Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori cagA and vacA Genes and Their Correlation with Gastrointestinal Diseases

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative bacterium, producing gastric ulcer, mild to severe gastritis, gastric carcinoma and lymphoma to the gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue through many virulence influences. Among the virulence factors identified; vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA) and cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) play an important role. Objective: In this study, we try to discover the relation between vacA variant and cagA genes with the clinical illness occurring in H. pylori patients Methodology: One hundred and forty patients were included in our study. Dual biopsy samples were taken from the stomach; one was examined by the urease test, and the other one was stored at −80°C for DNA extraction followed by PCR. The existence of H. pylori in the tissue was recognized by the existence of glmM gene and its detection by PCR. All the positive samples were additionally tested by PCR for the occurrence of cagA and vacA variant genes. Results: Our study demonstrated that cagA and vacA genes were found among 50% and 57% respectively of H. pylori patients complaining from gastrointestinal illnesses and that vacA s1/s2 was the main genotype found in H. pylori persons with gastroduodenal disease. Significant relation between vacA s1 gene and cagA gene was found. Conclusion: vacA s1 genotype has a vital role in upper gastrointestinal illnesses progress.

Pathways of healthcare and antibiotics use following reported gastrointestinal illness: a cross-sectional study in rural Anhui, China

ObjectiveTo document the factors, and their pathways, that influence healthcare and antibiotics use following reported gastrointestinal illnesses in Anhui province, China.Study designThis study uses cross-sectional design, descriptive statistical analysis, pathway mapping and multivariate logistic regression modelling.SettingHouseholds in 12 villages in Anhui province, China.ParticipantsA total of 3659 residents who: (1) held a registered rural residence and were actually living in the sampled villages when this study was conducted; (2) were aged 18 years and older and (3) were willing to participate and able to answer the survey questions.Outcome measuresPlanned and measured variables included the occurrence of gastrointestinal illness, professional care seeking and antibiotic use due to the illness and factors influencing these measures.ResultsOf the 3659 informants, 29.0% reported gastrointestinal illness episodes in the past year. Of these episodes, 50.2% led to professional care seeking and 65.4% of antibiotic use. Multivariate logistic modelling identifies that: (1) reported gastrointestinal illnesses were more frequent in north compared with middle (OR 0.569, 95% CI 0.472 to 0.686) and south (OR 0.588, 95% CI 0.492 to 0.702) Anhui, and were positively associated with age (B=0.123, p<0.05), knowledge concerning (B=0.248, p<0.05) and practice of (B=0.184, p<0.05) prevention; (2) seeking professional care and antibiotic use following the illness was linked to the severity of symptoms and geographical locations, rather than to specific pathogenic features.ConclusionsReported gastrointestinal illnesses are quite prevalent in the sample population and a large proportion of these have resulted in professional care and antibiotics use. The factors associated with the reported illnesses and pathways of healthcare and antibiotic use, as identified in this study, should inform future research and intervention efforts.

Paediatric surgery

This chapter on paediatric surgery covers procedures performed from fetus to 16 years of age. The wide range is succinctly covered with appropriate detail for both those looking to apply for medicine, and those in medical school. The chapter reviews oncological conditions, most importantly, leukaemia. It also studies common conditions such as abdominal pain, hernia, undescended testicles, and appendicitis. Surgical management of gastrointestinal illnesses such as pyloric stenosis, intussusception, and Hirschsprung’s disease is covered along with urological conditions such as hypospadias. It also discusses important neonatal presentations of necrotizing enterocolitis and gastrointestinal atresia, to name a few.

Inactivation Strategies for Clostridium perfringens Spores and Vegetative Cells

ABSTRACT Clostridium perfringens is an important pathogen to human and animals and causes a wide array of diseases, including histotoxic and gastrointestinal illnesses. C. perfringens spores are crucial in terms of the pathogenicity of this bacterium because they can survive in a dormant state in the environment and return to being live bacteria when they come in contact with nutrients in food or the human body. Although the strategies to inactivate C. perfringens vegetative cells are effective, the inactivation of C. perfringens spores is still a great challenge. A number of studies have been conducted in the past decade or so toward developing efficient inactivation strategies for C. perfringens spores and vegetative cells, which include physical approaches and the use of chemical preservatives and naturally derived antimicrobial agents. In this review, different inactivation strategies applied to control C. perfringens cells and spores are summarized, and the potential limitations and challenges of these strategies are discussed.