幽门螺杆菌cagG基因在胃黏膜中的表达及其意义

目的 研究cagG基因在不同上消化道疾病患者中的分布及其与幽门螺杆菌(Helico-bacter pylori,Hp)感染相关疾病的关系。方法 合成特异性引物,应用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)法扩增145株分离培养自上消化道疾病患者的Hp菌株cagG片段,其中慢性胃炎72例,胃溃疡17例,十二指肠球部溃疡48例,复合溃疡8例。比较cagG阳性、阴性的胃黏膜炎症程度。结果 Hp菌株cagG片段总检出率为91.7％(133/145),在慢性胃炎、胃溃疡、十二指肠溃疡、复合性溃疡中cagG阳性率分别为90.3％。88.2％、93.8％和 100.0％,各组间差异无显著性意义:(P>0.05)。结论 cagG有较高的保守性,在不同的消化道疾病患者的Hp中均有较高的检出率,在不同疾病中的分布无特异性,与胃黏膜炎症程度无明显关系,cagG尚不能单独作为某种疾病致病的相关基因。     

肥大细胞脱颗粒在幽门螺杆菌致病中的作用

目的 研究肥大细胞（MC）在幽门螺杆菌（H pylori)发病中的作用。方法 选胃镜检查者87例，其中诊断十二指肠溃疡（DU）33例，浅表性胃炎45例，糜烂性胃炎9例。取胃窦、体部活检分别作组织病理学（HE染色）及H pylori检查（快速尿素酶、培养及Warthin-Starry银染），免疫组织化学染色（ABC法）后分别计算粘膜及粘膜下的完整和脱颗粒MC数。结果 MC计数在H pylori阳性和H pylori阴性组间无明显差别（P＞0．05），但前者粘膜内MC脱颗粒者明显多于后者（分别为43％和23％，P＜0．01）。MC计数与粘膜炎症程度无明显关系，但在活动性炎症时显著高于非活动性炎症组（P＜0．05）。各病变组间MC计数也无显著差异。结论 MC可能在粘膜H pylori相关炎症的发生发展中起着重要作用。     

Clinical presentation in relation to diversity within the Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the genetic diversity of the cag pathogenicity island (PAI) in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in relation to clinical outcome and interleukin (IL)-8 production. METHODS: Seven genes in the cag PAI (cagA, cagE, cagG, cagM, cagT, open reading frame 13 and 10) were examined by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization using H. pylori from 120 patients with different presentations (duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, gastritis alone). IL-8 production from AGS cells (gastric cancer cell line) cocultured with H. pylori was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: An intact cag PAI was present in 104 (87%) isolates, and five (4%) had deletions within the cag PAI; 11 (9%) lacked the entire cag PAI. Clinical isolates containing the complete cag PAI induced a greater secretion of IL-8 as compared with those without the cag PAI (3048 +/- 263 vs 480 +/- 28 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Deletion of only cagG reduced IL-8 secretion by two thirds. Deletions of more than one locus reduced IL-8 secretion to background. A similar proportion of H. pylori from patients with gastritis, duodenal ulcer, or gastric cancer had intact cag PAI (88%, 88%, and 85%, respectively). Although the presence of cagG was a better predictor of the presence of an intact cag PAI than cagA or cagE, the presence or absence of any of these genes had no association with clinical presentation. CONCLUSION: Although the cag PAI plays an important role in IL-8 production, clinical presentation cannot be predicted by the presence of an intact cag PAI or any of these seven cag PAI genes.     

Characteristics of gastritis in patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive reflux esophagitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The influence of Helicobacter pylori on gastric acid secretion differs with the status of gastritis. The histological characteristics of gastritis in H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis have not been fully investigated. We therefore studied the pattern of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy and degree of histological gastritis in such patients. METHODS: Subjects comprised 41 H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis, 41 age- and sex-matched patients with duodenal ulcer, and 41 patients with early gastric cancer. The endoscopic pattern of gastric mucosal atrophy was reviewed, and the degree of histological gastritis in biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus was assessed in accordance with the updated Sydney system. RESULTS: The grade of endoscopic and histological gastric mucosal atrophy in patients with reflux esophagitis was significantly lower than that in patients with gastric cancer, and the histological scores for antral atrophy and metaplasia in patients with reflux esophagitis tended to be lower than those in patients with duodenal ulcer. In patients with reflux esophagitis and duodenal ulcer, the scores for antral inflammation and activity tended to be higher than those for the corpus. Conversely, the inflammation and activity score in patients with early gastric cancer showed a corpus-predominant gastritis pattern. CONCLUSION: In H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis, the degree of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy is low and histologically there is an antral-predominant gastritis pattern. Therefore, gastric acid secretion in H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis may be augmented by H. pylori infection.     

Importance of Helicobacter pylori oipA in clinical presentation,gastric inflammation,and mucosal interleukin 8 production

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Disease-associated virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori may not be independent of one another. The aim was to determine which H. pylori virulence factor(s) was the most important predictor of severity of gastric inflammation or clinical outcome. METHODS: cag Pathogenicity island (PAI), vacA babA2, and iceA status were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). oipA functionality was based on switch status determined by PCR-based sequencing. A backward stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to determine which factor(s) was the most discriminating for clinical outcome as well as the relationship to mucosal histology (H. pylori density, neutrophil infiltration, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric atrophy) and mucosal interleukin 8 (IL-8) production. RESULTS: H. pylori were obtained from 247 patients (86 with gastritis, 86 with duodenal ulcer, and 75 with gastric carcinoma). Although oipA status was closely linked to specific cag PAI, vacA, and babA2 genotypes, only oipA status remained in the final model to discriminate duodenal ulcer from gastritis (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5 and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-11.9). Among the factors, only a functional oipA was significantly associated with high H. pylori density, severe neutrophil infiltration, and high mucosal IL-8 levels (P < 0.001). oipA status had no relationship to gastric atrophic changes. CONCLUSIONS: oipA functional status was related to clinical presentation, H. pylori density, and gastric inflammation. cag PAI, babA2, or vacA status appear important only as surrogate markers for a functional oipA gene.     

Changes in the histology and function of gastric mucosa and in Helicobacter pylori colonization during a long-term follow-up period after vagotomy in duodenal ulcer patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate changes in the histology and the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence and density of the gastric mucosa, as well as in fasting serum gastrin and serum pepsinogen I, depending on completeness of vagotomy, and in cases of recurrent ulcer, during 14 years after operation in duodenal ulcer patients. METHODOLOGY: 122 vagotomized duodenal ulcer patients were studied twice on average 9 and 14 years after operation. The presence of recurrent ulcer and completeness of vagotomy were assessed simultaneously endoscopically and by endoscopic Congo red test. The histology of the gastric antrum and corpus mucosa was assessed in accordance with the Sydney system. The amount of H. pylori in the specimens was detected by microscopic counting; gastrin and pepsinogen I in serum were determined radioimmunologically. RESULTS: During the 14-year follow-up period, complete vagotomy patients were characterized by a smaller amount of active antrum gastritis and a larger amount of active chronic corpus gastritis involving corpus atrophy in 46% of cases 14 years after operation. Recurrent ulcer patients were characterized by a significantly higher prevalence of high-grade H. pylori colonization and active mucosal inflammation in the antrum as well as by a lower level of active mucosal inflammation and atrophy in the corpus and a higher serum pepsinogen I level compared with complete vagotomy cases. The data of incomplete vagotomy patients without recurrent ulcer became more similar to those recorded for recurrent ulcer patients. CONCLUSIONS: In duodenal ulcer patients, changes in the histology of the gastric antrum and corpus mucosa as well as in H. pylori prevalence and density and in serum pepsinogen I levels are different depending on completeness of vagotomy during 14 years after operation.     

Increase in apoptosis and decrease in ornithine decarboxylase activity of the gastric mucosa in patients with atrophic gastritis and gastric ulcer after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori

OBJECTIVE: Recent reports have shown that patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have a higher risk of gastric cancer. However, the mechanism of this increased risk is still unclear. In the gastric mucosa, the size of a continuously renewed population of cells is determined by the rates of cell production and of cell loss. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is elevated in various gastrointestinal cancers and serves as a marker of mucosal proliferative activity. Apoptosis occurs throughout the gut and is associated with cell loss. Both cell proliferation and cell loss have important roles in H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of H. pylori eradication on ODC activity and apoptosis in the gastric mucosa of patients with atrophic gastritis and gastric ulcers. METHODS: Biopsy specimens of the gastric antrum were obtained at endoscopy from 17 H. pylori-positive gastric ulcers patients and 15 H. pylori-positive gastritis patients before and 4 wk after eradication therapy with amoxicillin, omeprazole, and a new anti-ulcer agent, ecabet sodium, and from 10 gastric ulcer patients in whom ulcer healed but H. pylori was left untreated. ODC activity and induction of apoptosis were determined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: H. pylori was successfully eradicated with the triple therapy in 12 (80%) of 15 gastritis patients and 13 (76%) of 17 gastric ulcer patients. ODC activity was present in the gastric mucosa in 21 (84%) patients before eradication but in only four (16%) patients after successful eradication (p = 0.0005). The apoptotic index increased significantly (p = 0.0006) from 4.2% +/- 0.4% before treatment to 7.4% +/- 0.5% after successful eradication. CONCLUSIONS: Successful eradication of H. pylori decreases mucosal ODC activity and increases apoptosis in the gastric mucosa. These findings indicate that by decreasing mucosal cell proliferation and increasing epithelial cell loss, H. pylori eradication may help decrease the subsequent risk of gastric cancer.     

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori by Helicobacter pylori outer membrane proteins

sAIM: To examine the serological response of patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases and Helicobocter pylon (Hpy/on)infection to two Hpyloriouter membrane proteins (OMPs) (Mr18 000 and Mr26 000) acquired by gene recombinant technique, and to determine the diagnostic significance of serological tests derived from these OMPs.METHODS: Recombinant vectors encoding the two Hpylori OMPs were used to transform and express in BL21 (DE3) E.coli After purification with NP-NTA agarose resin, colloid gold kits were prepared with purified recombinant proteins to detect H pyloH infection and H pylori-associated diseases by the immunity-marker technology. We selected 150 patients with Hpy/on‘infection and digestive symptoms wibhout previous treabnent, including chronic gastritis (n = 60), duodenal ulcer (n = 30), gastric ulcer (n = 30), and gastric cancer (n=30).As controls, 33 Hpylori-negative healthy volunteers were also recruited. Serum samples were collected from all subjects, and the antibodies to specific proteins of Hpylori were tested with the colloid gold test kits. The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the colloid gold tests were evaluated, by using the combination of standard diagnostic methods (^13C urea breath test and bacteria culture) and classic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as reference.RESULTS: After purification with Ni^2+-NTA agarose resin,the purity of recombinant fusion proteins was about 95%.The recombinant fusion proteins were recognized by the specific monodonal antibodies against bhe two Hpy/oriOMPs,as demonstrated by the ELISA. Of the 150 serum samples from patients infected with Hpy/oH 141 (94.0%) responded positively to the recombinant protein with Mr26 000, while the seropositive rates were 95.0%, 96.7%, 96.7% and 90.0% for patients with H pylori-associated chronic gastritis,duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer respectively.The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the colloid gold kit with Mr26 000 protein were 94.0%, 97.0%, and 94.5%,respe.ctively. Compared with the classic ELISA, bacteria culture and ^13C urea breath test results in detecting Hpyloriinfection, there was no significant difference (P&gt;O.O5). For the colloid gold kit with Mr18 000, the seropositive rates were 52.0%, 40.0%, 40.0%, 53.3% and 86.7%, respectively,in Hpylori-infected palJents, and bhose wibh Hpylori-associated chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. There was a significant difference (P&lt;0.05) in seropositivity between patient with gastric cancer (86.7%) and those with other diseases (43.3%).CONCLUSION: The two colloid gold kits derived from the recombinant OMPs are useful tools either for detecting Hpyloriinfection, or for, predicting Hpylori-associated gastric malignancy.     

Geographic differences in the distribution of intestinal metaplasia in duodenal ulcer patients

