Clinical significance of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with acute coronary syndromes: an overview of current evidence

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on metabolic profile: an international, multicenter, case-control study

BACKGROUND

As a gram-negative and microaerophilic bacterium, Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the main cause of chronic gastritis. Therefore, considering the high prevalence of HP infection worldwide, as well as the increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between HP infection eradication and metabolic profile.

METHODS

This prospective case-control study was performed on patients with HP infection whom referred to 7 medical centers in 3 countries (Iran, Egypt, and Vietnam) in 2020-2021. The metabolic profile of all of the participants evaluated before starting of treatment for HP eradication and 3 months after the treatment. Then changes of metabolic profile compared between those with successful HP eradication (group A) and subjects who failed to eradicate (group B).

RESULTS

Overall, 199 patients, including 93 male (46.7%) with the mean age of 44.5 years (18-93 years) included. Based on response to treatment, the participants allocate into group A (those who respond to HP eradication): 164 cases (82.42%); or group B as those who failed to achieve eradication (35 cases, 17.58%). Racially 86.9% of participants were Caucasian and 89% diagnosed as non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). The most prevalent comorbidity include hypertension (11.5%) and hyperlipidemia (10%) which were more prevalent in group B (P = 0.002). Three months after therapy, average weight of participants among those who achieved eradication (group A) decreased from 73.1 to 71.4 kg (P = 0.01), but in comparison with group B, was non-significant (P = 0.171). The BMI of patients before and after treatment did not show any significant differences. The biochemical parameters of patients before and after treatment were not significantly different regardless of treatment success (P > 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol after treatment were not significantly different from baseline values in two groups. HDL and LDL cholesterol levels before and after treatment in the resistant group were significantly higher than the responding group. Average serum TG level decreased significantly after treatment in the group A (P < 0.0001), in contrast to the resistant group (P = 0.356). The liver transaminases (AST and ALT) before and after treatment were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The results of logistic regression showed that the eradication of infection has no significant affect any of the metabolic profile parameters.

CONCLUSION

HP infection treatment in individuals without significant metabolic disorders does not affect metabolic parameters up to 3 months after eradication. HP eradication among subjects with several comorbidities mandates eradication protocol intensification to avoid treatment failure.

Potential association between bacterial infections and ischemic stroke based on fifty case-control studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Stroke is considered as one of the most important concerns in health care centers around the world. By definition there are two types of stroke including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Approximately three-quarters of stroke cases are ischemic strokes, which occur due to several risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory responses. In recent years, infectious diseases have noticed as a new risk factor for ischemic stroke. Given the importance of the issue, some bacteria that cause chronic infections, especially Chlamydia pneumonia, Helicobacter pylori, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Coxiella burnetii have been considered.

Methods

In the present meta-analysis, we reviewed 50 case-control studies and assessed the possible association of bacterial infections with the occurrence of ischemic stroke.

Results

We analyzed the information of 33,978 participants in several nested case-control studies, and ultimately showed that bacterial infections could increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Our results suggest that bacterial infections significantly increase in the risk of ischemic stroke (OR: 1.704; 1.57-1.84 with 95% CIs; p value = 0.01).

Conclusions

In this meta-analysis, a significant relationship was observed between infection by three bacteria such as C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, and M. tuberculosis with the occurrence of ischemic stroke. Furthermore, due to the similarity between TLRVYK domain in β2-glycoprotein-I and TLRVYK peptide in various of microorganisms, produced antibodies against pathogens interact with β2-glycoprotein-I, hence the cross-reaction phenomenon increases the positive relationship between infectious diseases and ischemic stroke.

Gastro-Cardiology: A Novel Perspective for the Gastrocardiac Syndrome

The gastrocardiac syndrome was coined originally at the beginning of the 19th century to describe an alleged gastric-cardiopathy with reflux heartburn mimicking cardiac chest pain. Today, a wider perspective of gastrocardiac syndrome has emerged. First, the cardiovascular risk factor chronic systemic inflammation may reflect gastroenterological inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal infections, in particular, chronic Helicobacter pylori infection. Furthermore, since contemporary treatment of cardiovascular disease commonly includes potent antithrombotic medications, the cardiovascular benefit in terms of a decrease in the incidence of recurrent ischemic events and death needs to be carefully balanced with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Several strategies to target chronic gastrointestinal inflammation and to diagnose and treat Helicobacter pylori to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and gastrointestinal bleeding are available but residual controversy remains and large-scale gastro-cardiology trials are needed to determine the optimal treatment approaches. In perspective, the centennial gastrocardiac syndrome is more relevant than ever in a contemporary gastroenterology and cardiology setting. A collaborative subspecialty, namely Gastro-cardiology, would introduce novel unique means to study, diagnose and treat gastrocardiac conditions with the aim to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and bleeding events to improve the prognosis for gastro-cardiology patients.

The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on Lipid Levels: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is positively associated with cardiovascular diseases, but the involvement of lipids in this association remains unclear. The present study reviewed the changes in circulating lipid levels following H. pylori eradication. Methods: A PubMed database was searched until December 2020 to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs investigating the effect of H. pylori eradication on the lipid levels in inverse variance-weighted, random-effects meta-analyses. Results: A total of 24 studies (four RCTs and 20 non-RCTs) with 5270 participants were identified. The post-eradication levels were increased for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; mean difference (MD) 2.28 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.90 to 2.66) and triglyceride (TG; MD 3.22 mg/dL, 95% CI 1.13 to 5.31) compared with the pre-eradication levels. H. pylori eradication resulted in little to no difference in the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (MD −2.33 mg/dL, 95% CI −4.92 to 0.26). In the analyses of RCTs only, the findings for elevated HDL-C levels, but not TG, were robust. Conclusions:H. pylori eradication increases the HDL-C levels. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of lipid changes following H. pylori eradication on cardiovascular diseases.

Helicobacter pylori: A Review of Current Diagnostic and Management Strategies

As one of the most prevalent infections globally, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) continues to present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for clinicians worldwide. Diagnostically, the "test-and-treat" strategy is the recommended approach for healthcare practitioners when managing this potentially curable disease. The choice of testing method should be based on several factors including patient age, presenting symptoms, and medication use, as well as test reliability, availability, and cost. With rising antibiotic resistance, particularly of macrolides, care must be taken to ensure that therapy is selected based on regional resistance patterns and prior antibiotic exposure. In the USA, macrolide antibiotic resistance rates in some areas have reached or exceeded a generally accepted threshold, such that clarithromycin triple therapy may no longer be an appropriate first-line empiric treatment. Instead, bismuth quadruple therapy should be considered, while levofloxacin-based or alternative macrolide-containing therapies are also options. Once treated, it is essential to test for eradication as untreated H. pylori is associated with serious complications including peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer. This review article aims to consolidate current knowledge of H. pylori infection with a particular emphasis on diagnostic and treatment strategies.

A close relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and the serum level of CD47 in adults

Objectives: Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most important risk factors for gastric cancer, the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that Integrin-associated protein (CD47) plays an important role in the development of gastric cancer. Hence, the aim of this study was to preliminarily explore the relationship between CD47 and H. pylori infection.Methods: A total of 417 adults who underwent health checkups at a hospital were recruited in 2018. Serum levels of CD47 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ¹³C urea breath test (¹³C-UBT) was carried out to diagnose H. pylori infection in all participants.Results: Compared with H. pylori-negative participants, H. pylori-positive participants have higher levels of serum CD47 and TNF-α. H. pylori infection, the levels of serum TNF-α and low density lipoprotein (LDL) are the independent predictors of serum level of CD47 in adults. In addition, a potential diagnostic value of serum CD47 level for H. pylori infection has been demonstrated in our study.Conclusion: H. pylori infection is closely associated with the serum level of CD47 in adults, suggesting that H. pylori may promote gastric cancer progression by activating CD47-mediated oncogenic pathways.

Bleeding complications with clopidogrel or ticagrelor in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients - A real life cohort study of two treatment strategies

Introduction

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), including potent P2Y12 inhibition after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is recommended in clinical guidelines. However, bleeding complications are common, and associated with worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess incidence of bleeding events with a clopidogrel-based compared to a ticagrelor-based DAPT strategy, in a real world population. Secondary aims were to assess ischemic complications and mortality.

Methods and Results

We identified 330 consecutive STEMI patients with a clopidogrel-based and 330 with a ticagrelor-based DAPT strategy. Patientś medical records were searched for bleeding and ischemic complications, over 6 months follow-up.

The two groups were well balanced in baseline characteristics, age (69 years inboth groups), sex (31% vs 32% females), history of diabetes (19% vs 21%), hypertension (43% in both) and MI (17% vs 15%). There was no difference in CRUSADE bleeding score (28 vs 29). After discharge, there were more than twice as many bleeding events with a ticagrelor-based compared with a clopidogrel-based strategy (13.3% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.005). Bleeding events included significantly more severe bleeding complications (TIMI major/minor [5.8 vs 1.0, p = 0.001]) during the ticagrelor-based period. There was no significant difference in the composite of death, MI or stroke (7.8% vs 7.1%, p = 0.76).

Conclusions

In this observational study, a ticagrelor-based DAPT strategy was associated with significantly more bleeding complications, without any significant change in death, MI or stroke. Larger studies are needed to determine whether bleeding complications off-sets benefits with a more potent DAPT strategy in older and more comorbid real-life patients.

The Role of the Microbiota in the Diabetic Peripheral Artery Disease

Vascular complications of diabetes mellitus represent a major public health problem. Although many steps forward have been made to define the causes and to find the best possible therapies, the problem remains crucial. In recent years, more and more evidences have defined a link between microbiota and the initiation, promotion, and evolution of atherosclerotic disease, even in the diabetic scenario. There is an urgency to develop the knowledge of modern medicine about the link between gut microbiota and its host's metabolic pathways, and it would be useful to understand and justify the interindividual diversity of clinical disease presentation of diabetic vascular complication even if an optimization of pharmacological treatment has been made or in the case of young patients where hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes are not able to justify a very quick progress of atherosclerotic process. The aim of the present review is to gather all the best available evidence in this regard and to define a new role of the microbiota in this field, from biomarker to possible therapeutic target.

幽门螺杆菌感染与心血管疾病

随着社会经济的发展与生活方式的改变, 心血管疾病的发生率明显上升, 相关的危险因素包括年龄、吸烟、肥胖、糖尿病、高血压和血脂异常等, 但仍有一部分心血管疾病尚未发现确切病因. 近年来, 随着幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori, H. pylori)研究的不断深入, 发现其与多种胃肠外疾病的发生发展密切相关. 目前国内外多项研究探讨了H. pylori感染与心血管疾病的相关性, 多数研究认为心血管疾病患者H. pylori感染率明显增加, 联合H. pylori根除治疗有益于心血管疾病的防治, 但也有结果并不完全一致. 本文就心血管疾病中H. pylori感染的研究现状, 根除H. pylori对心血管疾病的影响以及H. pylori感染诱导心血管疾病的机制等方面的相关研究作一综述.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a common worldwide infection that is an important cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. H. pylori may also have a role in uninvestigated and functional dyspepsia, ulcer risk in patients taking low-dose aspirin or starting therapy with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, unexplained iron deficiency anemia, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. While choosing a treatment regimen for H. pylori, patients should be asked about previous antibiotic exposure and this information should be incorporated into the decision-making process. For first-line treatment, clarithromycin triple therapy should be confined to patients with no previous history of macrolide exposure who reside in areas where clarithromycin resistance amongst H. pylori isolates is known to be low. Most patients will be better served by first-line treatment with bismuth quadruple therapy or concomitant therapy consisting of a PPI, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. When first-line therapy fails, a salvage regimen should avoid antibiotics that were previously used. If a patient received a first-line treatment containing clarithromycin, bismuth quadruple therapy or levofloxacin salvage regimens are the preferred treatment options. If a patient received first-line bismuth quadruple therapy, clarithromycin or levofloxacin-containing salvage regimens are the preferred treatment options. Details regarding the drugs, doses and durations of the recommended and suggested first-line and salvage regimens can be found in the guideline.

Bacterial Communities Associated with Atherosclerotic Plaques from Russian Individuals with Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic disease of the arterial wall and is the major cause of severe disease and death among individuals all over the world. Some recent studies have established the presence of bacteria in atherosclerotic plaque samples and suggested their possible contribution to the development of cardiovascular disease. The main objective of this preliminary pilot study was to better understand the bacterial diversity and abundance in human atherosclerotic plaques derived from common carotid arteries of individuals with atherosclerosis (Russian nationwide group) and contribute towards the further identification of a main group of atherosclerotic plaque bacteria by 454 pyrosequencing their 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes. The applied approach enabled the detection of bacterial DNA in all atherosclerotic plaques. We found that distinct members of the order Burkholderiales were present at high levels in all atherosclerotic plaques obtained from patients with atherosclerosis with the genus Curvibacter being predominant in all plaque samples. Moreover, unclassified Burkholderiales as well as members of the genera Propionibacterium and Ralstonia were typically the most significant taxa for all atherosclerotic plaques. Other genera such as Burkholderia, Corynebacterium and Sediminibacterium as well as unclassified Comamonadaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, Rhodospirillaceae, Bradyrhizobiaceae and Burkholderiaceae were always found but at low relative abundances of the total 16S rRNA gene population derived from all samples. Also, we found that some bacteria found in plaque samples correlated with some clinical parameters, including total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase and fibrinogen levels. Finally, our study indicates that some bacterial agents at least partially may be involved in affecting the development of cardiovascular disease through different mechanisms.

Morphine interaction with prasugrel: a double-blind, cross-over trial in healthy volunteers

Background

Morphine decreases the concentrations and effects of clopidogrel, which could lead to treatment failure in myocardial infarction.

Objectives

To clarify whether more potent P2Y₁₂-inhibitors may provide an effective alternative, we examined drug–drug interactions between morphine and prasugrel.

