Detection of Helicobacter pylori by Pre-embedding Immunoelectron Microscopy: Comparison with Immunoblotting Method

PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate whether the detection rate of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens could be improved by using pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy. METHODS: A total of 119 children who complained of upper gastrointestinal symptoms were endoscoped at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital from July, 1996 to July, 1999. Five biopsy specimens(three for urease test, one for hematoxylin-eosin(H and E) staining, and one for pre- embedding immunoelectron microscopy) were obtained from each antrum and body. Immunoblotting analysis were also performed. RESULTS: Among the 119 patients, H. pylori were found in 116 patients(97.5%) by the immunoelectron microscopy. Among three patients who were found H. pylori negative in immunoelectron microscopy, two patients showed H. pylori in H and E stained slides and one patient was urease test positive(color change within six hours). Urease tests were positive in 107 patients(89.9 %). The positive rate of immunoblotting tests was 81.5%. However, only 13 patients(10.9%) showed H. pylori on the H and E stained antrum or body tissue. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found H. pylori histopathologically in most of the pediatric patients who complained of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. This study showed that pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopic examinations can be used as a gold standard in the diagnosis of childhood H. pylori infection. However, this method also has limited capacity to detect widely scattered H. pylori compared to the other histopathologic diagnostic methods.

Relationship between Intussusception and Vitamin C Concentrations of Whole Blood and Plasma / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Adenovirus infection with swollen Peyer patches in the ileum, known as one of the causes of intussusception, may cause vitamin C depletion in human body because vitamin C is a first line antioxidant. Or low vitamin C status in human body makes the man more susceptible to infection of adenovirus in the ileum with a markedly swollen lymph node. In this study, we tried to find out the relationship between pediatric intussusceptions and vitamin C concentrations of whole blood and plasma. METHODS: Whole blood and plasma vitamin C concentrations of fifty-seven patients with intussusceptions from May 1995 to December 1998 at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital were compared with those of 256 normal healthy children. Vitamin C was measured by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine methods. RESULTS: The average age of patients (male=39, female=18) with intussusceptions was fifteen months of age. Whole blood vitamin C concentrations of patients and healthy children were 1.49+/-0.64 mg/dL, and 2.18+/-0.49 mg/dL, respectively. Plasma vitamin C concentrations of patients and healthy children were 0.59+/-0.36 mg/dL, 1.47+/-0.56 mg/dL, respectively. But no differences in the vitamin C concentrations of whole blood and plasma according to age, degree of leukocytosis, fever, interval from onset, hematochezia, and need for operation were found. CONCLUSION: Whole blood and plasma vitamin C concentrations of patients with intussusceptions were lower than those of healthy children (P=0.0001). Prospective studies are needed to elucidate whether these results were consequences or causes of intussusceptions.

Whole Blood and Plasma Vitamin C Concentrations in Children of 1-6 Years of Age in the Chinju Area

PURPOSE: Vitamin C among antioxidants in human is a physiological antioxidant for protection against diseases. We measured the vitamin C concentrations of whole blood and plasma among children in early childhood at normal condition in order to know the presence of vitamin C deficiency. METHODS: The venous blood was collected from 471 subjects at 1-6 years of ages in Chinju. Concentrations of vitamin C in whole blood and plasma were measured by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. RESULTS: Concentrations of vitamin C in whole blood and plasma were 1.68mg/dL and 0.94mg/dL, respectively. While concentrations of vitamin C in the whole blood and plasma of males were 1.69 mg/dL and 0.92mg/dL, respectively. Those of females, were 1.68mg/dL and 1.00mg/dL, respectively. The concentrations did not significantly differ by gender. Concentrations of vitamin C in plasma were positively correlated with the age of the entire study group and of female(P=0.01). Percentages of subjects with vitamin C concentrations of the whole blood less than 1.0mg/dL were 1.9%, and those of the plasma of below 0.6mg/dL were 20.6%. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of vitamin C in whole blood and plasma did not show normal distribution. And there were no relationship among age, gender, and vitamin C concentrations at early childhood. A significant number of children in Chinju had suboptimal plasma vitamin C concentration. These findings suggest a need for an increased vitamin C intake in this area.