title: Aggravation of Helicobacter pylori stomach infections in stressed military recruits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of military stress on immune response and Helicobacter pylori stomach infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, observational study, the Symptom Checklist-90 questionnaire was completed by military recruits before and following a 3-month basic training programme. H. pylori immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels, C(14)-urea breath-test values and levels of cortisol, catecholamine, and certain humoral and cellular immune responses were measured before and after the basic training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 60 military recruits, somatization, depression and paranoid ideation scores were significantly increased after, compared with before, basic training. Post-training H. pylori IgG detection revealed three additional cases of H. pylori infection. Post-training C(14)-urea breath-test values were significantly higher compared with before training - thus suggesting higher levels of H. pylori colonization in the stomach. Post-training cortisol and catecholamine levels were increased, while serum IgG levels were decreased; complement component (C)3 and C4 levels remained unchanged. Post-training CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell percentages and the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio were significantly reduced compared with before training. Serum interleukin (IL)-2 levels were lower and IL-10 levels were higher following training and there was a significant decrease in the IL-2/IL-10 ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Military stress may reduce humoral and cellular immune responses and may aggravate the severity of H. pylori infection.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Keran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Liyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China wangfk8@sina.com.
authors.forename: Fukun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Bethune Medical NCO School, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Lanchun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Xianling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Zhanguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Department, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001944:Breath Tests; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055070:Resistance Training; D013270:Stomach / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D002395:Catecholamines; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014508:Urea; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: C14-urea breath test; Helicobacter pylori; Military stress; immune response; stomach infections