Machine learning models for screening clinically significant nephrolithiasis in overweight and obese populations.

Purposes: Our aim is to build and evaluate models to screen for clinically significant nephrolithiasis in overweight and obesity populations using machine learning (ML) methodologies and simple health checkup clinical and urine parameters easily obtained in clinics.

Methods: We developed ML models to screen for clinically significant nephrolithiasis (kidney stone > 2 mm) in overweight and obese populations (body mass index, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m) using gender, age, BMI, gout, diabetes mellitus, estimated glomerular filtration rate, bacteriuria, urine pH, urine red blood cell counts, and urine specific gravity. The data were collected from hospitals in Kaohsiung, Taiwan between 2012 and 2021.

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in the Asia-Pacific region between 1990 and 2022: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We previously showed rising primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori during 1990-2015 in the Asia-Pacific region. However, whether primary antibiotic resistance continues to rise is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the latest prevalence of H pylori antibiotic resistance in this region.

Eradicating via C-urea breath screening to prevent gastric cancer in indigenous communities: a population-based study and development of a family index-case method.

Objective: Screening and eradication of help reduce disparities in the incidence of gastric cancer. We aimed to evaluate its acceptability and feasibility in the indigenous communities and develop a family index-case method to roll out this programme.

Design: We enrolled residents aged 20-60 years from Taiwanese indigenous communities to receive a course of test, treat, retest and re-treat initial treatment failures with the C-urea breath tests and four-drug antibiotic treatments.

Exhaled Hydrogen after Lactulose Hydrogen Breath Test in Patient with Duodenal Ulcer Disease-A Pilot Study for -Associated Gastroduodenal Disease.

Objectives: The precipitating mechanism(s) from the inactive to the active stage of duodenal ulcer disease (DU) is unclear. It has been shown that hydrogen gas from colonic fermentation provides an important energy source for (Hp) colonization. The lactulose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) is a useful tool to assess the small intestinal and/or colon fermentation.

Tailored susceptibility-guided therapy via gastric juice PCR for the first-line H. pylori eradication, a randomized controlled trial.

Background/purpose: Clarithromycin-based standard triple therapy is still commonly adopted by 81.4% of physicians in real-world practice but yields low eradication rates. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the efficacy of gastric juice-guided therapy for first-line eradication with the standard triple therapy, in order to provide an alternative to real-world practice.

Gastroduodenal intussusception caused by gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common etiology of gastroduodenal intussusception. Although gastroduodenal intussusception caused by gastric GIST is mostly treated by surgical resection, the first case of gastroduodenal intussusception caused by gastric GIST was treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Japan in 2017.

Case Summary: An 84-year-old woman presented with symptoms of postprandial fullness with nausea and occasional vomiting for a month.

Comparison of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Application on Mucosal Tumor and Subepithelial Tumor in stomach.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is minimal invasive endoscopic procedure to deal with gastric tumor. Initially, it was developed to resect mucosal neoplasm since 2000 and extended its application to submucosal tumor in the following years. Although the basic ESD skills are similar in gastric mucosal tumor and subepithelial tumor, the success rate, complication may be different between the two types of gastric tumor resection.

Screening and eradication of for gastric cancer prevention: the Taipei global consensus.

Objective: A global consensus meeting was held to review current evidence and knowledge gaps and propose collaborative studies on population-wide screening and eradication of for prevention of gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: 28 experts from 11 countries reviewed the evidence and modified the statements using the Delphi method, with consensus level predefined as ≥80% of agreement on each statement. The Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was followed.

Long-term changes of gut microbiota, antibiotic resistance, and metabolic parameters after Helicobacter pylori eradication: a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial.

Background: In first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori, we have previously shown that the eradication frequency was 83·7% (95% CI 80·4-86·6) for triple therapy for 14 days (T14; lansoprazole 30 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, and clarithromycin 500 mg, all given twice daily), 85·9% (82·7-88·6) for concomitant therapy for 10 days (C10; lansoprazole 30 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg, and metronidazole 500 mg, all given twice daily), and 90·4% (87·6-92·6) for bismuth quadruple therapy for 10 days (BQ10; bismuth tripotassium dicitrate 300 mg four times a day, lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily, tetracycline 500 mg four times a day, and metronidazole 500 mg three times a day). In this follow-up study, we assess short-term and long-term effects of these therapies on the gut microbiota, antibiotic resistance, and metabolic parameters.

Methods: This was a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial done at nine medical centres in Taiwan.

The eradication of Helicobacter pylori to prevent gastric cancer: a critical appraisal.

Gastric cancer is one of the top causes of cancer-related death worldwide. How to eliminate gastric cancer is an urgent public-health issue. Areas covered: In this review, we present up-to-date results of studies on gastric cancer prevention through the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and discuss strategies and obstacles for the implementation of population-wide screening and treatment of this pathogen to prevent gastric cancer.

Predictor of slower gastric emptying in gastroesophageal reflux disease: Survey of an Asian-Pacific cohort.

Background And Aim: Asian populations have relatively lower prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and tend to exhibit symptoms of prolonged gastric retention. However, it remains unknown if slower gastric emptying influences its features in Asian countries. We prospectively assessed the potential implications of slower gastric emptying in an Asian-Pacific cohort of gastroesophageal reflux disease by a hospital-based survey.

The role of integrating conjugative elements in Helicobacter pylori: a review.

The genome of Helicobacter pylori contains many putative genes, including a genetic region known as the Integrating Conjugative Elements of H. pylori type four secretion system (ICEHptfs). This genetic regions were originally termed as "plasticity zones/regions" due to the great genetic diversity between the original two H.

