Sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical factors associated with Helicobacter Pylori infection

Q4Q2Paciente adultoBackground & Aims: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is higher in developing countries and is often linked to lower socioeconomic status. Few studies have investigated the association between H. pylori and individual level characteristics in Europe, where several countries have a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. The study aimed to identify risk factors for H. pylori infection among adults in a large clinical trial in Latvia. Methods: 1,855 participants (40-64 years) of the “Multicenter randomized study of H. pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality” (GISTAR study) in Latvia tested for H. pylori IgG antibodies were included in a cross-sectional analysis. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical factors were compared for participants seropositive (H. pylori+) and seronegative. Mutually adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated for H. pylori+ and factors significant in univariate analysis (education, smoking, binge drinking, several dietary habits, history of H. pylori eradication and disease), adjusting for age, gender and income. Results: Of the participants 1,044 (55.4%) were H. pylori seropositive. The infection was associated with current (OR: 1.34, 95%CI: 1.01-1.78) and former (OR: 1.38; 95%CI: 1.03-1.85) smoking, binge drinking (OR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.03-1.78), having ≥200g dairy daily (OR: 1.37; 95%CI: 1.11-1.69), and very hot food/drinks (OR: 1.32; 95%CI: 1.03-1.69) and inversely with ≥400g vegetables/fruit daily (OR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.60-0.96), history of H. pylori eradication (OR: 0.57; 95%CI: 0.39-0.84), peptic ulcer (OR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.38-0.80) and cardiovascular disease (OR: 0.78; 95%CI: 0.61-0.99). Conclusions: After mutual adjustment, H. pylori seropositivity was associated with lifestyle and in particular dietary factors rather than socioeconomic indicators in contrast to the majority of other studies.https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xFiKCkMAAAAJ&hl=eshttp://scienti.colciencias.gov.co:8081/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0000264474Revista Nacional - Indexad

Does family history of cancer influence undergoing screening and gastrointestinal investigations?

Q2Background and Aims: Although a family history of cancer (FHC) can modify the lifestyle and attitudes towards participation in cancer screening programs, studies on this relationship show mixed results and vary across populations. The objectives of the study were to compare sociodemographic characteristics, history of gastrointestinal (GI) investigations and Helicobacter pylori eradication, and modifiable cancer risk factors between those with FHC and those with no FHC (NFHC), and to investigate the association between FHC and a history of GI investigations. Methods: A total of 3,455 questionnaires from the pilot study of the “Helicobacter pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality (GISTAR study)” in Latvia were analysed. We compared sociodemographic characteristics and history of GI investigations between participants with self- reported FHC and NFHC. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics and modifiable cancer risk factors were built for a FHC and each GI investigation. Results: Participants with a FHC were more likely to be women, have a higher education and less likely to have harmful habits (smoking, alcohol consumption) than those with NFHC. Participants with a FHC were approximately twice as likely to report recent colorectal investigations specifically for screening, than those with NFHC. In fully adjusted logistic regression models, FHC was significantly associated with a recent history of faecal occult blood tests (FOBTs), colonoscopies, and colorectal investigations (FOBT or colonoscopy) specifically for screening as part of the national organized screening programme. Conclusion. Our results indicate that those with a FHC have different patterns of health-related behaviour than those with NFHC.https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7187-9946Revista Internacional - Indexad

The diagnostic value of anti-parietal cell and intrinsic factor antibodies, pepsinogens, and gastrin-17 in corpus-restricted atrophic gastritis

Raksta tekstā kļuda: afilācijai "Digestive Diseases Centre GASTRO Ltd", norādīta atrašanas vieta: Hong Kong, ChinapublishersversionPeer reviewe

Who Could Be Blamed in the Case of Discrepant Histology and Serology Results for Helicobacter pylori Detection?

