Chronic Gastritis Group Research Articles

A novel approach for the detection of early gastric cancer: Fluorescence spectroscopy of gastric juice

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of fluorescence spectroscopy of gastric juice for early gastric cancer (EGC) screening. Gastric juice was collected from 101 participants who underwent endoscopy in the Outpatient Endoscopy Center of Peking University Third Hospital. The participants were divided into three groups: the normal mucosa or chronic non-atrophic gastritis (NM-CNAG) group (n = 35), advanced gastric cancer (AGC) group (n = 33) and EGC group (n = 33). Fluorescence spectroscopic analysis was performed in all the gastric juice samples and the maximum fluorescence intensity of the first peak (P1 FI) was measured. The mean fluorescence intensity of P1 FI of gastric juice in AGC (92.1 ± 10.7) and EGC (90.8 ± 12.0) groups was significantly higher than that in the NM-CNAG group (55.7 ± 7.5) (AGC vs NM-CNAG, P = 0.006 and EGC vs NM-CNAG, P = 0.015, respectively). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the detection of AGC and EGC were 0.681 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.553-0.810, P = 0.010) and 0.655 (95% CI 0.522-0.787, P = 0.028). With the P1 FI of ≥47.7, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting EGC were 69.7%, 57.1% and 63.2%, respectively. The enhancement of P1 FI of gastric juice occurs at the early stage of gastric cancer. Fluorescence spectroscopy of gastric juice may be used as a novel screening tool for the early detection of gastric cancer.

Evaluation of serum ghrelin levels in patients with hyperplastic gastric polyps

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide and the main source of serum ghrelin is the stomach. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum ghrelin levels in patients with hyperplastic gastric polyp. Eighty patients (50 female, 30 male) were included in this study: 28 with hyperplastic gastric polyp, 20 with benign gastric ulcer and 32 with chronic active gastritis. Serum ghrelin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay method. Serum ghrelin level was significantly lower in patients with hyperplastic gastric polyp (1139.86 ± 279.23 pg/ml) than in those with benign gastric ulcer (1362.45 ± 335.35 pg/ml) and chronic active gastritis (1362.91 ± 269.67 pg/ml) (p=0.016 and p=0.003, respectively). The benign gastric ulcer and chronic active gastritis groups had similar serum values (p=0.996). Serum ghrelin level was not affected by Helicobacter pylori, with levels of 1298.70 ± 309.01 pg/ml and 1252.12 ± 303.04 pg/ml in 56 positive and 24 negative patients, respectively (p=0.536). In the patients with hyperplastic gastric polyp, Helicobacter pylori infection was found to have no effect on serum ghrelin level (p=0.855). Serum ghrelin levels of patients with hyperplastic gastric polyp were lower than in patients with benign gastric ulcer and chronic active gastritis. In patients with various benign stomach lesions, the presence of Helicobacter pylori does not seem to affect serum ghrelin levels.

Assessment of COX-2 expression presence and severity by immunohistochemical method in patients with chronic active gastritis and intestinal metaplasia

The risk of gastric cancer is increased in patients with intestinal metaplasia. Cyclooxygenase-2 activity is crucial for gastric cancer cell survival and proliferation. We aimed to assess cyclooxygenase-2 expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia or chronic active gastritis and in patients with or without a family history of gastric cancer, i.e. a first-degree relative with gastric cancer. One hundred and six patients with histologically proven intestinal metaplasia, chronic active gastritis or normal gastric mucosa were included. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using the immunoperoxidase method. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was detected in 23.1% of normal gastric mucosa, 70.6% of chronic active gastritis, and 90.5% of intestinal metaplasia patients. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was significantly higher in intestinal metaplasia than in chronic active gastritis (p=0.018). Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was significantly more severe in the intestinal metaplasia group when compared to the chronic active gastritis group (p=0.017). Severe cyclooxygenase-2 expression (>60% of cells) was more frequent in the intestinal metaplasia group. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was higher in the Helicobacter pylori-positive group when compared to the Helicobacter pylori-negative group (80.3% vs 57.1%, respectively; p=0.012). Cyclooxygenase-2 expression did not significantly differ according to presence of a first-degree relative with gastric cancer. Patients with intestinal metaplasia demonstrated increased presence and severity of cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Our findings suggest that cyclooxygenase-2 plays an important role in the stepwise process that eventually leads to gastric cancer. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients with and without a first-degree relative with a history of gastric cancer in terms of cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

