BackgroundGallstone disease (GSD) is a major public health problem that is associated with a number of risk factors.MethodsWe conducted a case–control study of 407 participants comprising 207 cases with GSD and 200 controls without GSD, as confirmed by ultrasonography. The participants completed a questionnaire and underwent physical and ultrasonographic examination. The risk factors examined were age, sex, BMI, use of oral contraceptives, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, thalassemia, dyspepsia, family history of gallstone disease, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and dietary history.ResultsBMI, fat content of dietary meat, and smoking were associated with GSD. When compared to participants with a BMI below 25, participants with a BMI of 25 or higher had a multivariate relative risk of 4.1 (95% CI, 2.5–6.7). Participants who consumed meat with moderate fat content or high fat content had respective relative risks of 2.5 and 2.9 (95% CI, 1.5–4.2 and 1.5–5.6), when compared to those who consumed meat with a low fat content. Also, the multivariate relative risk for former smokers, as compared to never smokers, was 2.4 (95% CI, 1.1–5.2).ConclusionsHigh BMI, consumption of high-fat meat, and smoking were associated with gallstone disease.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection and premalignant gastric mucosa can be reliably identified using conventional narrow band imaging (C-NBI) gastroscopy. The aim of our study was to compare standard biopsy with site specific biopsy for diagnosis of H. pylori infection and premalignant gastric mucosa in daily clinical practice. Materials and Methods: Of a total of 500 patients who underwent gastroscopy for investigation of dyspeptic symptoms, 250 patients underwent site specific biopsy using C-NBI (Group 1) and 250 standard biopsy (Group 2). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were assessed. The efficacy of detecting H. pylori associated gastritis and premalignant gastric mucosa according to the updated Sydney classification was also compared. Results: In group 1 the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for predicting H. pylori positivity were 95.4%, 97.3%, 98.8% and 90.0% respectively, compared to 92.9%, 88.6%, 83.2% and 76.1% in group 2. Site specific biopsy was more effective than standard biopsy in terms of both H. pylori infection status and premalignant gastric mucosa detection (P<0.01). Conclusions: Site specific biopsy using C-NBI can improve detection of H. pylori infection and premalignant gastric mucosa in daily clinical practice.

Background: Colorectal polyps are common in Thailand, particularly in the northeastern region. The present study aimed to determine any correlation between Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and colorectal polyps in the Thai population. Materials and Methods: A total of 303 patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy with colonoscopy for investigation of chronic abdominal pain participated in this study from November 2014 to October 2015. A diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis was made if the bacteria were seen on histopathological examination and a rapid urease test was positive. Colorectal polyps were confirmed by histological examination of colorectal biopsies. Patient demographic data were analyzed for correlations. Results: The prevalence of colorectal polyps was 77 (25.4%), lesions being found more frequently in Helicobacter pylori infected patients than non-infected subjects [38.4% vs. 12.5%; Odds Ratio (OR) (95% CI): 2.26 (1.32 -3.86), p < 0.01]. Patients with Helicobacter pylori -associated gastritis were at high risk of having adenomas featuring dysplasia [OR (95% CI): 1.15 (1.16 -7.99); P = 0.02]. There was no varaition in location of polyps, age group, sex and gastric lesions with respect to Helicobacter pylori status. Conclusions: This study showed that Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis is associated with an increased risk of colorectal polyps, especially adenomas with dysplasia in the Thai population. Patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis may benefit from concurrent colonoscopy for diagnosis of colorectal polyps as a preventive and early treatment for colorectal cancer.

Recently, infection with Helicobacter spp. plays a role in the development of various cancer have been reported including biliary tract carcinoma mainly cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). There has been a strong, positive correlation between opisthorchiasis-associated CCA and infection with Helicobacter. Infection with H. bilis and H. hepaticus species can cause biliary cancer (Chang and Parsonnet, 2010). Recently, Deenonpoe et al (2015) reported liver fluke O.