Helicobacter pylori infection and gastropathy:A comparison between Indonesian and Japanese patients

AIM:To compare the effects of Helicobacter pylori(H pylori) infection on gastropathy between Indonesian and Japanese patients.METHODS:Biopsy specimens were obtained during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from 167 subjects(125 Indonesians and 42 Japanese) with uninvestigated symptoms of dyspepsia.The specimens were analyzed for the presence of H pylori using urease analysis,histopathology,and cell culture.The grade and activity of gastritis was assessed using the updated Sydney system.RESULTS:The percentages of Indonesian and Japanese patients who were H pylori-positive at the antrum or body of the stomach were similar(68% and 59.5%,respectively;P=0.316).Of those who were H pylori-positive,more Japanese patients than Indonesian patients had high levels of polymorphonuclear cells(P=0.001),mononuclear cells(P=0.013),glandular atrophy(P=0.000),and intestinal metaplasia(P=0.011) in both the antrum and body of the stomach.CONCLUSION:The grade of gastritis and prevalence of mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were higher in Japanese patients.The difference between Indonesian and Japanese patients was signifi cant.

Correlation of prefrontal activity measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with mood, BDNF genotype and serum BDNF level in healthy individuals

Depression has been known to reduce the prefrontal activity associated with the execution of certain cognitive tasks, although whether a temporarily depressed or anxious mood in healthy individuals affects the prefrontal blood oxygen level during cognitive tasks is unknown. Combining the measurement of prefrontal activity with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the two cognitive tasks, namely the letter version of the verbal fluency test (VFT-l) and the Stroop test, we measured the effect of a depressed or anxious mood and gender on the changes in the prefrontal oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) levels during those cognitive tests in healthy individuals. Depressed mood or anxious mood was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Thereby we aimed to explore the possibility of NIRS measurement for detecting the early subclinical manifestation of major depression. Moreover, we examined the possible relationships between prefrontal activation and the functional Val66Met polymorphisms of the brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) gene and serum BDNF level. As a result, the increased prefrontal Oxy-Hb levels during cognitive tasks were significantly correlated with the severity of depressed mood in males. The course of the prefrontal Oxy-Hb increase was different depending on the cognitive tasks, i.e., the VFT-l or the Stroop test, in both genders. Correlations of BDNF genotype and serum BDNF level with the prefrontal Oxy-Hb levels during those cognitive tasks were negative. Our results suggest that the early subclinical manifestation of depressed mood in males might be detected by the NIRS measurement, which is not correlated with the individual properties of BDNF.