Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio Associated with Prolonged Hospital Length of Stay Postpeptic Ulcer Perforation Repair: An Observational Descriptive Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The predictive role of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (P/LR) in patients with perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is not well-studied. We aimed to investigate the association between the P/LR ratio and the hospital length of stay (HLOS) for surgically treated PPU. METHOD: This is a retrospective observational study for surgically treated adult cases of PPU at Hamad Medical Corporation during the period from January 2012 to August 2017. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their HLOS (I week). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to determine the cutoff value for lymphocyte count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and P/LR ratio for predicting the prolonged hospitalization. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two patients were included in the study. The majority were young males. The mean age was 38.3 ± 12.7 years. Perforated duodenal ulcer (139 patients) exceeded perforated gastric ulcer (13 patients). The HLOS > 1 week was observed in 14.5% of cases. Older age (p = 0.01), higher preoperative WBC (p = 0.03), lower lymphocyte count (p = 0.01), and higher P/LR ratio (p = 0.005) were evident in the HLOS > 1 week group. The optimal cutoff value of P/LR was 311.2 with AUC 0.702 and negative predictive value of 93% for the prediction of prolonged hospitalization. Two patients died with a mean P/LR ratio of 640.8 ± 135.5 vs. 336.6 ± 258.9 in the survivors. CONCLUSION: High preoperative P/LR value predicts prolonged HLOS in patients with repaired perforated peptic ulcer. Further larger multicenter studies are needed to support the study findings.

A case of unexplained duodenal ulcer and massive gastrointestinal bleed.

A 73-year-old man was displaying symptoms of massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. Surgical actions were performed to control the bleed caused by an erosive duodenal ulcer with duodenal perforation. When investigating the culprit of this case, the pain medications prescribed two weeks prior by a traditional Chinese medicine doctor raised attention. The patient's admission serum sample and the pain medications from unknown sources were analyzed using a clinically validated liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method. The NSAIDs diclofenac, piroxicam, and indomethacin were identified, as well as some other synthetic drugs and natural products. The patient's concurrent exposure to multiple NSAIDs significantly increased the risk of upper GI complications. It is reasonable to argue that the high-dose use of the NSAIDs was a major cause of the duodenal ulcer and GI bleed. In addition, the identified natural products such as atropine and ephedrine have well-documented toxicities. It is important to increase the visibility of unregulated medications, and the capability to perform untargeted mass spectrometry analysis provides a unique diagnostic advantage in cases where exposure to toxic substances is possible.

Altered cytokine expression in Helicobacter pylori infected patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which an important role has infection with H. pylori. The most common complication of peptic ulcer is bleeding. The presence of H. pylori triggers local and systemic cytokine signaling which may affect processes such as healing, gastric or duodenal rupture, and carcinogenesis. In this study, we examined the concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, TGF-ß and IL-17A in serum by enzyme immunoassay and their mRNA expressions in periulcer biopsies obtained from patients with bleeding peptic ulcer by means of real-time-PCR. RESULTS: We have shown that pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF concentrations in serum were significantly higher in patients who were infected with H. pylori, while the concentrations of TGF-ß and IL-17A were significantly lower compared to non-infected subjects. IL-17A expression in periulcer mucosa was significantly higher in patients who were infected with H. pylori, while the expression of other cytokines, there was no significant difference compared to non-infected controls. Considering higher serum concentrations in non-infected subjects and higher IL-17A expression in mucosal tissue of infected patients, our data support the studies that found IL-17A has protective role in eradication of H. pylori infection in infected patients.

