Accuracy of GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA for the Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Korean Population / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA is a newly developed diagnostic method which detects serum anti-H. pylori IgG antibody. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in Korean population. METHODS: GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA and GAP-IgG were performed in 353 adult sera and Pyloriset-IgG EIA in 184 subjects. In children, 43 serum samples were tested with GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA. H. pylori infection was determined by rapid urease test, histology, culture or 13C-urea breath test in adults. In children, the subject was considered to be H. pylori positive if 13C-urea breath test was positive. RESULTS: In adults, the sensitivity and specificity of GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA were 93.2% and 83.5% with positive and negative predictive values of 85.1% and 92.5%. Those for GAP-IgG and Pyloriset-IgG EIA were 67.2%, 82.4%, 79.3%, 71.4% and 89.1%, 88.4%, 71.9%, 96.1%, respectively. In children, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA were 80%, 84.8%, 61.5%, and 93.3%. Sensitivity and negative predictive value of GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA were significantly higher than those of GAP-IgG (93.2% vs. 67.2%; plt;0.005 and 92.5% vs 71.4%; p<0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA is a relatively accurate method for the serodiagnosis of H. pylori infection in Korean subjects compared to GAP-IgG. These results may suggest the clinical use of GenediaTM H. pylori ELISA for epidemiological studies of H. pylori infection in Korea.

Risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic Korean population / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection varies between countries and between social classes. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for with Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic Korean population. METHODS: Sera were collected from 2,687 females and 3,049 males (mean age, 29.1 y; range, 1 m-79 y) in Korea from Mar 1998 through Oct 1998. All asymptomatic subjects completed assessment questionnaires. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect IgG antibody to H. pylori. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence observed was 46.6% and showed nostatistical diffrerence between female (45.9%) and male (47.2%). The seroprevalences in children (neonate-15 y) and adult (16-79 y) were 17.2% and 66.9%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis, variables such as sex, age, geographic area, crowding (number of person per room) in childhood, economic status in childhood, and types of housing in childhood were significantly and independently associated with H. pylori seroprevalence of adults. In children, age, geographic area, income, mother's education, and drinking water source were significant risk factors of H. pylori infection. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic condition and close person to person contact in childhood are the significant determinants for H. pylori infection in adult. Drinking water source is an another important risk factor for H. pylori infection in children, suggesting the fecal to oral transmission in Korea.

Geriatric Diseases: Characteristics and Preventive Measures

BACKGROUND: For the remembrance of the first 'Older People's Day' on Goober 2nd, The Korean Geriatrics Society (KGS) held geriatric conference for the improvement of the health on the aged. We summarized the discussion. RESULTS: We generally agree that many of the conditions of decrepit old age are not time-determined, but are the results of preventable and tretable illness. Rates of aging and senescence vary markedly in the aged. This has also been observed in different organ systems of the body. The comprehensive geriatric assessment developed in response to the complexity of medical, psychological and social problems occurred in older people It will be more necessary to develop Korean culture specific assessment tools. The proportion of the aged population to the whole is expected to reach 6.8% in the year 2000 and 12.5 % in 2020, forecasting that Korea will indeed enter the era of an aging society in the early 21s1 century. In Korea, geriatric diseases have the characteristic structure having multiple entities. The most common medical problem is arthralgia (with 57.8 % of 65 and older). In Korea, there are three kinds of medical care programs for the aged . medical insurance, medical assistance, and health screening, CONCLUSION: The desire for the improvement of older people's health is increasing now in Korea. Thus KGS suggests 'The Guideline for The Age'.

Drug Compliance and Occurrence of Adverse Drug Reactions According to Activities of Daily Living(ADL) Function of Elderly Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of ADL on the drug compliance and the occurrence of drug side reactions in elderly diabetic out-patients, we performed a study concerning prescriptions. METHODS: Eighty six elderly diabetic out-patients(65~92 year-old)were divided into two groups by the function of ADL(normal ADL group> or =5 score, impaired ADL group< or = 4 score). Four weeks after prescription we examined the account of remaining medicines and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Patient compliance with drug therapy was assessed by counting the remained drugs at 4 week according to the following criteria: 2 or 3 days of prescribed drugs, 95% compliance; 1 week, 75%; 2 weeks, 50%; and 3 weeks or more, 25%. The frequency of drug adverse reaction is expressed as the percentage of the number of patients experienced side effect(s) over the total number of patients in each group during 4-weeks. RESULTS: Drug compliance was significantly higher in normal ADL group than in impaired Group(normal 87+/-15.6%, impaired 66+/-14.1%, p<0.01). Drug side effects were more in impaired ADL group than in normal group(impaired ADL group 26.3%, normal group 10.4%). Five normal ADL patients and 10 impaired ones had a total of 20 adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: ADL performance influenced the drug intake compliance and the frequency of drug side effects in elderly diabetic out-patients.