Correlation between myeloid-derived suppressor cells and gastric cancer begin with chronic gastritis

Objective To investigate the correlation between the ratio change of circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and cellular immune function in healthy volunteers,chronic gastritis patients,gastric intraepithelial neoplasia patients and gastric cancer patients.Methods From February 2011 to July 2011,129 peripheral blood samples were collected,including 32 healthy volunteers,48 chronic gastritis patients,27 gastric intraepithelial neoplasia patients and 22 gastric cancer patients.The percentages of peripheral blood MDSC,T lymphocyte subsets and regulatory T cells (Treg) were determined by flow cytometry.The data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance,pearson and spearman correlation.Results The percentages of circulating MDSC,CD8+ T lymphocyte and Treg were highest in gastric cancer patients (9.63％±3.24％,10.03％ ± 1.26％,69.45％±3.42％) and lowest in healthy volunteers (0.92％±0.33％,4.12％ ±0.99％,32.35％ ±4.83％).Those of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia patients (5.13％ ± 1.30％,7.54％ ± 0.79％,53.26％±4.30％) were lower than gastric cancer patients but higher than chronic gastritis patients (2.76％ ±0.64％,6.28％ ±0.61％,42.37％ ±4.02％).The differences among each groups were statistically significant (F=24.85,20.88,37.84,all P＜0.05).However,the percentage of circulating CD4+T lymphocyte was highest in healthy volunteers (65.10％±4.10％),55.15％ ± 4.00％ in chronic gastritis group,42.23％ ± 3.91％ in gastric intraepithelial neoplasia group,and lowest in gastric cancer group (26.84％ ± 3.69％).The differences among each groups were statistically significant (F=46.80,P＜0.05).A significant correlation between circulating MDSC and TNM stages of gastric cancer was also observed (r=0.856,P＜0.01).The percentage of circulating MDSC was positively correlated with Treg percentage (r =0.862,P ＜ 0.01),and negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+ ratio (r=-0.768,P＜0.01).Conclusion The increase of MDSC percentage in peripheral blood is correlated with human cellular immune function,which might play an important role in the tumor immune evasion during the development of gastric cancer. Key words: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells; T-lymphocyte subsets; T-lymphocytes,regulatory; Tumor escape; Stomach neoplasms

Clinical significance of serum angiopoietin-2 level in gastric cancer patients and the post-operational follow-up patients

Objective To study the difference and clinical significance of serum Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) level in gastric cancer, precancerous disease and the changes in post operation follow-up patients.Methods Serum Ang-2 and CEA levels were detected with ELISA method in 158 gastric cancer patients, 31 chronic astrophic gastritis patients, 38 gastric adenomatous polyp patients, 28 chronic gastritis patients with benign gastric ulcer and 30 healthy controls.The changes of serum Ang2 levels in 131 patients with radical gastrectomy were measured in 2-year post-operational followed-up and the prognosis was also evaluated.The correlation between serum Ang-2 level and the pathologic character of gastric cancer was analyzed.Results The serum Ang-2 and CEA levels of gastric cancer group were (331.8± 64.3) μg/L and (42.6 ± 37.3) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of healthy control group [(187.4±32.7) μg/L and (4.2±3.1) μg/L]and benign gastric ulcer group [(197.3±35.4) μg/L and (4.5±3.2) μg/L](all P ＜0.01).The serum Ang-2 level in chronic astrophic gastritis group was also markedly increased (P＜0.05), however there was no significant change in CEA level.There was no obvious change of Ang-2 and CEA level in gastric adenomatous polyp group (P＞0.05).Pre-operation serum Ang-2 levels of the relapse group and the metastasis group were significantly higher than that of no relapse group (P＜0.05).Post-operation serum Ang-2 level of no relapse group decreased to normal range in 1 month and without obvious increase in 2 years follow-up.The serum Ang-2 level of the relapse group also decreased to normal range in 1 month post-operation, while which was significantly higher than that of no relapse group and normal control group from 6 months to 2 years after operation (P＜0.01).Serum Ang-2 level of the metastasis group was markedly higher than that of no relapse group and normal control group during 2 years after operation (P＜0.01).The 2-year survival rate of no relapse group was significant higher than that of relapse group and metastasis group.The change of serum Ang-2 level was correlated with in the gastric cancer differentiation degree, TNM pathologic classification, lymphatic metastasis, distant metastasis, the depth of invasion and the tumor size (P＜0.01), however not correlated with histopathology type and the location of tumor.Conclusion Serum Ang-2 level may be a new and valuable gastric cancer marker, which will help to monitor tumor relapse, migration and prognosis assessment. Key words: Angiopoietin-2; Stomach neoplasms; Neoplasm recurrence, local; Neoplasm metastasis; Postoperative period; Prognosis

