Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastritis in West Cameroon: prevalence and risk factors for infection

The Burden and Risk Factors of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among Government Employees Who Clinically Complain of Indigestion but Allergic Diseases in Southeastern Ethiopia: A Multi-Institution Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is believed to have spread from East Africa, but its burden is still unknown in less privileged regions of Ethiopia. Indigestion is an upset stomach, upper abdomen discomfort, heartburn, and bloating. This study evaluated the burden and risk factors for H. pylori infection among government employees who clinically complained of indigestion but allergic diseases in five public health institutions in Southeastern Ethiopia.

Methods

A health facilities-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Southeastern Ethiopia from March to November 2022, employing cluster sampling. Blood specimens, clinical data, and semi-structured questionnaires about risk factors were collected. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression in STATA software, Windows version 16.1.

Results

The overall prevalence of infection was found to be 77.6%. The sampled health institution (ρ-value < 0.05), engagement in sideline business (ρ-value < 0.05), sharing local spoon on meal [AOR = 39.30; CI:19.52 -78.31; ρ-value < 0.001], admitting "Gursha" during meal [AOR = 71.48; CI:3.99 -1279.77; ρ-value < 0.05], the toilet type [AOR = 1410.98; CI:121.16 -16,431.19; ρ-value < 0.001], alcohol drinking [AOR = 15.15; CI:1.90 -120.62; ρ-value < 0.05], sleeping hours length [AOR = 15.01; CI:13.48-55.96; ρ-value < 0.001], chewing Khat [AOR = 76.73; CI:8.57-687.07; ρ-value < 0.001], and regular hand washing before eating [AOR = 0.15; CI:0.12-0.19; ρ-value < 0.05] were the independent predictors of H. pylori infection.

Conclusion

The prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in Southeastern Ethiopia is agonizingly high, exceeding the world average by 27.6%, the first report, and seems to be one of the neglected infectious diseases. Hence, the Oromia Region Health Bureau should reinvigorate the basic infectious disease control methods, establish routine laboratory diagnostic platforms, and intervene in selected societal practices spreading infections.

A Review of Helicobacter pylori Diagnostics in Africa : From the Bedside to the Laboratory

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is endemic in Africa with a prevalence estimate of 79.1%. In addition, there is a significant community burden of dyspepsia in Africa, similar to other western countries. However, the majority of infected persons do not manifest the disease. In Africa, for instance, peptic ulcer disease is prevalent, whereas gastric cancer has reportedly low incidence. Therefore, it is important that testing is focused, targeting individuals most likely to benefit from treatment. In Africa, there are currently no guidelines for H. pylori testing and treatment. Empirical treatment is common due to variable access to diagnostics and health care. To assess the spectrum of H. pylori testing in Africa, we performed a literature search in PubMed over the past 10 years, 2013 to 2023. Histology was the most widely used modality in 16 out of 18 countries. Capacity for culture was shown in 11 studies, importantly across regions of Africa. H. pylori serology was demonstrated in 8 countries, although it has limited sensitivity in identifying active infection. H. pylori test-and-treat strategy has been shown to be cost-effective. Particularly in a region with high antibiotic resistance, adopting this strategy ensures that only confirmed positive patients are treated. Furthermore, test-of-cure ought to be mandatory to guide future therapies. Health authorities can leverage polymerase chain reaction facilities, left behind by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, to make molecular susceptibility testing available in the near future. A systematic approach to testing incorporating indication for endoscopy and medication use is recommended.

Sero- and Feco-Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Its Associated Risk Factors among Adult Dyspeptic Patients Visiting the Outpatient Department of Adet Primary Hospital, Yilmana Densa District, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Most gastric cancers in the world are attributed to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections. The prevalence of H. pylori infection is influenced by socioeconomic status, hygiene, and lifestyle of the population. This study aimed to assess sero- and feco-prevalence of H. pylori infections and its associated risk factors among adult dyspeptic patients visiting the outpatient department of Adet Primary Hospital, Yilmana Densa District, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 10, 2022 to April 10, 2022. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected by pretested questionnaires. Blood and stool specimens were collected from each patient for antibody and H. pylori antigen tests, respectively. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26.0. A logistic regression model was used to assess the strength of association between H. pylori positivity and risk factors.

Results

The sero- and feco-prevalence of H. pylori infection was 62% and 51.1%, respectively. In those patients who had a positive result with either the antibody (Ab) or antigen (Ag) test, rural residence (AOR = 5.55; 95% CI: 2.34-13.14; p < 0.001), alcohol consumption (AOR = 12.34; 95% CI: 2.29-66.51; p=0.003), having no awareness about H. pylori transmission (AOR = 4.76; 95% CI: 1.86-12.15; p=0.001), using pond/river as a source of drinking water (AOR = 5.22; 95% CI: 1.91-14.27; p=0.001), and open field defecation (AOR = 4.19; 95% CI: 1.67-10.52; p=0.002) were the explanatory risk factors significantly associated with H. pylori infection.

Conclusion

This study showed that the prevalence of H. pylori infection was very high. Most cases of gastric cancers are ascribed to H. pylori infection. Therefore, education should be given to communities so as to increase their awareness of the infection and the associated major explanatory risk factors identified in the present study.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori, anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Activities of Trunk Bark of Alstonia boonei (Apocynaceae)

An ulcer is an erosion of the gastric mucosa that occurs following an imbalance between the aggression and protective factors and/or an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). About 90-100% of duodenal ulcers and 70-80% of gastric ulcers are caused by H. pylori. The objective of this work was to evaluate in vitro the anti-H. pylori activity and then the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of aqueous and methanol extracts of Alstonia boonei. The anti-H. pylori tests (CMI and antiureasic activity) were determined using the agar well diffusion method, the microbroth dilution method, and the measurement of ammonia production by the indophenol method; the anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated by inhibition of proteinases, denaturation of albumin, production of NO by macrophages, cell viability, and hemolysis of red blood cells by heat; then, the antioxidant properties were evaluated by the FRAP method (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) test. The results show that the best trapping of the DPPH radical was obtained with the methanol extract (EC₅₀ = 8.91 μg/mL) compared to the aqueous extract (EC₅₀ = 19.86 μg/mL). The methanol extract also showed greater iron-reducing activity than the aqueous extract and vitamin C. Furthermore, at the concentration of 200 μg/mL, the methanol extract showed a percentage (96.34%) strains of H. pylori higher than that of the aqueous extract (88.52%). The MIC₉₀ of the methanol extract was lower than that of the aqueous extract. The methanol extract showed a higher percentage inhibition (85%) of urease than the aqueous extract (73%). The methanol extract at a concentration of 1000 μg/mL showed the greatest ability to inhibit proteinase activity, albumin denaturation, and red blood cell hemolysis; on the other hand, maximum cell viability and greater production of nitrite oxide by macrophages were obtained with the aqueous extract. Aqueous and methanol extracts of Alstonia boonei possess anti-H. pylori which would probably be linked to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Gastric Disease Risk: Findings from a Korean Population-Based Cohort Study

Evidence suggests that diets with high pro-inflammatory potential may play a substantial role in the origin of gastric inflammation. This study aimed to examine the association between the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DIITM) and gastric diseases at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 7.4 years in a Korean population. A total of 144,196 participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study_Health Examination (KoGES_HEXA) cohort were included. E-DII scores were computed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess the association between the E-DII and gastric disease risk. In the prospective analysis, the risk of developing gastric disease was significantly increased among individuals in the highest quartile of E-DII compared to those in the lowest quartile (HRquartile4vs1 = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.08–1.38). Prospective analysis also showed an increased risk in the incidence of gastritis (HRquartile4vs1 = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04–1.37), gastric ulcers (HRquartile4vs1 = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.16–1.85), and gastric and duodenal ulcers (HRquartile4vs1 = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.17–1.81) in the highest E-DII quartile compared to the lowest quartile. In the cross-sectional analysis, the E-DII score was not associated with the risk of gastric disease. Our results suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet, indicated by high E-DII scores, is prospectively associated with an increased risk of gastric diseases. These results highlight the significance of an anti-inflammatory diet in lowering the risk of gastric disease risk in the general population.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of gastritis among patients visiting Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background

