The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori resistance to antibiotics is poorly documented in Africa and especially in Algeria. The aim of our study was to determine the antibiotic resistance rates, as well as its possible relationship with VacA and CagA virulence markers of isolates from Algerian patients. One hundred and fifty one H. pylori isolate were obtained between 2012 and 2015 from 200 patients with upper abdominal pain. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and tetracycline. Molecular identification of H. pylori and the detection of vacA and cagA genes were performed using specific primers. We found that H. pylori was present in 83.5% of collected biopsies, 54.9% of the samples were cagA positive, 49.67% were vacA s1m1, 18.30% were vacA s1m2 and 25.49% were vacA s2m2. Isolates were characterized by no resistance to amoxicillin (0%), tetracycline (0%), rifampicin (0%), a high rate of resistance to metronidazole (61.1%) and a lower rate of resistance to clarithromycin (22.8%) and ciprofloxacin (16.8%). No statically significant relationship was found between vagA and cagA genotypes and antibiotic resistance results (p > 0.5) except for the metronidazole, which had relation with the presence of cagA genotype (p = 0.001).

Local data regarding the primary resistance of H. pylori to clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and rifampicin and the main genetic mutations involved in the resistance are necessary for a periodic evaluation of antibiotic consumption and new therapeutic strategies in Algeria.

BackgroundInfection with Helicobacter pylori is considered a potential risk of developing gastric cancer in association with contributing host genetic factor. IL-1β and IL-1RN polymorphisms appear to maintain and promote Helicobacter pylori infection and to stimulate neoplastic growth of the gastric mucosa.Objective and methodsIn order to elucidate the effect of these polymorphisms in combination with gastric cancer in a population from northwestern Algeria, a case-control study was carried out on 79 patients infected with H. pylori with chronic atrophic gastritis and/or gastric carcinoma, and 32 subjects were recruited as case-control. IL-1β-31 bi-allelic and IL-1β-511 bi-allelic polymorphisms and IL-1RN penta-allelic were genotyped.ResultsIL-1β-31C was associated with an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma (OR=4.614 [1.43−14.81], p=0.01). However, IL-1RN2 heterozygous allele type was significantly associated with chronic atrophic gastritis (OR=4.2 [1.23−3.61], p=0.022). IL-1β-511T was associated with an increased risk of development of chronic atrophic gastritis (OR=4.286 [1.54−11.89], p=0.005).ConclusionIL-1β and IL-1RN polymorphisms associated with H. pylori infection contribute to the development of chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinomas in an Algerian population. The alleles IL-1β-31C and IL-1RN were associated with an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma, and IL-1β-511T with an increased risk of developing chronic atrophic gastritis with no significant association of developing gastric carcinoma.

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Background and objectives:The incidence rates of papillary thyroid cancer have increased over the past three decades. We aim to establish an epidemiological profile of papillary thyroid cancer, collect additional data about clinical and etiological features, and highlight how the disease is managed in Northwestern Algeria.Patients and Methods: An epidemiological retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the nuclear medicine department of the Anti-Cancer Center in Sidi Bel Abbes region (western Algeria), between January 2020 and December 2022, using a database of 103 papillary thyroid cancer patients. In order to analyze the medical records data, SPSS 22.0 was used. Results: The majority of patients were women (92.2%, mean age 44.16 ± 12.78 years). 43.7% of the studied population had a previous history of thyroid diseases, and 20.4% of them have a family history of thyroid disorders. The majority of patients (91.3%) underwent a total thyroidectomy. Only 17.5% of patients underwent a lymph node dissection. Most patients (73.8%) were diagnosed with the lowest risk of thyroid carcinomas. The number of cancers associated with capsular refraction was low, and none of the patients had any signs of vascular invasion or recurrence.Conclusion: These results provide important information about the epidemiology of papillary thyroid cancer in Northwestern Algeria and can help to identify risk factors and the etiology of the disease. This information can be used to improve the management of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and to develop strategies for early detection and prevention of the disease.