Foveolar hyperplasia at the gastric cardia: prevalence and associations

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using ethanolic extract of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) kunth. Ex. Walp., stem: Characterizations and their gastroprotective effect on ethanol-induced gastritis in rats

The study presents a significant advancement in drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy through the successful synthesis of Gliricidia sepium(Jacq.) Kunth. ex. Walp., stem zinc oxide nanoparticles(GSS ZnONPs). The phenolic compounds present in Gliricidia sepium stem (GSS) particularly vanillic acid, apegnin-7-O-glucoside, syringic acid, and p-coumaric acid which were identified by HPLC. These compounds shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. GSS ZnONPs demonstrate pronounced gastroprotective effects against ethanol-induced gastritis, evidenced by the reduction in gastric lesions and mucosal injury upon its treatment. Histopathological evaluation and immunohistochemical analysis of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression further validate these results, revealing the amelioration of ethanol-induced gastritis and improved gastric tissue condition due to their treatment. Noteworthy is the dose-dependent response of GSS ZnONPs, showcasing their efficacy even at lower doses against ethanol-induced gastritis which is confirmed by different biomarkers. These findings have substantial implications for mitigating dosage-related adverse effects while preserving therapeutic benefits, offering a more favorable treatment approach. This study aims to investigate the potential gastroprotective activity of GSS ZnONPs against gastritis.

Morphogen Signals Shaping the Gastric Glands in Health and Disease

The adult gastric mucosa is characterised by deep invaginations of the epithelium called glands. These tissue architectural elements are maintained with the contribution of morphogen signals. Morphogens are expressed in specific areas of the tissue, and their diffusion generates gradients in the microenvironment. Cells at different positions in the gland sense a specific combination of signals that instruct them to differentiate, proliferate, regenerate, or migrate. Differentiated cells perform specific functions involved in digestion, such as the production of protective mucus and the secretion of digestive enzymes or gastric acid. Biopsies from gastric precancerous conditions usually display tissue aberrations and change the shape of the glands. Alteration of the morphogen signalling microenvironment is likely to underlie those conditions. Furthermore, genes involved in morphogen signalling pathways are found to be frequently mutated in gastric cancer. We summarise the most recent findings regarding alterations of morphogen signalling during gastric carcinogenesis, and we highlight the new stem cell technologies that are improving our understanding of the regulation of human tissue shape.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Samples of Gastric Biopsies

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection affects about 50% of the world population and its association with environmental factors and host properties is involved in gastric carcinogenesis. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of H. pylori in samples of gastric mucosa biopsies, correlate the presence of the bacteria in the sample with the variables age, sex and origin, to identify the types of lesions found in patients with H. pylori, and to evaluate the association of the lesions with the region of the gastric mucosa.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, from January 2013 to December 2015. A total of 45,206 gastric mucosal biopsies were obtained from patients submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Of the reports evaluated, 12,909 met the inclusion criteria since they presented the patient's demographic data as well as the histopathological characteristics of gastric mucosal regions and positivity for H. pylori. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistic 20 and subjected to descriptive analyses (categorical variables) and inferential (Pearson's Qui-square and linear association tests) and multiple correspondence analyses. Significance level adopted 5%.

RESULTS

Of the total of 12,909 (28.6%) reports evaluated, 67% (8,647) came from urban areas and 64.5% (8,320) were female. The mean age (standard deviation (SD)) was 43 years, ranging from 8 to 100 years, prevailing between 21 and 60 years. Among the types of gastric mucosa analyzed, 95.5% (12,322) were of the antral mucosa. The absence of glandular atrophy, the mild infection intensity for H. pylori, the absence of metaplasia, the presence of foveolar hyperplasia and lymphoid follicles were statistically significant (P < 0.001) in this region. In the fundic region, the evidence of fibrinoleucocytic crust and lymphoid follicles was significant (P < 0.001). There was no evidence of associated ulcerated lesions or significant relationship with intestinal metaplasia in the antral mucosa, whereas the fundic mucosa had a strong association with lymphoid follicles. The prevalence of active H. pylori infection in this study was 30.93%.

CONCLUSION

Detection rate of H. pylori and its association with acute and chronic inflammation should be taken into account. The antral region has shown higher incidence and the presence of H. pylori was strongly associated with foveolar hyperplasia and lymphoid follicles.

