HP's discovery
Helicobacter pylori (Hp) was discovered by Australian scientists Barry J. Marshall and J. Robin Warren in 1982. They observed a curved gram-negative Bacillus in a biopsy specimen of gastric mucosa and successfully cultured it. Their subsequent studies confirmed that the bacteria were closely related to gastritis and peptic ulcer. Marshall and Warren’s discovery challenged the prevailing belief that the strong acid environment in the stomach could not allow bacteria to survive, and revolutionized the medical community’s understanding of the causes of gastric diseases. Their work was eventually widely accepted by the scientific community, and the two were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005 for their significant contributions to human health.
Effect of HP on Human Health
The impact of Helicobacter pylori on human beings is mainly reflected in its close relationship with the occurrence and development of a variety of gastric diseases. The following are the main effects of Helicobacter pylori on human health:
1. Gastritis: Helicobacter pylori is the most common pathogenic factor of chronic gastritis. It can penetrate the mucus layer on the surface of gastric mucosa, settle in the intercellular space and submucosa of gastric mucosa, and cause local inflammatory reaction. Long-term infection can lead to persistent inflammation of gastric mucosa and develop into chronic gastritis.
2. Peptic ulcer: including gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Toxins and enzymes produced by Helicobacter pylori can destroy the protective layer of gastric mucosa, weaken the neutralization ability of gastric acid, and make gastric acid and pepsin directly act on gastric mucosa to form ulcers.
3. Gastric cancer: The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Helicobacter pylori as a class I carcinogen. Long-term Helicobacter pylori infection can lead to persistent inflammation, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia of gastric mucosa, and increase the risk of gastric cancer.
4. Impact on children’s growth and development: In children, Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with growth retardation, malnutrition and other problems, especially in resource-poor areas, the impact may be more significant.
5. Digestive system symptoms: Helicobacter pylori infection can cause or aggravate digestive system symptoms, such as epigastric pain, fullness, belching, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc.
6. Psychosocial effects: Long-term stomach discomfort and recurrent digestive system symptoms may have a negative impact on the mental health and social function of patients, such as anxiety, depression, decreased work ability, etc.
Public data show that nearly half of the people in China are infected with Helicobacter pylori, and the drug resistance rate is high; all Helicobacter pylori infections will develop into gastritis; 15% to 20% of infected people will develop peptic ulcer. Less than 1% of those infected will develop stomach cancer. The impact of H. pylori on humans is profound and complex, not only limited to gastric diseases, but also may involve extragastric health problems and quality of life. Therefore, early diagnosis and effective treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection are of great significance for the prevention of related diseases and the improvement of prognosis.
HP screening methods
Helicobacter pylori has a more serious infectivity. Based on the current evidence-based medicine and expert consensus, the strategy of screening and eradicating Helicobacter pylori in high-risk groups can effectively reduce the incidence of gastric cancer. Nearly 80% of HP infected people are almost asymptomatic in the early stage, which is extremely easy to be ignored. Therefore, routine HP screening for healthy people can become an important means of prevention and treatment of gastric cancer. At present, there are many methods to detect HP infection, and the commonly used screening methods include non-invasive and invasive.
HP Data Sheet
In order to help IVD reagent partners develop high-quality HP diagnostic reagents, our company has developed antigens and antibodies for HP high-quality detection on different platforms, with higher sensitivity, smaller batch difference and better stability.
Antigen & Antibody
Uncut Sheet
What are the symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection?
Most of the infected people have no symptoms and are found by physical examination.
After infection, the possible symptoms vary with individual differences. Some infected people may have digestive system symptoms such as halitosis, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting, stomach distension and stomach pain.
Pay attention to the details of life to prevent infection
- Eating separately and using serving chopsticks: Adopting a separate eating system or using serving chopsticks can reduce the spread of bacteria in saliva to food through chopsticks, thereby reducing the risk of mutual infection. Even for family meals, the use of serving chopsticks and spoons should be advocated, and tableware disinfection should be actively carried out.
- Pay attention to oral hygiene: developing good oral hygiene habits is the key to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection. Gargle after meals to keep your mouth clean and prevent bacteria from growing. Toothbrushes, tooth cups and other cleaning supplies should not be placed in the bathroom, should be placed in a ventilated place, and often receive sunlight.
- Pay attention to dietary hygiene: drink boiled water instead of raw water, and eat cooked food instead of raw food. Avoid the intake of undercooked food, moldy food, pickled products and smoked products. At the same time, we should ensure the diversification of food, avoid partial eating, eat more fresh food, and supplement vitamins and other nutrients.
- Prevention of mother-to-child transmission: Helicobacter pylori infection in infants is associated with oral feeding in large populations. Therefore, parents with the presence of H. pylori should avoid this feeding behavior.
- Develop good hygiene habits: wash hands before meals and after defecation, and keep hands clean and hygienic. Avoid sharing tableware, cups, toothbrushes and other daily necessities with others to reduce the risk of transmission. Toilets also need regular ventilation and exposure to sunlight.
- Regular physical examination and treatment: go to the hospital regularly for Helicobacter pylori examination so as to detect and treat it in time. If there are confirmed patients in the family, other family members should also have regular physical examinations for early prevention and treatment.
