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Objective: In this study we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of two personalized rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: An open‐label, single‐center, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Patients who had failed one or two regimens for H. pylori infection were randomized to receive a 14‐day bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy guided by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) or personal medication history (PMH). In the AST group, either two of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole or levofloxacin were prescribed according to the AST. In the PMH group, amoxicillin plus either levofloxacin or furazolidone were prescribed based on the patient's history of quinolone use. The primary outcomes were eradication rates confirmed by an urea breath test 6 weeks after treatment. The secondary outcomes were adherence, incidence of adverse events (AE) and cost‐effectiveness. Results: Altogether 164 with a positive culture received AST‐guided therapy and 192 received PMH‐guided therapy, respectively. Both AST‐ and PMH‐guided therapies achieved comparable eradication rate (intention‐to‐treat analysis: 78.10% vs 74.29%, P = 0.42; per‐protocol analysis: 87.10% vs 88.64%, P = 0.80). The AST clarithromycin regimen had a lower per‐protocol eradication rate than the levofloxacin (75.47% vs 96.30%, P = 0.03) or furazolidone‐containing regimen (75.47% vs 92.75%, P = 0.02). Both groups had high compliance with low incidences of AE, and PMH‐guided therapy had a lower medical cost. Conclusions: AST‐guided therapy was not superior to PMH‐guided therapy as a second‐ or third‐line treatment for H. pylori infection. Considering the cost‐effectiveness, PMH therapy is clinically more favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the performances, tolerability and acceptability of mannitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as oral contrast agents in patients undergoing computed tomography enterography (CTE). Methods: Patients aged 18‐75 years indicated for CTE were randomized to receive either mannitol or PEG as contrast agents. The coronal reconstructed images of each abdominal quadrant were assessed for maximum distention, proportion of distended bowel loops, presence of inhomogeneous contents and visibility of the small bowel wall. Overall subjective imaging quality assessment and patients' tolerability and acceptability were recorded. Results: Seventy patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups. In the per‐protocol analysis, no significant differences in imaging quality was found in bowel distention maximum diameter, wall visibility and intestinal homogeneity (all P > 0.05). The mean nausea score was lower in the mannitol group (0 [0‐0] vs 1.0 [0‐3.0], P < 0.001). Mannitol was superior to PEG in taste (9.0 [8.0‐10.0] vs 7.0 [5.0‐8.0], P < 0.001), patients' willingness to reuse the drug (9.0 [8.0‐10.0] vs 8.0 [7.0‐9.0], P = 0.036), satisfaction (9.0 [8.0‐10.0] vs 8.0 [7.0‐9.0], P = 0.022) and ease of completion (9.0 [8.0‐9.3] vs 8.0 [6.5‐9.0], P = 0.030). Conclusions: Both mannitol and PEG provided good bowel distention and visualization of the bowel wall. However, mannitol was significantly superior to PEG in patients' tolerability and acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Recurrence of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection weakens the protective effect and long-term prognosis of eradication. With the widespread therapies, decreasing prevalence of H. pylori infection and improvement in living conditions, the recurrence of H. pylori infection may present with new features. We conducted this prospective, large-scale, multicenter follow-up study to determine the recurrence rate of H. pylori infection and its affecting factors. Methods A total of 827 patients receiving successful H. pylori eradication in our previous randomized controlled trial were enrolled. 13 C-urea breath test ( UBT) was repeated one year after the eradication therapy to determine its recurrence. Moreover, a questionnaire survey was performed to explore the potential factors affecting the recurrence. Results A total of 743 patients completed 13C- UBT (follow-up rate 89.8%), and the result was positive in 13 patients one year after eradication therapy, with an annual recurrence rate of 1.75% (95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.81-2.69%). Six hundred and ninety-two patients (13 with recurrence and 679 without recurrence) returned their questionnaires, with a response rate of >80%. Multivariate analysis revealed that peptic ulcer (odds ratio [ OR] 3.385, 95% CI 1.016-11.274), close contact with individuals having H. pylori infection ( OR 4.231, 95% CI 1.201-14.911), and hospitalization ( OR 9.302, 95% CI 2.441-35.440) were independent risk factors of H. pylori infection recurrence. Conclusions The recurrence of H. pylori infection one year after eradication therapy is low in urban population of China. Peptic ulcer, contact history with individuals having H. pylori infection and hospitalization are risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]