Daily Archives: February 25, 2008

Helicobacter Pylori

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Helicobacter Pylori or widely known as H. Pylori. The first time i come across this was when i was enrolled in Microbiology class. H. Pylori sounds cute. Right? Cute but deadly. hahaha. I thought of blogging about this bacteria because several friends of mine are positive with H. Pylori after having done endoscropy and one mom of my friend, it helps her develop stomach cancer. So I hope that with this post, I can share to you abit of the important facts about this bacterium.

WHAT IS H. PYLORI?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach (gastritis) in humans. This bacterium also is the most common cause of ulcers worldwide. H. pylori infection is most likely acquired by ingesting contaminated food and water and through person to person contact. Infected individuals usually carry the infection indefinitely unless they are treated with medications to eradicate the bacterium. One out of every six patients with H. pylori infection will develop ulcers of the duodenum or stomach. H. pylori also is associated with stomach cancer and a rare type of lymphocytic tumor of the stomach called MALT lymphoma.


HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

1. Blood antibody tests
2. urea breath tests (UBT)
3. stool antigen test
4. endoscropic biopsies

HOW TO TREAT?

H. pylori is difficult to eradicate from the stomach because it is capable of developing resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Therefore, two or more antibiotics usually are given together with a PPI and/or bismuth containing compounds to eradicate the bacterium. (Bismuth and PPIs have anti-H. pylori effects.) Examples of combinations of medications that are effective are:

a PPI, amoxicillin (Amoxil) and clarithromycin (Biaxin)
a PPI, metronidazole (Flagyl), tetracycline and bismuth subsalicylate

These combinations of medications can be expected to cure 70%-90% of infections. However, studies have shown that resistance of H. pylori (failure of antibiotics to eradicate the bacteria) to clarithromycin is common among patients who have prior exposure to clarithromycin or other chemically similar macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin). Similarly, H. pylori resistance to metronidazole is common among patients who have had prior exposure to metronidazole. In these patients, doctors have to find other combinations of antibiotics to treat the H. pylori. Antibiotic resistance is another reason why antibiotics should be used carefully and judiciously for the right reasons, and indiscriminate use of antibiotics for improper reasons should be discouraged.

WHY TREAT H. PYLORI?

Chronic infection with H. pylori weakens the natural defenses of the lining of the stomach against the ulcerating action of acid. Medications that neutralize stomach acid (antacids), and medications that decrease the secretion of acid in the stomach (H2-blockers and proton pump inhibitors or PPIs) have been used effectively for many years to treat ulcers.

Antacids, H2-blockers and PPIs, however, do not eradicate H. pylori from the stomach, and ulcers frequently return promptly after these medications are discontinued. Hence, antacids, H2-blockers or PPIs have to be taken daily for many years to prevent the return of the ulcers and the complications of ulcers such as bleeding, perforation, and obstruction of the stomach. Eradication of H. pylori prevents the return of ulcers and ulcer complications even after the medications are stopped. Eradication of H. pylori also is important in the treatment of the rare condition known as MALT lymphoma of the stomach. Treatment of H. pylori to prevent stomach cancer is still controversial.

Good Food for people with Ulcers:

Whole-grain or enriched, seedless breads and grains:

Breads
Bagels
Tortillas
English muffins
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Dinner rolls
Pita bread
Cereals
Enriched rice
Enriched barley
Enriched noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and other pastas
French toast, muffins, pancakes, and waffles made with low-fat ingredients
Low fat crackers
Vegetables (Fresh, Frozen, Canned)
Fruit (Fresh, Frozen, Canned )
Fruit juice as tolerated
Milk and Dairy Products:
Low fat and non-fat milk and milk products
Cheese with less than 5 grams of fat per ounce
Plain mild cheeses
Low-fat and nonfat yogurt
Low-fat cottage cheese
****
Meat and Meat Substitutes
All lean meat:
Beef
Pork
Lamb
Veal
Poultry (without the skin)
All fresh, frozen, or canned fish packed in water
Crisp bacon
Lean ham
Eggs
Smooth peanut butter and nut butters
Soybean curd (tofu) and other meat substitutes
Dry beans and peas prepared without fat
Soups
Mildly seasoned meat stock or cream soups


Foods to avoid for a person with Ulcers:

Spicy Foods
Fried Foods
Coffee
Decaffeinated coffee
Tea
Cola drinks
Carbonated beverages
Citrus fruits
Tomato-based products
Chocolate
Cut down on alcohol and smoking, too

date source: internet
photos: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oGkyUOZcJHkiUAyK5XNyoA?p=image+of+stomach+ulcer&y=Search&fr=slv8-msgr&ei=UTF-8

Update on my WordPress Blog Problem

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When I was away for two days, I can’t forget to always whisper a prayer that Marianne from the support group will send me a positive email for my wordpress blog problem, but sad because as i checked my email this morning, this is what i read:


Until we get a verified email address, we can’t do a manual reset for you. We don’t access email accounts for use. We just use email addresses on file to make sure that the user is the one who owns the blog. Whatever is on file, is what we go by. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience and added frustrations.

She is trying to tell me that the email address am submitting to her is not the right email address. so i replied to that – that if that is not the verified email address, how come am still receiving the comment notice in my email for approval and disapproval. I can see now I have 10 comments pending for approval. If the email has been changed then practically I won’t be receiving comments notice. right?

To those who dropped by there and left me comments, am sorry, I cannot able to approve it not until I can access that blog again.

Well, I really wonder now if I have to make another blog at wordpress or I will just focus on this blogger blog now.

I really thought at wordpress it is more secured and blogger blog is not. But now I am not so sure anymore.

I can rate my wordpress blog as much more personal. Although I was never page rank conscious when i started it, but the good PR it earned made me happy. It has also garnered good number of readers throughout all these months. Ohhh I just miss that blog so much.
Related Post:

Am Back!

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Thank you Liz, Juliana, Juliana of PAHM, MegaMom, Sheng, and Chubby and to all who care to pass by this week-end. I hope you all had a wonderful week-end.

Now am back. I was out. Hope you didn’t think I was just here sulking. Well, I was out to my classmate’s home (highschool chum) 75 kilometers away from home. I spent my week-end there. We spent Saturday morning in church and it was so warming to see old friends. :) Even when I was far away, I didn’t stop thinking about my wordpress blog problem.

Anyway, am back home last night but I can’t get connected. Now am home and am happy because there is no work today. :) I think it is EDSA revolution anniversary. I say I think because we really dunno now what is happening out there. Remember our TV is in hiding? :)