Ignasi Puig

Systematic review and meta-analysis: susceptibility-guided versus empirical antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND The cure rate of standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection is unacceptably low. Susceptibility-guided therapies (SGTs) have been proposed as an alternative to standard empirical treatments. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy of SGTs. METHODS A systematic search was performed in multiple databases. Randomized controlled trials comparing cure rates of SGTs versus those of empirical therapy were selected and analysed separately for first- and second-line treatments. A meta-analysis was performed using risk ratio (RR) and number needed to treat (NNT) to measure the effect. RESULTS Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis. In first-line treatment, SGT was more efficacious than empirical 7-10 day triple therapy (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.23, I (2) = 33%; NNT = 8). Most studies used a 7-10 day triple therapy and randomized the patients after endoscopy and/or culture, thus precluding the comparison of SGT versus non-invasive testing and empirical treatment in clinical practice. For second-line therapy, only four studies were found. Results were highly heterogeneous and no significant differences were found (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.82-1.51, I (2) = 87%). CONCLUSIONS Once endoscopy and culture have been performed, SGT is superior to empirical 7 or 10 day triple therapy for first-line treatment. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of SGT in clinical practice, especially when compared with currently recommended first-line quadruple therapies.

How and When Should NSAIDs Be Used for Preventing Post-ERCP Pancreatitis? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be efficacious to prevent pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, the target patients, the type of NSAID, the route of administration and the time of drug delivery remain unclear, as well as the potential efficacy in reducing the severity of pancreatitis, length of hospital stay and mortality. The objective of the study was to evaluate these questions by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Multiple searches were performed in the main databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NSAIDs vs. placebo in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis were included. Primary endpoint of the study was the efficacy for pancreatitis prevention. Sub-analyses were performed to determine the risk reduction in high and low risk patients, and to define optimal time, route of administration, and type of NSAID. Secondary endpoints were safety, moderate to severe pancreatitis prevention and reduction of hospital stay and mortality. Results Nine RCTs enrolling 2133 patients were included. The risk of pancreatitis was lower in the NSAID group than in the placebo group (RR 0.51; 95%CI 0.39–0.66). The number needed to treat was 14. The risk of moderate to severe pancreatitis was also lower in the NSAID group. (RR 0.46; 95%CI 0.28–0.76). No adverse events related to NSAID use were reported. NSAIDs were effective in both high-risk and unselected patients (RR 0.53; 95%CI 0.30–0.93 and RR 0.57; 95%CI 0.37–0.88). In the subanalyses, only rectal administration of either indomethacin (RR 0.54; 95%CI 0.38–0.75) or diclofenac (RR 0.42; 95%CI 0.21–0.84) was shown to be effective. There were not enough data to perform a meta-analysis in hospital stay reduction. No deaths occurred. Conclusion A single rectal dose of indomethacin or diclofenac before or immediately after ERCP is safe and prevents procedure-related pancreatitis both in high risk and in unselected patients.

Systematic review: third-line susceptibility-guided treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: Susceptibility-guided therapies (SGTs) have been proposed as preferable to empirical rescue treatments after two treatment failures. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and efficacy of SGT as third-line therapy. Methods: A systematic search was performed in multiple databases. Studies reporting cure rates of Helicobacter pylori with SGT in third-line therapy were selected. A qualitative analysis describing the current evidence and a pooled mean analysis summarizing the cure rates of SGT in third-line therapy was performed. Results: No randomized controlled trials or comparative studies were found. Four observational studies reported cure rates with SGT in third-line treatment, and three studies which mixed patients with second- and third-line treatment also reported cure rates with SGT. The majority of the studies included the patients when culture had been already obtained, and so the effectiveness of SGT and empirical therapy has never been compared. A pooled mean analysis including four observational studies (283 patients) showed intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates with SGT of 72% (95% confidence interval 56–87%; I2: 92%) and 80% (95% confidence interval 71–90%; I2: 80%), respectively. Conclusions: SGT may be an acceptable option as rescue treatment. However, cure rates are, at best, moderate and this approach has never been compared with a well-devised empirical therapy. The evidence in favor of SGT as rescue therapy is currently insufficient to recommend its use.

Material flow accounting of Spain

Material throughput is a means of measuring the so-called social metabolism, or physical dimensions of a societys consumption, and can be taken as an indirect and approximate indicator of sustainability. Material flow accounting can be used to test the dematerialisation hypothesis, the idea that technological progress causes a decrease in total material used (strong dematerialisation) or material used per monetary unit of output (weak dematerialisation). This paper sets out the results of a material flow analysis for Spain for the period from 1980 to 2000. The analysis reveals that neither strong nor weak dematerialisation took place during the period analysed. Although the population did not increase considerably, materials mobilised by the Spanish economy (DMI) increased by 85% in absolute terms, surpassing GDP growth. In addition, Spain became more dependent on external trade in physical terms. In fact, its imports are more than twice the amount of its exports in terms of weight.

Meta-analysis: Comparative efficacy of H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors for reducing aspiration risk during anaesthesia depending on the administration route and schedule

H2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are widely used for aspiration prophylaxis in patients receiving general anaesthesia. Many randomized trials have compared these agents but it remains unclear which drug type is more effective in reducing the number of patients at risk of complications. The study aimed to compare their efficacy for decreasing the number of patients at risk of acid aspiration during general anaesthesia. Major databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials comparing PPI and H2RA were selected. Sub-analyses were performed considering the dose, the dosing schedule, and the route of administration. Eighteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The main analysis showed a non-significant trend for H2RA being more effective than PPI. Only when both drugs were administered per os, as a single dose and immediately before surgery, was H2RA significantly more effective than PPI. By contrast, the effect of PPI and H2RA was similar when they were administered in two doses (the night before and on the morning of surgery) or when the drugs were given intravenously. A single H2RA dose before surgery is highly effective in reducing the number of patients at risk of acid aspiration. PPI administered in two oral doses or in a single intravenous infusion seems to be as effective as H2RA.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: triple therapy combining a proton-pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori first-line treatment

BACKGROUND Due to clarithromycin resistance, the current efficacy of Helicobacter pylori first-line triple therapies including clarithromycin is low. It seems reasonable to explore alternative clarithromycin-free therapies. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy including a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin and metronidazole (PAM) as first-line H. pylori therapy by systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Studies evaluating PAM in adult patients were included. Meta-analyses comparing PAM with other treatments were performed. The primary endpoint was the ITT eradication rate for H. pylori first-line treatment. In addition, sensitivity analyses ascertained the effects of treatment schedule, dosage and duration on cure rates. RESULTS Ninety-four studies (8061 patients) were included. Meta-analyses comparing PAM versus clarithromycin-including triple therapies showed a significant difference in favour of PPI, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (PAC) (70% versus 77.1%; OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.56-0.88) and PPI, metronidazole and clarithromycin (PMC) therapy (66.4% versus 77.7%; OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.39-0.76). Sensitivity analyses showed a similar efficacy of PAM versus PAC when drugs were administered for 14 days (80% versus 84%; OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.44-1.12). There were not enough studies to perform further comparisons. Number of antibiotic doses (P = 0.012), length of treatment (P < 0.001) and use of high metronidazole doses (P = 0.021) were related to higher cure rates in the sensitivity analysis including observational studies. CONCLUSIONS PAM was less efficacious than clarithromycin-including triple therapies. However, its efficacy was similar to that of PAC when drugs were administered for 14 days, although ITT cure rates did not reach 90%. Use of 14 day, thrice daily and high-metronidazole-dose PAM treatments markedly increased the cure rate.