Association of gastric and duodenal ulcers with anthropometry and nutrients: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES II-IV) 2001-2009.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the association of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), including gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, with obesity-related indices, nutrients, and blood parameters in Korean adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Second-Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES II-IV). Binary logistic regression was carried out to analyze the association between PUD and all variables in the crude analysis; in a subsequent analysis, adjustments were made for age, region, house type, number of snacks per day, and number of household members. RESULTS: PUD exhibited the highest association with age in both men and women among all variables used in this study. In men, only body mass index was associated with PUD in both the crude and adjusted analyses. PUD was associated with weight, height, and fat in the crude analysis, but these associations disappeared after adjustment for confounders. Vitamin B2, hemoglobin, and glucose were related to PUD, but these associations became nonsignificant in the adjusted analysis. Water, vitamin C, and potassium were not associated with PUD in the crude analysis but were associated with PUD after adjustment for confounders. In women, systolic blood pressure and height were associated with PUD. PUD was also related to waist circumference, the waist-to-height ratio, fat, and cholesterol, but these associations became nonsignificant after adjustment for confounders. Vitamin C, protein, niacin, sodium, energy, vitamin B2, vitamin B1, and aspartate aminotransferases were associated with PUD in only the crude analysis. PUD was not associated with diastolic blood pressure, water, vitamin A, or glucose, but these factors were associated with the disease in the adjusted analysis. CONCLUSION: Older age was a risk factor for PUD in Korean adults, and the association of PUD with most nutrients and anthropometric indices may differ according to gender.

The Relationship of Mean Platelet Volume/Platelet Distribution Width and Duodenal Ulcer Perforation.

BACKGROUND: Duodenal ulcer perforation (DUP) is a severe acute abdominal disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are two platelet parameters, participating in many inflammatory processes. This study aims to investigate the relation of MPV/PDW and DUP. METHODS: A total of 165 patients were studied retrospectively, including 21 females and 144 males. The study included two groups: 87 normal patients (control group) and 78 duodenal ulcer perforation patients (DUP group). Routine blood parameters were collected for analysis including white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil ratio (NR), platelet count (PLT), MPV and PDW. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was applied to evaluate the parameters' sensitivity. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the control group and DUP group in age and gender. WBC, NR and PDW were significantly increased in the DUP group (P<0.001, respectively); PLT and MPV were significantly decreased in the DUP group (P<0.001, respectively) compared to controls. MPV had the high sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested a potential association between MPV/PDW and disease activity in DUP patients, and high sensitivity of MPV.

Effects of different omeprazole dosing on gastric pH in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A randomized prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the best method of omeprazole (OME) application with respect to intragastric pH, cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) genotype and phenotype. METHODS: The patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) were prospectively enrolled. After the achievement of endoscopic hemostasis, the patients were randomized to 40-mg intravenous (i.v.) OME bolus injection every 12 h or 8-mg/h continuous i.v. infusion for 72 h after an 80-mg i.v. OME bolus administration. The intragastric pH was recorded for 72 h. The CYP2C19 variant alleles (*2, *3, *17) were analyzed and the serum concentrations of OME and 5-hydroxyomeprazole (5-OH OME) were determined. RESULTS: Altogether 41 Caucasians (18 in the OME infusion [OI] group and 23 in the OME bolus [OB] group) were analyzed. The median percentage of time with an intragastric pH > 4.0 was higher in the infusion group than in the OB group over 48 h (100% vs 96.6%, P = 0.009) and 72 h (100% vs 87.6%, P = 0.006), and that at an intragastric pH >6.0 was higher in the OI group than the OB group over 72 h (97.9% vs 63.5%, P = 0.04). Helicobacter pylori infection was correlated with the fastest increase in intragastric pH, especially in the OI group. In both groups, CYP2C19 genotypes (*1/*1, *1/*17, *17/*17) had no essential effect on intragastric pH. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NVUGIB, OME i.v. bolus followed by continuous infusion is more effective than OME i.v. bolus every 12 h in maintaining higher intragastric pH, regardless of CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms. H. pylori infection accelerates the initial elevation of intragastric pH.

[HORMONALLY-GENETICALLY DEPENDENT THERAPY, USING VITAMIN K IN PATIENTS, SUFFERING THE ULCER HEMORRHAGE].

Pathophysiological mechanisms of the vitamin K impact, including those in the gut with ulcerative affection, are studied still insufficiently. Investigations of pharmacogenomics of the vitamin K gives a new approach to therapy in patients, suffering gastro-intestinal hemorrhage. Possibilities of titration of the vitamin K3 (menadione) doses, depending on level of estrogenemia and genetic constitution, concerning genes-candidates ESR1 (rs2234693) and VKORC1 (rs9923231), were studied. There were examined 36 patients, who were treated for the ulcer hemorrhage. The blood serum concentration of estradiol was investigated in accordance to method of solid phase enzyme immunoassay, the genotyping procedure was performed in accordance to indices of polymerase chain reaction with analysis of the restrictional fragments length. The initial daily dose of menadione have constituted 20 mg. After a genotype determination made (first-second day after admittance to hospital) in patients with normoestrogenemia in genotypes CC/GG, CC/GA, CT/GG, CT/GA a vitaminotherapy was prolonged in daily dose of 20 mg, and in a conditionally-pathological variant of genotype the dose of vitamin K was enhanced up to 30 mg. Determination of hormones and the patients' genetic constitution makes possible to apply a personified approach for the vitamin K3 application in the ulcerative hemorrhage.

[Effects of Electroaupuncture Stimulation of "Xiajuxu" (ST 39), etc. on Duodenal Mucosal Injury, Serum Pro-inflammatory Factors Levels and Duodenal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor alpha 7 Expression in Duodenal Ulcer Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relatively specific effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Xiajuxu" (ST 39, the lower hesea paint of the small intestine), etc. on the level of serum TNF-alpha, lnterleukin-1 P (IL-1 P) and high mobility group protein B 1 (HMGB 1) contents, and duodenum a7 nicotinic acetyicholine receptor (nAchR) expression in duodenal ulcer rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improving duodenal ulcer. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control, model, Xiajuxu (ST 39), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37) and Yanglingquan (GB 34). The duodenal ulcer model was established by subcutaneous injection of 10% Cysteamine Hydrochloride (300 mg/kg), following by giving the rats with access to water containing Cysteamine. EA (10 Hz/50 Hz, 1- 3 mA) was applied to bilateral ST 39, ST 36, ST 37 and GB 34 for 30 min, once daily for 10 days. The ulcer scores (0-5 points) of the duodenal mucosa were assessed according to modified Moraes' methods. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and HMGB 1 levels were assayed by ELISA and the expression of neuronal a7 nAchR in the duodenal tissue was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, the ulcer score, serum TNF-alpha, IL-i p and HMGB 1 contents were significantly increased (P<0.01) and the expression level of a7 nAchR in the duodenal tissue was significantly down- regulated in comparison with the normal control group (P<0.01). Following EA intervention, the serum TNF-alpha and HMGB 1 con- tents in the Xiajuxu(ST 39), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) groups, and the ulcer scores and IL-1 beta content of the Xiajuxu(ST 39), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) groups were considerably reduced, and the expression of alpha7 nAchR in both Xiajuxu (ST 39) and Zusanli (ST 36) groups was evidently increased (P<0.05, P<0.0.1). No significant changes were found in the ulcer score, serum IL-1 beta content, and a7 nAchR expression in the Yanglingquan (GB 34) group and a 7 nAchR expression in the Shangjuxu (ST 37) group in comparison with the model group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of ST 36, ST 37 and ST 39 can reduce ulcer injury in duodenal ulcer model rats, which may be associated with their effects in down-regulating serum TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and HMGB 1 contents and up-regulating alpha7 nAchR expression of the duodenal tissue, possibly by suppressing immune and inflammatory reactions and regulating nicotinic activity.

THE CONCENTRATION OF ACETYLCHOLINE AND THE LEVEL CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC ULCER, DUODENAL ULCER AND ALCOHOLIC CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

INTRODUCTION: There are a lot of pathogenic factors involved in development of polyetiologic diseases. Acetylcholine is known as first-order mediator and plays important role in development and maintenance of pathological processes. In this article we provide data on concentration of acetylcholine (Ah) in blood serum of patients with stomach ulcer (SU), duodenal ulcer (DU), alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and control group.as well as activity of cholinesterase (Che). The aim of this study was to identify a role played by Ah in pathological process during a disease, that may complicate a course of the disease as poor prognostic factor. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We found that there are significant differences in Ah concentration and Che activity between SU, DU, ACP and control. In control group we divide concentration of Ah into three groups: low - 0.46 to 1.0 mlMol/l (60% of individuals), moderate - mlMol 02-1,5/I (30%) and high - more than 1.5 Ah mlMol/I (10%). CONCLUSION: We suppose that Che activity and Ah concentration depend on localization of pathological process. It is possible that there are hidden differences in Ah concentration and Che activity between GU and DU.

[ULCER DAMAGE TO THE GASTROINTESTINAL PATH ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION AS A MANIFESTATION OF COMORBIDITY AMONG RAILWAY WORKERS].

Purpose of the study: The investigation of clinical and laboratory parameters that characterize the pathogenetic connections of association of ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and hypertension as work-related diseases among workers of locomotive brigades. Materials and methods: 192 railway workers were examined. The level of general clinical and biochemical parameters in the blood serum were investigated. Results: Due to the syntopy of duodenal ulcers and (or) the stomach and hypertension on the background of the negative impact of harmful factors of production the abnormalities in the vascular endothelium with signs of systemic inflammation are revealed. Conclusion: The identified parameters can be considered as an early predictor of formation of hypertension as well as a comorbid flow of duodenal ulcers and (or) of the stomach and hypertension, assessing it as work-related diseases.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of "Xiaohai" (SI 8) and "Xiajuxu" (ST 39) on serum TNF-α and duodenal high mobility group protein B 1 levels in duodenal ulcer rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Xiaohai" (SI 8) and "Xiajuxu" (ST 39) on serum TNF-α and duodenal high mobility group protein B 1 (HMGB 1) levels in rats with duodenal ulcer (DU), so as to analyze its underlying mechanism in improving DU. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, Xiaohai (SI 8) and Xiajuxu (ST 39) groups (n=10 in each group). The DU model was established by intramuscular injection of 10% Cysteamine hydrochloride (300 mg/kg), followed by taking water containing 1% Cysteamine hydrochloride for 48 h. EA (10 Hz/50 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to bilateral SI 8 and ST 39 for 30 min, once a day for 10 days. The DU score (0-5 score) was evaluated according to Moraes' method. Serum TNF-α content was determined by ELISA and duodenal HMGB 1 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, the DU score, serum TNF-α content, and duodenal HMGB 1 expression level of the model group were significantly higher (P<0.01). Following EA intervention, the increased DU score, serum TNF-α content, and duodenal HMGB 1 expression level were considerably down-regulated in the two EA groups in comparison with the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05) except HMGB 1 in the SI 8 group (P>0.05), and the effect of EA of "Xiajuxu" (ST 39), the lower-He point, was remarkably superior to that of "Xiaohai" (SI 8) in reducing DU score and TNF-α content (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of SI 8 and ST 39 can improve duodenal ulceration in DU rats, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating serum TNF-α and duodenal HMGB 1 expression. The therapeutic effect of ST 39 is markedly better than SI 8 in relieving duodenal ulceration.

Bleeding diathesis and gastro-duodenal ulcers in inherited cytosolic phospholipase-A2 alpha deficiency.

Arachidonic acid (AA), when cleaved from phospholipids by cytosolic phospholipase A2 alpha (cPLA2a), generates eicosanoids, with pro-hemostatic, pro-inflammatory, vasoactive and gastro-protective functions. We describe a patient (27-year-old man) and his twin-sister with early-onset bleeding diathesis and recurrent gastro-intestinal (GI) ulcers. Platelet aggregation/δ-granules secretion by collagen was impaired, but normal by AA; serum levels of thromboxane (Tx) B2 and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and urinary levels of 11-dehydro-TxB2 were extremely low. Patients were homozygous for 1723G>C transition in PLA2G4A gene, which changed the codon for Asp575 to His. GI ulcers affected 5/14 heterozygous (< 40 years) and 1/16 wild-type homozygous (> 60 years) family members; none had bleeding diathesis. The proband, his sister and mother also had mildly reduced factor XI levels. Platelet messenger RNA expression did not differ among subjects with different PLA2G4A genotypes. Conversely, platelet cPLA2a was undetectable by Western Blotting in the proband and his sister, and decreased in 1723G>C heterozygous subjects, suggesting that the variant is transcribed, but not translated or translated into an unstable protein. We described a syndromic form of deficiency of cPLA2a , characterised by recurrent GI ulcers and bleeding diathesis, associated with mild inherited deficiency of factor XI. Unlike other reported patients with cPLA2a deficiency, these patients had extremely low levels of platelet TxA2 biosynthesis.

