Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces an intense inflammatory response, mediated by proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and its membrane receptor (IL-6R), which activates important signaling pathways in the development of gastric disease and cancer. We investigated the gene and protein expression of IL-6 and IL-6R and the influence of polymorphisms rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797 on its gene expression together with H. pylori infection. Furthermore, an in-silico analysis was performed to support our results. Gastric biopsies were obtained from patients with gastric symptoms and patients with gastric cancer (GC) and were divided into groups (Control, Gastritis, and Cancer). H. pylori was detected by PCR. Real-time-qPCR was employed to determine gene expression, and western blot assay was used to analyze protein expression levels. PCR-RFLP was used to characterize IL-6 polymorphisms. Bioinformatics analyses were performed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and GEO2R to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs). H. pylori was detected in 43.3% of the samples. Statistically significant differences were found for IL-6 (P=0.0001) and IL-6R (P=0.0005) genes among the three groups, regardless of the presence of H. pylori. Among patients with H. pylori infection, the IL-6 and IL-6R gene and protein expressions were significantly increased, highlighting IL-6 gene overexpression in patients with GC. No statistically significant differences were found for the rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797 polymorphisms compared to IL-6 gene expression. The results indicated that the IL-6 polymorphisms do not influence its expression, but IL-6 and IL-6R expression seems to be altered by the presence of H. pylori.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the association between diet-related inflammation and gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) and evidence is scarce in Brazil. This study evaluated the association between a pro-inflammatory diet and GA. Methods: A multicenter case–control study was conducted in Brazil. A total of 1645 participants—492 cases, 377 endoscopy controls, and 776 hospital controls—were included. Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII^TM) scores were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. We used binary and multinomial logistic regression models for the analysis of total GA, and its subtypes (cardia and non-cardia, intestinal, and diffuse histological subtypes). Results: In cases versus endoscopy controls, a pro-inflammatory diet, estimated by higher E-DII scores, was associated with a higher risk GA (OR_Q4vsQ1: 2.60, 1.16–5.70), of non-cardia GA (OR: 2.90, 1.06–7.82), and diffuse subtype (OR: 3.93, 1.59–9.70). In cases versus hospital controls, higher E-DII scores were associated with a higher risk of GA (OR: 2.70, 1.60–4.54), of cardia GA (OR: 3.31, 1.32–8.24), non-cardia GA (OR: 2.97, 1.64–5.39), and both intestinal (OR: 2.82, 1.38–5.74) and diffuse GA (OR: 2.50, 1.54–5.11) subtypes. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with an increased risk of GA in Brazil. E-DII requires the inclusion of sodium due to its importance in carcinogenesis.

Background: Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) is a group 1 carcinogen and the etiological agent of gastric diseases such as gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer. It infects approximately half of the world’s population. Risk factors associated with H. pylori infection include socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and diet. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between eating habits and H. pylori infection in patients from a reference hospital in Central Brazil. Design: This cross-sectional study included 156 patients from 2019 to 2022. Methods: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics and a validated food frequency questionnaire. The H. pylori infection status (positive versus negative) was determined using the histopathological method. After grams/day, foods were stratified into tertiles of consumption (low, medium, and high). Simple and multiple binary logistic regression models were used in the analysis of odds ratios (ORs) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with a 5% significance level. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 44.2% (69/156 patients). Infected individuals had a mean age of 49.6 ± 14.6 years; 40.6% were men, 34.8% were aged 60 years or older, 42.0% were unmarried, 7.2% had higher education, 72.5% were non-white, and 30.4% were obese. In the H. pylori-positive group, 55.1% were alcohol drinkers and 42.0% were smokers. The results of multiple analyses showed that the chance of H. pylori infection was higher among male participants (OR = 2.25; CI = 1.09–4.68) and individuals with obesity (OR = 2.68; CI = 1.10–6.51). Participants with moderate consumption of refined grains (bread, cookies, cakes, breakfast cereal) (OR = 2.41; CI = 1.04–5.62) and fruits (OR = 2.53; CI = 1.08–5.94) were more likely to be infected. Conclusion: In this study, male sex, obesity, and the consumption of refined grains and fruits were positively associated with H. pylori infection. Further research is needed to investigate this association and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

The fecal coliform can contaminate water of human consumption causing problems to public health. Many of these microorganisms may contain plasmid and transfer them to other bacteria. This genetic material may confer selective advantages, among them resistance to antibiotics. The objectives of this study were to analyze the presence of fecal coliforms in water and at drinker surface, to identify the existence of plasmid, conducting studies of resistance to antibiotics, plasmid stability and capacity of bacterial conjugation. Were collected microorganisms in water of drinker surface and were used specific culture media and biochemical tests for identification of organisms, tests were performed by checking the resistance to antibiotics (ampicillin 10 μg, tetracycline 30 μg, and ciprofloxacin 5 μg), was performed extraction of plasmid DNA, plasmid stability and bacterial conjugation. Was obtained results of 31% of Salmonella spp. and 51% for other coliforms. Among the samples positive for coliforms, 27 had plasmid stable and with the ability to perform conjugation. The plasmids had similar forms, suggesting that the resistance in some bacteria may be linked to those genes extra chromosomal.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused several problems in healthcare systems around the world, as to date, there is no effective and specific treatment against all forms of COVID-19. Currently, drugs with therapeutic potential are being tested, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, immunotherapy, and antibiotics. Although antibiotics have no direct effect on viral infections, they are often used against secondary bacterial infections, or even as empiric treatment to reduce viral load, infection, and replication of coronaviruses. However, there are many concerns about this therapeutic approach as it may accelerate and/or increase the long-term rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We focused this overview on exploring candidate drugs for COVID-19 therapy, including antibiotics, considering the lack of specific treatment and that it is unclear whether the widespread use of antibiotics in the treatment of COVID-19 has implications for the emergence and transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, particularly in the underdeveloped localities, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections can range up to 90%. These rates are higher in older individuals and vary by country region. H. pylori infections are linked to the development of gastric pathologies, namely mild to moderate gastritis, gastroenteritis, peptic ulcer, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. In 1994, this organism was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as pertaining to the Group 1 carcinogen for gastric adenocarcinoma etiology. Gastric cancer represents a significant public health problem, being the fourth most common malignant tumor and the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients and determine the link between clinical risk factors and gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosis. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was employed for molecular diagnosis of gastric tissue biopsies collected from 113 dyspeptic patients at the University Hospital of Federal University of Goiás. Molecular analyses allowed the identification of H. pylori infections. Furthermore, histopathological examinations were performed to determine the clinical risks of developing gastric malignancies. RESULTS: The test results identified 69 individuals older than 44 years, from 75 (66.4%) positive H. pylori infection samples. The prevalence of gastric adenocarcinoma in this study was 1.3%. Among the infected patients, six (8.2%) had high risk, and 67 (91.8%) had a low risk of developing gastric cancer (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows a high prevalence of H. pylori infection and identifies its contribution to gastric inflammations, which in the long term are manifested in high-risk clinical factors for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma.