N-nitroso compounds in the gastric juice of normal controls, patients with partial gastrectomies, and gastric cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that the variation of biochemical and microbiological parameters in the gastric juice may play a role in the development of gastric cancer. In the present study we concurrently assessed the presence of N-Nitroso compounds (NOC) and their precursors, bacteria and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the gastric juice of normal controls, patients with gastric resection, and advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
Detailed analyses of biochemical and microbiological parameters such as pH, nitrite (NO2) concentration, N-nitroso compounds (NOC) concentration, carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) level, total viable counts (TVC), nitrate-reductase positive bacterial counts (NRPBC), and identification of micro-organisms were carried out.


RESULTS
Significantly higher mean pH values, NO2, NOC and CEA concentrations, TVC, and NRPBC were found in partial gastrectomies compared with normal controls, and all these intragastric parameters were significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer than in those with partial gastrectomies. As far as surgical methods are concerned, higher mean pH values, NO2 and NOC concentrations, TVC, NRPBC, and anaerobic bacterial counts were observed in the juice of patients with Billroth II compared with Billroth I gastrectomies. Apart from the type of surgical reconstruction, higher mean NOC levels were recorded in patients with more severe histological changes and H. pylori infection.


CONCLUSIONS
All these data suggest that the presence of high levels of NOC in the gastric juice of gastroresected patients can be considered a risk factor of gastric stump cancer.
Guadagni
S
S
Department of Surgery, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
Walters
C L
CL
Smith
P L
PL
Verzaro
R
R
Valenti
M
M
Reed
P I
PI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D018530:Gastric Stump / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000601:surgery*
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009573:Nitrites; D009603:Nitroso Compounds