The value of serum pepsinogen levels for the diagnosis of gastric diseases in Chinese Han people in midsouth China.

BACKGROUND: Serum pepsinogen (PG) levels are valuable in the diagnosis of gastric diseases. However, PG levels are affected by many factors such as the area and race. This study aimed to investigate serum PG levels in patients with different gastric diseases who were Chinese Han people in Hunan Province, midsouth China. METHODS: A total of 248 gastric disease patients and 34 healthy controls were enrolled. The patients included those with non-atrophic and chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, early and advanced gastric cancer. Serum PG I and II levels were detected by Biohit ELISA kit (Finland), and PG I/II ratio was calculated. Differences in patients with gastric disease and healthy controls were analyzed using paired t-test. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with early and advanced gastric cancer had a significantly lower PG I level and PG I/II ratio (p <0.005). In contrast, patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer had a significantly higher PG I level (p <0.005). Compared with atrophic gastritis patients, patients with early and advanced carcinoma of the stomach had a significantly lower PG I/II ratio (p < 0.001). Combination of the cut-off levels of PG I (70 µg/L) and PG I/II ratio (6) provided 62.1% sensitivity of and 94.2% specificity for the diagnosis of gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased PG I level and PG I/II ratio are risk factors for gastric cancer. Combined use of serum PG I level and PG I/II ratio may help the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

[Acid resistance of erythrocytes in children with chronic inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum during the course of the hyperbaric oxygenation].

The use of additional methods of treatment of ulcers of the duodenum determines necessity of development of methods of evaluation and control of the efficiency of the treatment. With the help of the method of acid erhytrogrammes highlighted the most significant signs of describing the change in erythrocyte membranes of children with duodenal ulcer disease during the course of the hyperbaric oxygenation.

Effects of melatonin and tryptophan on healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers with Helicobacter pylori infection in humans.

Melatonin (MT) and its precursor L-tryptophan (TRP) are implicated in the protection of gastric mucosa against aspirin-induced lesions and in the acceleration of healing of idiopathic gastro-duodenal ulcers, but no information is available whether these agents are also effective in healing of gastroduodenal ulcers accompanied by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. In this study three groups A, B and C, each including 7 H. pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcers and 7 H. pylori-positive patients with duodenal ulcers, aging 28-50 years, were randomly assigned for the treatment with omeprazole 20 mg twice daily combined with placebo (group A), MT administered in a dose of 5 mg twice daily (group B) or TRP applied in a dose of 250 mg twice daily (group C). All patients underwent routine endoscopy at day 0 during which the gastric mucosa was evaluated and gastric biopsies were taken for the presence of H. pylori and histopathological evaluation. The rate of ulcer healing was determined by gastroduodenoscopy at day 0, 7, 14 and 21 after the initiation of the therapy. Plasma MT, gastrin, ghrelin and leptin were measured by specific RIA. At day 21, all ulcers were healed in patients of groups B and C but only 3 out of 7 in group A of gastric ulcers and 3 out of 7 in duodenal ulcers. Initial plasma MT showed similar low levels in all three groups but it increased several folds above initial values in ulcer patients at day 7, 14 and 21. Plasma gastrin and leptin levels showed a significant rise over initial values in patients treated with omeprazole and placebo, MT or TRP while plasma ghrelin levels were not significantly affected by these treatments. We conclude that MT or TRP added to omeprazole treatment, significantly accelerates healing rate of H. pylori infected chronic gastroduodenal ulcers over that obtained with omeprazole alone and this likely depends upon the significant rise in plasma MT and possibly also in leptin levels, both hormones involved in the mechanism of gastroprotection and ulcer healing.