The health of individuals is not only the absence of disease checked medically, but also encompasses social and psychological aspects. Any departure from the state of physiological, psychological, or social well-being was affected by different factors. However, all contributory factors were not equally responsible for affecting disease. This study was undertaken as a search for the relative effects of sociocultural and individual behavioral factors contributing to acute and chronic gastritis patients visiting Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 364 patients visited SPHMMC in the study. Primary data were collected through an interview schedule tool with an exit approach by validating questions pertaining to sociocultural and individual behavioral factors. The status of gastritis was measured as whether patients had Helicobacter Pylori infection, signs and symptoms indicated gastritis that occurred, and persisted for less than a month, greater than a month, or none of the signs and symptoms. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression model were used to identify the predictors of gastritis severity. P-value ≤ 0.05 was declared as an indicator of statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of gastritis in the study area was 78.8%. Specifically, 48.9% and 29.9% had acute and chronic gastritis, respectively. The study found that low income and taking medicinal drugs was slightly significantly contributed to higher gastritis status; however, being younger age was slightly significantly contributed to lower gastritis status. Furthermore, the results indicated that eating spiced foods (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.508; 95% CI: 1.046, 2.174), lack of physical exercise regularly (AOR = 1.780; 95% CI: 1.001, 3.168), stress (AOR = 2.168; 95% CI: 1.379, 3.4066), and substance use (AOR = 1.478; 95% CI: 1.093, 1.999) were significantly contributed to higher gastritis status.

Conclusions

The findings suggested that women should take enough rest and sleep well, men refrain from involvement in any risky behaviors, young people and those who earn low income per month should equip with knowledge and understanding on how to practice good health behaviors, eating foods on time, avoiding eating spiced food frequently, doing physical exercise regularly, and taking medicinal drugs according to physician advice are recommended.

Low and high concentrations of butyrate regulate fat accumulation in chicken adipocytes via different mechanisms

The present study investigated the effects of varying concentrations of sodium butyrate (SB) on fat accumulation and cell proliferation in chicken adipocytes. High and low serial concentrations of SB used significantly reduced adipocytic fat accumulation. However, they were observed to exhibit differences in cell morphology and distinctions in lipogenic genes expression profiles. At lower concentration (0.01 mM), fat accumulation was decreased with an associated downregulation in the expression of lipogenic genes, which was mediated by free fatty acid receptors (FFARs). Contarily, at higher concentration (1 mM), the fat droplets laden in adipocytes were enlarged, and this was accompanied with activation of lipogenic genes expression. However, the total accumulated fat was also decreased largely due to reduction in cell numbers, which was partially attributable to the reduction in histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Animal experiments further indicated that dietary supplementation of lower dose coated SB (0.1% wt/wt) inhibited fat deposition in livers and abdominal fat tissues of broilers, suggesting the potential application of sodium butyrate as feed additive in the regulation of fat deposition.

[ARTICLE PARTIAL RETRACTION] PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN DYSPEPTIC PATIENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH CLINICAL RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA

BACKGROUND

In Brazil, particularly in the underdeveloped localities, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections can range up to 90%. These rates are higher in older individuals and vary by country region. H. pylori infections are linked to the development of gastric pathologies, namely mild to moderate gastritis, gastroenteritis, peptic ulcer, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. In 1994, this organism was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as pertaining to the Group 1 carcinogen for gastric adenocarcinoma etiology. Gastric cancer represents a significant public health problem, being the fourth most common malignant tumor and the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients and determine the link between clinical risk factors and gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosis.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was employed for molecular diagnosis of gastric tissue biopsies collected from 113 dyspeptic patients at the University Hospital of Federal University of Goiás. Molecular analyses allowed the identification of H. pylori infections. Furthermore, histopathological examinations were performed to determine the clinical risks of developing gastric malignancies.

RESULTS

The test results identified 69 individuals older than 44 years, from 75 (66.4%) positive H. pylori infection samples. The prevalence of gastric adenocarcinoma in this study was 1.3%. Among the infected patients, six (8.2%) had high risk, and 67 (91.8%) had a low risk of developing gastric cancer (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study shows a high prevalence of H. pylori infection and identifies its contribution to gastric inflammations, which in the long term are manifested in high-risk clinical factors for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma.