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H Rautelin

Publications and source records attributed to H Rautelin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Helicobacter antibodies in Finnish centenarians.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of helicobacter antibodies increases with age and, in many developed countries, is highest in people born before 1940. Data on very old subjects are, however, limited. In this study we wanted to determine whether the age-related increase in the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection continues even in the oldest age group alive in Finland, the centenarians. METHODS: Sera from 173 subjects (93% of all centenarians alive in Finland in 1991) were available for the present study. IgG and IgA antibodies against H. pylori were determined by an in-house enzyme immunoassay. To estimate the influence of atrophic gastritis on the prevalence of helicobacter antibodies, serum pepsinogen I (PG I) concentrations and parietal cell antibodies (PCAs) were measured by an enzyme immunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of helicobacter antibodies in Finnish centenarians was 66%. Low PG I values (<28 microg/l) were found in 36% and positive PCAs in 16% of the subjects studied. The prevalence of PCAs was especially high (50%) in H. pylori-negative subjects with low PG I values, suggesting severe gastric atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: The age-related increase in H. pylori seroprevalence did not continue in the oldest age group alive in Finland. This may be explained partly by a relatively high frequency of atrophic gastritis (as suggested by low PG I values) in H. pylori-negative centenarians, but other factors--such as selective H. pylori-related mortality--may also have contributed to the fairly low seroprevalence (66%) observed.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Gastric inflammation is enhanced in children with CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is likely to be acquired at an early age. The factors leading to active inflammation in childhood, however, are largely unknown. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We determined the CagA status, the best characterized virulence factor of H. pylori, and serum antibodies of IgG and IgA classes to H. pylori in 39 infected children. RESULTS: Mononuclear cell infiltration in the antrum but not in the gastric body was more intense in CagA-positive children than in CagA-negative children. The degree of polymorphonuclear cell infiltration on the other hand was independent of the CagA status. The antibody titers of IgG and IgA classes to H. pylori were higher in CagA-positive than in CagA-negative infections (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). IgG antibody titers to H. pylori correlated directly with the density of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in the gastric antrum but not in the gastric body. CONCLUSION: H. pylori-infected children with CagA antibodies seem to have a more severe inflammation in the gastric antrum than CagA-negative children as shown by an increase in the density of antral mononuclear cells. A finding of higher serum antibody titers to H. pylori in CagA-positive children may be related to this enhancement of inflammation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Stability of related human and chicken Campylobacter jejuni genotypes after passage through chick intestine studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

The genomic stability of 12 Campylobacter jejuni strains consisting of two groups of human and chicken isolates was studied by analysis of their PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) patterns after passage through newly hatched chicks' intestines. The patterns of SmaI, SalI, and SacII digests remained stable after intestinal passage, except for those of two strains. One originally human strain, FB 6371, changed its genotype from II/A (SmaI/SacII) to I/B. Another strain, BTI, originally isolated from a chicken, changed its genotype from I/B to a new genotype. The genomic instability of the strains was further confirmed by SalI digestion and ribotyping of the HaeIII digests. In addition, heat-stable serotype 57 of strain FB 6371 changed to serotype 27 in all isolates with new genotypes but remained unchanged in an isolate with the original genotype. Serotype 27 of strain BTI remained stable. Our study suggests that during intestinal colonization, genomic rearrangement, as demonstrated by changed PFGE and ribopatterns, may occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

In vitro adhesion and platelet aggregation properties of bacteremia-associated lactobacilli.

Eight bacteremia-associated Lactobacillus strains were evaluated in vitro for the ability to adhere to human intestinal mucosa and to aggregate platelets. Adherence varied significantly among the strains, and platelet aggregation was induced by three strains. In conclusion, strong binding ability does not appear to be a prerequisite for the involvement of lactobacilli in bacteremia or to their ability to aggregate platelets.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1998

Helicobacter pylori-positive gastritis in pediatric patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Gastritis is a common finding in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, the association of gastritis with Helicobacter pylori is unclear in these patients. METHODS: The prevalence of antibodies for H. pylori in serum was determined in 47 pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (19 with Crohn's disease, 21 with ulcerative colitis, and 7 with unclassified disease). H. pylori antibodies of the IgG and IgA classes were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 24 patients at the time of diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and in 23 more patients during the follow-up of inflammatory bowel disease (mean follow-up, 3.5 years; range 1-10 years). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed on 40 patients during the examination for inflammatory bowel disease. RESULTS: In contrast to earlier findings, no patient was determined to be positive for H. pylori, either in serologic or histologic examination. This negative finding was unexpected, because it is known that approximately 10% of asymptomatic Finnish children have antibodies for H. pylori in serum and approximately 10% of analyses of specimens obtained in gastric antral biopsies obtained at the Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki, Finland, are positive for H. pylori. CONCLUSIONS: Permanent colonization of the stomach with H. pylori is unusual in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Persisting Helicobacter antibodies in Finnish children and adolescents between two and twenty years of age.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is an important gastric pathogen usually acquired in childhood. The presumed lifelong progression of H. pylori infection has recently been called into question in some longitudinal studies on children. In this follow-up study the prevalence and persistence of H. pylori antibodies in Finnish children and adolescents from three communities was determined. METHODS: We measured H. pylori antibodies in follow-up serum samples of 337 Finnish children who participated in a measles-mumps-rubella vaccine study started in 1982. All available samples collected in 1983, 1987 and 1995 were studied first; additional serum samples collected yearly were studied from children who became seropositive during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was 5.6%. About two-thirds of the Helicobacter infections were acquired before the age of 7 years; of the remaining one-third the time of seroconversion varied between 7 and 19 years. No seroreverters were found. There were no statistically significant differences in the seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies in the three communities studied. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori antibodies in Finnish children studied was low. Although the majority of new infections were found in children younger than 7 years of age, new Helicobacter infections were acquired throughout childhood and adolescence. Once acquired H. pylori infection, as verified by Helicobacter antibodies, persisted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of Pyloriset Screen, a rapid whole-blood diagnostic test for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection can be detected by several invasive tests based on gastroscopy and by noninvasive methods such as serologic assays. Noninvasive tests can be used not only in addition to invasive tests but also by themselves to screen for H. pylori infection in patients who are not in urgent need of endoscopy. Lately, rapid qualitative serologic tests have been developed. In the present study, the accuracy of a novel rapid whole-blood test, Pyloriset Screen, detecting immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies against H. pylori was evaluated. A total of 207 consecutive adult outpatients referred for upper endoscopy were enrolled. Gastric biopsy specimens were taken from the antrum and corpus for histologic examination and rapid urease testing. Cultures were available for 113 patients. Serum samples collected from all patients were tested for H. pylori antibodies by two enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) (Pyloriset EIA and an in-house EIA), a rapid latex agglutination test (Pyloriset Dry), and Pyloriset Screen. Patients were considered H. pylori positive if helicobacters were seen on histologic examination (77 patients) or, if in combination with histologically verified (although helicobacter-negative) gastritis, their IgG antibody titers were elevated in the two EIAs (five patients). The Pyloriset Screen test had a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 91%, and a negative predictive value of 97%. Among 63 patients under the age of 45 years, the Pyloriset Screen test did not miss a single H. pylori diagnosis, and only 1 patient had a false-positive result. Pyloriset Screen could be used reliably to screen for H. pylori infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Typing of human Campylobacter jejuni isolates in Finland by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

A total of 69 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types were identified among 176 Campylobacter jejuni isolates from Finnish patients. In two geographic areas studied, five predominant PFGE types comprised over 40% of the isolates. One-third of the isolates had unique PFGE types. In small outbreaks, identical PFGE patterns were demonstrated, indicating a common source of infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Positive result by serology indicates active Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with atrophic gastritis.

Patients with atrophic corpus gastritis and elevated Helicobacter pylori antibody titers but 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) and histology results negative for H. pylori were randomized into eradication therapy or follow-up only. Antibody levels decreased significantly in six out of seven patients in the eradication group, while in the follow-up group, the titers declined in only one out of eight patients. In patients with atrophic corpus gastritis, positive serology results may indicate an ongoing infection in spite of negative 13C-UBT and histology results.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Culture of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies transported in biopsy urease test tubes.

Gastric biopsy specimens of 57 consecutively observed dyspeptic patients were studied for the presence of Helicobacter pylori by histological examination, biopsy urease test (BUT) and culture. For culture, biopsy samples were transported in both Stuart media and BUT tubes. All 15 isolates could be cultured from both Stuart and BUT tubes. Thus, if the main reason for culture of Helicobacter pylori is for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, only positive BUT tubes need to be submitted. This would reduce both the expense and the number of biopsies needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Helicobacter antibodies in 1973 and 1994 in the adult population of Vammala, Finland.

Changes in Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence were studied determining IgG and IgA antibodies of 408 randomly selected adults aged 15-74 years living in Vammala, Finland in 1973 and of 504 similarly selected subjects in 1994. Seroprevalence increased by age at both time points. The age-adjusted seroprevalence rate was clearly lower in 1994 than in 1973 (31 vs. 56%, P = 0.001). Paired serum samples of 224 subjects collected in 1973 and 1994 showed that the antibody status remained unaltered in 92%; 4% seroconverted and 4% seroreverted within the 21 years. The decrease in the seroprevalence rate in the population and the persistence of individual antibody status over two decades support a difference in H. pylori infection rates among birth cohorts over time rather than continuous acquisition of new infections with advancing age. Thus the risk of helicobacter infection in Vammala, Finland has been highest in childhood and continuously decreased at least for the last five decades.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Lactobacilli and bacteremia in southern Finland, 1989-1992.