[The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus and the comparison of Barrett's esophagus with cardiac intestinal metaplasia in the health screening at a secondary care hospital]

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and its association with reflux esophagitis (RE) and peptic ulcer disease detected by free charge endoscopy which was covered by the National Health Insurance at a secondary care hospital, and to compare the results of the biopsy of BE with that of cardiac intestinal metaplasia (CIM).

METHODS

A total of 4,002 patients underwent endoscopy from March 2010 to December 2012. BE was diagnosed if there was histologically proven specialized intestinal metaplasia, and CIM was diagnosed if intestinal metaplasia was accompanied with chronic gastritis.

RESULTS

Four hundred twenty four patients underwent endoscopic biopsy, and the prevalence of BE was 1.0% (42/4,002). The mean age and the proportion of males in BE were significantly higher than those of the rest of study population, and BE had slight tendency related to RE than the rest of study population. CIM was observed in 34 patients and BE and CIM showed similar results, regarding age, sex and association with RE. The mean length of endoscopic Barrett's mucosa of BE group was 9.2±5.1 mm, and it was similar to that of CIM.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of BE in the secondary care hospital was not low, and old age and male sex were significantly associated with BE. Because BE was observed in about 10% of biopsied patients and CIM was observed in a similar percentage with BE, the precise targeted biopsy is warranted and the biopsy method should be reestablished through the large prospective study of multiple secondary care hospitals.

Gastroesophageal junction hyperplastic (inflammatory) polyps: a clinical and pathologic study of 46 cases

Hyperplastic (inflammatory) polyps (HPs) of the gastric corpus and antrum typically develop in association with chronic gastritis. However, little is known regarding the etiology, pathologic features, and natural history of HPs of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). We have noted, anecdotally, that GEJ HPs often occur in patients without gastric pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, pathologic, and outcome features of patients with HPs of the GEJ, and to compare the data with a control group of individuals with HPs in the gastric corpus or antrum. One hundred thirty-four consecutive polyps of the GEJ were identified by a 5-year search through the pathology files of a major tertiary-care hospital. Of these, 46 (36%) polyps from 46 patients met the pathologic criteria for HPs and formed the basis of this study. The 46 study patients, and their polyps, were evaluated for a wide variety of clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic features including outcome on follow-up endoscopy. The findings were compared with 46 HPs from 46 patients of the distal stomach (antrum or corpus) that were obtained randomly from the same 5-year period. Compared with patients with gastric antral or corpus HPs, patients with HPs of the GEJ were significantly younger in age (mean age, 55.9 y vs. 63.0 y; P=0.04). Pathologically, GEJ HPs showed a significantly higher rate of multilayered epithelium (P=0.06) and association with Barrett esophagus (BE) (P=0.0001) compared with distal gastric HPs. All BE-associated GEJ HPs were associated with either ultrashort (<1 cm) or short segment (1 to 3 cm) BE. All other pathologic variables, including intestinal metaplasia, were similar to those of distal gastric HPs. In a subanalysis, BE-associated GEJ HPs (33% of all GEJ HPs) showed a higher male to female ratio and a higher rate of intestinal metaplasia compared with all other HPs. Furthermore, none of the BE-associated GEJ HPs were associated with chronic active gastritis versus the non-BE-associated GEJ HPs, although this was not statistically significant. Only 1 HP (from the GEJ) from both the study and control groups was associated with a neoplasm (signet-ring cell carcinoma). On follow-up, 1 patient with a GEJ HP and 4 with distal gastric HPs developed recurrent HPs and none of the patients from either patient group developed dysplasia or carcinoma. In conclusion, unlike HPs of the gastric corpus or antrum, a significant proportion of HPs of the GEJ arise in association with BE and without gastric pathology. In patients with BE, the columnar-lined segment is often ultrashort, and thus, an HP may be the first clinical/endoscopic manifestation of that disorder.

Gastric polyps: classification and management

Gastric polyps can be broadly defined as luminal lesions projecting above the plane of the mucosal surface. They are relatively frequent in routine pathology practice, where the main goal is to rule out the possibility of malignancy. Various subtypes of gastric polyps are recognized and generally divided into nonneoplastic and neoplastic. We will review herein only a limited subset of gastric polyps representing the most common or, sometimes, challenging.