Update on the pathologic approach to the diagnosis of gastritis, gastric atrophy, and Helicobacter pylori and its sequelae

Biopsy sampling of the gastric mucosa at diagnostic endoscopy provides information that cannot be obtained otherwise. The most common indication for gastric biopsy is the need to know whether the patient is infected with Helicobacter pylori or not and whether the stomach is gastritic or not. Microscopic examination of gastric biopsy specimens gives, in addition to H. pylori status, information about the grade, extent, and topography of gastritis- and atrophy-related alterations in the gastric mucosa. This information provides further possibilities for the assessment of risk and likelihood of various gastric disorders. The presence of atrophy (loss of mucosal glands) results in failures in secretory functions of the corresponding mucosa and leads to errors in the homeostasis of normal gastric physiology. The grade of atrophy of the corpus mucosa linearly correlates with peak and maximal output of acid. The presence of advanced (moderate or severe) corpus atrophy indicates an extremely hypochlorhydric or achlorhydric stomach in which, for example, ordinary peptic ulcer is unlikely or impossible in spite of a possible H. pylori infection. Some well characterized and common topographic phenotypes of H. pylori gastritis and atrophic gastritis can be delineated as follows: Predominance or restriction of the H. pylori-related inflammation in antrum, in association with a nonatrophic corpus mucosa--of which phenotype is the most common--and with an increased risk of peptic ulcer disease, duodenal ulcer in particular ("duodenal ulcer phenotype" of gastritis); the presence of atrophic gastritis in corpus of the stomach ("corpus predominant gastritis"), which indicates a low risk of peptic ulcer and a reduction in the capacity of the patient to secrete acid; the occurrence of advanced atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia multifocally in the stomach (advanced "multifocal atrophic gastritis"), which are features of a gastritis type and which also indicate a low acid secretion capacity and an increased risk of gastric neoplasias ("gastric cancer phenotype of gastritis"), suggesting a need for a careful exclusion of concomitant presence of small focal neoplastic or dysplastic lesions; and the presence of normal and healthy gastric mucosa, which indicates an extremely low risk of both peptic ulcer disease or gastric cancer and, therefore, is a finding of high clinical relevance. The presence of duodenal or gastric ulcer in conjunction with normal, healthy gastric mucosa suggests either aspirin or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to be the most likely cause of the ulcer.     

The Sydney System: Epidemiology and natural history of chronic gastritis

Chronic gastritis is a common disease which forms an important background to the pathogenesis of several gastric diseases. In most instances, gastritis seems to be a bacterial (microbial) disease. It begins as long-lasting, chronic inflammatory reaction directed against Helicobacter pylori (HP), or occasionally against other spiral bacteria, which colonize in the space between the surface epithelium and the mucous layer. Gastritis may, irrespectively of the HP-related or HP-independent origin, progress to an atrophy (chronic gastritis with atrophy) in the underlying mucosa. Prevalence of gastritis increases with increase in age, but great variations exist in the age-specific prevalence and in mean age of onset of the gastritis in different populations. A high rate and an early onset of the HP-related gastritis associates with low socio-economic status. Chronic gastritis, and the gastritis with atrophy in particular, may interfere with the function of the affected gastric mucosa, and may subsequently increase or decrease the risk of some gastric diseases, such as cancer and peptic ulcer. Both antral and corpus gastritis with coexistent severe atrophic changes have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. In addition, gastritis seems to also play an important role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. Virtually all patients with DU and GU have coexisting and preceding gastritis. The cumulative risk of ulcer has been estimated to be high in subjects with gastritis, but, in contrast, to be low in subjects who have normal gastric mucosa.     