In order to assess the potential of lactobacilli to cause serious infections, we studied the prevalence of bacteremia due to Lactobacillus species during a 4-year period (1989-1992) in southern Finland, which has a population of about 2.5 million. Among 3,317 blood culture isolates, lactobacilli were identified in eight patients, five of whom had a severe disease predisposing to bacteremic complications. The eight strains isolated were identified to the species level and typed by carbohydrate fermentation tests and by direct sequencing of enzymatically amplified 16S rRNA. The results did not provide evidence that any particular species or subspecies of Lactobacillus was the cause of the infections; no infections caused by isolates similar to the recently introduced dairy probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG (ATCC 53103), were observed. The data show an infrequent association of lactobacilli with bacteremic infections in spite of the ubiquitous presence of these organisms in the gastrointestinal tract and their widespread consumption in fermented milks; thus, there is strong evidence that their pathogenic potential is very low.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

High frequency of helicobacter negative gastritis in patients with Crohn's disease.

The frequency of gastric Crohn's disease has been considered low. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of chronic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Crohn's disease. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed on 62 consecutive patients suffering from ileocolonic Crohn's disease. Biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus were processed for both histological and bacteriological examinations. H pylori antibodies of IgG and IgA classes were measured in serum samples by enzyme immunoassay. Six patients (9.7%) were infected with H pylori, as shown by histology, and in five of them the infection was also verified by serology. Twenty one patients (32%) had chronic H pylori negative gastritis (negative by both histology and serology) and one of them also had atrophy in the antrum and corpus. Granulomas were found in four patients. The characteristic appearance of H pylori negative gastritis was focal and mostly mild inflammation resembling the inflammatory changes seen in the gut in Crohn's disease. Patients with H pylori negative chronic gastritis had a significantly more active disease in their gut than those with normal gastric mucosa (p < 0.01). It is concluded that H pylori positive gastritis is rare, while H pylori negative gastritis is relatively common in patients with Crohn's disease. H pylori negative 'Crohn's gastritis' seems to be associated with active Crohn's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Inverse correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and inflammatory bowel disease.

AIMS: To determine the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and in controls without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with Crohn's disease, 100 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis, and 100 age and sex matched controls were studied. Serum H pylori IgG and IgA antibody titres were measured by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of H pylori was 15% in patients with IBD (13% in patients with Crohn's disease and 18% in patients with ulcerative colitis), whereas the corresponding figure for the controls was 43%. When compared with controls, the seroprevalence of H pylori in patients with IBD was considerably lower in all age groups tested. There was no important difference in treatment with sulphasalazine or in any other medical therapy administered to H pylori positive and negative patients. At the time of blood sampling there was no difference in the level of education or in the employment status between the patients and the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IBD were less likely to be infected with H pylori than their age and sex matched controls. Neither medical treatment nor socioeconomic factors could explain the difference.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Gastric inflammation and neutrophil-activating and cytotoxin-producing Helicobacter pylori strains.

BACKGROUND: Some Helicobacter pylori strains activate human neutrophils without opsonins and/or produce vacuolating cytotoxin. METHODS: Human gastric isolates of H. pylori were studied for their ability to nonopsonized induce an oxidative burst in human neutrophils as measured by chemiluminescence and for the production of vacuolating cytotoxin. In all, 80 strains were examined, and the type and grade of inflammation in the gastric biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus of these patients were assessed in accordance with the Sydney system. RESULTS: CL+ (rapid, strong response in chemiluminescence) strains (p < 0.0001) and Tox+ (cytotoxin-producing) strains (p < 0.0001) were associated with higher acute inflammation scores in gastric ulcer patients. CL+ (p = 0.0002) and Tox+ (p < 0.0001) strains were also associated with higher chronic inflammation scores in gastric ulcer patients. CONCLUSIONS: CL+ and Tox+ strains seem to cause more severe inflammation in the gastric mucosa during H. pylori infection.

Cytotoxins↗
PubMed1995

Chronic diarrhea due to a single strain of Aeromonas caviae.

Over a period of 17 months, Aeromonas caviae was cultured 15 times as the sole enteropathogen from the feces of a man who had developed chronic diarrhea after traveling to Turkey. Determination of rRNA gene restriction patterns confirmed that the seven isolates of Aeromonas caviae studied were identical (hybridization group [HG]4). After therapy with ciprofloxacin for four weeks, the patient was culture negative for the original isolate, and six months later a novel strain of Aeromonas media with a different ribopattern (HG 5A) was isolated from the feces of the patient. The patient responded again, both clinically and bacteriologically, to a four-week course of ciprofloxacin and has remained asymptomatic since then.

Aeromonas↗