title: Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan.
abstract: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is gradually decreasing in Japan. On the main island of Japan, nearly all H. pylori isolates possess cagA and vacA with strong virulence. However, less virulent H. pylori strains are frequently found in Okinawa where cases of gastric cancer are the lowest in Japan. Eradication therapy for peptic ulcer, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and early gastric cancer after endoscopic resection has been approved by the Japanese national health insurance system. However, the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research recently stated that all 'H. pylori infection' was considered as the indication for eradication irrespective of the background diseases. To eliminate H. pylori in Japan, the Japanese health insurance system should approve the eradication of all H. pylori infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu City, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiota
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakawi
authors.forename: Rumiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors