Effectiveness of ranitidine bismuth citrate and proton pump inhibitor based triple therapies of Helicobacter pylori in Turkey

Background : Helicobacter pylori infection is the main cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease, MALT lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. The reported prevalence of H. pylori in the adult population in Turkey is 67.6%–81.3%. A national meta-analysis showed that the average H. pylori eradication rate with proton pump inhibitor-based triple regimens in Turkey had decreased from 84% in 1997 to 55.3% in 2004, suggesting a need to evaluate alternative regimens. Materials and methods : The study was a prospective, single-center trial with a parallel group design. After the selection procedure, consecutive out-patients were assigned to one of six study groups using random sampling numbers. All patients received amoxicillin 1,000 mg b.i.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. along with ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.i.d., or omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., or rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or pantoprazole 40 mg b.i.d., or esomeprazole 40 mg b.i.d. for 14 days. Results : When we look at the eradication rates of the treatment groups, only two groups (ranitidine bismuth citrate and rabeprazole groups) had eradication rates greater than 80%, both at intention to treat and per protocol analyses. The other four groups (omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole groups) showed statistically significant lower eradication rates both at intention to treat (between 57.6 and 66.7%) and per protocol (between 60.3 and 72.1%) analyses when compared with ranitidine bismuth citrate and rabeprazole groups (p<.05). Conclusion : Ranitidine bismuth citrate and/or rabeprazole based triple therapies must be preferred for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection

Segmental dilatation of the ileum accompanying hypoproteinemia

Purpose: Segmental intestinal dilatation (SID) is a rare pathologic finding, which causes intestinal obstruction in newborn period and gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, abdominal pain, malabsorption, and growth failure in older children. We present a case of SID causing hypoproteinemia

Thymosin alpha (1) protects liver and aorta from oxidative damage in atherosclerotic rabbits

The thymus hormones were reported to be effective on lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant system. Thymus plays a broader role than just regulating the immune system. Thymosin alpha(1) is the first subgroup extracted from thymosin F5 and has higher biological activity than thymosin F5. In the present study, we have examined the effects of thymosin alpha(1) on lipid levels and lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) content in the plasma, liver and aorta tissues of atherosclerotic rabbits. At the end of thymosin alpha(1) treatment, we determined the lipid levels and lipid peroxidation of the plasma, liver and aorta tissues and hepatic subcellular fractions in these rabbits. Our results demonstrated that thymosin alpha(1) might normalize changed lipid levels and increased lipid peroxides and also elevate decreased GSH in the plasma, liver and aorta tissues of atherosclerotic rabbits. Results of this study suggest that thymosin alpha(1) may be beneficial to prevent and/or to treat atherosclerosis