Polyethylene glycol-conjugated HER2-targeted peptides as a nuclear imaging probe for HER2-overexpressed gastric cancer detection in vivo.

Background: The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) involved proliferation, angiogenesis, and reduced apoptosis in gastric cancer (GC), which is a common target for tumor therapy. HER2 is usually overexpressed in more than 15% GC patients, developing a reliable diagnostic tool for tumor HER2 detection is important. In this study, we attend to use polyethylene glycol (PEG) linked anti-HER2/neu peptide (AHNP-PEG) as a nuclear imaging agent probe for HER2 detection in GC xenograft animal model.

Comparison of adjuvant FOLFOX4 chemotherapy and oral UFUR/LV following adjuvant FOLFOX4 chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer subsequent to radical resection.

The present study aimed to demonstrate the potential advantage of oral uracil-tegafur (UFUR)/leucovorin (LV) as the subsequent therapy in patients with stage III colon cancer following adjuvant LV, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) chemotherapy. Of a total 143 patients, 62 patients received only FOLFOX adjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFOX4 biweekly × 12 cycles for 6 months), and 81 patients received FOLFOXU adjuvant treatment (which consisted of FOLFOX4 biweekly × 12 cycles for 6 months followed by oral UFUR/LV for an additional 6 months). The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of the FOLFOXU group was 74.

Primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori in the Asia-Pacific region: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: So far, a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis has not been done of the prevalence of primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori in the Asia-Pacific region. We aimed to assess the trends and regional differences in primary antibiotic resistance to H pylori in the Asia-Pacific region and to examine the relation between resistance and first-line eradication.

Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of primary antibiotic resistance to H pylori and the efficacy of first-line regimens in the Asia-Pacific region.

Concomitant, bismuth quadruple, and 14-day triple therapy in the first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori: a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial.

Background: Whether concomitant therapy is superior to bismuth quadruple therapy or 14-day triple therapy for the first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection remains poorly understood. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of 10-day concomitant therapy, 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy, and 14-day triple therapy in the first-line treatment of H pylori.

Methods: In this multicentre, open-label, randomised trial, we recruited adult patients (aged >20 years) with H pylori infection from nine medical centres in Taiwan.

Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and Hyperbilirubinemia Treated with FOLFIRI plus Bevacizumab as First-Line Treatment.

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) combined with hyperbilirubinemia is typically considered a contraindication to irinotecan-based therapy, a proven first-line treatment of mCRC. Herein, we present 6 consecutive patients with mCRC combined with hyperbilirubinemia who underwent UGT1A1 genotyping before receiving FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab. Dose escalation of irinotecan was performed according to the results of UGT1A1 genotyping in all patients.

Development of a deregulating microRNA panel for the detection of early relapse in postoperative colorectal cancer patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and is associated with high recurrence and mortality, despite recent advancements in therapeutic strategies. MicroRNA (miR) deregulation is associated with CRC development and recurrence; therefore, miRs may be reliable biomarkers for detecting early relapse postoperatively.

Methods: In this study ten candidates were identified using miR arrays: miR-7, miR-31, miR-93, miR-141, miR-195, miR-375, miR-429, miR-494, miR-650, and let-7b.

Levofloxacin Sequential Therapy vs Levofloxacin Triple Therapy in the Second-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori: A Randomized Trial.

Objectives: The efficacy of levofloxacin triple therapy has fallen below 80% in the second-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). We aimed to assess whether the levofloxacin sequential therapy is more effective than levofloxacin triple therapy in the second-line treatment.

Propofol target-controlled infusion for sedated gastrointestinal endoscopy: A comparison of propofol alone versus propofol-fentanyl-midazolam.

Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is the major technique for diagnosis of GI disease and treatment. Various sedation and analgesia regimens such as midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol can be used during GI endoscopy. The purpose of the study was to compare propofol alone and propofol combination with midazolam and fentanyl in moderate sedation for GI endoscopy.

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: Current options and developments.

Accurate diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a crucial part in the effective management of many gastroduodenal diseases. Several invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests are available for the detection of H.

Sequential therapy for 10 days versus triple therapy for 14 days in the eradication of in the community and hospital populations: a randomised trial.

Objective: Significant heterogeneity was observed in previous trials that assessed the efficacies of sequential therapy for 10 days (S10) versus triple therapy for 14 days (T14) in the first-line treatment of We aimed to compare the efficacy of S10 and T14 and assess the factors affecting their efficacies.

Design: We conducted this open-label randomised multicentre trial in eight hospitals and one community in Taiwan. 1300 adult subjects with infection naïve to treatment were randomised (1:1) to receive S10 (lansoprazole and amoxicillin for the first 5 days, followed by lansoprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole for another 5 days) or T14 (lansoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 14 days).

Decreased peritherapeutic VEGF expression could be a predictor of responsiveness to first-line FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab in mCRC patients.

Objective: Bevacizumab is the only anti-angiogenic agent approved in first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Although chemotherapy plus bevacizumab has led to improve outcomes for mCRC patients and is a common choice for first-line treatment of mCRC, previous research has established no prominent biomarker that can help to select patients who may benefit from bevacizumab in order to improve cost-effectiveness and therapeutic outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare pre- and post-therapeutic VEGF immunohistochemical (IHC) expression in mCRC patients treated with FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab to identify its potential role as a predictive biomarker.

The Primary Resistance of Helicobacter pylori in Taiwan after the National Policy to Restrict Antibiotic Consumption and Its Relation to Virulence Factors-A Nationwide Study.

Objective: The Taiwan Government issued a policy to restrict antimicrobial usage since 2001. We aimed to assess the changes in the antibiotic consumption and the primary resistance of H. pylori after this policy and the impact of virulence factors on resistance.