135 CHB patients who stopped entecavir or tenofovir after achieving viral remission for a median of 25.2 months. All patients stopped NA with negative HBeAg and undetectable viral DNA, and were then observed for clinical relapse and HBsAg loss. Predictors including HBsAg and HBcrAg levels were explored using Cox proportional hazard model and weighted to develop a risk score.
Results
During a median follow‐up of 25.9 months, clinical relapse and HBsAg loss occurred in 66 and eight patients, respectively, with a 5‐year cumulative incidence of 56.1% (95% CI 46.7‐66.0%) and 8.8% (95% CI 4.3‐17.4%), respectively. HBcrAg was an independent relapse predictor, as well as HBsAg, age, ALT and tenofovir use. A score (SCALE‐B) was calculated by the equation of 35*HBsAg (log IU/mL) + 20*HBcrAg (log U/mL) + 2*age (year) + ALT (U/L) + 40 for tenofovir use. The concordance rates for clinical relapse were 0.87, 0.88, 0.87, 0.85 and 0.90 at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. Moreover, HBsAg loss occurred exclusively in low‐risk patients predicted by the score.
Conclusions
Serum HBcrAg and HBsAg levels were independent predictors of off‐NA relapse and can be factored into a risk score to guide treatment cessation in patients with CHB.
Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome composition alterations affect neurodegeneration through neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we evaluate gut ...microbiota alterations and host cytokine responses in a population of Taiwanese patients with PD.
Fecal microbiota communities from 80 patients with PD and 77 age and gender-matched controls were assessed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Diet and comorbidities were controlled in the analyses. Plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, IL-18, GM-CSF, IFNγ, and TNFα were measured by a multiplex immunoassay and relationships between microbiota, clinical characteristics, and cytokine levels were analyzed in the PD group. We further examined the cytokine changes associated with the altered gut microbiota seen in patients with PD in another independent cohort of 120 PD patients and 120 controls.
Microbiota from patients with PD was altered relative to controls and dominated by Verrucomicrobia, Mucispirillum, Porphyromonas, Lactobacillus, and Parabacteroides. In contrast, Prevotella was more abundant in controls. The abundances of Bacteroides were more increased in patients with non-tremor PD subtype than patients with tremor subtype. Bacteroides abundance was correlated with motor symptom severity defined by UPDRS part III motor scores (rho = 0.637 95% confidence interval 0.474 to 0.758, P < 0.01). Altered microbiota was correlated with plasma concentrations of IFNγ and TNFα. There was a correlation between Bacteroides and plasma level of TNFα (rho = 0.638 95% CI: 0.102-0.887, P = 0.02); and a correlation between Verrucomicrobia abundance and plasma concentrations of IFNγ (rho = 0.545 95% CI - 0.043-0.852, P = 0.05). The elevated plasma cytokine responses were confirmed in an additional independent 120 patients with PD and 120 controls (TNFα: PD vs. control 8.51 ± 4.63 pg/ml vs. 4.82 ± 2.23 pg/ml, P < 0.01; and IFNγ: PD vs. control: 38.45 ± 7.12 pg/ml vs. 32.79 ± 8.03 pg/ml, P = 0.03).
This study reveals altered gut microbiota in PD and its correlation with clinical phenotypes and severity in our population. The altered plasma cytokine profiles associated with gut microbiome composition alterations suggest aberrant immune responses may contribute to inflammatory processes in PD.
The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the long‐term safety following eradication therapy are important issues in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection. The prevalence of ...clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole resistance of H. pylori has increased to 21%, 27%, and 45%, respectively, in the Asia‐Pacific region. Personalized treatment guided by susceptibility testing may provide a reliably excellent eradication rate in the first‐line treatment but is costly and not widely available. Population‐specific empirical therapy according to the local prevalence of antibiotic resistance may be an alternative strategy. Levofloxacin‐based therapy and bismuth quadruple therapy are the recommended second‐line rescue therapy. Susceptibility testing or genotypic resistance‐guided therapy is the preferred treatment for refractory H. pylori infection, but empirical therapy may be an acceptable alternative. Eradication of H. pylori leads to short‐term perturbation of gut microbiota. The diversity of gut microbiota can be restored months after eradication therapy, but the speed of recovery varies with regimens. The short‐term increases of antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae may be restored to basal states months after H. pylori eradication. Future studies that apply in‐depth sequencing, such as shotgun metagenomics sequencing, are needed to clarify whether the compositions of gut microbiota at the species level are fully restored.