Low peptic ulcer and high gastric cancer prevalence in a developing country with a high prevalence of infection by Helicobacter pylori

We compared the prevalence rates of peptic ulcer (duodenal and gastric) and gastric cancer in 1,796 dyspeptic Peruvian patients with those reported in 2,883 similar patients from developed countries. The prevalence of total peptic ulcer was significantly lower, and that of gastric cancer significantly higher, in the Peruvian patients. The prevalence of gastric ulcer was lower but not significantly so. We deduced that the significantly lower prevalence of total peptic ulcer was directly related to the low prevalence rate of duodenal ulcer. We hypothesize that the reason for these differences was probably a higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic atrophic gastritis with hypochlorhydria in the Peruvian patients. Hypochlorhydria decreases the predisposition to peptic ulcer (especially duodenal ulcer), and chronic atrophic gastritis may predispose an individual to gastric cancer.     

Phospholipid composition of human gastric mucosa: a study of endoscopic biopsy specimens.

Gastric mucosal phospholipids, and in particular those of the surface layer, play an important part in mucosal barrier function. This study examined whether the phospholipid composition of the full thickness gastric mucosa is changed in peptic ulcer disease and gastritis. The phospholipid composition of gastric mucosa from endoscopic biopsy specimens in 28 subjects (eight healthy controls, 12 patients with duodenal ulcer, and eight with chronic atrophic gastritis) was studied. In addition, the phospholipid composition of gastric mucosa was compared with that of duodenal mucosa in 10 patients with duodenal ulcer. As expected phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine prevailed in all three groups. Lysolecithin was the smallest component in the duodenal ulcer and chronic atrophic gastritis groups. The phosphatidylethanolamine value was higher in duodenal ulcer and lower in chronic atrophic gastritis compared with the control group. In chronic atrophic gastritis there was an appreciable amount of phosphatidylglycerol that was not present in patients with duodenal ulcer or in the control group. There was no significant difference in phospholipid composition between antral and duodenal sites in duodenal ulcer patients. In conclusion, the phospholipid composition of gastric mucosa changes in human gastrointestinal diseases but its relation to cellular functions needs further study.     

慢性胃炎及消化性溃疡诱生型一氧化氮合酶表达和Hp感染的意义

目的探讨一氧化氮在慢性胃炎及消化性溃疡发病机制中的作用，以及ＮＯ和Ｈｐ感染的关系．方法用免疫组化法对正常对照者６例，慢性胃炎５６例及消化性溃疡患者１６例的胃粘膜标本进行检测，观察ｉＮＯＳ表达强度．并用改良Ｇｉｅｍｓａ法同步检测Ｈｐ感染状况．结果ｉＮＯＳ染色定位于胞质，在正常人胃及十二指肠粘膜细胞和腺体均有表达．慢性浅表性胃炎组呈过度表达，其平均表达强度明显高于对照组及慢性萎缩性胃炎组（Ｐ＜００１）．慢性萎缩性胃炎组平均表达水平和对照组比较差异无显著性（Ｐ＞００５）．慢性胃炎组ｉＮＯＳ表达强度与其Ｈｐ分级间呈明显正相关（Ｐ＜００５）．消化性溃疡组平均表达水平较对照组增强（Ｐ＜００５），其ｉＮＯＳ表达强度和Ｈｐ分级间相关性不明显（Ｐ＞００５）．结论ｉＮＯＳ活性增强和过度表达可能在慢性胃炎和消化性溃疡的发病机制中发挥一定作用，并可能是Ｈｐ感染导致慢性胃炎的相关发病机制之一．     

慢性胃病中几种胃肠激素水平的改变和意义

本文用RIA法测定352例胃镜病理诊断的胃十二指肠病患者之胃液,血清表皮生长因子（EGF），生长抑素（SS）和胃泌素（GAS）水平。结果表明，胃液EGF水平在胃癌明显升高，在消化性溃疡降低；血清SS及GAS水平在各种胃十二指肠病中均显著高于正常对照，溃疡病的血清SS和GAS水平呈负相关趋势。各种胃病血清SS水平相近，胃液SS水平胃癌显著高于良性胃病，且胃癌胃液SS显著高于其血清SS水平。幽门螺杆菌（HP）感染不影响溃疡病的血清GAS和SS水平及慢性浅表性胃炎的血清SS水平，HP感染严重时慢性萎缩性胃炎的血清SS水平显著升高。     

Peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis: their relation to age and sex, and to location of ulcer and gastritis

The progression, age-behaviour and profiles of chronic gastritis were studied in 460 patients with active gastric or duodenal ulcer, and in 226 patients with ulcer scar. The results were compared with those obtained from a sample of subjects representing the general population. In patients with ulcer or ulcer scar, the progression of chronic gastritis was more rapid in antrum than in body mucosa, and was more rapid in patients with proximal ulcer in those with distal ulcer or in controls. In the body the progression of gastritis was significantly slower in patients with duodenal or juxtapyloric ulcer than in patients with proximal ulcer or in nonulcer controls: body gastritis tended to remain on the same level at all ages whereas it showed a steady progression with age in the nonulcer controls. The degree of gastritis showed a tendency to increase along the shift of ulcer to more proximal in the stomach; the prevalence of gastritis of pure B type (moderate or severe atrophy in antrum, but no atrophy in body mucosa) correspondingly increased along this shift. Severe antral atrophic gastritis was found in 7 per cent of proximal active gastric ulcers and in 20 per cent of proximal ulcer scars. The progression of antral and body gastritis was on the whole more rapid in males than in females irrespectively of the location of ulcer. We conclude that gastritis in different types of ulcers shows characteristic patterns of distribution, dynamics and progression with age. The high prevalence of severe grades of atrophic antral gastritis may also be of significance in regard to the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.     

Size of the peptic ulcer in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients: association with the clinical and histological characteristics

Objective. Based on a large trial of Helicobacter pylori-positive peptic ulcer patients, we studied whether the size of the ulcer, along with other clinical and histological characteristics, has any effect on healing. We also studied the clinical and endoscopic characteristics associated with size of the peptic ulcer. Material and methods. A total of 333 consecutive patients with H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer were enrolled (mean age 54.8±12.7 years). Location of the ulcer was recorded by gastroscopy and the presence of H. pylori was assured by rapid urease test, histology and by serum H. pylori IgG and IgA antibody measurement. The diameter of the ulcer was measured by placing the opened biopsy forceps (7 mm) beside it. Biopsy specimens were examined in accordance with the Sydney system. Results. Mean size of the peptic ulcer was 13.2±8.3 in corpus, 11.3±5.3 in antrum, 13.8±7.8 in angulus, 9.5±5.3 in prepylorus and 9.2±4.7 mm in duodenum (duodenal versus gastric type; p<0.05). Average size of the ulcers was 9.4±5.3 mm in patients with Forrest III type and 11.5±6.8 in other types (p<0.05). Patients who were ≥50 years of age, currently smoking, or who had corpus-predominant chronic gastritis or atrophic gastritis, had larger ulcers than others. Size of index ulcers, successful eradication of H. pylori and the presence of atrophic gastritis were independent factors for healing. The odds ratio was 11.5 (95% CI 3.3–40.5; p<0.01) for eradication of H. pylori, 3.5 (95% CI 1.1–11.2; p<0.05) for size of the index ulcer (≤10 mm versus >10 mm) and 3.4 (95% CI 1.2–9.8; p<0.05) for atrophic gastritis versus no atrophy. Conclusions. Size of the peptic ulcer, successful H. pylori eradication and atrophic gastritis were independent factors for the healing of peptic ulcers. A number of clinical and endoscopic variables (age, current smoking, corpus-predominant gastritis, Forrest classification) were associated with size of the peptic ulcer in H. pylori-positive patients.     

Gastric ulcer and gastritis

The gastritis associated with chronic gastric ulcer has been studied by means of biopsy specimens taken under vision through a fibreoptic gastroscope from four standard sites in the stomach. Observations have been made in patients with untreated gastric ulcer and also in patients after medical or surgical treatment of the ulcer. The gastritis is usually widespread in chronic peptic ulcer of the body of the stomach, whereas it is commonly more localized in chronic prepyloric ulcer. Superficial or atrophic gastritis has been found to persist or even worsen after healing of the ulcer, whether the treatment was medical or surgical. This finding suggests that gastritis is the basic disease process and that gastric ulceration is a secondary phenomenon.     

胃癌及消化性溃疡患者胃窦粘膜胃肠激素的变化

目的探讨胃癌及消化性溃疡（ＰＵ）患者胃窦粘膜胃肠激素变化的意义．方法内镜及活检确诊的浅表性胃炎（ＣＳＧ）１０例，胃溃疡（ＧＵ）１５例，十二指肠溃疡（ＤＵ）１２例，胃癌（ＧＣ）６例．胃镜下取胃窦粘膜，用ＲＩＡ法测定胃泌素（Ｇａｓ）、生长抑素（ＳＳ）、Ｐ物质（ＳＰ）的含量，各组间进行比较．结果胃窦粘膜ＳＳ含量在ＧＵ，ＤＵ，ＣＳＧ，ＧＣ组分别为２５１ｐｇ／ｍｇ±１９４ｐｇ／ｍｇ（以下同），４７０±１７９，５３２±２１１及１２９３±５２３。其中ＧＵ组低于其余各组（Ｐ＜００５），而ＧＣ时则显著升高（Ｐ＜００１）．ＳＰ含量在ＤＵ组显著降低，与ＧＵ，ＣＳＧ，ＧＣ比较分别为４７９±１５７ｖｓ７６５±４１５，７８９±３９０及８０１±３４６，Ｐ＜００５；ＧＣ患者Ｇａｓ水平显著高于ＣＳＧ组，为４６４５±２９４４，ｖｓ２７６８±１５７２，Ｐ＜００１．结论胃粘膜中Ｇａｓ，ＳＳ，ＳＰ含量的变化可能在ＰＵ及胃癌的发病机理中起重要作用．     

放大内镜在胃部疾病诊断中的应用

放大内镜在消化道疾病尤其胃癌及癌前病变的诊断方面有着独特优势,并能指导活检,避免不必要的活检创伤,有着普通内镜所不能比拟的优势.本文对近年来放大内镜在胃部疾患的应用进展作一综述,同时结合临床操作体会,总结放大内镜的操作要领.     

Chronic gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcer: a case control study on risk of coexisting duodenal or gastric ulcer in patients with gastritis.

Chronic (atrophic) gastritis (AG) is common in active duodenal (DU) and gastric ulcer (GU) disease. In this case control study in consecutive prospective outpatients (571 cases and 1074 controls) who had undergone diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and routine biopsies from both antral and body mucosa, we calculated the risk of coexisting active DU and/or GU in different gastritis of the antrum or body and according to grade (superficial gastritis, mild, moderate or severe atrophic gastritis). The risk of coexisting active gastroduodenal ulcer (ulcer in duodenum and/or stomach), as well as the risk of DU or GU, was dependent upon the presence and grade of gastritis in antrum and body mucosa. The risk of coexisting ulcer, as expressed as an age adjusted relative risk (RR) and calculated as odds ratio of gastritis in cases and controls, was significantly increased in the presence of superficial antral and body gastritis (RR = 8.5 (7.0-20.0) in men; RR = 5.8 (3.3-10.2) in women), as compared with the risk of ulcer in subjects with histologically normal mucosa (RR = 1). The risk of ulcer, and the risk of GU in particular, increased further with increasing severity of antral gastritis. In such patients with moderate or severe atrophic antral gastritis the RR of coexisting ulcer even exceeded 20 in men and 10 in women (RR = 25.6 (9.0-72.7) in men; RR = 11.7 (5.9-23.0) in women). On the other hand, the RR of ulcer, and the RR of DU in particular, was below 1 in the presence of atrophic gastritis in the gastric body, irrespective of the grade of gastritis in the antrum. We conclude that the type and grade of gastritis strongly predicts the risk of coexisting peptic ulcer, and that the risk of coexisting DU or GU increases with an increase in grade of AG of the antrum but decreases with an increase in grade of AG of the gastric body.     

Serum biomarker tests are useful in delineating between patients with gastric atrophy and normal, healthy stomach

AIM： TO study the value of serum biomarker tests to differentiate between patients with healthy or diseased stomach mucosa： i.e. those with Helicobacter pylori （H pylori） gastritis or atrophic gastritis, who have a high risk of gastric cancer or peptic ulcer diseases. METHODS： Among 162 Japanese outpatients, pepsinogen Ⅰ （Pg Ⅰ） and Ⅱ （Pg Ⅱ） were measured using a conventional Japanese technique, and the European GastroPanel examination （Pg Ⅰ and Pg Ⅱ, gastrin-17 and H pylori antibodies）. Gastroscopy with gastric biopsies was performed to classify the patients into those with healthy stomach mucosa, Hpylori nonatrophic gastritis or atrophic gastritis. RESULTS： Pg Ⅰ and Pg Ⅱ assays with the GastroPanel and the Japanese method showed a highly significant correlation. For methodological reasons, however, serum Pg Ⅰ, but not Pg Ⅱ, was twice as high with the GastroPanel test as with the Japanese test. The biomarker assays revealed that 5% of subjects had advanced atrophic corpus gastritis which was also verified by endoscopic biopsies. GastroPanel examination revealed an additional seven patients who had either advanced atrophic gastritis limited to the antrum or antrum-predominant H pylori gastritis. When compared to the endoscopic biopsy findings, the GastroPanel examination classified the patients into groups with ＂healthy＂ or ＂diseased＂ stomach mucosa with 94% accuracy, 95% sensitivity and 93% specificity. CONCLUSION： Serum biomarker tests can be used to differentiate between subjects with healthy and diseased gastric mucosa with high accuracy.     

Impact of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug and Aspirin Use on the Prevalence of Dyspepsia and Uncomplicated Peptic Ulcer Disease

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and aspirin (here collectively called NSAIDs) use is the second most common aetiologic factor for peptic ulcer disease and a major factor for peptic ulcer complications. The role of NSAIDs in the pathogenesis of uncomplicated peptic ulcer is less well understood and the interaction between NSAIDs and Helicobacter pylori infection on ulcer development is controversial. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of NSAIDs in the occurrence and clinical features of uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease. Methods: A total of 1091 consecutive patients referred for open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy by general practitioners (GPs) were enrolled. The use of NSAIDs was gathered from a structured questionnaire completed by the patients and from patient files by GPs. The exclusion criteria were previous H. pylori eradication and gastric surgery, as well as symptoms and/or signs suggestive of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Results: Of the whole study group (n = 1091), 76 (7%) patients had a peptic ulcer. Thirty patients had an NSAID-use-associated peptic ulcer and 46 patients a non-NSAID-use peptic ulcer. Of patients with chronic gastritis (n = 599), 71% were H. pylori-positive and 108 used NSAIDs. Of those with chronic gastritis, 23 had an NSAID-use-associated peptic ulcer and 38 a non-NSAID ulcer. Of patients with normal gastric histology (n = 492), 75 patients used NSAIDs, 7 had an NSAID ulcer and 8 a non-NSAID ulcer. The only independent risk factor for peptic ulcer in patients using NSAIDs was H. pylori infection (odds ratio (OR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-7.3), whereas dyspepsia (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.4-2.4), male sex (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.6-3.4), age (OR 1.0 per decade, 95% CI 0.8-1.3) and anaemia (OR 2.9, 95% CI 0.9-8.7) were not risk factors. In patients not using NSAIDs, independent risk factors for peptic ulcer were dyspepsia (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.1-8.8), male sex (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-2.8), age (OR 1.2 per decade, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), anaemia (OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.6-14.9) and H. pylori infection (OR 7.5, 95% CI 3.4-16.6). When comparing patients using NSAIDs or not, the OR of patients on NSAIDs for peptic ulcer was 2.7 (95% CI 1.5-5.0) among patients with chronic H. pylori gastritis (n = 424) and 5.3 (95% CI 1.8-15.0) among patients with normal gastric mucosa (n = 492). Conclusions: The use of NSAIDs increases the risk of peptic ulcer 3- and 5-fold in H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative patients, respectively. Dyspepsia is a poor predictor of peptic ulcer among patients using NSAIDs, and serologic H. pylori testing and treatment for chronic NSAID users is recommended.     

