Visame pasaulyje skrandžio vėžys yra didelė problema, kasmet diagnozuojama apie 875000 naujų atvejų ir 645000 miršta nuo šios ligos. Lietuvos vėžio registro duomenimis, 2005 m. Lietuvoje sergamumas skrandžio vėžiu buvo 35,0 vyrų ir 22,1 moterų tarpe 100000 gyventojų. Šis susirgimas vis dar dažniausiai diagnozuojamas vėlyvose stadijose, kuomet radikali operacija jau nėra galima. Skrandžio vėžio vystymasis yra kompleksinis ir šiuo metu dar pilnai neišaiškintas procesas. Nauji tyrimai patvirtino, kad epigenetinė pažaida – TPEF/HPP1 geno metilinimas yra dažnas reiškinys tulžies ir šlapimo pūsles, kolorektalinio vėžio atvejais. Vis dėlto, nebuvo pakankamai duomenų apie TPEF/HPP1 geno metilinimo reikšmę skrandžio kancerogenezėje. Atliktame tyrime nustatyta, kad TPEF/HPP1 geno metilinimas gali būti ankstyvas šio pažeidimo požymis. Taip pat galima daryti prielaidą, kad TPEF/HPP1 genas yra skrandžio naviką slopinantis genas. Kitas svarbus skrandžio vėžio rizikos faktorius yra H. pylori sąlygotas atrofinis gastritas. Tyrimo metu nustatytas didelis vyresnių nei 55 m. dispepsija sergančių pacientų infekuotumas H. pylori. Statistiškai patikimo skirtumo tarp atrofijos ir žarninės metaplazijos dažnumo dispepsija sergantiems pacientams Taivanyje, Lietuvoje, Latvijoje negauta. Buvo nustatyta stipri koreliacija tarp skrandžio atrofijos ir žarninės metaplazijos. Klinikinėje praktikoje atrofinis gastritas patvirtinamas histologiškai (pagal 1994 m. Hiūstone modifikuotą Sidnėjaus klasifikaciją)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / INTRODUCTION Gastric cancer is rampant in many countries around the world and it accounts for approximately 875000 new cases and 645000 deaths annually [Jemal A et al, 2004]. While overall incidence of gastric cancer is falling, in many countries of the world it remains one the most frequent causes of cancer related deaths. According to GLOBOCAN age-standardized cancer incidence data, in Germany 15.1 males and 8.8 females per 100.000 persons developed gastric cancer in 2002, in Lithuania – 25.3 males and 13.0 females, in Latvia – 24.6 males and 11.1 females, respectively. According to the data of Lithuanian Cancer Registry, gastric cancer incidence was 35.0 in male, 22.1 in female per 100.000 persons in 2005, 30.4 in male, 17.8 in female in 2004, respectively [Kurtinaitis J, 2004]. At present, primary or secondary prevention is likely to be the most effective means of reducing the incidence and mortality from this disease. However, to be successful, this strategy depends upon knowledge of the etiological factors and pathogenetic mechanisms involved in gastric carcinogenesis. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been categorized as a group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994. Development of gastric cancer is a complex and poorly understood process. It is clear that besides chronic gastritis caused by H. pylori, dietary factors, high salt and nitrate intake, smoking and, possibly, alcohol consumption are... [to full text]

Rotavirus is responsible for the death of many children annually, and current vaccines have lower efficiency in developing countries. A reverse translated consensus gene sequence of the rotavirus VP6 cloned into a pET-28a(+) plasmid was used to transform BL21 and KRX Escherichia coli cells. Optimal expression of soluble protein was induced in KRX cells by adding 0.05% L-rhamnose and 0.0001 M IPTG, with an incubation temperature of 25ºC for 6 h. VP6 was purified by combining anion exchange chromatography followed by affinity chromatography. Far-UV circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence were used as probes to assess the native structure of VP6 and structural in the presence of a denaturant, high sodium chloride concentrations and varying temperatures. The 0.2 M sodium chloride had an impact on the VP6’s tertiary structure and also influenced the proteins conformational changes as detected during thermal unfolding to 90ºC. Although treatment with 3 M urea showed tertiary structural changes no secondary structural loss occurred due to the presence of a denaturant. / Life Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

Submitted by Ayla Blanco Poltronieri null (aylinha_bp@hotmail.com) on 2016-03-11T02:05:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Pós Defesa.pdf: 1526886 bytes, checksum: b50424a42154b92cbde06c084bf0975d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Manzano de Almeida (smanzano@marilia.unesp.br) on 2016-03-14T12:33:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 poltronierioliveira_ab_me_sjrp.pdf: 1526886 bytes, checksum: b50424a42154b92cbde06c084bf0975d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-14T12:33:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 poltronierioliveira_ab_me_sjrp.pdf: 1526886 bytes, checksum: b50424a42154b92cbde06c084bf0975d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-04 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Introdução: A inflamação crônica desencadeada pela bactéria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a qual é considerada o principal fator ambiental relacionado ao câncer gástrico, está associada ao desenvolvimento