Gastric cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.
Gastric cancer has a variable but generally low prevalence in black populations of sub-Saharan Africa, despite a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (the 'African enigma'). Evidence from Soweto indicates that the host response to H. pylori may be protective against a virulent organism and that, in most people, H. pylori does not lead to more serious sequelae. This suggests that there may be host protective/inhibitory factors present, which prevent the progression of H. pylori-induced chronic active gastritis to cancer.
Segal
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African Institute of Digestive Diseases, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ally
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Mitchell
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D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology