Variable number tandem repeat polymorphism of MUC5AC was not associated with H.pylori infection

Background: Some researchers indicated that investigating MUC5AC is necessary for H.pylori infection because H.pylori is easy to locate in MUC5AC. However, there is no publication about the effect of variable number tandem repeat polymorphism of MUC5AC on H.pylori infection. Objective: To investigate the relationship between mucin 5AC variable number tandem repeated polymorphism and H.pylori infection. Subject and Method: 170 patients were studied, mean age: 43, male: 35%. Blood samples were collected from patients, who visited Can Tho General Hospital for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. DNA was isolated from whole blood; the repeated section of the MUC5AC alleles was not cut out with a restriction enzyme (SacI). H.pylori infection was diagnosed with 14 C urea breath test. Distributions of allele fragment length were compared to H.pylori positive and negative patients. Results: 52% of patients were H.pylori infected. MUC5AC SacI-restricted allele fragment lengths ranged from 6.2 to 11.2 kbp (mean 7.9), the calculated number of repeated ranged from 170 to 380 (mean 243). Mean allele length was identical for H.pylori positive and negative patients were 7.9 kbp, and the distribution of allele fragment lengths was also similar for both groups (p=0.7). Conclusion: The number of repeats in the MUC5AC gen was highly polymorphic, but the variation in allele length was limited. The variable number tandem repeat polymorphism of MUC5AC was not associated with H.pylori infection.

The frequency of the E266K CARD 4/NOD1 gene polymorphism and its relation to Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: CARD4/NOD1 is a member of the Caterpiller (CLR) gene family and is involved in the recognition of entero-invasive bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori and ensures immunity responses. As a consequence, gene variability can influence the gastric inflammatory response to Helicobacter pylori. Objectives: The study was conducted to investigate the frequency of the E266K CARD4/NOD1 gene polymorphism and its relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection as well as the outcome on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy were eligible for the study. DNA was isolated from whole blood and polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure was used for genotyping. The link between endoscopic diagnosis, Helicobacter pylori infection status and genotype data was analyzed using Pearson\u2019s chi-square test and regression analysis. Results: A total of 186 patients were studied (mean age of 43 years with SD = 12.6, male was 37%). Helicobacter pylori infection rate is indifferent between patients with different variants of E266K (wildtype (n=80) 54%, heterozygotes (n=71) 65% and homozygotes (n=35) 43%; p=0.09). In patients infected with Helicobacter pylori, the prevalence of peptic ulcer identified by endoscopy was 19%, 17% and 47% for the E266K wildtype, heterozygote and homozygote variants, respectively (p=0.049). Conclusion: The E266K CARD4/NOD1 gene polymorphism carriers are at increased risk of peptic ulcer in the presence of Helicobacter pylori.

Vitamin B12 deficiency in patient with gastroenterologic symptoms in Can Tho

Background: Several studies reported a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in some Asian countries and in Asian immigrants living in Western countries. However, there is no data regarding the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in Viet Nam.\r\n', u'Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the Mekong Delta and to investigate the risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency. \r\n', u'Methods: Blood samples were collected from patients visiting Can Tho General Hospital for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Serum vitamin B12 concentration was measured at the University Medical center St Radboud Nijmegen, Netherlands. \r\n', u'Results: Between September and December 2003, 216 patients (80 male, 136 female, mean age 43.2 years) were studied. Ten patients had gastric cancer, 28 peptic ulcer disease/ and 178 gastritis only or no visible pathology. Only 2 patients (0.9%) had clinical vitamin B12 deficiency (<160 pmol/l, whereas 15 patients (7.0%) had sub-clinical vitamin 812 deficiency (160-250 pmol/l). H. pylori positive patients (n=111) were more likely to have para-clinical vitamin B12 deficiency than H. pylori negative patients (odds ratio 3.7~ 95%CI 1.10-12.76). \r\n', u'Conclusions: Vitamin B12 deficiency is uncommon in the Mekong Delta. Helicobacter pylori infection is a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency. \r\n', u'