Research briefs: H pylori's survival
Adrenaline and noradrenaline could help Helicobacter pylori grow and alter its behaviour to survive for longer in the stomach, UK researchers have found.
This could partially explain the role of stress and smoking in peptic ulcer formation. In the study, strains of H pylori were exposed to a number of gastric hormones and its behaviour monitored. In findings presented last week at the annual meeting of CORE, the digestive disease foundation, in London, the University of Nottingham researchers said adrenaline and noradrenaline enhanced H pylori growth in a dose-dependent manner.
