Campylobacter pylori infection in children

Clinicopathological features of nodular gastritis in three classes of age

BACKGROUND

Nodular gastritis is most often one of the manifestations of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which is a risk factor for gastric cancer. This study aimed to determine if the histological characteristics of nodular gastritis differed across classes of age.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy with multiple mucosal biopsies of the stomach between 2003 and 2019 for evaluation of updated Sydney System scores. We analyzed and compared the histological characteristics of pediatric (≤15 years old), young (16-29 years old), and older (≥30 years old) patients.

RESULTS

Of the 1321 patients enrolled, 1027 patients (78%) had H. pylori infection, with 214 patients (21%) of them displaying nodular gastritis. Among nodular gastritis patients, mononuclear cell infiltration Sydney System scores in the gastric body were significantly higher in the older group than in the pediatric (p < .001) and young (p < .001) groups. Similar results were seen for neutrophil infiltration scores in the gastric body. To clarify the characteristics of older nodular gastritis, we investigated 1056 older patients (66 with nodular gastritis, 754 with atrophic gastritis, and 236 H. pylori-negative). The scores for mononuclear and neutrophil cell infiltration in the gastric body were significantly higher in nodular gastritis patients than in atrophic gastritis patients (both p < .001) and patients negative for H. pylori (both p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The inflammatory changes in the gastric body in older nodular gastritis patients were more severe as compared with those in pediatric and young nodular gastritis patients in addition to older atrophic gastritis patients.

Immunohistochemical differences in gastric mucosal damage between nodular and non-nodular gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori infection

In this study, the level of cell damage were analyzed immuno­histochemically to clarify the association between nodular gastritis and undifferentiated gastric cancer. Thirty patients of nodular gastritis were enrolled as the nodular gastritis group. Thirty patients of non-nodular gastritis were enrolled as the control group. They were evaluated according to the updated Sydney system and used for immunohistochemical staining (p53, Ki-67, E-cadherin, and 8-OHdG). The scores based on the updated Sydney system were significantly higher in the nodular group than in the non-nodular group for histologically assessed inflammation and activity in the gastric corpus (1.91 ± 0.77 vs 1.58 ± 0.60, p = 0.049, 0.83 ± 0.81 vs 0.44 ± 0.64, p = 0.032). On immunostaining, the detection of E-cadherin was lower in the nodular group for both the antrum (1.0 ± 0.62 vs 1.47 ± 0.85, p = 0.047) and the corpus (1.16 ± 0.81 vs 1.48 ± 0.71, p = 0.043) and the p53 labeling index of the gastric corpus was higher in the nodular group than in the non-nodular group (3.06 ± 1.94 vs 2.03 ± 1.99, p = 0.015). Nodular gastritis showed significant severe inflammation and immunohistochemical cell damage compared with non-nodular gastritis. These findings may play an important role in the oncogenesis of undifferentiated gastric cancer in nodular gastritis.

Nodular gastritis in association with gastric cancer development before and after Helicobacter pylori eradication

Background and Aim

Nodular gastritis is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and is associated with the development of diffuse-type gastric cancer. This study examined the clinical characteristics of patients with nodular gastritis, including cancer incidence before and after H. pylori eradication.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent upper endoscopy and were positive for H. pylori infection. We examined the clinical findings and follow-up data after H. pylori eradication in patients with and without nodular gastritis.

Results

Of the 674 patients with H. pylori infections, nodular gastritis was observed in 114 (17%). It was more prevalent in women (69%) and young adults. Among patients with nodular gastritis, six (5%) had gastric cancer, all of which were of the diffuse type. Among the 19 (4%) patients with gastric cancer and no nodular gastritis, 16 had intestinal-type cancer. White spot aggregates in the corpus, a specific finding in patients with nodular gastritis, were more frequently observed in patients with gastric cancer than in those without (83% vs 26%, P = 0.0025). Of 82 patients with nodular gastritis who had H. pylori eradicated successfully, none developed gastric cancer over a 3-year follow-up period, while 7 (3%) of 220 patients without nodular gastritis developed gastric cancer after H. pylori eradication.

Conclusions

In patients with nodular gastritis, white spot aggregates in the corpus may indicate a higher risk of developing diffuse-type gastric cancer. Nodular gastritis may be an indication for eradication therapy to reduce the risk of cancer development after H. pylori eradication.

Superficially located enlarged lymphoid follicles characterise nodular gastritis

Nodular gastritis is a form of chronic Helicobacter pylori gastritis affecting the gastric antrum and characterised endoscopically by the presence of small nodular lesions resembling gooseflesh. It is generally accepted that hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles histologically characterises nodular gastritis; however, quantitative analysis in support of this hypothesis has not been reported. Our goal was to determine whether nodular gastritis is characterised by lymphoid follicle hyperplasia.The number, size, and location of lymphoid follicles in nodular gastritis were determined and those properties compared to samples of atrophic gastritis. The percentages of high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels were also evaluated.The number of lymphoid follicles was comparable between nodular and atrophic gastritis; however, follicle size in nodular gastritis was significantly greater than that seen in atrophic gastritis. Moreover, lymphoid follicles in nodular gastritis were positioned more superficially than were those in atrophic gastritis. The percentage of MECA-79 HEV-like vessels was greater in areas with gooseflesh-like lesions in nodular versus atrophic gastritis.Superficially located hyperplastic lymphoid follicles characterise nodular gastritis, and these follicles correspond to gooseflesh-like nodular lesions observed endoscopically. These observations suggest that MECA-79 HEV-like vessels could play at least a partial role in the pathogenesis of nodular gastritis.

Endoscopic features of lymphoid follicles in Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastritis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Small, round, yellowish-white nodules (YWN) are frequently observed in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical significance of these YWN.

METHODS

Participants comprised 211 patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis, ranging in age from 23 to 86 years.

RESULTS

YWN were detected in 23% of participants, more frequently in women (33%) than in men (12%; P < 0.01). YWN were observed on the antral mucosa in 4.7% of cases, lesser curvature of the corpus mucosa in 20%, greater curvature of the corpus mucosa in 0.9%, and fundic mucosa in 12%. Most YWN located on the antral mucosa showed nodular type, and most YWN located on the corpus mucosa and fundic mucosa showed flat type. On magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging, YWN appeared as round whitish lesions with radial or branching microvessels on the surface and hypovascular globe structures just beneath the surface of the mucosa. Targeted biopsies of YWN revealed lymphoid follicles with lymphocyte infiltration or intense inflammatory cell infiltration.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic finding of YWN could be observed at any site of the gastric mucosa in H. pylori-associated gastritis, and represented histological lymphoid follicles.

Clinical significance of white gastric crypt openings observed via magnifying endoscopy

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastritis and white gastric mucosal crypt openings (COs) in the gastric corpus.

METHODS: A total of 175 consecutive patients (including 69 patients with gastric cancer) were enrolled in this study. We used magnifying endoscopy (ME) to observe the mucosa microsurface of the lesser and greater curvature of the gastric corpus (350 areas in all). We focused on areas with a round pit microstructure (primarily observed in non-atrophied areas) and evaluated the white openings of these gastric pits. We classified the whiteness of the COs as the “white-edged dark spot” type (consisting of a dark spot bordered by white); the “white” type (pure white with no dark spot); and the “dense white pit (DWP)” type (dense white, resembling a snowball). Gastritis was also histologically evaluated according to the updated Sydney System.

RESULTS: We detected round COs using ME in 246 of the 350 areas examined. The histological examination showed significantly more mononuclear cells and neutrophil infiltration in the “white” and “DWP” types than the “white-edged dark spot” type (P < 0.001). Furthermore, significantly high-grade inflammation and evidence of active H. pylori-induced gastritis was observed in the “DWP” type (P < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in the whiteness of COs between H. pylori-positive (n = 139) and negative (n = 36) patients (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the “white” and “DWP” types for predicting H. pylori infection were 78.5% and 81.7%, respectively. Of the patients with gastric cancer, 22.5% (18/80) had “white-edged dark spots”, 51.3% (41/80) had “white” COs, and 26.3% (21/80) had “DWP”-type COs. “DWPs” were frequently observed among patients with undifferentiated gastric cancer [45.7% (16/35)].

CONCLUSION: CO whiteness detected via ME was associated with histological evidence of gastritis and helps to predict the severity of inflammation and H. pylori-induced activity.

Prevalence and characteristics of nodular gastritis in Japanese elderly

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Nodular gastritis (NG) is defined as antral gastritis with endoscopic findings usually characterized by a miliary pattern resembling "goose flesh." There is a possible association between NG and gastric cancer. The aim of our study is to investigate whether there are some differences between young and elderly people in incidence and characteristics of NG and estimate potential risk factors for gastric cancer in adults with NG.

METHODS

Patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for abdominal symptoms or cancer screening. Incidence rates and relationship between an elderly group (40 years or older) and young group (< 40 years) were assessed by endoscopic grade of NG, atrophic grade, concomitant diseases, and serum pepsinogen (PG).

RESULTS

NG was found in 62 cases (0.94%) out of 6623 patients who underwent endoscopy, with a mean age of 47.3 ± 13.3 years. Female patients were present at a significantly higher rate in the elderly group (P < 0.001). The grade of neutrophil infiltration in the greater curvature of the upper gastric body was recognized at a significantly higher rate in the elderly group (P < 0.05). PG II was present at a higher rate and PG I/II at a lower rate in the elderly group (P < 0.05). The odds ratio for the risk of gastric cancer in patients with NG was 2.1 (95% confidence interval 0.3-15.3) in the elderly group.

