title: Serum nitrate/nitrite concentration correlates with gastric juice nitrate/nitrite: a possible marker for mutagenesis of the proximal stomach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the normal acid-secreting stomach, luminally generated nitric oxide, which contributes to carcinogenesis in the proximal stomach, is associated with the concentration of nitrate plus nitrite (nitrate/nitrite) in gastric juice. We investigated whether the serum nitrate/nitrite concentration is associated with that of gastric juice and whether it can be used as a serum marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration, Helicobacter pylori antibody, and gastric pH were measured in 176 patients undergoing upper endoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analysis revealed that serum nitrate/nitrite concentration was the best independent predictor of gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration. On single regression analysis, serum and gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration were significantly correlated, according to the following equation: gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration (μmol/l) = 3.93 - 0.54 × serum nitrate/nitrite concentration (μmol/l; correlation coefficient = 0.429, p < 0.001). In analyses confined to subjects with gastric pH less than 2.0, and in those with serum markers suggesting normal acid secretion (pepsinogen-I >30 ng/ml and negative H. pylori antibody), the serum nitrate/nitrite concentration was an independent predictor of the gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measuring the serum nitrate/nitrite concentration has potential in estimating the gastric juice nitrate/nitrite concentration. The serum nitrate/nitrite concentration could be useful as a marker for mutagenesis in the proximal stomach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa General Hospital, Chiba, Japan. kisikawa @ tdc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kishikawa
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaida
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsukubo
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hibi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites