Histopathology Features of H. pylori Gastritis Associated With Altered Lipid Profile: An Observational Study from a Tertiary Healthcare Center in North West Romania

BACKGROUND/AIM

H. pylori infection can promote a systemic inflammatory syndrome, eventually leading to intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible association between dyslipidemia and histopathological features of H. pylori gastritis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An observational, retrospective study was conducted over the period 2017-2022 on symptomatic patients with a positive rapid urease test. A total of 121 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with stomach biopsy were enrolled in this study. Based on the updated Sydney System, we investigated the association between neutrophils, mononuclear cells, intestinal metaplasia, or gastric atrophy and altered lipid profiles.

RESULTS

A high prevalence of H. pylori infection was noticed in the studied group upon the application of the rapid urease test, being associated with dyslipidemia regardless of patient sex. All the endoscopic diagnoses (acute, chronic, or atrophic chronic gastritis, metaplasia) correlated with the histopathological features. Mononuclear cells and metaplasia were more likely to be found in H. pylori-positive patients with dyslipidemia, which is consistent with acute and chronic inflammation caused by H. pylori in the gastric mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Although our study was conducted on a small scale, it offers new insights and details regarding H. pylori infection and histopathological features. Mononuclear cells and metaplasia were associated with an altered lipid profile in H. pylori-positive patients. These findings warrant future investigation, such as the evolution of gastric biopsies and lipid profiles before and after eradication.

The presence of H. pylori in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy specimens is associated with increased mucosal thickness, presence of secondary follicles, increased chronic inflammation, and intestinal metaplasia

Helicobacter pylori is putatively present in over half of the global human population and is recognized as a carcinogenic agent that increases the likelihood of infected patients developing gastric adenocarcinoma or gastric lymphoma. Although there are several means for testing for H. pylori, the gold standard remains the invasive histologic evaluation. The current most popular form of bariatric surgery is the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and is the only bariatric surgery which supplies a specimen for histologic evaluation. While non-invasive testing is effective in diagnosing and monitoring H. pylori infection, histological examination of biopsies and resections is the only way to grade chronic inflammation and evaluate specimens for additional pathologies such as intestinal metaplasia. The investigators evaluated 203 sequential LSG specimens collected from a major metropolitan hospital over the period of one year. Specimens were processed to paraffin, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue, and immunohistochemistry to determine the presence of H. pylori, chronic inflammation, presence of secondary lymphoid follicles in the mucosa, mucosal thickness, and presence of intestinal metaplasia. Statistical analyses demonstrated a significant positive correlation among all factors examined. The overall positivity rate of H. pylori in LSG specimens was 18.2% but ranged from 6.9-23.8% depending on whether the treating clinician performed routine pre-surgical endoscopy. The presence of H. pylori was associated with a higher average chronic inflammation grade, intestinal metaplasia, thicker mucosa, and presence of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers in the mucosa.

Prevalence and temporal trend of gastric preneoplastic lesions in Asia: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer globally, with about 75% of cases occurring in Asia. While chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) are well-recognized preneoplastic gastric lesions, we determined the prevalence and temporal trend of CAG and IM in Asia over the past 50 years.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies reporting the prevalence of CAG and IM in Asia (according to the United Nations geoscheme) published between 1970 and 2022. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 index and Cochran Q test. We adopted the random effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI). The slope of prevalence was estimated as a function of time in simple linear regression and weighted meta-regression models to demonstrate the temporal trend. Studies that reported the odds ratio (OR) of Helicobacter pylori infection and CAG/IM were analyzed separately to compile a pooled OR with a 95% CI. This study was registered in INPLASY2022120028.

RESULTS

Of the 81 studies from 19 Asian countries identified, the pooled prevalence for CAG and IM in Asia was 26.1% (95%CI: 22.7-30.0) and 22.9% (95%CI: 19.7-26.6), respectively. Over the past 5 decades, there was a significant decline in the prevalence of IM (slope in adjusted meta-regression models: -0.79 [95%CI: -1.28 to -0.26], P = 0.003), but there was no significant change in the pooled prevalence of CAG. Within Asia, the prevalence varied significantly among different regions. Southern Asia reported the highest pooled prevalence of CAG (42.9%, 95%CI: 27.5%-67.1%), while Western Asia reported the lowest level (12.7%, 95%CI: 5.0%-32.3%). For IM, Eastern Asia reported the highest prevalence (27.1%, 95%CI: 21.1-34.9), with the lowest prevalence reported in Western Asia (3.1%; 95% CI 1.2%-8.0%). H. pylori infection was linked to CAG and IM with OR of 2.16 (95%CI: 2.09-2.22) and 1.64 (95%CI: 1.57-1.72), respectively.

CONCLUSION

This updated meta-analysis showed that up to 26% of study individuals in Asia harbored preneoplastic gastric lesions. There was a declining temporal trend in the prevalence of IM, but not for CAG, in Asia.

Dynamic tuft cell expansion during gastric metaplasia and dysplasia

Tuft cells are chemosensory cells associated with luminal homeostasis, immune response, and tumorigenesis in the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to elucidate alterations in tuft cell populations during gastric atrophy and tumorigenesis in humans with correlative comparison to relevant mouse models. Tuft cell distribution was determined in human stomachs from organ donors and in gastric pathologies including Ménétrier's disease, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric tumors. Tuft cell populations were examined in Lrig1-KrasG12D , Mist1-KrasG12D , and MT-TGFα mice. Tuft cells were evenly distributed throughout the entire normal human stomach, primarily concentrated in the isthmal region in the fundus. Ménétrier's disease stomach showed increased tuft cells. Similarly, Lrig1-Kras mice and mice overexpressing TGFα showed marked foveolar hyperplasia and expanded tuft cell populations. Human stomach with IM or dysplasia also showed increased tuft cell numbers. Similarly, Mist1-Kras mice had increased numbers of tuft cells during metaplasia and dysplasia development. In human gastric cancers, tuft cells were rarely observed, but showed positive associations with well-differentiated lesions. In mouse gastric cancer xenografts, tuft cells were restricted to dysplastic well-differentiated mucinous cysts and were lost in less differentiated cancers. Taken together, tuft cell populations increased in atrophic human gastric pathologies, metaplasia, and dysplasia, but were decreased in gastric cancers. Similar findings were observed in mouse models, suggesting that, while tuft cells are associated with precancerous pathologies, their loss is most associated with the progression to invasive cancer.

