Histopathological severity of antral gastritis in relationship to Helicobacter pylori colonisation

The association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) colonisation in gastric antrum and the degree of severity and activity of gastritis and the concomitant relationship with gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplastic changes were studied. A total of 204 pieces of endoscopic biopsy tissues were collected from the outpatient endoscopy unit of New Yangon General Hospital in 1994. Routine Haematoxylin and Eosin stain as well as special stains such as modified Giemsa and Carbol fuchsin stains were used for bacterial identification and quantitative analysis. a significant correlation (P value <0.001) was obtained between density of HP colonisation and severity of gastritis as well as its activity (p value <0.001). However, no significant degree of atrophic changes and intestinal metaplastic changes were noted in these biopsies. a continuation for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HP and its consequences is necessary.

Comparison of Plasmodium falciparum infectivity to Anopheles dirus D using direct and indirect blood feeding methods

Membrane feeding method (indirect blood feeding) using defibrinated blood has been established and was found to be as good as the direct feeding method with no singificant differences in the production of oocysts and sporozoites in Anopheles dirus D (p > 0.05). However, lsuccessful feeding was greater in the direct feeding method (69.4 per cent) when compared to the membrane feeding method (46.7 per cent) (p <0.0001). Based on 19 malaria patients who had > 400 gametocytes per ul of blood, the effect of antimalarial drugs on oocyst and sporozoite rates was also studied and it was found that mefloquine treated patients produced reduced infection and infectivity in an. dirus D than those who received antimalarial drugs other than mefloquine. Patients who had gametocytes and have been treated for causes other than malaria and who did not receive any antimalarial drugs were found to produce the highest infection and infectivity rates in An. dirus D (p < 0.0001).

Comparative study on detection of urease activity by CLO Test Kit and Microtiter Biopsy Urease Test Kit for evaluation of Helicobacter pylori

A Microtiter Biopsy Urease Test (MBUT) for the detection of Helicobacter pylori was evaluated in the drug trial study conducted in the Endoscopy Department of New Yangon General Hospital. The MBUT was compared with commercially available urease test (CLO Test). Both CLO test and MBUT were performed on antral and fundal gastric tissues biopsied from 35 subjects who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. 29 (83 percent) cases were positive for Helicobacter pylori when tested by CLO test and MBUT. Thus the sensitivity and specificity of MBUT relative to CLO test was both 100 percent respectively. Tested by MBUT, the urease reaction was positive in 83 percent of cases within 2 hours and 90 percent within 3 hours. Tested by CLO test, it was positive in 60 percent of cases within 2 hours and 67 percent within 3 hours. the accuracy of MBUT was thus similar to that of CLO test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori. Moreover, MBUT is not expensive, can be prepared locally, packed in test kit form and can be supplied to gastroenteroscopy units for diagnostic and treatment purposes.

Prevalence of upper gastrointestinal disease in relation to age: Endoscopic and clinical implications

Reports of 2005 endoscopies were reviewed to determine the age-related prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disease as a guide to medical officers in primary and secondary centres for necessary referral to us for endoscopic examination. Results indicated that (1) there were positive findings in 1836 (92 percent) of all endoscopic examinations, and most symptomatic patients can be expected to have at least one UGI abnormality, (2) many patients with UGI symptoms have two or more reportable disease processes, (3) the prevalence of serious or life-threatening diseases such as cancer or large ulcers rises steasily with age, and (4) after age 50 approximately 51 percent of symptomatic patients have a serious UGI disease. Based on these findings, one should expect to diagnose at least one abnormality in most symptomatic patients, and should manage younger patients in their centres as an alternative. However, one should not hesitate to refer patients above 50 to an appropriate centre. Because of high prevalence of serious lesions in the elderly, endoscopy should also be condidered for the initial examination of an elderly patient if poor physical status renders the radiological examination difficult or unreliable.