What is H. Pylori?
Helicobacter Pylori is a pathogen which infests a stomach. Its main job is to infest the lower area of the stomach and to break the lining of the stomach cells. It is a gram-negative pathogen, which means that they do not have the crystal violet stain from gram-positive pathogens. This also means that the pathogen has two cell walls instead of one. This is to create an extra layer of protection from the body's immune system. Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) is the pathogen which is responsible for stomach ulcers and/or duodenal ulcers. They are composed of 5 main structural features, these include:
- 2 Cell Membranes - Urease (Emzyme) - Flagela (The 'tails' of the pathogen) - Lipopolysaccharide - DNA You can see these features in the diagram below: |
This image distinctly shows the different parts of the pathogen. You can also see the features of it which makes it a gram negative bacteria. From the image you can see that there is one darker layer of a cell wall and another cell wall beneath it. The shading in the image represent proportion and depth. The H. Pylori's Flegela's allow it to easily move and to easy manouver tight turns. This is to make it more suitable for combat in your stomach.
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Gram negative bacteria have 2 cell walls instead of one. This is for extra stability and defence from the body's immune system.
How does H. Pylori cause stomach ulcers and/or duodenal ulcers?
The process of H.Pylori causing stomach ulcers is a very complex one. It starts of by simply being present in the lower part of your stomach and then gradually gaining territory as it goes to your stomach cells (Coloumnar Epithelial Cells). The deformation of these cells from Vcga and Caga cause these cells to become deformed and inflamed. Below, I have outlined the process in which the H.Pylori take to combat these cells and to ultimately gain territory in the stomach.
In written form, these bacteria cause stomach ulcers because of the by-products that they create from water and urea neutralise the acid and penetrate to the mucus layer. Since the mucus layer is quite thick, the H. Pylori are able to simply go to the Columnar Epithelial Cells to deform their shape. This is a stomach ulcer.
What are stomach ulcers? |
Diagnosing H. Pylori |
Stomach / Duodenal Ulcers are deformed Columnar Epithelial Cells. These cells are in the lining of your stomach and are the main types of cells which form the stomach. H. Pylori have substances within it which deforms these cells, making it inflamed and deformed. These deformities create a dent within these cells. The cells a inflamed and deformed, meaning that the acid layer and penetrate through to the Columnar Epithelial cells. These cells then get damaged because of the acid. This indentation within the uniformed structure of the cells allows a stomach ulcer to be created. Stomach ulcers carry excruciating pain as you have to endure acid being spilled around your cells. As the H. Pylori cells keep on continuing its business, the stomach keeps on getting deformed. If nothing is done to diagnose and treat this disease, the disease can potentially prove life threatening and/or harmful for the ways that the body functions.
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You can diagnose H. Pylori by using either of the two most common methods below:
1) Sample method: Doctors would cut a piece of your stomach to see the contents of it. They will evaluate the contents of it under a microscope to see whether any H. Pylori bacteria are found. This is a clear and straight forward method of diagnosing H. Pylori. 2)Breath test: This is a very innovative way of diagnosing H. Pylori. We already know that H. Pylori creates a by-product of Carbon Dioxide when it has urea and water. By 'tagging' the carbon molecule in the H. Pylori bacteria, we can see whether the substance has been converted or not. We can take a sample (orally) and then wait for the sample to go around our body and to the lungs. After a breath test, we can see whether the tagged carbon molecule had successfully been converted into a Carbon Dioxide molecule. This is also another way of diagnosing H. Pylori. |
Treatment
There are many ways of treating H. Pylori, but the two most common ways of treating H. Pylori is listed below:
1) 7 day regime on antibiotics and proton pump inhibators
- ansoprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin
Ansoprazole: The role of Proton Pump Inhibitors is to reduce the amount of acid which is created in the body. This is vital for the death of H. Pylori because it requires water and acid to function. Without these, the H. Pylori will die out within your body.
Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin: A penicillin antibiotic which attacks bacteria. This is a really vital part of treating H. Pylori because H. Pylori is basically a bacteria in its simplest form.
By using these 3 substances you will eventually get rid of your stomach ulcer and will start to regain control of your body's stomach.
2) Herbal:
It is scientifically proven that antibiotics have potential side effects to your body. This could include: sleepiness, drowsiness, etc. These side effects are a negative thing for some people and some General Practitioners (GP's) prescribe patients to herbal medicine instead of antibacterial medicine. Herbal medicine does take a very long time to actually show signs of wearing down the bacteria. This process could sometimes take a matter of months. However, the herbal medicine only makes the bacteria worn out and doesn't actually destroy the cells. This means that the doctors would eventually include a substance in the patients medication to finally kill the bacteria.
1) 7 day regime on antibiotics and proton pump inhibators
- ansoprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin
Ansoprazole: The role of Proton Pump Inhibitors is to reduce the amount of acid which is created in the body. This is vital for the death of H. Pylori because it requires water and acid to function. Without these, the H. Pylori will die out within your body.
Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin: A penicillin antibiotic which attacks bacteria. This is a really vital part of treating H. Pylori because H. Pylori is basically a bacteria in its simplest form.
By using these 3 substances you will eventually get rid of your stomach ulcer and will start to regain control of your body's stomach.
2) Herbal:
It is scientifically proven that antibiotics have potential side effects to your body. This could include: sleepiness, drowsiness, etc. These side effects are a negative thing for some people and some General Practitioners (GP's) prescribe patients to herbal medicine instead of antibacterial medicine. Herbal medicine does take a very long time to actually show signs of wearing down the bacteria. This process could sometimes take a matter of months. However, the herbal medicine only makes the bacteria worn out and doesn't actually destroy the cells. This means that the doctors would eventually include a substance in the patients medication to finally kill the bacteria.