Gastric cancer is associated with NOS2-954G/C polymorphism and environmental factors in a Brazilian population

BackgroundGastric cancer can progress from a chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa resulting from Helicobacter pylori infection that activates the inflammatory response of the host. Therefore, polymorphisms in genes involved in the inflammatory response, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), have been implicated in gastric carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of NOS2 polymorphisms Ser608Leu (rs2297518) in exon 16, -954G/C and -1173C/T, both in the promoter region, with gastric cancer and chronic gastritis and the association of cancer with risk factors such as smoking, alcohol intake and H. pylori infection.MethodsWe conducted a population-based case-control study in 474 Southeast Brazilian individuals (150 with gastric cancer, 160 with chronic gastritis, and 164 healthy individuals), in which we performed NOS2 genotyping by PCR-RFLP.ResultsSNP Ser608Leu was not associated with risk of chronic gastritis or gastric cancer. The polymorphic allele -1173T was not found in the studied population. However, the frequency of -954GC+CC genotypes was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the cancer group (48.7%) than in both the gastritis (28.1%) and the control (29.9%) groups. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the NOS2 SNP -954G/C was associated with higher risk of gastric cancer (OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.12-3.13). We also observed an association with risk factors such as smoking and alcohol intake in both the gastric cancer (OR = 2.68; 95% CI = 1.58-4.53; OR = 3.60; 95% CI = 2.05-6.32, respectively) and the chronic gastritis (OR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.19-3.13; OR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.55-5.02, respectively) groups. This is the first report of increased risk of gastric cancer in association with the -954G/C polymorphism. These findings show that several polymorphisms in the promoter region of the NOS2 gene may contribute to the susceptibility to gastric cancer.ConclusionsPolymorphism NOS2 -954 G/C, along with alcohol intake and tobacco smoking, is associated with gastric cancer. However, the NOS2 Ser608Leu polymorphism was not associated with gastric carcinogenesis. The NOS2 -1173C/T polymorphism was absent in the studied population.

Study on Association between an H-RAS Gene Polymorphism and Gastric Cancer Development

Oncogenic RAS gene mutations have been frequently observed in many tumor types, and their associations with various cancers were reported. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between H-RAS T81C polymorphism and gastric cancer development. H-RAS T81C polymorphism was genotyped in 321 chronic gastritis (ChG) and 151 gastric cancer (GC) patients using GoldenGate Assay kit. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender was performed to identify the differences of genotype and allele distributions between the each group. All ChG and GC patients were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. When the frequencies of H-RAS T81C genotype in each group were compared, the homozygous type of major allele TT was more frequent in GC group (62.9%) than ChG group (57.3%), while the frequencies of heterozygous type TC and homozygous type of minor allele CC were higher in ChG group than GC group (39.3% vs. 33.8%, 3.4% vs. 3.3%, respectively). In the results of logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and gender, the odds ratios were 0.845 (0.604-1.182), 0.799 (0.556-1.147), 0.741 (0.493-1.114) and 1.094 (0.366-3.270) for allele, codominant, dominant and recessive models, respectively. However, significant difference was not observed between two groups in any models. H-RAS T81C polymorphism was not associated with gastric cancer development in a Korean population.

