[The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Recurrence of Gastric Hyperplastic Polyp after Endoscopic Removal]

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and colorectal polyp/colorectal cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) plays an important role in the development of gastric cancer, although its association to colorectal polyp (CP) or colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. In this issue of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhang et al investigated the risk factors for H. pylori infection after colon polyp resection. Importantly, the researchers used R software to create a prediction model for H. pylori infection based on their findings. This editorial gives an overview of the association between H. pylori and CP/CRC, including the clinical significance of H. pylori as an independent risk factor for CP/CRC, the underlying processes of H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis, and the possible risk factors and identification of H. pylori.

Risk factors associated with recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyps: a single-center, long-term, retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The likelihood of recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyps (GHPs) following endoscopic resection and the need for long-term follow-up remain unknown. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the factors associated with the recurrence and cumulative incidence of GHPs over a 10-year period.

METHODS

Between May 1995 and December 2020, 1,018 GHPs > 1 cm were endoscopically resected from 869 patients. Medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed and their clinical features and outcomes were assessed. Groups of GHPs with recurrence and those without recurrence group were compared, and univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the potential risk factors for GHP recurrence.

RESULTS

A total of 104 (12.0%) patients who underwent endoscopic removal of GHPs experienced recurrence. Compared to patients without recurrent GHPs, those with recurrent GHPs showed considerably larger median polyp size (28 mm vs. 14 mm, P < 0.001), a higher proportion of multiple polyps (41.3% vs. 29.3%, P = 0.020), polyps with lobulation (63.5% vs. 40.3%, P = 0.001), and exudate (63.5% vs. 46.8%, P = 0.001). Compared to the local recurrence (n = 52) group, the metachronous recurrence (n = 52) group had larger median polyp size (20 mm vs. 16 mm, P = 0.006) as well as higher rates of polyp lobulation (86.5% vs. 40.4%, P < 0.001) and exudate (82.7% vs. 44.4%, P = 0.001). After primary GHP excision, the cumulative incidence of recurrence was 7.2%, 12.7%, and 19.6% at 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of GHP recurrence following endoscopic excision increased as the follow-up period increased, especially in patients whose GHPs were large-sized, multiple, or characterized by surface exudates/lobulations.

Helicobacter pylori eradication reduces risk for recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyp after endoscopic resection

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Little is known about the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyps after endoscopic resection. Thus, we evaluated the recurrence rate of gastric hyperplastic polyps based on H. pylori eradication following endoscopic resection.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 201 patients with H. pylori infection who underwent endoscopic resection for gastric hyperplastic polyps at six medical centers. H. pylori status was assessed by histological analysis and a rapid urease test. A total of 149 patients underwent successful H. pylori eradication (eradication group), whereas 52 patients had persistent H. pylori infections (non-eradication group). The recurrence rate of gastric hyperplastic polyps and the risk factors according to H. pylori status were analyzed.

RESULTS

During the mean follow-up period of 18.3 months, recurrent gastric polyps developed after endoscopic resection in 10 patients (19.2% [10/52]) in the non-eradication group and 12 patients (8.1% [12/149]) in the eradication group. The cumulative incidence of recurrent gastric hyperplastic polyps was significantly higher in the non-eradication group than in the eradication group (p = 0.041, log-rank test). In the adjusted analysis, H. pylori eradication reduced the recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyps (hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 0.99), whereas anticoagulation therapy increased the risk of recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyps (HR, 4.91; 95% CI, 1.39 to 17.28).

CONCLUSION

Successful eradication of H. pylori may reduce the recurrence of gastric hyperplastic polyps in patients after endoscopic mucosal resection.

A Noninvasive Risk Stratification Tool Build Using an Artificial Intelligence Approach for Colorectal Polyps Based on Annual Checkup Data

Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and early detection has proven to be an effective method for reducing mortality. The machine learning method can be implemented to build a noninvasive stratifying tool that helps identify patients with potential colorectal precancerous lesions (polyps). This study aimed to develop a noninvasive risk-stratified tool for colorectal polyps in asymptomatic, healthy participants. A total of 20,129 consecutive asymptomatic patients who underwent a health checkup between January 2005 and August 2007 were recruited. Positive relationships between noninvasive risk factors, such as age, Helicobacter pylori infection, hypertension, gallbladder polyps/stone, and BMI and colorectal polyps were observed (p < 0.0001), regardless of sex, whereas significant findings were noted in men with tooth disease (p = 0.0053). A risk stratification tool was developed, for colorectal polyps, that considers annual checkup results from noninvasive examinations. For the noninvasive stratified tool, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of obese females (males) aged <50 years was 91% (83%). In elderly patients (>50 years old), the AUCs of the stratifying tools were >85%. Our results indicate that the risk stratification tool can be built by using random forest and serve as an efficient noninvasive tool to identify patients requiring colonoscopy.

Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Gastric Cancer Prevention

Since Warren and Marshall demonstrated Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as a cause of gastritis in the early 1980s, H. pylori has been associated with various gastric diseases, including gastric ulcer, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, gastric adenoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, and hyperplastic gastric polyps. H. pylori eradication therapy can treat some associated diseases, including low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma, and significantly reduce the risk of peptic ulcer recurrence or progression of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. In East Asia, where H. pylori and gastric cancer are prevalent, several studies have been conducted to prove whether the risk of gastric cancer development is reduced through H. pylori eradication therapy. Early studies failed to show the benefits of H. pylori eradication therapy in gastric cancer prevention. However, recent studies with extended follow-up periods have reported reduced risks of gastric cancer after treatment of H. pylori infection. H. pylori eradication therapy effectively prevents gastric cancer even in patients who were treated for early gastric cancer, and can be used in treating hyperplastic gastric polyps. Herein, we reviewed current evidence supporting the benefits of H. pylori eradication therapy to help clinicians understand its impact on gastric cancer prevention and hyperplastic polyp treatment.

Changes of Gastric Juice Microenvironment in Patients with Fundic Gland Polyp and Hyperplastic Polyp

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to study the relationship between the formation of gastric fundic gland polyp and gastric hyperplastic polyp (HP) and the changes of gastric juice microenvironment.

METHODS

The proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) applications to patients were recorded. Gastric juices and biopsy polyps were collected for pathological examination, H. pylori tests, biomarkers, and MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC expression measurement.

RESULTS

Among 34,892 patients, the detection rate of gastric fundic gland polyps was significantly higher than that of gastric HPs (p < 0.01). The incidence rate of gastric fundic gland polyp and gastric HP in PPI users (n = 3,886) was higher than that of non-PPI users (p < 0.01). The occurrence of polyp was positively related to the duration of PPI application and the H. pylori-positive rate. The bile reflux rate between fundic gland polys group (17.61%) and HPs (28.67%) was significantly different (p < 0.01). The levels of gastric juice Gastrin-17, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and MUC2 from patients with gastric fundic gland polyps and gastric HPs were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01). However, patients with gastric fundic gland polyps and HPs had significantly lower gastric juice PGE2 and MUC5AC (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

PPI application, H. pylori infection, and bile reflux are the potential risk factors for formation of fundic gland polyps and HPs. The potential mechanism of polyps' formation can be related to the levels of Gastrin-17, EGF, MUC2, PGE2, and MUC5AC in gastric juice.

Histopathological classification and follow-up analysis of chronic atrophic gastritis

BACKGROUND

The pathological diagnosis and follow-up analysis of gastric mucosal biopsy have been paid much attention, and some scholars have proposed the pathological diagnosis of 12 kinds of lesions and accompanying pathological diagnosis, which is of great significance for the treatment of precision gastric diseases, the improvement of the early diagnosis rate of gastric cancer, and the reduction of missed diagnosis rate and misdiagnosis rate.

AIM

To perform a histopathological classification and follow-up analysis of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG).

METHODS

A total of 2248 CAG tissue samples were collected, and data of their clinical characteristics were also gathered. Based on these samples, the expression levels of Mucin 1 (MUC1), MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 in CAG tissue were tested by immunohistochemical assay. Moreover, we followed these patients for up to four years. The difference between different stages of gastroscopic biopsy was observed.

RESULTS

Through observation, it is believed that CAG should be divided into four types, simple type, hyperplasia type, intestinal metaplasia (IM) type, and intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) type. Simple CAG accounted for 9.1% (205/2248), which was more common in elderly people over 60 years old. The main change was that the lamina propria glands were reduced in size and number. Hyperplastic CAG accounted for 29.1% (654/2248), mostly occurring between 40 and 60 years old. The main change was that the lamina propria glands were atrophy accompanied by glandular hyperplasia and slight expansion of the glands. IM CAG accounted for 50.4% (1132/2248), most of which increased with age, and were more common in those over 50 years. The atrophy of the lamina propria glands was accompanied by significant IM, and the mucus containing sialic acid or sulfate was distinguished according to the nature of the mucus. The IEN type CAG accounted for 11.4% (257/2248), which developed from the previous types, with severe gland atrophy and reduced mucus secretion, and is an important precancerous lesion.

CONCLUSION

The histological typing of CAG is convenient to understand the property of lesion, determine the follow-up time, and guide the clinical treatment.

Gastric hyperplastic polyps inversely associated with current Helicobacter pylori infection

The incidence of gastric hyperplastic polyps (HPs) has been on the rise in recent years. The contribution of Helicobacter pylori infection to this trend has remained to be elucidated. The present study aimed to explore the association between HPs and H. pylori in China, an area with a high infection rate of H. pylori. In order to study trends of HPs and H. pylori infection over the past decades, cases encountered from 2009 to 2018 were assessed and a total of 109,150 consecutive patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at Qingdao Municipal Hospital (Qingdao, China) were enrolled. The incidence of HPs and the prevalence of H. pylori were determined and their correlation was explored. Gastric HPs were detected in 1,497 patients (1.6%) who received gastric biopsies. The incidence of HPs exhibited a rising trend, with a ~4-fold increase in the annual detection rate from 2009 to 2018. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was inversely associated with the prevalence of HPs (adjusted odds ratio, 0.66). The prevalence of H. pylori in the examined cohort decreased with time (r=-0.76, P=0.011). The decreasing trend of H. pylori infection was negatively correlated with the rising trend of HPs (r=-0.64, P=0.048), further indicating an inverse association between them. The difference in the prevalence of HPs between H. pylori-negative and -positive patients increased with age (r=0.80, P=0.018). The age-associated increase was slower in H. pylori-infected patients. The decline in H. pylori infection with time appeared to not be associated with the birth cohort effect, suggesting the decline was not caused by exposure to environmental factors during an early period of life. The present results indicated that the incidence of gastric HPs increased with the decline in H. pylori infection, demonstrating an inverse association between the occurrence of HPs and the infection.