Dyspeptic Symptoms In Patients Research Articles

Gastroscopy for dyspeptic symptoms in patients

Dyspepsia is a common, generally low-risk gastrointestinal condition. The American College of Gastroenterology and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology recommend avoiding gastroscopy in healthy patients <60 years old. Many dyspeptic patients can be effectively managed in primary care. This study aimed to determine: (1) the proportion of gastroscopies performed for dyspepsia among patients <65 years old with no alarm symptoms or clinically appropriate indications and (2) to determine the frequency of clinically actionable findings and dyspepsia-related healthcare utilization in the year following gastroscopy. Outpatient endoscopy reports were sampled and reviewed retrospectively from 2019 to -2021 in Edmonton, Alberta to identify gastroscopies performed for the indication of dyspepsia. Gastroscopies were considered low-risk for significant endoscopic findings if age <65, no alarm symptoms or other concerning indications, and insufficient evidence that first-line treatments and diagnostic approaches had been tried prior to gastroscopy. Clinically important findings were defined as those impacting management, not otherwise identifiable non-invasively. Of the 358 reviewed gastroscopies for dyspepsia, 293 (81.8%) had no alarm symptoms, and 130 (36.3%) had no alarm symptoms or other appropriate indications. Clinically important findings were identified in 9 (6.9%) of the 130 low-risk cases. In the year following, one patient (1/130) visited the emergency department 3 times for their symptoms and no patients required hospital admission. No malignancies were detected. Many gastroscopies are performed on patients <65 years old with dyspepsia, even when they lack alarm symptoms or other clinical indications, despite recommendations against this practice and low procedure yield. Strategies to improve the uptake of current guidelines may optimize endoscopy resource utilization.

The Effect of STW5 (Iberogast) on Reflux Symptoms in Patients With Concurrent Dyspeptic Symptoms: A Double-blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Crossover Trial.

It has been suggested that STW5 (Iberogast) reduces heartburn symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia, but underlying mechanisms of action are unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether STW5 affects esophageal sensitivity or esophageal motility, thereby reducing occurrence and perception of reflux events. We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in patients with functional dyspepsia (Rome IV) and reflux symptoms. After 4 weeks of treatment with either placebo or STW5, patients were studied with an esophageal acid perfusion test and ambulatory 24-hour pH-impedance monitoring. A total of 18 patients (7 men, median age 54, range [19-76]), were included in the study. Although we found no statistical difference in our primary outcome the total Reflux Disease Questionnaire score 2.33 (0.25-4.33) vs 2.67 (1.17-4.00), P = 0.347, "gastroesophageal reflux disease" and "regurgitation" subscale scores were lower after STW5 treatment compared to placebo (P = 0.049 and P = 0.007). There was no statistical difference in number of reflux events, acid exposure time and acid sensitivity scores between STW5 and placebo. In a subgroup analysis of patients with pH-metry confirmed gastroesophageal reflux disease, treatment with STW5 significantly reduced the total number of acidic reflux events (P = 0.028). Moreover, in patients with reflux esophagitis, the median lag time to acid perception increased after STW5 treatment (P = 0.042). We found some indications pointing towards a beneficial effect of STW5 on reflux symptoms in dyspeptic patients, with reduction of esophageal hypersensitivity as a potential underlying mechanism. Our findings will have to be confirmed in larger studies.

Assessment of the Relationship Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Dyspeptic Symptoms in Patients With Peptic Ulcer Diagnosed by Endoscopy and Patients Without Peptic Ulcer.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple, inexpensive, and effective biomarker associated with various inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, has become the focus of attention in recent years. Nevertheless, it has not been adequately studied in dyspeptic patients with peptic ulcer (PU) and without PU, i.e., patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). The population of this retrospective study consisted of patients with dyspeptic complaints who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy between April 2023 and June 2023. A total of 180 patients included in the study sample were categorized into two groups based on the endoscopy results: patients without PU or NUD patients (Group 1) and those with PU (Group 2). Age, gender and pre-procedural NLR data, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy results, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in endoscopic biopsy information were recorded for all patients. Of the 180 patients, 140 were diagnosed with NUD (Group 1), and 40 were diagnosed with PU (Group 2). There was a significant difference between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of NLR (Group 1: 2.5±1.8 vs. Group 2: 3.6±3.7, p=0.014). There was also a significant difference in NLR between Group 1 and Group Gastric Ulcer (p=0.030) but not between Group 1 and Group Duodenal Ulcer (p=0.064). Rates of patients with positive Hptest results were 25% and 32.5% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, indicating a significant difference between the groups (p=0.026). The NLR measured in patients who presented with dyspeptic complaints was found to be significantly higher in PU patients than in NUD patients. The elevated NLR levels were even more evident in PU patients with GU compared to PU patients with DU.