OBJECTIVE: A strong correlation exists between atrophic gastritis and the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma. Duodenal ulcer disease characteristically has an antral predominant gastritis and a lower risk for gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and distribution of intestinal metaplasia in duodenal ulcer in countries differing in gastric cancer incidence. METHODS: Topographically mapped gastric biopsy specimens (median 11) were obtained from patients with duodenal ulcer in four countries (Korea, Colombia, USA, and South Africa). Sections were stained with a triple stain and evaluated for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), active inflammation, and intestinal metaplasia. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-five patients with duodenal ulcer were examined (29 from Korea, 52 from Colombia, 62 from the USA, and 22 from South Africa). The percentage of biopsies with intestinal metaplasia was significantly greater in Korean patients (86%) compared with that in other countries (50%) (p = 0.0004). Intestinal metaplasia was most prevalent in the antrum lesser curve and greater curve, and the body lesser curve. Intestinal metaplasia was present in the gastric corpus of 38% of duodenal ulcer patients from Korea compared with an average of 10% elsewhere (p = 0.018). No differences were observed in the density or distribution of H. pylori infection or in the degree of active gastritis between countries. CONCLUSIONS: Although antral predominant gastritis is the prevalent pattern of gastritis in duodenal ulcer, intestinal metaplasia in the gastric corpus may be found with geographic differences. These findings suggest that duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer are not mutually exclusive diseases but are rather ends of the spectrum of H. pylori infection.     

Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on 24 hour intragastric acidity in patients with gastritis and duodenal ulcer.

Helicobacter pylori status, gastric histology, and 24 hour acidity were studied in 35 gastritis patients, 21 duodenal ulcer patients, and 14 subjects with normal gastric mucosa. H pylori was identified in 21 of 35 patients with chronic active gastritis and in 19 of 21 duodenal ulcer patients, but in none of those with normal gastric mucosa. Mean scores of activity of gastritis were similar in H pylori positive gastritis and duodenal ulcer patients, but were significantly lower in H pylori negative gastritis patients (2.1 (0.8) and 2.3 (0.9) v 1.4 (0.7); p < 0.01, respectively). Median 24 hour hydrogen ion activity (interquartile range) was 21 (8.9-38.0) mmol/l in normal subjects and 23 (11.2-49.0) mmol/l, 19 (7.1-33.1) mmol/l, 44 (25.1-63.1) mmol/l, and 36 (31.6-39.8) mmol/l respectively in gastritis and duodenal ulcer patients with and without H pylori infection. During all predefined time periods, intragastric acidity was significantly higher in patients with H pylori positive duodenal ulcers compared with gastritis patients and normal subjects. However, there was no significant difference in intragastric acidity between the H pylori positive and negative gastritis patients. These results suggest that most of the subjects with chronic H pylori infection have normal gastric acidity.     

Pre and post eradication gastric inflammation in Helicobacter pylori-associated duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Distribution and nature of gastritis are major determinants of clinical outcome of H. pylori infection. The gastric inflammatory changes associated with this infection in developing countries have not been systematically studied. AIMS: To evaluate the inflammatory changes in gastric antrum and corpus in patients with duodenal ulcer and H. pylori infection, before and after H. pylori eradication therapy. METHODS: Histology and H. pylori density were studied in gastric biopsies obtained from 53 consecutive patients with active duodenal ulcer and H. pylori infection. Biopsies were obtained before and 4 weeks after H. pylori eradication therapy, from the anterior and posterior walls of the antrum and corpus, and were evaluated according to the Sydney system. RESULTS: In the pre-H. py/ori eradication antral biopsies, chronic gastritis, active gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and lymphoid follicles / aggregates were seen in 53 (100%), 49 (92%), 11 (21%), 7 (13%) and 28 (53%) patients, respectively. In the corresponding biopsies from gastric corpus, these changes were seen in 49 (92%), 23 (43%), 2 (4%), 2 (4%) and 8 (15%), respectively. All changes except IM were significantly more frequent and of higher grade in the antrum. The grade of chronic gastritis was significantly higher in antrum than corpus; the frequency of gastritis in the antrum and corpus was similar (100% vs. 92%). H. pylori density was also higher in the antrum and correlated well with the grades of chronic gastritis and activity at both sites. Eradication of H. pylori was achieved in 39 patients (74%), and led to significant decrease in gastritis; no change was seen in patients who did not eradicate the organism. CONCLUSIONS: Antral-predominant chronic gastritis and activity are present in more than 90% of patients with H. pylori infection associated with duodenal ulcer, and the grade of gastritis correlates with the density of the organism. Eradication therapy results in improvement of both chronic gastritis and activity.     

Gastric metaplasia and chronic inflammation at the duodenal bulb mucosa

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation and gastric metaplasia are often observed in biopsy specimens from the duodenal bulb of Heliobacter pylori positive patients with duodenal ulcer disease (DU). AIMS: We set out to investigate the prevalence of these lesions and their associations with other gastric and duodenal histopathological lesions. PATIENTS: A total of 1255 consecutive patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were recruited into the present study. METHODS: Two biopsy specimens were obtained from each of the following sites: duodenal bulb, gastric antrum, gastric body, and distal to the superior duodenal angle. These specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, alcian blue periodic acid Schiff (pH 2.5) and modified Giemsa (Heliobacter pylori infection was determined only by histology). RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 57 years, and male:female ratio 1:1.6. Overall, 235 (19%) had gastric metaplasia and/or chronic inflammation in the duodenal bulb mucosa, and H. pylori organisms could be found in 17 (1%). In univariate analyses, gastric metaplasia and/or chronic duodenal bulb inflammation positively associated with male sex (p = 0.046), Heliobacter pylori-positive chronic gastritis (p = 0.033), villous atrophy of distal duodenal mucosa, i.e., coeliac disease (p < 0.001), duodenal ulcer (p < 0.001), and duodenal bulb deformity and scarring in endoscopy (p < 0.001), but not with age (p = 0.7) nor use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p = 0.055). Multivariate analysis revealed that independent risk factors for gastric metaplasia and chronic inflammation in duodenal bulb were duodenal Heliobacter pylori infection (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval CI 1.1-2.1), and villous atrophy of the distal duodenal mucosa (odds ratio 12.7, 95% CI 4.4-36.5), while chronic atrophic gastritis was protective against them (odds ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to Heliobacter pylori infection, duodenal bulb gastric metaplasia and chronic inflammation may result from predisposition to toxic dietary components in gluten-sensitive subjects.     

Comparison of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric mucosal histological features of gastric ulcer patients with chronic gastritis patients

AIM: To compare Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric mucosal histological features of gastric ulcer patients with chronic gastritis patients in different age groups and from different biopsy sites. METHODS: The biopsy specimens were taken from the antrum, corpus and upper angulus of gastric ulcer and chronic gastritis patients. Giemsa staining, improved Toluidine-blue staining and H pylori-specific antibody immune staining were performed as appropriate for the histological diagnosis of H pylori infection. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used for the histological diagnosis of activity of H pylori infection, mucosal inflammation, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia and scored into four grades according to the Updated Sydney System. RESULTS: Total rate of H pylori infection, mucosal inflammation, activity of H pylori infection, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in 3 839 gastric ulcer patients (78.5%, 97.4%, 82.1%, 61.1% and 64.2%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in 4 102 chronic gastritis patients (55.0%, 90.3%, 56.2%, 36.8%, and 37.0%, respectively, P<0.05). The rate of H pylori colonization of chronic gastritis in <30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years and >70 years age groups in antrum was 33.3%, 41.7%, 53.6%, 57.3%, 50.7%, 43.5%, respectively; in corpus, it was 32.6%, 41.9%, 53.8%, 60.2%, 58.0%, 54.8%, respectively; in angulus, it was 32.4%, 42.1%, 51.6%, 54.5%, 49.7%, 43.5%, respectively. The rate of H pylori colonization of gastric ulcer in <30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years and >70 years age groups in antrum was 60.5%, 79.9%, 80.9%, 66.8%, 59.6%, 45.6%, respectively; in corpus, it was 59.7%, 79.6%, 83.6%, 80.1%, 70.6%, 59.1%, respectively; in angulus, it was 61.3%, 77.8%, 75.3%, 68.8%, 59.7%, 45.8%, respectively. The rate of H pylori colonization at antrum was similar to corpus and angulus in patients, below 50 years, with chronic gastritis and in patients, below 40 years, with gastric ulcer. In the other age- groups, the rate of H pylori colonization was highest in corpus, lower in antrum and lowest in angulus (all P<0.05). The rates of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were higher and earlier in H pylori-positive patients than those without H pylori infection (both P<0.01). In comparison of gastric ulcer patients with chronic gastritis patients, the rate of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia was higher in H pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcer than in H pylori-positive patients with chronic gastritis (both P<0.01); the rate of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were also higher in H pylori-negative patients with gastric ulcer than in H pylori-negative patients with chronic gastritis (both P<0.01). Both glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were much more commonly identified in the angulus than in the antrum, lowest in corpus (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Rate of H pylori infection, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in gastric ulcer were higher than in chronic gastritis in all-different age -groups. Distribution of H pylori colonization is pangastric in the younger patients. It is highest in corpus, lower in antrum and lowest in angulus in the older age groups. Progression of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia seem to have a key role in the distribution of H pylori colonization. H pylori appears to be the most important risk factor for the development of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, but it is not the only risk.     

