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Socio-economic Indicators for H. pylori Infection Risk

Chen Sirkis — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:48:34 GMT

A study led by researchers at the University of Vanderbilt assessed the prevalence of H. pylori in 336 African American and 329 white participants. The researchers found three neighborhood-level factors to be inversely related to H. pylori presence: percent high school completion, median house values and percent employed. The authors note that, while these factors do not explain the overall high positivity seen in among African-Americans, they do suggest that physicians can view these socio-economic factors as relating to increased risk of infection. The study results were published in Cancer Causes and Control.

Under-detection of H. pylori and Underestimation of its Effect on Gastric Cancer

Chen Sirkis — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:56:17 GMT

A team of researchers, led by Dr. C. A. Gonzales at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) in Barcelona assessed 426 patients (88 noncardia gastric cancer, 336 controls) for the association between noncardia gastric cancer and H. pylori infection. Antibodies detected by western blot were compared to those detected by ELISA. Of the 82 cases which were found to be positive by immunoblot, 10 were determined to be negative by ELISA. Only 6 cases were found to be negative by both modalities.

The data showed that ELISA (serology) significantly under-detects the presence of H. pylori infection and “could lead to … underestimation of its effect on gastric cancer risk”. The authors conclude that, because nearly all noncardia gastric cancers were found to be H. pylori positive by immunoblot, the data supports the widely held belief that H. pylori infection is “a necessary condition for noncardia [gastric cancer].” Full abstract.

Olive Oil Effective against H. pylori?

Chen Sirkis — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:45:51 GMT

Two pilot studies conducted in Spain aimed to study the possible bactericidal effect of virgin olive oil against H. pylori. The pilots spanned 90 patients and used two different kinds of virgin olive oil. The data showed a moderate effect in eradicating H. pylori and suggested that further studies exploring different types of oils and study durations would be needed to confirm the findings (and attempt to improve patient tolerance). See the full abstract here.

Probiotics in H. pylori Eradication and Prevention of Peptic Ulcers and Gastic Cancer

Chen Sirkis — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:42:18 GMT

An article in the current issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology titled, “Is it effective?” to “How to use it?”: the era has changed in probiotics and functional food products against Helicobacter pylori infection, provides a concise summary of the history and current state of the application of probiotics in what the author calls “the war against HP”. Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/IjWEwG.

New Study from Japan Documents Low Reinfection Rate Following Successful H. pylori Eradication Therapy

Chen Sirkis — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:56:33 GMT

A recent study from Japan documents a very low reinfection rate for patients whose eradication treatment was successful.

The study, published in the Journal of Gastroenterology, included 1625 patients (219 women and 1406 men, mean age 50.8 years) who had undergone successful H. pylori eradication therapy. 1609 of the patients were followed for up to 12.5 years (average of 4.7 years), during which time bacterial culture and urea breath tests were administered annually. During the follow up period, 26 patients became reinfected – 13 became positive at the 1 year follow-up, and the other 13 between 1.8 and 8.0 years after eradication – equating to a reinfection rate of 0.22% per year.

These findings reinforce the importance of the accurate, initial detection of H. pylori infection: Successful treatment for positive patients can enable them to live free of infection. Moreover, the study underscores the need to assess all positive patients following therapy and retest appropriate patients to ensure successful eradication, as treatment is ineffective in approximately 20% of patients.

Urea breath testing is the most accurate non-invasive method for initial detection of H. pylori infection and according to the American College of Gastroenterology’s most recent clinical guideline, the “most reliable” test for confirming eradication post-treatment. Testing with the BreathID System takes about 10 minutes and results are available immediately.

New Study Suggests Association Between H. pylori Infection and Diabetes

Chen Sirkis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:07:49 GMT

A recent study in the journal Diabetes Care suggests a correlation between H. pylori infection and developing diabetes. The study tracked a cohort of Latino elderly - 782 individuals over 60 years old - for 10 years. The group was diabetes-free in 1998-1999 and at that time the patients were given blood tests for H. pylori, as well as other infections, such as herpes simplex 1, varicella virus, cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii. Over the 10-year period of the study, patients who tested positive for herpes simplex 1, varicella virus, cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii did not have an increased incidence of diabetes. Those who tested positve for H. pylori, however, were 2.7 times more likely to develop diabetes. The authors conclude that their findings show a strong correlation between H. pylori infection and developing diabetes.

Fermented Apple Juice Shown to Inhibit H. pylori Activity

Chen Sirkis — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:51:57 GMT

The stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori infects nearly 50% of the world’s population. H. pylori causes up to 90% of stomach ulcers and, if left untreated, can increase the risk of developing gastric cancer. A recent study in the Journal of Food Biochemistry suggests that fermented apple juice has the potential to inhibit growth of H. pylori in the stomach. In the study, apple juice samples were fermented for 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours using Lactobacillus acidophilus and their effect on H. pylori activity was evaluated using in vitro models. The samples fermented for 48 and 72 hours showed an ability to inhibit H. pylori activity, suggesting the need for further in vivo studies.

Eradication of H. pylori Infection Highly Recommended in Asian Populations

Chen Sirkis — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:58:40 GMT

H. pylori infects nearly half the world’s population. The bacteria is associated with conditions such as dyspepsia and symptoms such as heartburn and nausea. H. pylori causes up to 90% of stomach ulcers and long-term infection is also a well-established risk factor for developing gastric cancer. The role of H. pylori infection in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) is a much debated topic. A recent review article dealing with FD in Asian populations includes a consensus statement suggesting that H. pylori may play a much stronger causative role in the onset of FD in Asian versus Western populations.

The article, published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, proposes that dyspepsia with concomitant H. pylori infection should be classified as a different disease from functional dyspepsia, meaning that only patients who are H. pylori-negative should be diagnosed with FD and H. pylori infection should be eradicated before concluding a diagnosis of FD. Additionally, the statement recommends that H. pylori be eradicated regardless of the presence of dyspeptic symptoms, particularly in certain Asian populations, due to the high prevalence of gastric cancer.

Urea breath testing is the most accurate non-invasive method to detect H. pylori infection. Testing with the BreathID System takes just 10 minutes and results are available immediately, allowing physicians to prescribe eradication treatment for positive patients on the spot.

New Study Documents the Presence of H. pylori in Patients with Glaucoma

Chen Sirkis — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:54:21 GMT

The common stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori infects nearly half the world’s population. It has been linked to many symptoms and conditions, ranging from dyspepsia to stomach ulcers and gastric cancer. While H. pylori infection is most commonly associated with gastrointestinal conditions, a new study published in Ophthalmic Research documents the presence of the bacterium in patients with glaucoma. In the study, 43 of 51 (84.3%) patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) tested positive for H. pylori infection through histological exam, compared to 17 of 35 (48.6%) in a control group. In addition, in 5 of the 43 POAG patients, H. pylori bacteria were present in eye biopsies. A causal relationship isn’t confirmed by the study.

The BreathID System enables clinicians to perform highly accurate and convenient urea breath testing for the detection of H. pylori infection. Testing takes just 10 minutes and results are available immediately, allowing physicians to prescribe treatment for positive patients on the spot.

Exalenz Bioscience Adds Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center to Its Expanding Roster of U.S. Customers

Chen Sirkis — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:33:30 GMT

Wilmington, DE (November 10, 2011) – Exalenz Bioscience, Inc., a provider of breath testing equipment for the diagnosis and management of digestive system and liver conditions, today announced the installation of its BreathID^® System for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) detection at the Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center at Green Spring Station.

The BreathID^® Urea Breath Test System offers a highly accurate, rapid, point-of-care assessment of H. pylori, which infects approximately 25 to 30 percent of the United States population. BreathID delivers results in about 10 minutes – about half the time of competitive devices – making it well suited for point-of-care testing.

H. pylori, a bacterium that can reside in the stomach and small intestine, has been demonstrated to contribute to a variety of conditions, ranging from relatively common symptoms such as dyspepsia and abdominal pain to more severe conditions, including gastritis, ulcers and, in some cases, gastric cancer. Conclusively eradicating H. pylori through treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis of active H. pylori infection.

Urea breath tests (UBT) are the non-invasive mode of choice for diagnosing H. pylori. According to the AmericanCollege of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 2007 guidelines, the tests most widely used by U.S. physicians (blood antibody tests) are “no better than a coin toss in predicting active infection.” UBT – and the BreathID System – have been proven to accurately and reliably detect active infection, and their use is supported by the ACG clinical guidelines.

“We are pleased that Johns Hopkins has chosen to utilize the BreathID System as a tool to detect H. pylori infection in its patients,” said Steven Eitan, Chief Executive Officer at Exalenz Bioscience. “We continue to see increasing demand for our rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tool, as physicians are looking for improved accuracy and rapid results.”

About Exalenz Bioscience

Exalenz Bioscience develops and markets medical equipment for breath testing for the purposes of diagnosis and management of digestive system and liver conditions. The company sells the BreathID^®System together with proprietary disposable test kits. The BreathID^® System has been proven effective for clinical use in identifying the presence of the H. pylori bacteria and is presently undergoing clinical tests for use in the field of liver function, liver cirrhosis, and digestive disturbances. Exalenz holds regulatory approvals in Europe and the U.S. for some of the applications and the company is currently in process of applying for approvals for additional applications.

This news release may contain “forward-looking statements.” Statements in this press release, which are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements including statements concerning the Company’s business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated revenues, expenses or other financial items, plans and objectives related thereto, and assumptions or expectations relating to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors including, but not limited to, changing customer demands, changing regulatory requirements, customer acceptance of the Company's products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, dependence on existing management, that technology may not function as expected and general economic conditions. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

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