Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that was first isolated in 1982. Since then, H. pylori infection in humans has been shown to be associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric carcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma as well. The epidemiology, transmission, and pathogenicity of H. pylori has been a subject of intensive study. Successful treatment improves the cure rate of peptic ulcerations and treatment with antimicrobials also decreases the recurrence rate of these diseases. Better regimens having less toxicity and a good eradication rate have also been developed. A better understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms relating to H. pylori induced mucosal damages would result in more options for the prevention of peptic ulcers and carcinogenesis. Korea has a relatively high incidence of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. Growing interest has developed in view of its importance in being associated with various gastroduodenal diseases. Furthermore, along with a high incidence of H. pylori-related disease in Korea, because the interaction between H. pylori, host factors and environmental factors is important in disease pathogenesis, we need to have precise data on the characteristics of H. pylori-related diseases that occur in Korea. In the present report we review the epidemiology, transmission route, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment methods and relationship with gastroduodenal diseases with in special references to basic and clinical data that have been published.
Dyspepsia/etiology ; Helicobacter Infections/*complications/diagnosis/etiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Human ; Korea ; Peptic Ulcer/etiology ; Stomach Neoplasms/etiology

Adolescent ; Bile Reflux ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gastritis ; etiology ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male

Gastric cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. To reduce the socioeconomic burden related to gastric cancer, it is very important to identify and manage high risk group for gastric cancer. In this review, we describe the general risk factors for gastric cancer and define high risk group for gastric cancer. We discuss strategies for the effective management of patients for the prevention and early detection of gastric cancer. Atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) are the most significant risk factors for gastric cancer. Therefore, the accurate selection of individuals with AG and IM may be a key strategy for the prevention and/or early detection of gastric cancer. Although endoscopic evaluation using enhanced technologies such as narrow band imaging-magnification, the serum pepsinogen test, Helicobacter pylori serology, and trefoil factor 3 have been evaluated, a gold standard method to accurately select individuals with AG and IM has not emerged. In terms of managing patients at high risk of gastric cancer, it remains uncertain whether H. pylori eradication reverses and/or prevents the progression of AG and IM. Although endoscopic surveillance in high risk patients is expected to be beneficial, further prospective studies in large populations are needed to determine the optimal surveillance interval.
Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology/prevention & control/therapy

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is widely accepted as a standard treatment for early gastric cancer or gastric adenoma. However, EMR inevitably results in the formation of large iatrogenic ulcer at the resected area. Although the characteristics of EMR-induced ulceration are not fully understood, this type of ulcer is thought to heal faster and to recur less often than non-iatrogenic gastric ulcer. Current available evidences have suggested that EMR-induced ulcers heal within 2-3 months. Herein, we report two cases of non-healing persistent gastric ulcers after EMR. One is a case of gastric carcinoma which developed at the same site of previous EMR site for the low grade dysplasia. The other is a case in which persistent EMR-induced ulcer was healed in the long run after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.
Aged ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology/*surgery ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/*surgery ; Stomach Ulcer/diagnosis/*etiology/pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between serum level of interleukin-8 (IL-8), nitrogen monoxide (NO) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, as well as the possible molecular mechanism of HP infection causing the imbalance of apoptosis and proliferation in gastric epithelial cells, which may lead to oncogenesis in stomach.

METHODSSerum IL-8 level was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum NO was detected with chrome reduction method using plated copper.

RESULTSSerum level of IL-8 were 22.50 +/- 1.87 pg/ml in the normal tissue, 34.99 +/- 7.89 pg/ml in superficial gastritis, 65.27 +/- 10.60 pg/ml in atrophic gastritis and 94.84 +/- 11.09 pg/ml in gastric cancer (P < 0.01). Serum level of NO in the atrophic gastritis group (39.93 +/- 5.43 micromol/L) was significantly higher than that in the gastric cancer group (37.02 +/- 4.13 micromol/L) (P < 0.05). The differences in the other groups were not significant. IL-8 and NO levels in the HP(+) group were significantly higher than those in the HP(-) group (77.30 +/- 20.92 pg/ml vs 39.16 +/- 14.40 pg/ml, P < 0.01; 39.77 +/- 5.57 micromol/L vs 35.35 +/- 5.24 micromol/L, P < 0.01). Serum levels of IL-8 and NO in the cytotoxin-associated gene A protein (CagA)(+)HP group were significantly higher than those in the CagA(-)HP group (83.45 +/- 16.92 pg/ml vs 66.24 +/- 23.21 pg/ml, P < 0.01; 40.97 +/- 4.59 micromol/L vs 37.62 +/- 6.58 micromol/L, P < 0.05). Serum levels of IL-8 and NO showed positive correlation between superficial gastritis and atrophic gastritis groups (r = 0.881, r = 0.995), whereas no correlation was found in the normal or gastric cancer groups.

CONCLUSIONSerum levels of IL-8 and NO are correlated with CagA(+)HP strain infection. Combined detection of serum level of IL-8, NO and HP-CagA will contribute to the early diagnosis of precancerous lesion in the stomach.

Antigens, Bacterial ; analysis ; Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Proliferation ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gastritis ; blood ; etiology ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in prevalence and the related factors of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Korean health check-up subjects during the period of 8 years. METHODS: Among 89,231 subjects who visited the Health Promotion Centers of Severance hospital or Chung-Ang University hospital from Jan. 1998 through Dec. 2005, a total of 10,553 subjects who received esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and H. pylori test were enrolled. H. pylori infection was assessed by histologic examination. Changes of the prevalence of H. pylori infection during 8 years, and infection-related factors such as demographic characteristics, body mass index, ABO blood types, endoscopic findings (presence of peptic ulcer diseases), educational level, economic status, smoking habits, and alcohol intake in year 2005 were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of 10,553 subjects (7,329 men, 3,224 women) was 49.7+/-10.4 years (range from 17 to 92 years). The prevalence of H. pylori infection at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth year were 64.7%, 58.1%, 54.2%, 50.4%, 48.9%, 49.5%, 39.6%, and 40.0%, respectively, and these serial decreases in prevalence over 8 years were statistically significant (p<0.001). Regardless of sex, age or EGD findings, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly decreased. In the analysis of the H. pylori infection-related factors in 2005, only age and EGD findings (peptic ulcer diseases) were significant factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly decreased during 8-year period in Korean health check-up subjects. Age and peptic ulcer diseases were the two significant factors related to H. pylori infection in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Demography ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptic Ulcer/etiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

Functional dyspepsia is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders encountered in clinical practice. Functional dyspepsia is currently defined by Rome III criteria as the chronic dyspeptic symptoms (postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain or burning) in the absence of underling structural or metabolic disease that readily explain the symptoms. According to the Rome III consensus, functional dyspepsia can be subdivided into postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS). Although the Rome III criteria have been published more than 8 years ago, not much effort has been put into validating these criteria and direct scientific evidence supporting the validity of the subdividing functional dyspepsia into PDS and EPS are lacking. This article is intended to review the validity of the Rome III criteria on the subdivisions of functional dyspepsia, i.e. PDS and EPS. The impact of sleep disorder, Helicobacter pylori-associated dyspepsia, and the emerging drug therapies in functional dyspepsia will also be discussed in this article.
Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dyspepsia/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Agents/therapeutic use ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/diagnosis ; Humans ; Serotonin Receptor Agonists/therapeutic use ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sleep Wake Disorders/etiology

Since the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research has first developed the guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in 1998, the revised guideline was proposed in 2009 by the same group. Although the revised guideline was made by comprehensive review of previous articles and consensus of authoritative expert opinions, the evidence-based developmental process was not applied in the revision of the guideline. This new guideline has been revised especially in terms of changes in the indication and treatment of H. pylori infection in Korea, and developed by the adaptation process as evidence-based method; 6 guidelines were retrieved by systematic review and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II process, 21 statements were made with grading system and revised by modified Delphi method. After revision, 11 statements for the indication of test and treatment, 4 statements for the diagnosis and 4 statements for the treatment have been developed, respectively. The revised guideline has been reviewed by external experts before the official endorsement, and will be disseminated for usual clinical practice in Korea. Also, the scheduled update and revision of the guideline will be made periodically.
Amoxicillin/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Aspirin/therapeutic use ; Bismuth/therapeutic use ; Breath Tests ; Clarithromycin/therapeutic use ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/etiology ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/complications ; Metaplasia/complications ; Metronidazole/therapeutic use ; Peptic Ulcer/complications/drug therapy ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Republic of Korea ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications/surgery ; Tetracycline/therapeutic use

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori is a well known precursor to gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This study was to determine whether H. pylori was associated with colorectal neoplasms in Korean subjects undergoing routine checkup. METHODS: A total of 10,082 subjects underwent routine checkups from January 2004 to April 2005. A H. pylori IgG test and stool occult blood test were included in the routine checkup program. Colonoscopy was performed if the stool occult blood test was positive or under subject request. Patients who underwent colonoscopy and had histologically confirmed cases of colorectal neoplasms were designanted as the subject group and those without as the control group. RESULTS: Of the 10,082 subjects, 597 had full colonoscopy. The results identified 9 colorectal carcinomas and 118 adenomas. H. pylori seropositivity was identified in 6 (66%) subjects with colorectal carcinoma, 81 (68.6%) with colorectal adenoma and 248 (52.8%) controls. Subjects having colorectal neoplasms had a significantly higher H. pylori seropositivity rate compared with the controls (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.28-2.95). This remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, HbA1c and total cholesterol (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.23-2.93). Patients with distal neoplasms also had a significantly higher H. pylori seroposivity rate (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.17-3.01) which persisted after multivariate adjustment (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.10-2.94). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with colorectal neoplasms present an increased H. pylori seroprevalence compared with controls.
Adenoma/*diagnosis/etiology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol/blood ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/*diagnosis ; Helicobacter pylori/*immunology ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/analysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occult Blood ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUND: Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and H. pylori eradication is used as its first-line therapy. However, controversies exist about the prognostic value of H. pylori infection in these patients. We evaluated the prognostic impact of H. pylori infection and eradication therapy in gastric MALT lymphoma. METHODS: A total of 292 patients diagnosed with MALT lymphoma since 2000 were analysed. MALT lymphoma was diagnosed with tissue biopsy and H. pylori infection was diagnosed with hematoxylin-eosin and additional Warthin-Starry stains on tissue sections. Clinical variables such as bone marrow (BM) involvement, multiorgan involvement, tumor stage at diagnosis, and remission were obtained with retrospective review of electronic medical records. RESULTS: Non-gastric MALT lymphoma patients showed higher multiorgan involvement rates (26.6% vs. 9.6%, P<0.001) and higher proportion of stage > or =3 (27.7% vs. 16.7%, P=0.029) than gastric cases. Regarding gastric MALT lymphoma, patients with H. pylori infection at diagnosis showed significantly less BM (2.1% vs. 21.8%, P<0.001) and multiorgan involvement rates (6.3% vs. 18.2%, P=0.011) than those without infection. But there was no significant difference in remission rates between them. In contrast, those with successful H. pylori eradication therapy showed significantly higher remission rates (81.0% vs. 30.8%, P<0.001) than those with failure. CONCLUSIONS: Non-gastric MALT lymphoma patients showed worse prognosis compared to gastric cases. As for remission rates in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma, successful H. pylori eradication therapy could be a good prognostic factor even if H. pylori infection was present at diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology