Impact of CagA status on serum gastrin and pepsinogen I and II concentrations in Japanese children with Helicobacter pylori infection

The study aimed to determine the association between cytotoxin-associated gene product (CagA), serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels in Japanese children infected with Helicobacter pylori. Three hundred children were enrolled in the study. H. pylori infection was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CagA status was assessed using immunoblotting. Serum gastrin and pepsinogen concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. H. pylori seroprevalence was 12.3% (37/300) and CagA status was identified in 28/37 H. pylori-seropositive children (75.7%). Serum pepsinogen I and II levels were significantly higher in CagA-seropositive than CagA-seronegative children with H. pylori infection. There was no significant relationship between CagA seropositivity and serum gastrin levels. In conclusion, CagA status has a significant impact on serum pepsinogen levels, possibly through enhanced gastric mucosal inflammation.     

消化性溃疡患者CagA-Hp感染与血清IL-8、IL-10的相关性研究

目的：探讨消化性溃疡（PU）患者伴有CagA-Hp感染与其血清IL-8、IL-10之间的关系。方法：取H.pylori阳性PU患者100例，其中CagA-Hp抗体阳性患者50例，CagA-Hp抗体阴性患者50例，采用ELISA法分别测定其血清IL-8和IL-10水平。结果：消化性溃疡患者中CagA-Hp抗体阳性组血清IL-8和IL-10显著高于CagA-Hp抗体阴性组。CagA-HpIgG抗体阳性患者中，胃溃疡与十二指肠球溃疡患者血清中IL-8和IL-10水平与溃疡发生的部位无关。     

慢性肾功能不全患者幽门螺杆菌细胞毒素相关基因蛋白(CagA)的表达

目的 :了解慢性肾功能不全患者幽门螺杆菌细胞毒素相关基因蛋白A (CagA)在血清中的表达 :方法 :采用间接ELISA试验检测 4 0例慢性肾功能不全患者、 2 0例正常人的血清CagA水平 ;结果 :慢性肾功能不全患者的血清CagA阳性率明显高于正常人 ,分别为 6 7 5 % (2 7)和 35 % (7) (P <0 0 5 ) ;结论 :慢性肾功能不全患者的Ⅰ型幽门螺杆菌的感染水平高于正常人群 ,其机理尚待进一步研究。     

幽门螺杆菌感染及其毒力因子和胃十二指肠疾病关系的研究

目的 探讨幽门螺杆菌（Hp)感染病人中Hp细胞毒相关蛋白（CagA)、细胞空泡毒素（VacA)抗体在胃十二指肠疾病的比例，并评估不同类型幽门螺杆菌感染对胃窦粘膜炎症程度的影响。方法 应用免疫印迹法测定Hp感染者病人体内的CagA、VacA抗体。结果 73％的Hp感染者病人中出现CagA抗体，61％Hp感染者病人中出现VacA抗体。CagA抗体和VacA抗体在各疾病之间差异无显著性（P＞0．05）。在胃溃疡、十二指肠溃疡和复合性溃疡三类病人中，具CagA和VacA双阳性的比例较CagA和VacA双阴性的比例差异有显著性（P＜0．05）。胃窦萎缩病变在CagA和VacA双阳性的病人中比CagA和VacA双阴性的病人严重（P＜0．05）。结论 具有高毒力因子（CagA和VacA)的Hp是胃肠疾病病人感染的常见菌株，具有CagA和VacA的Hp可能在诱导胃粘膜发展到萎缩病变过程中起重要作用。但不能作为特异性指标来判断胃十二指肠疾病。     

Association of CagA-positive infection with Helicobacter pylori antibodies of IgA class

cagA gene, the best known virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori, codes for an immunodominant CagA protein. In this study, CagA antibodies of the IgG class were measured by immunoblot or enzyme immunoassay in subjects with positive H. pylori serology, and the presence of CagA antibodies was compared with that of H. pylori antibodies of IgA and IgG classes. Serum samples were available for a total of 1,481 subjects, including gastroscopied patients with biopsy-verified H. pylori infection, smoking men with a normal or low serum pepsinogen I level indicating atrophic corpus gastritis, and subjects who later developed gastric cancer and their matched controls. CagA antibodies were significantly more prevalent among individuals with elevated H. pylori antibody titres of the IgA class than in those with IgG antibodies only, with the exception of a small subgroup of individuals who later developed gastric cancer. CagA-positive H. pylori strains seem to induce an immune response with a markedly higher frequency of IgA than what is found in inflammation caused by CagA-negative strains. The presence of serum IgA antibodies to H. pylori seems to indicate a higher risk for CagA-positive H. pylori infection and possibly more severe late sequelae of the disease.     

