Peptic ulcer disease and calcium intake as risk factors of osteoporosis in women.

INTRODUCTION: Low dietary intake and decreased absorption of calcium are known as important risk factors of osteoporosis. Peptic ulcer disease may be accompanied by dietary restrictions influencing negatively calcium intake. Inflammation of gastric and duodenal mucosa as well as alkali used may significantly decrease calcium absorption. Additionally, bone metabolism may be changed by inflammatory mediators released as a result of mucosal inflammation. AIMS: Comparison of bone mineral density and calcium dietary intake in women with and without (control group) peptic ulcer disease. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-three women were studied: 143 (mean age 60.3 years) with peptic ulcer disease diagnosed by endoscopy and/or upper gastrointestinal X-ray, and 120 (mean age 58.4 years) as controls. History of alimentary tract diseases and presence of risk factors of osteoporosis, as well as history of hormone replacement therapy, were collected based on specially designed questionnaires. Women with present risk factors of secondary osteoporosis and with previously diagnosed osteoporosis were excluded. The calcium dietary intake was determined using a standard questionnaire assessing milk and milk products intake as well as calcium supplementation when used. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral bone was determined by DXA. RESULTS: Women with peptic ulcer disease not using hormone replacement therapy had lower bone mineral density in all studied regions as compared to control group without peptic ulcer disease. In the subgroup not using hormone replacement therapy all studied values differed significantly. In the smaller subgroup of women using hormone replacement therapy not all values were statistically significant. There was no statistical significance between studied groups in dietary calcium intake as milk, milk products, and calcium supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium intake in women with ulcer disease is similar to healthy subjects. Peptic ulcer disease is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in women.

Natural history of peptic ulcer disease in Poland. V. The process of diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease.

The analysis of the process of diagnosis establishing in peptic ulcer disease in 5813 patients showed that almost all patient had been subjected to radiological examination of the upper digestive tract (99.5%). Endoscopic examination was done in 57.75% of patients, and histological examination of mucosa was performed in 13.28% of them. The secretory activity of the stomach was studied in 61.48% of cases. Moreover, it was found that nearly half the studied patients (43.23%) came to the doctors after more than 6 months from the onset of the first symptoms, and the diagnosis of the disease was established within 2 months after the first visit to the doctor in 58.48% of cases.

[Modification of the test for determining bacterial capacity for nitrate reduction]. / Modyfikacja testu okreslania zdolnosci bakterii do redukcji azotanów.

For facilitation of the detection of bacteria able to reduce nitrates the presently used method of 24-hour broth culture with KNO3 and the method of growing on slant agar cultures with KNO3 (standard method) were compared, with certain modifications introduced. It was found that shortening of the incubation period from 24 to 6 hours and reduction of the volume of broth with KNO3 from 10 to 0.5 ml made possible obtaining of a greater number of correct results as compared to the standard method. In the 24-hour broth cultures with KNO3 done as yet in case of negative results it is indispensable to confirm them in the test with zinc dust. The placement of Griess reagents on points onto colonies growing on KNO3 agar may lead to false positive results.

[Campylobacter pylori in diseases of the stomach and duodenum]. / Campylobacter pylori w schorzeniach zoladka i dwunastnicy.

Campylobacter pylori is an organism living under mucus layer in the stomach and on the places of gastric mucosa metaplasia. It is known to be responsible for the development of gastritis, probably also it participates in the pathogenesis of dyspepsia without ulcer, while its role in the development of gastric and duodenal ulcer has not yet been explained completely. The authors present a characteristics of the organism and the methods of its detection. A number of investigations are discussed which demonstrate its clinical importance. In summary, it is shown that the present state of knowledge on Campylobacter pylori is insufficient for serving as a rationale for antibacterial treatment of peptic ulcer.