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Al Ofairi BA, Saeed MK, Al-Qubaty M, Abdulkareem AM, Al-Jahrani MA. Diagnostic value of IgG antibody and stool antigen tests for chronic Helicobacter pylori infections in Ibb Governorate, Yemen. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7536. [PMID: 38553516 PMCID: PMC10980813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58165-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The stool antigen test (SAT) and the serum Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) IgG antibody assays exhibit significant utility in the clinical diagnosis of H. pylori infection and in distinguishing between acute and chronic infections. The main objective of the current study was to identify the diagnostic value of serum H. pylori IgG antibody and SAT in the detection of H. pylori infections among chronic H. pylori-infected patients residing in Ibb Governorate, Yemen. 200 patients with H. pylori infection, confirmed through positive results in the serum immunochromatographic antibody test, were selected for H. pylori infection confirmation using serum H. pylori IgG antibodies and SAT across diverse hospitals, gastroenterology, and Hepatology clinics in Ibb Governorate. After the selection of patients, blood and stool specimens were obtained from all participants and underwent analysis via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The prevalence of H. pylori infection demonstrated variability based on the confirmatory tests, with rates of 54% for SAT and 78.5% for serum H. pylori IgG antibody, contrasting with a 100% prevalence observed in the screening serum immunochromatographic antibody test. Clinically, the study categorized H. pylori infections into four stages, whereby a significant proportion of patients (40.5%) exhibited positivity for both serum H. pylori IgG antibody and SAT, indicative of active chronic infections. The majority of positive cases only manifested serum H. pylori IgG antibody presence (chronic infections) at 38%, whereas 13.5% exclusively tested positive for SAT, corresponding to acute infections. Moreover, 88% of patients did not have either serum H. pylori IgG antibody or SAT (absence of infections) during confirmatory tests. Noteworthy is the study's approach employing multiple tests for H. pylori infection detection, focusing predominantly on chronic infections-prevailing types caused by H. pylori. The results revealed a significant association between serum levels of H. pylori IgG antibody and SAT results with the presence of diverse gastrointestinal symptoms among patients, which increased with long H. pylori infection durations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashir A Al Ofairi
- Section of Microbiology, Departement of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
- Departement of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Queen Arwa University, Sana'a, Yemen.
| | - Marwan K Saeed
- Section of Microbiology, Departement of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
- Department of Medical Laboratories, University of Science and Technology, Ibb, Yemen.
| | | | - Ahmed M Abdulkareem
- Section of Microbiology, Departement of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Majed A Al-Jahrani
- Section of Microbiology, Departement of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
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Saeed MK, Al-Ofairi BA, Hassan MA, Al-Jahrani MA, Abdulkareem AM. The clinical significance of some serum tumor markers among chronic patients with Helicobacter pylori infections in Ibb Governorate, Yemen. Infect Agent Cancer 2023; 18:60. [PMID: 37828556 PMCID: PMC10571253 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-023-00542-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a carcinogenic bacterium, it is the greatest risk factor for gastric cancer (GC), according to these evidences, there may be a certain association between chronic H. pylori infections and serum levels of tumor markers. This study was conducted to determine serum levels of some tumor markers, namely carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and cancer antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) in patients with chronic H. pylori infections and evaluate the association between serum tumor marker levels and chronic patients with H. pylori infections in Ibb Governorate, Yemen. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This study involved 200 patients who had been diagnosed with H. pylori infections using a serum immunochromatography antibody test. Stool and blood samples were collected from all patients to confirm the presence of H. pylori through detection of serum H. pylori IgG antibody and stool antigen test (SAT). Additionally, serum samples were analyzed to measurement the level of certain tumor markers CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4. These tests were conducted at various Hospitals, Gastroenterology and Hepatology clinics in Ibb governorate, Yemen from October 2019 to November 2020. RESULTS The findings of current study showed that the prevalence of H. pylori infections by rapid anti H. pylori test were 200 (100%), 157 (78.5%) by serum H. pylori IgG antibody and 108 (54%) by SAT. In addition, the results showed that 42 (21%) of the patients had abnormal level of CEA, 30 (15%) had abnormal level of CA19-9 and 31 (15.5%) had abnormal level of CA72-4. Most importantly, the results indicated that the serum tumor marker levels CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 were correlated with the levels of serum H. pylori IgG antibody as well as positive results from the SAT (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results indicated that serum tumor marker levels were associated with different infection status. Finally, the results indicated that the serum levels of tumor markers were associated with older ages, symptomatic patients and long duration of H. pylori infections (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The findings of this study indicated that there is a significant association between chronic H. pylori infections and the serum levels of tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4). This suggests that the patients with active chronic H. pylori infection may have an increased risk of developing GC. Therefore, monitoring and early detection of H. pylori infection and tumor markers levels in these patients may be crucial for identifying individuals at higher risk and implementing appropriate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan K Saeed
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
- Department of Medical Laboratories, University of Science and Technology, Ibb, Yemen.
| | - B A Al-Ofairi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
- Departement of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Queen Arwa University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Mohammed A Hassan
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen
| | - M A Al-Jahrani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Ahmed M Abdulkareem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
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Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Virulence Genes and Their Association with Chronic Gastritis in Beijing, China. Curr Microbiol 2022; 80:33. [PMID: 36482124 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-03135-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is closely related to chronic gastritis. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between H. pylori virulence genes and chronic gastritis in order to determine the pathogenic role of H. pylori virulence genes in chronic gastritis. Gastric mucosal tissues were obtained from 142 patients with chronic gastritis at three Beijing hospitals. The presence of virulence genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from H. pylori DNA. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and a phylogenetic tree were performed to characterize the overall genetic diversity. 91 new sequence types were identified by MLST in this study, and all strains showed high genetic diversity. The H. pylori isolates were divided into three types: hspEAsia strains (61 strains), hpEurope strains (15 strains), and mixed strains (16 strains). Some virulence genes were found to be significantly different between strains. The highest positive rates were found for dupA in chronic atrophic gastritis (AG), iceA1 in chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosions, and iceA2 in chronic non-atrophic gastritis. The presence of dupA was found to be inversely related to the risk of AG. The H. pylori strains display high genetic diversity. Some virulence genes were found to be significantly different between diseases. The detection of various virulence genes is critical for screening high-risk populations for precancerous lesions and for the early prevention and control of gastric cancer.
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Brown G, Hoedt EC, Keely S, Shah A, Walker MM, Holtmann G, Talley NJ. Role of the duodenal microbiota in functional dyspepsia. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022; 34:e14372. [PMID: 35403776 PMCID: PMC9786680 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common and debilitating gastrointestinal disorder attributed to altered gut-brain interactions. While the etiology of FD remains unknown, emerging research suggests the mechanisms are likely multifactorial and heterogenous among patient subgroups. Small bowel motor disturbances, visceral hypersensitivity, chronic microinflammation, and increased intestinal tract permeability have all been linked to the pathogenesis of FD. Recently, alterations to the gut microbiome have also been implicated to play an important role in the disease. Changes to the duodenal microbiota may either trigger or be a consequence of immune and neuronal disturbances observed in the disease, but the mechanisms of influence of small intestinal flora on gastrointestinal function and symptomatology are unknown. PURPOSE This review summarizes and synthesizes the literature on the link between the microbiota, low-grade inflammatory changes in the duodenum and FD. This review is not intended to provide a complete overview of FD or the small intestinal microbiota, but instead outline some of the key conceptual advances in understanding the interactions between altered gastrointestinal bacterial communities; dietary factors; host immune activation; and stimulation of the gut-brain axes in patients with FD versus controls. Current and emerging treatment approaches such as dietary interventions and antibiotic or probiotic use that have demonstrated symptom benefits for patients are reviewed, and their role in modulating the host-microbiota is discussed. Finally, suggested opportunities for diagnostic and therapeutic improvements for patients with this condition are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Brown
- School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Emily C. Hoedt
- AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,School of Biomedical Sciences and PharmacyUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,Hunter Medical Research InstituteNew Lambton HeightsNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Simon Keely
- AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,School of Biomedical Sciences and PharmacyUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,Hunter Medical Research InstituteNew Lambton HeightsNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ayesha Shah
- AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health and Behavioural SciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Marjorie M. Walker
- School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Gerald Holtmann
- AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health and Behavioural SciencesThe University of QueenslandSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia,Department of Gastroenterology & HepatologyPrincess Alexandra HospitalWoolloongabbaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Nicholas J. Talley
- School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,AGIRA (Australian Gastrointestinal Research Alliance)NewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive HealthNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia,Hunter Medical Research InstituteNew Lambton HeightsNewcastleNew South WalesAustralia
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Park JM, Lee SY, Kim JH, Sung IK, Park HS. Prognosis of Seronegative Subjects with a Helicobacter pylori-infected Spouse. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF HELICOBACTER AND UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.7704/kjhugr.2021.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background/Aims: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can disseminate between couples. The present study compared the findings of gastric cancer screening between seronegative subjects according to the presence of an infected spouse.Materials and Methods: Follow-up data of seronegative subjects were analyzed among married couples who underwent gastric cancer screening via gastroscopy, serum pepsinogen, and anti-H. pylori IgG assays between January 2010 and May 2016. New detection rates of H. pylori infection and gastric neoplasm at the follow-up screening were compared between seronegative subjects according to the H. pylori-infected status of spouse.Results: Among 246 seronegative subjects with an H. pylori-infected spouse, 92 underwent follow-up tests (case group). Among 278 seronegative subjects with seronegative spouse, 94 underwent follow-up tests (control group). The past infection rate was higher in the case group than in the control group (52/92 vs. 34/94; P=0.005). New H. pylori infection was diagnosed in three of the 92 cases and two of the 94 controls (3.2% vs. 2.1%; P=0.681). During the mean follow-up of 67.9±36.0 months, three adenocarcinomas and two adenomas (5/184) were newly detected among the cases and their spouses, whereas none (0/188) were detected among the controls and their spouses (2.7% vs. 0%; P=0.029).Conclusions: Gastric neoplasm occurred more frequently in couples with an H. pylori-infected spouse. Because the past infection rate is higher among seronegative subjects with an infected spouse, gastric cancer screening is recommended in both partners when the spouse is infected.
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Han HS, Lee SY, Oh SY, Moon HW, Cho H, Kim JH. Correlations of the Gastric and Duodenal Microbiota with Histological, Endoscopic, and Symptomatic Gastritis. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8030312. [PMID: 30841591 PMCID: PMC6462939 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal inflammation is characterized by neutrophil and mononuclear cell infiltration. This study aimed to determine the gastric and duodenal microbiota associated with histological, endoscopic, and symptomatic gastritis. Dyspeptic adults who presented for evaluation were included. Subjects with either comorbidities or recent drug intake were excluded. Three endoscopic biopsies were obtained from the antrum, body, and duodenum. Next-generation sequencing for 16S ribosomal RNA V1⁻V2 hypervariable regions was performed. The correlation between the composition of microbiota and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, endoscopic findings, and Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Disorders Symptom Severity Index (PAGI-SYM) score was analyzed. In 98 included subjects, microbial communities in the antrum and body showed Bray⁻Curtis similarity; however, those in the duodenum showed dissimilarity. Histological and endoscopic gastritis was associated with the abundance of Helicobacter pylori and that of commensal bacteria in the stomach. The abundances of Variovorax paradoxus and Porphyromonas gingivalis were correlated with histological gastritis, but not with endoscopic or symptomatic gastritis. The total PAGI-SYM score showed a stronger correlation with the duodenal microbiota (Prevotella nanceiensis and Alloprevotella rava) than with the gastric microbiota (H. pylori, Neisseria elongate, and Corynebacterium segmentosum). Different correlations of the gastric and duodenal microbiota with histological, endoscopic, and symptomatic gastritis were observed for the first time at the species level. H. pylori-negative gastritis is not associated with endoscopic or symptomatic gastritis. Only H. pylori-induced endoscopic gastritis requires gastric cancer surveillance. Owing to the weak correlation with H. pylori, symptomatic gastritis should be assessed separately from histological and endoscopic gastritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Seung Han
- Department of Pathology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05030, Korea.
| | - Sun-Young Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05030, Korea.
| | - Seo Young Oh
- Department of Pathology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05030, Korea.
| | - Hee Won Moon
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05030, Korea.
| | - Hyunseok Cho
- R&D Center, BioCore. Co. Ltd., Seoul 08511, Korea.
| | - Ji-Hoon Kim
- R&D Center, BioCore. Co. Ltd., Seoul 08511, Korea.
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Jung HK, Talley NJ. Role of the Duodenum in the Pathogenesis of Functional Dyspepsia: A Paradigm Shift. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018; 24:345-354. [PMID: 29791992 PMCID: PMC6034675 DOI: 10.5056/jnm18060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder characterized by chronic epigastric pain or burning, or bothersome postprandial fullness or early satiation, without a definitive organic cause. The pathogenesis of FD is likely heterogeneous. Classically, motor disorders, visceral hypersensitivity, and brain-gut interactions have been implicated in the pathophysiology of FD, but recently an important role for chronic low-grade inflammation and infection in FD has been reported and confirmed. Duodenal low-grade inflammation is frequently observed in FD in those with and without documented previous gastroenteritis. Duodenal eosinophils and in some cases mast cells may together or separately play a key role, and immune activation (eg, circulating homing small intestinal T cells) has been observed in FD. Low-grade intestinal inflammation in patients with FD may provoke impairment in motor-sensory abnormalities along the gastrointestinal neural axis. Among FD patients, the risk of developing dyspeptic symptoms after a bout of gastroenteritis is 2.54 (95% CI, 1.76–3.65) at more than 6 months after acute gastroenteritis. Gut host and microbial interactions are likely important, and emerging data demonstrate both quantitative and qualitative changes of duodenal mucosal and fecal microbiota in FD. Food antigens (eg, wheat proteins) may also play a role in inducing duodenal inflammation and dyspepsia. While causation is not established, the hypothesis that FD is a disorder of microscopic small intestinal inflammation in a major subset is gaining acceptance, opening the possibility of novel treatment approaches that may be able to alter the natural history of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Kyung Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nicholas J Talley
- University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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Kawachi K, Sakata Y, Hara M, Takeshita E, Kawakubo H, Yamaguchi D, Okamoto N, Shimoda R, Iwakiri R, Tsuruoka N, Kusano M, Fujimoto K. Higher frequency of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy young Japanese females compared to males and older generations. Esophagus 2018; 15:83-87. [PMID: 29892932 PMCID: PMC5884897 DOI: 10.1007/s10388-017-0598-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in upper gastrointestinal symptoms between generations and genders in relatively healthy Japanese subjects. METHODS Altogether, 4086 healthy Japanese male and female (M/F) adults (M/F: 2244/1842) were analyzed. Among them, 3505 subjects (M/F: 1922/1583) were underwent a routine medical checkup at one of five hospitals in Saga, Japan from January 2013 to December 2013. The others were 581 (M/F: 322/259) healthy young volunteers at the Saga Medical School from April 2007 to March 2013. The participants were asked to complete the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflex disease (FSSG) questionnaire, undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and submit to a rapid urease test to diagnose Helicobacter pylori infection. Among the 4086 subjects, the 2414 who had no H. pylori infection and no positive endoscopic findings were enrolled in the study. RESULTS Subjects' average age was 46.9 ± 12.2 years, with males' and females' ages being almost equivalent. The total FSSG score were high in females compared to males (P < 0.01) and decreased significantly with aging (P < 0.05). Among the generations, FSSG scores were the highest for those 20-29 years old, and they were significantly decreased with ageing in both males and females (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The FSSG score was significantly higher in healthy Japanese females than in males, and the scores decreased with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kojiro Kawachi
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Sakata
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Megumi Hara
- Departments of Preventive Medicine, Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan
| | - Eri Takeshita
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroharu Kawakubo
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamaguchi
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Norihiro Okamoto
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Ryo Shimoda
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Iwakiri
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Nanae Tsuruoka
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Motoyasu Kusano
- Department of Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery, Gunma University Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kazuma Fujimoto
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.
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