Histamine-2 receptor expression in gastric mucosa before and after Helicobacter pylori cure

Swallowing and quality of life in individuals with Marfan syndrome: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a connective tissue disorder that affects skeletal, ocular, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. Symptoms may lead to diminished quality of life (QoL) in individuals with MFS compared with healthy individuals. Currently, there is little evidence regarding the impact of MFS on swallowing and QoL. This study examined perceptions of swallowing difficulties and QoL among persons with MFS.

METHOD

A total of 356 participants (1% response rate) with a self-reported diagnosis of MFS provided medication regime and completed a Quality-of-Life Index and a modified version of the SWAL-QOL used to assess 8 QOL concepts related to swallowing: burden, duration, desire, food choice, fear, mental health, social concerns, and fatigue.

RESULTS

Dysphagia symptoms were reported by 62% (N = 356) of the participants. Analyses assessing correlations between responses to SWAL-QOL questions, QoL scores, and reported medications were conducted. Further, responses on the SWAL-QOL predicted QoL satisfaction, even after controlling for medications. Findings revealed that greater swallowing difficulty affects QoL satisfaction and overall QoL, but not QoL importance. Further, specific medications were associated with differences in swallowing difficulty as well as QoL satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study suggest that individuals with MFS may experience specific swallowing difficulties which impact QoL. Specific classes of drugs may also be associated with reported swallowing QoL and QoL satisfaction in MFS. These findings have implications for clinicians who work with individuals with MFS.

Voice Symptoms and Quality of Life in Individuals With Marfan Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is a connective tissue disorder that affects skeletal, ocular, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. Symptoms may lead to diminished quality of life (QoL) in individuals with MFS compared with healthy individuals. Currently, there is little evidence regarding the impact of MFS on voicing and QoL. This study examined perceptions of voicing difficulties and QoL among persons with MFS.

METHOD

A total of 356 participants with a self-reported diagnosis of MFS completed the Quality-of-Life Index (QLI) and voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10) and provided medication regime.

RESULTS

Some degree of voice handicap was reported by a majority of participants. Analyses assessing correlations between responses to the VHI-10, QLI scores, and reported medications were conducted. Specific medications and responses on the VHI-10 were significantly associated with QLI scores. Multiple regression analyses revealed that a summed VHI-10 score was the strongest predictor of QLI satisfaction, QLI importance, and overall QLI.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study suggest that individuals with MFS may experience self-perceived phonatory dysfunction which impact QoL. Specific classes of drugs may also be associated with reported voice handicap and QoL satisfaction in MFS. These findings have implications for physicians and clinicians who work with individuals with MFS.

Predictors and timing for the development of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease after successful Helicobactor pylori eradication therapy

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication success increases the incidence of erosive esophagitis by normalization of gastric acid secretion. The aim of this study is to clarify predictors and timing for the development of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after successful H. pylori eradication based on long-term follow-up.

METHODS

From April 2014 to October 2020, 330 patients with H. pylori infections treated with a standard triple-drug regimen were enrolled, and their records retrospectively reviewed. Development of symptomatic GERD was defined as requiring proton pump inhibitor or vonoprazan therapy to treat symptoms.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 2.8 years, and symptomatic GERD developed in 41 (12%) patients during the study period. Overall rates of GERD-symptom free patients at 6 months, 1, and 2 years after eradication were 97%, 93%, and 89%, respectively. We evaluated predictors for the development of symptomatic GERD using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. In multivariate analysis, being a current smoker, having functional dyspepsia, hiatal hernia, and severe gastric atrophy were identified as significant predictive factors. The GERD domain score in the Izumo scale was significantly decreased 1 month after vonoprazan therapy consistent with effective treatment of symptomatic GERD.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of development of symptomatic GERD after successful H. pylori eradication is low over long-term follow-up and is easily controlled by vonoprazan therapy. However, patients with smoking habits, functional dyspepsia, hiatal hernia, or severe gastric atrophy should be followed carefully after eradication.

