Mucosal changes in the gastric remnant: long-term effects of bile reflux diversion and Helicobacter pylori infection

Role of New Anatomy, Biliopancreatic Reflux, and Helicobacter Pylori Status in Postgastrectomy Stump Cancer

Distal gastrectomy for benign gastroduodenal peptic disease has become rare, but it still represents a widely adopted procedure for advanced and, in some countries, even for early distal gastric cancer. Survival rates following surgery for gastric malignancy are constantly improving, hence the residual mucosa of the gastric stump is exposed for a prolonged period to biliopancreatic reflux and, possibly, to Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. Biliopancreatic reflux and HP infection are considered responsible for gastritis and metachronous carcinoma in the gastric stump after oncologic surgery. For gastrectomy patients, in addition to eradication treatment for cases that are already HP positive, endoscopic surveillance should also be recommended, for prompt surveillance and detection in the residual mucosa of any metaplastic-atrophic-dysplastic features following surgery.

Etiological Analysis of Reactive Gastropathy in an Urban Population

Background

Reactive gastropathy (RG) is an adaptive response to assaults of the gastric mucosa. Demographic information regarding RG as well as the coincidence of RG and gastrointestinal cancer are poorly characterized entities.

Objective

Herein, we aim to investigate relationships of RG to both modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors, as well as conduct a stratified analysis by race in an ethnically diverse, urban population.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we queried an urban hospital inpatient pathology database searching for patients with surgical gastric biopsies positive for RG between March 25, 2015, and March 25, 2016. Of the 728 patients with a final diagnosis of RG, 292 were selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. We explored risk factors and conducted a stratified analysis for associations based on patient demographics.

Results

In this urban minority population, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most common medication associated with RG (Fig. 1), as well as the most common cause of RG, followed by chronic bile reflux. In addition, significant differences in demographics and gastropathic characteristics associated with RG, stratified by ethnicity, were found (Fig. 2). Notably, Hispanics, African Americans, and Caucasians had the highest rate of concomitant RG and diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco/alcohol use, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that NSAID usage is the most common cause of RG, followed by bile reflux-mediated mucosal injury, in an ethnically diverse urban US-based population. Of note, few patients had intestinal metaplasia, suggesting it to be a slow or negligent sequela of RG.

Conditional survival and recurrence of remnant gastric cancer after surgical resection: A multi-institutional study

The present study was designed to evaluate the dynamic survival and recurrence of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) after radical resection and to provide a reference for the development of personalized follow-up strategies. A total of 298 patients were analyzed for their 3-year conditional overall survival (COS3), 3-year conditional disease-specific survival (CDSS3), corresponding recurrence and pattern changes, and associated risk factors. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and the 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) of the entire cohort were 41.2% and 45.8%, respectively. The COS3 and CDDS3 of RGC patients who survived for 5 years were 84.0% and 89.8%, respectively. The conditional survival in patients with unfavorable prognostic characteristics showed greater growth over time than in those with favorable prognostic characteristics (eg, COS3, ≥T3: 46.4%-83.0%, Δ36.6% vs ≤T2: 82.4%-85.7%, Δ3.3%; P < 0.001). Most recurrences (93.5%) occurred in the first 3 years after surgery. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage was the only factor that affected recurrence. Time-dependent Cox regression showed that for both OS and DSS, after 4 years of survival, the common prognostic factors that were initially judged lost their ability to predict survival (P > 0.05). Time-dependent logistic regression analysis showed that the AJCC stage independently affected recurrence within 2 years after surgery (P < 0.05). A postoperative follow-up model was developed for RGC patients. In conclusion, patients with RGC usually have a high likelihood of death or recurrence within 3 years after radical surgery. We developed a postoperative follow-up model for RGC patients of different stages, which may affect the design of future clinical trials.

Dynamic Changes in Helicobacter pylori Status Following Gastric Cancer Surgery

Background/Aims

Helicobacter pylori eradication is recommended in patients with early gastric cancer. However, the possibility of spontaneous regression raises a question for clinicians about the need for "retesting" postoperative H. pylori status.