e progressão de lesões gástricas pré-cancerosas, desencadeando diversas modificações histológicas e moleculares que promovem a transformação maligna do estômago. Para isso, conta com fatores de virulência que promovem alterações superficiais e em vias de sinalização das células epiteliais gástricas. Consequentemente pode levar a alterações no padrão de expressão de genes supressores tumorais e da atividade de enzimas DNA metil transferases (DNMTs), responsáveis pela metilação do DNA e silenciamento gênico. Objetivos: O presente estudo avaliou se a infecção pela bactéria H. pylori, bem como sua erradicação, altera a expressão do RNAm dos genes supressores SOCS1, RPRM, RUNX3 e dos genes de DNMTs (DNMT1, DNMT3A e DNMT3B) em pacientes com gastrite crônica infectados (Hp+) em comparação com indivíduos com gastrite crônica sem infecção (Hp-). Além disso, investigou a ocorrência de correlação negativa entre a expressão do RNAm dos genes supressores tumorais com a dos genes das DNMTs, assim como a associação dos níveis de expressão gênica em relação aos fatores de risco idade, sexo, tabagismo, etilismo e genótipo bacteriano cagA. Material e Métodos: A quantificação relativa (RQ) do RNAm foi realizada por PCR (polymerase chain reaction) quantitativa em tempo real (qPCR) utilizando ensaios TaqMan® em 9 pacientes com gastrite crônica Hp- e 19 Hp+, sendo estes também avaliados três meses depois da terapia de erradicação bacteriana. O diagnóstico molecular e genotipagem do fator de virulência cagA foram realizados por PCR convencional. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que a infecção pela H. pylori e sua erradicação não alteraram significantemente a expressão dos genes SOCS1, RPRM, RUNX3 e DNMTs, as quais apresentaram, de modo geral, expressão reduzida (RQ< 1,0), enquanto foi observado expressão mais elevada de SOCS1 e RPRM no grupo sem infecção Hp-. Quanto aos fatores de risco, também não foram encontradas associações significantes com os níveis de expressão dos genes avaliados. A análise de correlação não mostrou correlação negativa da expressão gênica entre os supressores tumorais e as DNMTs, mas evidenciou algumas correlações positivas entre a expressão dos genes SOCS1 e DNMT1 e do RPRM com DNMT3A e DNMT3B no grupo Hp+, que podem ter sido casuais. Conclusão: Nossos resultados não indicam que a infecção causada pela bactéria H. pylori e sua erradicação em pacientes com gastrite crônica afetam a expressão dos supressores tumorais SOCS1, RPRM, RUNX3 e das DNMTs, assim como que seja influenciada pelos fatores idade, sexo, tabagismo, etilismo e genótipo bacteriano cagA. Além disso, a expressão reduzida das DNMTs e ausência de correlação negativa com a dos genes supressores tumorais não permite indicar que a baixa expressão dos genes supressores tumorais seja devido a hipermetilação do DNA em consequência da infecção. / Introduction: Chronic inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is considered the main environmental factor related to gastric cancer, is associated with the development and progression of precancerous gastric lesions, triggering several histological and molecular changes that promote stomach malignant transformation. For this, it has virulence factors promoting superficial and signaling pathways of gastric epithelial cells changes. Consequently, it can lead to alterations in the expression of tumor suppressor genes and DNA enzyme activity methyl transferases (DNMTs), responsible for DNA methylation and gene silencing. Objectives: This study evaluated whether the infection by the bacterium H. pylori and its eradication change the mRNA expression of suppressor genes SOCS1, RPRM, RUNX3 and DNMTs (DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B) genes in patients with chronic gastritis infected (Hp+) compared to individuals with chronic gastritis without infection (Hp-). In addition, we investigated the occurrence of negative correlation between mRNA expression of tumor suppressor genes with the ones of DNMTs, as well as the association of gene expression levels in relation to the risk factors age, sex, smoking, drinking and bacterial genotype cagA. Methods: The relative quantification (RQ) mRNA was performed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) quantitative real-time (qPCR) using TaqMan® assays in 9 patients with chronic gastritis Hp- and 19 Hp+, which are also evaluated three months after bacterial eradication therapy. The molecular diagnostics and genotyping of the virulence factors CagA were performed by standard PCR. Results: The results showed that the infection by H. pylori and eradication did not significantly alter the gene expression of SOCS1, RPRM, RUNX3 and DNMTs, which presented, in general, reduced expression (RQ <1.0); on the other hand, higher expression of SOCS1 and RPRM was observed in the group without Hp- infection. As for risk factors, no significant associations with the expression levels of evaluated genes were found. The correlation analysis not showed a negative correlation of gene expression in the tumor suppressor and DNMTs, but showed some positive correlations between the expression of SOCS1 and DNMT1 genes and RPRM with DNMT3A and DNMT3B the Hp + group, which may have been casual. Conclusion: Our findings do not indicate that the infection caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its eradication in patients with chronic gastritis affect the expression of tumor suppressor SOCS1, RPRM, RUNX3 and DNMTs, as it is influenced by factors such as age, sex, smoking, alcoholism and bacterial genotype cagA. Furthermore, the reduced expression of DNMTs and no negative correlation with the tumor suppressor genes do not indicate that the low expression of tumor suppressor genes is due to DNA hypermethylation in consequence of infection. / CNPq: 474.776/2013-1 / FAPESP: 2012/15036-8

