Quantification of Helicobacter pylori resistance in functional and organic dyspepsia

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with functional and organic dyspepsia. METHODS: The study included a cohort of 160 patients (115 with organic and 45 with functional dyspepsia) with dyspeptic symptoms and gastroscopically confirmed H. pylori infection. Triple therapy with omeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg and metronidazole 400 mg (OAM) was administered twice a day for a week. Minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) was estimated on cultures from 41 patients with positive H. pylori for determination of antimicrobial sensitivity and primary resistance to amoxicillin and metronidazole. RESULTS: Endoscopic examination at least 6 weeks after therapy showed that 116 (72.5%) patients had H. pylori eradicated, whereas 44 (27.5%) were not. From the latter patients, 10 (23%) had functional dyspepsia and from 116 eradicated patients 35 (30%) had functional dyspepsia. Difference in efficacy of OAM therapy between patients with organic and functional dyspepsia was not significant (P > 0.5). Percentages of non-eradicated patients with organic and functional dyspepsia were 29.6 and 22.2%, respectively (ratio 1.3 : 1). MIC from 41 samples showed 18 (44%) in vitro resistant strains. There was no resistance to amoxicillin. CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference in H. pylori resistance to the same antibiotic between patients having functional or organic dyspepsia.     

Evaluation of urinary rapid test for Helicobacter pylori in general practice

There is increasing interest in noninvasive tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. One such test, a urine-based rapid test kit (RAPIRUN H. pylori Antibody, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) for detection of antibody to H. pylori, has been developed and is considered ideal. In addition to its noninvasiveness and safe handling-due to use of urine as a sample-the assay procedure used for the urinary rapid test is very simple. Only 10-20 minutes are required to complete an assay, and no instruments are needed. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of this urine-based rapid test. A total of 189 patients, including 76 patients with gastroduodenal disease, were recruited. A pair of random single-void urine and serum samples was collected from each of the 189 patients, and antibody to H. pylori in the urine and serum samples was measured using the urine-based rapid test kit and three commercially available serum-based ELISA kits. For the patients with gastroduodenal disease, invasive diagnostic methods using endoscopic biopsy specimens such as culture, histology, and rapid urease test were also performed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the urinary rapid test were evaluated on the basis of the three serum ELISA results or the invasive diagnostic results. In addition, various urinalyses were performed, and the effects of substances existing in urine on the urinary rapid test results were examined. Of the 189 patients, the urinary rapid test was positive for 110 (58.2%), negative for 78 (41.3%), and invalid for only one patient (0.5%). Based on the three serum-based ELISA results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the urinary rapid test were 93.7, 88.9, and 92.2%, respectively. On the basis of the biopsy-based test results, the sensitivity of the urinary rapid test was 100% and its accuracy (95.2%) was equivalent or superior to that of each serum-based ELISA. In addition, no significant differences were observed between groups positive and negative on urinary rapid testing in any urinalysis parameter examined. The novel urinary rapid test kit evaluated in this study enables simple, rapid, and accurate diagnosis of H. pylori infection, and is an ideal test method for point-of-care testing.     

Esophagitis, gastritis and duodenitis provoked by cure of Helicobacter pylori infection

It has been recently reported that curing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may provoke reflux esophagitis. We studied the effect of cure of H. pylori infection on the development of disorders of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract. The estimated incidence of reflux esophagitis, gastric erosions and duodenal erosions after cure of infection was 8.9%, 32.8% and 8.9%. The incidences of reflux esophagitis, gastric erosions and duodenal erosions were 10.0%, 30.0% and 6.7% in patients with gastric ulcer, 2.8%, 36.1% and 27.8% in those with duodenal ulcer and 9.2%, 30.3% and 1.3% in those with atrophic gastritis. Therefore, patients whose H. pylori infection has been cured should carefully be investigated by endoscopy for H. pylori-associated disease.     

Dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux in adolescents

AIM: To study the prevalence and risk factors for dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) among adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Senior schoolchildren (forms 9-11) of four randomly selected secondary schools of Novosibirsk participated in the study (189 boys and 260 girls aged 14-17 years). They filled in the Bowel Disease Questionnaire, and sera were tested for antibodies against Helicobacter pylori infection. RESULTS: Dyspepsia was reported by 21% of the schoolchildren, being more frequent in girls (25%) than boys (14%, p = 0.004). GER occurred in 22% of adolescents with the same frequency in both genders. The combination of dyspepsia with GER was found in 8%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 56%. No association was found between the infection and abdominal symptoms, except heartburn. Among factors associated with dyspepsia were female gender, irregular meals, family history of dyspepsia. GER was related to H. pylori infection, obesity, smoking and irregular meals, 46% of adolescents with dyspepsia and 36% of those with GER have consulted a physician, and school absenteeism was reported by 55 and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux are widespread among the adolescent population and result in frequent use of health care resources.     

Update on Helicobacter pylori treatment

One half of the world's population has Helicobacter pylori infection, with an estimated prevalence of 30 percent in North America. Although it is unclear whether eradication of H. pylori improves symptoms in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia, there is strong evidence that eradication of this bacteria improves healing and reduces the risk of recurrence or rebleeding in patients with duodenal or gastric ulcer. A "test-and-treat" strategy is recommended for most patients with undifferentiated dyspepsia. With this approach, patients undergo a noninvasive test for H. pylori infection and, if positive, are treated with eradication therapy. This strategy reduces the need for antisecretory medications as well as the number of endoscopies. The urea breath test or stool antigen test is recommended. Until recently, the recommended duration of therapy for H. pylori eradication was 10 to 14 days. Shorter courses of treatment (i.e., one to five days) have demonstrated eradication rates of 89 to 95 percent with the potential for greater patient compliance. A one-day treatment course consists of bismuth subsalicylate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole, all given four times with a one-time dose of lansoprazole. In children with documented H. pylori infection, however, all regimens should continue to be prescribed for seven to 14 days until short-course treatment is studied and its effectiveness has been established in this population.     

Quantitative correlation of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test with the severity of H. pylori-related gastritis

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) load in both stomach and stool and the resulting severity of gastritis are important criteria in validating the status of H. pylori infection. We aimed to assess the reliability of the H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test for the primary diagnosis of H. pylori infection by calculating the best cut-off value to obtain the highest sensitivity and specificity in dyspeptic patients. We also investigated the correlation of HpSA test with the severity of gastritis and H. pylori load. The H. pylori statuses of 95 patients were evaluated by the positivity of both rapid urease test and microscopic detection of H. pylori in biopsy specimens, 88 subjects of whom were H. pylori positive. The sensitivity and specificity of the HpSA test were 51.1% (45/88) and 100% (7/7), respectively, according to the manufacturer's recommended cut-off value of 0.16. However, with the best cut-off value of 0.048, calculated by receiver operator characteristics analysis, the sensitivity of the test increased to 92.0% (81/88) with the same specificity. High values of the HpSA test were correlated with high scores of corpus H. pylori load and the severity of antrum and corpus inflammation (p < 0.05). With the best cut-off value of the HpSA test, the primary diagnosis of H. pylori infection can be made with higher sensitivity and specificity. The HpSA test is a helpful tool that evaluates the severity of H. pylori infection and the degree of gastric inflammatory activity and gastric H. pylori load.     

粪便抗原检测对幽门螺杆菌感染的诊断价值

目的：研究幽门螺杆菌粪便抗原（HpSA）检测诊断幽门螺杆菌（HP）感染的临床应用价值。方法：采用ELISA法检测98例因上消化道症状接受胃镜检查病人的HpSA,同时进行细菌培养,快速尿素酶试验和^14C－尿素呼气试验检查。将后三项检查中二项阳性或细菌培养一项阳性作为诊断HP感染的金标准。结果：金标准诊断HP感染,阳性54例,阴性44例。金标准阳性的54例中,HpSA检测阳性为51例,阴性为3例;金标准阴性的44例中,HpSA检测阴性为42例,阳性为2例。HpSA检测诊断HP感染的敏感度94．4％（51／54）,特异度95．5％（42／44）,准确度94．9％（93／98）,阳性预测值96．2％（51／53）,阴性预测值93．3％（42／45）。结论：HpSA检测有较高的敏感性和特异性,是一种简便可靠,非侵入性的诊断HP感染的方法,易于临床推广。     

Detection of H. pylori by serum and urine-based ELISA

Detection of H. pylori infection by serum antibody to H. pylori using ELISA is a popular method. Several ELISA kits are available in Japan. However, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA kits are different among these kits. Recently urine-based ELISA kit for detection of antibody to H. pylori has been developed in Japan. It has been reported that the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA may be higher using the Japanese strain of H. pylori as antigen.     

Relationship between the birth cohort pattern of Helicobacter pylori infection and the epidemiology of duodenal ulcer

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter-pylori-related duodenal ulcer (DU) is an important cause of dyspepsia. AIM: To determine the relationship between the pattern of H. pylori infection and the epidemiology of duodenal ulcer in a single population. DESIGN: Prospective two-part study of (i) patients with DU referred for endoscopy because of dyspepsia, and (ii) the incidence of H. pylori infection in the general population of the same area. METHODS: Details of 533 DU patients were recorded, and related to the pattern of H. pylori infection among 10 537 adults in the same community, determined by the (13)C-urea breath test. RESULTS: In patients with DU, birth year was more important than age in determining the rate of presentation for endoscopy (the 'birth cohort' effect). H. pylori infection showed a similar birth cohort effect, and the prevalence decreased steadily in those born in successive years, from 28.8% in the 1930s to 3.5% in the 1970s. The proportion of dyspeptic patients who had duodenal ulcers also fell progressively, from 22.2% in 1979 to 5.7% in 1998. H. pylori prevalence and duodenal ulcer incidence were closely correlated at all ages. DISCUSSION: Duodenal ulcer prevalence (as judged by the rate of referral of duodenal ulcer patients for endoscopy) is determined principally by the distribution of H. pylori infection in the local population. The birth cohort effect seen in adult duodenal ulcer patients reflects the acquisition of H. pylori in childhood. In Bristol, H. pylori prevalence and duodenal ulcer incidence are both declining to very low levels.     

胃大部切除术式与幽门螺杆菌感染相关性的研究

目的 观察Billroth Ⅰ式和Billroth Ⅱ式术后、胆汁反流与残胃幽门螺杆菌（HP）感染之间的关系。方法残胃组患者101例，其中Billroth Ⅰ式58例，Billroth Ⅱ式43例，同期未手术患者4501例作为对照组。残胃组内又分别根据HP、胆汁反流与否、反流程度分层比较。以快速尿素酶试验法及改良Giemsa染色检测HP。结果残胃组HP感染率（21．79％）显著低于对照组（41．16％），两组之间比较具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；Billroth Ⅰ式组HP感染率为21．43％、Billmth Ⅱ式组HP感染率为22．22％，两组比较无统计学意义；Billroth Ⅰ式组胆汁反流阳性率57．14％与Billmth Ⅱ式组的88．89％相比较具有统计学意义（P〈0．001）；残胃胆汁反流阳性患者HP感染率为35．44％、胆汁反流阴性患者HP感染率为45．45％，两组比较具有统计学意义（P〈0．01）；残胃组患者不同程度胆汁反流的HP感染率之间无统计学意义；不同程度胆汁反流的HP现患比均〈1．0。结论残胃HP感染率低于未手术者，胆汁反流是HP感染的保护因素，但与HP感染严重程度无线性关系。     

Evaluation and management of nonulcer dyspepsia

When no organic cause for dyspepsia is found, the condition generally is considered to be functional, or idiopathic. Nonulcer dyspepsia can cause a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Many patients with nonulcer dyspepsia have multiple somatic complaints, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression. Extensive diagnostic testing is not recommended, except in patients with serious risk factors such as dysphagia, protracted vomiting, anorexia, melena, anemia, or a palpable mass. In these patients, endoscopy should be considered to exclude gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic or duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. In patients without risk factors, consideration should be given to empiric therapy with a prokinetic agent (e.g., metoclopramide), an acid suppressant (histamine-H2 receptor antagonist), or an antimicrobial agent with activity against Helicobacter pylori. Treatment of patients with H. pylori infection and nonulcer dyspepsia (rather than peptic ulcer) is controversial and should be undertaken only when the pathogen has been identified. Psychotropic agents should be used in patients with comorbid anxiety or depression. Treatment of nonulcer dyspepsia can be challenging because of the need to balance medical management strategies with treatments for psychologic or functional disease.     