Methods

Twelve healthy volunteers received 60 mg prasugrel with placebo or 5 mg morphine intravenously in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Pharmacokinetics were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and prasugrel effects were measured by platelet function tests.

Results

Morphine neither diminished total drug exposure (AUC), which was the primary endpoint, nor significantly delayed drug absorption of prasugrel. However, morphine reduced maximal plasma concentrations (C_max) of prasugrel active metabolite by 31 % (p = 0.019). Morphine slightly, but not significantly, delayed the onset of maximal inhibition of platelet plug formation under high shear rates (30 vs. 20 min). Whole blood aggregation was not influenced.

Conclusions

Although morphine significantly decreases the maximal plasma concentrations of prasugrel active metabolite, it does not diminish its effects on platelets to a clinically relevant degree in healthy volunteers. However, it should be considered that the observed decrease in C_max of prasugrel active metabolite caused by morphine co-administration may gain relevance in STEMI patients.

Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01369186, EUDRA-CT#: 2010-023761-22.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection and its eradication on lipid profiles and cardiovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

We aimed to examine the relationship of current Helicobacter pylori infection with lipid profile and cardiovascular disease and its eradication effect.

METHODS

Healthy subjects, who underwent routine checkup between October 2003 and December 2007, were followed up until June 2009. Helicobacter pylori and lipid profiles were measured both baseline and follow-up. Multiple logistic regression models for odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the effects of H. pylori infection and its eradication, on lipids and cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Current infection with H. pylori with 50.5% (6759/13383) at baseline increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than H. pylori-negative group. Successful eradication of H. pylori decreased the risk of high LDL compared with the persistent infection (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-96), which was comparable to that of the persistent negative group (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.97), and decreased the risk of low HDL (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.96). Current infection of H. pylori increased the risk of cardiovascular disease (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.31-8.14) at baseline, but its eradication failed to decrease the risk at a 2-year follow-up. However, persistent negative infection decreased the risk (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.94) comparing to persistent positive infection at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Current infection with H. pylori had a positive association with high LDL, low HDL, and cardiovascular disease. Successful H. pylori eradication decreased the risk of high LDL and low HDL, but did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Association between Bacterial Infection and Peripheral Vascular Disease: A Review

There are an increasing number of data showing a clinically important association between bacterial infection and peripheral artery disease (PAD). Bacteria suspected of being involved in PAD pathogenesis are: periodontal bacteria, gut microbiota, Helicobacter pylori, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Infectious agents may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis via activation of a systemic or local host immunological response to contamination of extravascular tissues or the vascular wall, respectively. A systemic immunological reaction may damage vascular walls in the course of autoimmunological cross-reactions between anti-pathogen antibodies and host vascular antigens (immunological mimicry), pathogen burden mechanisms (nonspecific activation of inflammatory processes in the vascular wall), and neuroendocrine-immune cross-talk. Besides activating the inflammatory pathway, bacterial infection may trigger PAD progression or exacerbation by enhancement of platelet reactivity, by a stimulatory effect on von Willebrand factor binding, factor VIII, fibrinogen, P-selectin activation, disturbances in plasma lipids, increase in oxidative stress, and resistance to insulin. Local inflammatory host reaction and induction of atherosclerotic plaque progression and/or instability result mainly from atherosclerotic plaque colonization by microorganisms. Despite these premises, the role of bacterial infection in PAD pathogenesis should still be recognized as controversial, and randomized, controlled trials are required to evaluate the outcome of periodontal or gut bacteria modification (through diet, prebiotics, and probiotics) or eradication (using antibiotics) in hard and surrogate cardiovascular endpoints.

Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of acute coronary syndrome: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) imposes substantial social costs and is of major etiological importance in peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, and accelerated cardiovascular diseases. This study determined the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) associated with HPI in a nationwide retrospective cohort study. By using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we identified patients diagnosed with HPI from 1998 to 2010. In addition, we randomly selected non-HPI controls frequency-matched by age, sex, and index year from the general population free of HPI. The risk of ACS was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models in which sex, age, and comorbidities were included as variables. We identified 17,075 participants for the HPI group and selected 68,300 participants for the comparison group. The incidence rates were increased in the patients in the HPI group compared with those in the comparison group. Overall, the HPI patients exhibited a 1.93-fold high crude hazard ratio for ACS, and a 1.48-fold adjusted hazard ratio after age, sex, and comorbidities were adjusted. However, the overall adjusted hazard ratio of ACS increased with increasing age with a 3.11 to 8.24 adjusted hazard ratio among the various age groups. Several comorbidities, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and COPD exhibited synergistic effects for ACS risk. We determined a significant association between ACS and comorbidities and provide evidence to encourage clinicians to observe ACS-related comorbidities.