The Effect of Ginger Supplementation on the Improvement of Dyspeptic Symptoms in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia.

Background Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a higher occurrence in the Western world. Conventional medications are not effective for FD with patients turning to alternative herbal medicines such as ginger. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ginger supplementation on the improvement of FD symptoms. Methodology A before-and-after clinical study was conducted at the University of Debrecen, Internal Medicine outpatient department over a period of four weeks. Two Swanson ginger supplements each at a dose of 540 mg/day before lunch and dinner were given to 51 FD patients. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to estimate the differences in FD symptoms after ginger supplementation and at the baseline. The p-value was determined to test the association between variables, with p-values <0.05 considered the cutoff for statistically significant association. Results In this study, after four weeks of ginger supplementation, we observed a significant change in most dyspepsia symptoms as follows: postprandial fullness (p = 0.033, 95% CI = 0.01-0.26), early satiety (p = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.10-0.37), epigastric pain (p = 0.000, 95% CI = 0.16-0.42), epigastric burning (p = 0.003, 95% CI = 0.10-0.45), and heartburn (p = 0.209, 95% CI = -0.04-0.20). Conclusions Based on our findings ginger can be considered as a promising alternative supplementary medicine for FD.

Evaluation of the dynamics of symptoms of dyspepsia after eradication therapy in patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis

The treatment of functional dyspepsia remains a complex and incompletely resolved issue of gastroenterology. Subjective sensations of the patient, described as a feeling of fullness in the epigastrium after eating, early satiety, pain in the epigastrium, may be a manifestation of dyspepsia associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Aim was evaluation of the effectiveness of standard triple eradication therapy enhanced with bismuth tripotassium dicitrate for the relief of symptoms of dyspepsia in patients with H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis. Materials and Methods. The study involved 38 patients with H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis with symptoms of dyspepsia. The Questionnaire “7 × 7” was used to describe the dynamics of symptoms of dyspepsia. Results. At the initial examination, dyspeptic disorders in most patients corresponded the criteria for mild and moderate severity, respectively - 44.7% and 28.9% of patients. The severity of pain in the stomach area on average corresponded to a moderate pain syndrome, and the burning sensation was of low intensity. A feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating and/or early satiety was experienced by 76.3% of patients, pain disorders were observed in 92.1% of individuals. Two months after successful eradication treatment, complete relief of dyspepsia symptoms was noted in 57.9% of patients, and significant relief of symptoms of the combined form of dyspepsia in 23.7% of individuals. Conclusions: Successful standard triple eradication therapy enhanced with bismuth tripotassium dicitrate is effective for the treatment of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis.

Effect of 6-month S-methylmethionine intake on the quality of life and dyspepsia symptoms in patients with chronic gastritis

