Dihydrotanshinone I Is Effective against Drug-Resistant Helicobacter pylori In Vitro and In Vivo

Dihydrotanshinone I induces necroptosis and cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer through the PTPN11/p38 pathway

In this study, MTT assays, apoptosis detection, immunofluorescence, and functional studies were used to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) on gastric cancer cells. Drug target prediction and analysis were conducted to identify potential targets of DHT. MTT assay revealed significant inhibition of AGS and HGC27 cells by DHT. Morphological changes, including nuclear shrinkage and the induction of necrotic cell death, were observed in DHT-treated gastric cancer cells, along with cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Further analysis revealed potential targets of DHT, including PTPN11, which is highly expressed in gastric cancer cells. DHT treatment increased necrosis-related proteins (RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL) and downregulated cell cycle-related proteins (CDC25C and CDK1) levels in gastric cancer cells. After DHT treatment, PTPN11 protein expression decreased. Furthermore, DHT significantly increased the phosphorylated p38/JNK protein level, with the phosphorylated p38 protein notably enriched in the nucleus. These functional studies indicate that PTPN11 plays a key role in mediating the effects of DHT, including cell cycle regulation and necrosis induction. In conclusion, PTPN11 is a central target through which DHT affects gastric cancer cells, regulating downstream pathways involved in necroptosis (p38/RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL/JNK) and cell cycle arrest (p38/CDC25C/CDK1).

Opportunities for Helicobacter pylori Eradication beyond Conventional Antibiotics

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium known to be associated with a significant risk of gastric cancer in addition to chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and MALT lymphoma. Although only a small percentage of patients infected with H. pylori develop gastric cancer, Gastric cancer causes more than 750,000 deaths worldwide, with 90% of cases being caused by H. pylori. The eradication of this bacterium rests on multiple drug regimens as guided by various consensus. However, the efficacy of empirical therapy is decreasing due to antimicrobial resistance. In addition, biofilm formation complicates eradication. As the search for new antibiotics lags behind the bacterium's ability to mutate, studies have been directed toward finding new anti-H. pylori agents while also optimizing current drug functions. Targeting biofilm, repurposing outer membrane vesicles that were initially a virulence factor of the bacteria, phage therapy, probiotics, and the construction of nanoparticles might be able to complement or even be alternatives for H. pylori treatment. This review aims to present reports on various compounds, either new or combined with current antibiotics, and their pathways to counteract H. pylori resistance.

Rapid diagnosis and precision treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in clinical settings

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the stomach of approximately half of the worldwide population, with higher prevalence in densely populated areas like Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. H. pylori infections range from asymptomatic cases to potentially fatal diseases, including peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, and stomach adenocarcinoma. The management of these conditions has become more difficult due to the rising prevalence of drug-resistant H. pylori infections, which ultimately lead to gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. In 1994, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorized H. pylori as a Group I carcinogen, contributing to approximately 780,000 cancer cases annually. Antibiotic resistance against drugs used to treat H. pylori infections ranges between 15% and 50% worldwide, with Asian countries having exceptionally high rates. This review systematically examines the impacts of H. pylori infection, the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, and the urgent need for accurate diagnosis and precision treatment. The present status of precision treatment strategies and prospective approaches for eradicating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant H. pylori will also be evaluated.

Loureirin A is a narrow-spectrum antimicrobial agent against Helicobacter pylori

Currently, Helicobacter pylori eradication by antibiotic therapy faces various challenges, including antibiotic resistance, side effects on intestinal commensal bacteria, and patient compliance. In this study, loureirin A (LrA), a traditional Chinese medicine monomer extracted from Sanguis Draconis flavones, was found to possess specific antibacterial activity against H. pylori without the bacteria displaying a tendency to develop resistance in vitro. LrA demonstrated a synergistic or additive effect when combined with omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) against H. pylori. The combination of LrA and omeprazole showed promising anti-H. pylori potential, exhibiting notable in vivo efficacy comparable to standard triple therapy in mouse models infected with both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant H. pylori strains. Moreover, the narrow-spectrum antibacterial profile of LrA is reflected in its minimal effect on the diversity and composition of the mouse gut microbiota. The underlying mechanism of action of LrA against H. pylori involves the generation of bactericidal levels of reactive oxygen species, resulting in apoptosis-like cell death. These findings indicate that LrA is a promising lead compound targeting H. pylori without harming the commensal bacteria.

