METHODS: H. pylori infections were determined by in-house rapid urease test (iRUT), culture, histology and multiplex PCR.
RESULTS: A total of 140 (60.9%) from 230 patients were positive for H. pylori infection. H. pylori were detected in 9.6% (22/230), 17% (39/230), 12.6% (29/230) and 60% (138/230) of biopsy specimens by culture, iRUT, histology and mPCR, respectively. mPCR identified H. pylori infection in 100% of biopsies with positive histology and culture. All biopsies with positive iRUT yielded positive PCR except two cases. mPCR also detected H. pylori in additional 116, 101 and 109 biopsies that were negative by culture, iRUT and histology, respectively. Positive samples by mPCR showed lower average in H. pylori density, activity and inflammation scores. The Indians showed the highest prevalence of H. pylori infection compared to the Chinese and the Malays. In addition, Chinese patients with older age were significantly infected compared to other ethnicities.
CONCLUSION: PCR was able to detect the highest numbers of positive cases although the lowest average scores were recorded in the activity, inflammatory and H. pylori density.
Methods: Twenty-seven patients with history of anterior myocardial infarction (MI) and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 35% were recruited into this study. Patients who are eligible for revascularization were grouped into group A (MSCs infusion with concurrent revascularization) or group B (revascularization only) while patients who were not eligible for revascularization were allocated in group C to receive intracoronary MSCs infusion. LV function was measured using echocardiography.
Results: Patients who received MSCs infusion (either with or without revascularization) demonstrated significant LVEF improvements at 3, 6 and 12 months post-infusion when compared to baseline LVEF within its own group. When comparing the groups, the magnitude of change in LVEF from baseline for third visits i.e., 12 months post-infusion was significant for patients who received MSCs infusion plus concurrent revascularization in comparison to patients who only had the revascularization procedure.
Conclusions: MSCs infusion significantly improves LV function in ICM patients. MSCs infusion plus concurrent revascularization procedure worked synergistically to improve cardiac function in patients with severe ICM.