The Lancet : Helicobacter pylori: the story continues - Published ... Helicobacter pylori: the story continues. Stewart Goodwin a, E-mail The ... In 1981 in Western Australia, I was Head of the Royal Perth Hospital Microbiology ... linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S014067360005145X
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_peptic_ulcer_disease_and_Helicobacter_pylori http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/17/3/309 The Action of Bismuth against Helicobacter pylori Mimics but Is Not Caused by Intracellular Iron Deprivation http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/48/6/1983 Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., June 1, 2004; 48(6): 1983 - 1988. The Action of Bismuth against Helicobacter pylori Mimics but Is Not Caused by Intracellular Iron Deprivation Michael V. Bland,1 Salim Ismail,2 Jack A. Heinemann,1 and Jacqueline I. Keenan2* School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury,1 Department of Surgery, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand2 Received 15 October 2003/ Returned for modification 24 December 2003/ Accepted 23 February 2004 Helicobacter pylori is highly susceptible to bismuth, a heavy metal with antimicrobial activity linked to its effect on bacterial iron uptake. Three strains of H. pylori were analyzed for indicators of iron limitation following exposure to the MIC of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (MICCBS). Similar morphologic and outer membrane changes were observed following growth in iron-limiting medium and at the MICCBS that inhibited the growth of all three strains. These changes, which were also observed for iron-limited bacteria, were alleviated by the addition of iron to the cultures. H. pylori ATP levels, reduced in iron-limiting medium, were below the limits of detection in two of the three strains following exposure to bismuth. The addition of iron partially restored bacterial ATP levels in these two strains, although not to normal concentrations. In contrast, exposure of the same strains to the MICCBS failed to deplete intracellular levels of iron, which were significantly reduced by culturing in iron-limiting medium. Thus, the antimicrobial effect of bismuth and of iron limitation on H. pylori may be similar. However, the respective mechanisms of intracellular action would appear to be mediated by different pathways within the cell. nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/marshall-autobio.html At the same time I was successfully experimentally treating patients who had suffered with life threatening ulcer disease for years. Some of my patients had postponed surgery which became unnecessary after a simple 2 week course of antibiotics and bismuth. I had developed my hypothesis that these bacteria were the cause of peptic ulcers and a significant risk for stomach cancer. If I was right, then treatment for ulcer disease would be revolutionized. It would be simple, cheap and it would be a cure. It seemed to me that for the sake of patients this research had to be fast tracked. The sense of urgency and frustration with the medical community was partly due to my disposition and age. However, the primary reason was a practical one. I was driven to get this theory proven quickly to provide curative treatment for the millions of people suffering with ulcers around the world. Becoming increasingly frustrated with the negative response to my work I realized I had to have an animal model and decided to use myself. Much has been written about the episode and I certainly had no idea it would become as important as it has. I didn't actually expect to become as ill as I did. I didn't discuss it with the ethics committee at the hospital. -- The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver. Instructions for unsubscribing are posted at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: [email protected] Address Off-Topic messages to: [email protected] The Silver List and Off Topic List archives are currently down... List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
