Sequential Therapy or Standard Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection: An Updated Systematic Review.

The effectiveness of standard triple therapy (STT) for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori has decreased recently. Sequential therapy (SQT) is a new regimen proposed to address this problem. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of SQT versus STT for H.

[Effect of hypoxia on the activation and visfatin expression in rat hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the visfatin and the expression of smooth muscle-actin (alpha-SMA) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: Rat primary HSCs were isolated from SD rats by in situ perfusion of collagenase and pronase and single-step Nycodenz density gradient centrifugation, and then cultured and activated. Completely activated primary HSCs were exposed to hypoxic conditions (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, 1% O2, 94% N2), or normoxic conditions (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, 21% O2, 74% N2), for 3, 6, 12 or 24 h respectively.

[Comparison of clinical features between gastroesophageal reflux diseases with atypical and typical symptoms].

Objective: To study the differences between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with atypical symptoms (a-GERD) and typical symptoms (t-GERD).

Methods: 30 patients of suspected a-GERD were recruited and examined with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, high-resolution manometry (HRM), 24 h esophageal multichannel intra-luminal impedance monitoring with pH sensor (MII-pH) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trials. The results were compared with those of 33 cases of GERD with typical symptoms.

[Construction of shRNA expressing plasmid targeted rat NogoB and observation of the effection about NogoB on hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To construct shRNA expressing plasmid inhibiting rat NogoB and to observe its possible effect on rat primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contraction.

Methods: Three pairs of shRNAs targeting different sequence of rat NogoB were designed and constructed into pSuper plasmid by DNA recombination technique. Culture-activated HSCs were transfected with NogoB-shRNA plasmids to scan the effective plasmid which could inhibit NogoB gene expression by Real-time PCR.

[Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in hepatic stellate cells activation].

Objective: To investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in activation of primary hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and to explore the blocking effect of specific antisense oligonucleotides (ASONs) targeting MIF on the activation of primary HSCs.

Methods: Rat primary HSC were isolated from SD rats by in situ perfusion of collagenase and pronase and single-step Nycodenz density gradient centrifugation, and then cultured and activated. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), the marker of HSC activation, was assessed by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry (ICC).