title: Superoxide-dismutase activity of the gastric mucosa in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a pathogenic factor in the development of different alterations in the gastric mucosa. Superoxide-dismutase (SOD) is a key enzyme of mucosal antioxidant protection. We have detected changes in the activity of mucosal SOD in different diseases caused by HP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies were taken upon gastroscopy (n = 131). Activity of SOD was measured by photometry, referred to the amount of protein in the sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SOD activity of the antrum of HP-positive patients was significantly higher than that of HP-negative ones. There was a significant increase in erosive gastritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the presence of HP there was a significant increase of the SOD activity in the antrum but not in the corpus. In chronic antral gastritis there was a positive relationship between the SOD activity and both the severity and activity of inflammation. We presume that HP-associated gastritis is predominant in the antrum.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Science, Clinical Research Unit, H-1088 Budapest, Szentkiralyi u. 46, Hungary.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selmeci
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tulassay
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pronai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000201:enzymology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000201:enzymology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013482:Superoxide Dismutase