Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen, associated with a substantial burden from both malignant and non-malignant diseases. The bacterium is classed as a human carcinogen, being strongly ...linked with gastric cancer, the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide and is also associated with common conditions such as dyspepsia and peptic ulcer. Eradication of H. pylori reduces the incidence of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer, as well as the prevalence and costs of managing dyspepsia. Economic analyses suggest that eradication of H. pylori as a means of controlling gastric cancer is cost-effective in high-risk populations. Even in populations at low risk of gastric cancer, there might be other benefits arising from screening and treatment, owing to the effects on non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases. However, public health authorities have been slow to consider the benefits of population-based screening and treatment as a means of reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with the infection. There are also concerns about widespread use of eradication therapy, including antimicrobial resistance and a rise in the prevalence of diseases that are negatively associated with H. pylori, such as GERD, Barrett oesophagus, asthma and obesity. This Review summarizes these issues.
Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in 2018 O'Morain, Neil R.; Dore, Maria P.; O'Connor, Anthony J. P. ...
Helicobacter (Cambridge, Mass.),
September 2018, 2018-Sep, 20180901, Volume:
23, Issue:
S1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Treatment options for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori continue to evolve. There have been many guidelines for H. pylori treatment published, which may lead to some confusion. However, most are ...in agreement with the most recent iteration of the Maastricht treatment guidelines. Triple therapy is still the most frequently used treatment, especially in areas of low clarithromycin resistance. Its best results are achieved when taken for a minimum of 10 days and with high‐dose acid suppression. Quadruple therapy is gaining in popularity particularly in areas with increasing resistance to standard triple therapy. Whether three antibiotics, or bismuth and two antibiotics are used, excellent eradication rates are achieved, albeit with increased side effects. Levofloxacin second‐line therapy is widely used; however bismuth, when available, is an increasingly successful option. Sequential therapy is challenging in terms of compliance and is no longer recommended. This past year witnessed a notable increase in the number of studies based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing and tailored eradication therapy, reflecting the role of culture‐guided treatment, which may well represent the future of H. pylori treatment and prevent the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Alternative treatment regimens for standard triple therapy are urgently needed.
To critically review the evidence on the role of "sequential" regimen for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori ...infection.
Bibliographical searches were performed in MEDLINE and international congresses.
Several pooled-data analyses and meta-analyses have demonstrated that sequential regimen is more effective than standard triple therapy. Sequential therapy is not affected by bacterial (CagA status, infection density) and host factors (underlying disease, smoking). Clarithromycin resistance seems to be the only factor reducing their efficacy. However, even in these patients, an acceptable >75% eradication rate can be achieved. Unfortunately, almost all the studies have been performed in Italy. Whether it is necessary to provide the drugs sequentially or if the 4 components of sequential therapy can be given concurrently is unclear. Nonbismuth quadruple therapy seems to be an effective and safe alternative to triple therapy and is less complex than sequential therapy.
Sequential therapy is a novel promising treatment approach that deserves consideration as a treatment strategy for H. pylori infection. However, further robust assessment across a much broader range of patients is required before sequential therapy could supplant existing treatment regimens and be generally recommended in clinical practice.
The changing epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) across time and geography suggests that environmental factors play a major role in modifying disease expression. Disease emergence in ...developing nations suggests that epidemiological evolution is related to westernisation of lifestyle and industrialisation. The strongest environmental associations identified are cigarette smoking and appendectomy, although neither alone explains the variation in incidence of IBD worldwide. Urbanisation of societies, associated with changes in diet, antibiotic use, hygiene status, microbial exposures and pollution have been implicated as potential environmental risk factors for IBD. Changes in socioeconomic status might occur differently in different geographical areas and populations and, consequently, it is important to consider the heterogeneity of risk factors applicable to the individual patient. Environmental risk factors of individual, familial, community-based, country-based and regionally based origin may all contribute to the pathogenesis of IBD. The geographical variation of IBD provides clues for researchers to investigate possible environmental aetiological factors. The present review aims to provide an update of the literature exploring geographical variability in IBD and to explore the environmental risk factors that may account for this variability.
Although systematic colorectal cancer screening is efficacious, many programmes suffer from low uptake. Few behavioural or attitudinal factors have been identified as being associated with ...participation in colorectal cancer screening. We explored knowledge, beliefs about cancer, subjective health literacy, emotional attitudes to screening, and social influences among individuals invited to a population-based screening programme. Regression modelling of a cross-sectional survey of 2299 individuals (users and non-users) of a population-based Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening programme in Dublin was conducted. Questions were derived from previous theoretically-informed qualitative work and assessed using previously used and validated measures. The primary outcome variable was uptake status (User/Participation or Non-User/Non-participation); multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for screening participation. Stronger fatalistic beliefs independently predicted lower uptake (OR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.90–0.98; P = 0.003). Those aged <65 who disagreed that “cancer can often be cured” also had lower uptake (OR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.22–0.82: P = 0.017). Agreement that the test was disgusting and tempting fate predicted lower uptake (OR = 0.16: 95% CI 0.10–0.27: p < 0.001), while the influence of a partner on decision to be screened was associated with higher uptake (OR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.15–1.50: P < 0.001). Negative cancer-related and screening-related beliefs and emotions are associated with non-participation in FIT (−based screening). Research is warranted to explore if these negative beliefs and emotions are modifiable and, if so, whether this would improve screening uptake. The association between the influence of a partner and screening participation present a challenge around improving uptake among those not in co-habiting relationships.
•Bowel cancer fatalism is associated with non-participation in FIT-based screening•Negative emotional attitudes to FIT-based screening is associated non-participation•Improving uptake among those not in co-habiting relationships is a challenge.
Management of Helicobacter pylori infection is evolving and in this 4th edition of the Maastricht consensus report aspects related to the clinical role of H pylori were looked at again in 2010. In ...the 4th Maastricht/Florence Consensus Conference 44 experts from 24 countries took active part and examined key clinical aspects in three subdivided workshops: (1) Indications and contraindications for diagnosis and treatment, focusing on dyspepsia, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin use, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and extraintestinal manifestations of the infection. (2) Diagnostic tests and treatment of infection. (3) Prevention of gastric cancer and other complications. The results of the individual workshops were submitted to a final consensus voting to all participants. Recommendations are provided on the basis of the best current evidence and plausibility to guide doctors involved in the management of this infection associated with various clinical conditions.
This review summarizes important studies regarding Helicobacter pylori therapy published from April 2019 to April 2020. The main themes that emerge involve studies assessing antibiotic resistance, ...and there is also growing momentum behind the utility of vonoprazan as an alternative to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and also bismuth‐based regimens as a first‐line regimen. Antibiotic resistance is rising wherever it is being assessed, and clarithromycin resistance in particular has reached a point where it may no longer be a viable therapy without previous testing in many regions of the world. The evidence for the efficacy of a bismuth‐based quadruple therapy as a first‐line therapy is now very clearly established, and there is substantial evidence that it is the best performing first‐line therapy. The utility of vonoprazan as an alternative to PPI therapy, especially in resistant and difficult‐to‐treat groups, has also been considered in great detail this year, and it may offer an opportunity in the near future to reduce the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Review: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection 2019 O'Connor, Anthony; Liou, Jyh‐Ming; Gisbert, Javier P. ...
Helicobacter (Cambridge, Mass.),
September 2019, 2019-Sep, 2019-09-00, 20190901, Volume:
24, Issue:
S1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
This review summarizes important studies regarding Helicobacter pylori therapy published from May 2018 to May 2019. The main themes that emerge involve studies assessing the efficacy of bismuth‐based ...regimens. While in recent years the efficacy of bismuth‐based quadruple therapy as a second‐line therapy has been clearly established, there is now substantial evidence that it is the best performing first‐line therapy. Antibiotic resistance was again intensely studied this year, and a clear and dramatic increase in resistance is noted for clarithromycin and levofloxacin; most notably, it may not be possible to support these therapies in most regions of the world much longer without testing. The utility of vonoprazan as an alternative to proton‐pump inhibitor therapy, especially in resistant and difficult to treat groups, has also been considered in greater detail this year, as well as means of supporting and enhancing adherence to therapy. Several studies showed that the diversity of gut microbiota was significantly altered shortly after H pylori eradication. However, the diversity was restored to pre‐treatment state after 2 months in patients treated with triple therapy. More studies are warranted to assess the long‐term changes of gut microbiota after H pylori eradication.
Infliximab (IFX) treatment has shown potentially beneficial effects on bone metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the impact of IFX treatment on ...bone metabolism in antitumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-naive IBD patients using established bone metabolism markers and an in-vitro osteoblast model.
A total of 37 anti-TNFα-naive IBD patients and 20 healthy controls were included. All measurements were performed at baseline and repeated in IBD patients following IFX therapy. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, osteoprotegerin, soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor B ligand and proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured. Bone formation was measured using osteocalcin (OC) and procollagen type 1N propeptide, and bone resorption was measured using serum type 1 collage c-telopeptide. The effect of control and IBD patient sera on human osteoblast viability and differentiation was analysed.
OC level was higher in controls than IBD patients (P=0.018). After IFX, OC and procollagen type 1N propeptide increased significantly (P=0.002 and 0.011) and (P<0.001 and P=0.016) at weeks 6 and 30 after treatment, respectively. There was a nonsignificant decrease in serum type 1 collage c-telopeptide. After IFX therapy, proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-13 decreased significantly (P=0.016, week 54; P=0.005, week 6 and P=0.025, week 6), respectively. Sera from IBD patients before IFX showed increased osteoblast viability compared with the controls (P=0.003 to P<0.005), but induced reduced osteoblast differentiation. After IFX, viability reduced to control levels, but osteoblast differentiation increased (P=0.041).
IFX treatment induced beneficial effects on bone metabolism. Osteoblast culture results suggest that IBD patients may have increased osteoblast viability, but reduced differentiation, which has implications for bone strength.
Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of sex and deprivation on participation in a population-based faecal immunochemical test (FIT) colorectal cancer screening programme. The study ...population included 9785 individuals invited to participate in two rounds of a population-based biennial FIT-based screening programme, in a relatively deprived area of Dublin, Ireland. Explanatory variables included in the analysis were sex, deprivation category of area of residence and age (at end of screening). The primary outcome variable modelled was participation status in both rounds combined (with “participation” defined as having taken part in either or both rounds of screening). Poisson regression with a log link and robust error variance was used to estimate relative risks (RR) for participation. As a sensitivity analysis, data were stratified by screening round. In both the univariable and multivariable models deprivation was strongly associated with participation. Increasing affluence was associated with higher participation; participation was 26% higher in people resident in the most affluent compared to the most deprived areas (multivariable RR = 1.26: 95% CI 1.21
–
1.30). Participation was significantly lower in males (multivariable RR = 0.96: 95%CI 0.95
–
0.97) and generally increased with increasing age (trend per age group, multivariable RR = 1.02: 95%CI, 1.01
–
1.02). No significant interactions between the explanatory variables were found. The effects of deprivation and sex were similar by screening round. Deprivation and male gender are independently associated with lower uptake of population-based FIT colorectal cancer screening, even in a relatively deprived setting. Development of evidence-based interventions to increase uptake in these disadvantaged groups is urgently required.