The Impact of the Angulus Biopsy on the Detection of Staging and the Grading of Chronic Gastritis

There is a generally recognized need for a morphological assessment of the individual risk of developing gastric cancer in a patient with chronic gastritis, according to the OLGA system (Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment). At the same time, the role of assessing the biopsy from the incisura angularis remains controversial. The aim of our study was to assess the value of incisura angularis biopsy in staging gastritis according to the OLGA system by examining the atrophic and inflammatory changes in the antrum, incisura angularis, and body.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 718 patients (576 women and 142 men) aged 20 to 84 years were examined. Most of the patients were in the age group of 50 to 70 years (54.6%). Depending on the detection of H. pylori and autoimmune gastritis markers, all patients were divided into three groups. The first group included 380 patients with H. pylori gastritis without signs of autoimmune gastritis. The second group consisted of 209 patients with autoimmune gastritis, in whom no infection was detected during the examination, and there were no indications of H. pylori eradication. The third group consisted of 129 patients with chronic gastritis of combined etiology (autoimmune and H. pylori). Endoscopy biopsies were taken according to the updated Sydney System. Histological assessments of the grade and the stage of gastritis were carried out according to the standard OLGA-based protocol. Then, the same assessments were evaluated without taking into account histological changes in the incisura angularis.

RESULTS

When assessing the severity of inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa according to the OLGA system, grade II (72.3%) was most often detected in all groups of patients. A severe degree of activity of chronic gastritis was most often observed in the group of patients with H. pylori gastritis (6.1%). These indicators practically did not change if the assessment did not take the angulus biopsy into account. When assessing the severity of atrophy of the glands in the gastric mucosa in patients of the first group, mild stages of atrophy prevailed. Without taking into account the angulus biopsy, a decrease in the stage of atrophy was observed in 27 cases (7.11%), and in only 4 cases did stage IV change to stage III, while in 23 cases, discrepancies were noted only within groups with a mild stage of atrophy. There were no transitions from stage III to stage II. In the group of patients with autoimmune gastritis, pronounced stages of atrophy prevailed-in more than 77%. Without taking into account the angulus biopsy, a decrease in the stage of atrophy was observed in eight cases (3.83%), and in three (1.4%) patients, stage III was changed to stage II. In the group of patients with combined etiology (autoimmune + H. pylori), severe stages of atrophy also prevailed (70.5%). A decrease in the stage of atrophy without taking into account the angulus biopsy was only observed in three patients (2.32%), of which two cases concerned patients with mild stages of atrophy. Thus, in general, severe stages of atrophy of the gastric mucosa (stages III and IV according to the OLGA staging system) were detected in 313 patients (43.59%). If the assessment of the atrophy stage did not take into account changes in the angulus biopsy, then severe stages of atrophy (III and IV according to OLGA) were detected in 310 patients (43.17%). In total, changes in the assessment of the atrophy stage occurred in 38 patients (5.29%), and this was more often observed in patients with stages I and II of atrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

Accounting for histological changes in the incisura angularis does not significantly affect the assessment of the grade and stage of chronic gastritis according to the OLGA system, regardless of the etiology of atrophic gastritis.

Gastric xanthelasma is a warning sign for Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia

Background

Contradictory evidence suggested gastric xanthelasma (GX) was associated with some upper gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Additionally, no research has been performed on the relationship between esophageal/duodenal xanthelasma and upper GI diseases.

Methods

Individuals who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, participated in this retrospective study. This study evaluated whether the risk of GX or esophageal/duodenal xanthelasma was influenced by the following gastroesophageal diseases: superficial gastritis, gastric polyp, bile reflux, peptic ulcer, reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer, atrophic gastritis (AG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia, gastric cancer, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was conducted to establish the relationship between the number of GX and upper GI diseases.

Results

Of the 69,071 subjects reviewed, 1,220 (1.77%) had GX, and 54 (0.08%) had esophageal/duodenal xanthelasma. There was no difference in the prevalence of upper GI diseases between patients with and without esophageal/duodenal xanthelasma. Nevertheless, compared with non-xanthelasma patients, GX patients had a greater proportion of AG, IM, dysplasia, gastric cancer, and H. pylori infection and a lower incidence of superficial gastritis (p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated AG (OR = 1.83, 95%CI: 1.56-2.16), IM (OR = 2.42, 95%CI: 2.41-2.85), and H. pylori infection (OR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.17-1.50) were independent risk factors for GX. In addition, patients with multiple GXs had a higher rate of AG and IM than those with single GX.

Conclusion

Esophageal/duodenal xanthelasma may not be associated with upper GI diseases, and further research is needed to support this hypothesis. Notably, GX, especially multiple GXs, may be a more easily detected warning sign of AG, IM, or H. pylori infection.

A non-invasive combined strategy to improve the appropriateness of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Background and aim Increasing the appropriateness of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) improves the quality of care while containing costs. The aim of this study was to improve the appropriateness of UGIE through a process involving evaluation of prescriptions and the use of a non-invasive alternative. Materials and methods A senior endoscopist evaluated the appropriateness of all outpatient referrals for UGIE and established the proper timing. Referrals were either accepted and programmed, canceled, or substituted by a non-invasive evaluation of gastric function, determining serum levels of gastrin-17 (G17), Pepsinogen I (PGI) and II (PGII), and antibodies against Helicobacter pylori. Results A total of 5102 requests for UGIE examinations were evaluated; 540 (10.4%) were inappropriate and had been prescribed for: gastroesophageal reflux disease (n=307), surveillance with erroneous timing (n=113), dyspepsia (n=66), other indications (n=20), and absence of written indication (n=34). Gastric function was evaluated in 282/540 patients; findings included normal values in 94 patients without proton-pump inhibitor therapy (PPI) and in 48 on PPI, active H pylori infection in 56, previous H pylori infection in 30, GERD in n=50, and atrophic gastritis in n=4. UGIE was performed in the latter 4 cases.  Within 2 years (range 1-22 months) of the initial refusal, 105/504 patients underwent UGIE, with normal endoscopic findings in 71/105 (67.5%), and with no cases of cancer. Conclusions This strategy, based on a strict control of prescriptions, is effective to increase the appropriateness while containing public health costs. The use of gastric function testing improves patient selection for UGIE endoscopy.

Association of Helicobacter pylori and gastric atrophy with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction in Taixing, China

Gastric atrophy caused by Helicobacter pylori infection was suggested to influence the risk of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEGJ), however, the evidence remains limited. We aimed to examine the associations of H. pylori infection and gastric atrophy (defined using serum pepsinogen [PG] I to PGII ratio) with AEGJ risk, based on a population-based case-control study in Taixing, China (2010-2014), with 349 histopathologically confirmed AEGJ cases and 1859 controls. We explored the potential effect modification by H. pylori serostatus and sex on the association of serum PGs with AEGJ risk. We used unconditional logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). H. pylori seropositivity was associated with an elevated AEGJ risk (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.47-2.63). Neither CagA-positive nor VacA-positive strains dramatically changed this association. Gastric atrophy (PGI/PGII ratio ≤4) was positively associated with AEGJ risk (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.72-3.22). The fully adjusted ORs for AEGJ progressively increased with the increasing levels of PGII (P-trend <.001). H. pylori showed nonsignificant effect modification (P-interaction = .385) on the association of gastric atrophy with AEGJ. In conclusion, H. pylori and gastric atrophy were positively associated with AEGJ risk. These results may contribute evidence to the ongoing research on gastric atrophy-related cancers and guide the prevention and control of AEGJ.

Development and Validation of Nomograms to Predict Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment Any-Stage and Stages III-IV in the Chinese High-Risk Gastric Cancer Population

Purpose: It is very essential to diagnose gastric atrophy in the area with high prevalence of gastric cancer. Operative link for gastritis assessment (OLGA) was developed to detect the severity of gastric atrophy. The aim of this study was to develop and validate nomograms for predicting OLGA any-stage and stages III-IV in the Chinese high-risk gastric cancer population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 7,945 participants obtained by a multicenter cross-sectional study. We randomly selected 55% individuals (4,370 participants, training cohort) to analyze and generate the prediction models and validated the models on the remaining individuals (3,575 participants, validation cohort). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to select variables in the training cohort. The corresponding nomograms were developed to predict OLGA any-stage and stages III-IV, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves and the GiViTI calibration belts were used to estimate the discrimination and calibration of the prediction models. Results: There were 1,226 (28.05%) participants in the training sample and 970 (27.13%) in the validation sample who were diagnosed with gastric atrophy. The nomogram predicting OLGA any-stage had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.610 for the training sample and 0.615 for the validation sample, with favorable calibrations in the overall population. Similarly, the nomogram predicting OLGA stages III-IV had an AUC of 0.702 and 0.714 for the training and validation samples, respectively, with favorable calibrations in the overall population. Conclusions: The prediction model can early identify the occurrence of gastric atrophy and the severity stage of gastric atrophy to some extent.

Helicobacter pylori-Related Metabolic Parameters and Premalignant Gastric Mucosa Histological Lesions in Swiss Bariatric Patients

Obesity, as a major risk factor of metabolic syndrome (MetS), represents a pandemic, especially in Western societies, and is considered a risk factor for malignancies. Helicobacter pylori (Hp), is a definite carcinogen with global distribution. We aimed to investigate, for the first time in Switzerland, the main gastric mucosa premalignant histological lesions of bariatric patients in correlation with MetS components and Hp Infection (Hp-I). By reviewing retrospectively 94304 patient cases, a total of 116 eligible patients having undergone bariatric surgery were identified. The mean patient age was 48.66 years. Hp(+) patients were 24% (28/116). Presence of gastric mucosa atrophy was documented in 8/28 Hp(+) patients (29%) and (2/88) Hp(-) ones (2%) (p = 0.006). Gastric mucosa intestinal metaplasia was observed in 14/28 (50%) Hp(+) patients versus 3/88 (3.4%) of Hp(-) group (p < 0.0001). Hp(+) patients exhibited statistically higher arterial hypertension (p = 0.033). The homeostatic model of assessment insulin resistance was also statistically significantly higher for the Hp(+) group (p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, including arterial hypertension, gastric mucosa atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia as variables, statistical significance remained only for intestinal metaplasia (p = 0.001). In conclusion, Hp-I is associated with premalignant gastric mucosa histologic lesions and MetS components, including arterial hypertension and IR. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Associations Between Gastric Atrophy and Its Interaction With Poor Oral Health and the Risk for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High-Risk Region of China: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Previous findings concerning gastric atrophy as a potential risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have been inconsistent. We aimed to test whether gastric atrophy and, further, its interaction with poor oral health elevated the risk of ESCC in a high-risk region of China. Our population-based case-control study in Taixing, China (2010–2014), recruited cases from local hospitals and the local cancer registry. Controls were selected randomly from the local population registry. Ultimately, 1,210 cases and 1,978 controls answered questionnaires and provided blood samples for assay of pepsinogens. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Gastric atrophy (defined as a serum level of pepsinogen I of <55 μg/L) was associated with an increased risk for ESCC (odds ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.33, 1.96), even after full adjustment for potential confounding factors. In addition, suggestion of an additive interaction between gastric atrophy and poor oral health was observed (relative excess risk due to interaction = 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 0.39, 2.18). We conclude that gastric atrophy appears to be a risk factor for ESCC in a high-risk region of China, and there is a suggested additive interaction with poor oral health that increases this risk even further.

Verrucous antral gastritis in relation to Helicobacter pylori infection, nutrition, and gastric atrophy

Background

There have been few studies in the English literature regarding verrucous gastritis (VG). The present study investigated the clinical and endoscopic features of verrucous antral gastritis, especially focusing on Helicobacter pylori infection, nutrition, and gastric atrophy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent routine endoscopy with indigo carmine chromoendoscopy and a comparative study was conducted between VG-positive and VG-negative groups. VG was subdivided into classical and numerous types based on the number and distribution of verrucous lesions. Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic data including body mass index (BMI), serum albumin and cholesterol, gastric atrophy, reflux oesophagitis, Barrett's oesophagus, and H. pylori status were collected. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with VG.

Results

We analysed the data of 621 patients undergoing routine endoscopy and found that VG (n = 352) was significantly associated with increased BMI (1.12 [1.05-1.18], P < 0.01), reflux esophagitis (1.96 [1.10-3.28], P < 0.01), and H. pylori negativity with or without a history of eradication (9.94 [6.00-16.47] and 6.12 [3.51-10.68], P < 0.001, respectively). Numerous-type (n = 163) VG was associated with both closed- and open-type gastric atrophy (9.9 [4.04-21.37] and 8.10 [3.41-19.24], P < 0.001, respectively). There were no statistical differences between groups regarding age, sex, total cholesterol, albumin, and bile-colored gastric juice.

Conclusions

Verrucous antral gastritis was related to increased BMI, reflux esophagitis, and H. pylori negativity. Numerous-type verrucous lesions were associated with gastric atrophy. These indicate that VG may be a physiological phenomenon due to high gastric acidity, mechanical overload, and vulnerability of background mucosa.

Use of endoscopic assessment of gastric atrophy for gastric cancer risk stratification to reduce the need for gastric mapping

Background/Aims: Stratification for gastric cancer risk typically involves histologic grading of gastric biopsies. This study aimed to compare endoscopic assessment of gastric atrophy and histologic gastric mapping for gastric cancer risk stratification in a region with relatively high risk of gastric cancer.Methods: Endoscopic and histologic gastric cancer risk stratification were compared in Vietnamese patients with functional dyspepsia. Endoscopic gastric atrophy was graded according to the Kimura-Takemoto classification. High-risk histologic lesions were defined as gastric dysplasia, Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) gastritis stage III/IV, intestinal metaplasia in both the antrum and the corpus or incomplete intestinal subtype at any site. Two experienced pathologists, blinded to endoscopic information, jointly examined all specimens and reached a consensus. The presence of high-risk histologic lesions was compared among patients with different endoscopic grades of gastric atrophy.Results: There were 280 subjects (mean age, 46.1 ± 10 years, and male, 50%). The numbers of patients with moderate/severe grade of endoscopic gastric atrophy and high-risk histologic lesions were 126 (45.0%) and 46 (16.4%), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios of moderate/severe endoscopic atrophic grade for detecting high-risk histologic lesions were 93% (95% CI 86%-100%), 65% (95% CI 58%-71%), 2.64 (95% CI 2.18 - 3.18) and 0.10 (95% CI 0.03 - 0.30), respectively.Conclusions: Gastric cancer risk assessment using endoscopic or histologic methods provided similar results such that the absence or a mild grade of endoscopic gastric atrophy would preclude the need for histologic mapping.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use, Hypergastrinemia, and Gastric Carcinoids-What Is the Relationship?

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) throughout the body are the focus of much current interest. Most occur in the gastrointestinal tract and have shown a major increase in incidence over the past 30 years, roughly paralleling the world-wide increase in the use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs. The greatest rise has occurred in gastric carcinoids (g-NETs) arising from enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. These tumors are long known to occur in auto-immune chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), with or without multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 (MEN-1), but the incidences of these conditions do not appear to have increased over the same time period. Common to these disease states is persistent hypergastrinemia, generally accepted as causing g-NETs in CAG and ZES, and postulated as having similar tumorigenic effects in PPI users. In efforts to study the increase in their occurrence, g-NETs have been classified in a number of discussed ways into different grades that differ in their incidence and apparent pathogenesis. Based on a large amount of experimental data, tumorigenesis is mediated by gastrin’s effects on the CCK2R-receptor on ECL-cells that in turn leads to hyperplasia, dysplasia, and finally neoplasia. However, in all three conditions, the extent of response of ECL-cells to gastrin is modified by a number of genetic influences and other underlying risk factors, and by the duration of exposure to the hormonal influence. Data relating to trophic effects of hypergastrinemia due to PPI use in humans are reviewed and, in an attached Appendix A, all 11 reports of g-NETs that occurred in long-term PPI users in the absence of CAG or ZES are summarized. Mention of additional suspected cases reported elsewhere are also listed. Furthermore, the risk in humans may be affected by the presence of underlying conditions or genetic factors, including their PPI-metabolizer phenotype, with slow metabolizers likely at increased risk. Other problems in estimating the true incidence of g-NETs are discussed, relating to non-reporting of small tumors and failure of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) and other databases, to capture small tumors or those not accorded a T1 rating. Overall, it appears likely that the true incidence of g-NETs may be seriously underestimated: the possibility that hypergastrinemia also affects tumorigenesis in additional gastrointestinal sites or in tumors in other organ systems is briefly examined. Overall, the risk of developing a g-NET appears greatest in patients who are more than 10 years on drug and on higher doses: those affected by chronic H. pylori gastritis and/or consequent gastric atrophy may also be at increased risk. While the overall risk of g-NETs induced by PPI therapy is undoubtedly low, it is real: this necessitates caution in using PPI therapy for long periods of time, particularly when initiated in young subjects.

Feasibility of combined screening for upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma risk by serology and Cytosponge testing: the SUGAR study

AIMS

Aim was to assess the feasibility of serum markers to identify individuals at risk for gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma to reduce the number of individuals requiring invasive assessment by endoscopy.

METHODS

Blood samples from 56 patients with Barrett's oesophagus and 202 non-Barrett controls who previously took part in a trial assessing the accuracy of the Cytosponge for Barrett's oesophagus were assessed for serum pepsinogen (PG) 1 and 2, gastrin-17, trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) and Helicobacter pylori infection.

RESULTS

PG1 was pathological (<50 ng/mL) in 26 patients (10.1%), none of whom had Barrett's oesophagus (p<0.001). Smoking and drinking had no influence on these results. Pathological PG1 was associated with stomach pain (p=0.029), disruption of sleep (p=0.027) and disruption of diet by symptoms (p=0.019). Serum TFF3 was not associated with any clinical parameter.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of serum PG1 could be combined with a test for Barrett's oesophagus to identify additional patients requiring endoscopy.

Narrow band imaging and serology in the assessment of premalignant gastric pathology

BACKGROUND

Patient outcomes in gastric adenocarcinoma are poor due to late diagnosis. Detecting and treating at the premalignant stage has the potential to improve this. Helicobacter pylori is also a strong risk factor for this disease.

AIMS

Primary aims were to assess the diagnostic accuracy of magnified narrow band imaging (NBI-Z) endoscopy and serology in detecting normal mucosa, H. pylori gastritis and gastric atrophy. Secondary aims were to compare the diagnostic accuracies of two classification systems using both NBI-Z and white light endoscopy with magnification (WLE-Z) and evaluate the inter-observer agreement.

METHODS

Patients were prospectively recruited. Images of gastric mucosa were stored with histology and serum for IgG H. pylori and Pepsinogen (PG) I/II ELISAs. Blinded expert endoscopists agreed on mucosal pattern. Mucosal images and serological markers were compared with histology. Kappa statistics determined inter-observer variability for randomly allocated images among four experts and four non-experts.

RESULTS

116 patients were prospectively recruited. Diagnostic accuracy of NBI-Z for determining normal gastric mucosa was 0.87(95%CI 0.82-0.92), H. pylori gastritis 0.65(95%CI 0.55-0.75) and gastric atrophy 0.88(95%CI 0.81-0.94). NBI-Z was superior to serology at detecting gastric atrophy: NBI-Z gastric atrophy 0.88(95%CI 0.81-0.94) vs PGI/II ratio < 3 0.74(95%CI 0.62-0.85) p<.0001. Overall NBI-Z was superior to WLE-Z in detecting disease using two validated classifications. Inter-observer agreement was 0.63(95%CI 0.51-0.73).

CONCLUSIONS

NBI-Z accurately detects changes in the GI mucosa which currently depend on histology. NBI-Z is useful in the detection of precancerous conditions, potentially improving patient outcomes with early intervention to prevent gastric cancer.

HIV related hypochlorhydria does not appear to respond to anti-retroviral therapy in Zambian adults: a case control study

INTRODUCTION

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is associated with hypochlorhydria but the mechanism is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine effects of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) on gastric physiology as measured by validated markers.

METHODS

We studied HIV infected individuals who were either ART-naïve or on treatment with undetectable viral loads. We measured H.pylori IgG antibodies, pepsinogen (PG) 1 and 2 levels and fasting gastrin-17 using Biohit GastroPanel®. Gastric antral biopsies and juice were obtained for histology and pH respectively. Also included were historical data from HIV negative participants (n = 72) in a previous study, for reference.

RESULTS

We enrolled 84 HIV positive individuals with a median age 42 years (IQR 37-40 years). 55(66%) were female, 32(38%) were ART naïve, and 52(62%) were on ART. Hypochlorhydria (pH>4) was present in 48(57%) of the HIV positive and 18(25%) of the HIV negative individuals (OR 4: 95% CI 1.9-8.5, P<0.001) with no significant effect of ART (OR 0.9: 95% CI 0.3-2.3, P = 0.82). Hypochlorhydria was not associated with the serological detection of corpus atrophy using low PG 1:2 ratio (OR 2.1: 95% CI 0.5-10.2, P = 0.37) or GastroPanel® algorithm, (OR 0.7: 95% CI 0.01-60.1, P = 1.0). ART reduced the frequency of low PG 1:2 ratio (P = 0.001), but not the histological detection in the antrum of atrophy or non-atrophic gastritis.

CONCLUSION

ART use is associated with reduced serological evidence of corpus atrophy but has no effect on fasting pH, supporting earlier data that suggest that the mechanism of HIV-associated hypochlorhydria is multifactorial.

Autoimmune Gastritis in the Pediatric Age: An Underestimated Condition Report of Two Cases and Review

Background: Diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune gastritis (AIG) in children is important due to poor outcome and risk of malignancy. This condition is often underestimated in the clinico-pathologic diagnostic work-up, leading to delayed time-to-diagnosis. To increase the awareness of this condition in the pediatric population, we present two cases encountered at our institution, discuss their clinical, biological, and histological presentations in relation with evidence from the literature, and propose an algorithm for diagnosis and follow-up of AIG in children. Case presentation: Two patients (12 and 17 years old) presented with iron deficiency anemia and negative family history for autoimmune disorders. In both cases, the final diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis was delayed until pathological examination of endoscopic gastric biopsies showed atrophy of oxyntic glands. Helicobacter pylori search was negative. Follow up biopsies revealed persistent disease. Literature review on this condition shows unclear etiology and poor long term outcome in some patients because of increased risk of malignancy. Conclusions: AIG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in the pediatric population.Standardized clinico-pathologic work-up is mandatory. Endoscopic follow-up should be performed due to the risk of malignancy.

Helicobacter pylori eradication may influence timing of endoscopic surveillance for gastric cancer in patients with gastric precancerous lesions: A retrospective study

Chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia related to Helicobacter pylori infection, are major risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma. Eradication of H pylori and endoscopy surveillance of precancerous lesions may reduce the risk and/or lead to early detection of gastric cancer improving survival. In this study, the progression of precancerous lesions after H pylori treatment was evaluated.Patients with incomplete or complete intestinal metaplasia and/or gastric atrophy at the index endoscopy, were examined for the extension/histological worsening of precancerous lesions at the endoscopy surveillance for gastric cancer. Progression of lesions was evaluated according to H pylori status, age, and sex. Cox proportional hazard regression model and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate the strength of predictors for lesions progression.Among 105 patients (61 women) H pylori negative patients showed a milder worsening of gastric lesions between index and surveillance endoscopy compared with patients positive for the infection (log-rank test: P < .0001, P = .012, and P = .032 for antrum, angulus, and corpus, respectively). The Cox regression model showed persistence of H pylori infection (hazard ratio = 4.436; P < .0001) as the only relevant factor for lesion progression, whereas age >65 years and sex were not significant predictors.According to literature our results demonstrate that H pylori eradication is the major factor able to delay gastric precancerous lesions progression. Time interval for endoscopic surveillance in patients negative for H pylori infection and with gastric precancerous lesions may be extended.

Low vitamin B12 increases risk of gastric cancer: A prospective study of one-carbon metabolism nutrients and risk of upper gastrointestinal tract cancer

Previous studies have found associations between one-carbon metabolism nutrients and risk of several cancers, but little is known regarding upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) cancer. We analyzed prediagnostic serum concentrations of several one-carbon metabolism nutrients (vitamin B12, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin and homocysteine) in a nested case-control study within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study of male smokers, which was undertaken in Finland between 1985 and 1988. We conducted a nested case-control study including 127 noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma (NCGA), 41 esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma and 60 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma incident cases identified within ATBC. Controls were matched to cases on age, date of serum collection and follow-up time. One-carbon nutrient concentrations were measured in fasting serum samples collected at baseline (up to 17 years prior to cancer diagnosis). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Lower prediagnostic vitamin B12 concentrations at baseline were associated with a 5.8-fold increased risk of NCGA (95% CI = 2.7-12.6 for lowest compared to highest quartile, p-trend <0.001). This association remained in participants who developed cancer more than 10 years after blood collection, and after restricting the analysis to participants with clinically normal serum vitamin B12 (>300 pmol/L). In contrast, pepsinogen I, a known serologic marker of gastric atrophy, was not associated with NCGA in this population. As vitamin B12 absorption requires intact gastric mucosa to produce acid and intrinsic factor, our findings suggest vitamin B12 as a possible serologic marker for the atrophic gastritis that precedes NCGA, one more strongly associated with subsequent NCGA than pepsinogen.

Effect of long-term proton pump inhibitor administration on gastric mucosal atrophy: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for the treatment of acid-related gastrointestinal diseases. Recently, some studies have reported that PPIs can alter the gastric mucosal architecture; however, the relationship remains controversial. This meta-analysis study was designed to quantify the association between long-term PPI administration and gastric atrophy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A PubMed search was conducted to identify studies using the keywords proton pump inhibitors or PPI and gastric atrophy or atrophic gastritis; the timeframe of publication searched was up to May 2016. Heterogeneity among studies was tested with the Q test; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. P values were calculated by I2 tests and regarded as statistically significant when <0.05.

RESULTS

We identified 13 studies that included 1465 patients under long-term PPI therapy and 1603 controls, with a total gastric atrophy rate of 14.50%. There was a higher presence of gastric atrophy (15.84%; statistically significant) in PPI group compared to the control group (13.29%) (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.00-2.41).

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled data suggest that long-term PPI use is associated with increased rates of gastric atrophy. Large-scale multicenter studies should be conducted to further investigate the relationship between acid suppressants and precancerous diseases.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Autoimmune Gastritis

The term "thyrogastric syndrome" defines the association between autoimmune thyroid disease and chronic autoimmune gastritis (CAG), and it was first described in the early 1960s. More recently, this association has been included in polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type IIIb, in which autoimmune thyroiditis represents the pivotal disorder. Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most frequent autoimmune disease, and it has been reported to be associated with gastric disorders in 10-40% of patients while about 40% of patients with autoimmune gastritis also present HT. Some intriguing similarities have been described about the pathogenic mechanism of these two disorders, involving a complex interaction among genetic, embryological, immunologic, and environmental factors. CAG is characterized by a partial or total disappearance of parietal cells implying the impairment of both hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor production. The clinical outcome of this gastric damage is the occurrence of a hypochlorhydric-dependent iron-deficient anemia, followed by pernicious anemia concomitant with the progression to a severe gastric atrophy. Malabsorption of levothyroxine may occur as well. We have briefly summarized in this minireview the most recent achievements on this peculiar association of diseases that, in the last years, have been increasingly diagnosed.

