SUMMARYAim: To test whether supplements of Lactobacillus-and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt (AB-Yogurt) affect the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication. Methods: One hundred and sixty H. pylori-infected patients were randomized into a triple-plus-yogurt group or a triple-only group, receiving 1 week of triple therapy with and without supplements of AB-Yogurt, respectively. In the triple-plus-yogurt group, AB-Yogurt was continued for 4 weeks after triple therapy. Eight weeks later, patients were assessed for the success of H. pylori eradication. The stool samples of 22 randomly selected patients, 11 from each group, were provided on enrolment, at the first week and at the fifth week for evaluation of the percentage of Bifidobacterium in anaerobes.Results: By intention-to-treat analysis, the triple-plusyogurt group had a higher H. pylori eradication rate than the triple-only group (91% vs. 78%, P < 0.05). The per protocol H. pylori eradication rates were similar for both groups (93.5% vs. 89%, P ¼ N.S.). Only patients supplemented with AB-Yogurt showed restoration of the percentage of Bifidobacterium in the anaerobes of stools at the fifth week to the level in the stools on enrolment. Conclusions: Supplement with AB-Yogurt can improve the intention-to-treat eradication rates of H. pylori, and can restore the depletion of Bifidobacterium in stools after triple therapy.

Background: The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hemodialysis on heart function is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the influence of different stages of CKD and maintenance hemodialysis on heart function. Methods: One hundred fifty-three patients were categorized into 3 subgroups [56 without CKD as controls; 37 with moderate-advanced CKD, stages 3, 4 or 5, and 60 with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis]. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed by conventional echocardiography and 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography with strain analysis (2D strain analysis). Results: There was no significant difference of gender, age and LV ejection fraction among groups. Compared with controls, global peak systolic longitudinal strain (GS_l), circumferential strain and strain rate were decreased in the CKD group. Along with the decline of renal function, GS_l deteriorated. Moreover, compared with moderate-advanced CKD patients, GS_l, circumferential strain and strain rate were better in ESRD group receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Conclusions: Worsening renal function was associated with a reduction of systolic function, and could be quantified by 2D strain analysis. The hemodialysis patients have better LV systolic function than the moderate-advanced CKD patients.

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