Helicobacter pylori

["DAVE GILMORE" <DGILMORE@navajo.astate.edu>]

Hello radsafers,
I was reading in the paper the other day about the new test for the 
presence of H. pylori (the new cause of ulcers) that wasn't quite 
accepted by the FDA.  The article said only that it involved C-14, 
but combining that with what I remember learning earlier, I think the 
test goes like this:
The patient probably will get a solution of C-14 urea to drink.  H. 
pylori has a urease which will break this down to ammonia and 14-CO2. 
Is burping induced? I don't know, but a positive test would probably 
be detection of C-14 carbon dioxide from the stomach.
    Just a friendly question, I guess: you medical folks heard of this 
yet?  Are you ready for it?

David F. Gilmore,
Assistant Professor of          0  0
Environmental Biology            __    "have a day"
Arkansas State University