Antral Biopsies (antral + biopsy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in gastric antral mucosa

JOURNAL OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES, Issue 2 2002
Hong LU
OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major etiological cause of chronic gastritis. Inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) is an important regulator of mucosal inflammation. Recent studies indicate that expression of COX-2 may contribute to gastro­intestinal carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of H. pylori infection and eradication therapy on COX-2 expression in gastric antral mucosa. METHODS: Antral biopsies were taken from 46 H. pylori- infected patients, who also had chronic gastritis, both before and after anti- H. pylori treatment. The COX-2 protein was stained by using immunohistochemical methods and COX-2 expression was quantified as the percentage of epithelial cells expressing COX-2. Gastritis and H. pylori infection status were graded according to the Sydney system. RESULTS: Cyclooxygenase-2 expression was detected in the cytoplasm of gastric antral epithelial cells both before and after the eradication of H. pylori. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in mucosa with H. pylori infection was compared with the corresponding mucosa after successful H. pylori eradication (20.1 ± 13.1%vs 13.8 ± 5.9%; P < 0.05). At the same time, COX-2 expression in H. pylori -infected mucosa was com­pared with the normal controls (18.0 ± 14.1%vs 12.3 ± 4.6%, P < 0.05). Expression of COX-2 was correlated with the degree of chronic inflammation (r= 0.78, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that H. pylori infection leads to gastric mucosal overexpression of COX-2 protein, suggesting that the enzyme is involved in H. pylori -related gastric pathology in humans. [source]


Gastric inflammatory markers and interleukins in patients with functional dyspepsia, with and without Helicobacter pylori infection

FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Leif P. Andersen
Abstract Helicobacter pylori is the most important cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers and the development of gastric cancer. The chronic active inflammation is dominated by neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Several interleukins (IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-,) are involved in the inflammatory process in the gastric mucosa. The aim of this study was to investigate the gastric inflammation in patients with functional dyspepsia. Fifty-three consecutive patients were included and antral biopsies were obtained for histology, culture and immunohistochemistry. The sections were examined for the interleukins IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-, as well as for the cell markers CD4, CD8, CD14, Cd19, CD25 and CD30. Only CD4 and CD19 were significantly increased in patients with increased gastric inflammation and increased density of H. pylori. However, several of the examined markers (IFN-,, IL-8, IL-10 and CD14) showed a non-significant trend to be increased in patients with extensive gastric inflammation and high density of H. pylori. Therefore, an arbitrary index (IM11) for all the 11 immunological markers was made as an average value for each of the four morphological groups. For the four morphologically different groups of patients the values were 0.49, 0.77, 0.86 and 1.25, respectively. Significant increases in the index from none to moderate antral inflammation as well as the density of H. pylori were found (p < 0.001). By using an index of inflammatory markers trends can be summarized and thereby significant which may be of importance when gastric inflammation is investigated in children and patients with functional dyspepsia. [source]


p16Ink4a is Overexpressed in H. pylori -Associated Gastritis and is Correlated with Increased Epithelial Apoptosis

HELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2003
Haim Shirin
ABSTRACT Background. Cell cycle regulatory proteins may be critical targets during carcinogenesis. We have previously shown that chronic H. pylori infection is associated with decreased expression of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (CDI) p27kip1. Loss of p27kip1 and p16Ink4a (p16) expression, another CDI, has been reported during the progression of gastric tubular adenomas to advanced gastric cancer. The aim of the current study was to examine whether H. pylori infection also affects the expression of p16 in the gastric mucosa of H. pylori- infected patients. Methods. p16 expression was evaluated in gastric antral biopsies by immunohistochemistry in 50 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (n = 18 uninfected, n = 32 H. pylori infected, 24 by cagA+ strains). Adjacent sections were stained for proliferating epithelial cells (by Ki67) and for apoptotic cells (by TUNEL assay). Results. Both in H. pylori infected and uninfected patients the expression of p16 was higher in the neck and base of the gland than in the foveolar region. Epithelial staining for p16 was increased with H. pylori infection (31.3% vs. 11.1% in the foveolar region, 68.8% vs. 27.8% in the neck and 75% vs. 50% in the glandular base). There was no correlation between the expression of 16 and proliferation but there was a significant positive correlation between apoptosis and 16 immunostaining. Conclusions. The tumor suppressor gene 16 is over expressed in gastric epithelial cells of H. pylori infected patients and this is associated with an increase in apoptosis. These findings suggest a possible role for this cell cycle regulator in the increase in gastric cell turnover that is associated with H. pylori infection. [source]


The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Levels of DNA Damage in Gastric Epithelial Cells

HELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2002
S. M. Everett
Abstract Background.Helicobacter pylori infection leads to an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. The mechanism through which this occurs is not known. We aimed to determine the effect of H. pylori and gastritis on levels of DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells. Methods. Epithelial cells were isolated from antral biopsies from 111 patients. DNA damage was determined using single cell gel electrophoresis and the proportion of cells with damage calculated before and 6 weeks after eradication of H. pylori. Cell suspensions generated by sequential digestions of the same biopsies were assayed to determine the effect of cell position within the gastric pit on DNA damage. Results. DNA damage was significantly higher in normal gastric mucosa than in H. pylori gastritis [median (interquartile range) 65% (58.5,75.8), n = 18 and 21% (11.9,29.8), n = 65, respectively, p < .001]. Intermediate levels were found in reactive gastritis [55.5% (41.3,71.7), n = 13] and H. pylori negative chronic gastritis [50.5% (36.3,60.0), n = 15]. DNA damage rose 6 weeks after successful eradication of H. pylori[to 39.5% (26.3,51.0), p = .007] but was still lower than in normal mucosa. Chronic inflammation was the most important histological factor that determined DNA damage. DNA damage fell with increasing digestion times (r = ,.92 and ,.88 for normal mucosa and H. pylori gastritis, respectively). Conclusions. Lower levels of DNA damage in cells isolated from H. pylori infected gastric biopsies may be a reflection of increased cell turnover in H. pylori gastritis. The investigation of mature gastric epithelial cells for DNA damage is unlikely to elucidate the mechanisms underlying gastric carcinogenesis. [source]


Primary clarithromycin resistance in Italy assessed on Helicobacter pylori DNA sequences by TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2006
V. DE FRANCESCO
Summary Background Helicobacter pylori clarithromycin resistance is increasing worldwide and different mutations are involved in its mechanisms. Recently, molecular methods have been proposed to assess these mutations. Aim To assess prevalence of primary clarithromycin resistance in two Italian areas, and the distribution of involved mutations, by using a novel method for real-time polymerase chain reaction. Methods Two hundred and thirty-two H. pylori -positive patients undergoing oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in two Italian towns (Rome, centre Italy; Foggia, south Italy) were enrolled. Helicobacter pylori infection was detected by histology, rapid urease and urea breath tests. Clarithromycin resistance was assessed by TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction on paraffin-embedded antral biopsies. Results Primary clarithromycin resistance was detected in 62 (26.7%) patients. Its prevalence did not differ between the two areas (31.5%, centre vs. 23.3%, south; P = 0.17) and between non-ulcer dyspepsia and peptic ulcer patients (28.4% vs. 20.7%, P = 0.2). The A2143G point mutation was detected in 35 (56.4%) patients, A2142G in 14 (22.6%), A2142C in eight (12.9%), whilst a double mutation (A2143G plus A2142C or A2142G) was present in the remaining five (8.1%) cases. Conclusions Our study found that primary clarithromycin resistance is highly prevalent in both central and southern Italy, and that A2143G is the most frequent point mutation involved in these areas. [source]


Apoptosis and proliferation in Helicobacter pylori -associated gastric intestinal metaplasia

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 9 2001
W. K. Leung
Background: Imbalance between apoptosis and proliferation may be one of the mechanisms underlying H. pylori associated gastric carcinogenesis. Aim: To examine the cell kinetics of gastric intestinal metaplasia and the effect of H. pylori eradication. Methods: Endoscopic gastric biopsies were obtained from 100 H. pylori -infected patients. Apoptosis was determined by triphosphate nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and apoptotic nuclei counting, whereas proliferation was assessed by Ki67 immunostaining. Gastric biopsies were repeated in a sub-group of intestinal metaplasia patients after H. pylori eradication. Results: Antral apoptotic index was significantly lower in intestinal metaplasia than in non-intestinal metaplasia (0.19% vs. 0.51%; P < 0.0001) whereas the level of proliferation was comparable (28% vs. 22%, P=0.15). Serial antral biopsies taken from 14 intestinal metaplasia patients before and 1 year after H. pylori eradication showed a significant drop in proliferation in both intestinal metaplasia (50% vs. 12%, P < 0.001) and non-intestinal metaplasia area (47% vs. 9%, P < 0.001). A similar fall in apoptosis was detected in non-metaplastic region (0.58% vs. 0.38%, P < 0.001) but not in intestinal metaplasia (0.24% vs. 0.27%, P=0.56), resulting in a significant increase in the apoptosis/proliferation ratio (0.005,0.021; P=0.03). Conclusions: Dysregulation in apoptosis control of gastric intestinal metaplasia may contribute to gastric carcinogenesis, which may be retarded by clearance of H. pylori. [source]


Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Restores Glutathione S-Transferase Activity and Glutathione Levels in Antral Mucosa

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 12 2001
Arnoud H. A. M. van Oijen
Glutathione S-transferases (GST) and glutathione peroxidases (GPO) are important in detoxification. GST activity in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is inversely correlated with the development of gastrointestinal cancer. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been associated with gastric cancer. We studied GST activity and the substrate glutathione (GSH) in patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis. GST activity and isoenzyme levels, GPO activity and GSH levels were studied in antral biopsies of 38 H./pyfori-positive patients, before and after eradication treatment. In 31 patients in whom H. pylori was successfully eradicated, antral GST enzyme activity before therapy was 532 (465,598) nmol/mg protein-min (mean and 95% confidence interval) and that after therapy was 759 (682,836) nmol/mg protein-min (P<0.0001). Correspondingly, levels of GST , and GST-P1 were higher after eradication (P<0.001). GSH concentration significantly increased: 21.2 (16.2,26.2) nmol/mg protein before and 27.1 (23.6,30.6) nmol/mg protein after therapy (P<0.05). In 7 patients in whom H. pylori was not eradicated, GST activity was 671 (520,823) nmol/mg protein min and 599 (348,850) nmol/mg protein before and after treatment respectively (P=0.32). GSH levels were 17.4 (9.0,25.7) nmol/mg protein and 18.2 (9.1,27.3) nmol/mg protein, respectively (P=0.84). No differences in antral GPO enzyme activity, both of selenium (Se)-dependent and total GPO, before and after successful treatment were found. Eradication of H. pylori infection increases GST activity and GSH levels in antral mucosa. Low GST activity and GSH concentration due to H. pylori infection might play a role in gastric carcinogenesis. [source]


Helicobacter pylori Culture from a Positive, Liquid-Based Urease Test for Routine Clinical Use: A Cost-Effective Approach

HELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2000
Bernhard H. Jaup
Background. The aim of our study was to test the feasibility of culturing Helicobacter pylori directly from biopsies aimed for rapid urease test in routine clinical practice. Materials and Methods. In 260 consecutive patients referred for gastroscopy because of dyspepsia one antral biopsy was routinely used for our "in house" rapid urease test (RUT). Positive biopsies were placed in a transport medium and sent to the laboratory. The biopsies were cultured and incubated at 37°C for 5,7 days. H. pylori was identified and routinely tested for antimicrobial resistance by using the E -test. Results. In 118 out of 260 patients (45%) the urease test turned positive and the growth of H. pylori was sufficient to allow testing of antimicrobial resistance. Conclusion.H. pylori could be cultured from almost all positive RUT specimens. A liquid RUT is thus more suitable for culture, saving additional biopsies. [source]


Serum pepsinogen and gastrin levels in HIV-positive patients: relationship with CD4+ cell count and Helicobacter pylori infection

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2002
P. Fabris
Background: The relationship between serum parameters of gastric function and Helicobacter pylori infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients is almost unknown. Aims: To investigate in HIV-infected patients: (i) the relationship between serum gastrin and serum pepsinogens over the progressive phases of HIV-related disease; (ii) the impact of H. pylori infection on gastrin and pepsinogen serum levels and its relation to antral histology; (iii) the prevalence of parietal cell autoantibodies. Methods: Fifty-nine HIV-positive patients were studied by upper endoscopy plus gastric antral biopsy. Serum samples were tested for gastrin, pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and parietal cell autoantibodies. Results: In patients without overt acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 106 cells/L, mean serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen C were higher than in subjects with AIDS or with a CD4+ count of < 100 × 106 cells/L (P < 0.01). Only one patient was found to be positive for parietal cell autoantibodies. H. pylori infection was associated with increased values of gastrin and pepsinogen C only in HIV-positive patients without AIDS or with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 106 cells/L. Atrophy was more frequent in patients with overt AIDS than in those without overt AIDS (57% vs. 33%, P=N.S.), and/or in patients with a CD4+ count of < 100 × 106 cells/L than in those with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 106 cells/L (62% vs. 26%, P < 0.05). Conclusions: HIV-positive patients without overt AIDS have increased serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen C compared with HIV-positive patients with overt AIDS. [source]


Association of the status of interstitial cells of Cajal and electrogastrogram parameters, gastric emptying and symptoms in patients with gastroparesis

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 1 2010
Z. Lin
Abstract, Our goal was to investigate associations between the status of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and electrogastrogram (EGG) parameters, gastric emptying and symptoms in a large cohort of patients with gastroparesis. Forty-one patients with refractory gastroparesis who were referred for gastric electrical stimulation (GES) underwent full thickness gastric (antrum) biopsy during the surgery to place the GES device. The biopsy samples were stained with c-kit and scored for the presence of ICC based on criteria obtained from 10 controls. All patients underwent EGG recordings, a 4-h standardized scintigraphic gastric emptying study and symptom assessment prior to the surgery. Based on antral biopsy, 15 patients (36%) had almost no ICC (ICC, group) and 26 patients had adequate cell numbers (ICC+ group). EGG recordings in the ICC, group displayed significantly less normal slow waves than in the ICC+ group both in the fasting and fed states. Tachygastria in the ICC, group was significantly more than in the ICC+ group both in the fasting (32 ± 8%vs 11 ± 2%) and fed states (27 ± 9%vs 12 ± 2%). There was no statistical difference in gastric emptying, symptom severity of gastroparesis, aetiology, age and gender between the two groups. Severely depleted ICC occurs in up to 36% of gastroparetic patients and significantly correlates with an abnormal EGG. Severely depleted ICC does not correlate with the severity of gastroparesis as assessed by gastric emptying or symptom status but did result in a poorer symptomatic response to GES. These data suggest that the EGG may have a role for predicting ICC status during clinical evaluation of gastroparetic patients. [source]