Assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease by serodiagnosis of Helicobacter pylori-related chronic gastritis stage.

Aim: To evaluate the association of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori)-related chronic gastritis stage with upper gastrointestinal symptoms and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: Subjects underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a questionnaire using a frequency scale for symptoms of GERD (FSSG), and measurements of serum H.

Novel risk markers for gastric cancer screening: Present status and future prospects.

Initial identification of populations at high risk of gastric cancer (GC) is important for endoscopic screening of GC. As serum pepsinogen (PG) test-positive subjects with progression of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) show a high likelihood of future cancer development, this population warrants careful follow-up observation as a high-risk GC group. By combining the PG test with Helicobacter pylori (HP) antibody titers, the HP-related chronic gastritis stage can be classified, thus identifying not only a GC high-risk group but also a low-risk group.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori prevents cancer development in subjects with mild gastric atrophy identified by serum pepsinogen levels.

A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in Helicobactor pylori-infected middle-aged Japanese males to evaluate the preventive effects of H. pylori eradication on the development of gastric cancer according to the extent of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). The extent of CAG was monitored by baseline serum pepsinogen (PG) levels.

Cancer high-risk subjects identified by serum pepsinogen tests: outcomes after 10-year follow-up in asymptomatic middle-aged males.

Background: Gastric cancer screening using the pepsinogen filter test is receiving wide recognition in Japan owing to convenience, freedom from discomfort or risk, efficiency, and economy. Because the long-term outcomes of cancer development in extensive atrophic gastritis detected by pepsinogen test are unclear, test-positive and test-negative subjects were investigated in a longitudinal cohort study.

Methods: Subjects comprised 5,209 middle-aged men with measured serum pepsinogen levels who were followed for 10 years.

Serum pepsinogen and gastric cancer screening.

Since the 1990's, the test for serum pepsinogen as a marker for chronic atrophic gastritis has been incorporated into gastric cancer screening programs, on a trial basis, to identify people at high risk for gastric cancer. The addition of the serum test to the cancer screening program has been shown to improve the detection rate of cancer and pepsinogen testing is useful in detecting early-stage gastric cancers arising from atrophic gastric mucosa, which macroscopically tend to be elevated and histologically differentiated. Furthermore, the cost for the detection of a single cancer case is much less than that for conventional screening.

Gastric cancer screening of a high-risk population in Japan using serum pepsinogen and barium digital radiography.

With the aim of developing more efficient gastric cancer screening programs for use in Japan, we studied a new screening program that combines serum pepsinogen (PG) testing and barium digital radiography (DR). A total of 17 647 middle-aged male subjects underwent workplace screening over a 7-year period using a combination of PG testing and DR. This program's effectiveness, as well as other characteristics of the program, was analyzed.

Progression of chronic atrophic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori infection increases risk of gastric cancer.

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study to determine the association of Helicobacter pylori infection and the progression of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with gastric cancer. A cohort of 4655 healthy asymptomatic subjects was followed for a mean period of 7.7 years.

Saccharification of marine microalgae using marine bacteria for ethanol production.

The saccharification of marine microalgae using amylase from marine bacteria in saline conditions was investigated. An amylase-producing bacterium, Pseudoalterimonas undina NKMB 0074 was isolated and identified. The green microalga NKG 120701 was determined to have the highest concentration of intracellular carbohydrate and was found from our algal culture stocks.