Study on Association between an H-RAS Gene Polymorphism and Gastric Cancer Development

연락처: 오정환, 130-709, 서울시 동대문구 전능 2동 620-56 성바오로병원 내과 Tel: (02) 958-2455, Fax: (02) 968-7250 E-mail: ojh@catholic.ac.kr Correspondence to: Jung-Hwan Oh, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 620-56, Jeonnong 2-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-709, Korea Tel: +82-2-958-2455, Fax: +82-2-968-7250 E-mail: ojh@catholic.ac.kr 한국인 위암 발병과 H-RAS 유전자 다형성의 연관성 연구

Detection and evaluation of antibodies against neutrophil-activating protein of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric cancer

To detect and evaluate the antibodies against Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) in patients with gastric cancer and other gastroduodenal diseases. Recombinant HP-NAP was prepared from a prokaryotic expression system in Escherichia coli. Serum positivity and level of HP-NAP-specific antibodies in sera from 43 patients with gastric cancer, 28 with chronic gastritis, 28 with peptic ulcer, and 89 healthy controls were measured by rHP-NAP-based ELISA. rHP-NAP-stimulated production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and growth-related oncogene (GRO(alpha)) cytokines in the culture supernatant of SGC7901 gastric epithelial cells was also detected. The serum positivity and mean absorbance value of HP-NAP-specific antibodies in the gastric cancer group (97.7% and 1.01 +/- 0.24) were significantly higher than those in the chronic gastritis group (85.7% and 0.89 +/- 0.14, P < 0.005) and healthy control group (27.7% and 0.65 +/- 0.18, P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for the detection of HP-NAP-specific antibodies were 95.5% and 91.5%, respectively. HP-NAP could slightly up-regulate IL-8 production in gastric epithelial cell lines but had no effect on GRO(alpha) production. Infection with virulent H pylori strains secreting HP-NAP is associated with severe gastroduodenal diseases, and HP-NAP may play a role in the development of gastric carcinoma. rHP-NAP-based ELISA can be used as a new method to detect H pylori infection. The direct effect of HP-NAP on gastric epithelial cells may be limited, but HP-NAP may contribute to inflammatory response or carcinogenesis by activating neutrophils.

Quantitative analysis on tongue inspection in traditional Chinese medicine using optical coherence tomography

Tongue inspection (TI) is an important and unique diagnostic method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), because significant connections between various viscerae diseases and abnormalities in the tongue have been verified. In TCM, TI is simple and non invasive, but in clinical applications, TI is subjectively based on the experience and technique of physicians. To avoid this problem, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is introduced here for TI. We study OCT imaging in rats in vivo from chronic gastritis group (model) and normal group (control) and quantitatively analyze the relative parameters, such as the thickness and the moisture degree of TI. Our results show that OCT images properly demonstrate the thickness of the tongue coating and the moisture degree of the tongue in both groups, and the thickness is increased in the model group from that in the normal group, while the moisture degree decreases. As a result, OCT technology has the potential to provide physicians with an objective diagnostic standard for visual TI in TCM clinical practice and research.

Helicobacter pylori infection in combination with the serum pepsinogen I/II ratio and interleukin-1β-511 polymorphisms are independent risk factors for gastric cancer in Thais

Thailand has the lowest incidence of gastric cancer in the world. Helicobacter pylori infection, a low serum pepsinogen I/II ratio, and interleukin (IL)-1beta-511 polymorphisms are suspected to be risk factors for gastric cancer. A total of 167 Thais, comprising 56 cancer patients and 111 volunteers without cancer, underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination and three fixed-point biopsies; a cancer tissue biopsy was also done, and blood samples were collected. The subjects without cancer were divided into normal subjects and chronic gastritis patients. IL-1beta-511 polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and the serum levels of pepsinogen I and II were determined by a radioimmunoassay. Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody and tissue pathology were tested in all groups. The pepsinogen I/II ratio was significantly lower in the gastric cancer group than in the normal and chronic gastritis groups [odds ratio (OR), 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-4.80; P = 0.025]. Gastric cancer patients were positive for the H. pylori IgG antibody more frequently than negative (OR, 2.946; 95% CI, 1.4-6.39; P = 0.005). However, only 15 (27%) cancer patients were both positive for H. pylori IgG antibody and had low serum pepsinogen I/II. The C/C genotype was found more frequently in the gastric cancer group than in the group with a normal gastric mucosa (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.81; P = 0.014). A low serum pepsinogen I/II ratio combined with positivity for H. pylori IgG, and a IL-1beta-511 C/C genotype may be independent risk factors for gastric cancer in Thais.

Expression of microvessel density in multistep tissues of gastric carcinoma and significance thereof

To investigate the expression of microvessel density (MVD) in multistep tissue of gastric carcinoma and CD34 in the multistep tissue of gastric carcinogens. 277 specimens of gastric diseases, 56 specimens of chronic gastritis, 50 specimens of chronic atrophic gastritis, 59 specimens of intestinal metaplasia, 61 specimens of dysplasia, 57 specimens of gastric carcinoma with lymph node metastases, and 55 specimens of gastric carcinoma without lymph node metastases, obtained from pathological department, Sun Yat-sen university, underwent pathological examination and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of CD34 antigen that is expressed only in the endothelial cells in tumor. The mean MVD was 13 +/- 10 in the specimens of chronic gastritis, 11 +/- 7 in the chronic atrophic gastritis group, 13 +/- 9 in the intestinal metaplasia group, 17 +/- 10 in the dysplasia group, 27 +/- 11 in the gastric carcinoma without lymph node metastases group, and 28 +/- 10 in the gastric carcinoma with lymph node metastases group. There were not significant differences in MVD among the chronic gastritis group, chronic atrophic gastritis group, and intestinal metaplasia group (all P > 0.05), there was a significant difference in MVD between the chronic gastritis group and dysplasia group (P < 0.05). In the specimens of gastric carcinoma, there were no significant difference in MVD between those with and without lymph node metastases (P > 0.05), and between those of high and low differentiation degrees (both P < 0.05). The increase of expression of CD34 in the multistage tissues of gastric carcinoma is associated with the genesis of gastric cancer, and not be related to the gastric carcinoma metastases.

Investigation of HER-2 codon 655 single nucleotide polymorphism frequency and c-ErbB-2 protein expression alterations in gastric cancer patients

To investigate both whether the risk of gastric cancer is associated with the Ile/Val single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) transmembrane domain-coding region at codon 655 and the suggested existence of HER-2 expression in gastric cancer cases in a Turkish patient group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) strategy was used to analyze the presence of HER-2 SNP at codon 655. c-erbB-2 expression pattern was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The results were compared between gastric carcinoma group and chronic gastritis group, as well as between clinicopathological parameters and carcinoma. Results showed that Ile/Val genotype accounted for 20% within the Turkish gastric carcinoma group, and none in chronic gastritis group, and this genotyping was associated with stage IV gastric cancers (P=0.04). Positive membranous HER-2 immunoreactivity, on the other hand, accounted for 24% within the Turkish gastric carcinoma group and none from chronic gastritis cases; further, it was correlated with intestinal type carcinomas (P=0.007), and stage III-IV carcinomas (P=0.004). These observations imply that the tested HER-2 SNP may participate in the development and progression of gastric cancer. Thus, after confirming these results with large sample groups, HER-2 codon 655 SNP and/or c-erbB-2 overexpression may also be used as a poor prognostic indicator for gastric carcinomas.

Helicobacter pylori and the progression of gastric cancer: a 10-year cohort study

To search the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the progression of gastric carcinogenesis. A cohort study was conducted by cluster randomized sampling in Linqu County, a rural area in Shandong Province in northeast China, where the mortality of gastric cancer (GC) is among the highest in the world. In 1989-1990, a gastroscopic examination and serum test was launched among subjects aged 35-64 from 14 randomized villages. Histological diagnosis of gastric mucosa and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect gastric lesions and anti-H. pylori of all participants. A repeated gastroscopic screening was offered to all cohort members in 1994 and 1999 respectively, and all the GC cases, regardless of natural ones or ones by gastroscopy, were registered in the follow-up periods. Fifty-eight cases of GC were identified in 2469 subjects during the 10-year follow-up, 44 were observed in 1603 H. pylori-positive persons (2.74%) and 14 in 866 H. pylori-negative persons (1.62%). The incidence rate of GC in H. pylori-positive is significantly higher than in H. pylori-negative (OR = 1.871, 95% CI: 1.012 - 3.459). There was no significant difference in the progression of gastric carcinogenesis between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative (P > 0.05) among subjects with normal or superficial gastritis (SG) at baseline. In contrast, the significant difference was found in baseline chronic gastritis (CAG) group (P < 0.01), and the GC incidence rate in H. pylori-positive (7/615) is higher than in H. pylori-negative (0/470, P = 0.019). The difference of gastric lesions between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative in subjects with intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia (DYS) at baseline was statistically significant after a 10-year follow-up (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), but the GC incidence rate in H. pylori-positive is similar to the rate in H. pylori-negative at the two groups (17/573 and 7/224 in IM group, P = 0.907; 19/368 and 7/122 in DYS group, P = 0.806). H. pylori is a key risk factor that prompts the transition from chronic atrophic gastritis to advanced precancerous lesions and influences the whole progression of precancerous gastric lesions. H. pylori, perhaps can not cause GC directly, increases the risk of GC in company with other carcinogens. H. pylori seemingly has no important effect on the development of GC when gastric mucosa is normal or superficial gastritis, but this conclusion is required to be further confirmed.

Circulating Ghrelin Levels in Patients with Various Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases

The stomach is the main source of circulating ghrelin. Plasma concentrations of this hormone in patients with various upper gastrointestinal diseases remain undetermined. Thus we measured plasma ghrelin levels by radioimmunoassay in 225 subjects, including 134 Helicobacter pylori-infected and 91 uninfected subjects. They included 67 patients with chronic gastritis (CG), 26 with benign gastric polyp (BGP), 24 with gastric ulcer (GU), 24 with reflux esophagitis (RE), 18 with duodenal ulcer (DU), 28 with acute gastritis (AG), 23 with gastric cancer (GC), and 39 who had normal mucosa on upper endoscopy (N). Plasma pepsinogen I and II levels were also measured. The extent of gastritis was assessed endoscopically. Ghrelin levels differed significantly among the different disease groups. Plasma ghrelin concentrations were lowest in the CG group, followed by the GU group, and highest in the AG patients. There was a significant difference in the levels between differentiated and undifferentiated GC. Ghrelin concentrations in BGP, RE, and DU patients were comparable to those in the N group. Ghrelin circulating levels were lower in H. pylori-positive than -negative individuals, but the significant differences among disease groups were still observed in H. pylori-infected and uninfected populations. Ghrelin concentrations correlated positively with plasma pepsinogen I levels and I/II ratios and inversely with the extent of H. pylori-related gastritis. Plasma ghrelin levels varied widely in diverse conditions of the upper digestive tract, reflecting the inflammatory and atrophic events of the background gastric mucosa. Further investigation is warranted to unravel the mechanisms of the high circulating ghrelin levels in certain upper gastrointestinal diseases.

Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC3, interaction with environmental exposure and risk of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer.

To evaluate the association between polymorphisms XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met and the risk for chronic gastritis and gastric cancer, in a Southeastern Brazilian population. Genotyping by PCR-RFLP was carried out on 202 patients with chronic gastritis (CG) and 160 patients with gastric cancer (GC), matched to 202 (C1) and 150 (C2) controls, respectively. No differences were observed among the studied groups with regard to the genotype distribution of XRCC1 codons 194 and 399 and of XRCC3 codon 241. However, the combined analyses of the three variant alleles (194Trp, 399Gln and 241Met) showed an increased risk for chronic gastritis when compared to the GC group. Moreover, an interaction between the polymorphic alleles and demographic and environmental factors was observed in the CG and GC groups. XRCC1 194Trp was associated with smoking in the CG group, while the variant alleles XRCC1 399Gln and XRCC3 241Met were related with gender, smoking, drinking and H pylori infection in the CG and GC groups. Our results showed no evidence of a relationship between the polymorphisms XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met and the risk of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer in the Brazilian population, but the combined effect of these variants may interact to increase the risk for chronic gastritis, considered a premalignant lesion. Our data also indicate a gene-environment interaction in the susceptibility to chronic gastritis and gastric cancer.

Distribution of H.pylori antigens in gastric mucosa and its significance.

To investigate the distribution of H.pylori antigens in the gastric mucosa in patients with H.pylori infection, and the relationship between the distribution and gastric cancer. Of 112 patients confirmed by pathological study to have chronic superficial gastritis, precancerous changes (chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia or atypical hyperplasia) and gastric cancer, 28 were H.pylori negative and 84 were H.pylori positive. H.pylori antigens in the gastric mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry. The H.pylori positive group, comprised 12 of 22 (50.0%) in the chronic superficial gastritis group, 22 of 25 (88.0%) in the precancerous changes group and 13 of 35 (37.1%) in the gastric cancer group. The positive rates of H.pylori antigens in the cytoplasm progressively increased, respectively at 0.0% (0/12), 63.6% (14/22) and 84.6% (11/13) for the same groups (chi(2)=19.76, P=0.000); H.pylori antigens were located in the mucus layer and above the neck of the mucosal gland in 9 of 12 (75.0%) cases with chronic superficial gastritis, at the neck of the mucosal gland and the isthmus in 12 of 22 (54.5%) cases with precancerous changes, below the isthmus in 9 of 13 (69.2%) cases with gastric cancer (chi(2)=25.30, P=0.000). In the H.pylori negative group, no H.pylori antigen was observed. With the progression of chronic superficial gastritis-->precancerous changes-->gastric cancer, H.pylori antigens progressively migrated from the outer part to the inner part of the cell, and from the superficial to the deep gastric mucosa.

GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 genetic polymorphisms in gastric cancer and chronic gastritis in a Brazilian population.

To test the hypothesis that, in the Southeastern Brazilian population, the GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms and putative risk factors are associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer. We conducted a study on 100 cases of gastric cancer (GC), 100 cases of chronic gastritis (CG), and 150 controls (C). Deletion of the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes was assessed by multiplex PCR. CYP2E1/PstI genotyping was performed using a PCR-RFLP assay. No relationship between GSTT1/GSTM1 deletion and the c1/c2 genotype of CYP2E1 was observed among the three groups. However, a significant difference between CG and C was observed, due to a greater number of GSTT1/GSTM1 positive genotypes in the CG group. The GSTT1 null genotype occurred more frequently in Negroid subjects, and the GSTM1 null genotype in Caucasians, while the GSTM1 positive genotype was observed mainly in individuals with chronic gastritis infected with H pylori. Our findings indicate that there is no obvious relationship between the GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms and gastric cancer.

The application of TSGF test in the diagnosis of carcinosis

Objective To investigate the worthiness of tumor specific growth factor (TSGF) test in diagnosis of carcinosis.Methods TSGF was analysed in 278 cases with 14 sorts'carcinosis ,64 cases with inflammatory fever,46 cases with acute gastroenteritis,72 cases with chronic gastritis,11cases with lung infestation,and 200 normal persons.Results The positive rate in carcinoma group is 88.5%,and 63.3% in inflammatory fever group,30.6% in acute gastroenteritis group,5% in chronic gastritis group,72.7% in lung infestation group,2.5% in normal persons. Conclusion TSGF test in patients with carcinosis play a very important pole in early diagnosis and the evaluation of therapy effect.

HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF GASTRITIS AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN RELATION TO THE PRESENCE OF DUODENAL ULCER

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (Hp) infections have different clinical courses resulting probably from the differences of its virulence.Aimsto describe the features of gastritis and Hp infection and to determine which histological features would increase the risk of duodenal ulcer in patients with Hp infection.MethodsThe histopathologic characteristic of gastric biopsy specimens taken from antrum and stained with Giemsa and Hematoxiline‐Eosin stain were investigated among 142 patients (M=72, F=70) diagnosed as dyspepsia and recognized as Hp positive. Grade and activity of gastritis was examined according to the Sydney System (chronic inflammation, neutrophilic infiltration, intestinal metaplasia and glandular atrophy). The presence of Hp was determined by histology. All the patients were from the private hospital in Jakarta. The presence of duodenal ulcer was recognized in 6 patients.ResultsSix patients with duodenal ulcer and 136 patients with gastritis were examined. The grade of mononuclear infiltration, intestinal metaplasia and the activity of polymorphonuclear were higher in duodenal ulcer group, but statistically have of no significant. On other hand glandular atrophy increased significantly in the group of duodenal ulcer compare to chronic gastritis group (p&lt;0.05). Bacterial density was higher in the antrum compare to the corpus (p&lt;0.05).ConclusionThe result suggest that chronic gastritis induced by Hp infection may associate with the presence of duodenal ulcer through the development of atrophic gastritis.