S-methylmethionine (methylmethionine sulfonium chloride), better known as vitamin U, is a metabolic substrate that affects many metabolic processes in the human organism. Since its discovery, a large number of studies has been produced demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in various diseases, especially in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (vitamin U) intake on the symptoms of dyspepsia and the quality of life of patients with chronic gastritis. Material and methods. The study included 37 patients (21 men and 16 women) aged 35-60 years with chronic gastritis of various etiologies. After inclusion in the study, all patients were prescribed S-methylmethionine at a dose of 300 mg per day. Clinical manifestations of dyspepsia were assessed using the GSRS questionnaire (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale), quality of life was assessed using the SF 36 questionnaire. The survey was conducted before the start of the therapy, after 3 and 6 months of complex diet therapy. Results. The most pronounced manifestations were dyspeptic (from 3 to 9 points) and diarrheal syndromes (from 2 to 5 points). Other indicators of the GSRS scale did not exceed 4 points. The total score was 15 points. By the 3rd month of therapy, there was a statistically significant decrease in the total score to 9 points (p<0.05). By the 6th month of therapy, the total GSRS score averaged 5.5 points (p<0.05). According to the SF 36 questionnaire, by the end of the 3rd month of therapy, indicators such as PF - physical functioning, BP - Bodily pain and SF - social functioning improved. By the end of the 6th month of therapy, several other indicators also improved (RP - role-physical functioning, GH - general perception of health, VT - viability, RE - Role-Emotional; MH - mental health) (p<0.05). Conclusion. The study showed that the appointment of dietary supplements containing methylmethionine sulfonium chloride at a dose of 300 mg per day helps to reduce the severity of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with chronic gastritis and their quality of life.

Dyspepsia-Like Symptoms in Helicobacter pylori-Negative Chronic Gastritis are Associated with ASCA-, ANCA-, and Celiac Seropositivity but Not with Other Autoimmune Parameters: A Single-Centre, Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

IntroductionDyspeptic symptoms are frequent in the general population, with a high socioeconomic burden. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) might be a possible etiological factor; however, it is also common in H. pylori negative gastritis. Clarification of the underlying aetiology might be beneficial to set up the optimal treatment strategy for dyspepsia and chronic gastritis (CG) itself. We aimed to assess the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with H. pylori negative CG and explore autoimmunity’s possible role.MethodsThis retrospective study included data from patients with H. pylori negative CG. Exclusion criteria were (1) acute gastritis; (2) reactive gastropathy; (3) subjects without any serology testing results; (4) H. pylori positivity; (5) presence of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcer, or cancer. The following endpoints were assessed (1) the rate of dyspepsia-like symptoms; (2) association between dyspepsia and autoimmune disease-related seromarker positivity (AISP); (3) frequency of other symptoms in CG and its association with AISP; (4) location of the inflammation and its association with AISP.ResultsFrom a total of 285 patients, 175 were included in this study. Among these patients, 95 experienced dyspeptic symptoms (54.29%) and were associated more with AISP (p = 0.012), especially with celiac seropositivity (p = 0.045), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) positivity (p = 0.043). A significant association was not found with other tested autoimmune (AI)-related antibody positivity.ConclusionPositivity of seromarkers of autoimmune diseases in chronic gastritis may predispose to have dyspeptic symptoms and may be the causative factor behind some cases of uninvestigated dyspepsia. These data suggest that further prospective studies are needed to clarify whether screening for autoantibodies in patients with dyspepsia is cost-effective and helps the earlier diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.

Clinical outcomes of concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors and regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: A multicenter study.

130 Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are the most common oral drugs in cancer patients. Similarly, proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are commonly used to relieve dyspeptic symptoms in patients with cancer. However, gastric pH levels may affect the absorption of TKI through the gastrointestinal system. However, all TKIs do not have the same chemical structure, and the absorption rate of each TKI depends on their solubility in different gastric pH levels. Limited data is available about the clinical outcomes of concomitant use of PPI and regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We present here the results of the multicenter study following the initial results of our single-center experience. Methods: Patients with mCRC treated with regorafenib were included in this multicenter and retrospective study. Patients prescribed PPI after initiation of regorafenib were assigned to the PPI user group, and the remaining patients were assigned to the PPI non-user group. To exclude immortal time bias, the log-rank test was performed between PPI non-user and all patients. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and secondary outcomes were time to treatment failure (TTF) and adverse events (AEs) profile. Results: Two hundred and seventy-two patients from eight cancer centers were included in this study. Most patients were male (59.9%), had liver metastasis (62.1%), and received regorafenib in the third line (52.2%). The median age at the initiation of regorafenib was 60 years (interquartile range (IQR): 51-66)). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score was 0 or 1 in approximately three out of four patients. The rate of patients with K-RAS mutation was 46.7%. There were 131 (48.2%) and 141 (51.8%) in the PPI user and non-user groups, respectively. The most prescribed PPI was pantoprazole (40.4%). At a median 34.2 months follow-up, the median OS was 6.9 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 5.3-8.5) and 7.7 months (95% CI:6.6-8.8) in the PPI non-user and all patients, respectively. No statistical significance was observed between the groups (p = 0.913). The median TTF was 3.3 months (95% CI: 2.6-3.9) and 3.4 months (95% CI:2.9-4.0) in the PPI non-user and all patients, respectively. No statistical significance was observed between the groups (p = 0.651). In the time-dependent covariate Cox regression model, there was no difference between PPI user and non-user groups in OS and TTF (adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR):0.96, 95% CI:0.74-1.24, p = 0.735 for OS; aHR:0.88, 0.68-1.14, p = 0.354 for TTF). The rates of all AEs were also similar in the PPI user and non-user groups (p = 0.628). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this was the first study evaluating the effect of concomitant use of PPI and regorafenib in patients with mCRC, and no adverse survival and safety outcome was observed with the concomitant use of PPI and regorafenib in those patients.