Comparison of He/icobacter py/ori infection and gastric mucosal histological features of gastric ulcer patients with chronic gastritis patients

AIM: To compare Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric mucosal histological features of gastric ulcer patients with chronic gastritis patients in different age groups and from different biopsy sites. METHODS: The biopsy specimens were taken from the antrum, corpus and upper angulus of gastric ulcer and chronic gastritis patients. Giemsa staining, improved Toluidine-blue staining and H pylori-specific antibody immune staining were performed as appropriate for the histological diagnosis of H pylori infection. Hematoxylineosin staining was used for the histological diagnosis of activity of H pylori infection, mucosal inflammation, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia and scored into four grades according to the Updated Sydney System. RESULTS: Total rate of H pylori infection, mucosal inflammation, activity of H pylori infection, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in 3 839 gastric ulcer patients (78.5%, 97.4%, 82.1%, 61.1% and 64.2%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in 4 102 chronic gastritis patients (55.0%, 90.3%, 56.2%, 36.8%, and 37.0%, respectively, P<0.05). The rate of H pylori colonization of chronic gastritis in <30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years and >70 years age groups in antrum was 33.3%, 41.7%, 53.6%, 57.3%, 50.7%, 43.5%, respectively; in corpus, it was 32.6%, 41.9%, 53.8%, 60.2%, 58.0%, 54.8%, respectively; in angulus, it was 32.4%, 42.1%, 51.6%, 54.5%, 49.7%, 43.5%, respectively. The rate of H pylori colonization of gastric ulcer in <30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61-70 years and >70 years age groups in antrum was 60.5%, 79.9%, 80.9%, 66.8%, 59.6%, 45.6%, respectively; in corpus, it was 59.7%, 79.6%, 83.6%, 80.1%, 70.6%, 59.1%, respectively; in angulus, it was 61.3%, 77.8%, 75.3%, 68.8%, 59.7%, 45.8%, respectively. The rate of H pylori colonization at antrum was similar to corpus and angulus in patients, below 50 years, with chronic gastritis and in patients, below 40 years, with gastric ulcer. In the other age- groups, the rate of H pylori colonization was highest in corpus, lower in antrum and lowest in angulus (all P<0.05). The rates of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were higher and earlier in H pylori-positive patients than those without H pylori infection (both P<0.01). In comparison of gastric ulcer patients with chronic gastritis patients, the rate of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia was higher in H pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcer than in H pylori-positive patients with chronic gastritis (both P<0.01); the rate of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were also higher in H pylori-negative patients with gastric ulcer than in H pylori-negative patients with chronic gastritis (both P<0.01). Both glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were much more commonly identified in the angulus than in the antrum, lowest in corpus (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Rate of H pylori infection, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in gastric ulcer were higher than in chronic gastritis in all-different age -groups. Distribution of H pylori colonization is pangastric in the younger patients. It is highest in corpus, lower in antrum and lowest in angulus in the older age groups. Progression of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia seem to have a key role in the distribution of H pylori colonization. H pylori appears to be the most important risk factor for the development of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, but it is not the only risk.     

Gene distribution of cagⅡ in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients of Zhejiang Province