Circulating interleukin-27 levels in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers, independent of the bacterial cytotoxin-associated gene A virulence factor.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the interleukin (IL)-27 levels in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected patients with gastric ulcer (GU) or duodenal ulcer (DU) and to determine its association with H. pylori virulence factor cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA). METHODS: In all, 127 H. pylori infected patients (including 96 DU patients, of whom 61 were anti-CagA(+) and 35 were anti-CagA(-)) and 31 GU patients (of whom 15 were anti-CagA(+) and 16 were anti-CagA(-)), 60 asymptomatic (AS) carriers (of whom 30 were anti-CagA(+) and 30 were anti-CagA(-)) and 30 healthy H. pylori-negative participants (as a control) were enrolled in the study. Serum concentrations of IL-27 were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The mean levels of IL-27 in the GU (44.26 ± 7.12 pg/mL) and DU patients (40.84 ± 3.90 pg/mL) was significantly higher than those observed in the AS carriers (22.06 ± 1.90 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and the control group (18.12 ± 1.68 pg/mL, P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). In the GU, DU and AS groups the levels of IL-27 in anti-CagA(+) participants were not significantly differ from that in the anti-CagA(-) participants. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that the mean concentration of IL-27 in H. pylori-infected peptic ulcer (PU) patients was higher than in AS carriers and the healthy control group. The serum concentrations of IL-27 were not affected by the CagA factor.

Serum sTREM-1 as a surrogate marker of treatment outcome in patients with peptic ulcer disease.

OBJECTIVE: Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is elevated in the gastric juice and in cultures of gastric mucosa of patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD). Its application as a surrogate marker for the treatment of PUD was assessed. METHODS: From 138 eligible patients, 96 were enrolled; 50 with duodenal ulcer, 29 with gastric ulcer and 17 with chronic gastritis. Patients were endoscoped twice; once before treatment and once after treatment. Biopsy specimens were collected for histopathologic estimation of gastritis. Blood was sampled prior to each endoscopy. Serum was collected and sTREM-1 was measured by an enzyme immunoabsorbent assay ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00534443). RESULTS: At the end of treatment sTREM-1 was either: (a) below the limit of detection (this occurred in 62 patients and it was accompanied by lacks signs of residual disease in 58 patients, 93.5%); or (b) above the limit of detection (this occurred in 17 patients and it was accompanied by residual disease in 14 patients, 82.3%) (p < 0.0001). Odds ratio for complete healing of peptic ulcer with sTREM-1 below detection limit was 5.30 (95% CI: 1.89-14.83, p < 0.001) compared to serum sTREM-1 above the limit of detection. CONCLUSIONS: Serum sTREM-1 below detection limit may effectively distinguish patients who successfully completed therapy for PUD from those with residual disease and apply as a surrogate marker.

[The serum content of gastrin-17 and pepsinogen-1 in patients with duodenal ulcerative disease in occupational contact with nitrogenous compounds].

The levels of serum gastrin-17 (G-17) and pepsinogen-1 (P-1) were studied in 54 patients with duodenal ulcerative disease (UD) who worked at chemical plants manufacturing nitrogenous compounds and in 15 healthy individuals (a control group). There are objective data on the time course of changes in the functional characteristics (G-17 and P-1) of the gastric mucosa (GM) in the patients with duodenal UD, which vary with the chemical compositions of hazardous substances and the length of service at a chemical plant. Basic therapy for UD causes positive changes in the functional parameters reflecting the state of GM.

Correlation between serum triglycerides and gastro-duodenal ulcer associated with low-dose aspirin.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Aspirin significantly increases the risk of peptic ulcer. Since it remains to be determined whether gastroprotective agents should be used routinely in patients without risk factors who are taking aspirin, more risk factors for aspirin-related peptic ulcer should be detected. In the present study was investigated the effects of aspirin on upper gastrointestinal ulcer and potent risk factor for peptic ulcer associated with aspirin in a case-control study. METHODOLOGY: It was identified 137 newly diagnosed gastroduodenal ulcer cases from endoscopic examinees in the Gunma Prefectural Cardiovascular Center. Two controls per case were selected according to sex and age, and we determined 274 controls. It was calculated OR and 95% CI of peptic ulcer for serum triglycerides. RESULTS: The use of low-dose aspirin without gastroprotective agents was found to be associated with the risk of peptic ulcer. High serum triglycerides were associated only with aspirin-related peptic ulcer. In contrast, no elevated OR of peptic ulcer was shown in cases without aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: The present study results suggest that hypertriglycerides might be one of the risk factors for peptic ulcer caused by aspirin. These findings indicate that gastroprotective therapy should be considered for preventing peptic ulcer associated with low-dose aspirin in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.