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Background: Although Helicobacter pylori is a significant etiologic factor of peptic ulcer disease, it remains unknown why ulcers develop only in the minority of infected individuals. Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between the presence of duodenal ulcer in H. pylori-infected patients and different risk factors. Methods: A total of 122 H. pylori-infected patients were enrolled; 79 had duodenal ulcer and 43 gastritis. Univariate analysis was conducted using either Fisher’s exact test or exact Cochrane-Armitage trend test. In multivariate analysis the logistic model was used. Results: Univariate analysis indicated six factors (male sex, smoking, antral H. pylori density, cagA presence in antrum, and vacA s1a presence in antrum and corpus). Four factors (sex, smoking-alcohol index, H. pylori density index, and cagA index) were found to be significant in multivariate analysis. The best model predicting duodenal ulcer included male sex, smoking, presence of H. pylori on histopathology in antrum and cagA presence in corpus. Conclusion: Although several risk factors were significantly associated with duodenal ulcer, we failed in the identification of either a single risk factor or a set of factors that can unequivocally differentiate patients with ulcer from those with gastritis.

Of all colorectal cancer screening methods, colonoscopy used as a primary screening tool is both the most promising and the most discussed in the current literature. Several countries have introduced colonoscopic screening on a national scale, but many issues still require further research. The practicality of using colonoscopic screening can be questionable given the huge target population, which requires a great increase in endoscopic resources. Limiting the target population by shifting the use of colonoscopy from low-risk to high-risk groups is a valid option. The quality of colonoscopy related to the individual colonoscopist’s skill has become a surprisingly considerable problem, and it is obvious that continuous quality improvement programs need to be established. The accuracy of detecting important colorectal lesions is also still influenced by the old problem of cleansing the large bowel, and further research would be welcome. Technological improvements in current endoscopic equipment will hopefully increase the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy and eventually strengthen its use in the setting of colorectal cancer screening.

Although Helicobacter pylori is a significant etiologic factor of peptic ulcer disease, it remains unknown why ulcers develop only in the minority of infected individuals.The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between the presence of duodenal ulcer in H. pylori-infected patients and different risk factors.A total of 122 H. pylori-infected patients were enrolled; 79 had duodenal ulcer and 43 gastritis. Univariate analysis was conducted using either Fisher's exact test or exact Cochrane-Armitage trend test. In multivariate analysis the logistic model was used.Univariate analysis indicated six factors (male sex, smoking, antral H. pylori density, CAGA presence in antrum, and VACA s1a presence in antrum and corpus). Four factors (sex, smoking-alcohol index, H. pylori density index, and CAGA index) were found to be significant in multivariate analysis. The best model predicting duodenal ulcer included male sex, smoking, presence of H. PYLORI on histopathology in antrum and CAGA presence in corpus.Although several risk factors were significantly associated with duodenal ulcer, we failed in the identification of either a single risk factor or a set of factors that can unequivocally differentiate patients with ulcer from those with gastritis.