Gastroenterology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Antioxidant therapy does not reduce pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis: the ANTICIPATE study.
We investigated whether antioxidant therapy reduces pain and improves quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis. ⋯ Administration of antioxidants to patients with painful chronic pancreatitis of predominantly alcoholic origin does not reduce pain or improve quality of life, despite causing a sustained increase in blood levels of antioxidants.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Efficacy of entecavir with or without tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are potent antiviral agents that might have additive or synergistic antiviral activity in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We compared the efficacy and safety of ETV monotherapy with those of a combination of ETV and TDF. ⋯ The antiviral efficacy of ETV monotherapy is comparable to that of ETV plus TDF in a mixed population of nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients with CHB (70% HBeAg positive). The combination therapy could provide an incremental benefit to HBeAg-positive patients with baseline levels of HBV DNA ≥ 10(8) IU/mL.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of 5-day levofloxacin-containing concomitant therapy in eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.
Helicobacter pylori have become resistant to antimicrobial agents, reducing eradication rates. A 10-day sequential regimen that contains levofloxacin was efficient, safe, and cost saving in eradicating H pylori infection in an area with high prevalence of clarithromycin resistance. We performed a noninferiority randomized trial to determine whether a 5-day levofloxacin-containing quadruple concomitant regimen was as safe and effective as the 10-day sequential regimen in eradicating H pylori in previously untreated patients. ⋯ Five days of levofloxacin-containing quadruple concomitant therapy is as effective and safe, and less expensive, in eradicating H pylori infection than 10 days of levofloxacin-containing sequential therapy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilizes CD34(+) cells and improves survival of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) develops in patients with chronic liver disease and has high mortality. Mobilization of bone marrow-derived stem cells with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) could promote hepatic regeneration. ⋯ G-CSF therapy more than doubles the percentage of patients with ACLF who survive for 2 months; it also significantly reduces CTP, MELD, and SOFA scores and prevents the development of sepsis, hepatorenal syndrome, and hepatic encephalopathy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Adalimumab induces and maintains clinical remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.
Adalimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Its efficacy as maintenance therapy for patients with ulcerative colitis has not been studied in a controlled, double-blind trial. ⋯ Adalimumab was safe and more effective than placebo in inducing and maintaining clinical remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis who did not have an adequate response to conventional therapy with steroids or immunosuppressants.