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:14:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 jorge_yc_me_sjrp.pdf: 4700733 bytes, checksum: 1fa001424eaf0ffba4a8cdeb55c5fce5 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / No presente estudo foram investigados os níveis de expressão gênica e protéica da anexina-1 (ANXA1/AnxA1) e galectina-1 (LGALS1/Gal-1) na carcinogênese do estômago e associações com infecção pela Helicobacter pylori e o genótipo de virulência bacteriano cagA+. A análise foi realizada em 40 biópsias de mucosa gástrica com gastrite crônica (CG), 20 de câncer gástrico (GA) e 10 de mucosa normal (C), pelas técnicas de qPCR para quantificar os níveis de RNAm; imuno-histoquímica para caracterizar a expressão protéica na mucosa gástrica, e PCR para diagnóstico molecular da H. pylori e cepa cagA+. O estudo mostrou resultados inéditos quanto à expressão desses genes em gastrite crônica, ainda sem descrições na literatura. Foi demonstrada expressão relativa elevada do mRNA de ANXA1 em 80% dos casos de GA (média de 4,38 + 4,77) e em 90% dos casos de CG (média de 4,26 + 2,03), sem diferença significante entre os grupos (p = 0,33). O gene LGALS1 apresentou expressão elevada em 60% dos casos GA (média de 2,44 + 3,26) e, expressão constitutiva na CG (média de 0,43 + 3,13), mostrando, portanto, diferença significante entre os grupos (p < 0,01). A imuno-histoquímica revelou que as proteínas AnxA1 e Gal-1 não são expressas na mucosa normal. Ao contrário, durante o processo inflamatório de CG, imunomarcação citoplasmática positiva para a AnxA1 foi observada na porção basal do epitélio e estroma e, para Gal-1 a expressão foi constatada na porção apical e borda estriada do epitélio além do estroma. No adenocarcinoma tipo intestinal foi observada expressão citoplasmática em toda extensão epitelial e estroma tanto para a AnxA1 quanto para a Gal-1. Por outro lado, no tipo difuso imunomarcação positiva também foi observada no núcleo e membrana plasmática... / In this study we investigated the levels of gene and protein expression of annexin-1 (ANXA1/Anxa1) and galectin-1 (LGALS1/Gal-1) in gastric carcinogenesis and associations with Helicobacter pylori infection and bacterial virulence genotype cagA+. The analysis was performed in 40 biopsies of gastric mucosa with chronic gastritis (CG), 20 with gastric cancer (GA) and 10 of normal mucosa (C), by the techniques of qPCR to quantify mRNA levels, immunohistochemistry to characterize the protein expression in gastric mucosa, and PCR for molecular diagnosis of H. pylori cagA+ strains. This is the first study regarding the expression of these genes in chronic gastritis. High ANXA1expression levels were demonstrated in 80% of GA cases (mean 4.38 + 4.77) and in 90% of GC cases (mean 4.26 + 2.03), with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.33). High LGALS1 gene expression was found in 60% of GA cases (average 2.44 + 3.26), and constitutive expression was found in CG (mean 0.43 + 3.13), showing therefore a significant difference between groups (p <0.01). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the proteins AnxA1 and Gal-1 are not expressed in normal mucosa. In contrast, during the inflammatory process of CG, positive cytoplasmic immunostaining for AnxA1 was observed in the basal epithelium and stroma, and Gal-1 expression was detected in the apical portion and striated border of the epithelium and stroma. In intestinal-type adenocarcinoma was observed cytoplasmic expression in all epithelial and stromal extension for both AnxA1 and Gal-1. On the other hand, in diffuse-type adenocarcinoma positive immunostaining was also observed in the nucleus and plasma membrane of both proteins. Infection by H. pylori showed no association with the expression of both genes, but the genotype cagA+ is associated with about 2.5 times... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:43:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_jg_dr_sjrp.pdf: 1922822 bytes, checksum: 9be7ec21e759c3921cff2ec05792fab4 (MD5) / O câncer gástrico é uma doença caracterizada como multifatorial associada a fatores ambientais e genéticos. A carcinogênese do estômago pode progredir de uma inflamação crônica da mucosa gástrica, resultante da infecção pela bactéria Helicobacter pylori que ativa a resposta inflamatória do hospedeiro. Portanto, selecionamos um grupo de polimorfismos presentes em genes de citocinas pró-inflamatórias (IL8, TNFA e TNFB), anti-inflamatórias (IL10 e IL-1RN) e receptores de reconhecimento de padrões moleculares associados aos microorganismos, denominados toll like receptor (TLR). Considerando a escassez e controvérsia de estudos de polimorfismos desses genes em câncer gástrico e seu envolvimento na carcinogênese de estômago, propôs-se avaliar, pelas técnicas de PCR- alelo específico ou PCR-RFLP, a associação dos polimorfismos TLR2 -196 a –174 del, TLR4 (+896 A/G rs4986790 e +1196 C/T rs4986791), IL-1RN VNTR, TNFB 252A/G (rs909253), TNFA (-308 G/A rs1800629 e –857 C/T rs1799724), IL8 (-251 T/A rs4073 e –845 T/C rs2227532) e IL10 (-592 C/A rs1800872) com risco de câncer gástrico, gastrite crônica e fatores de risco ambientais. Também, procurou-se associar, pela técnica de qPCR em tempo real, os polimorfismos com os níveis de expressão dos genes das citocinas, cujas variantes ocorrem em regiões promotoras (TNFA, IL8 e IL10). De modo geral, a genotipagem dos referidos genes foi realizada em amostras de DNA de 723 indivíduos (207 de câncer gástrico-CG; 276 de gastrite crônica-GC e 246 controles saudáveis-C), enquanto que nas análises de expressão gênica foi utilizado o cDNA de tecido gástrico proveniente de 45 pacientes com CG e 47 com GC. Observou-se que, os SNPs TLR4+1196C/T, TNFB+252A/G, TNFA-308G/A e IL8-251T/A não foram associados com o risco de gastrite crônica e câncer gástrico. Contudo, as freqüências dos genótipos TLR2 ins/del +del/... / Gastric cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized as associated with environmental and genetic factors. The carcinogenesis of the stomach can progress to a chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa, resulting from infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori that activates the inflammatory response of the host. Therefore, we selected a group of polymorphisms in genes of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL8, TNFA and TNFB), anti-inflammatory (IL10 and IL-1RN) and receptor recognition of molecular patterns associated with microorganisms, the toll like receptors (TLR). Considering the scarcity and controversy of these polymorphisms studies in gastric cancer and their involvement in carcinogenesis of the stomach, this study proposed to evaluate, by PCR allele-specific or PCR-RFLP the association of polymorphisms TLR2 -196 to -174 del , TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791), IL-1RN VNTR, TNFB 252A/G (rs909253), TNFA (rs1800629 and rs1799724), IL8 (rs4073 and rs2227532) and IL10 (rs1800872) with risk of gastric cancer, chronic gastritis and environmental risk factors. Also, we tried to associate, for the technique of real-time qPCR, polymorphisms with levels of expression of cytokine genes whose variations occur in the promoter region (TNFA, IL8 and IL10). Overall, the genotyping of these genes was performed on DNA samples from 723 individuals (207 gastric cancer-GC, 276 chronic gastritis-CG, and 246 healthy controls-C), whereas in the analysis of gene expression was used cDNA of gastric tissue from 45 patients with GC and 47 CG. It was observed that TLR4 SNPs +1196C/T, TNFB +252A/G, TNFA-308G/A and IL8-251 T/A were not associated with risk of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. In the analysis of polymorphisms of toll like receptor, the frequencies of genotypes TLR2 ins / del + del / del and TLR4 +896 AG were significantly higher (p <0.01) in GC group (33.5% and 13% respectively)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Ana Elizabete Silva / Banca: Kátia Ramos Moreira Leite / Banca: Cristiane Damas Gil / Resumo: No presente estudo foram investigados os níveis de expressão gênica e protéica da anexina-1 (ANXA1/AnxA1) e galectina-1 (LGALS1/Gal-1) na carcinogênese do estômago e associações com infecção pela Helicobacter pylori e o genótipo de virulência bacteriano cagA+. A análise foi realizada em 40 biópsias de mucosa gástrica com gastrite crônica (CG), 20 de câncer gástrico (GA) e 10 de mucosa normal (C), pelas técnicas de qPCR para quantificar os níveis de RNAm; imuno-histoquímica para caracterizar a expressão protéica na mucosa gástrica, e PCR para diagnóstico molecular da H. pylori e cepa cagA+. O estudo mostrou resultados inéditos quanto à expressão desses genes em gastrite crônica, ainda sem descrições na literatura. Foi demonstrada expressão relativa elevada do mRNA de ANXA1 em 80% dos casos de GA (média de 4,38 + 4,77) e em 90% dos casos de CG (média de 4,26 + 2,03), sem diferença significante entre os grupos (p = 0,33). O gene LGALS1 apresentou expressão elevada em 60% dos casos GA (média de 2,44 + 3,26) e, expressão constitutiva na CG (média de 0,43 + 3,13), mostrando, portanto, diferença significante entre os grupos (p < 0,01). A imuno-histoquímica revelou que as proteínas AnxA1 e Gal-1 não são expressas na mucosa normal. Ao contrário, durante o processo inflamatório de CG, imunomarcação citoplasmática positiva para a AnxA1 foi observada na porção basal do epitélio e estroma e, para Gal-1 a expressão foi constatada na porção apical e borda estriada do epitélio além do estroma. No adenocarcinoma tipo intestinal foi observada expressão citoplasmática em toda extensão epitelial e estroma tanto para a AnxA1 quanto para a Gal-1. Por outro lado, no tipo difuso imunomarcação positiva também foi observada no núcleo e membrana plasmática... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this study we investigated the levels of gene and protein expression of annexin-1 (ANXA1/Anxa1) and galectin-1 (LGALS1/Gal-1) in gastric carcinogenesis and associations with Helicobacter pylori infection and bacterial virulence genotype cagA+. The analysis was performed in 40 biopsies of gastric mucosa with chronic gastritis (CG), 20 with gastric cancer (GA) and 10 of normal mucosa (C), by the techniques of qPCR to quantify mRNA levels, immunohistochemistry to characterize the protein expression in gastric mucosa, and PCR for molecular diagnosis of H. pylori cagA+ strains. This is the first study regarding the expression of these genes in chronic gastritis. High ANXA1expression levels were demonstrated in 80% of GA cases (mean 4.38 + 4.77) and in 90% of GC cases (mean 4.26 + 2.03), with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.33). High LGALS1 gene expression was found in 60% of GA cases (average 2.44 + 3.26), and constitutive expression was found in CG (mean 0.43 + 3.13), showing therefore a significant difference between groups (p <0.01). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the proteins AnxA1 and Gal-1 are not expressed in normal mucosa. In contrast, during the inflammatory process of CG, positive cytoplasmic immunostaining for AnxA1 was observed in the basal epithelium and stroma, and Gal-1 expression was detected in the apical portion and striated border of the epithelium and stroma. In intestinal-type adenocarcinoma was observed cytoplasmic expression in all epithelial and stromal extension for both AnxA1 and Gal-1. On the other hand, in diffuse-type adenocarcinoma positive immunostaining was also observed in the nucleus and plasma membrane of both proteins. Infection by H. pylori showed no association with the expression of both genes, but the genotype cagA+ is associated with about 2.5 times... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Introdução: O envolvimento gastroduodenal pode ocorrer na doença de Crohn (DC). Seu diagnóstico histológico definitivo é habitualmente realizado através da demonstração do granuloma não caseoso. O achado de gastrite focal H. pylori negativa em biopsias gástricas de pacientes com DC ileal e/ou colônica, apesar de não ser específico, também sugere o envolvimento da doença neste segmento. Objetivos: avaliar a frequência da gastrite focal em pacientes com DC comparada à de pacientes com retocolite ulcerativa (RCU) e controles, assim como as frequências da infecção pelo H. pylori nessas populações e correlacioná-las com a presença de gastrite focal; avaliar a capacidade da imunohistoquímica em diferenciar a gastrite focal nos três grupos; avaliar as associações entre dados demográficos, aspectos clínicos, laboratoriais, uso de medicamentos, presença de sintomas do trato gastrintestinal (TGI) superior e achados endoscópicos com presença de gastrite focal em pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal (DII); e avaliar a associação entre uso de medicamentos nesses pacientes e infecção pelo H. pylori. Métodos: Foram estudados 62 pacientes com DC, 35 pacientes com RCU e 40 pacientes controles. Todos foram submetidos à endoscopia digestiva alta (EDA) com biopsias para o teste da urease, exame histológico e imunohistoquímico. Resultados: Dos 137 pacientes estudados foram excluídos dois pacientes com DC e um com RCU. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos com relação à idade (p=0,921) e sexo (p=0,192). A maioria dos pacientes com DC estava em remissão clínica (75%). Cerca de 80% dos pacientes com DC faziam uso de azatioprina. H. pylori foi positivo em 18/60 (30%) pacientes com DC, 12/34 (35%) na RCU e 20/40 (50%) no grupo controle sem diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos (p=0,131). Não foram observadas associações estatisticamente significantes entre uso de medicamentos e infecção pelo H. pylori nos pacientes com DII. A gastrite focal H. pylori negativa foi diagnosticada em 7/42 (16,7%) na DC, 3/22 (13,6%) na RCU e 2/20 (10%) no grupo controle, sem diferença estatisticamente significante entre eles (p=0,919). A gastrite focal H. pylori positiva foi diagnosticada em 2/18 (11%) na DC, 3/12 (25%) na RCU e 7/20 (35%) no grupo controle, sem diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,213). Não foram observadas associações estatisticamente significantes entre características clínicas, laboratoriais, uso de medicamentos, sintomas do TGI superior, achados endoscópicos e gastrite focal. No entanto, foi observado que o uso de azatioprina nos pacientes com DC H. pylori negativos apresentou uma tendência a reduzir a gastrite focal. A imunohistoquímica da gastrite focal dos pacientes com DC e RCU H. pylori negativos foi semelhante e diferiu do grupo controle por este apresentar um maior acúmulo de linfócitos B (CD20). Já a imunohistoquímica da gastrite focal dos pacientes com DC, RCU e controles H. pylori positivos foi indistinguível. Conclusões: Pacientes com DII tendem a ser menos infectados pela bactéria H. pylori. A frequência de gastrite focal H. pylori negativa diagnosticada em nosso estudo foi menor do que a descrita na literatura. O uso de imunossupressor (azatioprina) pode estar relacionado com tal achado / Introduction: Gastroduodenal involvement may occur in Crohns disease (CD). Definitive histological diagnosis of CD in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract normally relies on the demonstration of epitheloid granuloma which is considered the histological hallmark of gastric CD. If granulomas are absent, the description of focally enhanced gastritis (FEG) or focal active gastritis in gastric biopsies of patients with known ileal and/or colonic CD, although not exclusive to CD, suggests the involvement of the disease at this site. Objectives: To access the prevalence of FEG in CD patients compared with a group of ulcerative colitis (UC) and CD/UC-free controls, as well as the frequencies of H. pylori infection in those population and correlate them to the presence of FEG; evaluate the capacity of immunohistochemistry in differentiating FEG in the three groups; evaluate the correlation with demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, current medical therapy as well as the presence of forgut symptoms and mucosal lesions at endoscopy with the presence or absence of FEG in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and evaluate the association between medical therapy and H. pylori infection in IBD patients. Methods: We studied 62 patients with CD, 35 patients with UC and 40 patients from control group. All underwent upper GI endoscopy. Biopsy specimens taken from angulus, antrum and gastric body were evaluated by urease test, histology and immunohistochemistry. Results: Of the 137 patients studied we excluded 2 patients with CD and 1 with UC. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of age (p=0.921) and gender (p=0.192). The majority of CD patients were in clinical remission (75%). Around 80% of CD patients were taking azathioprine. H. pylori was positive in 18/60 (30%) CD patients, in 12/34 (35%) UC and in 20/40 (50%) controls with no statistically significance difference among the groups (p=0.131). No association was found between use of medications and H. pylori infection in IBD patients. In H. pylori negative patients, FEG was diagnosed in 16.7% cases (7/42) of CD, compared with 13.6% (3/22) of UC patients and 10% (2/20) of controls, with no statistically significance difference among them (p=0.919). In H.pylori positive patients, FEG was diagnosed in 11% cases (2/18) of DC, 25% (3/12) in UC and 35% (7/20) of controls with no significant difference among them (p=0.213). There was no statistical interrelationship between FEG and demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, use of medications, upper GI symptoms and endoscopic findings. However, it was observed that use of azathioprine in H. pylori negative CD patients presented a tendency to reduce FEG. In H. pylori negative patients, immunohistochemistry of FEG of CD and UC was similar and differed from controls as it presented a higher accumulation of B lymphocytes (CD20). On the other hand in H. pylori positive IBD patients, immunohistochemistry of FEG was indistinguishable from controls. Conclusions: IBD patients tend to be less infected by H. pylori. The frequency of H. pylori negative FEG diagnosed in our study was lower than described in literature. The use of immunossupressants (azathioprine) may be related to such findings

Abstract Gastric erosions are superficial mucosal breaks. With the exception of bleeding, they are considered harmless, but their aetiology, histopathology and long-term course have remained unknown and even the evolution of gastritis in patients with gastric erosions is unclear. The present study aimed to solve clinical significance and pathology of gastric erosions in a long-term follow-up study. Initially, 117 patients and 117 controls were studied in 1974–1981, and a follow-up study was performed in 1996. We evaluated the presence of Helicobacter pylori and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, use of NSAIDs and alcohol, smoking, and assessed features of gastric histopathology. For follow-up, 52 patients and 66 controls were available. In the follow-up visit, 39% patients still had gastric erosions while 11% of the controls had developed erosions (p&#160;=&#160;0.001). In H. pylori-positive subjects, peptic ulcer or a scar was more common in patients (17%) than in controls (4%, p&#160;=&#160;0.006), but otherwise no increased morbidity or mortality was seen. High antibody titres against HSV predicted the persistence of erosions (p&#160;=&#160;0.000), but H. pylori infection, use of NSAIDs, alcohol or smoking were not associated. Initially, inflammation was more active in the region of erosions than elsewhere in the antral mucosa, and more active inflammation in the erosion was associated with HSV seropositivity, H. pylori infection and the recent use of NSAIDs. Initially, H. pylori-positive subjects with chronic or recurrent erosions had higher scores of neutrophils compared to those with non-chronic/non-recurrent erosions. In H. pylori-positive subjects, body gastritis was initially less active in the patient group. With time, antral gastritis worsened only in the patient group. In H. pylori-negative subjects, there was no evolution of gastritis. These results show that a significant proportion of gastric erosions are chronic/recurrent but mostly without serious complications. However, H. pylori-positive patients have a significant risk to develop a peptic ulcer. A significant proportion of chronic gastric erosions is related to HSV infection. Focally enhanced inflammation modified by HSV or NSAID may be important in the pathogenesis of gastric antral erosions. Active inflammation in the erosions seems to predict their chronicity/recurrency. Patients with erosions share the characteristics of gastritis of the duodenal ulcer phenotype. / Tiivistelmä Eroosiot ovat mahalaukun pinnallisia limakalvovaurioita. Niitä pidetään vaarattomina lukuun ottamatta niihin liittyvää verenvuototaipumusta. Niiden etiologiaa, histopatologiaa ja taudinkulkua ei tunneta. Ei myöskään tiedetä eroosiopotilaiden mahan limakalvon tulehduksen kulkua. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää mahalaukun eroosioiden kliininen merkitys ja patologia pitkäkestoisena seurantatutkimuksena. Alkujaan 117 potilasta ja 117 kontrollihenkilöä tutkittiin vuosina 1974–1981, ja seurantatutkimus tehtiin vuonna 1996. Selvitimme helikobakteerin ja Herpes simplex -viruksen (HSV) aiheuttamien infektioiden, tulehduskipulääkkeiden (NSAID) ja alkoholin käytön, sekä tupakoinnin esiintymistä. Lisäksi tutkimme histopatologisesti mahalaukun limakalvoa. Lopulta oli 52 potilaan ja 66 kontrollihenkilön aineisto käytettävissä. Seurantakäynnillä 39 prosentilla potilaista oli yhä mahalaukun eroosioita, kun taas kontrolliryhmästä vain 11 prosentilla oli kehittynyt eroosioita. Helikobakteeri -infektoituneilla maha- tai pohjukaissuolen haava/arpi oli yleisempää eroosioryhmässä (17&#160;%) kuin kontrolleilla (4&#160;%), mutta muuten ei esiintynyt lisääntynyttä sairastuvuutta tai kuolleisuutta. Tulehdus oli aktiivisempaa eroosioissa kuin viereisellä limakalvolla, ja tämä tulehdus liittyi korkeisiin HSV-vasta-ainetasoihin, helikobakteeri-infektioon ja NSAID:n käyttöön. Korkeat HSV-vasta-ainetasot ennustivat eroosioiden pysyvyyttä. Ensimmäisellä käynnillä aktiivinen tulehdus eroosioissa oli voimakkaampaa niillä helikobakteeri-infektoituneilla, joilla eroosiot olivat pysyviä kuin niillä, joilla eroosiot eivät uusineet. Helikobakteeri-infektoituneilla eroosiopotilailla mahalaukun runko-osan limakalvon tulehdus oli aluksi vähemmän aktiivista kuin vastaavilla kontrolliryhmän henkilöillä, mutta ajan myötä mahalaukun corpusosan limakalvon tulehdus voimistui vain eroosioryhmällä. Limakalvotulehdus ei edennyt helikobakteeri-infektoitumattomilla henkilöillä. Tulokset osoittavat, että merkittävä osa mahalaukun eroosioista on kroonisia/toistuvia, mutta enimmäkseen ilman vakavia komplikaatioita. Kuitenkin helikobakteeri-infektoituneilla eroosiopotilailla on merkittävä riski saada maha- tai pohjakaissuolen haava. HSV- infektio liittyy merkittävään osaan kroonisia mahalaukun eroosioita. Paikallisella tulehdusaktiivisuudella, jota HSV ja NSAID:n käyttö muokkaavat, saattaa olla tärkeä rooli eroosioiden synnyssä ja niiden kroonistumisessa. Eroosiopotilailla on samanlainen mahalaukun limakalvon tulehduksen jakauma kuin pohjakaissuolihaavaa sairastavilla.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a microaerophilic, Gram-negative motile curved rod that inhabits the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. The organism chronically infects billions of people worldwide and is one of the most genetically diverse of bacterial species. Infection with the organism potentially induces chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In addition, H. pylori plays a role in the etiology of gastric cancer and gastric MALT lymphoma. The risk of infection is increased in those living in the developing world, which has been ascribed to precarious hygiene standards, crowded households, and deficient sanitation common in this part of the world. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the risk factors in the transmission of H. pylori in our environment, i.e. in Nkonkobe Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Faecal samples were collected from 356 apparently healthy subjects, consisting of 168 males and 188 females aged from 3 months to 60 years (Mean = 31 years). A standardized questionnaire was applied, it described demographic characteristics including age, sex, household hygiene, socioeconomic status, area of residence, duration of stay in the area, sharing bath water, sharing tooth brush, habit of sucking thumb, medication currently being taken or medication taken within the past three months, source of water, type of toilet used, education and occupation. A sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay amplification technology (Amplified IDEIA TM Hp StAR TM , Oxoid, UK) was used to analyze the faecal samples for the detection of H. pylori antigens using monoclonal antibodies specific for H. pylori antigens. To assess the possibility of faecal oral route with tap water as an intermediary link, PCR targeting the ureC (glmM), a highly conserved gene in H. pylori ii was carried out to detect H. pylori DNA in faecal samples of already positive samples by HpSA test as well as in direct tap water used by the H. pylori positive subjects. QIAamp DNA stool mini kit was used to extract DNA from faecal samples. Tap water samples were then obtained using sterile bottles from areas inhabited by H. pylori positive subjects as determined by HpSA test and PCR. DNA extraction from water samples was done using UltraCleanTM Water DNA Isolation Kit (0.22μm) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. PCR with primers specific for H. pylori glmM gene was carried out with both positive and negative controls incorporated. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess the univariate association between H. pylori infection and the possible risk factors. Odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95 percent confidence interval (CI) were calculated to measure the strength of association using EPI INFO 3.41 package. P values of < .05 were required for significance. The precision rate of the diagnostic tests used was also determined. H. pylori antigen was detected in 316 of the 356 subjects giving an overall prevalence of 88.8 percent. Prevalence increased with age from 75.9 percent in children < 12 years age to 100 percent in the age group from 13 years to 24 years, also 100 percent prevalence of H. pylori was recorded in young adults aged 25-47 years and subjects aged 60 years (P < .05). H. pylori prevalence was higher in females than in males. Of 188 females who participated in the study, H. pylori antigen was detected in 172 (91.5 percent) versus 144 (85.7 percent) of 168 males (P > .05). Interestingly, H pylori antigen was detected more often (100 percent) in the high socioeconomic group than in those of low socioeconomic group (85.9 percent). Sixteen (66.7 percent) of twenty four faecal samples that had previously tested positive for the organism by HpSA test were confirmed positive by PCR. However none of the treated tap water samples tested positive for the organism by PCR. The present iii study revealed a high prevalence of H. pylori in faecal samples of asymptomatic individuals in the Nkonkobe Municipality, an indication of active infection. The obtained results also revealed that direct treated tap water might not be playing a crucial role in the oral transmission of H. pylori in the studied population.

Helicobacter pylori-infektion är en av de ledande orsakerna till utvecklingen av maligniteter i ventrikeln. Tillämpning av pålitliga analytiska metoder är därför väsentlig för en korrekt diagnostik och behandling av infektionen. Syftet med studien var att ge en översikt av icke-invasiva metoder som tillämpas för påvisning av H. pylori och utvärdera vilken metod som är bäst lämpad, med avseende på metodens prestandaegenskaper och det kliniska tillståndet hos patienten. En systematisk litteraturöversikt utfördes, genom sökning efter vetenskapliga artiklar med inklusions- och exklusionskriterier i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL. Utvalda artiklar kvalitetsgranskades och 20 studier inkluderades i resultatet. Sammanställt hade fecesantigentester en sensitivitet och specificitet på 92,64% respektive 91,47%, antikroppstester hade 97,20% respektive 81,59%, urea utandningstester hade 91,40% respektive 91,70% och polymeraskedjereaktionen hade 75,45% respektive 98,30%. Därutöver hade kliniska tillstånd såsom atrofisk gastrit, intestinal metaplasi och gastrointestinal blödning en negativ påverkan på metodernas diagnostiska tillförlitlighet. Studien konstaterade att beträffande metodens prestanda är fecesantigentester mest lämpliga för påvisning av H. pylori- infektion. Vid allvarligare kliniska åkommor bör minst två icke-invasiva diagnostiska metoder tillämpas för att säkerställa pålitliga resultat. / Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the leading causes of ventricular pathologies. Reliable analytic methods are therefore crucial for the correct diagnosis and treatment of the infection. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of non-invasive diagnostic methods used for the detection of H. pylori and to evaluate which method is most suitable, considering its performance and the clinical condition of the patient. A systematic literature review was conducted, searching peer-reviewed research articles with inclusion and exclusion criteria on the databases PubMed and CINAHL. An assessment of the selected articles quality resulted in the inclusion of 20 articles. Overall, stool antigen tests had a sensitivity and specificity of 92,64% and 91,47% respectively, antibody tests 97,20% and 81,59% respectively, urea breath tests 91,40% and 91,70% respectively, and the polymerase chain reaction 75,45% and 98,30% respectively. Furthermore, conditions such as atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and gastrointestinal bleeding had a negative impact on the diagnostic accuracy of the methods. This study concluded that, regarding the methods performance, stool antigen tests are more suitable for detecting a H. pylori infection. With the mentioned clinical conditions, at least two non- invasive diagnostic methods should be used to ensure reliable results.