The Impact of Gastrointestinal Symptoms on Patients’ Well-Being: Best–Worst Scaling (BWS) to Prioritize Symptoms of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Score (GIS)

Background: The gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS) is used in a standardized form to ascertain dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia in clinical practice. As a criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment, the change in the summed total point value is used. The total score ranges from 0 to 40 points, in which a higher score represents a more serious manifestation of the disease. Each symptom is included with equal importance in the overall evaluation. The objective of this study was to test this assumption from a patients’ perspective. Our aim was to measure the priorities of patients for the ten gastrointestinal symptoms by using best–worst scaling. Method: A best–worst scaling (BWS) object scaling (Case 1) was applied. Therefore, the symptoms of the GIS were included in a questionnaire using a fractional factorial design (BIBD—balanced incomplete block design). In each choice set, the patients selected the component that had the most and the least impact on their well-being. The BIB design generated a total of 15 choice sets, which each included four attributes. Results: In this study, 1096 affected patients were asked for their priorities regarding a treatment of functional dyspepsia and motility disorder. Based on the data analysis, the symptoms abdominal cramps (SQRT (B/W): −1.27), vomiting (SQRT (B/W): −1.07) and epigastric pain (SQRT (B/W): −0.76) were most important and thus have the greatest influence on the well-being of patients with functional dyspepsia and motility disorders. In the middle range are the symptoms nausea (SQRT (B/W): −0.69), acid reflux/indigestion (SQRT (B/W): −0.29), sickness (SQRT (B/W): −0.26) and retrosternal discomfort (SQRT (B/W): 0.26), whereas the symptoms causing the least impact are the feeling of fullness (SQRT (B/W): 0.80), early satiety (SQRT (B/W): 1.54) and loss of appetite (SQRT(B/W): 1.95). Discussion: Unlike the underlying assumption of the GIS, the BWS indicated that patients did not weight the 10 symptoms equally. The results of the survey show that the three symptoms of vomiting, abdominal cramps and epigastric pain are weighted considerably higher than symptoms such as early satiety, loss of appetite and the feeling of fullness. The evaluation of the BWS data has illustrated, however, that the restrictive assumption of GIS does not reflect the reality of dyspeptic patients. Conclusions: In conclusion, a preference-based GIS is necessary to make valid information about the real burden of illness and to improve the burden of symptoms in the indication of gastrointestinal conditions. The findings of the BWS demonstrate that the common GIS is not applicable to represent the real burden of disease. The results suggest the potential modification of the established GIS by future research using a stated preference study.

Joint Hypermobility Syndrome in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia.

INTRODUCTION:The pathophysiology underlying functional dyspepsia (FD) is multifactorial and focuses on gastric sensorimotor dysfunction. Recent studies demonstrated that joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) is strongly associated with unexplained dyspeptic symptoms in patients attending gastrointestinal clinics. We aimed to study the relationship between symptoms, gastric sensorimotor function, and JHS in FD patients.METHODS:Tertiary care FD patients who underwent a gastric barostat study and a gastric emptying breath test with 13C-octanoic acid were recruited for assessment of JHS. The presence of JHS was evaluated by a 2-phase interview and clinical examination that included major and minor criteria of the Brighton classification.RESULTS:A total of 62 FD patients (68% women, age 44 ± 1.8 years, and body mass index: 21.7 ± 0.7 kg/m2) accepted to participate in the study. JHS was diagnosed in 55% of FD patients. Assessed symptom profiles during the visit did not differ between the groups. Delayed gastric emptying was not significantly more common in JHS group compared with non-JHS group (JHS group 32% vs non-JHS group 16%, P = 0.31). Prevalence of hypersensitivity to distention (JHS group 24% vs non-JHS group 29%, P = 0.76) and impaired gastric accommodation (JHS group 38% vs non-JHS group 42%, P = 0.79) was similar in patients with or without JHS. No correlations were found between the Beighton hypermobility score and gastric compliance (r = 0.09).DISCUSSION:A large subset of this study cohort of tertiary care FD patients has coexisting JHS. We did not identify any specific differences in gastric sensorimotor function between patients with and without JHS. Further prospective research will be required to elucidate the relationship between JHS, a multisystemic disorder with widespread manifestations, and FD symptoms.

The Role of Diet in Functional Dyspepsia Management.

Functional dyspepsia is a common functional gastrointestinal disease that is characterized by postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, and/or epigastric burning. Eating a meal is a key factor in the occurrence of symptoms during functional dyspepsia, and patients frequently request dietary advice that could relieve these symptoms. Eating behaviors, irregular meal patterns, and moderate-to-fast eating rates are significantly associated with functional dyspepsia. The role of diet is complex; fat ingestion increases the occurrence of symptoms in dyspeptic patients, which might be affected by cognitive factors and palatability. Data concerning the role of carbohydrates are conflicting. Wheat may induce symptoms in patients with nonceliac gluten/wheat sensitivity, and gluten-free diets might be beneficial. Data concerning the role of FODMAPs (Fructo, Oligo, Di-, Monosaccharides, And Polyols) in functional dyspepsia are lacking; however, as there is a frequent overlap between functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, a diet that is low in FODMAPs might be useful in relieving some symptoms. Data concerning alcohol are also conflicting. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet seems to be associated with a decrease in dyspepsia symptoms. Finally, data concerning diet modifications are conflicting, and the impact of diet modifications on symptom intensity or frequency has never been reported in randomized prospective studies. Common sense dietary recommendations, such as eating slowly and regularly, as well as decreasing the fat content of meals, can be provided in daily clinical practice.

Effect of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Alleviating Dyspeptic Symptoms in Patients with Cholelithiasis

Objective: To compare the change in preoperative and postoperative dyspeptic symptoms. Introduction: In the era of increasing prevalence of gall stones due to more frequent incidental detection radiologically, it is the need of the hour that we assess the benefit of these increasing cholecystectomies with regard to dyspeptic symptoms. Till now there is not enough evidence on the basis of which we can determine whether laparoscopic cholecystectomy can resolve the dyspeptic symptoms in patients of gall stones. There is a need to establish a guideline to operate in view of alleviating dyspeptic symptoms. Methodology: A total of 308 (M:F=2:3) patients were evaluated for dyspeptic symptoms using the Glasgow dyspepsia severity score (GDSS). They were followed up after 1 month, 6 months. Disease distribution and change in GDSS scores were analysed. Results: The mean age was 47.2 ± 15.42 years. Preoperatively mean GDSS was 11.49 ± 2.11. One month post surgery 82% had a GDSS around 2.95. 12% had a significant drop in GDSS at the end of 6 months (p<0.001). 3.89% had a GDSS of more than 10 which indicated persistentdyspepsia. 3 patients 0.97% had subsequent worsening of GDSS. Conclusion: Most symptomatic patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy are objectively relieved of dyspeptic symptoms. Very few patients have persistent symptoms even after 6 months. Patients tend to associate relief of dyspepsia with successful outcome of surgery. It is extremely essential that patients be counselled in detail about the possibility of persistence of dyspeptic symptoms which may in-fact be functional/inorganic.

Evaluation of the role of Helicobacter pylori in dyspepsia in Al- Ramadi city

Back Ground: Helicobacter pylori are the most common chronic bacterial infection, and a significant etiological factor in acid peptic diseases and gastric cancer. Dyspepsia is a common gastrointestinal disorder, and the most common indication for gastroscopy. Detection of H. pylori during endoscopy has become standard clinical practice. Objective: To detect the different underling OGD causes of dyspeptic symptoms in patients presented to the outpatients clinic of the gastroenterology unit in Al-Ramadi General Hospital, and to evaluate the role of H. pylori in relation to the different OGD results.Methods: One hundred patients with various upper gastrointestinal complaints were investigated for evidence of H. pylori infection and its possible relation to the upper gastrointestinal disease. Multiple biopsies from the antrum of the stomach were taken through fiber optic endoscope from these patients. Diagnosis of H. pylori infection was done by the urease test.Results: One hundred patients, (62 males, 38 females), with age range between (9-63) year old and a mean age of 36 year old, were included in this study. Urease test was positive in (48%) of all patients (46% in male, 50% in female). Urease test was positive in 82% of patients with duodenal ulcer, 75% with Gastric carcinoma, 60% with gastric ulcer, 50% with gastritis, 50% with duodenitis, 41% with esophagitis, 37% with normal looking mucosa.Conclusion: H. pylori were more likely associated with DU than GU. There is a high association between H. pylori and CA stomach. H. pylori was found in about 1/3 of patients with normal OGD and its difficult to tell about its role in this group of people. Most patients with positive OGD and negative urease test were found to have other predisposing factors such as NSAID or cigarette smoking. CA stomach was the least likely cause of upper GI symptoms. About half of the patients with upper GI symptoms have normal OGD which could either indicates functional dyspepsia or other causes of dyspepsia like liver, gall bladder or pancreatic diseases.

Chronic atrophic gastritis: Natural history, diagnosis and therapeutic management. A position paper by the Italian Society of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Digestive Endoscopists [AIGO], the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy [SIED], the Italian Society of Gastroenterology [SIGE], and the Italian Society of Internal Medicine [SIMI

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is an underdiagnosed condition characterised by translational features going beyond the strict field of gastroenterology as it may manifest itself by a variable spectrum of gastric and extra-gastric symptoms and signs. It is relatively common among older adults in different parts of the world, but large variations exist. Helicobacter pylori-related CAG [multifocal] and autoimmune CAG (corpus-restricted) are apparently two different diseases, but they display overlapping features. Patients with cobalamin and/or iron deficiency anaemia or autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes mellitus, should be offered screening for CAG. Pepsinogens, gastrin-17, and anti-H. pylori antibodies serum assays seem to be reliable non-invasive screening tools for the presence of CAG, helpful to identify individuals to refer to gastroscopy with five standard gastric biopsies in order to obtain histological confirmation of diagnosis. Patients with CAG are at increased risk of developing gastric cancer, and they should be estimated with histological staging systems (OLGA or OLGIM). H. pylori eradication may be beneficial by modifying the natural history of atrophy, but not that of intestinal metaplasia. Patients with advanced stages of CAG (Stage III/IV OLGA or OLGIM) should undergo endoscopic surveillance every three years, those with autoimmune CAG every three-five years. In patients with CAG, a screening for autoimmune thyroid disease and micronutrient deficiencies, including iron and vitamin B12, should be performed. The optimal treatment for dyspeptic symptoms in patients with CAG remains to be defined. Proton pump inhibitors are not indicated in hypochlorhydric CAG patients.

The Gastro-protective Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Helicobacter pylori Positive Functional Dyspepsia.