Splenic abscess as the first manifestation of Crohn's disease

Dear Sir, This report describes a case of Crohns disease presented with a rare extraintestinal complication: splenic abscess. A 60-year-old male without antecedents of interest, consulted for fever of 38–39 °C mainly in the evening for the past month, accompanied by shivering, profuse sweating, left flank pain irradiated to the shoulder and weight loss of 4 kg. He referred placement of dental implants two months before onset of symptoms. On examination, the patient was febrile, with altered general state and painful splenomegaly. Blood test showed leukocytosis (16,400/L, 86.1% neutrophils), haemoglobin 117 g/L, ESR 68 mm in the 1st hour, pattern of dissociated cholestasis (AST 19U/L, ALT 26U/L, ALP 203U/L, GGT 213U/L, total Bb 0.5 mg/dL). No alterations were observed in urine sediment and thoracic X-ray was normal. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed splenomegaly and presence of multiple anechoic hypoechogenic nodules suggestive of splenic abscesses (Fig. 1). Abdominal CT confirmed the presence of abscesses and detected small retroperitoneal adenopathies, with no other findings. Treatment with ceftriaxone and metronidazole was started and puncture aspiration of one of the splenic nodules was positive for Streptococcus mitis . Haemocultures were negative. Transoesophageal echocardiography ruled out infective endocarditis. Figure 1 Splenomegaly and multiple splenic abscesses. As fever persisted despite antibiotic treatment and general status of patient worsened, abdominal CT was repeated, which showed progression of splenic abscesses and splenectomy was programmed. Anatomopathological study confirmed multiple splenic abscesses. PAS/PAS diastase, Gomori, Giemsa, Kinyoun and Mucicarmin stains did …

Valoración y tratamiento de la pancreatitis aguda. Documento de posicionamiento de la Societat Catalana de Digestologia, Societat Catalana de Cirurgia y Societat Catalana de Pàncrees

The incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing. AP is one of the gastrointestinal diseases that most frequently requires hospital admission in affected individuals. In the last few years, considerable scientific evidence has led to substantial changes in the medical and surgical treatment of this disease. New knowledge of the physiopathology of AP indicates that its severity is influenced by its systemic effects (organ failure), especially if the disease is persistent, and also by local complications (fluid collections or necrosis), especially if these become infected. Treatment should be personalized and depends on the patients clinical status, the location of the necrosis, and disease stage.

Fourteen-day high-dose esomeprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole as third-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection

The efficacy of currently recommended third‐line therapies for Helicobacter pylori is suboptimal, even that of culture‐guided treatments. Resistance to multiple antibiotics is the major factor related to treatment failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a 14‐day therapy using high‐dose of amoxicillin, metronidazole and esomeprazole.

Diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasound in the screening of esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.

Background Abdominal ultrasound (US) may provide data on the presence of esophageal varices in cirrhosis. We assess the diagnostic accuracy of this procedure. Patients and methods Retrospective recording of clinical data was carried out in cirrhotic patients who underwent abdominal US and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. We compared patients with and without large varices and assessed the value of US in predicting the presence of these lesions as well as other significant variables. Results Of the 353 patients included, 123 (35%) had esophageal varices. The presence of US signs of portal hypertension independently predicted the existence of esophageal varices with a sensitivity of 87.9%, a specificity of 34.9%, a positive predictive value of 40.6%, and a negative predictive value of 85.1%, which could increase to 91.5% if the patient presented plasma albumin and platelet concentrations above the mean values (3.1 g/dl and 122×109 cells/l, respectively). Plasma albumin and platelet concentrations were the two other variables with independent predictive capacity. Applying these selection criteria, up to 30% of screening endoscopies may not be necessary, and up to 43% in patients with compensated cirrhosis. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, however, US does not have predictive capacity. The results obtained are comparable with those reported for transient elastography. Conclusion Abdominal US is a highly reliable technique for detecting patients with a low risk of presenting esophageal varices. Its use may avoid up to 43% of screening endoscopies in patients with compensated cirrhosis. The results obtained are similar to those observed using transient elastography.