Summary Background Major adjuvant treatments for pancreatic adenocarcinoma include fluorouracil, gemcitabine, chemoradiation, and chemoradiation plus fluorouracil or gemcitabine. Since the optimum ...regimen remains inconclusive, we aimed to compare these treatments in terms of overall survival after tumour resection and in terms of grade 3–4 toxic effects with a systematic review and random-effects Bayesian network meta-analysis. Methods We searched PubMed, trial registries, and related reviews and abstracts for randomised controlled trials comparing the above five treatments with each other or observation alone before April 30, 2013. We estimated relative hazard ratios (HRs) for death and relative odds ratios (ORs) for toxic effects among different therapies by combining HRs for death and survival durations and ORs for toxic effects of included trials. We assessed the effects of prognostic factors on survival benefits of adjuvant therapies with meta-regression. Findings Ten eligible articles reporting nine trials were included. Compared with observation, the HRs for death were 0·62 (95% credible interval 0·42–0·88) for fluorouracil, 0·68 (0·44–1·07) for gemcitabine, 0·91 (0·55–1·46) for chemoradiation, 0·54 (0·15–1·80) for chemoradiation plus fluorouracil, and 0·44 (0·10–1·81) for chemoradiation plus gemcitabine. The proportion of patients with positive lymph nodes was inversely associated with the survival benefit of adjuvant treatments. After adjustment for this factor, fluorouracil (HR 0·65, 0·49–0·84) and gemcitabine (0·59, 0·41–0·83) improved survival compared with observation, whereas chemoradiation resulted in worse survival than fluorouracil (1·69, 1·12–2·54) or gemcitabine (1·86, 1·04–3·23). Chemoradiation plus gemcitabine was ranked the most toxic, with significantly higher haematological toxic effects than second-ranked chemoradiation plus fluorouracil (OR 13·33, 1·01–169·36). Interpretation Chemotherapy with fluorouracil or gemcitabine is the optimum adjuvant treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and reduces mortality after surgery by about a third. Chemoradiation plus chemotherapy is less effective in prolonging survival and is more toxic than chemotherapy. Funding None.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the best choice for curative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases not suitable for surgical intervention, but efforts should be made to reduce the risk ...of tumor recurrence. We aimed to investigate the association between nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the risk of HCC recurrence post‐RFA. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between July 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012, we screened 48,807 patients with newly diagnosed HBV‐related HCC. We identified 850 patients (200 patients who used NAs for more than 90 days and 650 who never used NA post‐RFA) who received RFA as a potentially curative treatment for HCC. Patients in the NA‐treated cohort were randomly matched 1:2 with patients in the untreated cohort by age, sex, cirrhosis, and the time period between RFA and initiation of NA therapy. Finally, 133 patients were recruited in the NA‐treated group and 266 in the untreated group for analysis. Cumulative incidences of and hazard ratios (HRs) for HCC recurrence were analyzed after adjusting for competing mortality. The HCC recurrence rate of the NA‐treated group was significantly lower than that of the untreated group (2‐year recurrence rate: 41.8%; 95% confidence interval CI: 32.9‐50.6 vs. 54.3%; 95% CI: 48.0‐60.6; modified log‐rank test: P < 0.05). In modified Cox's regression analysis, NA therapy was independently associated with a decreased risk of HCC recurrence (HR, 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50‐0.95; P < 0.05). Multivariate stratified analyses verified the association of NA therapy and decreased HCC recurrence in almost all patient subgroups. Conclusion: NA therapy was associated with a decreased risk of HCC recurrence among patients with HBV‐related HCC post‐RFA. (Hepatology 2016;63:1517‐1527)
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