Helicobacter pylori infection is not associated with fatty liver disease including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a large-scale cross-sectional study in Japan

Association between platelet indices and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Platelet indices have the potential for the evaluation of the activity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but their associations are under hard debate. This meta-analysis aims to assess whether platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are associated with NAFLD and its progression.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using electronic databases to find publications up to July 2022, where the relationship between PC, MPV, PDW and NAFLD was evaluated. Random-effects models were applied to pool effect estimates that were presented as standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Nineteen studies involving 3592 NAFLD patients and 1194 healthy individuals were included. The pooled results showed that NAFLD patients had a lower PC (SMD=-0.66, 95% CI =-1.22 to -0.09, P=0.023) but a higher MPV (SMD=0.89, 95% CI=0.26-1.51, P=0.005) and PDW (SMD=0.55, 95% CI=0.11-0.99, P=0.014) compared to healthy controls. Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) exhibited a lower PC (SMD=-0.86, 95% CI=-1.20 to -0.52, P<0.001) and a higher MPV (SMD=0.71, 95% CI=0.40-1.02, P<0.001) than non-NASH individuals. A meta-regression analysis demonstrated that MPV was significantly positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase (P=0.008), the total cholesterol (P=0.003), triglyceride (P=0.006) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.007), but was significantly negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.010).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis revealed that NAFLD patients presented a reduced PC but an increased MPV and PDW, and the changes might be associated with NAFLD severity. A higher MPV is associated with lipid metabolic disorders in NAFLD.

An update: is there a relationship between H. pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease? why is this subject of interest?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is thought to impact various extragastric diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disease. Meanwhile, the pathogenesis of NAFLD needs further research, and effective treatment for this disease remains elusive. In this mini-review, we enumerate and ponder on the evidence demonstrating an association between H. pylori infection and NAFLD. Primarily, we delve into high-quality meta-analyses and clinical randomized controlled trials focusing on the association studies between the two. We also discuss clinical studies that present opposite conclusions. In addition, we propose a mechanism through which H. pylori infection aggravates NAFLD: inflammatory cytokines and adipocytokines, insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, intestinal barrier and microbiota, H. pylori outer membrane vesicles and H. pylori-infected cell-extracellular vesicles. This mini-review aims to further explore NAFLD pathogenesis and extragastric disease mechanisms caused by H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Possible relationship from an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has long been debated. Although it has been investigated in many observational studies, the results remain controversial. Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis to assess the association between H pylori infection and risk of NAFLD by collecting relevant articles.

METHODS

Literature collections were conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. Pooled odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated to estimate the strength of the link between H pylori infection and NAFLD using Stata 12.0 software.

RESULTS

28 studies with 68,047 cases of NAFLD patients and 134,866 controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall, The results suggested a 27.5% increased risk of developing NAFLD in patients with H pylori infection (odds ratios 1.275 95% confidence intervals 1.179-1.379), although significant heterogeneity was observed. There is no significant publication bias observed based on the funnel plot and Begg test. Subgroup analysis revealed that variables of the study design, study region, publication year, and the method of diagnosing H pylori and NAFLD all contribute to the high heterogeneity, while the positive correlation was seen in all subgroup analysis.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis disclosed 1.275-fold increased risk of the occurrence and development of NAFLD in H pylori (+) group compared with the H pylori (-) group, indicating that H pylori is a serious risk factor in patients susceptible to NAFLD.

The possible role of Helicobacter pylori in liver diseases

According to previous studies, Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with liver disease. In order to better understand the risk of acquiring various liver diseases, we reviewed current knowledge on the impact of H. pylori on the onset, intensification, and progression of various liver diseases caused by the infection of H. pylori. It has been estimated that between 50 and 90% of people worldwide have been infected with H. pylori. The bacterium is mostly responsible for inflamed gastric mucosa, ulcers, and cancers associated with the gastric mucosa. Through the active antioxidant system in H. pylori, the bacteria can neutralize free radicals by synthesizing VacA, a toxin that causes cell damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, there is a possibility that CagA genes may play a role in cancer development. People who have been infected with H. pylori are likely to develop lesions in the skin, the circulation system, and the pancreas. Moreover, transferring blood from the stomach may allow H. pylori to colonize the liver. The bacterium worsened liver function during autoimmune inflammation, toxic injury, chronic HCV infection, chronic HBV infection, and liver cirrhosis. Increasing portal pressure, hyperammonemia, and esophageal varices may be associated with H pylori infection. As a result, it is crucial to diagnose and treat this infection in patients with H. pylori.

Current Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Associated with Early Liver Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study in the General Population

Early prevention of liver injury by controlling risk factors deserves concern because of the heavy liver disease burden. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection affects half of the world's population and the relationship between it and early liver damage is unclear. This study focuses on assessing the correlation between them in the general population to provide clues to prevent liver disease. A total of 12,931 individuals underwent liver function and imaging tests as well as 13C/14C-urea breath tests. Results showed that the detection rate of HP was 35.9%, and the HP-positive group had a higher rate of liver injury (47.0% versus 44.5%, P = 0.007). Specifically, Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and alpha-fetoprotein levels in the HP-positive group were higher whereas the serum albumin level was lower. HP infection would raise the percentage of elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 2.5% versus 1.7%, P = 0.006), elevated FIB-4 (20.2% versus 17.9%, P = 0.002), and abnormal liver imaging (31.0% versus 29.3%, P = 0.048). Most of these results remained stable after covariate adjustment but, for liver injury and liver imaging, the conclusions only held in young people (ORliver injury, odds ratio of liver injury, 1.127, P = 0.040; ORAST, 1.33, P = 0.034; ORFIB-4, 1.145, P = 0.032; ORimaging, 1.149, P = 0.043). Overall, HP infection might be associated with early liver injury, particularly in youth, suggesting that people with early liver injury should pay more attention to HP infection to prevent the occurrence of severe liver diseases.

HELICOBACTER AND HEPATOBILIARY DISEASES: UPDATE 2023

•Clinical studies have shown that hepatobiliary diseases of inflammatory and neoplastic origin are associated with Helicobacter infection. •Translocation and the ascending pathway are putative mechanisms for Helicobacter spp to enter the hepatobiliary system. •H. pylori infection has a systemic effect through the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, leukotrienes, interferon-β, interferon-γ, and acute phase proteins. •Histopathological confirmation is needed to present that H. pylori eradication prevents or improves hepatobiliary disease progression. Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) is one of the main infectious causes of gastroduodenal diseases, however, its role in developing different extragastric diseases has been proven. The possible involvement of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, skin, and hepatobiliary diseases is suggested. The bacterium has been found in tissue samples from the liver, biliary tract, and gallstones of animals and humans. However, the role of H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of liver and biliary diseases has not been finally established. The histopathological confirmation of the positive effect of H. pylori eradication is needed. In addition, there are discussions on the clinical significance of other Helicobacter species. The review presents the data available for and against the involvement of H. pylori in hepatobi-liary disease development and progression.

Relationship of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Background and Aims

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have become increasingly recognized, both of which affect human health globally. The association of H. pylori infection with NAFLD remains unclear.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Only a random-effects model was used. Odds ratios (ORs) and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the combined estimates of raw data. Adjusted ORs (aORs) and hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% CIs were calculated for the combined estimates of data adjusted for confounders.

Results

Thirty-four studies with 218573 participants were included. Based on unadjusted data from 26 cross-sectional studies and 3 case-control studies, H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the presence of NAFLD (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.17-1.36, P < 0.001). Based on adjusted data from 15 cross-sectional studies and 1 case-control study, H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the presence of NAFLD (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.08-1.44, P < 0.001). Compared with control subjects without NAFLD, patients with moderate (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.17-2.39, P = 0.005) and severe (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.30-2.24, P < 0.001) NAFLD, but not those with mild NAFLD (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.9-1.45, P = 0.286), had significantly higher proportions of H. pylori infection. The association of H. pylori infection with the occurrence of NAFLD was statistically significant based on adjusted data from 3 cohort studies (aHR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.05-1.34, P = 0.007), but not based on unadjusted data from 3 cohort studies (RR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.80-2.48, P = 0.237).

Conclusion

H. pylori infection is associated with NAFLD, especially moderate and severe NAFLD. The impact of H. pylori eradication on the prevention of NAFLD should be further explored.

Is Helicobacter pylori infection associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery? Cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

A possible direct link between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has recently emerged.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze associations between the presence of histologically demonstrated NAFLD aspects with H. pylori infection in individuals with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

DESIGN AND SETTING

An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted based on data collected from the medical records of individuals undergoing bariatric surgery at a tertiary university hospital in 2019.

METHODS

NAFLD was assessed through histological examination of wedge liver biopsies collected during the proceedings. H. pylori infection was analyzed through the association of the urease test and histological examination performed in biopsies routinely collected during preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

RESULTS

Of the 88 participants, 85% were female, and the average age was 39.1 ± 8.4 years. H. pylori infection was present in 61.4% of the patients. The mean body mass index was 36.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2. The most prevalent histopathological aspects of NAFLD were macrovesicular steatosis (92%), hepatocellular ballooning (92%), lobular inflammation (93.2%), portal inflammation (96.6%), and fibrosis (93.2%). No histopathological aspect of NAFLD was found to be significantly associated with H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSION

In this study population, H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with the histopathological aspects of NAFLD in individuals with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for Asian and non-Asian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Several studies have revealed a positive correlation between a Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This meta-analysis was conducted to explore further the relationship between HP infection and NAFLD in the Asian and non-Asian populations.

Methods

Relevant studies published from inception to July 22, 2021, in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane library, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched. The odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were pooled by the random-effects model or fixed-effects model. Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. The funnel plot and the Egger test were used to estimate publication bias.

Results

This meta-analysis included 25 studies involving 107,306 participants. Positive associations between HP infection and NAFLD were found both for the Asian (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.13-1.49, P < 0.01; I 2 = 94.30%, P < 0.01) and non-Asian populations (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04-1.94, P = 0.03; I 2 = 44.90%, P = 0.09). Moreover, similar results were observed in the Asian female group (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.17-1.46, P < 0.01; I 2 = 46.30%, P = 0.07) but not for the Asian male group. Subgroup analyses for the Asian population showed that there were differences in the association among NAFLD diagnosis methods (P < 0.01) and the study design (P < 0.01). However, subgroup and sensitivity analyses results showed that the association for the non-Asian population was not stable enough.

Conclusions

The data obtained in this systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that an HP infection was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD for Asian and non-Asian populations. However, the association was not found for Asian males. Further studies are required to establish the causal association, especially for the non-Asian population.

Systematic review registration

Identifier: CRD42021266871.

Fibrosis-4 index efficiently predicts chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis development based on a large-scale data of general population in Japan

A non-invasive method to evaluate the fibrosis stage and the risk stratification of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is required. A total of 416,066 generally healthy subjects who underwent health check-ups between 1990 and 2019 were investigated. Fatty liver prevalence greatly increased from the 1990s (21.9%) to the 2000s (37.1%) but showed no considerable change between 2001-2010 (39.2%) and 2011-2019 (35.5%). During the 30 years, the rate of high FIB-4 index (≥2.67) and mean body mass index (BMI) did not markedly change. Fatty liver was significantly associated with BMI, but not with alcohol intake or FIB-4 index. Cox regression analyses for development of chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis identified that the risk of developing chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis was higher in subjects without fatty liver than in those with it (hazard ratio [HR]=0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.22, p <0.001 and HR=0.04; 95% CI, 0.01-0.26, p =0.001, respectively), and much larger in subjects with a high FIB-4 index (≥ 2.67) than in those without it (HR=78.6; 95% CI, 29.0-213.1, p <0.001 and HR=5950.7; 95% CI,761.7-46,491.4, p <0.001, respectively). Adjusted survival curves for Cox proportional hazards regression further reinforced these results. In conclusion, the FIB-4 index is a useful indicator of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis development in the general population.

No evidence for a causal link between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Although clinical studies have shown the possible relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), their causal relationship is still unknown. This bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed to investigate the causal link between H. pylori infection and NAFLD. Two previously reported genetic variants SNPs rs10004195 and rs368433 were used as the instrumental variables (IVs) of H. pylori infection. The genetic variants of NAFLD were extracted from the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data with 1,483 cases and 17,781 controls. The exposure and outcome data were obtained from the publicly available GWAS dataset. Then, a bidirectional MR was carried out to evaluate the causal relationship between H. pylori infection and NAFLD. In addition, the GWAS data were also collected to explore the causal relationship between H. pylori infection and relevant clinical traits of NAFLD, including triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and body mass index (BMI). Genetically predicted H. pylori infection showed no association with NAFLD both in FinnGen GWAS (OR, 1.048; 95% CI, 0.778-1.411; value of p = 0.759) and the GWAS conducted by Anstee (OR, 0.775; 95% CI, 0.475-1.265; value of p = 0.308). An inverse MR showed no causal effect of NAFLD on H. pylori infection (OR,0.978;95% CI, 0.909-1.052; value of p = 0.543). No significant associations were observed between H. pylori infection and the levels of triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C, or FBG, while H. pylori infection was associated with an increase in BMI. These results indicated that there was no genetic evidence for a causal link between H. pylori and NAFLD, suggesting that the eradication or prevention of H. pylori infection might not benefit NAFLD and vice versa.

Is Helicobacter pylori infection the risk factor of metabolic associated fatty liver disease：A cross-sectional study.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2005721/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Background: Recently, with new diagnosis criteria, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was introduced to replace the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Considering that there weren’t sufficient studies on MAFLD in China, we aimed to explore the relationship between MAFLD and H. pylori infection, as well as the potential risk factors of MAFLD.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 3449 subjects were enrolled from a Hospital Health Management Center of Shantou in China between July 2020 and October 2021. All participants included had underwent blood test, 13C urea breath test (13C-UBT) and abdominal ultrasound examination. The association between H. pylori infection and MAFLD were analyzed using logistic regression. Machine learning approach were applied to explore independent risk factors of MAFLD.Results: The overall prevalence of MAFLD was 39.4% in our study population. Of a total of 3449 participants, MAFLD was diagnosed in 1043 of 2254 males (46.3%) and 315 of 1195 females (26.4%). The prevalence of MAFLD increased with age and peaked at the 60-69-year age group (overall participants: 58.8%; male: 56.2%; female: 64.0%), and then declined slightly in the 70-above-year age group. The result of multivariable logistic regression revealed that H. pylori infection was not significantly correlated with MAFLD. Using logistic regression and LASSO regression, we identified age, overweight/obesity, T2DM, hypertension, UA, TG, HDL and ALT as independent risk factors of MAFLD.Conclusions: The prevalence of MAFLD in Shantou of south China was relatively high, and the prevalence was higher in males than in females. Our results showed that H. pylori infection wasn’t associated with the risk of MAFLD, when age, overweight/obesity, T2DM, hypertension, UA, TG, HDL and ALT were independent risk factors of MAFLD.

Helicobacter pylori-Related Extraintestinal Manifestations—Myth or Reality

It is well documented that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can cause both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. The latter one represents a major burden in terms of diagnosis and treatment. H. pylori-associated systemic subclinical inflammation is mostly responsible for the development of extraintestinal manifestations, and its early eradication might result in preventing all adverse events related to their occurrence. Thus, it was suggested that H. pylori might be associated with iron deficiency anemia, thrombocytopenia (immune thrombocytopenic purpura), Schonlein Henoch purpura, failure to thrive, vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, cardiovascular diseases, as well as certain neurological conditions. Nevertheless, studies showed both pros and cons in terms of the role of H. pylori in the development of previously mentioned clinical entity underlining the crucial need for further studies on these topics. Although most of these extraintestinal manifestations occur during adulthood, we must not forget that H. pylori infection is acquired mainly during childhood, and thus its early diagnosis and eradication might represent the cornerstone in the prevention of H. pylori-induced inflammatory status and consequently of all related extraintestinal conditions.

Management of Helicobacter pylori infection: the Maastricht VI/Florence consensus report

Helicobacter pyloriInfection is formally recognised as an infectious disease, an entity that is now included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision. This in principle leads to the recommendation that all infected patients should receive treatment. In the context of the wide clinical spectrum associated with Helicobacter pylori gastritis, specific issues persist and require regular updates for optimised management.The identification of distinct clinical scenarios, proper testing and adoption of effective strategies for prevention of gastric cancer and other complications are addressed. H. pylori treatment is challenged by the continuously rising antibiotic resistance and demands for susceptibility testing with consideration of novel molecular technologies and careful selection of first line and rescue therapies. The role of H. pylori and antibiotic therapies and their impact on the gut microbiota are also considered.Progress made in the management of H. pylori infection is covered in the present sixth edition of the Maastricht/Florence 2021 Consensus Report, key aspects related to the clinical role of H. pylori infection were re-evaluated and updated. Forty-one experts from 29 countries representing a global community, examined the new data related to H. pylori infection in five working groups: (1) indications/associations, (2) diagnosis, (3) treatment, (4) prevention/gastric cancer and (5) H. pylori and the gut microbiota. The results of the individual working groups were presented for a final consensus voting that included all participants. Recommendations are provided on the basis of the best available evidence and relevance to the management of H. pylori infection in various clinical fields.

Effects of Exosomes Derived From Helicobacter pylori Outer Membrane Vesicle-Infected Hepatocytes on Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis Induction

Liver fibrosis is a multifactorial disease with microbial and non-microbial causes. In recent years, Helicobacter pylori infection has been thought to play a critical role in some extra-gastrointestinal manifestations especially liver disorders. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are one of the most important discussed H. pylori virulence factors. In the current study, four different clinical strains of H. pylori were collected and their OMVs were purified using ultra-centrifugation. To investigate their effects on liver cell exosomes, co-incubation with hepatocytes was applied. After a while, hepatocyte-derived exosomes were extracted and incubated with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to investigate the HSC activation and fibrosis marker induction. The expression of α-SMA, TIMP-1, β-catenin, vimentin, and e-cadherin messenger RNAs (mRNA) was assessed using real-time RT-PCR, and the protein expression of α-SMA, TIMP-1, β-catenin, vimentin, and e-cadherin was evaluated by Western blotting. Our results showed that infected hepatocyte-derived exosomes induced the expression of α-SMA, TIMP-1, β-catenin, and vimentin in HSCs and e-cadherin gene and protein expression was downregulated. In the current study, we found that H. pylori-derived OMVs may aid the exosome alternation and modified exosomes may have a possible role in HSC activation and liver fibrosis progression.

Helicobacter pylori infection is not an independent risk factor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in China

Background

The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains controversial. The exact relationship requires further investigation. This study aimed to determine the association between them in China.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 71,633 participants who underwent physical examinations. ¹³C urea breath test (¹³C-UBT) was conducted to detect H. pylori infection, and ultrasonography was used to detect NAFLD.

Results

Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and triglyceride (TG) levels were higher in participants with H. pylori infection than in those without H. pylori infection. While the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) for participants with H. pylori infection was lower than without H. pylori infection (P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors (age, sex, BMI, BP, Scr, BUN, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, FBG and HbA1c), multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that there was no independent relationship between them (P = 0.574). Subgroup analysis (stratified by sex, age, BMI, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia) showed that H. pylori infection was not included as an independent risk factor for NAFLD. Moreover, the different grades of NAFLD were not related to H. pylori infection.

Conclusions

These results indicate that H. pylori infection is not an independent risk factor for NAFLD in China.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02148-6.

Association Between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatic Adipose Deposition and Stiffness in Southwest China

Background: Both nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection have high prevalence worldwide, and the relationship between both remains controversial. We try to investigate whether H. pylori infection is associated with NAFLD and increased liver fat deposition and stiffness in this cross-sectional study.

Methods: The physical examination data of 5,665 subjects were obtained from February 2018 to June 2019 in this study. Clinical and biochemical data were collected. NAFLD was diagnosed using abdominal color Doppler ultrasonography. Liver steatosis and stiffness were understood by two parameters of transient elastography (TE): fat attenuation parameter (FAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM). H. pylori infection was determined using the ¹³C urea breath tests.

Results: The total prevalence of NAFLD and H. pylori infection was 30.2 and 37.0%, respectively. In men, the prevalence of NAFLD and the levels of FAP and LSM in H. pylori-positive group were significantly higher than H. pylori-negative group (all p < 0.01), but no significant difference was found in women. In men, the infection rate of H. pylori in NAFLD group and LSM ≥ 7.4 kPa group was significantly higher than control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that H. pylori infection was not independently associated with NAFLD and FAP ≥ 240 dB/m. However, H. pylori infection was associated with LSM ≥ 7.4 kPa in men.

Conclusions: Our study suggests that H. pylori infection is not significantly associated with NAFLD and elevated liver steatosis, whereas it may be the risk factor of elevated liver stiffness in men.

The Effects of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on Liver Function and Metabolic Profile in Non-diabetic Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A 5-year Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication on liver function tests (LFT) and fat content (LFC) in non-diabetic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included dyspeptic HP infected non-diabetic NASH participants. The intervention arm received HP eradication treatment, while the control arm did not get any HP treatment. In the meantime, the standard management of NASH was performed in both trial arms. Mean alterations in LFT were the primary outcome and the secondary outcomes included the mean changes in LFC and serum metabolic profile. The trial follow-up period was 5 years. RESULTS: 40 participants (female: 20), with a mean age of 41.58 (±12.31) years, were enrolled in the study. The HP eradication arm included 20 participants (female: 11) with a mean age of 40.25 (±10.59) years, and the control arm consisted of 20 individuals (female: 9) with a mean age of 42.90 (±13.97) years. The tests of within-subjects effects showed a significant decrease in mean serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT; P=0.007), triglyceride (TG; P=0.04), cholesterol (P=0.004), and fasting blood sugar (FBS; P<0.001), and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL; P=0.04) in both research groups during the study period. The tests of between-subjects effects demonstrated a more significant decrement of FBS in HP eradicated patients than the controls (P=0.02). The reduction in waist circumference, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, and LFC were more prominent in the intervention group than the controls; however, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Adding HP eradication treatment to standard NASH treatment showed more therapeutic effect thanthe standard NASH treatment protocol alone regarding the decrement of FBS in participants with dyspeptic non-diabetic NASH. Considering the non-statistically significant improvement in other metabolic indices and LFT in this trial, further studies are recommended.

Abnormal transaminase and lipid profiles in coexisting diseases in patients with fatty liver: a population study in Sichuan

Among chronic liver diseases, fatty liver has the highest incidence worldwide. Coexistence of fatty liver and other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, is common in clinical practice. The present study was conducted to analyze the prevalence and association of coexisting diseases in patients with fatty liver and to investigate how coexisting diseases contribute to abnormal transaminase and lipid profiles. We enrolled participants who were diagnosed with fatty liver via ultrasound in the physical examination center of West China Hospital. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratios (ORs). We found that 23.6% of patients who underwent physical examinations were diagnosed with fatty liver. These patients had higher risks of metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and hypertension and a lower risk of HBV infection. The risks of Hp infection and hyperthyroidism did not statistically differ. When fatty liver coexisted with T2DM, MetS and thyroid dysfunction, it conferred a higher risk of elevated transaminase. Fatty liver was positively correlated with triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and negatively correlated with HBV; thus, HBV had a neutralizing effect on lipid metabolism when coexisting with fatty liver. In conclusion, patients with fatty liver that coexists with T2DM, MetS and thyroid dysfunction are more prone to elevated transaminase levels. Patients with both fatty liver and HBV may experience a neutralizing effect on their lipid metabolism. Thus, lipid alterations should be monitored in these patients during antiviral treatment for HBV.

The association between Helicobacter pylori with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease assessed by controlled attenuation parameter and other metabolic factors

Aim

Existing studies have suggested an association between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the relationship between Hp infection and NAFLD using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and other metabolic factors.

Method

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of apparently healthy individuals who underwent liver Fibroscan during health screening tests between January 2018 and December 2018. Diagnosis of Hp infection was based on a serum anti-Hp IgG antibody test and CAP values were used to diagnose NAFLD.

Results

Among the 1,784 subjects (mean age 55.3 years, 83.1% male), 708 (39.7%) subjects showed positive results of Hp serology. In the multivariate analysis, obesity (body mass index ≥25) (odds ratio [OR] 3.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.75–4.29), triglyceride (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.80–2.97), and the highest tertile of liver stiffness measurement (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.59–2.71) were found to be associated with NAFLD, defined by CAP ≥248 dB/m, while Hp-seropositivity showed no association with NAFLD. Serum levels of HDL cholesterol significantly decreased in subjects with Hp-seropositivity compared to HP-seronegativity in both groups with and without NAFLD (P<0.001).

Conclusion

While Hp seropositivity was not associated with CAP-defined NAFLD, serum HDL cholesterol level were negatively associated with Hp-seropositivity in both groups with and without NAFLD. Further clinical and experimental studies are necessary to determine the association between Hp infection and NAFLD.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: What should we expect from a meta-analysis?

BACKGROUND

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a matter of debate. Although it has been studied in many observational studies, the results remain controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between H pylori infection and risk of NAFLD.

METHODS

We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, from inception to September 10, 2020. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled by random-effects model. The statistical heterogeneity among studies (I2-index), subgroup analyses, regression analyses, sensitivity analysis and the possibility of publication bias were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of seventeen studies involving 91,958 individuals were included in our meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of data from cross-sectional and case-control studies showed that H pylori infection was associated with increased risk of prevalent NAFLD (n = 15; involving 74,561 middle-aged individuals; OR1.38, 95% CI 1.23-1.55, I2 = 86.8%, P < .001). The results of meta-regression implicated that the study type and the case-control ratio impacted the total effect size. Funnel plot did not show significant publication bias. Meta-analysis of data from longitudinal studies showed that H pylori infection was also associated with increased NAFLD incidence (n = 2; involving 17397 individuals; OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01-1.44, I2 = 6.5%, P = .301).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that a positive association between H pylori infection and the risk of NAFLD. Further studies are required to strengthen the association and clarify the mechanism.

Frequency and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Helicobacter pylori-infected dyspeptic patients: A cross-sectional study

Background

In dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, little evidence available from Pakistan.

Objective

The study aims to determine the frequency and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between 22 November 2016 and 30 June 2018. Adults of age between 18 and 90 years who attended the out-patient department due to abdominal discomfort, pain, fullness, and bloating who underwent upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were enrolled after taking informed consent. Patients with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, taking alcohol, pregnant women and lactating mothers, known cases of hepatitis B and C, and history of recent antibiotic use were excluded. Data on age, gender, smoking, alcohol use, dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease were collected. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed through ultrasonography. Helicobacter pylori infection was detected using a carbon urea breath test.

Results

A total of 698 patients were screened for eligibility, and 399 (57.2%) had Helicobacter pylori infection and were enrolled in the study after consent. The median age was 50.1 (interquartile range = 14.5) years and 209 (52.4%) were males. Frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with Helicobacter pylori dyspeptic patients was 153 (38.3%). Factors associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the presence of Helicobacter pylori were dyslipidemia 7.38 (95% confidence interval = 2.4-22.71), type 2 diabetes mellitus 5.96 (95% confidence interval = 1.86-19.07), hypertension 3.0 (95% confidence interval = 1.21-7.45), and moderate gastritis 2.81 (95% confidence interval = 1.2-6.59).

Conclusion

The frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Helicobacter Pylori dyspeptic patients was 38.3%. Male gender, dyslipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and moderate gastritis were associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

NAFLD and Infection, a Nuanced Relationship

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased significantly over the last few decades mirroring the increase in obesity and type II diabetes mellitus. NAFLD has become one of the most common indications for liver transplantation. The deleterious effects of NAFLD are not isolated to the liver only, for it has been recognized as a systemic disease affecting multiple organs through protracted low-grade inflammation mediated by the metabolic activity of excessive fat tissue. Extrahepatic manifestations of NAFLD such as cardiovascular disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and hypothyroidism have been well described in the literature. In recent years, it has become evident that patients suffering from NAFLD might be at higher risk of developing various infections. The proposed mechanism for this association includes links through hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, alterations in innate immunity, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, a risk independent of these factors mediated by alterations in gut microbiota might contribute to a higher burden of infections in these individuals. In this narrative review, we synthetize current knowledge on several infections including urinary tract infection, pneumonia, Helicobacter pylori, coronavirus disease 2019, and Clostridioides difficile as they relate to NAFLD. Additionally, we explore NAFLD's association with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with metabolic syndrome, with or without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is considered a risk factor of GIT diseases, e.g., gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastric carcinomas. It is transmitted through feco/oral route and can be diagnosed by many methods, e.g., stool antigen test (SAT). Metabolic syndrome (MET S) is considered a circle of metabolic derangements that can cause some complications as ischemic changes and heart diseases. Metabolic syndrome may also cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) resulting in liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC.

Results

The study included 300 subjects recruited from Obesity Clinic and Diabetes & Endocrinology Unit, Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura University. Two hundred of metabolic syndrome patients were subdivided into two groups according to the presence or absence of NAFLD, in addition to 100 subjects not having metabolic syndrome and served as control group. We found that HP infection is more frequent in MET S with NAFLD patients (73%) than in MET S without NAFLD (47%) with (P value < 0.001) emphasizing that HP infection increases the risk of NAFLD development in patients with MET S.

The study proved that HP infection is associated with increased degree of fibrosis significantly (P value < 0.001) with progression to marked fibrosis which may complicate with NASH with over all predictive value of 75% especially in patients with hyperglycemia.

Conclusions

Our findings show that a circle of metabolic abnormalities seems to be attributed to HP infection in MET S patients increasing the risk of fatty liver and progression to marked fibrosis especially with coexistent hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and upper body obesity.