Methods

Patients who underwent curative gastrectomy at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and had a positive H. pylori status without eradication therapy at the time of gastric cancer diagnosis were prospectively enrolled in this study. H. pylori status and atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) histologic status were assessed pre- and postoperatively.

Results

One hundred forty patients (mean age, 59.0 years; 60.7% male) underwent subtotal gastrectomy with B-I (65.0%), B-II (27.1%), Roux-en-Y (4.3%), jejunal interposition (0.7%), or proximal gastrectomy (4.3%). Preoperative presence of AG (62.9%) and IM (72.9%) was confirmed. The mean period between surgery and the last endoscopic follow-up was 38.0±25.6 months. Of the 140 patients, 80 (57.1%) were found to be persistently positive for H. pylori, and 60 (42.9%) showed spontaneous negative conversion at least once during follow-up. Of these 60 patients, eight (13.3%) showed more complex postoperative dynamic changes between negative and positive results. The spontaneous negative conversion group showed a trend of having more postoperative IM compared to the persistent H. pylori group.

Conclusions

A high percentage of spontaneous regression and complex dynamic changes in H. pylori status were observed after partial gastrectomy, especially in individuals with postoperative histological IM. It is better to consider postoperative eradication therapy after retesting for H. pylori.

Histologic differentiation and mucin phenotype in white opaque substance-positive gastric neoplasias

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The authors previously reported that the white opaque substance (WOS) in gastric epithelial neoplasia was caused by accumulation of lipid droplets by immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic studies of adipophilin, which was recently identified and validated as a marker of lipid droplets. The aim of the current study was to investigate the characteristics of the histologic differentiation and mucin phenotype in WOS-positive gastric epithelial neoplasias.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 130 gastric epithelial neoplasias (45 adenomas and 85 early adenocarcinomas) from 120 patients were retrospectively evaluated. The presence or absence of WOS was evaluated by M-NBI. Lipids were examined by immunohistochemical staining for adipophilin. Tissue phenotypes were immunohistochemically classified as intestinal (I), gastrointestinal (GI), and gastric (G) using antibodies against CD10, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6. The histologic differentiation and mucin phenotype of WOS-positive neoplasias were characterized and examined according to adipophilin expression.

RESULTS

The presence of WOS by M-NBI was correlated with histologic differences between adenoma or differentiated type adenocarcinoma and mixed type or undifferentiated type adenocarcinoma (P = 0.0153). Adipophilin was only expressed in primary adenoma and well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma components but not in undifferentiated components. WOS and adipophilin expression were only observed in neoplasias with I or GI phenotypes, but not in those with the G phenotype (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

WOS in gastric epithelial neoplasias might indicate differentiation into a mature histological subtype with GI or I mucin phenotype.

Intestinal metaplasia and anastomotic recurrence of gastric carcinoma

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) of the stomach has been shown to increase the relative risk of gastric cancer. Endoscopic surveillance has been proposed and advocated for populations at risk. Those patients who had undergone surgery for gastric malignancy exhibited precancerous lesions such as atrophic gastritis and IM, and the possibility of anastomotic recurrence is higher than for the patients who had undergone benign gastric surgery. At present, there are no other recognized good markers of gastric dysplasia or cancer. We reviewed the literature on IM of the stomach to ascertain whether residual premalignant (type III) IM may predispose to anastomotic recurrence of gastric cancer.

Spontaneous clearance of Helicobacter pylori after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Residual mucosa in the gastric stump after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) is considered a risk factor for the development of gastric stump carcinoma (GSC). Duodenogastric reflux (DGR) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection are suspected to contribute to the development of GSC. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori in the residual stomach after PPG for gastric cancer and to assess factors associated with the presence of H. pylori. We investigated 72 patients who had undergone PPG at least 1 year prior to the study and were confirmed to be positive for H. pylori infection on presurgical endoscopic biopsy. The extent of DGR, the prevalence of H. pylori infection based on H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) tests and the severity of gastritis were analyzed in these post-PPG patients. None of the patients had DGR, as shown by (99m)Tc-PMT. Of the 72 post-PPG patients, 33 (46%) were positive for HpSA. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly lower after surgery than before surgery. The endoscopic severity of remnant gastritis, as well as histological inflammation and activity, were higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in H. pylori-negative patients. In conclusion, some patients who undergo PPG and are negative for DGR experience spontaneous clearance of H. pylori infection.

Histological features of the gastric mucosa in children with primary bile reflux gastritis

BACKGROUND

Bile reflux is one of the primary factors involved in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal lesions in patients with chronic gastritis; however, little is known about the exact histological features of bile reflux and its contributions to gastric mucosal lesions in this disease, especially in children with primary bile reflux gastritis (BRG). The aim of this study was to investigate the classic histological changes of the gastric mucosa in children with primary BRG.

METHODS

The Bilitec 2000 was used for 24 h monitoring of gastric bile in 59 children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The histological characteristics of the gastric mucosa were examined and scored.

RESULTS

Thirteen of the 59 patients had a helicobacter pylori infection and were excluded; therefore, 46 cases were included in this study. The positive rate of pathological duodenogastric reflux was significantly higher in patients with foveolar hyperplasia than those without foveolar hyperplasia; however, the rate was significantly lower in patients with vascular congestion than those without vascular congestion. The longest reflux time and the total percentage time of bile reflux were significantly lower in patients with vascular congestion than those without vascular congestion. A total of 9 types of histological changes were analyzed using a binary logistic regression. Foveolar hyperplasia and vascular congestion in the superficial layer became significant variables in the last step of the stepwise regression.

CONCLUSIONS

Foveolar hyperplasia was associated with the severity of bile reflux, suggesting that it is a histological feature of primary BRG in children, while vascular congestion may be a protective factor.

Significance of SUV on Follow-up F-18 FDG PET at the Anastomotic Site of Gastroduodenostomy after Distal Subtotal Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to characterize the patterns of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on F-18 FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) at the anastomotic site of gastroduodenostomy after distal subtotal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS

From May 2007 to May 2010, two or more follow-up measurements using FDG PET/CT scans were done for 19 patients (11 men, 8 women; mean age, 62.0 ± 10.3 years) who underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy between February 2006 and March 2008 for detecting gastric cancer recurrence at our medical center. The FDG PET/CT images were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with local recurrence, regional nodal metastasis or distant metastasis on follow-up studies were excluded. CT and endoscopy were done within 1 month before or after the FDG PET/CT scan. Eight patients had two follow-ups of FDG PET/CT, and 11 patients had three follow-ups. The mean interval between surgery and the first follow-up FDG PET/CT was 12.9 ± 0.8 months (n = 19); between the first and second it was 12.3 ± 1.0 months (n = 19); between the second and third it was 11.6 ± 0.7 months (n = 11). The F-18 FDG uptakes at the anastomotic site and fundus in the remnant stomach were measured by maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) using a region of interest technique.

RESULTS

The SUVmax at the anastomotic site was significantly higher than that of the fundus on all series of first, second and third follow-up studies (3.3 ± 1.1 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7, p < 0.001: 3.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.2 ± 0.7, p = 0.001: 3.0 ± 0.6 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7, p = 0.006, respectively). The SUVmax for the anastomotic site and fundus, and SUVmax ratio for the anastomotic site over the fundus were not significantly different throughout the series.

CONCLUSION

The SUVmax at the anastomotic site is significantly higher than that of the fundus and does not decrease significantly over time. Therefore, the local recurrence of gastric cancer after surgery could not be definitely differentiated from physiologic uptake or postoperative inflammatory change.

Increased mortality in prostate carcinoma and smoking-related disease after parietal cell vagotomy: a long-term follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

There is an increased risk of gastrointestinal carcinoma and smoking-related diseases after partial gastrectomy for peptic ulcer disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term cancer incidence and mortality after parietal cell vagotomy (PCV), a surgical method with a low rate of side effects, but creating hypochlorhydria in the stomach mimicking long-term treatment with antisecretory drugs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data on 383 ulcer patients operated on with PCV during 1971-80 at Lund University Hospital were compared with the national registers for cause of death and cancer incidence for selected diagnoses. Median follow-up was 28 years and 31 years, respectively. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated.

