Complete genome sequences of two Helicobacter pylori strains from a Canadian Arctic Aboriginal community

We report here the complete genome sequences of two Amerind Helicobacter pylori strains from Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada. One strain contains extra iron-cofactored urease genes and ~140 rearrangements in its chromosome relative to other described strains (typically differing from one another by <10 rearrangements), suggesting that it represents a novel lineage of H. pylori

The impact of illness in patients with moderate to severe gastro-esophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease. It impairs health related quality of life (HRQL). However, the impact on utility scores and work productivity in patients with moderate to severe GERD is not well known. METHODS: We analyzed data from 217 patients with moderate to severe GERD (mean age 50, SD 13.7) across 17 Canadian centers. Patients completed three utility instruments – the standard gamble (SG), the feeling thermometer (FT), and the Health Utilities Index 3 (HUI 3) – and several HRQL instruments, including Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) and the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 (SF-36). All patients received a proton pump inhibitor, esomeprazole 40 mg daily, for four to six weeks. RESULTS: The mean scores on a scale from 0 (dead) to 1 (full health) obtained for the FT, SG, and HUI 3 were 0.67 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.70), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.80), and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.82) respectively. The mean scores on the SF-36 were lower than the previously reported Canadian and US general population mean scores and work productivity was impaired. CONCLUSION: GERD has significant impact on utility scores, HRQL, and work productivity in patients with moderate to severe disease. Furthermore, the FT and HUI 3 provide more valid measurements of HRQL in GERD than the SG. After treatment with esomeprazole, patients showed improved HRQL

Cost-Effectiveness of Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitors in High-Risk Bleeders

There is unequivocal evidence that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently the most effective acid suppressive agents available. Intravenous (IV) formulations have been developed, although only IV pantoprazole is available in Canada. In patients presenting with serious upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding due to duodenal or gastric ulcers, it has always been believed that IV administration of acid-lowering agents would improve clinical outcomes. The reason behind this thinking is twofold. First, there is in vitro evidence that formed clots are more stable at or near neutral pH (1). Second, by administering the agent intravenously, suppression of acid production is achieved much more quickly, thereby promoting more rapid healing of the ulcer and reducing the risk of persistent or recurrent bleeding. Interestingly and surprisingly, however, the data for intravenous H2-blockers have been disappointing (2). This failure to demonstrate clinical benefit has never been fully explained

A meta-analysis of the success rate of Helicobacter pylori therapy in Canada

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori treatment success rates have varied. A systematic review of the success rate of anti-H pylori therapy in Canada was performed

Pancreatic Cancer in Canada: Incidence and Mortality Trends from 1992 to 2005

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-ranking cause of death among all major malignancies in Canada and has the lowest five-year survival rate

Novel Diagnostic Tests to Detect Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Pediatric Perspective

Because of the widespread problem of Helicobacter pylori infections, there is an increased need for rapid, reliable and inexpensive diagnostic tests. Five recently developed tests that offer potential advantages because they are less invasive or permit easier acquisition of samples than available tests are assessed. The tests assessed are whole blood, saliva and urine assays that measure systemic antibody response to H pylori, stool tests that measure H pylori antigens and string tests that recover H pylori organisms