Relationship of Helicobacter pylori CagA(+) status to gastric juice vitamin C levels

BACKGROUND: To date it is not known whether gastric juice vitamin C levels are influenced by Helicobacter pylori CagA(+) strains. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to study the impact of H. pylori CagA status on gastric juice vitamin C levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 30 H. pylori(+) patients, and the results were compared with 10 endoscopically and histologically normal H. pylori(-) subjects (control group) who were similar to the H. pylori(+) group in terms of age and sex. In all patients, gastric juice vitamin C levels were determined and the severity of gastritis was graded on a scale of 0 (absent) to 3 (severe). CagA was determined by immunoblotting the sera from patients against H. pylori antigens. RESULTS: Among 30 H. pylori(+) patients, 20 were CagA(+) and 10 CagA(-). In the entire group of H. pylori(+) patients, the median gastric juice vitamin C levels (mg L-1) were 16.35 (range 3.5-33.6) and were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than in the control group of H. pylori(-) patients [35.5 (23.1-50.2)]. In addition, in the entire group of H. pylori(+) patients there was a highly significant (P < 0.0001) inverse correlation between the gastritis activity score and the gastric juice vitamin C levels. In the group of H. pylori CagA(+) patients, the median levels of gastric juice vitamin C were 13.8 (3.5-31.2) and were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in both the H. pylori CagA(-) group [24.8 (22-33.6), P < 0.01] and the H. pylori(-) control group [35.5 (23.1-50.2), P < 0.001], the last groups being similar. Furthermore, the gastritis activity median score in the H. pylori CagA(+) group [2 (1-3)] was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the H. pylori CagA(-) group [1 (1-2)]. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that infection with CagA(+) H. pylori strains significantly lowers the gastric juice vitamin C levels in comparison with CagA(-) H. pylori strains, which might have a significant impact on gastric carcinogenesis.     

High seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in chronic bronchitis among Chinese population

An increased seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), especially high virulent cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA) positive strains, has been found in many extragastrointestinal disorders. Moreover, it has been reported that the risk of chronic bronchitis may be increased in H. pylori infected patients. However, until now there are no data regarding the relationship between H. pylori infection and chronic bronchitis among Chinese population. Therefore the aim of the present study was to assess the seroprevalence of H. pylori and in particular of CagA positive virulent strains in patients with chronic bronchitis among Chinese population. We evaluated 46 patients with chronic bronchitis, 48 age- and sex-matched patients with peptic ulcer and 48 healthy control subjects. All enrolled subjects underwent a serologic test for H. pylori IgG and CagA by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was no significant difference in the seropositivity for these parameters between chronic bronchitis and peptic ulcer groups (86.9% vs 89.6% for anti-H. pylori IgG and 67.4% vs 72.9% for anti-H. pylori-CagA IgG). However, these serological parameters were significantly higher in the patients with chronic bronchitis or peptic ulcer than those in control group, who showed 60.4% for anti-H. pylori IgG seropositivity and 20.8% for anti-H. pylori-CagA IgG seropositivity. Among the patients with chronic bronchitis, no significant difference was found in these serological parameters between the current cigarette smokers and never smokers. This is the first report of a high seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in chronic bronchitis among Chinese population.     

幽门螺杆菌根除前后对CagA~+冠心病患者血管内皮功能的影响

目的:探讨幽门螺杆菌(Hp)根除前后细胞毒素相关基因A阳性(CagA+)对冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(冠心病)患者血管内皮功能的影响。方法:选择Hp+CagA+冠心病患者57例为根除治疗组,同期住院的57例Hp-CagA-冠心病患者为对照组。在常规治疗的基础上,根除治疗组接受根除Hp治疗,对照组接受安慰剂治疗,研究期为6个月。两组研究对象在实验前后接受血脂、外周血循环内皮微颗粒(cEMP)水平及肱动脉对反应性充血的内皮依赖血管扩张反应(FMD)检测。结果:治疗后根除治疗组患者的血浆总胆固醇、cEMP水平比治疗前明显降低,FMD明显升高(P均<0.05)。治疗前根除治疗组总胆固醇高于对照组(P<0.01),治疗后两组总胆固醇比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:根除Hp+CagA+,可改善合并Hp+CagA+感染冠心病患者的血管内皮功能。     

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.     

