Pylori-negative Participants Research Articles

The C/C Genotype of rs1231760 in RGS2 Is a Risk Factor for the Progression of H. pylori-Positive Atrophic Gastritis by Increasing RGS2 Expression.

Chronic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can progress to gastric cancer through atrophic gastritis (AG). The risk of gastric cancer increases with the progression of AG. Therefore, investigating the risk factors for the progression of AG is important. Using the GTEx and GEO databases, we extracted thirty-four candidate genes involved in the progression of AG. Then, with in silico analysis using HaploReg v4.1 and JASPAR (Matrix ID: MA0113.3), we extracted rs1231760 of RGS2 as a key single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that could be involved in the functional change in the candidate gene. A correlation analysis between the selected SNP and AG in 200 H. pylori-positive and 302 H. pylori-negative participants was conducted. For functional analysis of the SNP, a dual-luciferase assay using reporter plasmids with a major or minor allele sequence was carried out. The frequency of the C/C genotype of rs1231760 was higher in the AG group than in the non-AG group (p = 0.0471). Functional analysis showed that the transcriptional activities were higher at the dexamethasone-stimulating C allele than at the others (p < 0.05). The C/C genotype of rs1231760 in RGS2 could be a biomarker of high-risk H. pylori-positive AG because of an increase in RGS2 expression.

Association of triglyceride-glucose index with helicobacter pylori infection and mortality among the US population

BackgroundLimited research has explored the potential association between the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) and mortality, especially in individuals with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between the TyG index and H. pylori infection and investigate whether the associations between the TyG index exposure and all-cause mortality are mediated by H. pylori infection.MethodsThe study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018, incorporating a final sample size of 2,187 participants. Both univariable and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between H. pylori infection and relevant covariates. To assess the association between TyG index, and all-cause mortality in individuals with or without H. pylori infection, Cox regression analysis, and restricted regression cubic spline analysis were implemented.ResultsA significant positive correlation was observed between the TyG index and an elevated risk of H. pylori infection [OR 1.157, 95% CI (1.383 ~ 1.664)]. This correlation persisted even after adjusting for confounding factors [OR 1.189, 95% CI (1.003, 1.411), P < 0.05]. Furthermore, in patients with positive H. pylori infection, a noteworthy nonlinear correlation between the TyG index and all-cause mortality was identified (P = 0.0361). With an increase in the TyG index, all-cause mortality exhibited a corresponding rise, particularly following adjustment for all potential confounding factors. Conversely, in patients with negative H. pylori infection, no significant association was observed between the TyG index and all-cause mortality after adjusting for potential confounding factors.ConclusionA higher TyG index was linked to increased H. pylori infection risks. Participants in the higher quantile group of the TyG index are positively associated with higher all-cause mortality compared to the higher quantile group of the TyG index in H. pylori-positive participants instead of H. pylori-negative participants.

Metabolic syndrome and associated factors among H. pylori-infected and negative controls in Northeast Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori, and the factors associated with it are not well understood. This study evaluates MetS and its associated factors among both H pylori-positive and H pylori-negative individuals in Northeast Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 March 2022 to 30 May 2022.A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables. A total of 228 subjects were randomly selected. Blood and stool samples were collected from each subject to measure fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles, and to identify H. pylori infection. Data were entered into Epi. Data 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analysis and the Mann-Whitney U-test were performed to determine associated factors and compare median and interquartile ranges. Of the 228 participants, 114 were H. pylori positive, and 114 were H. pylori negative. Participants (50.9% female) ranged in age from 18 years to 63 years, with a median age of 31 (IQR, 22, 40) years. The overall prevalence of MetS among the participants was 23.2%. We found a statistically significant association between MetS and fasting blood glucose level (AOR, 15.965; 95% CI, 7.605-33.515, p<0.001). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference in the median serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001), triglycerides (p=0.036), systolic blood pressure (<0.001), and total cholesterol (p<0.001) between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative participants. MetS was prevalent among study participants. There was also a statistically significant association between fasting blood sugar and MetS. In addition, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly different between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative individuals.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and incident risk of dementia: The AMI cohort.

Chronic infectious diseases are increasingly being considered as potential contributors to dementia risk. Among those infections, Helicobacter pylori, the main cause of chronic gastritis worldwide, has been suggested. As the prevalence of H. pylori infection has decreased, the main objective of this work was to reconsider the association between H. pylori infection and the risk of incident dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Prospective cohort of 689 older (≥65 years) agricultural workers from Southwest France. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed according to H. pylori status determined by serology at baseline. The risk of incident dementia according to H. pylori status over a 7-year follow-up was explored by survival analyses: Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional hazards models. Two-hundred (29.0%) participants were H. pylori-positive at baseline. Compared to H. pylori-negative participants, they showed worse cognitive performances at baseline. Eighty-five incident dementia cases were diagnosed during the follow-up period. After adjustment for age, sex, education, apolipoprotein ε4, and several cardiovascular risk factors, H. pylori remained associated with an increased risk of dementia (HR 1.70, 95% CI, 1.05-2.74). The risk was stronger for Alzheimer's disease (HR 2.85, 95% CI, 1.58-5.12). Despite an observed decrease in H. pylori infection prevalence, this study provides evidence for the association between H. pylori infection and dementia. These results should encourage further research on the mechanisms underlying the contribution of infectious diseases to pathological brain aging, especially the influence of gut inflammation on the brain.

Association of oxidative balance score with helicobacter pylori infection and mortality in the US population.

Background: Limited research has examined the association between Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) and mortality, particularly in individuals with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study investigates the correlation between OBS and H. pylori infection and their impacts on all-cause mortality within a cohort of individuals, considering both infected and uninfected individuals. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018, comprising 4,532 participants, were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between H. pylori infection and relevant covariates. Cox regression and restricted cubic spline analysis evaluated the association between total OBS, lifestyle OBS, dietary OBS, and all-cause mortality in H. pylori-positive and -negative individuals. Results: Restricted cubic spline modeling revealed a linear relationship between total OBS and all-cause mortality, particularly in H. pylori-negative patients. Total OBS, dietary OBS, and lifestyle OBS inversely correlated with H. pylori infection, even after adjusting for confounders. Higher dietary OBS was associated with decreased mortality risk exclusively in H. pylori-positive individuals, while lifestyle OBS was associated with mortality only in H. pylori-negative individuals. These findings underscore the complex relationships between OBS, H. pylori infection, and mortality, stressing the importance of infection status in assessing oxidative balance's impact on health. Conclusion: In this sample, higher OBS was associated with lower H. pylori infection risks. Dietary OBS correlated significantly with all-cause mortality in H. pylori-positive individuals, while lifestyle OBS was notably associated with mortality in H. pylori-negative participants. Further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings.

Microbial Diversity and Composition in Six Different Gastrointestinal Sites among Participants Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Henan, China.

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to describe and compare the dynamic microbiota characteristics in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in Chinese participants via high-throughput sequencing techniques. The study collected saliva, esophageal swab, cardia biopsy, noncardia biopsy, gastric juice, and fecal specimens from 40 participants who underwent upper GI tract cancer screening in Linzhou (Henan, China) in August 2019. The V4 region of 16S rRNA genes was amplified and sequenced using the Illumina MiniSeq platform. The observed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) gradually decreased from saliva to esophageal swab, cardia biopsy, noncardia biopsy, and gastric juice specimens and then increased from gastric juice to fecal specimens (P < 0.05). Each GI site had its own microbial characteristics that overlapped those of adjacent sites. Characteristic genera for each site were as follows: Neisseria and Prevotella in saliva, Streptococcus and Haemophilus in the esophagus, Helicobacter in the noncardia, Pseudomonas in gastric juice, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Blautia in feces, and Weissella in the cardia. Helicobacter pylori-positive participants had decreased observed ASVs (cardia, P < 0.01; noncardia, P < 0.001) and Shannon index values (cardia, P < 0.001; noncardia, P < 0.001) compared with H. pylori-negative participants both in cardia and noncardia specimens. H. pylori infection played a more important role in the microbial composition of noncardia than of cardia specimens. In gastric juice, the gastric pH and H. pylori infection had similar additive effects on the microbial diversity and composition. These results show that each GI site has its own microbial characteristics that overlap those of adjacent sites and that differences and commonalities between and within microbial compositions coexist, providing essential foundations for the continuing exploration of disease-associated microbiota.IMPORTANCE Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, while limited attention has been paid to the UGI microbiota. Microbial biomarkers, such as Fusobacteria nucleatum and Helicobacter pylori, bring new ideas for early detection of UGI tract cancer, which may be a highly feasible method to reduce its disease burden. This study revealed that each gastrointestinal site had its own microbial characteristics that overlapped those of adjacent sites. There were significant differences between the microbial compositions of the UGI sites and feces. Helicobacter pylori played a more significant role in the microbial composition of the noncardia stomach than in that of the cardia. Gastric pH and Helicobacter pylori had similar additive effects on the microbial diversity of gastric juice. These findings played a key role in delineating the microbiology spectrum of the gastrointestinal tract and provided baseline information for future microbial exploration covering etiology, primary screening, treatment, outcome, and health care products.

Trans-Lycopene and β-Cryptoxanthin Intake and Stomach Cancer in Vietnamese Men: A Pilot Case-Control Study.

Objective:To examine the association between dietary intake of Trans-Lycopene and β-Cryptoxanthin and stomach cancer in Vietnamese men. Methods:A case-control study including 80 male incident stomach cancer cases and 146 male controls was performed in a general hospital in Viet Nam. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency (SQFFQ) and demographic lifestyle questionnaire were designed, and venous blood samples were collected to determine H. pylori status by IgG ELISA. Nutrient intake was converted using the data of SQFFQ and the Nutritive Composition Table of Vietnamese Foods, updated in 2019. The respective associations between Trans-Lycopene and β-Cryptoxanthin intake and stomach cancer were examined using unconditional logistic regression analysis with adjustments for possible cofactors. Results:Both Trans-Lycopene and β-Cryptoxanthin intake and stomach cancer showed a significantly inverse association, tertile-3 versus tertile-1, (OR = 0.15, 95%CI: 0.06–0.35, p trend = 0.00) and (OR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.14–0.79, p trend = 0.02, respectively). For Trans-Lycopene intake stratifying by H. pylori status remained the benefit effect against stomach cancer among H. pylori-negative participants (OR = 0.15, 95%CI: 0.03–0.69, p trend = 0.02) and H. pylori-positive participants (OR = 0.13, 95%CI: 0.04–0.42, p trend = 0.00). Conclusions:Both Trans-Lycopene and β-Cryptoxanthin intake showed a strong protective effect against stomach cancer. The findings suggest that these two types of fat-soluble micronutrients would be considered as an anti-cancer therapy for both primary and secondary prevention.

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with estimated glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese population.

Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection is reported to be associated with extragastric disorders which include kidney diseases. But the association between H. pylori infection and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is unclear as far. Thus, we performed the study to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its association with eGFR in a Chinese population. We conducted a cross-sectional study in adults who took health examination at the First Hospital of Jilin University in 2019. All the subjects received 14C-labled urea breath test to determine the H. pylori infection, and we analyzed the relationship between prevalence of H. pylori infection and eGFR. Among 3593 participants in the health checkup, the positive rate of H. pylori infection was 37.3%. H. pylori-positive participants had a lower level of eGFR than H. pylori-negative participants. In univariate analysis, we observed that the positive rate of H. pylori infection and RR (relative risk) became larger with eGFR decreased, however, the association was not significant after adjustment for other factors. Further multivariable analysis showed age and sex were the main confounders between eGFR and H. pylori infection. The correlation between eGFR and positive rate of H. pylori infection was confounded by age and sex.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Stomach Cancer among Male Adults: A Case-Control Study in Northern Viet Nam.

Objective:This study investigated the association between fruit and vegetable intake and stomach cancer, with considering the impacts of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and tobacco smoking. Methods:A case-control study featuring 80 male incident stomach-cancer cases and 146 male controls was conducted in a general hospital in Viet Nam. A semi-quantitative food frequency and demographic lifestyle questionnaire were used; and venous blood samples were collected to determine H. pylori status by IgG ELISA. The respective associations between fruit and vegetable intake and stomach cancer were examined using unconditional logistic regression analysis with adjustments for possible cofactors. Results:Fruit intake and stomach cancer showed a weak inverse association when this became non-significant after adjusting for H. pylori infection (OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.22–1.12, p trend = 0.094). Stratifying by H. pylori status returned a negative trend for fruit intake and stomach cancer among H. pylori-negative participants (OR = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.06–0.69, p trend = 0.010), but no significant interaction for H. pylori-positive participants (OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.21–2.68, p trend = 0.670). Vegetable intake and stomach cancer showed no association, regardless of H. pylori status. Compared to ever-smokers with low intake, never-smokers with high vegetable (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.06–0.95) and fruit intake (OR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.06–0.65) showed the lowest odds of stomach cancer. Conclusions:Fruit, but not vegetable, intake showed a weak inverse association with stomach cancer. H. pylori infection and tobacco-smoking status may influence the protective effects of fruit and vegetable intake on stomach cancer.

A close relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and the serum level of CD47 in adults

Objectives: Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most important risk factors for gastric cancer, the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that Integrin-associated protein (CD47) plays an important role in the development of gastric cancer. Hence, the aim of this study was to preliminarily explore the relationship between CD47 and H. pylori infection.Methods: A total of 417 adults who underwent health checkups at a hospital were recruited in 2018. Serum levels of CD47 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 13C urea breath test (13C-UBT) was carried out to diagnose H. pylori infection in all participants.Results: Compared with H. pylori-negative participants, H. pylori-positive participants have higher levels of serum CD47 and TNF-α. H. pylori infection, the levels of serum TNF-α and low density lipoprotein (LDL) are the independent predictors of serum level of CD47 in adults. In addition, a potential diagnostic value of serum CD47 level for H. pylori infection has been demonstrated in our study.Conclusion: H. pylori infection is closely associated with the serum level of CD47 in adults, suggesting that H. pylori may promote gastric cancer progression by activating CD47-mediated oncogenic pathways.

Association of baseline plasma des-acyl ghrelin level with the response to rikkunshito in patients with functional dyspepsia.

We recently conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial on the efficacy and safety of rikkunshito, a standardized Japanese herbal medicine, for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). The present post-hoc study aimed to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics between responders and non-responders among FD patients who received rikkunshito for 8 weeks. Rikkunshito responders were defined by using a global patient assessment. Candidate predictors included age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, comorbidity, Helicobacter pylori infection, plasma levels of acyl ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin, severity of dyspeptic symptoms, FD subgroup, previous medication, and the type of recruiting institution (clinic or hospital). We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) by using Cox regression analysis with the factors that were indicated to be associated with responders. We assigned 83 and 42 patients to responder and non-responder categories, respectively. Lack of alcohol consumption (HR, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.88) and low plasma des-acyl ghrelin levels (< 177 fmol/mL; HR, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-4.73) were significantly associated with the efficacy of rikkunshito. Lack of alcohol consumption was associated with the efficacy of rikkunshito especially among H. pylori-infected participants. On the other hand, the low plasma des-acyl ghrelin was associated with the efficacy of rikkunshito especially among H. pylori-negative participants. A low baseline level of plasma des-acyl ghrelin was associated with an increased treatment efficacy of rikkunshito against FD. Lack of alcohol consumption was also clinically useful for predicting the response to rikkunshito.

Is Helicobacter pylori infection associated with glycemic control in diabetics?

To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with glycemic control and whether hyperglycemia is modified by eradication therapy. The databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Chinese BioMedicine Web Base and Chinese Science and Technology Journals were searched from inception to June 2014. Studies examining the association between H. pylori infection and glycemic control and/or the effect of eradication treatment on glycemic control in diabetic humans were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analyses were conducted using the Review Manager software version 5.2. The outcome measures are presented as weighed mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical heterogeneity was assessed by the Cochran Q test and the I(2) statistic. A total of 21 relevant publications were identified. A meta-analysis of 11 studies with 513 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) showed significantly lower glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in the H. pylori-negative than H. pylori-positive DM participants (WMD = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.07-0.79; P = 0.02). In children and adolescents with type 1 DM (T1DM), there was a positive association between H. pylori infection and HbA1c level (WMD = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.05-0.64; P = 0.02), but there was no difference in those with type 2 DM (T2DM, WMD = 0.51, 95%CI: -0.63-1.65; P = 0.38). A meta-analysis of six studies with 325 T2DM participants showed a significant difference in the fasting plasma glucose levels between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative participants (WMD = 1.20, 95%CI: 0.17-2.23; P = 0.02). Eradication of H. pylori did not improve glycemic control in the T2DM participants in a three-month follow-up period (HbA1c decrease: WMD = -0.03, 95%CI = -0.14-0.08; P = 0.57; fasting plasma glucose decrease: WMD = -0.06, 95%CI: -0.36-0.23; P = 0.68). Glycemic control was significantly better in T1DM participants who were not reinfected than in those who were reinfected (HbA1c: WMD = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.32-1.13: P = 0.00). H. pylori infection is associated with poorer glycemic control in T1DM patients, but eradication may not improve glycemic control in DM in a short-term follow-up period.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its relation with body mass index in a Chinese population.

Helicobacter pylori infection is highly prevalent worldwide. The association between obesity and H. pylori infection is controversial in the literature. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its relation with body mass index (BMI) in a Chinese population. A cross-sectional study was performed among adults who underwent health checkups at the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University in 2013. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was examined by (13)C urea breath tests, and the association between prevalence of H. pylori infection and BMI was analyzed. Of the 8820 participants enrolled, 3859 (43.8%) were positive for H. pylori infection. H. pylori-positive participants had a more unfavorable metabolic profile than H. pylori-negative participants. Overweight/obese participants showed a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection than that of lean participants, and a positive linear correlation between BMI and prevalence of H. pylori infection was observed. Both unadjusted and adjusted analysis revealed that BMI was significantly associated with risk factors of H. pylori infection. Our results showed that BMI was significantly and positively associated with H. pylori infection, and a high BMI was associated with an increased risk of the infection.

Etiology and morphology of carditis: Experiences from a single center in China

To investigate the type of cardiac mucosa and its relationship with age and gender of the participants and to determine the coincidence of endoscopic and pathological diagnosis of carditis as well as its etiology. The data of 70 patients with carditis (the carditis group) and 30 individuals with endoscopically normal-appearing cardiac mucosa (the control group), including their baseline characteristics and histopathological findings, were reviewed. Their Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status was also reviewed. Three main types of cardiac mucosa: mucous, oxyntic and mixed types, were found in 45.0%, 40.0% and 15.0% of all the participants, respectively. The distribution of these types was related to the age of the participants but not to their gender. Moderate to severe mucosal inflammation was detected in 60.0% (18/30) of the control group. The etiologies of cardiac inflammation were H. pylori infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For antral H. pylori-negative participants, cardiac mucosal inflammation was correlated with esophageal mucosal inflammation (P < 0.05), while for those with antral H. pylori infection it was associated with antral mucosal inflammation (P < 0.01). The distribution of different cardiac mucosal types was related to the participants' age. Normal-appearing cardiac mucosa under endoscopy might present with histopathologically moderate to severe cardiac inflammation. The etiologies of cardiac inflammation were H. pylori infection and GERD. Different causes of carditis may result in the different histological performance of the cardia.

Plasma ghrelin isoforms and gastric ghrelin O-acyltransferase expression are influenced by Helicobacter pylori status

ObjectiveHelicobacter pylori is known to affect the host’s nutritional status. This study was performed to elucidate the relationship between H. pylori status and the dynamics of the ghrelin system, in the context of ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) expression. MethodsWe conducted a clinical study of 30 subjects focusing on the following points: 1) the effects of H. pylori infection on the concentrations of circulating ghrelin isoforms and on ghrelin and GOAT mRNA expression in the gastric mucosa, and 2) the effects of H. pylori eradication on the same parameters. ResultsThe plasma acyl-ghrelin and desacyl-ghrelin concentrations of 16 H. pylori positive participants were significantly lower than those of 14 H. pylori negative controls. The acyl-ghrelin/desacyl-ghrelin ratio was not significantly different between the H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative participants. The levels of ghrelin and GOAT mRNA in the gastric mucosa were significantly lower in the H. pylori positive participants than in the H. pylori negative controls. In 11 subjects in whom H. pylori eradication was successful, their plasma acyl-ghrelin levels tended to increase after H. pylori eradication, but the difference was not significant; however, their plasma desacyl-ghrelin levels were significantly reduced. Although gastric ghrelin mRNA expression increased significantly after H. pylori eradication, gastric GOAT mRNA expression tended to increase but was not significantly altered. ConclusionH. pylori status might affect the host’s nutritional status through changes in the plasma levels of ghrelin isoforms and the gastric expression levels of ghrelin and GOAT mRNA.

Serum pepsinogen and Helicobacter pylori infection—a Japanese population study

The decreased ratio of serum pepsinogen (PG) I and II has good correlation with the presence of atrophic gastritis. A total of 1,540 residents aged 30-89years were enrolled into this study to investigate which serum PG level of residents with Helicobacter pylori infection would represent an adjunct to the diagnosis and progression of atrophic gastritis. All participants received esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Serum antibody to H. pylori (anti-H. pylori) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serological atrophic gastritis was defined as serum PG I isozyme level ≤70ng/ml and a PG I/II ratio of ≤3.0. Of the 1,540 participants, 923 (59.9%) were positive for anti-H. pylori. Serological atrophic gastritis was found significantly more often in anti-H. pylori-positive participants (40.8%) than in anti-H. pylori-negative participants (7.9%) (p ≤ 0.0001). The endoscopic findings of anti-H. pylori-positive participants with serological atrophic gastritis were significantly more frequent by 4.06 times for atrophic gastritis (p ≤ 0.0001) than anti-H. pylori-negative participants without serological atrophic gastritis. Eight anti-H. pylori-positive participants were diagnosed with gastric cancer, but no cancer was found in anti-H. pylori-negative participants without serological atrophic gastritis. Serum PG testing is clinically useful for the prediction of gastric lesions in H. pylori-infected persons.

Circulating interleukin-27 levels in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers, independent of the bacterial cytotoxin-associated gene A virulence factor

The aim was to evaluate the interleukin (IL)-27 levels in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected patients with gastric ulcer (GU) or duodenal ulcer (DU) and to determine its association with H. pylori virulence factor cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA). In all, 127 H. pylori infected patients (including 96 DU patients, of whom 61 were anti-CagA(+) and 35 were anti-CagA(-)) and 31 GU patients (of whom 15 were anti-CagA(+) and 16 were anti-CagA(-)), 60 asymptomatic (AS) carriers (of whom 30 were anti-CagA(+) and 30 were anti-CagA(-)) and 30 healthy H. pylori-negative participants (as a control) were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations of IL-27 were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The mean levels of IL-27 in the GU (44.26 ± 7.12 pg/mL) and DU patients (40.84 ± 3.90 pg/mL) was significantly higher than those observed in the AS carriers (22.06 ± 1.90 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and the control group (18.12 ± 1.68 pg/mL, P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). In the GU, DU and AS groups the levels of IL-27 in anti-CagA(+) participants were not significantly differ from that in the anti-CagA(-) participants. These results showed that the mean concentration of IL-27 in H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer (PU) patients was higher than in AS carriers and the healthy control group. The serum concentrations of IL-27 were not affected by the CagA factor.

