Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is acquired mainly in early childhood but the precise transmission routes are unclear. This study examined the maternal H. pylori infection status in order to determine the potential of perinatal transmission. These issues were investigated using an experimental murine model, the Mongolian gerbil, which has been reported to be the most suitable laboratory animal model for studying H. pylori. Pregnant Mongolian gerbils, infected experimentally with H. pylori, were divided into two groups. The stomachs of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for the transmission of H. pylori at the prenatal period (2 weeks after pregnancy) and at the parturition day. The bacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid urease test were used to examine the presence of the transmitted H. pylori. There was no H. pylori observed in any of the fetuses during pregnancy and in the litters at parturition. This suggests that vertical infection during the prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely to be route of mother-tochild transmission of a H. pylori infection.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Female ; Gerbillinae ; Helicobacter Infections/microbiology/*transmission ; Helicobacter pylori/*growth&development ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*microbiology ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Stomach Diseases/*microbiology

PURPOSE: Oral mucositis is a common toxicity of radiation or chemotherapy, which is used a treatment for head and neck cancer. We investigated effects of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on radiation-induced oral mucositis in rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spraque-Dawley rats (7 per group) exposed to a single dose of 25 Gy (day 0) on their head, except for one group, were randomly divided into un-treated, vehicle-treated, and two rhEGF- treated groups. Rats were topically applied with rhEGF (15 or 30 microgram/oral cavity/day) or vehicle to their oral mucosa. Survival rate of rats, weight changes, and food intakes were examined from day 0 to 18 after radiation. Histology study was performed from oral mucosa of rats at day 7 and 18 after radiation. RESULTS: rhEGF-treated groups (15 or 30 microgram/day) showed all survival rate 33%, whereas un-treated and vehicle-treated groups showed all survival rate 0% at the end of experiment. rhEGF-treated groups statistically had less weight loss compared to vehicle-treated group from day 2 to 7 after radiation. Food intake of rats with rhEGF treatment turned to increase at day 14 after radiation. At 7 day after radiation, un-treated and vehicle-treated groups showed severe pseudomembraneous or ulcerative oral mucositis. On the other hand, rhEGF-treated groups had no more than cellular swelling and degeneration of epidermal cells in oral mucosa of rats. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that rhEGF has significantly positive effects on radiation-induced oral mucositis in rats. rhEGF display a therapeutic potential on a clinical level.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Eating ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Hand ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans* ; Models, Animal ; Mouth Mucosa ; Rats* ; Stomatitis* ; Survival Rate ; Ulcer ; Weight Loss