Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a high prevalence of chronic infectious pathogens, though not necessarily lead to symptoms, but it can affect the immune system. More than of the world's population harbors the bacterium, and most adult Hp infection was obtained in childhood. Hp infection is a major cause of peptic ulcer, although children rarely suffer from peptic ulcer disease. Hp infection is closely related to chronic gastritis, dyspepsia, chronic diarrhea and recurrent abdominal pain in children. In recent years, Hp infection may also participate in some of non-digestive diseases, such as children's nutritional iron deficiency anemia, growth retardation, malnutrition, autoimmune idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic urticaria, as well as the development of adult atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases and some nervous system diseases. Hp infection can be a lifetime issues of children. Hp infection of children will bring many socio-economic problems. In this paper, the correlation of Hp infection in stomach and oral cavity, and diagnostic technology, prevention as well as treatment strategies for Hp infection will be discussed.
Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Stomach ; microbiology

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the fourth most common cancer globally. There are, however, distinct differences in incidence rates in different geographic regions. While the incidence rate of gastric cancer has been falling, that of gastric cardia cancers is reportedly on the rise in some regions. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major risk factor of non-cardia gastric cancer, and data has emerged concerning the role of H. pylori eradication for primary prevention of gastric cancer. Dietary, lifestyle and metabolic factors have also been implicated. Although addressing these other factors may contribute to health, the actual impact in terms of cancer prevention is unclear. Once irreversible histological changes have occurred, endoscopic surveillance would be necessary. A molecular classification system offers hope for molecularly tailored, personalised therapies for gastric cancer, which may improve the prognosis for patients.
Female ; Global Health ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; prevention & control ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; microbiology ; prevention & control

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Controversy exists regarding the characteristics of Helicobacter pylori infection-negative gastric cancer (HPIN-GC). The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic features of HPIN-GC compared to H. pylori infection-positive gastric cancer (HPIP-GC) using a comprehensive analysis that included genetic and environmental factors. METHODS: H. pylori infection status of 705 resectable gastric cancer patients was determined by the rapid urease test, testing for anti-H. pylori antibodies, histologic analysis and culture of gastric cancer tissue samples, and history of H. pylori eradication. HPIN-GC was defined as gastric cancer that was negative for H. pylori infection based on all five methods and that had no evidence of atrophy in histology or serology. RESULTS: The prevalence of HPIN-GC was 4% (28/705). No significant differences with respect to age, sex, smoking, drinking, family history of gastric cancer or obesity were observed between the two groups. HPIN-GC tumors were marginally more likely to involve the cardia (14.3% for HPIN-GC vs 5.3% for HPIP-GC, p=0.068). The Lauren classification, histology, and TNM stage did not differ according to H. pylori infection status. Microsatellite instability was not different between the two groups, but p53 overexpression in HPIN-GC was marginally higher than in HPIP-GC (56.0% for HPIN-GC vs 37.0% for HPIP-GC, p=0.055). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HPIN-GC was extremely low, and its clinicopathologic characteristics were similar to HPIP-GC.
Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*complications/epidemiology/microbiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology/*microbiology/*pathology/surgery ; Urease/analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Korea was believed to be low until now. Korea is now believed to be on the evolving stage of GERD in its' prevalence. The aims of this study were to evaluate the epidemiologic and clinicopathologic characteristics among the subgroups of GERD i.e. non-erosive GERD (NERD), erosive GERD (ERD) and Barrett's esophagus (BE), and the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in the pathogenesis of GERD. METHODS: A total of 253 patients with typical symptoms of GERD who underwent EGD were enrolled from October 2002 to January 2004. Patients were grouped as NERD, ERD or BE based on the symptoms and endoscopic findings. BE was histologically confirmed if necessary. Various clinical parameters including the status of H. pylori infection were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 253 patients, 106 patients were classified as NERD while 116 and 31 patients were classified as ERD and BE group respectively. BE and ERD group showed no gender predilection while NERD showed female preponderance (2.31:1, p<0.05). NERD group were younger (49.57 y.o.) than BE (57.87 y.o.) and ERD (52.30 y.o.) group. About three quarters of the patients of erosive esophagitis were LA-A (74.2%) grade. This suggests the mild nature of erosive esophagitis in Korea. ERD showed significantly higher BMI (kg/m2) compared to NERD (p<0.05). Hiatal hernia was frequently associated with BE and ERD (p<0.05), but less frequently in NERD. Overall H. pylori positivity among GERD was significantly lower than the age and gender matched control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subgroups of GERD in Korea showed different epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. Lower rate of H. pylori infection among GERD group may reflect the protective role of H. pylori infection regarding GERD prevalence in Korea.
Aged ; Barrett Esophagus/diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections/*complications/drug therapy/epidemiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The connection between Helicobacter pylori and complicated peptic ulcer disease in peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has not been established. In this study, we sought to determine whether delayed H. pylori eradication therapy in PUB patients increases complicated recurrent peptic ulcers. METHODS: We identified inpatient PUB patients using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We categorized patients into early (time lag < or =120 days after peptic ulcer diagnosis) and late H. pylori eradication therapy groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used. The primary outcome was rehospitalization for patients with complicated recurrent peptic ulcers. RESULTS: Our data indicated that the late H. pylori eradication therapy group had a higher rate of complicated recurrent peptic ulcers (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; p=0.006), with time lags of more than 120 days. However, our results indicated a similar risk of complicated recurrent peptic ulcers (HR, 1.20; p=0.275) in time lags of more than 1 year and (HR, 1.10; p=0.621) more than 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori eradication within 120 days was associated with decreased complicated recurrent peptic ulcers in patients with PUB. We recommend that H. pylori eradication should be conducted within 120 days in patients with PUB.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Readmission/*statistics & numerical data ; Peptic Ulcer/complications/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage/complications ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Time-to-Treatment/*statistics & numerical data ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was performed to evaluate whether the prevalence rates of primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isolates and the eradication rate of H. pylori could be different between cancer and non-cancer patients. METHODS: H. pylori were isolated from gastric mucosal biopsy specimens obtained from 269 Koreans, who did not have any eradication therapy history and were diagnosed as one of the following diseases; chronic gastritis, benign gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer or gastric cancer. The susceptibilities of the H. pylori isolates to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin were examined with the agar dilution method. In addition, eradication rate of H. pylori was evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the primary antibiotic resistance to above eight antibiotics among chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Furthermore there was no difference of antibiotic resistance between cancer and non-cancer patients, and there was no difference of eradication rate of H. pylori according to disease. CONCLUSIONS: Primary antibiotic resistance and H. pylori eradication rate were not different between cancer and non-cancer patients.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Amoxicillin/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Clarithromycin/therapeutic use ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Duodenal Ulcer/complications/microbiology ; Female ; Gastritis/complications/microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Omeprazole/therapeutic use ; Peptic Ulcer/complications/microbiology ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Republic of Korea ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications/microbiology