Year Of Eradication Research Articles

Disease trends after Helicobacter pylori eradication based on Japanese nationwide claims and the health check-up database.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a risk factor for many diseases, including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. While H. pylori eradication therapy can prevent these diseases, potentially unfavorable effects of eradication therapy have also been reported in some diseases, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus (BE), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), allergic diseases, and metabolic diseases. Consequently, both positive and negative impacts should be considered when assessing the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy. To compare the incidence of these diseases before and after H. pylori eradication and to comprehensively assess its effects. This retrospective cohort study used a Japanese nationwide health claims database (April 2009-March 2020), developed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The database contained almost all health insurance claims data issued in Japan, and specific health check-up data for individuals who took the check-ups. Descriptive statistics were used for the analyses. Patients who received primary eradication therapy were defined as those prescribed medi-cation for H. pylori eradication. New diagnoses, defined as incidence of upper gastrointestinal diseases and IBD, and prevalence of allergic diseases were compared before and after eradication. The incidence and prevalence of each disease were also compared between the 3-year period before eradication (from the 4th to the 2nd year prior to the year of eradication) and the 3-year period after eradication (from the 1st to the 3rd year after the year of eradication) based on the age category and calendar year and month. Changes in body mass index and proportion of patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) were examined before and after eradication. We identified 5219731 patients who received primary eradication therapy. The 65-69 years age group had the greatest number of patients in both sexes. There was no significant increase in the incidence of GERD after eradication when considering the effects of aging and reporting period. However, the incidence of BE was higher in the 3-year period after eradication than in the 3-year period before eradication for all age categories (0.02%-0.10% vs < 0.01%-0.05%). The incidence of IBD and prevalence of allergic disease were also higher after eradication. In contrast, the incidence of gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastritis was reduced after eradication. In patients with at least one entry of health check-up data (1701111 patients), the percentage of patients with MS showed a slight increase following eradication (11.0% in the year of eradication and 12.2% after 5 years). The results suggest that H. pylori eradication therapy reduces peptic ulcers and gastritis; however, it is associated with increased incidence of several other chronic diseases.

Age of eradication and failure rates of clarithromycin-containing triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori: A 15-year population-based study.

Failure rates of clarithromycin-containing triple therapy for H. pylori are rising. To determine the trend of failure rates of clarithromycin-containing triple therapy in different age groups in Hong Kong over the past 15 years. This is a population-based retrospective age-period-cohort study involving all adult H. pylori-infected patients who had received the first course of clarithromycin-containing triple therapy in 2003-2017. Failed eradication was identified by the need of retreatment within 2 years of eradication. Logistic regression model was used to characterize the risk of retreatment. 113,526 H. pylori-infected patients were included. The overall failure rate increased from 4.83% in 2003 to 10.2% in 2016 (p for linear trend <0.001). When stratified by age of eradication, patients 75 years or above had the lowest retreatment rate of 5.11%, which progressively increased in younger patients (60-74 years: OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.15-1.38; 45-59 years: OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.24-1.48; 18-44 years: OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.41-1.69). The results remained consistent when stratified by year of birth, and period of eradication. Other risk factors for retreatment included female (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18-1.30), triple therapy containing metronidazole (OR 2.30, 95% CI 2.12-2.50), and shorter duration of therapy (10 days: OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79-0.97; 14 days: OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.58-0.77 vs 7 days). While failure rates of clarithromycin-containing triple therapy progressively increased over the past 15 years, the failure rate was particularly high among younger patients, which could undermine the potential benefits of early H. pylori eradication.

Assessing gaps in reporting non-target mortality in island rodent eradication operations

Eradicating invasive species is a key part of island restoration, and can reverse the devastating impacts on native biota. Rodents are one of the most widespread invasive species, found on 80% of oceanic island systems, but have been removed from hundreds of islands through the application of anticoagulant-treated cereal bait. While such eradication operations are often net positive events for island ecosystems over the long-term, some native biota are also susceptible, resulting in short-term non-target mortality. One of the most widely distributed groups of birds, rails and allies (Rallidae) are highly adaptable, often endemic, and are known often to suffer mortality during rodent eradication operations, to varying degrees. Our goal was determine if the year of eradication or the size of the island predicted whether non-target mortalities were reported, including those that were true absences of mortality. We examined 122 eradication operations on 81 islands with rails present from 1983 to 2015, and found 78% with no reported information on non-target mortality using our search criteria. We found non-target mortality reporting has decreased over time, and there was no relationship with island size. Post-operational monitoring of eradication operations should thoroughly record non-target mortality to improve our understanding of factors affecting non-target mortality, and the efficacy of mitigation measures.

Malaria: The Past and the Present.

Malaria is a severe disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans by a bite of an infected female mosquito of the species Anopheles. Malaria remains the leading cause of mortality around the world, and early diagnosis and fast-acting treatment prevent unwanted outcomes. It is the most common disease in Africa and some countries of Asia, while in the developed world malaria occurs as imported from endemic areas. The sweet sagewort plant was used as early as the second century BC to treat malaria fever in China. Much later, quinine started being used as an antimalaria drug. A global battle against malaria started in 1955, and Croatia declared 1964 to be the year of eradication of malaria. The World Health Organization carries out a malaria control program on a global scale, focusing on local strengthening of primary health care, early diagnosis of the disease, timely treatment, and disease prevention. Globally, the burden of malaria is lower than ten years ago. However, in the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of malaria cases around the world. It is moving towards targets established by the WHO, but that progress has slowed down.

Fungal communities do not recover after removing invasive Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)

The negative impacts of non-native invasive plants on native plants has prompted intensive eradication efforts, but whether eradication can restore soil microbial communities that are also sensitive to invasion is generally not considered. Some invasive plants, like Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard), specifically alter soils in ways that promote the invasion process. Garlic mustard disrupts mycorrhizas, increases fungal pathogen loads, and elevates soil nutrient availability and soil pH; thus, the fungal community and soil property responses to garlic mustard eradication may be key to restoring ecosystem function in invaded forests. We conducted a garlic mustard eradication experiment at eight temperate, deciduous forests. 1 and 3 years after initiating annual garlic mustard removal (hand pulling), we collected soil samples and characterized fungal community structure using DNA metabarcoding alongside a suite of edaphic properties. We found that fungal richness, the number of shared fungal species, fungal biomass, and the relative abundance of fungal guilds became less similar to invaded plots by year three of eradication and more similar to uninvaded reference plots. However, fungal community composition did not resemble uninvaded communities by the third year of eradication and remained comparable to invaded communities. Soil chemical and physical properties also remained similar to invaded conditions. Overall soil abiotic–biotic restoration was not observed after 3 years of garlic mustard removal. Garlic mustard eradications may therefore not achieve management goals until soil physical, chemical, and biological properties become more similar to uninvaded forested areas or at least more dissimilar to invaded conditions that can promote invasion.

Current Status and Underlying Problems of Eradication of Poliomyelitis in the Remaining Endemic Countries

In 1988, the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), with the resolve to interrupt transmission of wild poliovirus (WPV) worldwide by the year 2000. Eighteen years after the intended year of eradication, that target is yet to be achieved. To investigate the reasons behind this, a check of recent publications on poliomyelitis and polio virus was carried out. The databases and websites of institutions and organizations involved in the polio eradication programme were also checked. The findings showed that although the goal of interrupting polio transmission has not been meet, a lot of progress has been made. By 2006, transmission of WPV had been interrupted in all but four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. In February 2012, India was delisted from the list of polio-endemic countries leaving the remaining 3 countries as the only endemic countries in the world. Wild type 2 and 3 viruses have both been eliminated from circulations. The number of polio cases in the remaining endemic countries has reduced drastically. Nigeria is close to the target, but is yet to be certified polio-free, having experienced a setback in 2016. However, as long as transmission of WPV continues in these countries, the world cannot be free from the disease, as these countries serve as reservoirs of infection and sources of export of the virus to other countries. To be able to achieve the target of interrupting the transmission of WPV in the remaining endemic countries, the identified problems, particularly conflict in the countries concerned, will have to be factored into the programmes geared toward eradication of the disease.

Success in controlling a major outbreak of malaria because of Plasmodium falciparum in Jamaica

In 2006, after 44 years of eradication of malaria, Jamaica had an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum: 406 confirmed cases between September 2006 and December 2009 with a peak of the epidemic in December 2006. In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health launched an emergency response through early detection and prompt treatment of cases, vector control, public education and intersectoral collaboration. Ninety percent (361) of cases were residents of Kingston, and 63.6% were identified through house to house surveillance visits. For 56% of the confirmed cases, treatment with chloroquine was initiated within a week of onset of symptoms. Only one (0.3%) of 358 cases who had a post-treatment smear on day 7 had a persistent asexual parasitaemia, while none of the 149 persons who had a follow-up smear on day 28 was positive. The outbreak highlighted the need for increased institutional capacity for surveillance, confirmation and treatment of malaria as well as effective prevention and control of outbreaks which can occur after elimination. Jamaica appears to have successfully eliminated malaria after its reintroduction.

Parameters of ragweed pollination in the Lyon’s area (France) from 14 years of pollen counts

This study analyzes the pollen counts obtained from the air of the greater Lyon (corresponding to the urban area of Lyon) an area which has been overrun by ragweed in the last 40 years. Two periods are investigated, 1982–1989 and 1990–1995. The year 1995 deserves specific attention because for the first time a campaign of ragweed eradication was launched in greater Lyon. From the data of the 14 pollination seasons it was possible to define some parameters: subpathological risk period, pathological risk period and the position and level of the pollen peak. Our study indicates the progression of the weed in the infested area over the two periods. In 1995 a slight decrease in the pollen count was observed but this was followed by a second peak probably related to later growth of some plants which had been cut. In this connection, 4 weeks weeding campaign is not long enough and in the future a 6-week campaign without the use of weedkillers should be planned. Determining the parameters of ragweed pollination every year will be useful both to patients and physicians concerned by allergy to ragweed pollen. According to the level of the ragweed pollen in the air, the patients may take appropriate medication. This study emphasizes the necessity to record air pollen concentrations over many years. In particular, the actual impact of cutting ragweed before pollination on ragweed pollen counts can only be evaluated after several years of eradication.

Primary gastric MALT lymphoma: trivial condition or serious disease?

Primary gastric B-cell lymphomas originating from the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) have been demonstrated to be closely associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Approximately 70% of these tumors regress within 1 year of eradication of H. pylori. Currently, there is little consensus on the best strategies for diagnosing, treating, and following up these lymphomas. Our objective was to review the current strategies for the diagnosis and management of MALT lymphomas and to describe the management guidelines used in our own institution. Our approach consisted of a review of the literature and personal experience. Rigorous histopathological criteria (Isaacson's criteria) must be applied to the diagnosis of gastric biopsies with atypical lymphoid aggregates. Molecular and immunohistochemical studies might play have a role in determining the clonality of the lesions, but correlation with the histopathological aspects is crucial. Little solid information exists on the natural history and evolution of MALT lymphomas. While studies are being carried out, we suggest that even a suspected MALT lymphoma in a gastric biopsy specimen should be treated as a potentially serious condition. The diagnosis should be confirmed by an experienced histopathological laboratory, and H. pylori infection must be sought and treated. Because the response of lymphomas to antibacterial therapy cannot be predicted, close follow-up of affected patients is essential.

Estimating the year of eradication of tuberculosis in Japan

The time of eradication of tuberculosis has been discussed for several countries, and based on those results, a new strategic plan and goals have been elaborated. Considering such developments, and in order to make a new tuberculosis control strategy, it is important to determine the point at which eradication of tuberculosis would be achieved in Japan. Styblo proposed the two conventional definitions of eradication of tuberculosis, namely that the incidence of smear-positive tuberculosis has fallen below 1 per million population or that the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in the general population has fallen below 1% and continues to decrease. The bacteriological results of new cases have been reported since 1975 in Japan. However, those results are still of doubtful validity and reliability. Therefore, the author estimated the year of eradication of tuberculosis, according to the criterion that tuberculosis is eradicated when the proportion of the population infected with tubercle bacilli is less than 1%. If the risk of infection is changing at a regular rate, it is possible to estimate the risk of infection at any time in the past and in the future. Once the risk of infection is determined, it is also possible to calculate the age-specific prevalence of infection and the proportion of the population infected with tubercle bacilli at various times in the past and in the future. In Japan, the risk of infection before World War II was assumed to be around 4% and not to vary with calendar year. And based on the data from the prevalence surveys in Okinawa in 1968 and 1973, the risk of infection was estimated 0.3% in 1968 and has declined on average, by 10 to 11% annually. At that time, Okinawa was the only area free from BCG vaccination in Japan. The incidence rate in Japan also has declined, on average, by 10% annually. However, since late 1970s, the annual speed of decline of the incidence rate has been slowed down. Therefore, I assumed that the recent trend of the infection risk is the same as the trend of the recent incidence rate among the 0-29 year age-group. The size of the effect of age on the risk of infection has been discussed. The author also considered age-effects in the model. The weight applied to the risk of infection by age was determined by examining the age-specific positive rate in the 1930s before the era when BCG vaccination was widely used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)