Reflux esophagitis after H. pylori eradication

We have reported that prevalence of H. pylori infection and grade of atrophic gastritis were significantly lower, while acid secretion was significantly greater in the patients with reflux esophagitis than those without it. We have also reported that increased gastric acid secretion after H. pylori eradication may explain a reason for developing reflux esophagitis. Therefore, H. pylori is considered to be a protective factor for the development of reflux esophagitis via the induction of gastric hyposecretion. Conversely, according to recent large population-based studies, no evidence was obtained that supports the increased frequency of heartburn symptoms or reflux oesophagitis after the eradication of H. pylori. One reason for the discrepancy may be the difference in the evaluation of gastro-esophageal reflux, another reason may be the difference in acid secretion before the clearance of H. pylori in individual subjects, because the effects of H. pylori on acid secretion vary from patient to patient.     

Serum antibodies anti-H. pylori and anti-CagA: a comparison between four different assays.

The authors compare efficacy of two ELISA assays (one supplied by DIAMEDIX [Delta Biological s.r.l.], and the other by RADIM [RADIM I]) in detecting total anti-H. pylori antibodies, and of two further ELISA methods (one supplied by EUROSPITAL [Helori CTX IgG] and the other by RADIM [RADIM 2]) in identifying anti-CagA antibodies, using sera from 69 controls (20 adults and 49 children) and from 96 patients, obtained before endoscopy. Seventy-three of the patients had H. pylori infection, while the remaining 23 were H. pylori negative (histology and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). Fifty-two of the H. pylori positive patients, had cagA-positive strain infection, identified by PCR. The DIAMEDIX assay was found to be more sensitive (92%) than RADIM 1 (79%) in identifying H. pylori positive patients, irrespective of the infecting strain. On the other hand, the DIAMEDIX assay was less specific than RADIM 1 for H. pylori-negative patients (43% vs. 83%). However, when patients already treated for H. pylori infection were excluded from the group of H. pylori-negative patients, the DIAMEDIX assay had a specificity of 89%. In identifying anti-CagA antibodies, the kit supplied by RADIM (RADIM 2) had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 94%, whereas that supplied by EUROSPITAL had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 76%. The performances of the two methods in the identification of anti-CagA antibodies were found to be similar. The authors conclude that, in view of its high sensitivity, the DIAMEDIX assay may be useful in screening for H. pylori infection.     

On-site diagnosis of H. pylori infection by urine

We have recently developed an on-site diagnostic kit for H. pylori infection using urine (utilizing immunochromatographic method employing a nitrocellulose membrane coated by extracted H. pylori antigen). Accordingly, we investigated its usefulness in 155 consecutive dyspeptic patients using the 13C urea breath test as a gold standard and further compared its performance with two commercially available rapid diagnostic kits that use whole blood (Helisal Rapid Blood, and ImmunoCard H. pylori). As the results, the urine based on-site diagnostic kit provided 95.9% sensitivity and 87.9% specificity with 92.9% accuracy, which were comparable or even better than that of both rapid whole blood tests, suggesting its usefulness in screening of H. pylori infection.     

Relationship between CagA-bearing strains of Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal pathology

AIM: To study the prevalence of CagA-positive strains of Helicobacter pylori in Novosibirsk residents and to assess their relation to some clinical parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Random sample of the population (218 males and 220 females aged 25-64 years) was examined. Antibodies against Helicobacter pylori and CagA protein were tested in the sera using enzyme immunoassay. Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated with questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 88%, among H. pylori-positive persons CagA-positivity was revealed in 58%. Presence of antibodies to CagA protein was associated with dyspepsia (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-2.5) and history of peptic ulcer (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.0-14.5). CagA-positive subjects more frequently reported bowel disturbances, diarrhea, in particular (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.2-7.4). CONCLUSION: The data showed similar distribution of H. pylori and CagA-positivity among adult population in Russia and Eastern European countries. CagA-positivity is associated with peptic ulcer and dyspepsia.     

