Oral fluid antibody detection in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. (25/848)

The aim of this study was to evaluate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of anti-Helicobacter pylori specific IgG antibodies in specimens of oral fluid. Antral biopsy specimens, serum and oral fluid samples were collected from 81 patients attending for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The presence or absence of current H. pylori infection was determined by culture, histology and urease detection. Anti-H. Pylori specific IgG was detected in serum by an established in-house ELISA and in oral fluid by an ELISA developed for this study. In all, 34 (42%) of 81 patients were positive for H. pylori by one or more of the 'gold standard' tests (culture, histology and urease detection). The oral fluid ELISA had a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 85% with regard to current H. pylori infection. The serum ELISA had a sensitivity and specificity of 91%. There was an overall agreement of 88% between serum and oral fluid antibody detection. The detection of anti-H. pylori specific IgG in oral fluid by ELISA is comparable in sensitivity and specificity with serum-based methods. Oral fluid-based ELISA could provide a reliable, non-invasive method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, and may be of particular benefit for population surveys.  (+info)

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori motility, morphology and phase of growth: implications for gastric colonization and pathology. (26/848)

To explore the relationship between Helicobacter pylori motility, morphology and phase of growth, bacteria were isolated from antral biopsies of patients with duodenal ulcer or non-ulcer dyspepsia, and grown in liquid medium in batch and continuous culture systems. Motilities and morphologies of H. pylori in different phases of growth were examined with a Hobson BackTracker and by transmission electron microscopy. Morphologies of bacteria grown in vitro were also compared with those of bacteria in antral biopsies from patients with non-autoimmune gastritis. H. pylori had poor motility in lag phase, became highly motile in mid-exponential phase and lost motility in the decline phase of growth. Motilities of bacteria in the same phase of growth from patients with duodenal ulcer or non-ulcer dyspepsia were not significantly different. In the mid/late-exponential phase of growth bacteria had helical morphologies and multiple polar flagella, typical of H. pylori in the gastric mucus layer. In the decline phase of growth bacteria shed flagella, and had precoccoidal or coccoidal morphologies. These findings support the view that helical and coccoidal H. pylori are in different phases of growth with different roles in gastric colonization, indicate that bacterial motility per se is unlikely to be a determinant of H. pylori pathology, and suggest that H. pylori in the antral mucus layer is in a state of continuous (exponential phase) growth.  (+info)

The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric antral myoelectrical activity and gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. (27/848)

BACKGROUND: Dysmotility of the gastroduodenal region and delayed gastric emptying have been considered to play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa may affect gastric motility. AIM: To evaluate the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in NUD patients. METHODS: : Forty-six NUD patients were examined for gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, H. pylori infection, and symptom scores. In H. pylori-positive NUD patients, gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, and symptom scores were also analysed 2 months after cure of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Sixty-seven per cent of NUD patients were H. pylori-positive. Both abnormal gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity were observed in NUD patients. H. pylori-positive NUD patients were divided into three groups according to their gastric emptying: the delayed group, the normal group, and the rapid group. In the delayed and rapid gastric emptying groups, the emptying and symptom scores were improved significantly by eradication. There was no improvement in symptom scores in the normal gastric emptying NUD group by the eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity play roles in NUD. H. pylori-induced disturbed gastric emptying may cause some NUD symptoms. Gastric emptying and symptom scores are improved by H. pylori eradication therapy in NUD patients with disturbed gastric emptying; H. pylori eradication therapy is effective in H. pylori-positive NUD patients with disturbed gastric emptying.  (+info)

Validation of a gastrointestinal explant system for measurement of mucosal antibody production. (28/848)

A gastrointestinal explant culture system was developed and compared to the mononuclear cell extraction and enzyme-linked immunospot assay method for measurement of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in gastric antral and duodenal biopsies of non-Helicobacter pylori-infected volunteers. IgA and IgG were detected in explant supernatants during 6 to 7 days of culture in all subjects. IgA containing secretory component was also detected throughout the culture period, although peak production occurred only in the first 3 days. During 7 days of culture, the cumulative geometric mean IgA levels produced were 2.2 and 8.02 microg/ml/10 mg of antral and duodenal biopsy tissues, respectively, while the cumulative geometric mean IgG levels were 1.54 and 2.92 microg/ml/10 mg of antral and duodenal biopsy tissues, respectively. Cycloheximide treatment resulted in a >90% reduction in both immunoglobulin classes after 6 days of treatment compared to levels in untreated controls. The detection of IgA and IgG ASCs extracted from biopsies on days 1 and 6 of culture confirmed that the antibody detected was derived from mucosal lamina propria. The IgA and IgG ASC responses were positively correlated with antibody concentrations detected in culture supernatants (r = 0.87 and 0.85, respectively). These results validate the potential usefulness of our gastrointestinal explant system for the evaluation of mucosal effector B-cell function.  (+info)

Correlation between epithelial cell proliferation and histological grading in gastric mucosa. (29/848)