RESULTS

An increased incidence of cancer in the respiratory organs (SIR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.08-3.31) and prostate carcinoma (SIR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.22-2.69) was found, and among men also an increased mortality in prostate carcinoma (SMR 3.85, 95% CI: 1.41-8.38) and chronic respiratory disease (SMR 2.76, 95% CI: 1.01-6.02). Overall mortality was similar to that of the background population and no increased risk of gastrointestinal malignancies was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with peptic ulcer operated on with PCV have a long-term increased risk of smoking-related diseases, but PCV does not seem to increase the risk of gastrointestinal carcinoma. An increased risk of, and mortality in prostate carcinoma was found, a cancer previously not found to be related to smoking. This might be the result of surgery-induced hypochlorhydria, which warrants further investigation in patients on long-term proton-pump inhibitors.

Role of bile reflux and Helicobacter pylori infection on inflammation of gastric remnant after distal gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE

The influence of the main pathogenic factors on remnant gastritis is still to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of bile reflux and Helicobacter pylori infection on endoscopic inflammation and histological changes of gastric remnant after distal gastrectomy.

METHODS

A total of 281 patients with a more than 1-year history of distal gastrectomy were retrospectively involved after excluding those with tumors and ulcers on endoscopy. The severity of endoscopic remnant gastritis and bile reflux were recorded during the endoscopy. The histological changes including chronic inflammation, activity, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and H. pylori were evaluated independently.

RESULTS

An endoscopic inflammation of remnant gastric mucosae was found in 81.1% (228/281) of the patients. The prevalence of H. pylori infection and bile reflux in patients with endoscopic remnant gastritis was more common than in those without gastritis (21.5%vs 0%, 88.6%vs 24.5%, P < 0.0001). The score of histological chronic inflammation was significantly higher in patients with bile reflux than in those without obvious bile reflux (1.65 vs 1.45, P = 0.02). Chronic inflammation (1.82 vs 1.57), activity (0.78 vs 0.34), atrophy (0.67 vs 0.41) and intestinal metaplasia (0.67 vs 0.27) in H. pylori-positive patients were all significantly more severe than in H. pylori-negative patients.

CONCLUSION

Bile reflux and H. pylori infection exacerbates the severity of endoscopic remnant gastritis and chronic histological inflammation.

Metastatic gastric stump cancer occurring six years after a partial gastrectomy for gastric ulcer

Gastric stump cancer (GSC) is known to occur following partial gastrectomy for benign diseases. The risk is believed to increase four-to-five-fold 20 years after gastrectomy. We report a 41-year-old man with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the gastric stump six years after he underwent a partial gastrectomy for a gastric ulcer, following a major rebleeding episode. We highlight the need for identification of patients at risk of developing gastric stump cancer-especially as it has now been described in patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery for obesity-a population that continues to increase.

Endoscopic Screening for Remnant Gastric Cancer: Points to be Considered

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It is difficult to detect early gastric cancer (EGC) during endoscopic surveillance because the remnant stomach is usually deformed after surgical resection and the mucosa at the gastric stump are changed due to bile reflux. In this study, we aimed to determine the characteristic endoscopic findings of cancer in the remnant stomach.

METHODS

Fifty-five remnant gastric cancer (RGC) patients were classified into three groups according to location and elapsed time after surgery. Among 32 RGCs that developed less than 10 years after surgery, 21 lesions were located close to the anastomosis site (recurrent cancers), whereas 11 lesions were not (residual cancers). Twenty-three cancers developed at least 10 years after surgery (newly developed cancers). The endoscopic features were compared among these groups.

RESULTS

Most patients (29/32, 91%) with residual or recurrent cancer developed their tumors within five years after surgery, and the proportion of EGC was 43.8% (14/32). However, 91.3% (21/23) of newly developed cancers were advanced gastric cancers. When classified according to the Japanese classification system for EGC, 71% (5/7) of the residual cancers were of the elevated type, whereas 86% (6/7) of the recurrent cancers were of the depressed type (p=0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

During the first 5 years after subtotal gastrectomy, endoscopists should mainly try to find depressed lesions on the anastomosis site as well as elevated lesions on the non-anastomosis site.

Gastric stump carcinoma - epidemiology and current concepts in pathogenesis and treatment

AIM

The aim of this article is to review the aetiology, pathology and treatment of gastric stump carcinoma (GSC). GSC is an uncommon tumour; however, the incidence is not declining, so this tumour entity will be encountered in the years to come.

METHODS

The electronic literature search was performed in the MEDLINE database to identify relevant studies concerning epidemiology, prognosis, treatment, aetiology and pathology of GSC. The references reported in these studies were used to complete the literature search.

RESULTS

Patients subjected to distal gastric resection have a 4-7-fold increased risk of developing GSC, which is attributed mainly to gastroduodenal reflux. Denervation during partial gastrectomy may also contribute to the risk of developing GSC. Gastroduodenal ulcers were the main reason for partial gastrectomy. Both ulcer locations have an increased risk of developing GSC after 20 years. In GSC, Helicobacter pylori seems not to be an important risk factor, contrary to primary gastric cancer, because gastroduodenal reflux impairs the growth of Helicobacter pylori.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of choice for GSC should be the total removal of the gastric remnant including at least D2 lymphadenectomy. The pattern of lymph node metastases in GSC may differ from primary gastric cancer, as lymph node metastases have been reported in the jejunal mesentery and the lower mediastinum. Therefore, GSC may require a modified lymphadenectomy to include all important lymph node stations. After radical remnant gastrectomy, GSC has a prognosis not different from primary proximal gastric cancer.

Interleukin-8, cyclo-oxygenase-2, and trefoil factor family 1 gene expression and their association with Helicobacter pylori infection in the remnant stomach

PURPOSE

The risk factors for secondary stomach carcinogenesis after distal gastrectomy have not been evaluated in detail.

METHODS

Using gastrointestinal endoscopy, we examined 112 patients who had undergone gastrectomy. Biopsy specimens were taken from the stoma and the upper corpus mucosa in the remnant stomach to examine the associations among Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection, bile reflux, and the expressions of interleukin-8 (IL-8), cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and trefoil factor family 1 (TFF1) genes in the stomach mucosa.

RESULTS

The IL-8 levels in the corpus mucosa were significantly higher in the H.pylori-positive patients than in the H.pylori-negative patients (P = 0.015). The IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the stomal mucosa than in the corpus mucosa in the H.pylori-positive patients (P = 0.047). The COX-2 levels in the corpus mucosa tended to be higher in the H.pylori-positive patients, but these levels were not significantly different in the stoma mucosa. The COX-2 levels in the corpus were significantly higher after Billroth II (BII) anastomosis than after Billroth I (BI) anastomosis (P = 0.041). TFF1 expression in the stoma was higher in the H.pylori-positive patients than in the H.pylori-negative patients, but the difference was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Both H.pylori infection and bile reflux increased IL-8 levels after BI anastomosis. Furthermore, COX-2 levels were higher after BII than after BI anastomosis. These indicators will become useful not only as biomarkers to predict the degree of inflammation in the stomach mucosa, but also as surrogate biomarkers to predict the risk of secondary stomach carcinogenesis in the remnant stomach mucosa.

Anatomy and Physiology of the Stomach

In this article, key concepts in gastric anatomy and physiology are reviewed. Attention is given to historical development of concepts of acid secretion, to the role of stomach in digestion, and to the mechanisms that protect gastric mucosa from acid and hostile luminal conditions. Evolving ideas that may influence understand-ing of the physiologic consequences of emerging therapeutics, and procedures that target anatomy or function of the stomach are also reviewed.

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Effects of bile reflux on gastric mucosal lesions in patients with dyspepsia or chronic gastritis

AIM: To investigate the influences of bile reflux on profiles of gastric mucosal lesions in patients with dyspepsia or chronic gastritis.

METHODS: A total of 49 patients diagnosed with dyspepsia and chronic gastritis underwent 24-h ambulatory and simultaneous monitoring of intragastric bilirubin absorbance and pH values, and then they were divided into bile reflux positive group and bile reflux negative group. Severity of pathological changes in gastric mucosa including active inflammation, chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, atrophy and dysplasia as well as Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection at the corpus, incisura and antrum were determined respectively according to update Sydney system criteria. The profiles of gastric mucosal lesions in the two groups were compared, and correlations between time-percentage of gastric bilirubin absorbance >0.14 and severity of gastric mucosal lesions as well as time-percentage of gastric pH >4 were analyzed respectively.

RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (21 men and 17 women, mean age 44.2 years, range 25-61 years) were found existing with bile reflux (gastric bilirubin absorbance >0.14) and 11 patients (7 men and 4 women, mean age 46.2 years, range 29-54 years) were bile reflux negative. In dyspepsia patients with bile reflux, the mucosal lesions such as active inflammation, chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, atrophy or H pylori infection in the whole stomach, especially in the corpus and incisura, were significantly more severe than those in dyspepsia patients without bile reflux. Moreover, the bile reflux time was well correlated with the severity of pathological changes of gastric mucosa as well as H pylori colonization in the near-end stomach, especially in the corpus region. No relevance was found between the time of bile reflux and pH >4 in gastric cavity.

CONCLUSION: Bile reflux contributes a lot to mucosal lesions in the whole stomach, may facilitate H pylori colonization in the corpus region, and has no influence on acid-exposing status of gastric mucosa in patients with dyspepsia or chronic gastritis.

Frequent loss of RUNX3 gene expression in remnant stomach cancer and adjacent mucosa with special reference to topography

Our previous studies suggest that a lack of RUNX3 function is causally related to the genesis and progression of human gastric cancer. This study was conducted to determine whether alteration of RUNX3 gene expression could be detected in the normal-looking gastric remnant mucosa, and to ascertain any difference in the potential of gastric carcinogenesis between the anastomotic site and other areas in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy for peptic ulcer (RB group) or gastric cancer (RM group), by analysing RUNX3 expression with special reference to topography. A total of 89 patients underwent distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer from the intact stomach (GCI group) and 58 patients underwent resection of the remnant stomach for gastric cancer (RB group: 34 cases, RM group: 24 cases). We detected RUNX3 and gene promoter methylation by in situ hybridisation, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and methylation-specific PCR. The interval between the initial surgery and surgery for remnant gastric cancer (interval time) was 10.4 years in the RM group, and 27.5 years in the RB group. Cancers in the RB group were significantly more predominant in the anastomosis area (P<0.05). Within the tumour, downregulation of RUNX3 expression ranged from 74.7 to 85.7% in the three groups. The rate of downregulation of RUNX3 of adjacent mucosa was 39.2% (11 in 28 cases) in RB and 47.6% (10 in 21 cases) in RM, which are significantly higher than that of the GCI group (19.5%, 17 in 87 cases). In noncancerous mucosa of the remnant stomach in the RB group, RUNX3 expression decreased more near the anastomosis area. In the RM group, however, there were no significant differences in RUNX3 expression by sampling location. Based on RUNX3 downregulation and clinical features, residual stomach mucosa of the RM group would have a higher potential of gastric carcinogenesis compared to the RB or GCI group. Gastric stump mucosa of the RB group has higher potential especially than other areas of residual stomach mucosa. Measurement of RUNX3 expression and detection of RUNX3 methylation in remnant gastric mucosa may estimate the forward risk of carcinogenesis in the remnant stomach.

Effects of bile reflux and intragastric microflora changes on lesions of remnant gastric mucosa after gastric operation

AIM: To investigate the effects of bile reflux and intragastric microflora changes on lesions of remnant gastric mucosa after gastric operation.

METHODS: Concenration of bile acid and total bacterial counts (TBC) in gastric juice were measured in 49 patients with peptic ulcer before and after gastrectomy. One year after the operation, sample of gastric mucosa taken from all the patients were used for histological examination.

RESULTS: The concentration of gastric bile acid was significantly increased in group B-I, or B-II and SV + A than that in group HSV (P < 0.05-0.01). The abnormal histological changes in the remnant gastric mucosa were more common in the first 2 groups than in the last group.

CONCLUSION: The type of gastrtectomy can affect bile reflux. The abnormal histological changes in the remnant gastric mucosa are closely related to the elevation of bile acid concentration and increase of TBC in gastric juice. HSV can effectively prevent bile reflux and keep the gastric physiological functions stable.