Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1997

HlGHLIGHTS OF RGC-FUNDED PROJECTS patients on fou r weeks of omeprazole only. Once again, results showed that ulcer healing in those given treatment for HP infection alone was by no means inferior to those give n the more expensive acid-suppressing drug . I n fact, within a one - y ear f o l l o w - up p e r i o d, u l c er recurrence was documented in 50 per cent of the group who received only omeprazole as compared w i th two per cent (one patient) among those w h o received the three-drug therapy. These two studies indicate a causal relationship between peptic ulcers and HP infection. They demonstrate that the t r ea tment of HP i n f e c t i on alone is sufficient for the healing of peptic ulcers, and that the l o n g - t e rm use of acid suppressing drugs is no t necessary. Peptic ulcers can be treated as an infectious disease just like pneumonia . This new therapy provides a permanent cure fo r the c h r o n ic d i ges t i ve disease at a remarkably low cost. HP Reinfection In a follow-up study conducted 12 months afterwards, patients cured of HP infection were retested for the bacterium. HP i n f ec t i on had reappeared i n the stomach o f about 10 per cent o f the subjects. This may be due either to incomplete eradication of the bacterium by the one-week therapy or to reinfection. The research grou p then proceeded to study the possible routes o f reinfection. One possible channe l of HP transmission is the use of chopsticks in eating. Probing the Link between HP Infection and Gastric Cancer The next goal of the research team is to study the possible relationship between HP infection and gastric cancer, the cancer w i th the highest mortality rate in China. E p i d em i o l o g i c a l studies based on s e r o l o g i c al test s s h o w ed a s t r o n g association between HP infection and gastric cancer. It is postulated that HP induces chronic inflammation of the stomach and gradual changes in the cell nature of the stomach, resulting in the development of the malignancy. It is unknown whether treating the infection can reverse the process of cancer development. In a collaborative study w i th the Beijing Medical University, the research group has started mass screening and treatment for HP in Yantai county in Shangdong province, a high prevalence area for gastric cancer. It is hoped that the findings w i ll help devise a treatment strategy to forestall the developmen t of gastric cancer, • References 1.Hosking, S.W., Ling ， T.K.W., Chung, S.C.S., Yung, M.Y., Cheng, A.F.B .， Sung, J.J.Y. & Li, A.K.C., ' Du o d e n al ulcer healing b y eradication of H. pylori without anti-acid treatment ： randomized controlled trial', Lancet, 1994, 343, pp. 508-510. 2. SungJ.J.Y., Chung, S.C.S., Ling ， T.K.W. , Yung, M.Y .， Leung, V.K.S., Ng, E.K.W., Li, M.K.K., Cheng, A.F.B. & Li, A.K.C., 'Antibacterial treatment of gastric ulcers associated with H. pylori', New England Journal of Medicine, 1995, 332 , pp. 139-142. 3. SungJ.J.Y., Chung , S.C.S., Ling, T.K.W., Yung, M.Y., Cheng, A.F.B. , Hosking, S.W. & Li, A.K.C .， 'One-year follow-up of duodenal ulcers after one-week triple therapy for H.pylori',American Journal of Gastroenterology, 1993 ，89, pp. 199- 202. 4. Leung, W.K., Sung, J.J.Y., Ling, T.K.W., Siu, K.L.K. & Cheng , A.F.B. ， 'Does the use of chopsticks for eating transmit H. pylori?', Lancet, 1997, 350 ， p. 31. Chinese University Bulletin Autumn . Winter 1997 3 0