Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy in Patients 80 Years or Older Living in a Metropolitan Area: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: The situation of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy has been changing over time, owing to increases in antimicrobial-resistant strains, lifestyle improvements, and changes in indications for eradication. In Japan, eradication therapy is now available to all H. pylori-positive patients under the medical insurance system, and the potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan has been used for eradication from 2015.

Analysis of the NUDT15 gene and metabolites of azathioprine in Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Thiopurines continue to play an important role in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is well known that thiopurines can cause several adverse reactions. Especially, hematopoietic toxicity may lead to severe agranulocytosis.

Gastrointestinal disorders and intestinal bacteria: Advances in research and applications in therapy.

Intestinal bacteria coexist with humans and play a role in suppressing the invasion of pathogens, producing short-chain fatty acids, producing vitamins, and controlling the immune system. Studies have been carried out on culturable bacterial species using bacterial culture methods for many years. However, as metagenomic analysis of bacterial genes has been developed since the 1990s, it has recently revealed that many bacteria in the intestine cannot be cultured and that approximately 1,000 species and 40 trillion bacteria are present in the gut microbiota.

Impact of in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm: a cross-sectional study.

The relationships between various diseases and the human gut microbiota (GM) have been revealed. However, the relationships between the human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and GM remains unknown. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to clarify the association between the human AAA and GM.

Hot topics on fecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal mucosal inflammatory disease with complex etiology. Traditional anti-inflammatory treatment regimens have yielded unsatisfactory results. As research continues to deepen, it has been found that the gut microbiota of patients with IBD is generally altered.

Dysbiosis of the Fecal and Biliary Microbiota in Biliary Tract Cancer.

Characteristic bile duct and gut microbiota have been identified in patients with chronic biliary tract disease. This study aimed to characterize the fecal and bile microbiota in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients and their relationship. Patients with BTC ( = 30) and benign biliary disease (BBD) without cholangitis ( = 11) were included.

Usefulness of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in Elderly Individuals With Chronic Constipation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Few reports exist regarding the therapeutic effects of probiotics on chronic constipation in elderly individuals. This study evaluated the effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in elderly individuals with chronic constipation.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, parallel-group superiority trial in Japan (UMIN 000033031).

The insoluble excretion of multi-matrix system mesalazine preparations in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: Multi-matrix mesalazine (MMX) is an important treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC); however, it is often excreted intact, which increases the risk of relapse. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors for insoluble MMX excretion.

Methods: The subjects were 102 UC patients who were newly prescribed MMX alone to induce remission.

Growth of various obligate and facultative anaerobic intestinal bacteria in cell culture medium under aerobic and anaerobic culture conditions.

Eight bacterial strains were used in this study to examine the survival of intestinal bacteria in immune cell cultures under aerobic and anaerobic culture conditions. With the addition of penicillin G and streptomycin, viable and cells did not decrease after 6 or 24 hr, even under aerobic conditions. Without antibiotics, eight bacterial strains did not decrease until 4 or 6 hr later, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

The stimulatory effect of fusobacteria on dendritic cells under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.

Fusobacteria have been suspected to be pathobionts of colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. However, the immunomodulatory properties that affect these inflammatory reactions in dendritic cells (DCs) under anaerobic and aerobic conditions have not yet been characterized. We directly assessed the stimulatory effects of anaerobic commensal bacteria, including fusobacteria, on a human DC line through coculture under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.

Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Function and Preventing Brain Atrophy in Older Patients with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a 24-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Probiotics have been reported to ameliorate cognitive impairment.

Objective: We investigated the effect of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 (A1) in enhancing cognition and preventing brain atrophy of older patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: In this RCT, 130 patients aged from 65 to 88 years old with suspected MCI received once daily either probiotic (B.

Characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing in children with down syndrome - A comparison with typically developing children.

Background: Compared with typically developing control children (CC), children with Down syndrome (DS) frequently exhibit sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and unusual sleep postures (USPs). No studies have directly compared SDB-related signs and symptoms, SDB-related parameters, and USPs between children with DS and CC. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalences of SDB and USPs in children with DS and CC.

Analysis of colonic mucosa-associated microbiota using endoscopically collected lavage.

The bacterial composition of the gut lumen and mucosa is distinct and the mucosa-associated bacteria are thought to play a more critical role in interactions with the host immune system. However, limited studies of the gut mucosal microbiota in humans have been available due to methodological challenges. Here, we evaluated the potential use of colonic lavage samples for mucosal microbiota analysis in humans.

Prognostic value of immune factors in the tumor microenvironment of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Both activated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and immune-suppressive cells, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play an important role in the prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: The densities of TILs, programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) + T cells, and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) + T cells were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The associations of the immunological status of the PDAC microenvironment with overall survival (OS) time and disease-free survival (DFS) time were evaluated.

Long-term outcomes of antibiotic combination therapy for ulcerative colitis.

Aims: An antibiotic combination of amoxicillin, tetracycline and metronidazole (ATM) is effective for ulcerative colitis (UC), but this regimen is discontinued in some cases due to adverse events. This study aimed to assess a revised combination, namely, amoxicillin, fosfomycin and metronidazole (AFM), in UC patients with the goal of reducing side effects while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.

Methods: A prospective open-label trial was undertaken in 104 adult UC patients.

Efficacy and safety of short-term therapy with indigo naturalis for ulcerative colitis: An investigator-initiated multicenter double-blind clinical trial.

Introduction: Indigo naturalis (IN) is a blue pigment extracted from Assam indigo and other plants and has been confirmed to be highly effective for ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment in several clinical studies.

Objective: We conducted a multicenter double-blind study to confirm the efficacy and safety of short-term IN administration.

Methods: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted between December 2015 and October 2018 in our facilities.

Impact of maternal dietary gut microbial metabolites on an offspring's systemic immune response in mouse models.

The gut microbiota has a great impact on the host immune systems. Recent evidence suggests that the maternal gut microbiota affects the immune systems of offspring. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota play crucial roles in the immune system.

Peripartum Management of Pregnant Women With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: The average maternal age at delivery, and thus the associated maternal risk are increasing including in women with congenital heart disease (CHD). A comprehensive management approach is therefore required for pregnant women with CHD. The present study aimed to investigate the factors determining peripartum safety in women with CHD.

Characterisation of blood microbiota in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Bacterial infections arising in patients with liver cirrhosis are associated with life-threatening complications such as hepatic encephalopathy and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in relation to bacterial translocation. To investigate the state of bacterial translocation, we surveyed the peripheral blood microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysed the blood microbial profiles.

Methods: Sixty-six patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this study, whereas 14 healthy individuals were also analysed as controls.