title: Relationship between eradication of Helicobacter pylori and gastric mucosal superoxide dismutase activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the main pathogenic factor in the development of gastritis and gastric cancer. Superoxide-dismutase (SOD) is a key enzyme of mucosal antioxidant protection. In the presence of HP there is a significant increase of SOD activity in the antrum. Changes in gastric mucosal SOD activity were detected in response to eradication treatment of HP infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies were taken from 13 patients upon gastroscopy performed prior to and 88.3 +/- 12.6 days after treatment. The activity of SOD was determined by spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activity of SOD in the gastric mucosa decreased significantly following the successful eradication, whereas in the corpus activity did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the presence of HP there is an oxidative stress in the gastric mucosa triggered by the bacterium. It may represent the final common path of HP carcinogenesis. Successful eradication treatment prevents the production of reactive oxygen metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, H-1088 Budapest, Szentkiralyi u. 46, Hungary.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pronai
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tulassay
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selmeci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase