The bacterial flora and the changes of the N-nitrosamine concentration in the operated stomach

The studies included 170 patients (103 men and 67 women) aged 23 to 66 years, operated on because of an ulcerous disease. Depending on the method of surgical treatment patients were divided into 5 groups (those after gastric resection with Rydygier's method, after resection with the Billroth II method, after trunk vagotomy with pyloroplasty, after highly selective vagotomy, and after gastro-enterostomy). In all patients a qualitative estimation of the nitrate-reducing bacteria was carried out, as well as a chromatographic test of the selected N-nitrosamine concentration in the gastric juice. It was shown that the changes in the quantity of the nitrate-reducing bacteria and in the N-nitrosamine concentration depended on the type of surgical intervention conducted. The largest mean content of nitrate-reducing bacteria and the highest average N-nitrosamine concentration were confirmed in the gastric juice of patients after gastroenterostomy and after gastric resection with the Billroth II method, and the lowest values--in patients after highly selective vagotomy.

[The importance of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of Helicobacter pylori infection]

In this work we discussed selected questions about the Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis linked with the components of cell-walls as well as with toxins and enzymes externally secreted by this bacteria. We also paid attention to some theories which try to imperf the damaging effects of the bacteria on the mucosa of the upper part of the alimentary canal, specifically underlining the possible link between the Helicobacter pylori infection and the increase of the concentration of cytotoxically acting nitric oxide (NO).

[The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenogastric reflux on the histology of gastric mucosa in peptic ulcers]

In a group of 96 patients with peptic ulcer (36 patients with ulcer of the stomach, 60 patients with ulcer of the duodenum) we analysed the alterations of the mucosa of the stomach associated with the ulcer. A significantly frequent occurrence was shown of the athropic gastritis and of the dysplasia in patients with ulcer of the stomach in comparison with the group of patients with ulcer of the stomach in the comparison with the group of the patients with ulcer of the duodenum. Among the patients analysed we also appraised the alterations on the picture of the stomach mucosa of the Helicobacter pylori infection, of the duodeno-gastric reflux as well as of the concentration of the bile acids and of lysolecithin contained in the gastric juice in the ulcerous disease of the stomach and of the duodenum. The presence of the Helicobacter pylori infection was identified bacteriologically, the duodeno-gastric reflux was diagnosed with the radionucleide method and the concentration of the bile acids and lysolecithin in gastric juice was determined chromatographically. It was confirmed that the Helicobacter pylori infection as well as the bile acids and the lysolecithin the concentration of which in the gastric juice in patients with an ulcer in the stomach were significantly higher in comparison with patients with and the ulcer in the duodenum, were a decisive factor for more exacerbated histological alterations of the mucosa of the stomach in case of ulcer of the stomach.

The significance of selected epidemiologico-clinical factors in the prevalence of the Helicobacter pylori infection in young males

A serological diagnosis (ELISA test) was carried out of infections by Helicobacter pylori in 1200 young males (recruits in the Polish Army) and the influence of selected epidemiologico-clinical factors (civil status, place of residence, profession, economical conditions, tobacco smoking, consumption of alcohol, diseases of the parodontonium, nutritional habits) on the prevalence of the infection was studied. Specific antibodies were detected in 228 (19%) of the persons tested. Of the eight factors analyzed, only three parodontium diseases, tobacco smoking and place of residence (of decreasing importance in that order), had a statistically significant relationship to infection by Helicobacter pylori in young males.

Role of the enterotest in the diagnosis of the Helicobacter pylori infections

Among 128 patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer a diagnosis was made of Helicobacter pylori infections using the 14C-urea breath test (reference) as well as by a bacteriological test; from each patient the material for culture was obtained in two ways: Through gastroscopy-segments, and through an enterotest. It was shown that the diagnostic value of the enteroprobe in the detection of the Helicobacter pylori infection was relatively high in comparison with the results of the culture of the segments of the mucosa, especially for ulcers of the pyloric area and of the duodenum, whereas that value fell considerably for located in the cardia of the stomach. The entero-probe is thus recommended as a method of diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infections (using the bacterial material for culture and the antibiogram) but only for peptic ulcers of a selected location (pyloric area, duodenum).

[Transcranial magnetic stimulation neurophysiological and biochemical response in man]

Ten adult volunteers had EEG recordings and serial serum prolactin/cortisol estimations performed during repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. No significant changes in either the hormone values or in the EEG traces were detected.

The relationship between the frequency of the appearance of IgG against Helicobacter pylori and the main blood groups among patients with ulcer sickness and stomach cancer

Among the 763 patients with ulcers and stomach cancer, including the control group of 586 blood donors, the search for a relationship between the spread of infection and the main blood groups was defined by the appearance of IgG against H. pylori in blood plasma (the ELISA test). The statistical analysis, however, did not prove that the frequency of the appearance of specific antibodies against H. pylori was statistically important in relation to the ABO blood groups.

[Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: EEG, serum prolactin and cortisol studies in humans]

Ten adult volunteers had EEG recordings and serial serum prolactine/cortisol estimations performed during repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. No significant changes in either the hormone values or in the EEG traces were detected.

Serological diagnosis of infection by Helicobacter pylori in chronic ulcer disease

The authors estimated the frequency of occurrence of the infection by Helicobacter pylori in the long term gastroduodenal ulcer disease. The serological diagnosis (ELISA test) was carried out in 175 patients, suffering from this disease for at least two years, to reveal the existence of specific IgG against Helicobacter pylori. The study confirmed the frequent occurrence of infection by Helicobacter pylori in the gastro-duodenal ulcer disease of the stomach (59.2%) and the duodenum (83.7%). It was found that mainly in men the existence of specific IgG against Helicobacter pylori (in the ulcer of the stomach 63.3% and in the ulcer of the duodenum 89.9%!). The results indicate the necessity of taking into consideration the infection by Helicobacter pylori in the treatment of perennial gastro-duodenal ulcer disease.