N/A. N/A

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori and chronic cholecystitis

AIM: To study whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with chronic cholecystitis.

METHODS: Chronic cholecystitis specimens confirmed by pathological analysis were divided into three groups: H. pylori infected group, H. pylori negative group and control group. The pathologic changes of cholecystitis were observed with light and electron microscopy, and the levels of interleukins (IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8) were also detected by radioimmunoassy.

RESULTS: Histological evidences of chronic choleystitis were found in the region where H. pylori colonized, including degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, etc. Levels of interleukins (IL-1, 6, 8) in gallbladder homogenate were significantly higher in H. pylori-infected cholecystitis group than those in H. pylori -negative cholecystitis group and control group.

CONCLUSION: H. pylori virulence factor and interleukins may be involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori -related cholecystitis.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori from gallbladder mucosa in patients with chronic cholecystitis

AIM: To study whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) located in gallbladders of chronic cholecystitis.

METHODS: Using Warthy-Starry (W-S) stain and immunohistochemical stain with anti-H. pylori antibody, we screened paraffin specimens in 524 cases of cholecystitis. Helicobacter pylori urease gene A (HPUA) and Helicobacter pylori urease gene B (HPUB) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the fresh tissue specimens in 81 cases of cholecystitis.

RESULTS: H. pylori-like bacteria were found in 13.55% of gallbladders in cholecystitis patients using W-S stains; Meanwhile, positive bacteria for H. pylori antibody were also found in 7.1% of gallbladder in patients with cholecystitis using immunohistochemistry. Both of HPUA and HPUB were positive in 11 of 81 gallbladders by PCR, only 4 cases positive for HPUA, and 7 cases with HPUB positive.

CONCLUSION: H. pylori certainly exists in gallbladders in some patients with chronic cholecystitis.

Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori from gallbladder mucosal scrapings in patients with chronic cholecystitis

AIM: To study the characteristics of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isolated from gallbladder mucosal scrapings in patients with chronic cholecystitis.

METHODS: H. pylori -like bacteria isolated from gallbladder mucosal scrapings and stomach in 81 patients with chronic cholecystitis were identified as H. pylori. The amplification bands were observed by PCR method using the H. pylori -specific primers, HPUA, and HPUB. Ultrastructural characteristics were also examined with transmission electron microscope.

RESULTS: The urease activity of H. pylori derived from cholecyst was lower than that from the patients' stomach. The other characteristics were the same in both cholecystic H. pylori and gastric H. pylori.

CONCLUSION: It is most likely that H. pylori excretes from the stomach into the duodenum and then is retrogradely transferred to the gallbladder by the ascending routes of infection.

Effect of Dansen on gastric mucosal Na+-K+-ATPase activity and gastric transmucosal potential difference during severe intraperitoneal infection in rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of Dansen on gastric mucosal Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity and gastric transmucosal potential difference during severe intraperitoneal infection in rats.

METHODS: The intraperitoneal infection rat model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Assay of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in gastric mucosal tissue was conducted by biochemical method. The electric-physiological recorder was used to measure gastric mucosal potential difference.

RESULTS: The activity of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase was markedly decreased in infected group at 3h after perforation, compared with the control group (P = 0.0 271 < 0.05). There was a minimum of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity at 12h post-perforation in infected group (P = 0.0 062 < 0.01), only about 48.5% matched to the control group. Gastric transmucosal potential difference (GTPD) of infected group decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P = 0.0 253 < 0.05) at 6h after perforation, and rapidly dropped to the lowest at 12 h post-perforation (P = 0.0 025 < 0.01). At 12 h and 24 h after perforation, GTPD was lower in infected group than that in the control group (P = 0.0 293 < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The reduce of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity may play an important role in gastric mucosal barrier damage following severe abdominal infection induced by CLP, and the application of Dansen in earlier period can prevent the occurrence of stress ulcer.