Evaluating the potency of zoliflodacin against Helicobacter pylori: In vitro activity and conserved GyrB target

BACKGROUND

The current standard treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, which involves a combination of two broad-spectrum antibiotics, faces significant challenges due to its detrimental impact on the gut microbiota and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. This underscores the urgent requirement for the development of novel anti-H. pylori drugs. Zoliflodacin, a novel bacterial gyrase inhibitor, is currently undergoing global phase III clinical trials for treating uncomplicated Neisseria gonorrhoeae. However, there is no available data regarding its activity against H. pylori.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the in vitro activity of zoliflodacin against H. pylori clinical isolates (n = 123) with diverse multidrug resistance. We performed DNA gyrase supercoiling and microscale thermophoresis assays to identify the target of zoliflodacin in H. pylori. We analyzed 2262 H. pylori whole genome sequences to identify Asp424Asn and Lys445Asn mutations in DNA gyrase subunit B (GyrB) that are associated with zoliflodacin resistance.

RESULTS

Zoliflodacin exhibits potent activity against all tested isolates, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.008 to 1 μg/mL (MIC50: 0.125 μg/mL; MIC90: 0.25 μg/mL). Importantly, there was no evidence of cross-resistance to any of the four first-line antibiotics commonly used against H. pylori. We identified GyrB as the primary target of zoliflodacin, with Asp424Asn or Lys445Asn substitutions conferring resistance. Screening of 2262 available H. pylori genomes for the two mutations revealed only one clinical isolate carrying Asp424Asn substitution.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the potential of zoliflodacin as a promising candidate for H. pylori treatment, warranting further development and evaluation.

Polymorphism of virulence genes and biofilm associated with in vitro induced resistance to clarithromycin in Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND

Clarithromycin-containing triple therapy is commonly used to treat Helicobacter pylori infections. Clarithromycin resistance is the leading cause of H. pylori treatment failure. Understanding the specific mutations that occur in H. pylori strains that have evolved antibiotic resistance can help create a more effective and individualised antibiotic treatment plan. However, little is understood about the genetic reprogramming linked to clarithromycin exposure and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in H. pylori. Therefore, this study aims to identify compensatory mutations and biofilm formation associated with the development of clarithromycin resistance in H. pylori. Clarithromycin-sensitive H. pylori clinical isolates were induced to develop clarithromycin resistance through in vitro exposure to incrementally increasing concentration of the antibiotic. The genomes of the origin sensitive isolates (S), isogenic breakpoint (B), and resistant isolates (R) were sequenced. Single nucleotide variations (SNVs), and insertions or deletions (InDels) associated with the development of clarithromycin resistance were identified. Growth and biofilm production were also assessed.

RESULTS

The S isolates with A2143G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene were successfully induced to be resistant. According to the data, antibiotic exposure may alter the expression of certain genes, including those that code for the Cag4/Cag protein, the vacuolating cytotoxin domain-containing protein, the sel1 repeat family protein, and the rsmh gene, which may increase the risk of developing and enhances virulence in H. pylori. Enhanced biofilm formation was detected among R isolates compared to B and S isolates. Furthermore, high polymorphism was also detected among the genes associated with biofilm production.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, this study suggests that H. pylori may acquire virulence factors while also developing antibiotic resistance due to clarithromycin exposure.

Biofilm of Helicobacter pylori: Life Cycle, Features, and Treatment Options

Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen that infects nearly half of the global population and is recognized as a group 1 carcinogen by the Word Health Organization. The global rise in antibiotic resistance has increased clinical challenges in treating H. pylori infections. Biofilm growth has been proposed to contribute to H. pylori's chronic colonization of the host stomach, treatment failures, and the eventual development of gastric diseases. Several components of H. pylori have been identified to promote biofilm growth, and several of these may also facilitate antibiotic tolerance, including the extracellular matrix, outer membrane proteins, shifted morphology, modulated metabolism, efflux pumps, and virulence factors. Recent developments in therapeutic approaches targeting H. pylori biofilm have shown that synthetic compounds, such as small molecule drugs and plant-derived compounds, are effective at eradicating H. pylori biofilms. These combined topics highlight the necessity for biofilm-based research in H. pylori, to improve current H. pylori-targeted therapeutic approaches and alleviate relative public health burden. In this review we discuss recent discoveries that have decoded the life cycle of H. pylori biofilms and current biofilm-targeted treatment strategies.

Molecular Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance and Novel Treatment Strategies for Helicobacter pylori Infections

Helicobacter pylori infects approximately 50% of the world's population and is considered the major etiological agent of severe gastric diseases, such as peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma. Increasing resistance to standard antibiotics has now led to an ever-decreasing efficacy of eradication therapies and the development of novel and improved regimens for treatment is urgently required. Substantial progress has been made over the past few years in the identification of molecular mechanisms which are conducive to resistant phenotypes as well as for efficient strategies to counteract strain resistance and to avoid the use of ineffective antibiotics. These involve molecular testing methods, improved salvage therapies, and the discovery of novel and potent antimicrobial compounds. High rates of prevalence and gastric cancer are currently observed in Asian countries, including Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan, where concomitantly intensive research efforts were initiated to explore advanced eradication regimens aimed at reducing the risk of gastric cancer. In this review, we present an overview of the known molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and discuss recent intervention strategies for H. pylori diseases, with a view of the research progress in Asian countries.

The Quinone-Derived Small Molecule M5N32 Is an Effective Anti-Helicobacter pylori Agent Both In Vivo and In Vitro

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori has become increasingly resistant to all commonly used clinical antibiotics. Therefore, new anti-H. pylori drugs need to be identified. Recently, quinones were found to inhibit growth of H. pylori with quinone-derived small-molecule compounds identified as having antitumor effects.

METHODS

The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the compounds against H. pylori were measured by agar plate dilution method. The inhibition of biofilm formation by the compounds was assessed by SYTO9-PI double staining. The reactive oxygen species induced by the compounds were detected by DCFH-DA stain. The clearance effects of the compounds for H. pylori in mouse were evaluated by counting colony-forming units and hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTS

Our results revealed strong inhibition of M5N32 in vitro against H. pylori in both the planktonic and biofilm-forming states. Resistance to M5N32 was not developed in successive generations of the bacteria. In vivo, the combination of M5N32 and omeprazole showed enhanced effects in comparison to the standard triple therapy. M5N32 was nontoxic to normal tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

M5N32 is effective in the treatment of H. pylori infections, providing potential development of anti-H. pylori medicines in the treatment of H. pylori infections.

Targeting Helicobacter pylori for antibacterial drug discovery with novel therapeutics

Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen with increasing antimicrobial resistance to standard-of-care antibiotics. Treatment generally includes a combination of classical broad-spectrum antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor, which often leads to perturbation of the gut microbiome and the potential for the development of antibiotic resistance. In this review, we examine reports, primarily from the past decade, on the discovery of new anti-H. pylori therapeutics, including approaches to develop narrow-spectrum and mechanistically unique antibiotics to treat these infections in their gastric niche. Compound series that target urease, respiratory complex I, and menaquinone biosynthesis are discussed in this context, along with bivalent antibiotic approaches that suppress resistance development. With increases in the understanding of the unique physiology of H. pylori and technological advances in the field of antibacterial drug discovery, there is a clear promise that novel therapeutics can be developed to effectively treat H. pylori infections.

Quinone Derivatives as Promising Anti-Helicobacter pylori Agents from Aerial Parts of Mitracarpus hirtus

Seven new naphthoquinone diglycosides (1-7), three new anthraquinones (8-10), and eight known analogues were obtained from the aerial parts of Mitracarpus hirtus collected from West Africa in a bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation. All isolated compounds were elucidated by comparison with the literature and interpretation of spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations of the new naphthoquinone diglycosides (1-10) were confirmed by chemical methods and ECD calculations. Notably, compound 1 was found to be the first naphthoquinone diglycoside containing carboxylic acid and isopentenyl side chains isolated from a species in the genus Mitracarpus. Compounds 6-18 showed antibacterial activity against multiple Helicobacter pylori strains with MIC values ranging from 0.0625 to 64 μg/mL. Particularly, 1-hydroxybenzoisochromanquinone (17) and benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione (18), with MIC values of 0.0625 and 0.125 μg/mL, displayed 32-512-fold higher potencies than a positive control, metronidazole. Compound 18 also demonstrated high antibiofilm activity and killed biofilm-encased Helicobacter pylori cells more effectively than metronidazole.

Helicobacter pylori Biofilm-Related Drug Resistance and New Developments in Its Anti-Biofilm Agents

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common pathogenic bacterium worldwide, infecting about 50% of the world’s population. It is a major cause of several upper gastrointestinal diseases, including peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. The emergence of H. pylori resistance to antibiotics has been a major clinical challenge in the field of gastroenterology. In the course of H. pylori infection, some bacteria invade the gastric epithelium and are encapsulated into a self-produced matrix to form biofilms that protect the bacteria from external threats. Bacteria with biofilm structures can be up to 1000 times more resistant to antibiotics than planktonic bacteria. This implies that targeting biofilms might be an effective strategy to alleviate H. pylori drug resistance. Therefore, it is important to develop drugs that can eliminate or disperse biofilms. In recent years, anti-biofilm agents have been investigated as alternative or complementary therapies to antibiotics to reduce the rate of drug resistance. This article discusses the formation of H. pylori biofilms, the relationship between biofilms and drug resistance in H. pylori, and the recent developments in the research of anti-biofilm agents targeting H. pylori drug resistance.