AIM: To determine the prevalence of genotypes of cagⅡ in Helicobacter pylori( H pylon)-infected patients in Zhejiang Province and investigate the relationship between these genotypes and the types of gastroduodenal diseases.METHODS: One hundred and seventy one clinical isolates were collected from 70 chronic superficial gastritis, 31 chronic atrophic gastritis, 41 gastric ulcer, 21 duodenal ulcer, 3 gastric and duodenal ulcer, and 5 gastric adenocarcinoma patients. Polymerase chain reaction assays were performed for analysis of cagT, ORF13 and ORF10 genes in the cagⅡ region.RESULTS: Of 171 Hpyloriisolates from Zhejiang patients,159(93.0%) were positive for all the three loci. One isolate (0.6%) was negative for all the three loci, and 11(6.4%) were partially deleted in cagⅡ. The positive rates of cagT,ORF13 and ORF10 genes were 97.1%, 94.7% and 99.4%,respectively. In the strains isolated from the patients with diseases including chronic superficial gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, the sitive rates of cagT were 95.7%, 100.0%, 95.1% and 100.0%, respectively. The positive rates of ORF13 were 94.3%, 93.5%, 95.1% and 100.0%, respectively. The sitive rates of ORF10 were 98.6%,100.0%,100.0% and 100.0%, respectively. The three genes were all positive in the three H pylori strains isolated from the patients with both gastric and duodenal ulcer. In the five strains isolated from the patients with gastric adenocarcinoma,only one isolate was negative for ORF13. There were no significant differences of the cagT, ORF13 and ORF10 genes among the different gastroduodenal diseases including chronic superficial gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis,gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, both gastric and duodenal ulcer and gastric adenocarcinoma (χ^2=3.098, P＞0.05 for cagT;χ^2=3.935, P＞0.05 for ORF13 and χ^2=6.328,P＞0.05 for ORF10).CONCLUSION: The cagⅡ is not a uniform and conserved entity. Although the genes in cagⅡ are highly associated with the gastroduodenal diseases, the clinical outcome of Hpyloriinfection is not reliably predicted by the three genes in cagⅡ in patients from Zhejiang Province.     

Intragastric acidity as a predictor of the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication: a study in peptic ulcer patients with omeprazole and amoxicillin.

Omeprazole plus amoxicillin cures Helicobacter pylori infection. The hypothesis was tested that low acidity is a predictor of outcome. Fifty patients with relapsing or complicated, or both H pylori positive duodenal (n = 25) or gastric ulcer (n = 25) were randomly treated with either omeprazole 20 mg twice daily plus amoxicillin 1 g twice daily or with omeprazole 40 mg twice daily plus amoxicillin 1 g twice daily over two weeks. After one week of combined treatment, a 24 hour gastric pH measurement was performed in all patients. H pylori cure rate was 67%. Patients who later turned out to be cured had higher pH values during night time and after meals (p < 0.05). In an explorative analysis drug compliance, smoking, location of the ulcer (duodenum versus stomach), age, and grade of body gastritis were additional predictors of the outcome. Smoking (p = 0.006), compliance (p = 0.037), duodenal ulcer disease (p = 0.065), and young age (p = 0.021) were related to high acidity. In conclusion, the success of eradication treatment with omeprazole and amoxicillin in ulcer patients infected with H pylori depends on intragastric pH. Drug compliance, smoking habits, location of ulcer, age, and activity of body gastritis are other predictors and in part related to intragastric acidity.     

Relationship between pepsinogen I/II ratio and age or upper gastrointestinal diseases in Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative subjects]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although previous reports suggested that pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratio was the index of gastric atrophy, PG I/II ratio was also related to other factors such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, various gastrointestinal diseases, and aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum PG I/II ratio and age or upper gastro-intestinal diseases according to H. pylori infection status. METHODS: A total of 529 individuals (307 male; mean age, 57.2 years) were divided into 4 groups (94 gastric ulcers, 35 duodenal ulcers, 105 reflux esophagitis, and 295 atrophic gastritis) according to endoscopic diagnosis. H. pylori infection was determined by H. pylori IgG antibody (ELISA) and PG was measured by latex immunoassay. RESULTS: H. pylori infected patients showed markedly increased serum PG II levels (24.0+/-14.7 ng/mL vs. 13.8+/-16.6 ng/mL, p0.001) and low PG I/II ratio (3.9+/-2.0 vs. 6.0+/-2.5, p0.001) than non-infected subjects. In H. pylori infected patients, mean PG I/II ratios in the gastric ulcer and atrophic gastritis group were significantly lower than those of the duodenal ulcer and reflux esophagitis group (p0.001, ANOVA, Turkey's multiples comparison test). The mean ratio of open type atrophic gastritis was lower than that of close type atrophic gastritis (3.0+/-1.4 vs. 3.8+/-1.7, p0.005). PG I/II ratio gradually decreased with age in H. pylori-infected patients with atrophic gastritis (R(2)=0.9, p=0.005, linear regression analysis). CONCLUSION: Serum PG I/II ratio reflects H. pylori infection and gastric atrophy. In the presence of H. pylori infection, gastric atrophy progresses with age.     

Cell proliferation in Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis and the effect of eradication therapy.

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic (type B) gastritis. The 'intestinal' form of gastric cancer arises against a background of chronic gastritis, and prospective epidemiological studies have shown that H pylori is a major risk factor for this. An increase in mucosal cell proliferation increases the likelihood of a neoplastic clone of epithelial cells emerging where there is chronic epithelial cell injury associated with H pylori gastritis. In vitro bromodeoxyuridine labelling of endoscopic antral biopsy specimens was used to measure mucosal cell proliferation in H pylori associated gastritis before and after therapy for H pylori triple infection. Cell proliferation was increased in H pylori associated gastritis patients compared with normal controls and patients with H pylori negative chronic gastritis (p = 0.0001; Tukey's Studentised range). There was no difference in antral epithelial cell proliferation between duodenal ulcer and non-ulcer subjects infected with H pylori (p = 0.62; Student's t test). Antral mucosal cell proliferation fell four weeks after completing triple therapy, irrespective of whether or not H pylori had been eradicated (p = 0.0001). At retesting six to 18 months later (mean = 12 months), however, those in whom H pylori had not been successfully eradicated showed increased mucosal proliferation compared with both H pylori negative subjects at a similar follow up interval and all cases (whether H pylori positive or negative) four weeks after completion of triple therapy (p = 0.024). These findings suggest that H pylori infection causes increased gastric cell proliferation and in this way may play a part in gastric carcinogenesis.     

Helicobacter pylori associated with a high prevalence of duodenal ulcer disease and a low prevalence of gastric cancer in a developing nation.

This study examines the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer--in particular, the presence or absence of bacteria, the grading of gastritis, and the degree of inflammation in the antral and oxyntic mucosae. The grading of gastritis and the detection of H pylori were determined by histology using the Sydney system. Of the 1006 patients examined, 34.5% had duodenal ulcer disease, 3.5% gastric ulcer disease, and 2% with coexistent ulceration. Most patients (50.2%) were classified as having non-ulcer dyspepsia. Altogether 2.4% of patients had gastric cancer and two further patients had carcinoma in the gastric stump. Of the ulcer disease patients, 87.2% had histological evidence of H pylori infection. After patients who had taken antibiotics or bismuth compounds in the preceding four weeks were excluded, 98.9% of the duodenal ulcer disease, 100% of the gastric ulcer disease, and 100% of the coexistent ulcer disease patients had evidence of H pylori infection. In patients with gastric cancer who had not taken antimicrobial agents in the four weeks before endoscopy, 83.3% had evidence of H pylori infection. Thus, there was a high rate of duodenal ulcer disease and a low rate of gastric ulcer disease in southern China, an area of low gastric cancer mortality. There was a specific topographical relationship between H pylori, the histological response, and gastroduodenal disease. Our data suggest that the status of a nation as either ''developed'' or ''developing'' can not be used to predict the upper gastrointestinal disease profile of its population.     

Helicobacter pylori Infection and Serum Pepsinogen A, Pepsinogen C, and Gastrin in Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer: Significance of Inflammation and Effect of Bacterial Eradication

Objectives: To study the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric inflammatory scores, and fasting gastrin and pepsinogen A and C concentrations, and to evaluate the effect of treatment on these parameters. Methods: Gastrin and pepsinogen A and C concentrations were measured in 36 patients with gastritis, 10 gastric ulcer patients, 12 duodenal ulcer patients, and in 15 subjects with normal gastric mucosa, by standard radioimmunoassay techniques. Fifteen patients with H. pylori infection underwent triple therapy (bismuth subsalicylate, amoxicillin, metronidazole) and were reassessed 1 month later. Results: Fasting gastrin and pepsinogen A and C concentrations were significantly higher in H . pylori-positive gastritis and peptic ulcer patients than in subjects with normal mucosa and in patients with H.pylori -negative gastritis. There was a significant correlation between inflammatory scores and serum gastrin ( r = 0.45, p < 0.0001), and pepsinogen A ( r = 0.33, p < 0.006) and pepsinogen C ( r = 0.55, p < 0.0001) concentrations. Neither sex nor age affected basal gastrin and pepsinogen concentrations. Eradication of H. pylori infection was successful in 12 patients and resulted in a significant fall in serum gastrin and in pepsinogen A and C concentrations, and in a concomitant improvement of the inflammatory scores. Serum peptide levels and gastritis scores were unchanged in those patients in whom H. pylori infection persisted. Conclusions: These findings suggest that hy-pergastrinemia and hyperpepsinogenemia are secondary to H. pylori infection and are related to mucosal inflammation.