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) powder supplementation on Helicobacter pylori eradication and improvement of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with H. pylori positive functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: During this pilot study 15 patients with H. pylori positive FD received 3 g/d ginger powder as three 1-g tablets for 4-weeks. Dyspepsia symptoms were asked before and after the intervention using a questionnaire based on the Rome III criteria. H. pylori eradication was also assessed by a non-invasive stool antigen (HpSAg) test. Results: Ginger consumption accompanied by significant H. pylori eradication rate of 53.3% (P = 0.019) and the odds ratio (95% CI) was 8 (1.07 to 357.14). Moreover, our results showed significant changes in most of the dyspepsia symptoms after ginger supplementation. Conclusion: According to our findings, Z. officinale can be considered as a useful complementary therapy for FD. However, due to the small number of clinical trials in this area, further welldesigned clinical trials are needed to explicitly talk about its effectiveness especially about the eradication of H. pylori.

Gall stones and dyspepsia: does upper gastrointestinal endoscopy have a pivotal role?

Background: Asymptomatic gallbladder stones are often diagnosed as an incidental finding. Gallstone disease is asymptomatic in most patients diagnosed to have gall stone and cholecystectomy is considered to be the treatment of choice. However, less focus has been given to patient selection and to the symptoms of this disease in order to understand prevailing symptoms after surgery. Studies suggest that approximately 25% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy will not experience relief of symptoms, and that dyspeptic symptoms are least likely to be cured by cholecystectomy. Post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) consists of a group of symptoms that persist after cholecystectomy. It is defined as early if occurring in the post-operative period and late if it manifests after months or years. The objectives of the study were to emphasize the importance of endoscopic evaluation as a routine pre-operative investigative tool in patients with dyspepsia and gall stones and evaluate the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with gall stone disease.Methods: 92 patients with USG proven gall stones presenting with dyspepsia attending OPD or admitted in surgery department (JSS Hospital) were studied. Upper GI endoscopy was performed to detect for significant lesions.Results: Most common endoscopic finding was gastritis. Malignancy was found in 3 (3.3%) patients. The management plan was changed for 9 (13.6%) patients.Conclusions: Significant endoscopic findings were observed in 72.8% of patients. Routine pre-operative upper GI endoscopy is recommended in all patients with gall-stone disease who present with dyspepsia to avoid unnecessary cholecystectomy.

Correlation of dyspeptic symptoms and endoscopic findings in diabetic patient

Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the relationship between the endoscopically increased mucosal damage and the frequency of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with diabetes. Material and Methods: The 42 diabetic patients with dyspeptic complain and 40 healthy dyspeptic people were involved in this study and evaluated with video endoscopes. Diabetic patients when compared with the control group according to the endoscopic evaluation and Glasgow Dyspepsia Symptom Scoring System no significant difference had been detected. Results: The symptoms of the diabetic group and the control group were familiar and there was no significant difference between the frequencies of the symptoms in both groups. In dyspeptic diabetic patients a weak correlation between BMI and endoscopically detected hiatal hernia was reported. However there was no relation between BMI and the other gastrointestinal symptoms. Also there was no difference between the patients with neuropathy and without neuropathy in terms of endoscopic findings and gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion: Endoscopic findings of diabetic patient and non-diabetic control group were compared statistically. Although gastric ulcus was significantly higher in diabetic group, there was no significant difference between two groups in terms of other endoscopic findings. Hovewer, gastric ulcus frequency in diabetic group is higher, there were no significant difference in terms of gastrointestinal symptoms, diabetic complications and glisemic control in patients with other endoscopic lesions when compared with the patients with gastric ulcus. Hiatal hernia frequency in diabetic patients was higher due to control group. In shed light on our findings, diabetic patients must be evaluated for the esophageal reflux symptoms.

Electroacupuncture for patients with refractory functional dyspepsia: A randomized controlled trial