Rehabilitation of Sepsis Patients with Acute Kidney Injury Based on Intelligent Medical Big Data

The objective of this study was to explore rehabilitation of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated with Xuebijing injection by using intelligent medical big data analysis system. Based on Hadoop distributed processing technology, this study designed a medical big data analysis system and tested its performance. Then, this analysis system was used to systematically analyze rehabilitation of sepsis patients with AKI treated with Xuebijing injection. It is found that the computing time of this system does not increase obviously with the increase of cases. The results of systematic analysis showed that the glomerular filtration rate (59.31 ± 3.87% vs 44.53 ± 3.53%) in the experimental group was obviously superior than that in the controls after one week of treatment. The levels of urea nitrogen (9.32 ± 2.21 mmol/L vs. 14.32 ± 0.98 mmol/L), cystatin C (1.65 ± 0.22 mg/L vs. 2.02 ± 0.13 mg/L), renal function recovery time (6.12 ± 1.66 days vs. 8.66 ± 1.17 days), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation system score (8.98 ± 2.12 points vs. 12.45 ± 2.56 points), sequential organ failure score (7.22 ± 0.86 points vs. 8.61 ± 0.97 points), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score (6.89 ± 1.11 points vs. 11.33 ± 1.23 points), and ICU time (16.43 ± 2.37 days vs. 12.15 ± 2.56 days) in the experimental group were obviously lower than those in the controls, and the distinctions had statistical significance (P < 0.05). The significant efficiency (37.19% vs. 25.31%) and total effective rate (89.06% vs. 79.06%) in the experimental group were obviously superior than those in the controls, and distinction had statistical significance (P < 0.05). In summary, the medical big data analysis system constructed in this study has high efficiency. Xuebijing injection can improve the renal function of sepsis patients with kidney injury, and its therapeutic effect is obviously better than that of Western medicine, and it has clinical application and promotion value.

Evaluation of the Effect of PDCA in Hospital Health Management

PDCA plays a very important role in the hygienic management of hospital operating rooms. Before the PDCA management from February 2018 to February 2019, routine hygiene management in the operating room was adopted; after the PDCA management from February 2018 to February 2019, PDCA cycle management was adopted. 500 surgical patients were randomly selected from both groups. We compare the quality control checklist scores of hand hygiene management, environmental hygiene management, medical waste management, and disinfection and isolation management in the routine group and the PDCA group. We also compared the detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in surgical incisions of the routine group and the PDCA group and the infection rate of various surgical incisions, air samples, surface samples, disinfectants, and sterilization rates of sterile items. The PDCA group's hand hygiene management score, environmental hygiene management score, medical waste management score, and disinfection and isolation management score were higher than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). The detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in the PDCA group, the infection rate of type I, type II, and type III incisions, and the total infection rate of surgical incisions were lower than those in the conventional group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The qualified rate of air samples and surface samples in the PDCA group was higher than that in the conventional group (P < 0.05), and the difference in the qualified rate of disinfectants and sterile items between the two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The hygiene management of the operating room adopts PDCA sustainable improvement management measures to effectively increase the qualification rate of disinfection and sterilization, reduce the detection rate of pathogenic bacteria and infection rate of surgical incisions, and strengthen the management quality of hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, medical waste, and disinfection and isolation.

Diagnostic Value of SonoVue Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Nipple Discharge Based on Artificial Intelligence

This paper aims to explore the application value of SonoVue contrast-enhanced ultrasonography based on deep unsupervised learning (DNS) in the diagnosis of nipple discharge. In this paper, a new model (ODNS) is proposed based on the unsupervised learning model and stack self-coding network. The ultrasonic images of 1,725 patients with breast lesions in the shared database are used as the test data of the model. The differences in accuracy (Acc), recall (RE), sensitivity (Sen), and running time between the two models before and after optimization and other algorithms are compared. A total of 48 female patients with nipple discharge are enrolled. The differences in SE, specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography are analyzed based on pathological examination results. The results showed that when the number of network layers is 5, the classification accuracies of DNS and ODNS model data reached the highest values, which were 91.45% and 98.64%, respectively.