The Association of Circulating L-Carnitine, γ-Butyrobetaine and Trimethylamine N-Oxide Levels with Gastric Cancer.

Our study aimed to evaluate the association between gastric cancer (GC) and higher concentrations of the metabolites L-carnitine, γ-butyrobetaine (GBB) and gut microbiota-mediated trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the circulation. There is evidence suggesting that higher levels of TMAO and its precursors in blood can be indicative of either a higher risk of malignancy or indeed its presence; however, GC has not been studied in this regard until now. Our study included 83 controls without high-risk stomach lesions and 105 GC cases.

The Diagnostic Value of Anti-Parietal Cell and Intrinsic Factor Antibodies, Pepsinogens, and Gastrin-17 in Corpus-Restricted Atrophic Gastritis.

We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of anti-parietal cell antibodies (anti-PCA), anti-intrinsic factor antibodies (anti-IFA), pepsinogen ratio (PGI/II), and gastrin-17 (G-17) in corpus-restricted atrophic gastritis (CRAG) detected by ELISA (Inova, Biohit). Our study compared 29 CRAG cases against 58 age- and sex-matched controls with mild or no atrophy. Anti-PCA and anti-IFA positive cutoff values were ≥25 units for both.

Factors Associated with False Negative Results in Serum Pepsinogen Testing for Precancerous Gastric Lesions in a European Population in the GISTAR Study.

The accuracy of plasma pepsinogen (Pg) as a marker for precancerous gastric lesions (PGL) has shown variable results. We aimed to identify factors associated with false negative (FN) cases in Pg testing and to adjust cut-off values for these factors in order to improve Pg yield. Plasma Pg was measured and upper endoscopy with biopsy was performed within the "Multicentric randomized study of eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study".

Lifestyle and dietary factors associated with serologically detected gastric atrophy in a Caucasian population in the GISTAR study.

Objective: To identify dietary and lifestyle factors associated with decreased pepsinogen levels indicative of gastric atrophy.

Methods: Participants aged 40 to 64 from the "Multicentric randomized study of H. pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality (GISTAR study)" in Latvia tested for serum pepsinogen, as well as for Helicobacter pylori infection by 13 C-urea breath test or serology were included.

Who Could Be Blamed in the Case of Discrepant Histology and Serology Results for Detection?

Background: Discrepancies between histology and serology results for detection could be caused by a variety of factors, including a biopsy sampling error, expertise of the pathologist, natural loss of infection due to advanced atrophy, or a false-positive serology in the case of a previous infection, since antibodies may be present in blood following recovery from the infection.

Aims: To identify true -positive individuals in discrepant cases by serology and histology using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a gold standard.

Methods: Study subjects with discrepant histology and serology results were selected from the GISTAR pilot study data base in Latvia.

Factors influencing participation in preventive interventions for gastric cancer: the results from the GISTAR study.

Objectives: Search-and-treat strategy for Helicobacter pylori and surveillance of patients with precancerous lesions are recommended to decrease the burden of gastric cancer in high-risk areas. We aimed to evaluate the acceptance of the target population to these strategies.

Methods: We applied a search-and-treat strategy combined with biomarker screening (pepsinogens I and II, gastrin-17) for atrophic gastritis to healthy individuals aged 40-64 years within the GISTAR Pilot study.

Post-reproductive aged women: a lost generation in the cervical cancer screening programme.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to find out why some post-reproductive aged women did not participate in the organised cervical cancer screening programme in Latvia and to clarify factors that would motivate them to take part.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between January and July 2017 among female patients in three general practitioner (GP) practices. GP practice nurses used the Latvian national health service database to identify women aged 25-70 who had not participated in the organised programme for the last 3 years.

Does Family History of Cancer Influence Undergoing Screening and Gastrointestinal Investigations?

Background And Aims: Although a family history of cancer (FHC) can modify the lifestyle and attitudes towards participation in cancer screening programs, studies on this relationship show mixed results and vary across populations. The objectives of the study were to compare sociodemographic characteristics, history of gastrointestinal (GI) investigations and Helicobacter pylori eradication, and modifiable cancer risk factors between those with FHC and those with no FHC (NFHC), and to investigate the association between FHC and a history of GI investigations.

Methods: A total of 3,455 questionnaires from the pilot study of the "Helicobacter pylori eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality (GISTAR study)" in Latvia were analysed.

Sociodemographic, Lifestyle and Medical Factors Associated with Helicobacter Pylori Infection.

Background And Aims: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is higher in developing countries and is often linked to lower socioeconomic status. Few studies have investigated the association between H.

Clinicopathological characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus-positive gastric cancer in Latvia.

Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer has been proposed to be a distinct gastric cancer molecular subtype. The prognostic significance of EBV infection in gastric cancer remains unclear and needs further investigation. Our study aimed to analyze EBV-positive and EBV-negative gastric cancer patients regarding their personal and tumor-related characteristics, and compare their overall survival.

Ex vivo emission of volatile organic compounds from gastric cancer and non-cancerous tissue.

The presence of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath of patients with gastric cancer has been reported by a number of research groups; however, the source of these compounds remains controversial. Comparison of VOCs emitted from gastric cancer tissue to those emitted from non-cancerous tissue would help in understanding which of the VOCs are associated with gastric cancer and provide a deeper knowledge on their generation. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) coupled with head-space needle trap extraction (HS-NTE) as the pre-concentration technique, was used to identify and quantify VOCs released by gastric cancer and non-cancerous tissue samples collected from 41 patients during surgery.

Accuracy of two plasma antibody tests and faecal antigen test for non-invasive detection of H. pylori in middle-aged Caucasian general population sample.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of two plasma Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody test-systems and a stool antigen test (SAT) system in a general population sample in Latvia.

Materials And Methods: Blood and faecal samples were analysed in healthy individuals (40-64 years), referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy according to pilot study protocol within a population-based study investigating gastric cancer prevention strategies (GISTAR pilot study).

Generation of a novel next-generation sequencing-based method for the isolation of new human papillomavirus types.

With the advent of new molecular tools, the discovery of new papillomaviruses (PVs) has accelerated during the past decade, enabling the expansion of knowledge about the viral populations that inhabit the human body. Human PVs (HPVs) are etiologically linked to benign or malignant lesions of the skin and mucosa. The detection of HPV types can vary widely, depending mainly on the methodology and the quality of the biological sample.

Pepsinogen test for the evaluation of precancerous changes in gastric mucosa: a population-based study.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the rationale of blood pepsinogen (PG) testing in population based screening settings.

Methods: Participants from a cross-sectional population-based study of cardiovascular risk factors in Latvia were invited to participate in the current study. Pepsinogen I and II were measured in blood samples taken during the initial study and at follow-up; upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed.

Multicentric randomised study of eradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study.

Introduction: Population-based eradication of has been suggested to be cost-effective and is recommended by international guidelines. However, the potential adverse effects of widespread antibiotic use that this would entail have not been sufficiently studied. An alternative way to decrease gastric cancer mortality is by non-invasive search for precancerous lesions, in particular gastric atrophy; pepsinogen tests are the best currently available alternative.

The Prevalence of Cancer-Associated Autoantibodies in Patients with Gastric Cancer and Progressive Grades of Premalignant Lesions.

Serum autoantibodies against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are detectable in early-stage gastric cancer patients; however, the time point during cancerogenesis when they appear in circulation is still obscure. In this study, we developed a recombinant antigen microarray and analyzed the prevalence of autoantibodies against 102 TAAs in 829 gastric cancer patients and 929 healthy controls from Caucasian and Asian populations, as well as 100 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and 775 individuals staged according to different grades of intestinal metaplasia. Six antigens, including CTAG1B/CTAG2, DDX53, IGF2BP2, TP53, and MAGEA3, were predominantly reacting with sera from gastric cancer patients when compared with healthy controls, and the seroreactivity was associated with intestinal-type gastric cancer, but not with patients' status, grade, age, gender, or stage of gastric cancer.

Comparison of the yield from two faecal immunochemical tests at identical cutoff concentrations - a randomized trial in Latvia.

Objective: We have compared the performance of two faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) in an average-risk population.

Materials And Methods: Altogether, 10 000 individuals aged 50-74 were selected randomly from the population of Latvia in 2011 and assigned randomly either to OC-Sensor or to FOB Gold single-time testing. Positivity of the test, frequency of colonic lesions, number needed to screen (NNscreen) and scope for the detection of an advanced neoplasm (cancer and advanced adenoma) were compared between the tests using the same cutoff concentrations in µg/g faeces.

Helicobacter pylori and allergy: Update of research.

Recently a lot of literature has been published about the possible preventive action of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) against allergy. The present review summarizes research data about the association between H.

Different Pattern of Inflammatory and Atrophic Changes in the Gastric Mucosa of the Greater and Lesser Curvature.

Background And Aims: Appropriate biopsy sampling is important for the classification of gastritis, yet the extent of inflammation and atrophy of different regions of the stomach with chronic gastritis have been addressed only in a few studies. The aim of our study was to analyze the inflammatory, atrophic and metaplastic changes in the greater and lesser curvature of the antrum and corpus mucosa.

Methods: 420 patients undergoing upper endoscopy were enrolled in the study.

Improving uptake of screening for colorectal cancer: a study on invitation strategies and different test kit use.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the uptake of mail-delivered tests for colorectal cancer screening. We assessed the effect of an advance notification letter and a reminder letter, and analysed the proportion of inappropriately handled tests.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen thousand randomly selected residents of Latvia aged 50-74 years were allocated to receive one of three different test systems: either a guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or one of two laboratory-based immunochemical tests (FIT) - FOB Gold or OC-Sensor.

Professionals' role in implementing a cervical cancer screening program.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the awareness, motivation, and readiness of medical staff to take part in a cervical cancer screening program (CSP), with the ultimate aim of increasing the response rate to invitation letters and improving CSP effectiveness and coverage. Certified gynecologists (GYNs) and general practitioners (GPs) practicing in the national and private healthcare systems in Latvia were given specially designed multiple-choice questionnaires. Of 213 questionnaires distributed to GYNs, 74% were completed (32% response rate of all 486 GYNs in Latvia).