The 10 day concomitant therapy yielded an eradication rate of nearly 90%. Antibiotic resistance, CYP2C19 polymorphisms and their interactions were closely associated with regimen efficacy.

BACKGROUND Recurrence of primary choledocholithiasis commonly occurs after complete removal of stones by therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The potential causes of the recurrence of choledocholithiasis after ERCP are unclear. AIM To analyze the potential causes of the recurrence of choledocholithiasis after ERCP. METHODS The ERCP database of our medical center for the period between January 2007 and January 2016 was retrospectively reviewed, and information regarding eligible patients who had choledocholithiasis recurrence was collected. A 1:1 case-control study was performed for this investigation. Data including general characteristics of the patients, past medical history, ERCP-related factors, common bile duct (CBD)-related factors, laboratory indicators, and treatment was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysisly. RESULTS First recurrence of choledocholithiasis occurred in 477 patients; among these patients, the second and several instance (≥ 3 times) recurrence rates were 19.5% and 44.07%, respectively. The average time to first choledocholithiasis recurrence was 21.65 mo. A total of 477 patients who did not have recurrence were selected as a control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age > 65 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.556; P = 0.018), combined history of choledocholithotomy (OR = 2.458; P < 0.01), endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (OR = 5.679; P = 0.000), endoscopic sphincterotomy (OR = 3.463; P = 0.000), CBD stent implantation (OR = 5.780; P = 0.000), multiple ERCP procedures (≥2; OR = 2.75; P = 0.000), stones in the intrahepatic bile duct (OR = 2.308; P = 0.000), periampullary diverticula (OR = 1.627; P < 0.01), choledocholithiasis diameter ≥ 10 mm (OR = 1.599; P < 0.01), bile duct-duodenal fistula (OR = 2.69; P < 0.05), combined biliary tract infections (OR = 1.057; P < 0.01), and no preoperative antibiotic use (OR = 0.528; P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the recurrence of choledocholithiasis after ERCP. CONCLUSION Patient age greater than 65 years is an independent risk factor for the development of recurrent choledocholithiasis following ERCP, as is history of biliary surgeries, measures during ERCP, and prevention of postoperative complications.

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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in the world and the etiological agent for most gastric cancer (GC). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine, and its deregulation is closely associated with the tumorigenesis of several cancers. Recent studies have revealed that the IL-1β-31 and -511T alleles are closely associated with gastric carcinogenesis due to their roles in the induction of gastric precancerous lesions and hypochlorhydria. Furthermore, H. pylori infection has a synergistic effect on the development of GC with IL-1β gene polymorphisms, and the highest prevalence of severe gastric abnormalities are found in patients with both host and bacterial high-risk genotypes (cagA(+)/vacAs1(+)/IL-1β-511T). Therefore, these recent advances demonstrate that H. pylori synergistic with IL-1β gene polymorphisms contribute to the gastric carcinogenesis by their involvement in precancerous gastric lesions and low gastric acid secretion.

AIMTo explore the natural history of covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) in absence of medication intervention.METHODSConsecutive outpatient cirrhotic patients in a Chinese tertiary care hospital were enrolled and evaluated for CHE diagnosis. They were followed up for a mean of 11.2 ± 1.3 mo. Time to the first cirrhosis-related complications requiring hospitalization, including overt HE (OHE), resolution of CHE and death/transplantation, were compared between CHE and no-CHE patients. Predictors for complication(s) and death/transplantation were also analyzed.RESULTSA total of 366 patients (age: 47.2 ± 8.6 years, male: 73.0%) were enrolled. CHE was identified in 131 patients (35.8%). CHE patients had higher rates of death and incidence of complications requiring hospitalization, including OHE, compared to unimpaired patients. Moreover, 17.6% of CHE patients developed OHE, 42.0% suffered persistent CHE, and 19.8% of CHE spontaneously resolved. In CHE patients, serum albumin < 30 g/L (HR = 5.22, P = 0.03) was the sole predictor for developing OHE, and blood creatinine > 133 μmol/L (HR = 4.75, P = 0.036) predicted mortality. Child-Pugh B/C (HR = 0.084, P < 0.001) and OHE history (HR = 0.15, P = 0.014) were predictors of spontaneous resolution of CHE.CONCLUSIONCHE exacerbates, persists or resolves without medication intervention in clinically stable cirrhosis. Triage of patients based on these predictors will allow for more cost-effect management of CHE.