Lu H, Wu WD, Ji L, Xu XY. Effects of Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria-assisted mirtazapine in managing depression in patients after radical surgery for gastric cancer. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; 17(4): 100821 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i4.100821]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Yan Xu, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Psychiatry, Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 8 Zhongnan West Road, Binhu District, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China. 355992200@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Retrospective Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Surg. Apr 27, 2025; 17(4): 100821 Published online Apr 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i4.100821
Effects of Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria-assisted mirtazapine in managing depression in patients after radical surgery for gastric cancer
Heng Lu, Wei-Dong Wu, Li Ji, Xiao-Yan Xu
Heng Lu, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, China
Wei-Dong Wu, The Ninth Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Wuxi Mental Health Center, Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, China
Li Ji, The Fourth Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Wuxi Mental Health Center, Affiliated Mental Health Center of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Yan Xu, Department of Psychiatry, Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Lu H designed the study; Lu H, Xu XY, Wu WD, and Ji L contributed to the analysis of the manuscript, the data collection and writing of this article; and all the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University.
Informed consent statement: All study participants, or their legal guardian, provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Yan Xu, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Psychiatry, Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 8 Zhongnan West Road, Binhu District, Wuxi 214071, Jiangsu Province, China. 355992200@qq.com
Received: December 27, 2024 Revised: January 22, 2025 Accepted: February 13, 2025 Published online: April 27, 2025 Processing time: 91 Days and 23.5 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Patients with gastric cancer may have a risk of depression after radical surgery, which affects recovery and requires intensive intervention.
AIM
To explore the role of Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria-assisted mirtazapine in patients with depression after radical surgery for gastric cancer.
METHODS
This study included 80 patients with gastric cancer who experienced depression after undergoing radical surgery from January 2022 to December 2023 at Jiangnan University Hospital in Wuxi city in Jiangsu province. The patients were categorized into the control group (n = 40) treated with mirtazapine and observation group (n = 40) treated with combined Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria-assisted mirtazapine. Neuroendocrine index, intestinal flora level, nutrition status, and patient quality of life were analyzed.
RESULTS
Before drug index level, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups P > 0.05). After drug administration, both groups experienced a decline in depression scores, cortisol, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis levels, and quality of life scores, whereas dopamine, serotonin, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, hemoglobin, serum albumin and prealbumin levels increased. The observation group demonstrated significantly greater improvements across these indicators, with significant differences within groups and between groups (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Bifidobacterium has a relieving effect on depression in patients after radical surgery for gastric cancer, improves neuroendocrine status, regulates intestinal flora, and improves nutritional status and quality of life.
Core Tip: Post-gastric cancer radical surgery, patients are susceptible to depression, impacting recovery and quality of life. It’s vital to screen for depressive symptoms promptly. Tailored interventions, including targeted medication to regulate gut microbiota, can alleviate depression and enhance prognosis. Integrating these with psychological support and lifestyle modifications, such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity, can further improve mental health and foster better adaptation post-surgery. A holistic approach ensures patients receive comprehensive care, optimizing their recovery journey and well-being.