Helicobacter pylori infection and circulating ghrelin levels - A systematic review

BackgroundThe nature of the association between ghrelin, an orexigenic hormone produced mainly in the stomach, and Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), a bacterium that colonises the stomach, is still controversial. We examined available evidence to determine whether an association exists between the two; and if one exists, in what direction.MethodsWe reviewed original English language studies on humans reporting circulating ghrelin levels in H pylori infected and un-infected participants; and circulating ghrelin levels before and after H pylori eradication. Meta-analyses were conducted for eligible studies by combining study specific estimates using the inverse variance method with weighted average for continuous outcomes in a random effects model.ResultsSeventeen out of 27 papers that reported ghrelin levels in H pylori positive and negative subjects found lower circulating ghrelin levels in H pylori positive subjects; while 10 found no difference. A meta-analysis of 19 studies with a total of 1801 participants showed a significantly higher circulating ghrelin concentration in H pylori negative participants than in H pylori positive participants (Effect estimate (95%CI) = -0.48 (-0.60, -0.36)). However, eradicating H pylori did not have any significant effect on circulating ghrelin levels (Effect estimate (95% CI) = 0.08 (-0.33, 0.16); Test for overall effect: Z = 0.67 (P = 0.5)).ConclusionsWe conclude that circulating ghrelin levels are lower in H pylori infected people compared to those not infected; but the relationship between circulating ghrelin and eradication of H pylori is more complex.

Opposing Risks of Gastric Cardia and Noncardia Gastric Adenocarcinomas Associated With Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity

Colonization with Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma, but the magnitude of this association and its relationship to anatomic location of the cancer, duration of follow-up, age at diagnosis, histologic subtype, and H. pylori strain differences are less clear. We conducted a prospective nested case-control study of H. pylori serology to address these questions. Case and control subjects were selected from the 29,133 50- to 69-year-old males recruited into the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study. At baseline, detailed demographic data and a serum sample were collected. From 1985 to 1999, 243 incident cases of gastric adenocarcinoma were diagnosed in cohort members. Serum samples from 234 case subjects (173 with noncardia gastric cancers and 61 with gastric cardia cancers) and 234 age-matched control subjects were assayed for antibodies against H. pylori whole-cell and CagA antigens. We fit conditional logistic regression models to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of H. pylori seropositivity, defined as seropositivity to either whole-cell or CagA antigens, with noncardia gastric and gastric cardia cancers. All statistical tests were two-sided. H. pylori seropositivity was strongly associated with the risk of noncardia gastric cancer (adjusted OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 3.0 to 20.9) but was inversely associated with the risk of gastric cardia cancer (adjusted OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.89). H. pylori seropositivity rates did not vary statistically significantly by length of follow-up, age at diagnosis, or histologic subtype. A calculation of rates showed that the absolute risks of noncardia gastric and cardia gastric adenocarcinomas in the H. pylori-positive participants of this cohort would be 63 and 12 per 100,000 person-years, respectively, whereas corresponding rates in H. pylori-negative participants would be 8 and 37 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. H. pylori is a strong risk factor for noncardia gastric cancer but is inversely associated with the risk of gastric cardia cancer. These findings bolster the hypothesis that decreasing H. pylori prevalence during the past century may have contributed to lower rates of noncardia cancer and higher rates of cardia cancer in Western countries.