Acute myocardial infarction andHelicobacter pylori seropositivity

Infectious agents including Helicobacter pylori, have been linked to coronary heart diseases on epidemiological and pathogenetic grounds. Classical risk factors fail to explain all the epidemiological variations of the disease. Our aim was to investigate the association of acute myocardial infarction with Helicobacter pylori infection in a case-control study by comparing a group of male patients with a control group of blood donors matched for sex and age. We investigated the classical cardiovascular risk factors in all patients. We studied 44 consecutive male patients, aged 40-65 years, admitted for acute myocardial infarction to the Coronary Care Unit at Novi Ligure Hospital in northern Italy. Helicobacter pylori infection was assessed by measurement of antibodies (IgG) against Helicobacter pylori in blood. Volunteer blood donors attending Molinette Hospital Blood Bank in Turin, northern Italy served as controls. Among the patients we investigated the presence of hypertension, cholesterol and glucose levels in serum, fibrinogen in plasma, smoking habits, and social class. Helicobacter pylori infection was present in 34 of 44 (77%) patients and in 183 of 310 (59%) controls (P<0.05); the odds ratio was 2.36 (95% confidence interval 1.08-5.31). Classical cardiovascular risk factors did not differ among patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection. In conclusion, patients with acute myocardial infarction had a significantly higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection than the control population. The classical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were equally distributed among patients irrespective of their Helicobacter pylori status.     

Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection and migraine: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is a risk factor for migraine. BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies have shown a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with primary headaches. METHODS: One hundred three consecutive patients with migraine were enrolled in the study and compared with a group of 103 matched controls. Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed by means of both (13)C-urea breath test and serology. RESULTS: Of patients with migraine, 30.1% were positive for Helicobacter pylori, compared with 31.1% of controls (P = NS). The odds ratio for migraine associated with chronic Helicobacter pylori infection was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 1.80). Demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics of Helicobacter pylori-positive migraineurs were compared with those of migrainous patients without infection. Helicobacter pylori-positive patients had a significantly (P<.05) lower incidence of food sensitivity than Helicobacter pylori-negative patients. No significant difference was found in any other feature examined. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is not more frequent in patients with migraine than in controls and that infection does not modify clinical features of the disease.     

High prevalence of VacA, CagA protein expression and presence of cag pathogenicity island in Japanese Helicobacter pylori isolates

VacA, CagA proteins and cag pathogenicity island (PAI) were reported to be major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori. By using specific antibodies, the expression of VacA and CagA was evaluated in Japanese isolates, together with vacuolating assay. To characterize the status of not only cagA, but entire cag PAI, H. pylori isolates were evaluated for cagA and 13 other cagPAI genes by Southern blot. VacA and CagA proteins were expressed in 87% and in 90%, respectively. Vacuolating assay was positive in 84% isolates. Most strains had all cag PAI genes and the only 6% were cag PAI deleted despite of retaining cagA gene. The majority of Japanese isolates were positive for VacA, CagA proteins and cag PAI, and the high prevalence of infection with virulence strains may contribute to the characteristics of H. pylori infection in Japan.     

Relationships among alcohol drinking, blood pressure and serum cholesterol in healthy young women

BACKGROUND: Habitual alcohol drinking affects both blood pressure and serum lipids. I investigated the relationships among alcohol drinking, blood pressure and atherogenic index defined by serum total and HDL cholesterol levels in young women. METHODS: The subjects were young (20-39 y) healthy female workers (n=7887) receiving annual health checkups. Blood pressure was compared in subjects divided into groups according to average daily alcohol consumption (non-drinkers; light drinkers, <15 g/day ethanol; moderate-to-heavy drinkers, > or =15 g/day ethanol) and in subjects divided into tertile groups of atherogenic index calculated as (total cholesterol-HDL cholesterol)/HDL cholesterol. RESULTS: When overall subjects were analyzed, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in light and moderate-to-heavy drinkers was not significantly different from that in non-drinkers. Total cholesterol levels and atherogenic index were significantly lower and HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the light and moderate-to-heavy drinker groups than in the non-drinker group. Atherogenic index and HDL cholesterol were also significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the moderate-to-heavy drinker group than in the light drinker group. In the lowest tertile group of atherogenic index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking history and atherogenic index was significantly higher in the moderate-to-heavy drinker groups than in the non-drinker group, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure was not different among the 3 alcohol consumption groups in the highest tertile group of atherogenic index. In non-, light and moderate-to-heavy drinker groups, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the highest tertile group of atherogenic index than in the lowest and middle tertile groups. CONCLUSION: Habitual alcohol drinking is related to blood pressure in young women with low atherogenic index but not in those with high atherogenic index, while blood pressure is associated with atherogenic index independently of alcohol drinking.     

CagA+幽门螺杆菌与胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡的分子研究

目的：观察CagA^ Hp对胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡的影响，进而探讨CagA^ Hp增加胃癌发生危险性的机制。方法：以TUNEL染色法研究30例CagA^ Hp阳性患者Hp根除前后胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡的情况；通过免疫组织化学法和RT－PCR检测凋亡相关基因bcl-2和bax的表达。结果：CagA^ Hp阳性患者胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡指数为13．42％，Hp根除后，胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡指数降为4．8％，较治疗前明显减少（P＜0．01），而CagA^ Hp仍为阳性患者胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡指数无明显减少（P＞0．05）；bcl-2蛋白表达阳性的CagA^ Hp阳性患者Hp根除后，胃黏膜上皮细胞bcl-2蛋白表达阳性明显增多（P＜0．01），且胃黏膜上皮细胞bcl-2的mRNA表达明显增强（P＜0．01），而CagA^ Hp仍为阳性患者胃黏膜上皮细胞bcl-2蛋白表达和mRNA表达无明显增强（P＞0．05）；bax蛋白表达阳性的CagA^ Hp阳性患者Hp根除后，胃黏膜上皮细胞bax蛋白表达阳性明显减少（P＜0．01），且胃黏膜上皮细胞bax的mRNA表达明显减少（P＜0．01）；而CagA^ Hp仍为阳性患者胃黏膜上皮细胞bax蛋白表达和mRNA表达无明显减少（P＞0．05）。结论：诱导胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡是CagA^ Hp参与胃癌发生的机制之一，CagA^ Hp通过下调bcl-2的表达、促进bax的表达诱导胃黏膜上皮细胞凋亡。     

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori CaGa strains and peptic ulcer in the population of Eastern Siberia

AIM: To study prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) CagA strains and ulcer disease in native population of eastern Siberia and migrants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological screening of Hp CagA strains and ulcer disease was performed by cross-sectional method in population of Evenkia, Khakassia, Tuva. Fibrogastroduodenoscopy was made in 3602 examinees; IgG of CagA Hp was detected in the sera of 2472 patients with entyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Prevalence of ulcer was higher in Europeans than in Mongoloids. Detectability of CagA Hp was 36.5% among khakas population, 43.8% among evenks, 60.1% among tyvin population, 59.8% among European population. In khakas and tyva population with ulcer CagA Hp incidence was higher than in healthy subjects. CONCLUSION. CagA HP is associated with ulcer in mongoloid population. This was not confirmed for European populatioin of the Eastern Siberia.     

Prevalence of atrophic gastritis in different populations in Siberia on medical evidence of the serological survey

Prevalence of atrophic gastritis in various population of Siberia with serological tests was studied. Representative samples of Novosibirsk adult population and also urban and rural population of Yakutia were examined. 348 persons at the age more than 45 years (180 males and 168 females) were studied. Concentration of pepsinogen I, gastrin 17 and antibodies to Helicobacter pilori in blood serum was estimated with immune-enzyme analysis ("Biohit GastroPanel", "Biohit", Finland). In addition, domestic test-systems were used for detection cytotoxic (expressing CagA-protein) strains H. pylori. Level of markers (pepsinogen, gastrin, antibodies to Helicobacter pilori and antibodies to CagA H. pilori) in observing populations had no difference between males and females, and also did not depend on age. Occurrence of atrophy in body of stomach in Novosibirsk population, urban and rural population of Yakutia was 10.1, 16.7 and 25.6% respectively, and in antral part--10.7, 25.6 and 8.9% respectively. Total atrophy was registered in 1% in all groups. Helicobacter infection was detected in 78-88% of population. Domestic immune-enzyme test-systems were comparable with data of histological examination and demonstrated greater sensitivity at H. pylori detection vs. foreign. High prevalence of atrophic gastritis in various groups of Siberia population was noticed, which must be was bounded with great level of H. pylori infection in population.     

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Various ABO Blood Groups of Kashmiri Population

Aim: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in various ABO blood groups of people of Kashmir.Method: The study comprised 80 individuals - 50 peptic ulcer patients (whose disease was diagnosed by endoscopy) and 30 asymptomatic volunteers. Every subject's blood group and Rhesus status was determined by standard serological tests. Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed by three different methods viz., one minute endoscopy room test (urease test), Gram staining and by histology. The detection of Helicobacter pylori by histological examination using Giemsa staining was taken as the 'gold standard' for the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection.Results: Out of 80 individuals, 67 were males and 13 females aged between 18-65 years. The majority of peptic ulcer patients had blood group 'O' (n = 28.56%). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection amongst peptic ulcer patients was 76%. There was no difference in Helicobacter pylori positivity in various blood groups.Conclusion: Blood group 'O' though a risk factor for peptic ulcer (Duodenal ulcer) is not a risk factor for acquiring Helicobacter pylori infection.     

Association between Helicobacter pylori cytotoxic type I CagA-positive strains and migraine with aura

Recent studies have suggested an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and migraine. However, various strains of the bacterium are present, some endowed with greater pathogenicity. In particular, H. pylori type I CagA-positive strains induce a higher release of proinflammatory substances by the gastric mucosa that could trigger systemic vasospasms. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of H. pylori CagA-positive strains in subjects with migraine. One hundred and seventy-five patients affected by migraine (49 with aura, 126 without aura) were consecutively enrolled and matched for sex, age, social background and geographical origin with 152 controls. Helicobacter pylori infection was assessed through 13C-urea breath test. Specific serological IgG against CagA were detected through ELISA. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was similar in migraine patients and in controls (40% vs. 39%, respectively). Among migraine patients, prevalence of infection was not related to presence or absence of aura (45% vs. 37%, respectively). However, among infected subjects, a significantly higher prevalence of CagA-positive strains was observed in patients affected by migraine with aura when compared with those affected by migraine without aura (41% vs. 19%, P < 0.01) and with controls (41% vs. 17%, P < 0.01). CagA-positive H. pylori strains were found to be strongly associated with migraine with aura. A higher inflammatory response of the gastric mucosa to more virulent strains could release substances that may act as triggers of vasospasm in peculiar cerebral arterial districts, probably implicated in the 'aura' phenomenon.     

幽门螺杆菌相关性胃溃疡与内皮素、降钙素相关基因肽的变化及临床意义

目的 为了探讨内皮素（ET）、降钙素相关基因肽（CGRP）在幽门螺杆菌（H．pylori）相关性胃溃疡发病中的作用。方法选择幽门螺杆菌感染（H．pylori）阳性胃溃疡患者50例，阴性组50例，健康人50例，用放射免疫法测定其血清降钙素相关基因肽（CGRP）内皮素（ET）水平。结果幽门螺杆菌阳性胃溃疡患者血清CGRP水平分别明显低于和ET高于阴性组和健康者，差异均有显著性（P〈0．01）．抗Hp治疗后血清CGRP上升，ET下降。结论提示血清CGRP水平下降，ET上升可能与幽门螺杆菌感染所致疡的发病有关.     

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with mild asthma

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is causally related to chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, primary low-grade B-cell gastric lymphoma, and is also a risk factor for gastric cancer. In addition, a high seroprevalence of H. pylori has been found in many extragastrointestinal disorders, including active bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It appears that H. pylori has a close relationship with respiratory diseases, but data in the literature on the relationship between H. pylori infection and asthma are poor. We therefore investigated the relationship between them. In this study we evaluated 46 patients with mild asthma, 48 age- and sex-matched patients with peptic ulcer and 48 healthy control subjects. All enrolled subjects underwent a serologic test for H. pylori IgG and cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was no significant difference in both anti-H. pylori IgG seropositivity (p=0.6580) and anti-H. pylori-CagA IgG seropositivity (p=0.7183) between the asthmatic and control subjects. In contrast, both anti-H. pylori IgG seropositivity and anti-H. pylori-CagA IgG seropositivity were significantly higher in peptic ulcer patients than these in asthmatic patients (p<0.01). Despite the sero-epidemiological association of H. pylori infection with many inflammatory conditions, our data show no significant association between mild asthma and H. pylori infection.