AIM: To determine if there is a correlation between the histological findings in the gastric mucosa and the degree of cell proliferation in gastric antral biopsies. METHODS: Cell proliferation in gastric antral biopsies was determined by in vitro bromodeoxyuridine labelling. Histological sections were assessed using the Sydney System. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between antral mucosal cell proliferation and the acute inflammatory cell infiltrate (r = 0.29; p = 0.03). There was a stronger correlation with the chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate (r = 0.53; p < 0.0001) and the density of H pylori colonisation (r = 0.54; p < 0.0001). There was no correlation between gastric epithelial proliferation and the degree of atrophy. Stepwise multiple regression indicates that the only independent predictor of epithelial cell proliferation is the density of H pylori colonisation (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: H pylori increases gastric epithelial cell proliferation through the mucosal inflammatory response and probably by other means. The strong correlation between epithelial proliferation, the chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate, and the density of H pylori colonization may have implications for gastric carcinogenesis.  (+info)

The effect of helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on gastric antral myoelectrical activity and gastric emptying in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. (30/848)

BACKGROUND: Dysmotility of the gastroduodenal region and delayed gastric emptying have been considered to play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia. In addition, it has been reported that Helicobacter pylori induced inflammation of the gastric mucosa may affect gastric motility. AIM: To evaluate the effects of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. METHODS: A total of 46 non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were examined for gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, H. pylori infection, and symptom scores. In H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients, gastric emptying, antral myoelectrical activity, and symptom scores were also analysed 2 months after being cured of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: A total of 67.4% of the non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were H. pylori-positive. Both abnormal gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity were observed in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients. H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients were divided into three groups according to their gastric emptying: the delayed gastric emptying group, the normal gastric emptying group, and the rapid gastric emptying group. In the delayed and rapid gastric emptying groups, the gastric emptying and symptom scores were improved significantly by the eradication therapy. However, there was no improvement in symptom scores in the normal gastric emptying non-ulcer dyspepsia group by the eradication therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Disturbed gastric emptying and antral myoelectrical activity play roles in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Helicobacter pylori infection, inducing disturbed gastric emptying, may cause some non-ulcer dyspepsia symptoms. Gastric emptying and symptom scores are improved by H. pylori eradication therapy in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients with disturbed gastric emptying. H. pylori eradication therapy is effective in H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia patients with disturbed gastric emptying.  (+info)

Effect of naproxen on the hamster gastric antrum: ulceration, adaptation and efficacy of anti-ulcer drugs. (31/848)

BACKGROUND: Various animal models of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric ulceration exist. These models have limitations, which make them less relevant to the human situation. AIM: : To develop a more simple and more relevant model of NSAID-induced gastric ulceration and adaptation. METHODS: Gastric ulceration was evaluated following the orogastric administration of naproxen (80 mg/kg b.d.) to hamsters. The effects of misoprostol and famotidine on gastric acid secretion and ulceration were also determined. Gastric adaptation was evaluated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry, in hamsters given naproxen for 3 weeks. Antral resistance to acute injury by NSAIDs and ethanol was also determined in these animals. RESULTS: Naproxen caused primarily gastric antral ulceration, which decreased from day 3 to day 21. This gastric adaptation was accompanied by an increase in PCNA positive cells, particularly on days 7 and 14. The adapted gastric antral mucosa was resistant to acute damage by various agents. Misoprostol (1 or 100 microg/kg) prevented antral ulceration, without affecting gastric acid secretion. Despite decreasing acid output by> 90%, famotidine (30 mg/kg) failed to prevent ulceration. CONCLUSION: The administration of naproxen (80 mg/kg b.d.) to hamsters is a simple, reliable and relevant method for evaluating NSAID-induced gastric antral ulceration and adaptation.  (+info)

Rat gastric mucous gel layer contains sialomucin not produced by the stomach. (32/848)

The sialylated mucus components of the normal gastric mucosa and mucous gel layer of rats were studied by using various histochemical staining methods including Maackia amurensis II (MAL-II) and Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectins, alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 -- periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and high iron diamine (HID) -- AB pH 2.5. The acidic and neutral mucins characterized by the AB-PAS staining were abundantly present in the mucous gel layer as well as in the gastric mucosa. The sialomucin characterized by HID-AB was barely found in either the mucous gel layer or the mucosa. The sialomucin positive to MAL-II and SNA, which react with the N-acetyl neuraminic acid residue linked to galactose via an alpha-linkage, was moderately detected only in the mucous gel layer, but not in the entire mucosal layer. Furthermore, in animals given surgery to form an esophageal fistula through which saliva was excluded or in animals subjected to salivectomy, the mucous gel layer stained with MAL-II and SNA lectins was markedly decreased. These results indicate that a part of the sialomucin containing-mucous gel layer covering normal rat gastric mucosa originates from the saliva and that MAL-II and SNA lectins are useful for detecting this specific sialomucin.  (+info)