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The aim of the study was the study of ten-year trends (1999-2009) of GERD symptoms and risk factors in schoolchildren in Novosibirsk from 14 to 17 years.The comparison of the results of the screenings performed at 1999 and 2009 was analyzed. Anthropometry, the survey to identify the symptoms of GERD and eating habits, smoking and alcohol consumption, determination of lgG and CagA antibodies to Helicobacterpylori were included at the program of screenings.No significant dynamics of GER symptoms in adolescents, except weekly heartburn among boys. Among the factors associated with dyspepsia and GER, there have been some mixed changes: the frequency of smoking significantly reduced, but the proportion adolescents with excess body weight have increased. Violations of the regime and diet, and Helicobocrerpylori-infection has not changed significantly.The frequency of GERD in adolescents remains high but does not reach the prevalence of GERD in adults.

The paper presents the long-term experience of Siberian epidemiological studies in the field of gastroenterology (cross-sectional and prospective). High prevalence of Helicobacterpylori infection (75-85%) in the adult population of Siberia, and the association with dyspeptic symptoms in different age groups are shown. The dynamics of infection in children and adolescents, the high detection rates of CagA-positive strains, the prevalence of the different phenotypes of gastritis and the predictive value of gastric atrophy biomarkers in relation to gastric cancer were studied. The importance of epidemiological studies for the formation of groups at risk for a number of diseases and the development of prevention programs is demonstrated.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is frequent among the general population affecting 10-20% of adults. However, there is a notable lack of epidemiological data describing prevalence of GER in children. The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of GER symptoms (GERS) in adolescents and to evaluate factors associated with GERS including markers of H. pylori infection.All school students in grades 9-11 in four randomly selected secondary schools in Novosibirsk participated (449 adolescents, 189 boys, 260 girls aged 14-17). They completed the Bowel Disease Questionnaire, life-style questionnaire, and sera were tested for antibodies against Helicobacter pylori infection.Overall, 60% of adolescents experienced GERS (heartburn and/or acid regurgitation) over the previous year. GER symptoms on a monthly basis were reported by 22% of students, weekly GERS were reported by 9% of adolescents with the same frequency in both genders. GERS were related to family history of dyspepsia or GER, mother's lower educational attainment, overweight, unhealthy eating patterns, alcohol consumption, smoking, and H. pylori infection, as well as concomitant dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. The majority of associations were more prominent in girls. Visiting a physician, endoscopic study, and school absenteeism were reported in the last year more frequently by adolescents with GERS vs those without GERS.Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms are frequent among the adolescent population and result in frequent use of health care resources. Some precipitated factors found in this study are modifiable and may be corrected in adolescent population.

Determining the level of blood pepsinogens has important clinical significance in the formation of risk groups for gastric cancer and erosive/ulcerative lesions of the gastric mucosa. A comparison of imported and domestic kits for testing the level of pepsinogens was performed. Russian diagnostic kits in comparison with foreign ones proved to show similar sensitivity and specificity.

Serum contents of 7 cytokines (IL-1, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, INF-gamma, INF-alpha) were examined in 87 children aged 14-17 years according to presence of antibodies against Helicobacter pylori and cytotoxic CagA protein. There was a lack of difference in cytokine levels between infected and non-infected children. Thus H. pylori infection in children in contrast to adults does not cause changes in systemic cytokine secretion.

The aims of the study were to examine the prevalence of dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the unselected population and to assess the quality of life (QOL) in these syndromes and their combination. The study involved 1,040 people, representing a random sample of adults aged 45-70 years (492 men, 548 women). To identify gastrointestinal symptoms using validated questionnaire, dyspepsia and IBS were diagnosed by Rome I criteria. QOL was assessed using a questionnaire SF-36. Dyspepsia was reported by 37.5% (30.1% men and 44.2% women, p0.001). The prevalence of IBS was 18.8% (12.0% men and 25,0% in women, p0.001). The combination of dyspepsia and IBS was noted in 12.0% (6.5% in men and 17.0% in women). Both dyspepsia and IBS cause significant decrease in QOL on most scales of the questionnaire SF-36 compared with those without these disorders. Their combination reduced QOL even more in comparison with isolated dyspepsia or IBS. Finally, high prevalence of dyspepsia and IBS was stated among the population, both conditions more frequently observed in women. QOL is significantly reduced in subjects with dyspepsia and IBS, especially if these syndromes combine.

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) in 403 adolescents at the age of 14-17 according to the Helicobacter pylori status in a two-year prospective school-based survey. Initially the H. pylori infection was revealed in 55.3%. GERS were reported by 16.1% of H. pylori negative subjects, 17.3% of H. pylori positive but CagA negative adolescents, and by 30.3% of those being CagA positive. Over 2 years, among 275 subjects without initial GERS, symptoms appeared in 43 (15.6%), being 10.8%, 18.8%, and 21.0% in three groups under the study, respectively. The H. pylori infection (especially with CagA positive strains) in older children results in GERS, which can be explained by antral gastritis with a subsequent increase of acid secretion.

The concentration of pepsinogen I as well as antibodies to Helicobacter pylori and CagA protein were determined in the blood serum in 84 schoolchildren at the age of 14-17 using the immune-enzyme analysis. The level of pepsinogen I did not depend on the sex, age, gastroenterological symptoms and ulcer occurrence in parents. However, the concentration of pepsinogen was higher in teenagers infected with H. pylori (89.6 ug/l) than in non-infected ones (69.4 ug/l, p = 0.012), this increase taking place mostly due to strains containing CagA.