Diagnosis and early eradication of HP infection will help in decreasing metabolic disturbances and possibility of NAFLD, and protect against marked fibrosis progression.

A Novel Design of Multi-epitope Vaccine Against Helicobacter pylori by Immunoinformatics Approach

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative spiral bacterium that caused infections in half of the world’s population and had been identified as type I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Compared with antibiotic treatment which could result in drug resistance, the vaccine therapy is becoming a promising immunotherapy option against H. pylori. Further, the multi-epitope vaccine could provoke a wider immune protection to control H. pylori infection. In this study, the in-silico immunogenicity calculations on 381 protein sequences of H. pylori were performed, and the immunogenicity of selected proteins with top-ranked score were tested. The B cell epitopes and T cell epitopes from three well performed proteins UreB, PLA1, and Omp6 were assembled into six constructs of multi-epitope vaccines with random orders. In order to select the optimal constructs, the stability of the vaccine structure and the exposure of B cell epitopes on the vaccine surface were evaluated based on structure prediction and solvent accessible surface area analysis. Finally Construct S1 was selected and molecular docking showed that it had the potential of binding TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 to stimulate strong immune response. In particular, this study provides good suggestions for epitope assembly in the construction of multi-epitope vaccines and it may be helpful to control H. pylori infection in the future.

H. pylori is related to NAFLD but only in female: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the extragastrointestinal effects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), including metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and rheumatic and skin diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic disease worldwide that conveys a heavy economic burden on patients and society. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between H. pylori and NAFLD and to identify potential influencing factors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of individuals who had undergone regular physical examinations at the Beijing Shijitan Hospital Health Examination Center from July to October 2018. We evaluated the associations between NAFLD and NAFLD with H. pylori infection and related serum markers using multiple linear regression and logistic regression. Results: There were significant relationships between H. pylori infection status and NAFLD in females (P=0.034) but not in males (P=0.795) according to Fisher's exact test. The association persisted after further adjustment for metabolic variables, gastrin factors, and liver enzymes. Waist-to-Hip Ratio, Body Mass Index, triglycerides, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, and Alanine aminotransferase are related to NAFLD after adjusting for age or interaction between biochemical indexes. Conclusion: H. pylori infection is related to NAFLD in female patients. The relationship between H. pylori and NAFLD may be mediated by markers of lipid metabolism and glycometabolism.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and its association with metabolic syndrome in a rural community of Bangladesh

BACKGROUND AND AIM

As the interrelationship between Helicobacter pylori, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is controversial, we undertook a community-based study with the aim to find the seroprevalence of H. pylori and its relationship with MetS and NAFLD.

METHODS

This door-to-door survey was conducted among the adult subjects (≥18 years) of two villages (Charcharia of Dhaka district and Kharrah of Munshiganj district) of Bangladesh. Interviews using a structured questionnaire, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, ultrasonogram of the liver, and biochemical tests were performed.

RESULTS

Of 1021 subjects, 781 responded (76.49%), and 767 were included in the final analysis (mean age 40.35 ± 15.56 years; female 63.5%). Anti-H. pylori antibodies were found in 418 of 767 (54.5%). There were no H. pylori serostatus association with MetS and diabetes mellitus (DM) in univariate or multivariate analysis (all P > 0.05). However, H. pylori seropositive subjects had lower systolic blood pressure (odds ratio [OR] = -2.95 [-5.58, -0.32]) and low density lipoprotein -cholesterol (OR -7.79 [-15, -0.57]) compared to seronegative subjects in the linear regression model. Seronegativity of H. pylori was associated with NALFD in univariate (P = 0.007) but not multivariate analysis (P = 0.086). There were no differences in the frequency of H. pylori seropositivity among the participants with nonobese compared to obese NAFLD (19/42 [45%] vs 43/99 [43.4%], P = 0.844).

CONCLUSION

In a rural community of Bangladesh, about 55% of the population were H. pylori seropositive, which was more common among the underweight than normal or obese subjects. However, there was no relationship observed between H. pylori seroprevalence and MetS, DM, or NAFLD.

Associations between Helicobacter pylori with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other metabolic conditions in Guatemala

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested an association between Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the current study was to examine the association in Guatemala, a region with elevated prevalences of both H pylori and NAFLD. Associations between H pylori and other metabolic conditions were also examined, as were associations between H hepaticus and H bilis and the metabolic conditions.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The analysis included 424 participants from a cross-sectional study in Guatemala. H pylori seropositivity was defined as positivity for ≥ 4 antigens. Seropositivities for H bilis and H hepaticus were defined as positivity for ≥ 2 antigens. NAFLD was estimated using the Fatty Liver Index and the Hepatic Steatosis Index. Other conditions examined were obesity, central obesity, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL, diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). Prevalence odds ratios (POR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.

RESULTS

No overall associations between H pylori,H hepaticus, or H bilis and NAFLD or related metabolic conditions were found. Seropositivity for H pylori antigens CagA and VacA and H hepaticus antigen HH0713 was each significantly associated with NAFLD, however. In addition, associations were observed between the H pylori antigens HyuA, HP1564, and UreA and specified metabolic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

While no overall associations between H pylori or Helicobacter species with NAFLD or related conditions were observed, some selected Helicobacter spp. antigens were associated with NAFLD. Further research is warranted to examine whether H. species are associated with any metabolic condition.

Helicobacter pylori Related Diseases and Osteoporotic Fractures (Narrative Review)

Osteoporosis (OP) and osteoporotic fractures (OFs) are common multifactorial and heterogenic disorders of increasing incidence. Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) colonizes the stomach approximately in half of the world's population, causes gastroduodenal diseases and is prevalent in numerous extra-digestive diseases known to be associated with OP/OF. The studies regarding relationship between H.p. infection (HPI) and OP/OFs are inconsistent. The current review summarizes the relevant literature on the potential role of HPI in OP, falls and OFs and highlights the reasons for controversies in the publications. In the first section, after a brief overview of HPI biological features, we analyze the studies evaluating the association of HPI and bone status. The second part includes data on the prevalence of OP/OFs in HPI-induced gastroduodenal diseases (peptic ulcer, chronic/atrophic gastritis and cancer) and the effects of acid-suppressive drugs. In the next section, we discuss the possible contribution of HPI-associated extra-digestive diseases and medications to OP/OF, focusing on conditions affecting both bone homeostasis and predisposing to falls. In the last section, we describe clinical implications of accumulated data on HPI as a co-factor of OP/OF and present a feasible five-step algorithm for OP/OF risk assessment and management in regard to HPI, emphasizing the importance of an integrative (but differentiated) holistic approach. Increased awareness about the consequences of HPI linked to OP/OF can aid early detection and management. Further research on the HPI-OP/OF relationship is needed to close current knowledge gaps and improve clinical management of both OP/OF and HPI-related disorders.

Heterozygous knockout of Bile salt export pump ameliorates liver steatosis in mice fed a high-fat diet

The incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is increasing worldwide, including in Asian countries. We reported that the hepatic expression of bile salt export pump (BSEP) was downregulated in patients with NASH, suggesting that BSEP is involved in the pathogenesis of NASH. To identify the underlying mechanism, we analyzed Bsep heterozygous knock-out (Bsep^+/- mice) and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) (32.0% animal fat) or normal diet. We examined histological changes, levels of hepatic lipids and hepatic bile acids, and expression of genes related to bile acid and cholesterol metabolism. HFD-fed Bsep^+/- mice exhibited milder hepatic steatosis and less weight gain, compared to HFD-fed WT mice. The concentrations of total bile acid, triglycerides, and cholesterols were reduced in the liver of HFD-fed Bsep^+/- mice. Regarding hepatic bile acid metabolism, the expression levels of Farnesoid X receptor (Fxr) and Multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 were significantly upregulated in HFD-fed Bsep^+/- mice, compared to HFD-fed WT mice. Furthermore, several alterations were observed in upstream cholesterol metabolism in the liver. The expression levels of bile acid metabolism-related genes were also altered in the intestine of HFD-fed Bsep^+/- mice. In conclusion, HFD-fed Bsep^+/- mice exhibited significant alterations of the expression levels of genes related to bile acid and lipid metabolism in both the liver and ileum, resulting in alleviated steatosis and less weight gain. These results suggest the importance of BSEP for maintenance of bile acid and cholesterol metabolism. Further investigations of the involvement of BSEP in the pathogenesis of NASH will provide greater insight and facilitate the development of novel therapeutic modalities.

Effects of choline supplementation on liver biology, gut microbiota, and inflammation in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice

AIMS

Diet is one of the factors affecting the pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Choline is a dietary component that is crucial for normal cellular function. However, choline intake imbalance can lead to liver injury, inflammation, and changes of the gut microbiota composition. The study aimed to explore the effects of choline supplementation on liver biology, gut microbiota, and inflammation in H. pylori-infected mice.

MAIN METHODS

Liver function was detected by biochemical and histopathological analysis. Serum inflammatory markers were measured using ELISA. Fecal microbial profiles were determined via 16S rRNA sequencing.

KEY FINDINGS

The results showed that choline supplementation decreased serum LDL level, while increased the activities of serum AST and ALT in normal BALB/c mice. Besides, choline also reduced hepatic SOD and GSH-Px activities, and elevated hepatic MDA level of H. pylori-infected mice. Moreover, choline markedly enhanced the concentrations of inflammatory factors including LPS, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and CXCL1 in H. pylori-infected mice. Meanwhile, choline and H. pylori cotreatment altered the richness and diversity of the mice gut microbiota, and increased the relative abundance of Escherichia_Shigella, which had a significant positive correlation with the levels of LPS, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α and CXCL1.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our data suggest, for the first time, that choline can aggravate H. pylori-induced inflammation, which may be associated with the alterations of gut microbiota. This study may provide novel insights into the possible effects of food-derived choline on H. pylori infection-related diseases.

Helicobacter pylori infection may increase the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via promoting liver function damage, glycometabolism, lipid metabolism, inflammatory reaction and metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Recent clinical trials have confirmed that Helicobacter pylori infection is positively associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), although some research has shown a negative association. Therefore, to confirm whether H. pylori eradication treatment is feasible for NAFLD patients in our hospital, we aimed to establish the association between H. pylori infection and NAFLD.

METHODS

We enrolled 91 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by abdominal B-mode ultrasonography between January and December 2018. H. pylori infection was confirmed by C urea breath test, and liver function, glycometabolism, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, as well as inflammatory reaction were assessed through blood biochemical analyses.

RESULTS

A minority of NAFLD patients had liver dysfunction, increased fasting glucose and insulin levels, a score of insulin-resistance (HOMA-Ir), lipid metabolism, slight inflammatory response, fasting hyperglycemia and hypertension. Most patients were complicated with overweight/visceral obesity and dyslipidemia. Moreover, these abnormal indicators were closely associated with the severity of NAFLD and H. pylori infection. Notably, the prevalence of H. pylori infection showed a significant difference between mild, moderate and severe NAFLD, and hepatic steatosis with coexistent NAFLD also revealed a striking difference between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that H. pylori infection may be an independent risk factor in NAFLD progress.

Abdominal Obesity Is More Strongly Correlated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea than General Obesity in China: Results from Two Separated Observational and Longitudinal Studies

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported that obesity can result in or worsen obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, whether abdominal or general obesity indices or visceral adiposity indicators have a stronger association with OSA remains unclear.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 4344 patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) due to suspicion of OSA. We also performed a longitudinal study on 86 patients who underwent bariatric surgery to confirm the relationship between OSA and obesity. Data on overnight PSG parameters, biochemical biomarkers, and multiple anthropometric obesity indices were collected.

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional study, waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) were independently associated with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after adjusting for potential confounding factors (additional R² = 0.232, standardized beta coefficient [Beta] = 0.210; and additional R² = 0.015, Beta = 0.183, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed similar results, as did stratified analysis of adult males aged ≤ 55 years. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis revealed a linear dose-response relationship between OSA and obesity. In the longitudinal study, no significant relationship was found between remission of OSA and improvement in WC and BMI (r = 0.252, p = 0.098; and r = 0.132, p = 0.395, respectively), whereas the change in the visceral adiposity indicator (lipid accumulation calculated according to WC and fasting triglycerides) was significantly correlated with ΔAHI (r = 0.322, p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Abdominal obesity, rather than general obesity, appears to play a more important role in OSA.

Active Helicobacter pylori Infection is Independently Associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Morbidly Obese Patients

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) emerges as an important global burden and Helicobacter pylori infection (Hp-I) has been suggested as a risk factor of NAFLD, although controversy exists. This retrospective study aimed to investigate a potential impact of active Hp-I on NAFLD severity in morbidly obese patients, subjected to bariatric surgery and gastric biopsy for documentation of Hp-I. Of 64 eligible participants, 15 (23.4%) were diagnosed with active Hp-I, showing higher rates of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) than those without Hp-I (86.7% vs. 26.5%, respectively; p < 0.001). Concerning histological lesions, steatosis grade (p = 0.027), ballooning (p < 0.001), lobular inflammation (p = 0.003), and fibrosis stage (p < 0.001) were also more severe in Hp-I positive patients. Likewise, liver function tests, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension were significantly higher in Hp-I positive patients. Hp-I was independently positively associated with NASH (beta = 3.27; p = 0.002), severe NASH (beta = 2.37; p = 0.018), and the presence of fibrosis (beta = 3.86; p = 0.001) in a binary regression model, after adjustment for potential confounders. In conclusion, active Hp-Ι was independently associated with NASH and fibrosis, findings offering potential clinical implication.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection in North Urban Chinese: A Retrospective Study

Background

The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is controversial. We conducted a retrospective study to clarify the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection and the relationship between NAFLD and H. pylori infection in north urban Chinese.

Methods

The retrospective study was performed at Aerospace Center Hospital in Beijing. All subjects in this study were a healthy population who underwent health examinations at the hospital between 2012 and 2015. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the association between NAFLD and H. pylori infection. Age, gender, underlying diseases, and metabolic syndrome (MS) were adjusted. Effects of NAFLD on H. pylori infection in a different age, gender, and number of MS characteristic subgroups were analyzed.

Results

There were 7803 (43.4%) subjects with H. pylori infection, 3726 (20.7%) with mild NAFLD, 730 (4.1%) with moderate NAFLD, and 369 (2.1%) with severe NAFLD among 17971 subjects. H. pylori infection was related to the seroprevalence of any level of NAFLD, including mild, moderate, and severe NAFLD (OR = 1.607, 95% CI: 1.487-1.736; OR = 1.770, 95% CI: 1.519-2.063; and OR = 2.120, 95% CI: 1.714-2.526, respectively). The results of subgroup analysis showed that the risk of incident NAFLD from H. pylori infection had significant interactions by subjects with or without MS characteristics. Moreover, as the number of MS characteristics in patients with a fatty liver increased, the risk of H. pylori infection also increased.

Conclusions

NAFLD may be associated with H. pylori infection in a Chinese population. Younger, male NAFLD patients and those meeting more characteristics of MS were more likely to have H. pylori infection.

Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in a Developing Country: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disease that affects 25-30% of the population in western countries. Many studies have observed the importance of H. pylori infection in the development of insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the evidence from different studies was controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection and NAFLD in a developing country.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included all the attending outpatient clinics at four Major University hospitals and two research and clinical institutes in a developing country in the period between June and October 2019. Patients were assessed for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection as detected by H. pylori antigen in stool; they were also assessed for the diagnosis of NAFLD by ultrasound, fibroscan, and CAP.

RESULTS

The study was conducted on 646 patients; H. pylori infection was found to be present in 538 patients (83.3%). NAFLD (diagnosed by both U/S and Fibroscan with CAP), ALT, AST, hepatomegaly, hypertension, fasting blood sugar were significantly higher in H. pylori +ve group than H. pylori -ve group. After performing Linear regression of independent risk factors of NAFLD to prove or to refute the role of Helicobacter; H. pylori positivity, total cholesterol, degree of fatty liver by ultrasound, fasting blood sugar and diastolic blood pressure were independent risk factors for NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

Helicobacter pylori infection was independent risk factors for NAFLD and correlated with increased degree of steatosis.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Opinion regarding whether Helicobacter pylori infection can promote the occurrence and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is divided. Therefore, we aimed to assess the exact relationship between H pylori infection and NAFLD by integrating all available data.

METHODS

The articles about H pylori infection and NAFLD were collected by searching the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang. The random-effects model was used for data analysis, followed by subgroup analysis and meta-regression to explore sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Twenty-one articles were included in the study. Pooled analysis showed that H pylori infection indeed promoted NAFLD. Subgroup analysis and regression analysis showed that case-control ratio may be one of the sources of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

H pylori infection is indeed one of the factors that promotes the progression of NAFLD for the Asian population. This provides new approaches for clinical prevention and treatment for NAFLD.

Relevance between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Birjand, Iran

There is evidence that infection by H. pylori can have a critical proportion in the development of hepatocyte injury and both noncancerous and malignant liver conditions including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This is attributed to several mechanisms, the most important one being the toxic products of the bacterium H. pylori and oxidative injury for hepatocytes which promotes hepatic injury. The present research was aimed at determining the association between H. pylori infection and the prevalence of NAFLD in Birjand, Iran. Two groups were included in this cross-sectional study at the outpatient university clinic. One group had NAFLD (65 patients) and the other group was healthy controls without NAFLD (65 subjects). The diagnosis of NAFLD was performed using abdominal ultrasound examination and the absence of taking steatogenic medications or alcohol. Serum anti-H. pylori IgG and fecal H. pylori antigen were tested for diagnosing of H. pylori infection using ELISA method. H. pylori infection diagnosis was made if both tests were positive. None of the subjects in either group had symptoms related to the digestive system including dyspepsia, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or epigastric pain suspicious of peptic ulcer disease. There were 37 patients (28.5%) in both NAFLD (22 cases, 33.8%) and control (15 cases, 23.1%) groups whose H. pylori tests (both IgG and fecal antigen) were positive. Statistically, no significant difference was observed between the two studied groups regarding H. pylori infection frequency (p = 0.37). Asymptomatic H. pylori infection rate was not significantly different between NAFLD patients and control subjects in Birjand, Iran.

Investigating effect of Helicobacter pylori treatment on improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver parameters: a randomized trial

Background and objective

The correlation between the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (HP) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a controversial one. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori treatment on liver function tests and lipid profiles and to compare its effects with exercise therapy and diet alone.

Method

This was a double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. One hundred patients with NAFLD having a positive test for urea breath testing were randomly assigned into one of the intervention and comparison groups. The diet and physical activity program were given to two groups of patients for 8 weeks, three sessions per week. In addition to the above therapy, the patients in the intervention group also received HP treatment for 2weeks. The data corresponding to anthropometric and clinical features before and after the intervention were collected in both groups and compared using appropriate statistical methods.

Results

After the treatment interventions, the variables of weight, BMI, blood glucose, triglyceride, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, and LDL-C were significantly decreased in both groups (p < .05). In the between-group comparisons, only ALT was significantly lower in the intervention group (HP) (p < .05).

Conclusion

Findings of this study showed that the eradication of Helicobacter pylori could significantly improve the ALT index, but it had no additional effect on changes in metabolic indicators.

Trial registration

Registration number: IRCT2015042020951N2

Name of trial registry: The study of treatment of Helicobacter pylori in improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The date of registration: 2015-05-12

Where the full trial protocol can be accessed: https://fa.irct.ir/trial/18489

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Although clinical studies have shown possible links of Helicobacter pylori infection with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the results remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and NAFLD. A comprehensive search of relevant studies was performed up to November 2018. Data on H. pylori infection in NAFLD patients and controls were extracted. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Twelve studies involving 27 400 NAFLD patients and 60 347 controls were included. The pooled overall OR of H. pylori infection in NAFLD patients compared with controls was 1.36 (95% CI: 1.22-1.53, I=89.6%, P=0.000). Meta-regression and subgroup analysis showed that the sample size and the case-control ratio may have accounted for some of the heterogeneity. When stratified by publication year, the diagnostic method used for H. pylori, and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores, the OR remained significant. However, possible publication bias was observed. Of the 12 studies, six had carried out multivariable analysis after adjusting for potential confounders. The pooled results from these studies still indicated a higher risk of NAFLD in patients infected with H. pylori (OR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36, I=72.4%, P=0.003). There is a 36% increased risk of NAFLD in patients with H. pylori infection. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether eradication of H. pylori is useful in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies that have examined the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have produced conflicting data. We have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between H. pylori infection and risk of NAFLD.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases using predefined keywords to identify observational studies (published up to November 2018), in which NAFLD was diagnosed by histology, imaging or biochemistry. Data from selected studies were extracted and meta-analysis was performed using random-effects modeling. The statistical heterogeneity among studies (I²-index), subgroup analyses and the possibility of publication bias were assessed.

RESULTS

Thirteen observational (11 cross-sectional/case-control and 2 longitudinal) studies involving a total of 81,162 middle-aged individuals of predominantly Asian ethnicity (47.5% of whom had H. pylori infection diagnosed by urea breath test, faecal or serological tests) were included in the final analysis. Meta-analysis of data from cross-sectional and case-control studies showed that H. pylori infection was associated with increased risk of prevalent NAFLD (n = 11 studies; random-effects odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% CI 1.07-1.35; I² = 59.6%); this risk remained significant in those studies where analysis was fully adjusted for age, sex, smoking, adiposity measures, diabetes or dyslipidemia (random-effects OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07-1.32, I² = 0%). Meta-analysis of data from longitudinal studies showed that H. pylori infection was also associated with increased NAFLD incidence (n = 2 studies; random-effects hazard ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23; I² = 0%). Sensitivity analyses did not alter these findings. Funnel plot did not reveal significant publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori infection is associated with mildly increased risk of both prevalent and incident NAFLD in middle-aged individuals. More prospective studies, particularly in non-Asian populations, and mechanistic studies are required to better elucidate the link between chronic H. pylori infection and NAFLD.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been shown in many observational studies, but these conclusions remain controversial. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to elucidate the association.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted on relevant studies published from inception to December 31, 2018, in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were pooled by random-effect model, generic inverse variance method. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also done. Publication bias was estimated by the funnel plot, Begg's test, and Egger's test.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies (eleven cross-sectional, two case-control, and two cohort studies) were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled OR of NAFLD in patients with H. pylori infection was 1.19 (95% CI: 1.11-1.29, P < 0.00001) when compared with the patients without H. pylori infection. Similar results were observed when the subgroup analyses were stratified by different geographical locations, study designs, and confounders adjustment. In subgroup analysis stratified by different H. pylori testing methods, the correlation still exists when using UBT, serology, RUT, or SAT, but there was no statistically significant difference when using multiple detection methods (OR = 2.96, 95% CI: 0.37-23.94, P = 0.31). Sensitivity analyses showed that our results were robust. No evidence of substantial publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence indicated that a positive association between H. pylori infection and the risk of NAFLD. Further prospective studies are warranted to strengthen the association and to clarify whether there is a causative link between them.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in North Chinese: a cross-sectional study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease. Previous studies on the association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and NAFLD are inconsistent. Our study was aimed to find out the relationship between HP infection and NAFLD. We performed a large cross-sectional study in northern Chinese adults in 2015. ¹³C-urea breath tests were used to determine HP infection status. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed to diagnose NAFLD. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the association between HP infection and NAFLD. A total of 4081 individuals were included in this study; 2137 (52.36%) participants were HP-positive, and 1022 (47.82%) were diagnosed with NAFLD in HP-positive individuals. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of participants with HP infection for NAFLD were 1.20 (1.06–1.36) in crude model and 1.27 (1.07–1.50) in fully adjusted model. When stratified by sex and dyslipidemia, the fully adjusted OR and 95% CI for NAFLD were 1.22 (1.10–1.80) in females and 1.44 (1.18–1.75) in subjects with dyslipidemia. There were not significant increased OR for NAFLD when stratified by age. The study indicate that HP infection is associated with NAFLD, particularly in females and patients with dyslipidemia, suggesting that HP eradication might be an alternative method for the prevention or treatment of NAFLD treatment.

Metagenome of Gut Microbiota of Children With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Aim: To investigate the intestinal flora of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese children and adolescents using metagenomic approach. Methods: All participants underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify liver fat content. Hepatic steatosis was defined as MRS proton density fat fraction (MRS-PDFF) >5%. A total of 58 children and adolescents were enrolled in this study, including 25 obese NAFLD patients, 18 obese non-NAFLD children, and 15 healthy children. Stool samples were collected and analyzed with metagenomics. We used Shannon index to reflect the alpha diversities of gut microbiota. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed to evaluate alpha diversities between groups. At last, the differences of gut microbiota composition and functional annotations between obese with and without NAFLD and healthy children were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Significant differences in gut microbiota composition and functional annotations among three groups of children and adolescents have been observed. Deep sequencing of gut microbiota revealed high abundance of phylum Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria) in obese NAFLD patients, comparing with the control group. Overall, obese children without NAFLD had less abundant Helicobacter and Helicobacter pylori. Compared to the control group, in obese children with NAFLD, the abundance of Bacteroidetes (Alistipes) were significantly reduced. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was the only species representing a difference between obese children with and without NAFLD. There were not significant differences in terms of alpha diversity among three groups. Functional annotations demonstrated that several pathways were differentially enriched between groups, including metabolism of other amino acids, replication and repair, folding, sorting, degradation, and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism. Conclusion: Significantly differences are observed in gut microbiota composition and functional annotations between obese children with and without NAFLD in comparison to the healthy children group. The characteristic of gut microbiota in this study may contribute to a further understanding the gut-liver axis of pediatric NAFLD in China.

Helicobacter pylori and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A new enigma?

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a matter of debate. We achieved this prospective work to study whether H. pylori infection is a risk factor for NAFLD.

METHODS

A cohort multicenter pilot study of 369 adults without NAFLD at baseline was followed up for 2 years. Serum leptin, insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin, and interleukin-6 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and leptin/adiponectin ratio (LAR) were calculated. Fecal H. pylori antigen was measured by ELISA. A total of 127 participants with H. pylori positive were treated and then followed up for 3 months.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori-positive patients (46.3%) were associated with an increase in IR, proinflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), LAR, NAFLD-liver fat score (NAFLD-LFS), and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) (all P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of NAFLD according to HSI and NAFLD-LFS reported that presence of H. pylori, LAR, CRP, IL-6, smoking, and age (all P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the presence of NAFLD. Multiple models adjusted for potential mediators or confounders such as metabolic, inflammatory, and biochemical factors were constructed. After therapy of H. pylori infection, there was a significant reduction in lipogenic profile, IR, leptin, LAR, CRP, proinflammatory cytokines, HSI, and NAFLD-LFS, as well as, increasing HDL.

CONCLUSION

Helicobacter pylori infection was related to an increased risk of NAFLD development, through increased markers of IR, inflammatory mediators, and lipid metabolism. Moreover, its eradication can recover these NAFLD risk factors.

The associations among Helicobacter pylori infection, white blood cell count and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a large Chinese population

Reported relationships among Helicobacter pylori infection, white blood cell (WBC) count and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are inconsistent and controversial. We, therefore, conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the associations among the presence of NAFLD, WBC count and H pylori infection, as diagnosed using the C-urea breath test (UBT).This study included 20,389 subjects enrolled at the International Health Care Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2015 to December 2015. All participants underwent a C-UBT for the diagnosis of H pylori infection and ultrasonography for NAFLD as well as a blood test to determine WBC count. Multivariate logistic regression was then performed to evaluate the relationship among H pylori infection, WBC count and NAFLD.H pylori infection was detected in 38.49% (7,848/20,389) of the subjects via the UBT, and NAFLD was present in 37.24% (7,592/20,389) of the subjects. The prevalence of H pylori infection was higher in the NAFLD group than in the control group (41.25% vs 36.85%, P <.001). Significant differences were found between various WBC quartiles and H pylori infection, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FPG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and smoking. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the combination of H pylori infection and WBC count (odds ratio [OR] = 1.067, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.014, 1.093; P = .007; OR = 1.165, 95% CI: 1.023, 1.488; P <.001; OR = 1.183, 95% CI: 1.085, 1.559; P <.001, respectively) was positively associated with NAFLD.H pylori infection and WBC count may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

H. pylori infection and extra-gastroduodenal diseases

Helicobacter pylori infection is the principal cause of peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Recent studies have shown that it may interfere with many biological processes and determine or influence the occurrence of many diseases outside the stomach. Currently, the role of H. pylori in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and iron deficiency anemia is well documented. Emerging evidence suggests that it may also contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic liver disease. Additionally, it may increase the risk of acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease and other miscellaneous disorders. Different pathogenic mechanisms have been hypothesized, including the occurrence of molecular mimicry and the induction of a low-grade inflammation. This review summarizes the results of the most relevant studies on the extra-gastroduodenal manifestations of H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection and liver diseases: Epidemiology and insights into pathogenesis

Both Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), have high prevalences worldwide, and the relationship between H. pylori infection and liver disease has been discussed for many years. Although positive correlations between H. pylori and NAFLD have been identified in some clinical and experimental studies, negative correlations have also been obtained in high-quality clinical studies. Associations between H. pylori and the pathogenesis of chronic viral hepatitis, mainly disease progression with fibrosis, have also been suggested in some clinical studies. Concerning HCC, a possible role for H. pylori in hepatocarcinogenesis has been identified since H. pylori genes have frequently been detected in resected HCC specimens. However, no study has revealed the direct involvement of H. pylori in promoting the development of HCC. Although findings regarding the correlations between H. pylori and liver disease pathogenesis have been accumulating, the existing data do not completely lead to an unequivocal conclusion. Further high-quality clinical and experimental analyses are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of H. pylori eradication in ameliorating the histopathological changes observed in each liver disease.