Helicobacter pylori

What are peptic ulcers classified as?

A chronic disease

Who discovered that most peptic ulcers are developed due to a pathogen called Helicobacter Pylori?

Berry Marshall and Robin Warren

What was their hypothesis?

If a tissue culture is successfully grows then it means that the cause of the peptic ulcer is Helicobacter Pylori

What is an Ulcer?

A sore that develops on the lining of the oesophagus, stomach or small intestine.

What is helicobacter pylori?

H. Pylori is a bacteria that creats peptic ulcers.The bacteria damages the protective mucus inside the duodenum, stomach and/or esophagus. With the damaged lining in the stomach, the srtomach acid then creats sors (ulcers).

What does peptic mean?

relating to or promoting digestion

What are some of the symptoms of peptic ulcers?

Symptoms include:
- Burning pain in the stomach, esophasgu and/or duodanum
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss followed by decreased appetite
- Coughing blood
- Black stool

What is a biopsy?

examination of tissues or liquids from the living body to determine the existence or cause of a disease

What is gastritis?

Any group of conditions in which the stomach lining is inflamed.

Who is a pathologist?

A scientist that studies the cause and effects of diseases.

What is endoscope?

A medical procedure used to look inside the body.

What are the 4 postulates that must be met before a pathogen can be proved as the cause of a disease?

Why did the scientific community not accept the ideas of Warren and Marshall?

The scientific community did not accept that peptic ulcers were developed due to Helicobacter pylori as they assumed that any type of bacterium was not able to survive within the environmental conditions of the stomach.

How did warren and marshall’s experiment deviate from the traditional linear scientific methodology?

1. Barry marshall used himself as a testing subject
2. Marshall and Warren not only proven their hypothesis to be right but they also managed to find treatments for the ulcer.
3. They formed more than one experiment- tissue cultures and self infection

What was the types of scientific methodologies used?

Experimental testing

What did doctors assume was the cause of the symptoms?

* Spicy food
* Stress
* Smoking
* Heavy drinking

These were thought that increase the acidity level in the stomach, which in return the acid would eat the mucous that lined the stomach.