Journal of gastroenterology
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We report a case of acquired hypertrichosis lanuginosa associated with rectal cancer and discuss the cutaneous symptoms as a marker of malignancy. A 75-year-old man had noticed increasing growth of hair over his entire body 4 months before he was admitted to our hospital because of bloody stools. Advanced rectal cancer was diagnosed, and he underwent sigmoidocolostomy. ⋯ Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were slightly elevated. The patient died 5 months after the operation because of peritonitis carcinomatosa. We suggest that hypertrichosis lanuginosa is a marker of internal malignant tumors.
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A 32-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis had a relapsed of pyoderma gangrenosum during puerperium. Both the pyoderma gangrenosum and ulcerative colitis had been well controlled with oral prednisolone, but ulcerative colitis relapsed in pregnancy, and pyoderma gangrenosum relapsed in the puerperium. ⋯ A second trial of pulse therapy combined with cyclosporine resulted in complete remission of the pyoderma gangrenosum, and no recurrence was recognized after prednisolone was tapered. This is a very rare case of successful treatment with methylprednisolone pulse therapy combined with cyclosporine for pyoderma gangrenosum complicating ulcerative colitis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of erythromycin on gastric emptying in healthy individuals assessed by radio-opaque markers and plasma acetaminophen levels.
We simultaneously recorded gastric emptying of radio-opaque markers (ROMs) and monitored serial changes in plasma acetaminophen (AAP) levels to demonstrate the relationship between the ROM and the AAP methods, and we investigated the effect of a single intravenous dose of erythromycin (EM) on gastric emptying in healthy human subjects. After an overnight fast, subjects were randomized to receive either placebo or EM lactobionate (Abbott, North Chicago, IL, USA) 250 mg intravenously in a single dose, given immediately before a standard meal. Subjects ingested 1.5 g of AAP and ROMs with the test meal. ⋯ The time taken to reach the peak concentrations ranged from 30 to 90 min after ingestion, whereas most ROMs were emptied 120 min after ingestion. We conclude that the gastric emptying assessed by ROMs and by serial changes in plasma AAP level are good, non-invasive, clinically applicable tests, with a significant correlation between the two tests. A single intravenous dose of EM had a prokinetic effect on gastric emptying, assessed by ROMs, in healthy human subjects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Significant increase in eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori infection with two consecutive dual therapies (omeprazole and amoxycillin or omeprazole and clarithromycin). A randomized study in 450 Spanish patients.
Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with peptic ulcer disease and chronic gastritis, and eradication of the microorganism markedly reduces the recurrence of peptic ulcer. However, a major problem is the choice of a treatment that is effective, has high eradication rate, and is well tolerated by patients. We evaluated the eradication of H. pylori infection in patients with chronic gastritis (CG), duodenal ulcer (DU), and gastric ulcer (GU) after two dual therapies (omeprazole with either amoxycillin or clarithromycin). ⋯ A second consecutive dual therapy of omeprazole plus an antibiotic (amoxycillin or clarithromycin) not used in the first therapy improved on the eradication rates obtained with the first regimen. The overall eradication rates were also higher, but no significant differences were found between amoxycillin and clarithromycin. The best results were obtained in those patients with GU.
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We reviewed reports on the efficacy of clarithromycin in eradicating Helicobacter pylori. Reports on dual and 1-week triple therapy that included clarithromycin were analyzed to assess the eradication rates of H. pylori infection. ⋯ Clarithromycin is useful for treatment of H. pylori infection. One-week triple therapy that includes clarithromycin and a proton pump inhibitor effectively eradicates H. pylori.