CONCLUSION

NG in the elderly was also suggested to be a risk factor for gastric cancer as well as in the young.

Evaluation of endoscopic and histological findings in Helicobacter pylori-positive Japanese young adults

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Many studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma in adults. However, little is known about these associations in the younger population. The aim of this study was to clarify endoscopic and histological findings in H. pylori-positive young adults.

METHODS

Two hundred consecutive outpatients younger than 29 years old undergoing esophago-gastroduodenal endoscopy at four hospitals between 2001 and 2002 were eligible for this study. At endoscopy, three biopsy specimens were obtained from the mid-antrum, the angulus and the mid-corpus. Endoscopic and histological interpretations were based on the updated Sydney System. H. pylori infection was determined by histology and serology.

RESULTS

The rates of H. pylori infection were 1.2% (1/86) in normal, 95.8% (46/48) in gastritis, 97.8% (45/46) in duodenal ulcers, 100% (17/17) in gastric ulcers, and 100% (3/3) in gastric carcinomas. Endoscopic findings in 112 H. pylori-positive patients were 25 normal (22.3%), 38 atrophy (33.9%), 18 erosion (16.1%), and 31 nodularity (27.7%). Histological findings of H. pylori-positive patients in the anturm revealed mononuclear cell and neutrophil infiltration in 100%, and atrophy in 27.7%. Histological findings of H. pylori-positive patients in the corpus revealed mononuclear cell infiltration in 75%, neutrophil infiltration in 60.7%, and atrophy in 28.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that H. pylori infection is strongly associated with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, and that histological corpus gastritis was found with high frequency in Japanese young adults.

Important bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens in children: a pathogenesis perspective

This article focuses on the five most common bacterial enteropathogens of the developed world--Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter--from the perspective of how they cause disease and how they relate to each other. Basic and recurring themes of bacterial pathogenesis, including mechanisms of entry, methods of adherence, sites of cellular injury, role of toxins, and how pathogens acquire particular virulence traits (and antimicrobial resistance), are discussed.

Gastric acidity in patients with follicular gastritis is significantly reduced, but can be normalized after eradication for Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND

Follicular gastritis is thought to be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the pathophysiology of it remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed gastric acidity in 15 patients with follicular gastritis, aged 20-37 years, using a 24-hour intragastric pH-metry, as well as by histologic and serologic evaluations; and compared it with that in other age-matched groups: 18 cases of H. pylori-positive antrum-predominant gastritis, 12 of pangastritis, and 24 H. pylori-negative normals. In eight cases with follicular gastritis, it was re-assessed 6 months after the eradication therapy for H. pylori.

RESULTS

During nighttime, the percentage of time with intragastric pH above 3.0 in follicular gastritis was significantly higher than that in normals (p<.0001), and in antrum-predominant gastritis (p<.001), but was comparable with that in pangastritis. In the daytime period, this parameter in follicular gastritis was significantly higher than that in normal (p<.001), in antrum-predominant gastritis (p<.001), and in pangastritis (p<.05). Marked mononuclear cell and neutrophil infiltration but no apparent glandular atrophy were observed in both the antrum and corpus. Serum pepsinogen I/II ratio was significantly lower in follicular gastritis than that in normals (p<.0001) and in antrum-predominant gastritis (p<.001), whereas serum gastrin was significantly higher than that in normals (p<.0001), in antrum-predominant gastritis (p<.01) and in pangastritis (p<.05). After eradication for H. pylori, all of the parameters in follicular gastritis were altered to the same ranges as those in normals.

CONCLUSIONS

In follicular gastritis, gastric acidity is significantly reduced, but can be normalized by eradication of H. pylori. It can thus be speculated that inflammatory cytokines or H. pylori-infection-induced prostaglandins might strongly inhibit gastric acid secretion in follicular gastritis.

Diagnostic value of detection of IgM antibodies to Helicobacter pylori

This report describes the diagnostic value of anti-Helicobacter pylori IgM detection. Serum samples from 9043 symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals were evaluated with ELISA for the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG, IgM, and IgA. The specificity of detected IgM was confirmed by inhibition and cross-reactivity assays. Treatment of IgM-positive specimens with 1% 2-mercaptoethanol resulted in approximately 90% inhibition. Our data suggest a low level of cross-reactivity (5%) between H. pylori and four different enteropathogenic bacteria tested. The specificity of anti-H. pylori IgM was also demonstrated by Western blot and linearity studies. Data show that the detected IgM is highly specific. Western blot analysis revealed a variable IgM response to H. pylori antigens among patients, with the most reactive antigenic fractions being in the range of 55- to 100-kDa. Overall, the data confirm the diagnostic value of anti-H. pylori IgM detection. The prevalence of IgM antibodies to H. pylori in tested sera was significantly higher in symptomatic patients (10.4%) than in asymptomatic individuals (1.1%). Likewise, the percentage of sera positive for IgM alone was higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic groups (3.8 vs 0.22%). About 5% of sera were positive only for IgA. We concluded that ELISA can be used for the detection of specific IgM to H. pylori and that the presence or absence of IgM antibodies to H. pylori may reflect whether or not an acute infection exists.

Partial characterization of a cell-free hemolytic factor produced by Helicobacter pylori

Maximum cell-free hemolytic activity of helicobacter pylori cultured in broth containing 10% horse serum occurred only after the stationary phase of growth was reached, unlike many hemolysins produced by Gram-negative bacteria which are active during exponential growth. This characteristic of the H. pylori hemolytic factor suggested that it might also possess protease activity. However, because no evidence of albumin degradation was found, the hemolysis by cell-free concentrates of H. pylori appears to be due to a unique factor derived from the organism. Because variable hemolysis results were obtained with culture broths lacking albumin or serum, these proteins may act as carriers or stabilizers of the putative hemolysin.

Peptic ulcer disease in children

Primary duodenal ulcer disease occurs in children of all ages, but is most often seen in those over 10 years. As in the adult, it often pursues a chronic course. Primary gastric ulcer is seen in children under 6 years, is more unusual, and does not tend to recur. Stress ulcers are seen most often in infants and in critically ill children and are asymptomatic until the complications of hemorrhage or perforation appear. Drug-related ulcers are being seen more frequently as the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents increases. With the use of new therapeutic agents, management has been simplified and surgical intervention has become a rarity. Helicobacter pylori is now a recognized cause of antral gastritis and ulceration in the child.

Unique features of Helicobacter pylori disease in children

In a six-year period, 41 children had endoscopically documented duodenal ulcer disease or primary H. pylori antral gastritis without duodenal ulcer. Of 37 children with H. pylori gastritis, group 1 comprised 23 patients with duodenal ulcer disease and group 2 had 14 patients without ulcers (primary H. pylori gastritis). Group 3 comprised four children with duodenal ulcer disease and H. pylori-negative antral biopsies. During the study period, all primary chronic ulcer disease was duodenal; no primary chronic gastric ulcer was present. Two distinct types of duodenal ulcer disease were identified; the majority (85%) was always associated with significant active H. pylori antral gastritis (group 1). The minority (15%) had virtually absent gastritis and no H. pylori (group 3). Native Indian children were represented in group 1 quite out of proportion to the referral population and had the most severe disease. While it is established that a higher prevalence of asymptomatic H. pylori infection exists in non-Caucasians, this appears to be the first demonstration of a higher prevalence of symptomatic ulcer disease in non-Caucasian children or adults. Caucasian children tended to have primary H. pylori gastritis (group 2) or duodenal ulcer without H. pylori (group 3). Antral nodularity was found to be an important specific endoscopic sign, unique to those children with H. pylori disease. It has not been described in adult H. pylori disease. Non-Caucasian children, especially Native Indians, in British Columbia have more prevalent and more severe H. pylori disease than Caucasians. Endoscopy with gastric antral biopsies is necessary to distinguish different types of duodenal ulcer disease and to diagnose primary H. pylori gastritis.

Campylobacter pylori and gastroduodenal disease

Campylobacter pylori is a newly described, spiral-shaped, gram-negative bacillus that is oxidase positive, catalase positive, and urease positive and grows slowly in culture. Although observed in human tissue at the beginning of the century, it was not cultured until 1982. Because there are significant morphological and genetic differences between this organism and other species of Campylobacter, it will probably be reclassified in a new genus. Current information indicates that the organism primarily resides in the stomach tissue of humans and nonhuman primates and may occasionally spread to the esophagus or other parts of the alimentary tract under appropriate conditions. Significant evidence has accumulated in the last several years to show that it causes gastritis, and there is mounting evidence that it may participate in the development of duodenal ulcers. It may also be associated with gastric ulcers and nonulcer dyspepsia. It can be detected in patients by culture of biopsy specimens or histological staining of biopsy tissue. Indirect evidence for the presence of the organism can be obtained by detection of urease in a tissue biopsy specimen, by urea breath tests, or by detection of specific antibody. It may not be necessary to implement these procedures for routine use, however, until the role of the organism can be defined better. Ultimately, the discovery of this organism may lead to radical changes in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric disease.