Childhood duodenal ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori and ABO blood groups

Effects of high-temperature heat wave and ozone on hypertensive rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat waves and ozone on hypertensive rats. Heat wave and ozone pollution were simulated on the Shanghai Meteorological and Environmental Animal Exposure System. Eighteen hypertensive rats were randomly divided into a control group, an ozone group, and a heat wave plus ozone group. The experimental groups were transferred to the exposure system for exposure to the ozone and heat wave plus ozone. After exposure, blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta, and the hearts were harvested in all groups. The concentrations of inflammatory factors, vasomotion factors, cardiovascular risk factors, oxidative stress and thrombosis factors and heat stress factors in heart tissue were measured in each rat. Ozone exposure and heat wave plus ozone exposure increased the levels of inflammatory factors, thrombosis factors, vasomotion factors and cardiovascular risk factors, except for HDL-C, which was reduced. Moreover, experimental exposure increased the heat stress factors and oxidative stress, except for SOD, which was decreased. These data demonstrated that both ozone exposure and heat wave plus ozone exposure could adversely affect hypertensive rats, and that heat wave may enhance the toxic effect of ozone exposure.

ABO blood group and cancer

BACKGROUND

ABO blood type has been associated with various malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Our aim was to study this association using data from a hospital-based tumour registry.

METHODS

From the tumour registry, we retrieved data from 15,359 cancer patients treated during 2000-2003 at the European Institute of Oncology (Milan, Italy), with defined ABO blood type. We performed a case-control analysis, comparing the distribution of ABO blood types of patients with each specific form of cancer against that of patients with other forms of cancer. We also reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis on the association between ABO blood group and pancreatic cancer.

RESULTS

We observed a significantly lower frequency of blood type O in patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer compared to patients with other forms of cancer (29% versus 44%; P<0.001; odds ratio (OR), 0.53; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.33-0.83). This association was confirmed by the meta-analysis of seven prior studies (summary relative risk, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90). No association was found for endocrine pancreatic cancer or for cancer originating in other organs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the association between ABO blood group and cancer is limited to exocrine pancreas malignancy.

The relationship of ABO blood group, age, gender, smoking, and Helicobacter pylori infection

It is well known that blood group antigens are related to the development of peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. This study sought to determine the relationship between H. pylori and ABO/Rhesus blood groups, age, gender, and smoking. Patients (335 women and 205 men; mean age, 51.68 +/- 15.0 years; range, 18-85 years) who attended our outpatient clinic were enrolled in the study. All patients were randomly selected in each age group. Demographic data recorded for each patient included age, gender, and tobacco use. Blood samples were tested for H. pylori antibodies, and ABO/Rhesus blood group antigen typing was performed. Serum antibodies were tested against H. pylori infection. Prevalences of all blood groups were O (29.2%), A (38.2%), B (17.8%), and AB (14.8%). As expected from previous studies, we found that seropositivity for H. pylori increased with age. H. pylori Ig G antibody positivity was detected in 185 of 335 women (60.6%), compared with 88 of 205 men (42.9%), a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). H. pylori Ig G antibody positivity was detected in 206 of 379 nonsmokers (54.3%) compared with 67 of 161 smokers (41.6%), a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Patients in blood groups A and O were more prone to H. pylori infection than were patients in other blood groups (P < 0.05), and patients in the AB blood group were less prone to H. pylori infection compared with patients in other blood groups (P < 0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that H. pylori infection can be related to ABO blood group, age, gender, and smoking.

Helicobacter pylori infection in the Australian community: current prevalence and lack of association with ABO blood groups

AIMS

To assess the current prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in an Australian urban population sample and to relate this to age, gender and ABO and Rhesus blood groups.

METHODS

We performed a prospective epidemiological survey of H. pylori serological status in 500 consecutive voluntary blood donors who presented for the purpose of blood donation at the central -Melbourne branch of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Victoria, Australia, and gave a Melbourne suburban home address.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of specific anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in this cohort was 32% (95% confidence interval = 28-36%) and H. pylori sero-positivity increased with age. The rate of H. pylori infection was not significantly different in men and women, with anti-H. pylori IgG anti-bodies detected in 35% (97/277) of men compared with 28% (63/233) of women (P = 0.12). Similarly, H. pylori serological status was not significantly different between subjects of different ABO (P = 0.18) or Rhesus blood groups (P = 0.55).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that, contrary to expectation, the updated prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity (32%) in this Melbourne sample is at least as high as that found in previous Australian studies over the past 19 years. Seropositivity increased with age, and was not related to gender, confirming the infection pattern seen in other developed nations. Despite epidemiological evidence of increased peptic ulcer disease in ABO blood group O subjects, and recent evidence that H. pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells is mediated by blood group epitopes, no significant association between blood groups and H. pylori serological status was detected.

Childhood peptic ulcer in the Ural area of Russia: clinical status and Helicobacter pylori-associated immune response

BACKGROUND

The relation of between Helicobacter pylori and the symptoms in children is still controversial. Determination of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to H. pylori may represent a useful test to screen the patients with acid peptic disease in childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum of clinical symptoms, endoscopic and histologic lesions, and clinical value of serum IgG response to H. pylori in school-aged children residing in the Ural area of Russia for the identification of Helicobacter -related acid-peptic disease.

METHODS

During 1998, 129 pediatric outpatients (mean age, 12.1 +/- 2.3 years; age range, 10-15 years; 41 boys, 88 girls) were undergoing gastroduodenal endoscopy for evaluation of chronic abdominal pain. H. pylori colonization was determined by histology, urease test, and polymerase chain reaction. H. pylori IgG antibodies were found by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

There was a high prevalence of H. pylori infection (80%) and peptic ulcers (24%) among the study group. Duodenal ulcers were detected in 31 of the children; all of them were H. pylori positive. Family history of peptic ulcers, nighttime pain associated with nocturnal awakening, fasting pain relieved by food, pain associated with meals, postprandial pain, bitter taste, and heartburn were the clinical signs that helped to distinguish the ulcer-positive children from the ulcer-negative H. pylori group. Duodenal ulcer patients had higher anti- H. pylori IgG titers compared with the levels of IgG antibodies in the infected children without ulcers ( P < 0.001). Peptic ulcer disease was a more common finding in the Ural ethnic group of Asians (Bashkirs) compared with the pediatric population of Russian origin.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide further evidence for a causal relation between H. pylori -associated peptic ulcer disease in childhood and relevant clinical symptoms. High titers of anti- H. pylori IgG might serve as a useful noninvasive indicator of ulcer disease.