Sk Lam

Helicobacter pylori and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in bronchiectasis.

The recently reported increase in seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori, the causative pathogen in peptic ulceration, in bronchiectasis is unexplained. Therefore, the association of antibodies directed against cytotoxin-associated gene A(CagA), whose expression indicates virulence of H. pylori, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with stable bronchiectasis and healthy volunteers evaluated. One hundred patients (mean +/- SD age 55.1+/-16.7 yrs) and 94 healthy asymptomatic subjects (54.6+/-7.6 yrs) underwent clinical and physiological assessment and serum levels of anti-H. pylori CagA were determined using standard clinical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Samples were positive for anti-H. pylori CagA in 11.7% of controls and 24% of bronchiectatic subjects (p = 0.03). There was, however, no association between serum H. pylori CagA immunoglobulin G level and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), sputum volume, respiratory symptoms or upper respiratory gastrointestinal symptoms (p>0.05). Patients who suffered from acid regurgitation or upper abdominal distension had significantly lower FEV1 and FVC (as a percentage of the predicted value) compared to their counterparts. The results of anticytotoxin-associated gene A measurements in this study contrasted with the previous finding that anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G correlated with sputum volume. These findings, therefore, suggest that Helicobacter pylori, should it have a pathogenic role in bronchiectasis, could act via noncytotoxin-associated gene A-mediated mechanisms, and, in this context, gastro-oesophageal reflux might be of importance in bronchiectasis.

CagA positive strains increase the risk of gastric cancer in Hong Kong with moderate prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer mortality

This journal suppl. entitled: The American Gastroenterological Association and Digestive Disease Week

Mixed genotype and metronidazole susceptibility patterns of Helicobacter pylori in Hong Kong

Digestive Disease Week and the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association, San Diego, CA, USA, 21–24 May 2000. In Gastroenterology, 2000, v. 118 n. 4, pt. 1, p. A503, abstract no. 2695

TNF-α and IL-1β induce interleukin 8 response in human gastric epithelial cells and the signal pathway is mediated by protein tyrosine kinase and dexamethasone-sensitive mechanism

The American Gastroenterological Association and Digestive Disease Week, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 17–20 May 1998. In Gastroenterology, 1998, v. 114 Suppl. 1, p. A585, abstract no. G2397