Rise and fall of peptic ulceration: A disease of civilization?

Humans and Helicobacter pylori have evolved and adapted over tens of thousands of years. Yet peptic ulcer disease appeared to be rare prior to the 19th century. The prevalence of peptic ulcer disease increased between 1850 and 1900 and culminated in a cohort at high risk that was born at the end of the 19th century. This coincided with the provision of safe water and improvements in sanitation and personal hygiene. One hypothesis for the emergence of peptic ulcer disease focuses on the rate of development of atrophic gastritis induced by H. pylori. The hypothesis developed in this article focuses on delay in the age of acquisition of H. pylori to a time when immune and inflammatory responses to the infection were more mature. Whereas the acquisition of H. pylori in infancy usually resulted in mild pangastritis, hypochlorhydria, and a low risk for peptic ulcer disease, delayed acquisition could cause either more severe pangastritis (predisposing to gastric ulceration) or gastritis largely restricted to the antrum of the stomach (predisposing to duodenal ulceration). The decline in the prevalence of peptic ulcer disease over the past 100 years parallels the decline in the prevalence of H. pylori. The epidemic of ulcer disease in the first half of the 20th century seems likely to be an adverse effect of important public health measures undertaken in the latter half of the 19th century.     

Epidemiology of gastric cancer. 2nd communication (author's transl)

Of 257 patients with gastric cancer and of 766 persons with different stages of chronic gastritis or normal gastric mucosa, 35 items from epidemiologic studies were used for this analysis. The comparison of epidemiology of chronic gastritis with epidemiology of stomach cancer by univariate and multivariate variance analysis shows numerous common variables (social group; digestive diseases). Furthermore gastric cancer is characterized by variables which give hints to cancerogenous noxes. Gastric cancer patients are distinguished from persons with atrophic gastritis by the following variables: cancerogenes; social class; genetic factors, and digestive diseases. It is suggested that these factors are relevant for stomach cancerogenesis in atrophic gastritis.     

Slow-release L-cysteine capsule prevents gastric mucosa exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde: results of a randomised single-blinded,cross-over study of Helicobacter-associated atrophic gastritis

Introduction: Helicobacter-induced atrophic gastritis with a hypochlorhydric milieu is a risk factor for gastric cancer. Microbes colonising acid-free stomach oxidise ethanol to acetaldehyde, a recognised group 1 carcinogen.

Objective: To assess gastric production of acetaldehyde and its inert condensation product, non-toxic 2-methyl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (MTCA), after alcohol intake under treatment with slow-release L-cysteine or placebo.

Methods: Seven patients with biopsy-confirmed atrophic gastritis, low serum pepsinogen and high gastrin-17 were studied in a cross-over single-blinded design. On separate days, patients randomly received 200?mg slow-release L-cysteine or placebo with intragastric instillation of 15% (0.3?g/kg) ethanol. After intake, gastric concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, L-cysteine and MTCA were analysed.

Results: Administration of L-cysteine increased MTCA (p?<?.0004) and decreased gastric acetaldehyde concentrations by 68% (p?<?.0001). The peak L-cysteine level was 7552?±?2687?μmol/L at 40?min and peak MTCA level 196?±?98?μmol/L at 80?min after intake. Gastric L-cysteine and MTCA concentrations were maintained for 3?h. The AUC for MTCA was 11-fold higher than acetaldehyde, indicating gastric first-pass metabolism of ethanol. With placebo, acetaldehyde remained elevated also at low ethanol concentrations representing ‘non-alcoholic’ beverages and food items.

Conclusions: After gastric ethanol instillation, slow-release L-cysteine eliminates acetaldehyde to form inactive MTCA, which remains in gastric juice for up to 3?h. High acetaldehyde levels indicate a marked gastric first-pass metabolism of ethanol resulting in gastric accumulation of carcinogenic acetaldehyde. Local exposure of the gastric mucosa to acetaldehyde can be mitigated by slow-release L-cysteine capsules.     

Helicobacter pylori cagA, iceA and vacA genotypes in patients with gastric cancer in Taiwan

AIM: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori ) has been linked to chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and MALT-lymphoma. The link of genotypes of H pylori to gastric cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the H pylori vacA alleles, cagA and iceA in patients with gastric cancer in Taiwan. METHODS: Patients with gastric cancer, peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis were enrolled in this study. We obtained biopsy specimens from the stomach at least 2 cm away from the tumor margin in patients with gastric cancer, and from the antrum of stomach in patients with peptic ulcer or chronic gastritis. DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the presence or absence of cagA and to assess the polymorphism of vacA and iceA. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients (gastric ulcer: 77, duodenal ulcer: 66, and chronic gastritis: 25) were found to have positive PCR results of the biopsy specimens from patients with peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis. We found positive cagA (139/168, 83%), m2 (84/168, 50%) and iceA1 (125/168, 74%) strains in the majority of patients. In patients with gastric cancer, the vacA s1a and s1c subtypes were less commonly found than those in non-cancer patients (35/66 vs 127/168, P = 0.0001 for s1a and 13/66 vs 93/168, P<0.0001 for s1c). In the middle region, the m1T strain in patients with gastric cancer was more than that of non-cancer patients (23/66 vs 33/168, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In Taiwan, H pylori with positive vacA s1a, cagA and iceA1 strains are found in the majority of patients with gastric cancer or non-cancer patients. In patients with gastric cancer, the vacA s1a and s1c subtypes are less and m1T is more than in patients with peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis.     

The pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease

Heterogeneity is the most important consideration in the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease. Acute ulcers and erosions present clinically with gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation. if they heal there is no predictable recurrence. Factors concerned with mucosal defense are relatively more important than aggressive factors such as acid and pepsin. Local ischemia is the earliest recognizable gross lesion. The gastric mucosa is at least as vulnerable as the duodenal mucosa and probably more so. Most drug-induced ulcers occur in the stomach. Chronic or recurrent true peptic ulcers (penetrating the muscularis mucosae) usually present with abdominal pain. Many duodenal ulcer patients report that the pain occurs when the stomach is empty or is relieved by food, and follows a pattern of relatively long periods of freedom from symptoms between recurrences. Approximately 50% of patients experience a recurrence within a year if anti-ulcer medication is stopped. In most western countries recurrent duodenal ulcer is more common than gastric ulcer. Peptic ulcer disease is also more common in men. Recent evidence indicates genetic and familial factors in duodenal ulcer and increased acidpepsin secretion in response to a variety of stimuli. However, it is also becoming clear that of all the abnormal functions noted, few are present in all subjects and many are clustered in subgroups. In chronic gastric ulcer of the corpus, defective defense mechanisms, such as duodenogastric reflux and atrophic gastritis, seem to be more important than aggressive factors. Nevertheless, antisecretory medications accelerate the healing of such ulcers. It remains to be seen whether prostaglandins, mucus secretion, or gastric mucosal blood flow are impaired in chronic ulcer disease.     

渤海湾渔民消化性溃疡伴发胃炎特点的研究

为进一步探讨消化性溃疡和慢性胃炎之间的相互关系，我们选择消化性溃疡多发区－－河北省黄骅市歧口镇的渔民为对象，对经胃镜证实的221例典型消化性溃疡患者，通过胃镜对溃疡周围胃粘膜的直观检查及活组织病理检查进行了研究。结果证明：消化性溃疡100％伴发慢性胃炎，其中93．15％伴发慢性萎缩性胃炎，6．75％伴发浅表性胃炎，无一例胃粘膜正常者，伴发胃炎者年龄偏低，女性患者相对多，消化性溃疡和伴胃炎程度均较重。这些渔民消化性溃疡患者伴发胃炎的特点与渔民特殊生活，饮食习惯有关。