胆汁反流和幽门螺杆菌感染在胆汁反流性胃炎和消化性溃疡发病中的作用

目的探讨胆汁反流和幽门螺杆菌感染在胆汁反流性胃炎和消化性溃疡发病中的作用。方法采用病理组织学检查和快速尿素酶试验对76例胆汁反流性胃炎及22例兼有胆汁反流性胃炎和消化性溃疡的患者行幽门螺杆菌检测,并与29例消化性溃疡患者作对照。结果胆汁反流性胃炎组幽门螺杆菌阳性率为31.6%(24/76例),兼有胆汁反流性胃炎和消化性溃疡组幽门螺杆菌阳性率为59.0%(13/22例),消化性溃疡组幽门螺杆菌阳性率为72.4%(21/29例),前二组比较,差异有显著意义(P<0.05),后二组比较,差异无显著意义(P>0.05)。结论胆汁反流在胆汁反流性胃炎的发病中起主要作用,幽门螺杆菌感染在消化性溃疡的发病中起主要作用。胆汁反流和幽门螺杆菌感染在胆汁反流性胃炎和消化性溃疡的共同发病中互不明显影响,幽门螺杆菌感染所起的作用可能更大一些。     

Helicobacter pylori infection and eradication

H. pylori infection is associated with various gastroduodenal diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, gastric MALT lymphoma. H. pylori infection is suggested that it plays a role as protective factor not promoting factor for reflux esophagitis and GERD. Epidemiological studies showed lower prevalence of H. pylori infection in reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus comparing the control. Increased occurrence of reflux esophagitis after curing of H. pylori infection was reported. However, the relationship between H. pylori infection and reflux esophagitis has not been actually made clear. Also the mechanism of reflux esophagitis occurrence after H. pylori eradication is not obscure.     

Evaluation of three commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in Chinese patients.

Most of the commercial serological assays for H. pylori are developed and validated in western countries. We evaluated the accuracy of three popular commercial ELISA tests for H. pylori in the Chinese population. Eighty dyspeptic patients were recruited and diagnosis of H. pylori infection was based on biopsy urease test, histology and urea breath test. Thirty-six patients (45%) were positive for H. pylori infection by two or more positive reference tests. Anti-H. pylori IgG antibody was detected by three commercial ELISA tests: GAP IgG (Bio-Rad), HM-CAP (Enteric Products) and Pyloriset EIA-G (Orion). The respective sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the three tests were: GAP IgG (50%, 97.4%, 93.8%, 71.7%), HM-CAP (72.7%, 68.4%, 66.7%, 74.3%) and Pyloriset EIA-G (75%, 86.4%, 81.8%, 80.9%). Despite the high accuracy reported in the West, the performance of these commercial serological tests was unsatisfactory when used in Chinese patients.     

Ulcer and gastritis

The literature on peptic ulcer and gastritis in 2000 again focused on the topics of Helicobacter pylori, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and gastric cancer. New diagnostic tests for H. pylori infection have been evaluated, and rescue therapies for failed H. pylori eradication have been tested. The causal relationship between H. pylori infection and nonulcer dyspepsia, gastric cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and NSAID-related ulcers remained heated topics of debate. In 2000, landmark clinical trials and meta-analyses were published addressing these issues. The role of endoscopy in managing nonulcer dyspepsia was better defined. The role of H. pylori eradication in NSAID/aspirin users was reexamined in high-risk patients. Clinical benefit was finally confirmed for specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The millennium year turned out to be a very important one in the advancement of knowledge in this field.     

Helicobacter pylori: why it still matters in 2005

Despite falling prevalence rates in the developed world, H pylori is still present in the United States and is particularly prevalent among racial minorities and recent immigrants. H pylori infection is clearly associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, and MALT lymphoma, and it is associated with some cases of uninvestigated dyspepsia. Identification and eradication of H pylori improves outcomes in patients with peptic ulcer disease and causes tumor regression in patients with MALT lymphoma. It is uncertain whether H pylori eradication will improve outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. Decision analytic models suggest that a test-and-treat strategy for H pylori is rational and cost-effective for patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia.