Comparison of first-year results of tenofovir and entecavir treatments of nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatosteatosis

Background/Aim: Hepatic steatosis may influence the response to antivirals in chronic hepatitis B patients. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of entecavir and tenofovir in nucleos(t) ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatosteatosis during 48 weeks of therapy. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our data for chronic hepatitis B patients. Nucleos(t) ide-naive patients with hepatosteatosis who took entecavir or tenofovir for at least 48 weeks were included. We compared entecavir and tenofovir after 48 weeks of therapy with respect to virological, biochemical, and serological responses in patients with hepatosteatosis. Results: Of the 63 patients, 21 received entecavir and 42 received tenofovir. Baseline characteristics of the patients were similar except for body mass index. At the end of week 48, there was no statistically significant difference between tenofovir and entecavir treatment regarding total HBV-DNA negativity and alanine transferase normalization in patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatosteatosis. Conclusions: Entecavir and tenofovir are similarly effective in nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatosteatosis after 48 weeks of therapy

Inefficacy of triple therapy and comparison of two different bismuth-containing quadruple regimens as a firstline treatment option for helicobacter pylori

Background/Aim: Increasing resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antimicrobials necessitated the development of new regimens and the modification of existing regimens. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of two bismuth-containing quadruple regimens-one including clarithromycin (C) instead of metronidazole (M) and triple therapy. Patients and Methods: Patients with H. pylori infection given the following regimens were sequentially enrolled in this retrospective study: (1) Triple therapy: Lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., (2) bismuth group C: Lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., and bismuth subsalicylate 524 mg b.i.d., and (3) bismuth group M: Lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d., and bismuth subsalicylate 524 mg b.i.d. for 14 days. Gastroscopy and 14 C-urea breath test were performed before enrollment, and urea breath test was repeated four weeks after the treatment. Results: At per-protocol analysis, the eradication rates were 64.7% (95% confidence interval 60.4-68.7) with the triple therapy (n = 504), 95.4% (95% confidence interval 91.5-99.4) with the bismuth group C (n = 501), and 93.9% (95% confidence interval 89.7-98.7) with the bismuth group M (n = 505). The eradication rates were similar between the two bismuth groups (P > 0.05) but significantly greater than that of the triple therapy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In our study, both of the bismuth-containing quadruple therapies reached high eradication rates, whereas triple therapy was shown to be ineffective. Moreover, clarithromycin may also be a component of bismuth-containing quadruple therapy

Antioxidative and Immunomodulatory Effects of A-Lipoic Acid in Rat Colitis Model Induced by Acetic Acid

WOS: 000462182300003Aim: Benefit of alpha-Lipoic acid (ALA) was previously shown in rat-colitis model via suppression of neutrophil accumulation, preservation of endogenous glutathione and inhibition of reactive oxidant generation. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon and cytokines (such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and TGF-beta) are crucial components of these inflammatory pathways. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidative and immunomodulatory effects of ALA on experimental colitis model induced by acetic acid in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Mice received either a control diet or ALA-supplemented diet for 14 d. Colitis was induced by acetic acid administration at 7th day. Mucosal damage and the activation of immune cells and cytokines were determined by macroscopic score, histological score, tissue cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and TGF-beta). Anti-oxidant effect of ALA was determined by Malondialdehyde, and total antioxidative status. Results: Disease activity Index was significantly higher in colitis group compared to control, ALA and ALA-colitis groups (p<0.001). No significant difference was found between DAI of control, ALA and ALA-colitis groups. The inflammatory mediators, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, and MDA were elevated in colitis group compared to other groups (p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively). TGF-beta and total antioxidative status were significantly lower in colitis group (p<0.001). Conclusion: ALA may possibly have some therapeutic usefulness in the management of ulcerative colitis