Funding Information: Acknowledgments: The study was funded in part by the Fundamental and Applied Research Project Program in Latvia, project No. lzp-2018/1-0135 “Research on implementation of a set of measures for prevention of gastric cancer mortality by eradication H. pylori and timely recognition of precancerous lesions”. We acknowledge the entire GISTAR study team as well as the infrastructure provided by the Digestive Diseases Centre GASTRO for endoscopy and the Academic Histology Laboratory for pathology infrastructures. Our acknowledgements also to Biohit Oyj, Finland, for their support with laboratory reagents. Funding Information: Funding: The work is funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) within the frame-work of 2nd part of measure 1.1.1.1. ‘Practical Studies’, project ID Nr. 1.1.1.1/18/A/184. Funding Information: The work is funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) within the framework of 2nd part of measure 1.1.1.1. ?Practical Studies?, project ID Nr. 1.1.1.1/18/A/184. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Background. Discrepancies between histology and serology results for Helicobacter pylori detection could be caused by a variety of factors, including a biopsy sampling error, expertise of the pathologist, natural loss of infection due to advanced atrophy, or a false-positive serology in the case of a previous infection, since antibodies may be present in blood following recovery from the infection. Aims. To identify true H. pylori-positive individuals in discrepant cases by serology and histology using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a gold standard. Methods. Study subjects with discrepant histology and serology results were selected from the GISTAR pilot study data base in Latvia. Subjects having received previous H. pylori eradication therapy or reporting use of proton pump inhibitors, antibacterial medications, or bismuth containing drugs one month prior to upper endoscopy were excluded. We compared the discrepant cases to the corresponding results of RT-PCR performed on gastric biopsies. Results. In total, 97 individuals with discrepant results were identified: 81 subjects were serology-positive/histology-negative, while 16 were serologynegative/histology-positive. Among the serology-positive/histology-negative cases, 64/81 (79.0%) were false-positives by serology and, for the majority, inflammation was absent in all biopsies, while, in the serology-negative/histology-positive group, only 6.2% were proven false-positives by histology. Conclusions. Among this high H. pylori prevalent, middle-aged population, the majority of discrepant cases between serology and histology were due to false positive-serology, rather than false-negative histology. This confirms the available evidence that the choice of treatment should not be based solely on the serological results, but also after excluding previous, self-reported eradication therapy.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Public awareness of and attitudes towards research biobanks in Latvia

https://www.researchgate.net/project/Ethically-and-socially-responsible-governance-of-research-biobanks-in-Latvia-analysis-of-opinions-of-public-donors-and-researcher

Improving uptake of screening for colorectal cancer: a study on invitation strategies and different test kit use

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the uptake of mail-delivered tests for colorectal cancer screening. We assessed the effect of an advance notification letter and a reminder letter, and analysed the proportion of inappropriately handled tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen thousand randomly selected residents of Latvia aged 50–74 years were allocated to receive one of three different test systems: either a guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or one of two laboratory-based immunochemical tests (FIT) – FOB Gold or OC-Sensor. Half of the target population received an advance notification letter; all nonresponders were sent a reminder letter. RESULTS: The uptake of screening was 31.2% for the gFOBT, 44.7% for FOB Gold and 47.4% for the OC-Sensor (odds ratio 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.51–0.60 for gFOBT vs. FOB Gold; odds ratio 0.90; 95% confidence interval 0.83–0.98 for FOB Gold vs. OC-Sensor). The uptake in the gFOBT group was improved by the advance notification letter (7.7%, P<0.0001). 30.9% returned tests were received after the reminder letter. The proportion of tests that could not be analysed because of inadequate handling was 0.9% for gFOBT, 4.4% for FOB Gold and 0.2% for the OC-Sensor (P=0.002 for gFOBT vs. OC-Sensor; P<0.001 for all comparisons vs. FOB Gold). CONCLUSION: The use of FIT resulted in higher uptake. Receipt of a reminder letter was critical to participation, but the use of an advance notification letter was important mainly for gFOBT. The proportion of inappropriately handled tests was markedly higher for FOB Gold

Participation Rate in the Gistar Pilot Study: the Results from a Single Recruitment Centre

The successful implementation of public health programmes and research relies on high acceptance rate in general population. We have launched a pilot phase of the multicenter randomized study of Heli- cobacter pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality (GISTAR) in three centers in Latvia among individuals aged 40–64. Here, we report initial results from one center on participation acceptance rates according to two different means of invitation

Factors Associated with False Negative Results in Serum Pepsinogen Testing for Precancerous Gastric Lesions in a European Population in the GISTAR Study

The accuracy of plasma pepsinogen (Pg) as a marker for precancerous gastric lesions (PGL) has shown variable results. We aimed to identify factors associated with false negative (FN) cases in Pg testing and to adjust cut-off values for these factors in order to improve Pg yield. Plasma Pg was measured and upper endoscopy with biopsy was performed within the “Multicentric randomized study of Helicobacter pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study”. A multivariable logistic model was built for FN and multiple factors. Values of Pg were compared and sensitivity and specificity were calculated using pre-existing Pg cut-offs for factors showing strong associations with FN. New cut-offs were calculated for factors that showed substantially lower sensitivity. Of 1210 participants, 364 (30.1%) had histologically confirmed PGL, of which 160 (44.0%) were FN. Current smokers, men, and H. pylori positives were more likely FN. Smoking in H. pylori negatives was associated with a higher Pg I/II ratio and substantially lower sensitivity of Pg testing than in other groups. Adjusting Pg cut-offs for current smokers by H. pylori presence improved sensitivity for detecting PGL in this group. Our study suggests that adjusting Pg cut-offs for current smokers by H. pylori status could improve Pg test performance

Pepsinogen Levels in Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Decreased pepsinogen (Pg) levels indicate gastric atrophy and are suggested for gastric cancer screening, particularly for intestinal type of gas- tric cancer. To achieve high sensitivity of the screening, the majority of gastric cancer cases would be expected to present with low pepsinogen levels