To test the efficacy of electroacupuncture for patients with refractory functional dyspepsia (FD). A 24-week, 2-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted at three hospitals in China. Patients with refractory FD were randomly assigned to receive 20 sessions of authentic or sham electroacupuncture in a treatment duration of 4weeks. The primary outcome was complete absence of dyspeptic symptoms at 16weeks after initiation of acupuncture (week 16). The secondary outcomes included adequate relief of dyspeptic symptoms, Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (LDQ), Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI), and adverse events. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Two hundred patients were included, of which 196 (98%) completed follow-up data at week 24. At week 16, 17 (17%) patients in the authentic electroacupuncture group vs 6 (6%) patients in the sham group achieved the primary outcome (P=.014). Sixty-two (62%) patients had adequate relief in the authentic electroacupuncture group, as compared to 22 (22%) in the sham group (P=.001). The scores of LDQ and NDI were significantly improved in both groups at week 16, and patients in the authentic electroacupuncture group have more improvements (LDQ, mean difference, -2.2, 95% confidence interval, -2.3 to -2.1, P<.001; NDI, -7.3, -10.5 to -4.2, P<.001). Results were similar for all the outcomes assessed at week 24. No serious adverse events were reported in both groups. Acupuncture efficaciously improves dyspeptic symptoms in patients with refractory FD.

Up-regulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) and down-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).

The role of immune activation in Functional Dyspepsia (FD) patients without previous infection is unclear. We compare the gastric and circulating brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), receptor potential vanilloid type (TRPV) families and various cytokines in FD patients. Consecutive adult FD patients (Rome III) with no recent history of gastroenteritis and asymptomatic healthy controls were recruited for upper endoscopy. Subjects with GERD and IBS as predominant symptoms, diabetes mellitus, current or previous Helicobacter pylori infection, psychiatric illness and recent use of NSAID or PPI were excluded. Corpus biopsies and serum samples were collected. Forty three [M:F=8:35, mean age: 35.0 (9.3)] FD patients were compared with 23 healthy controls [M:F=8:15, mean age: 36.6 (10.2)]. FD patients had postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) as predominant sub-type (PDS: 36, EPS: 2). There was no significant difference in the median inflammation score (FD:0 (0-1) vs Control:0 (0-1), P=.79). However, FD patients had significantly higher mRNA expression of TRPV1 (FD:0.014±0.007, Control:0.003±0.001, 4.6 fold, P=.02) and TRPV2 (FD:0.012±0.006, Control:0.003±0.001, 4 fold, P=.02) compared to controls. The serum (FD:258.0±12.3ngml-1 , Control:319.7±18.1ngml-1 , P<.01) and gastric BDNF mRNA (FD:0.06±0.008, Control:0.092±0.01, 0.65 fold, P=.02)levels significantly lower in FD patients. Secretion of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, G-CSF, TGF-β2, MCP-1)was also highly correlated with dyspeptic symptoms in patients with FD. Despite lacking gastric mucosal inflammation, up-regulation of TRPV1 and TRPV2, down-regulation of BDNF were observed in FD patients. These suggest that immune alteration may contribute to the pathogenesis of FD without any previous infection.

The Gastric and Intestinal Microbiome: Role of Proton Pump Inhibitors.

The discovery of Helicobacter pylori and other organisms colonizing the stomach and the intestines has shed some light on the importance of microbiome in maintaining overall health and developing pathological conditions when alterations in biodiversity are present. The gastric acidity plays a crucial role in filtering out bacteria and preventing development of enteric infections. In this article, we discuss the physiology of gastric acid secretion and bacterial contribution to the composition of gastric and intestinal barriers and review the current literature on the role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the microbial biodiversity of the gastrointestinal tract. Culture-independent techniques, such as 16S rRNA sequencing, have revolutionized our understanding of the microbial biodiversity in the gastrointestinal tract. Luminal and mucosa-associated microbial populations are not identical. Streptococcus is overrepresented in the biopsies of patients with antral gastritis and may also be responsible for the development of peptic ulcer disease. The use of PPIs favors relative streptococcal abundance irrespective of H. pylori status and may explain the persistence of dyspeptic symptoms in patients on PPI therapy. Increased risk of enteric infections has also been seen in patients taking PPIs. The overuse of PPIs leads to significant shift of the gastrointestinal microbiome towards a less healthy state. With the advent of PPIs, many studies have demonstrated the significant changes in the microbial composition of both gastric and intestinal microbiota. Although they are considered relatively safe over-the-counter medications, PPIs in many cases are over- and even inappropriately used. Future studies assessing the safety of PPIs and their role in the development of microbiome changes should be encouraged.