Significance of cagA status and vacA subtypes of Helicobacter pylori in determining gastric histopathology: virulence markers of H. pylori and histopathology.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori strains containing the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA), and s1m1 genotype of vacuolating cytotoxin gene A (vacA) may have been associated with peptic ulcer disease. The aim of the present study was to analyze such an association of cagA presence and vacA subtypes of H. pylori with histopathological findings in patients with gastritis. METHODS: Sixty-five independent H. pylori strains isolated from Turkish patients with gastritis were analyzed. The antral biopsy specimens were processed for culture and histopathology. Histopathological features were recorded and graded according to updated Sydney system. The vacA subtypes and cagA gene were tested by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Mild degree of antral density was associated with mild degree of gastric neutrophil infiltration (P = 0.010). Positive cagA status correlated significantly with the presence of atrophy (P = 0.035) and neutrophil infiltration (P < 0.001), but not with H. pylori density (P = 0.754) nor the degree of mononuclear cell infiltration (P = 0.945). The vacA subtypes were independent of gastric histopathology. The odds ratios for atrophy and neutrophil infiltration of cagA+ versus cagA- strains were 3.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-12.66) and 53.18 (95%CI: 11.08-255.23), respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of the cagA gene is strongly associated with atrophic and active gastritis. Distinct vacA subtypes of H. pylori appear to have no association with histopathological findings of gastritis.

[Retrospective evaluation of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilis reagin antibody seropositivity in blood donors at the Trabzon Farabi Hospital]. / Trabzon Farabi Hastanesi kan donörlerinde HBsAg, Anti-HCV, anti-HIV ve sifiliz reaginik antikor seropozitifliginin retrospektif olarak degerlendirilmesi.

Transfusion of blood and blood products is a widely used method for therapy in medicine, however it may result with the transmission of infectious agents from donor to recipient. In order to achieve safe blood transfusions and to minimize post-transfusion infections, several screening tests for infectious agents are routinely done all around the world as well as in our country. In this study, HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilis reagin antibody tests results have been retrospectively evaluated for 33.766 blood donors during January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2000 in Blood Center of Farabi Hospital, Black Sea Technical University. Testing for HBsAg, anti-HIV and anti-HCV has been done by using commercially available micro and/or macro enzyme immunoassays, and syphilis reagin antibody test by latex agglutination (RPR) method. The indeterminate results were confirmed by retesting of sera with microparticle enzyme immunoassay and Western blot methods. As a result, in 1331 (3.94%) subjects HBsAg, in 250 (0.74%) subjects anti-HCV, and in 161 (0.47%) subjects RPR were found positive. Twenty samples which have had the results in gray-zone for anti-HIV, have been found negative with the confirmation tests.