Basic principles and practice of gastric cancer screening using high-definition white-light gastroscopy: Eyes can only see what the brain knows

Endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors consists of the following processes: (i) detection; (ii) differential diagnosis; and (iii) quantitative diagnosis (size and depth) of a lesion. Although detection is the first step to make a diagnosis of the tumor, the lesion can be overlooked if an endoscopist has no knowledge of what an early-stage 'superficial lesion' looks like. In recent years, image-enhanced endoscopy has become common, but white-light endoscopy (WLI) is still the first step for detection and characterization of lesions in general clinical practice. Settings and practice of routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) such as use of antispasmodics, number of endoscopic images taken, and observational procedure are customarily decided in each facility in each country and are not well standardized. Therefore, in the present article, we attempted to outline currently available evidence and actual Japanese practice on gastric cancer screening using WLI, and provide tips for detecting EGC during routine EGD which could become the basis of future research.

Murine Models of Helicobacter (pylori or felis)-associated Gastric Cancer

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the fifth most common cancer and third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. The majority of these cancers develop in genetically susceptible individuals who are chronically infected with the Gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Often these individuals have also been exposed to certain environmental factors that increase susceptibility, such as dietary components. Murine models of Helicobacter-induced gastric cancer are valuable tools for investigating the mechanisms responsible for the stepwise pathological changes of chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter felis colonization greatly accelerates the development of gastric neoplasia in mice, and causes pathologies similar to those observed with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis in humans. These mouse models are therefore useful for investigating genetic and environmental factors that may be involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of gastric cancer. Detailed in these protocols are procedures for inducing Helicobacter-associated carcinogenesis in mice as well as the histological analysis and interpretation of gastric pathology in these animals.

Detection of gastric precancerous conditions in daily clinical practice: a nationwide survey

BACKGROUND

The burden of gastric precancerous conditions and factors associated with their detection have not been fully investigated in community-based settings. Little is known about adherence to Sydney system for histopathology of gastric biopsies.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate what really happens in clinical practice with regard to the detection of gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in dyspeptic patients.

METHODS

We performed a nationwide survey of 979 consecutive patients (50-65 years old) with dyspeptic symptoms, examined at 24 gastrointestinal endoscopy units throughout Italy. Clinical information was collected from questionnaires; a standard bioptic mapping was performed in each unit, biopsies from each patient were analyzed by histopathology performed according to daily clinical practice in each local histopathology center.

RESULTS

Separate descriptions of antral and corporal biopsies were included in 679 pathology reports (69%), whereas Sydney system was applied in 324 reports (33%). Gastric atrophy without intestinal metaplasia (GA) and gastric atrophy with intestinal metaplasia (GIM) were detected in 322 (33%) patients. The full adherence to Sydney system significantly increased the probability of detecting GIM (OR 9.6, 95% CI 5.5-16.7), GA (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.07-3.44), and either of the conditions (OR 6.67, 95% CI 4.36-10.19).

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide survey showed that in one-third of dyspeptic patients, gastric precancerous conditions are detected. In daily routine practice, only 1/3 of histology reports were worked out adhering to Sydney system showing that international guidelines are poorly observed in clinical practice. This may represent a critical element for surveillance strategies for gastric cancer.

Gastric autoantigenic proteins in Helicobacter pylori infection

PURPOSE

This study tried to identify novel gastric autoimmune antigens that might be involved in aggravating the atrophic gastritis among patients with Helicobacter pylori infection using two-dimensional immunoblotting analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Proteins from gastric mucosal antrectomy specimens and AGS cells (gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines derived from a Caucasian patient who had received no prior therapy) were 2-dimensionally immunoblotted separately with a pool of 300 sera from H. pylroi-infected patients at Gyeongsang National University Hospital.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight autoantigenic proteins including alcohol dehydrogenase [NADP+], alpha enolase, gastrokine-1, gastric triacylglycerol lipase, heat shock 70 kDa protein 1, and peroxiredoxin-2 were identified in the gastric mucosal tissue. Fourteen autoantigenic proteins including programmed cell death 6-interacting protein, serum albumin and T-complex protein 1 subunit gamma were identified in the AGS cells. Albumin, alpha-enolase, annexin A3, cytoplasmic actin 1, heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein and leukocyte elastase inhibitor were commonly observed autoantigenic proteins in both gastric mucosal tissue and AGS cells. Alpha-enolase, glutathione S-transferase P, heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein, heat shock 70 kDa protein 1, human mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase (ATP) subunit beta, mitochondrial 60 kDa heat shock protein, peroxiredoxin-2, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor, tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 and Tryptophan-Aspartic acid (WD) repeat-containing protein 1 showed 60% or higher amino acid positivity.

CONCLUSION

These newly identified gastric autoimmune antigens might be useful in the control and prevention of gastroduodenal disorders, and might be valuable in breaking the vicious circle that exists in gastroduodenal disorders if their pathophysiological roles could be understood in the progress of chronic atrophic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric carcinogenesis.

Phylogeographic origin of Helicobacter pylori is a determinant of gastric cancer risk

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Helicobacter pylori colonises the stomach in half of all humans, and is the principal cause of gastric cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. While gastric cancer rates correlate with H pylori prevalence in some areas, there are regions where infection is nearly universal, but rates of gastric cancer are low. In the case of Colombia, there is a 25-fold increase in gastric cancer rate in the Andean mountain (high risk) region compared to the coastal (low risk) region, despite similarly high (∼90%) prevalence of H pylori in the two locations. Our aim was to investigate the ancestral origin of H pylori strains isolated from subjects in these high- and low-risk regions and to determine whether this is a predictive determinant of precancerous lesions.

METHODS

Multi-locus sequence typing was used to investigate phylogeographic origins of infecting H pylori strains isolated from subjects in the Pacific coast and Andes Mountains in the state of Nariño, Colombia. We analysed 64 subjects infected with cagA+ vacA s1m1 strains. Gastric biopsy slides from each individual were scored for histological lesions and evaluated for DNA damage by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

We show that strains from the high-risk region were all of European phylogeographic origin, whereas those from the low risk region were of either European (34%) or African origin (66%). European strain origin was strongly predictive of increased premalignant histological lesions and epithelial DNA damage, even in the low-risk region; African strain origin was associated with reduced severity of these parameters.

CONCLUSION

The phylogeographic origin of H pylori strains provides an explanation for geographic differences in cancer risk deriving from this infection.

No association between angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism and gastric cancer risk among Japanese

The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, all of which could play a role in carcinogenesis. The DD genotype of ACE I/D polymorphism with a higher ACE level than either ID or II genotypes was reported to increase the risk of several cancers. This is a case-control study examining the association between the polymorphism and gastric cancer risks among Japanese. Cases numbered 583 patients aged 27 to 80 years with gastric cancer diagnosed at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital from 2001 to 2005. Controls were 1,742 sex and age frequency-matched cancer-free patients, who visited the same hospital during that same period. The ACE I/D polymorphism was genotyped using a polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers. The results showed that the age- and sex- adjusted ORs of gastric cancer were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.78-1.16) for ID, and 1.08 (95% CI, 0.80-1.46) for DD relative to II. Among the controls with H. pylori sero-positive or gastric atrophy (GA), the ORs of ID and DD relative to II were 1.20 (95% CI, 0.88-1.63) and 1.16 (95% CI, 0.73-1.84) for mild GA, and 1.22 (95% CI, 0.84-1.78) and 1.08 (95% CI, 0.61-1.89) for severe GA, respectively. In conclusion, there was no significant association of the ACE I/D polymorphism with the risk of gastric cancer. Among the controls, the polymorphism was not associated with the severity of GA.

Serum biomarker tests are useful in delineating between patients with gastric atrophy and normal, healthy stomach

AIM

To study the value of serum biomarker tests to differentiate between patients with healthy or diseased stomach mucosa: i.e. those with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) gastritis or atrophic gastritis, who have a high risk of gastric cancer or peptic ulcer diseases.

METHODS

Among 162 Japanese outpatients, pepsinogen I (Pg I) and II (Pg II) were measured using a conventional Japanese technique, and the European GastroPanel examination (Pg I and Pg II, gastrin-17 and H pylori antibodies). Gastroscopy with gastric biopsies was performed to classify the patients into those with healthy stomach mucosa, H pylori non-atrophic gastritis or atrophic gastritis.

RESULTS

Pg I and Pg II assays with the GastroPanel and the Japanese method showed a highly significant correlation. For methodological reasons, however, serum Pg I, but not Pg II, was twice as high with the GastroPanel test as with the Japanese test. The biomarker assays revealed that 5% of subjects had advanced atrophic corpus gastritis which was also verified by endoscopic biopsies. GastroPanel examination revealed an additional seven patients who had either advanced atrophic gastritis limited to the antrum or antrum-predominant H pylori gastritis. When compared to the endoscopic biopsy findings, the GastroPanel examination classified the patients into groups with "healthy" or "diseased" stomach mucosa with 94% accuracy, 95% sensitivity and 93% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Serum biomarker tests can be used to differentiate between subjects with healthy and diseased gastric mucosa with high accuracy.

Histopathological profile of gastritis in adult patients seen at a referral hospital in Kenya

AIM

To conduct a detailed histological study of gastritis in adult patients attending an endoscopy clinic at a Kenyan teaching and referral hospital.

METHODS

Biopsy specimens from consecutive patients were examined and graded according to the Updated Sydney System for H pylori infection, chronic inflammation, neutrophil activity, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Also documented were gastric tissue eosinophil counts and presence of lymphoid follicles.

RESULTS

The rate of the graded variables, in the antrum and corpus respectively, were as follows: H pylori infection (91%, 86%), chronic inflammation (98%, 93%), neutrophil activity (91%, 86%), glandular atrophy (57%, 15%) and intestinal metaplasia (11%, 2%). Lymphoid follicles were noted in 11% of cases. Duodenal and gastric ulcers were documented in 32% and 2% respectively. The mean eosinophil count was 5.9 +/- 0.74 eosinophils/HPF and 9.58 +/- 0.93 eosinophils/HPF in the corpus and antrum respectively. Significant association was found between the degree of H pylori colonisation with chronic inflammation, neutrophil activity and antral glandular atrophy. Biopsies from the antrum and corpus showed significant histopathological discordance for all the graded variables. H pylori negative cases were associated with recent antibiotic use.

CONCLUSION

The study reaffirms that H pylori is the chief cause of gastritis in this environment. The majority of patients show a moderate to high degree of inflammation but a low degree of glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. The study shows that inter-relationships between the histological variables in this African population are similar to those found in other populations worldwide including non-African populations.

No associations of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy with plasma total homocysteine in Japanese

Recent studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection might be a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Since the bacterium has not been isolated from atherosclerotic lesions, a direct role in atherogenesis is not plausible. We examined associations of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and serum folate, independent risk factors for atherosclerosis, with H. pylori infection and subsequent gastric atrophy among 174 patients (78 males and 96 females) aged 20 to 73 years, who visited an H. pylori eradication clinic of Nagoya University from July 2004 to October 2005. Polymorphism genotyping was conducted for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and thymidylate synthase (TS) 28-bp tandem repeats by PCR with confronting two-pair primers and PCR, respectively. H. pylori infection and gastric atrophy were not significantly associated with hyperhomocysteinemia (tHcy > or = 12 nmol/ml), when adjusted by sex, age, smoking, alcohol, and genotypes of MTHFR and TS. The adjusted odds ratio of gastric atrophy for low folate level (< or = 4 mg/ml) was 0.21 (95% confidence interval = 0.05-0.78). The associations of tHcy with serum folate and MTHFR genotype were clearly observed in this dataset. The present study demonstrated that folate and MTHFR genotype were the deterministic factors of plasma tHcy, but not H. pylori infection and subsequent gastric atrophy, indicating that even if H. pylori infection influences the risk of atherosclerosis, the influence may not be through the elevation of homocysteine.

Grb2-associated binder 1 polymorphism was associated with the risk of Helicobactor pylori infection and gastric atrophy

BACKGROUND

Various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have explained the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastric atrophy and cancer. This study investigated the associations of Grb2 associated binder 1 (Gab1) polymorphism and the combination of PTPN11 gene encoding src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) and Gab1 gene with gastric cancer and gastric atrophy among H. pylori seropositive subjects.

METHODS

A single nucleotide polymorphism at intron 2 of Gab1 (JST164345) was examined for 454 Japanese health checkup examinees (126 males and 328 females) aged 35 to 85 without a history of gastric cancer and 202 gastric cancer patients (134 males and 68 females) aged 33 to 94 with pathologically confirmed diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

RESULTS

The decreased OR of the Gab1 A/A for H. pylori seropositivity was 0.25 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08-0.71). Among seropositive healthy controls, the OR of the Gab1 G/A+A/A for gastric atrophy was significant (OR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.12 -3.40). Seropositive individuals with PTPN11 G/G and Gab1 G/A+A/A demonstrated the highest risk of gastric atrophy with significance (OR=3.49, 95% CI: 1.54-7.90) relative to PTPN11 G/A+A/A and Gab1 G/G, the lowest risk combination, as a reference. However, the gene-gene interaction between PTPN11 and Gab1 was not observed (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 0.41-4.66). Compared to gastric cancer case, the Gab1 did not influence the step of atrophy/metaplasia-gastric cancer sequence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study represents that the Gab1 polymorphism was associated with the low risk of H. pylori infection and the high risk of gastric atrophy among seropositive healthy controls, and that seropositive individuals with PTPN11 G/G and Gab1 G/A+G/G were associated with the greatest risk of gastric atrophy. These findings require confirmation in much larger studies.

Interleukin 1B proinflammatory genotypes protect against gastro-oesophageal reflux disease through induction of corpus atrophy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is controversial but it is accepted that GORD is associated with increased exposure to gastric acidity. The proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-1B polymorphisms increase the risk of hypochlorhydria and gastric atrophy. We examined the association between proinflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms, presence of gastric atrophy, and risk of GORD in H pylori positive and negative subjects in Japan.

METHODS

We studied 320 consecutive dyspeptic patients without peptic ulcers or cancers. GORD symptoms were scored using the Carlsson-Dent questionnaire and erosive oesophagitis was assessed endoscopically. H pylori infection was diagnosed by urea breath test, histological examination, and serology. Gastric atrophy was assessed histologically, and polymorphisms in the IL-1B, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-A) genes were genotyped.

RESULTS

Two hundred and eight patients were H pylori positive and 112 were negative. One hundred and eight (34%) were found to have erosive oesophagitis by endoscopic criteria (grade A: 78; grade B: 23; grade C: 6; grade D: 1). Erosive oesophagitis and GORD symptoms were significantly more common in H pylori negative compared with H pylori positive subjects (p<0.05). H pylori positive subjects were more likely to have corpus gastric atrophy than H pylori negative subjects (p<0.001). Among H pylori positive patients, those without erosive oesophagitis or GORD symptoms were significantly more likely to have corpus atrophy than subjects with erosive oesophagitis or GORD symptoms (p<0.05). Among H pylori positive patients, subjects homozygous for the proinflammatory allele IL-1B-511T had a significantly lower risk of erosive oesophagitis (odds ratio (OR) 0.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.006-0.51); p=0.01) and GORD symptoms (OR 0.10 (95% CI 0.01-0.85); p=0.04) compared with those homozygous for the -511C allele, while none of the two other proinflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms had significant correlations with erosive oesophagitis or GORD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

A proinflammatory IL-1B genotype is associated with increased risk of atrophy and decreased risk of GORD in H pylori infected subjects in Japan. These data indicate that in some genetically predisposed subjects, H pylori infection may protect against GORD through induction of gastric atrophy.

Long term follow up of patients treated for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infection induces progressive inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa that may lead to gastric cancer. Understanding long term effects resulting from the cure of this infection is needed to design cancer prevention strategies.

METHODS

A cohort of 795 adults with preneoplastic gastric lesions was randomised to receive anti-H pylori treatment and/or antioxidants. At the end of six years of intervention, those who did not receive anti-H pylori treatment were offered it. Gastric biopsies were obtained at baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 years. A histopathology score was utilised to document changes in gastric lesions. Non-linear mixed models were used to estimate the cumulative effect of H pylori clearance on histopathology scores adjusted for follow up time, interventions, and confounders.

RESULTS

Ninety seven per cent of subjects were H pylori positive at baseline, and 53% were positive at 12 years. Subjects accumulated 1703 person years free of infection. A multivariate model showed a significant regression in histopathology score as a function of the square of H pylori negative time. Subjects who were H pylori negative had 14.8% more regression and 13.7% less progression than patients who were positive at 12 years (p = 0.001). The rate of healing of gastric lesions occurred more rapidly as years free of infection accumulated, and was more pronounced in less advanced lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Preneoplastic gastric lesions regress at a rate equal to the square of time in patients rendered free of H pylori infection. Our findings suggest that patients with preneoplastic gastric lesions should be treated and cured of their H pylori infection.

The polymorphism interleukin 8 -251 A/T influences the susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori related gastric diseases in the Japanese population

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with variable clinical outcomes, including gastroduodenal diseases, and genetic factors may be relevant in this process.

AIMS

We investigated the effects of an interleukin 8 (IL-8) gene polymorphism on the risk of gastroduodenal diseases, the degree of H pylori induced gastritis, and IL-8 gene transcription.

SUBJECTS

The study was performed in 244 healthy control subjects and 690 H pylori positive patients with non-cardia gastric cancer, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, or gastritis.

METHODS

We identified the IL-8 -251 A/T polymorphism by direct sequence analysis, and measured the gastritis score and serum pepsinogen (PG). The transcriptional promoter activity of the IL-8 gene was assessed by luciferase assay.

RESULTS

IL-8 -251A was associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer and gastric ulcer. Patients carrying IL-8 -251A showed an increased risk of gastric cancer (odds ratios (OR) 2.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-2.92)) and gastric ulcer (OR 2.07 (95% CI 1.37-3.12)). Compared with patients younger than 49 years, atrophy and metaplasia scores in the antrum were significantly higher and the PG I/II ratio significantly lower in -251A carriers than in T/T carriers. In the in vitro assay, IL-8 -251A showed enhanced promoter activity in response to IL-1beta or tumour necrosis factor alpha.

CONCLUSIONS

The IL-8 -251A allele may be associated with progression of gastric atrophy in patients with H pylori infection, and may increase the risk of gastric cancer and gastric ulcer in Japanese people.

Circulating antibodies to the 60-kD heat shock protein (hsp) family in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection

Whilst the mechanism by which Helicobacter pylori causes different gastroduodenal diseases is uncertain, strains producing the cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA) have greater pathogenicity. Hsps are immunogenic molecules induced by inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to assess pathogenicity of hsp antibodies in H. pylori-infected patients. ELISA techniques were used to assay sera of H. pylori-positive patients with gastritis, gastric atrophy, duodenal or gastric ulcer, and H. pylori-negative controls, for antibodies to CagA and to human, mycobacterial, and in 20 sera, H. pylori (hspB) 60-kD hsp. IgA antibodies to mycobacterial hsp60 in atrophy patients were elevated compared with patients with gastritis (P < 0.05) and with H. pylori-negative controls (P < 0.0005). IgA antibodies to human hsp60 in gastric atrophy patients were elevated compared with H. pylori-negative controls (P < 0.05). Patients with atrophy (P < 0.0005) and gastritis (P < 0.05) who were CagA-positive had raised titres of anti-mycobacterial hsp60 IgA antibodies compared with controls. IgA antibody levels to hspB were positively correlated with those to mycobacterial hsp60 (mhsp60) (P < 0.05) and human hsp60 (hhsp60) (P < 0.005). IgA antibodies to hsp60 are associated with gastroduodenal disease, particularly gastric atrophy, in H. pylori-infected patients. Increased humoral responses to hsp60 could either contribute to gastric atrophy or result from greater gastric mucosal damage induced by CagA-positive strains of H. pylori.