Famotidine does not affect human sperm fertility characteristics (motility, viability and DNA integrity) in vitro

Famotidine, a histamine-2 receptor antagonist, is commonly used to relieve the acid-related gastrointestinal diseases; however, its effect on human sperm parameters, and hence on sperm function, is still undetermined. Here, we intended to measure human sperm motility, viability, and DNA integrity of ejaculated human sperm in the presence of famotidine at 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 mM concentrations in vitro. Forty-nine semen samples of normal count, motility, and morphology were included in this study. Sperm motility was assessed using Makler counting chamber and a phase contrast optics (200× magnification), whereas sperm viability was assessed using eosin-nigrosin staining procedure. The effect of famotidine on sperm DNA integrity was measured using flow cytometry. Famotidine at 0.1, 1 or 10 mM had insignificant effect on human sperm motility (progressive, p = .9594; and total, p = .8420), sperm viability (p = .6471), and content of DNA breaks in sperm (p > .05) compared with the control. In conclusion, famotidine at 0.1, 1 or 10 mM did not alter human sperm motility, viability or DNA integrity in vitro. Although, these findings indicate safety of famotidine in human sperm, further in vivo studies are required to establish the drug's safety.

[Underwater rocks of anti - helicobacter therapy]

The publication was prepared to systematize the data of the literature and our own research on the practice of effective eradication therapy of patients with HP-associated diseases. The most significant factors influencing the effective implementation of modern anti-Helicobacter therapy regimens should be adherence of physicians to the use of clinical guidelines, patient adherence to prescriptions and recommendations of specialists, as well as adherence to eradication treatment protocols.

In-feed bambermycin medication induces anti-inflammatory effects and prevents parietal cell loss without influencing Helicobacter suis colonization in the stomach of mice

The minimum inhibitory concentration of bambermycin on three porcine Helicobacter suis strains was shown to be 8 μg/mL. The effect of in-feed medication with this antibiotic on the course of a gastric infection with one of these strains, the host response and the gastric microbiota was determined in mice, as all of these parameters may be involved in gastric pathology. In H. suis infected mice which were not treated with bambermycin, an increased number of infiltrating B-cells, T-cells and macrophages in combination with a Th2 response was demonstrated, as well as a decreased parietal cell mass. Compared to this non-treated, infected group, in H. suis infected mice medicated with bambermycin, gastric H. suis colonization was not altered, but a decreased number of infiltrating T-cells, B-cells and macrophages as well as downregulated expressions of IL-1β, IL-8M, IL-10 and IFN-γ were demonstrated and the parietal cell mass was not affected. In bambermycin treated mice that were not infected with H. suis, the number of infiltrating T-cells and expression of IL-1β were lower than in non-infected mice that did not receive bambermycin. Gastric microbiota analysis indicated that the relative abundance of bacteria that might exert unfavorable effects on the host was decreased during bambermycin supplementation. In conclusion, bambermycin did not affect H. suis colonization, but decreased gastric inflammation and inhibited the effects of a H. suis infection on parietal cell loss. Not only direct interaction of H. suis with parietal cells, but also inflammation may play a role in death of these gastric acid producing cells.

Histamine contributes to increased RANKL to osteoprotegerin ratio through altered nuclear receptor 4A activity in human chondrocytes

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate histamine receptor-mediated signaling pathways, transcriptional events, and target gene expression in human cartilage.

METHODS

Histamine modulation of cartilage destruction was assessed by Safranin O staining and proteoglycan release. H(1) , H(2) , H(3) , and H(4) histamine receptor-dependent regulation of transcription factors (nuclear receptor 4A1 [NR4A1], NR4A2, and NR4A3), RANKL, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured in primary and SW-1353 chondrocyte cells using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and selective histamine receptor antagonists. Soluble RANKL and OPG protein levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. NR4A protein levels and transactivity were evaluated by Western blot analysis, immunocytochemistry, and luciferase reporter assays. Stable depletion of NR4A1-3 was achieved by lentiviral transduction of NR4A short hairpin RNA.

RESULTS

Primary human chondrocyte cells expressed differential steady-state levels of H(1) -H(4) histamine receptor mRNA. In combination with tumor necrosis factor α, histamine significantly promoted cartilage proteoglycan depletion and release. Histamine modulated the expression of NR4A1-3 orphan receptors in primary and immortalized human chondrocyte cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Histamine selectively signaled through H(1) and H(2) histamine receptors in chondrocytes to modulate RANKL and NR4A2 expression. The temporal effects of histamine on NR4A2 gene transcription were reduced in cells pretreated with inhibitors directed against protein kinase A, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways. Histamine modulated the expression of RANKL with modest effects on OPG levels, leading to increased RANKL:OPG mRNA and protein ratios. Stable knockdown of NR4A1-3 expression resulted in reduced endogenous OPG levels and the loss of histamine-dependent regulation of RANKL expression.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that histamine, via H(1) and H(2) histamine receptors, contributes to joint disease by enhancing the ratio of RANKL to OPG expression through altered NR4A activity in human chondrocyte cells.