Predictive factors for improvement of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia after Helicobacter pylori eradication: a three-year follow-up study in Korea

Background and Aims: To date, data on the effects of anti‐Helicobacter therapy on the improvement of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) have been conflicting. This study was performed to investigate whether eradication of H. pylori could lead to the improvement of AG and IM, and the prognostic factors associated with the improvement of AG and IM. Methods: Four hundred patients consisting of H. pylori‐negative (n = 116) and H. pylori‐positive (n = 284) groups were followed up 1 and 3 years after initial H. pylori tests. Serum levels of pepsinogen (PG), bacteria, environmental factors, and genetic polymorphisms were determined. Results: The grade of corpus atrophy decreased at 1 and 3 years after successful eradication (p < .001 and p = .033, respectively). However, there was no significant change in the IM in the antrum and in the corpus. Prediction factors for the improvement of corpus AG by H. pylori eradication were baseline low PG I/II ratio (≤3), high salt intake, and corpus‐predominant gastritis. IM improvement was also associated with spicy food intake and high baseline grade of IM, in addition to these factors. In addition, IL‐1B‐511 C/T and IL‐6‐572 C/G alleles were found to inhibit IM improvement. However, H. pylori‐negative and noneradicated group did not show any significant change in AG or IM. Conclusion: Corpus AG was reversed by H. pylori eradication, and improvement of IM by H. pylori eradiation was more definite in patients with severe IM, low PG I/II ratio, and corpus‐predominant gastritis, suggesting that H. pylori eradication is valuable even in severe cases.     

Previous Helicobacter pylori infection–induced atrophic gastritis: A distinct disease entity in an understudied population without a history of eradication

Individuals with chronic atrophic gastritis who are negative for active H. pylori infection with no history of eradication therapy have been identified in clinical practice. By excluding false‐negative and autoimmune gastritis cases, it can be surmised that most of these patients have experienced unintentional eradication of H. pylori after antibiotic treatment for other infectious disease, unreported successful eradication, or H. pylori that spontaneously disappeared. These patients are considered to have previous H. pylori infection–induced atrophic gastritis. In this work, we define these cases based on the following criteria: absence of previous H. pylori eradication; atrophic changes on endoscopy or histologic confirmation of glandular atrophy; negative for a current H. pylori infection diagnosed in the absence of proton‐pump inhibitors or antibiotics; and absence of localized corpus atrophy, positivity for autoantibodies, or characteristic histologic findings suggestive of autoimmune gastritis. The risk of developing gastric cancer depends on the atrophic grade. The reported rate of developing gastric cancer is 0.31%‐0.62% per year for successfully eradicated severely atrophic cases (pathophysiologically equal to unintentionally eradicated cases and unreported eradicated cases), and 0.53%‐0.87% per year for spontaneously resolved cases due to severe atrophy. Therefore, for previous H. pylori infection–induced atrophic gastritis cases, we recommend endoscopic surveillance every 3 years for high‐risk patients, including those with endoscopically severe atrophy or intestinal metaplasia. Because of the difficulty involved in the endoscopic diagnosis of gastric cancer in cases of previous infection, appropriate monitoring of the high‐risk subgroup of this understudied population is especially important.     

Prevalence and factors associated with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia: A multivariate,hospital-based,statistical analysis

BackgroundAtrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) play an essential role in gastric carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AG and IM and their associated factors.MethodsSubjects who underwent upper endoscopy at Chiang Mai University Hospital from January 2018 to Dec 2021 were included. All participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect their personal histories. In addition, clinical and histological data and associated factors of AG and IM were analyzed.ResultsA total of 947 subjects (mean age, 53.61 ± 9.73 years; 60% male) were included. The prevalence of AG and IM, diagnosed by histopathology, was 39% and 19%. Prevalence of AG and IM increased from 28% and 9% in those under 50 years to 43% and 30% in those above 60 (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, age 50–59 and over 60 years were significantly associated with higher odds of AG (odds ratio (OR), 2.07, 2.06, and 1.98) and IM (OR, 2.07, 2.18, and 4.46), respectively. Conversely, ingestion of spicy food was significantly associated with lower odds of AG and IM (OR, 0.75, and 0.62).ConclusionsThis study confirms that age and H. pylori infection are risk factors, whereas spicy food intake is a protective factor against AG and IM, which are common in patients over 50. Therefore, upper endoscopy and gastric mapping sampling are recommended for patients with chronic dyspepsia older than 50 to reduce gastric cancer risk.     

40～60岁饮酒史男性慢性萎缩性胃炎患病率和幽门螺杆菌感染率及肠道菌群分析

分析40～60岁饮酒史男性慢性萎缩性胃炎（CAG）患病率、幽门螺杆菌（H. pylori）感染率及肠道菌群,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。

采取整群抽样方法选取2020年2月至2022年2月于我院行胃镜检查的1 500例体检者,统计CAG患病率,根据CAG患病情况分为CAG组（n = 428）和无CAG组（n = 1 072）,分析两组对象临床资料（性别、年龄、饮酒史等）,观察其中40～60岁饮酒史男性患者CAG患病率、H. pylori感染情况及肠道菌群,并通过多因素Logistic回归分析CAG的相关影响因素。

CAG组患者性别、年龄、饮酒史、H. pylori感染情况与无CAG组对比差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄40～60岁、男性、有饮酒史及H. pylori阳性均为影响CAG患病的独立危险因素（均P＜0.05）。40～60岁饮酒史男性CAG患病率为68.68%（296/431）,其中伴有肠上皮化生者103例（34.80%）,伴有活动性炎症者83例（28.04%）,伴有不典型增生者45例（15.20%）,H. pylori阳性率为63.51%（188/296）。伴有肠上皮化生、活动性炎症及不典型增生的CAG患者H. pylori阳性率均高于无上述情况者（均P＜0.05）。40～60岁饮酒史男性CAG患者肠道菌群数量与无CAG的体检者相比,差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。

40～60岁饮酒史男性CAG患病率和H. pylori阳性率较高,肠道菌群失衡更严重,其中伴有肠上皮化生、活动性炎症及不典型增生的CAG患者H. pylori阳性率更高。年龄40～60岁、男性、存在饮酒史及H. pylori阳性均为影响CAG患病的独立危险因素。

     

Geographic pathology of Helicobacter pylori gastritis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori is etiologically associated with gastritis and gastric cancer. There are significant geographical differences between the clinical manifestation of H. pylori infections. The aim of this study was to compare gastric mucosal histology in relation to age among H. pylori-infected patients from different geographical areas using the same grading system. The prevalence of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were also compared with the respective gastric cancer incidence in the different countries. METHODS: A total of 1906 patients infected with H. pylori from seven countries were evaluated. Entry criteria included H. pylori positive cases with antral and corpus biopsies between the ages of 18 and 75 years. The minimum number of cases required from a country was 100. Hematoxylin-eosin stained biopsies from antrum and corpus were scored semiquantitatively using the parameters suggested by the Sydney Classification System. Statistical evaluation was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's rank correlation test. RESULTS: The severity of gastric atrophy varied among the different groups with the highest scores being present in Japan. The lowest scores were found in four European countries and in Thailand. The scores for intestinal metaplasia were low in general except for Xi-an, Japan, and Shanghai. For all the countries, the presence of atrophy in the antrum correlated well (r = 0.891) with the incidence of gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Using a standardized grading system in a large study of H. pylori-related geographic pathology, we found major differences in the overall prevalence and severity of H. pylori gastritis in relation to age. These differences mirrored the respective incidences of gastric cancer in those geographical areas.     

Diversity of Helicobacter pylori cagA and vacA genes in Costa Rica: its relationship with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Associations between Helicobacter pylori gene diversity and gastric cancer have not been reported on in Costa Rica, despite its being one of the countries with the highest gastric cancer incidence and mortality rates in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori cagA and vacA genes and investigate whether it could be correlated with atrophic gastritis (AG) and gastric cancer (GC) in Costa Rica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNAs from isolates of 104 patients classified into two groups: non-atrophic gastritis group (n = 68) and atrophic gastritis group (n = 36), were subjected to PCR-based genotyping of cagA and vacA genes and their correlation with clinical outcome was investigated. Total DNA extractions from gastric tissues of 25 H. pylori-infected gastric cancer patients were utilized for comparative purposes. RESULTS: The presence of cagA (75.3%), vacA s1b (75.3%), and vacA m1 (74.2%) was detected, and colonization by strains with different vacA genotypes in the same stomach was found in 9.7% of the patients. Age- and sex-adjusted vacA s1b and vacA m1 were associated with GC while only vacA m1 was significantly associated with AG. A tendency for association between cagA and vacA s1b, and AG was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence status of the cagA and vacA (s1/m1) genes in Costa Rica seems to fall between that found in European/North American and East Asian countries, and both cagA and vacA seem to have clinical relevance in this country.     

Intragastric ascorbic but not uric acid is depleted in relation with the increased pH in patients with atrophic body gastritis and H. pylori gastritis

Background. Helicobacter pylori gastritis induces reversible lowering of Ascorbic Acid (AA) intragastric concentrations. No studies have been aimed at determining the gastric juice AA concentration of atrophic body gastritis (ABG) patients. Uric Acid (UA), is another potent hydro‐soluble scavenger of ROS and its possible modification in the gastric juice of patients with H. pylori gastritis have never been investigated. This study was aimed at investigating the levels of AA and UA in the plasma and gastric juice of ABG patients, compared with H. pylori positive patients without corporal atrophy, and with healthy individuals. Materials and Methods. Thirteen ABG patients (Group 1): 32 Chronic non‐atrophic H. pylori gastritis patients (Group 2); and 13 healthy stomach controls (Group 3) attending gastroscopy with gastric biopsies (antrum = 3, corpus = 3) had plasma and intragastric levels of AA and UA measured. Results. Intragastric AA concentration was significantly lower in group 1 (median 0.21 µg/ml, range 0.1–24) compared both with groups 2 (median 5.5 µg/ml, range 0.1–33.2) (p = 0.043) and 3 (median 14.9 µg/ml, range 0.34–44.8) (p = 0.0028). Intragastric UA was not different between the three groups. Intragastric AA concentration resulted negatively correlated with the intragastric pH (Spearman r = ?0.47, p = 0.0003). In patients with gastritis (groups 1 and 2) there was a significant negative correlation between the sum of the Sydney Score variables in the body mucosa, and AA in the gastric juice (Spearman r = ?0.55; p = 0.0001). Conclusion. The study shows that intragastric pH is the key factor for the depletion of gastric juice AA observed in patients with corporal atrophy and to a lower extent with nonatrophic H. pylori gastritis.     

Histology of gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in Thailand: a nationwide study of 3776 cases

Background. Dyspepsia is a very common problem in Thailand. Etiology of gastritis, incidence of Helicobacter pylori and mode of transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in the country was proposed. Methods. A nation‐wide study of gastric biopsy in 3776 dyspeptic patients from six different geographic regions for incidence of gastritis, type of gastritis, incidence of H. pylori infection, gastric atrophic change and intestinal metaplasia in three age‐groups of each region was done. Results. 58.7% of dyspeptic patients had histological gastritis. Pangastritis was the most common type (77.3%) with mostly mild active inflammation (60.6%) and was found most commonly in the age group 31–60 years. Incidence of gastritis was slightly lower in the coastal and peninsular community compared with the mountain, jungle, semiarid plateau and fertile plain communities. Geographic factor, socioeconomic status and dietary habit were proposed to be important factors in inducing gastritis. H. pylori infection was found in 48.2% of dyspeptic patients with high incidence in the age‐group 31–60 years (63.7%) and 98.2% of H. pylori infection was found to be associated with gastritis. Semi‐arid plateau, mountain, jungle and fertile plain communities had high incidences of H. pylori infection varying from 54.0 to 67.1% while the coastal and peninsular communities had low incidences of 32%. Oral to oral spread is proposed to be the mode of bacterial transmission. Incidences of gastric atrophic change and intestinal metaplasia were low in this country and were found in 11.6% and 8.2% of subjects, respectively, with no significantly different distribution in geographic regions. Type I or intestinal type was found to be the most common type of intestinal metaplasia.     

番茄红素通过上调Nrf2-Ho-1/Nqo1蛋白表达治疗幽门螺杆菌相关慢性萎缩性胃炎

探讨番茄红素（LYC）对慢性萎缩性胃炎（CAG）的治疗作用及其潜在作用机制。

通过网络数据库筛选出CAG致病靶点与LYC作用靶点并取交集,通过String数据库构建蛋白互作网络,并使用Cytoscape进行可视化分析。最后通过对LYC治疗CAG可能核心靶点基因进行GO功能和KEGG通路富集分析筛选关键通路进行实验验证。构建CAG实验小鼠模型,在LYC干预后通过H&;E染色、ELISA、免疫组织化学染色、RT-qPCR检测及Western Blot等实验方法评估LYC对CAG的治疗作用及其可能作用机制。

LYC与CAG共同靶点77个,通过GO功能和KEGG通路富集分析发现主要涉及的通路有氧化应激反应、对活性氧的反应等。使用KEGG Pathview绘制Chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species通路途径,发现ROS-Nrf2-Ho-1/Nqo1通路作用较为显著。H&;E染色和血清胃泌素结果提示CAG小鼠模型构建成功;与模型组相比,LYC干预后小鼠血清胃泌素水平较模型组显著下降,胃黏膜萎缩程度显著减轻,小鼠胃组织中超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶抗氧化蛋白水平显著上调,丙二醛水平显著下降;免疫组化、RT-qPCR检测及Western Blot结果共同提示与模型组相比,LYC干预后小鼠胃组织中Nrf2、Ho-1、Nqo1 mRNA和蛋白水平显著上调。

LYC可通过提高小鼠胃黏膜抗氧化应激能力以及上调ROS-Nrf2-Ho-1/Nqo1通路蛋白表达从而发挥治疗CAG的目的。

     

枳术宽中胶囊联合益生菌对老年幽门螺杆菌阳性慢性萎缩性胃炎患者的疗效

目的 探讨枳术宽中胶囊联合益生菌对老年幽门螺杆菌（H. pylori）阳性慢性萎缩性胃炎（chronic atrophic gastritis,CAG）患者的临床疗效。方法 将80例H. pylori阳性的老年慢性萎缩性胃炎患者随机分为2组,各40例。其中对照组患者给予包含雷贝拉唑、阿莫西林、克拉霉素和胶体果胶铋的标准四联疗法治疗。观察组患者将四联疗法中的胶体果胶铋替代为枳术宽中胶囊,并在此基础上加用益生菌。7天为1个疗程,全部患者治疗2个疗程。停药1个月后比较两组患者治疗前后临床症状缓解率、H. pylori根除率、不良反应发生率等情况。结果 治疗后两组患者病情均有所改善,但与对照组相比,观察组患者的症状缓解率及H. pylori根除率较高,不良反应发生率较低,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 枳术宽中胶囊联合益生菌可明显缓解老年CAG患者的临床症状,提高幽门螺杆菌的根除率,同时减轻患者不良反应发生率,对临床治疗CAG具有指导性意义。     

Long-term Helicobacter pylori infection in Japanese monkeys induces atrophic gastritis and accumulation of mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene

Background. Helicobacter pylori is accepted as a definite human gastric carcinogen from an epidemiological point of view despite insufficient experimental data. Although we previously showed that the number of p53 immunopositive cells in the atrophic gastric mucosa of H. pylori‐infected Japanese monkeys gradually increased over time, data on p53 gene mutations were not obtained in that study. To obtain direct evidence of carcinogenesis associated with H. pylori infection, we investigated whether p53 gene mutations are present in the gastric mucosa of a nonhuman primate model susceptible to H. pylori. Materials and Methods. Using the DNA from gastric tissues obtained from six H. pylori‐uninfected monkeys of different ages, nucleotide sequence of the wild‐type p53 gene was determined by amplification of exons (Ex) 5, 6, 7 and 8 and sequencing. Gastric specimens obtained from eight Japanese monkeys that had been infected with H. pylori for different lengths of time (1.5–7.5 years), were analyzed for mutations in exons 5–8 of p53. Results. In the six H. pylori‐uninfected monkeys, nucleotide sequences of p53 Ex 5–8 were completely common and no mutations were noted. However, among the monkeys that were infected with H. pylori over various periods of time, there was an accumulation of p53 nucleotide (amino acid) substitutions as the gastric atrophy score increased. Conclusions. We conclude that the appearance of p53 gene mutation may be closely associated with the degree of gastric mucosal atrophy, which depends on the duration of H. pylori infection. Searching for p53 gene mutations may be useful for studying the progression of gastric carcinogenesis associated with H. pylori.     

慢性萎缩性胃炎患者肠道菌群特征

探讨不同炎症程度慢性萎缩性胃炎（CAG）患者肠道菌群特征,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。

对36例健康人（健康对照组）和8例轻度炎症（轻度炎症组）、26例中度炎症（中度炎症组）、8例重度炎症（重度炎症组）的CAG患者的粪便样本进行16S rRNA基因高通量测序（V4—V5区）,采用Sobs、Shannon、Simpson、Ace、Chao指数评估4组对象肠道菌群的物种丰富度与多样性;采用PLS-DA分析评估4组对象肠道微生物群落结构;采用LDA与LEfSe分析确定4组对象相对丰度存在显著差异的肠道菌群;采用PICRUSt预测CAG患者显著富集肠道菌属的代谢通路信息。

与健康对照组相比,轻、中、重度炎症组患者肠道菌群Sobs、Ace、Chao、Simpson指数有降低趋势,但差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。Ruminococcus_gnavus_group、norank_f_Ruminococcaceae、Erysipelatoclostridium、Actinomyces在轻度炎症组中显著富集,Flavonifractor、Sellimonas在中度炎症组中显著富集,Eubacterium_rectale_group、Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003、Tyzzerella_3、Coprococcus_1、Candidatus_Soleaferrea在重度炎症组中显著富集。此外,Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004、Eubacterium_nodatum_group的丰度在健康对照组、轻度炎症组、中度炎症组、重度炎症组中呈递增趋势;Anaerostipes、Ruminiclostridium_9、Halomonas、Pelagibacterium的丰度在健康对照组、轻度炎症组、中度炎症组、重度炎症组中呈递减趋势,但差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。PICRUSt分析结果显示4组对象肠道菌群代谢通路相似,但是代谢通路的丰度不同,其中重度炎症组患者肠道菌群代谢功能潜力高于健康对照组、轻度炎症组和中度炎症组。

CAG患者肠道菌群变化的总体特征为产丁酸盐的菌属丰度减少,促炎菌属的丰度增加。促炎菌属可能通过附着于肠道上皮导致黏膜屏障受损和肠道通透性增加,影响宿主免疫反应,引起炎症。

     

Validation of Diagnostic Tests for Helicobacter pylori with Regard to Grade of Atrophic Gastritis and/or Intestinal Metaplasia

Background and Aims:  To evaluate the validity of the biopsy-based tests (histology, culture, and urease test) and serology in detecting current Helicobacter pylori infection against a background of atrophic gastritis (AG) or intestinal metaplasia (IM).
Methods:  Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed in 651 subjects, using the predefined gold standard for H. pylori tests. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of culture, CLOtest, histology (Giemsa stain), and serology were calculated with regard to the histological grade of AG and IM. The level of serum pepsinogen (PG) I and II was also measured as a marker for the presence of AG.
Results:  In the study population (n = 651), sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were as follows: culture, 56.2 and 100%; histology, 93.0 and 94.0%; CLOtest, 80.4 and 96.7%; serology, 96.0 and 67.5%. If the analysis is limited to those without AG or IM (n = 158) or to those younger than 40 years (n = 69), all tests, except for culture, had a sensitivity and specificity >90%. The sensitivity of CLOtest and the specificity of serology markedly decreased with progression of AG and IM, and serology was less specific in the presence of AG, as determined by a PG I/II ratio ≤4.1 (specificity, 83.7% vs 40.7% in PG I/II >4.1 and ≤4.1, respectively).
Conclusions:  Any one of biopsy-based tests or serology was found to be excellent for identifying current H. pylori infection among individuals without AG or IM and/or younger patients (<40 years). However, a combination of at least two tests is necessary in the clinical setting of AG or IM.     

229例慢性胃炎患者幽门螺杆菌培养及耐药情况

目的了解慢性胃炎患者H.pylori感染及其耐药情况,为临床治疗提供参考。方法慢性胃炎患者胃镜活检标本培养分离H.pylori,对分离的H.pylori采用纸片扩散法进行耐药性检测。结果229例患者分离出97株H.pylori;H.pylori分离阳性率为42．36％（97／229）,其中男性分离率为43．79％（67／153）,女性分离率为39．47（30／76）;92株H.pylori对抗生素的耐药性分别为：甲硝唑8．7％,克拉霉素7．6％,阿莫西林1．1％、呋喃唑酮1．1％,阿奇霉素4．4％,左氧氟沙星0％。结论慢性胃炎患者H.pylori感染率较高,但与性别、年龄无关;慢性胃炎H.pylori对常用抗生素敏感,建议采用左氧氟沙星、阿莫西林、呋喃唑酮进行治疗。     

Role of noninvasive tests (C-urea breath test and stool antigen test) as additional tools in diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with atrophic body gastritis

BACKGROUND: Detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in atrophic body gastritis (ABG) is difficult, as during progression of body atrophy, H. pylori disappears. AIM: To increase the diagnostic yield of detection of active H. pylori infection in atrophic body gastritis patients by using noninvasive tests such as (13)C-Urea Breath Test ((13)C-UBT) and H. pylori stool antigen test (HpSA) would be useful. PATIENTS: 27 consecutive patients with newly-diagnosed atrophic body gastritis (19F/7M, age 27-73 years). METHODS: Gastroscopy with biopsies (antrum n = 3, body n = 3) and histology according to updated Sydney system, H. pylori IgG serology, (13)C-UBT, and HpSA. RESULTS: All tests used in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection were in agreement in 9/27 atrophic body gastritis patients (33.3%), being all positive in four (14.8%) and all negative in five patients (18.5%). Ten of the 27 (37%) patients were Giemsa stain-positive and serology-positive (group I). Seventeen of the 27 (63%) patients were Giemsa stain-negative: 5/17 with positive serology (group II) and 12/17 with negative serology (group III). In group I, 5/10 (50%) were (13)C-UBT positive and 4/10 (40%) HpSA positive. In group II, two patients were (13)C-UBT positive, but all were HpSA negative. Also in group III, all patients were HpSA negative, but one had a positive (13)C-UBT. CONCLUSIONS: In atrophic body gastritis patients, neither (13)C-UBT nor HpSA per se add useful information regarding active H. pylori infection, but these noninvasive tests may be important in combination with histology and serology to define the H. pylori status in some atrophic body gastritis patients.