The association between colorectal cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is still unproven. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) DNA in colorectal tissues from Cuban patients. A total of 63 colorectal formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were studied (24 adenocarcinoma, 18 adenoma, and 21 colorectal tissues classified as benign colitis). DNA from colorectal samples was analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect the most clinically relevant high HR-HPV types (HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, -45, -52, and -58). Associations between histologic findings and other risk factors were also analysed. Overall, HPV DNA was detected in 23.8% (15/63) of the samples studied. Viral infections were detected in 41.7% of adenocarcinoma (10/24) and 27.7% of adenoma cases (5/18). HPV DNA was not found in any of the negative cases. An association between histological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and HPV infection was observed (odd ratio = 4.85, 95% confidence interval = 1.40-16.80, p = 0.009). The only genotypes identified were HPV 16 and 33. Viral loads were higher in adenocarcinoma, and these cases were associated with HPV 16. This study provides molecular evidence of HR-HPV infection in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues from Cuban patients.

Infection by Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in different digestive diseases. At present it is accepted that this microorganism is related to active chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer (gastric as well as duodenal), gastric adenocarcinoma and B-cell gastric lymphoma of the lymphoid tissue associated with mucosa (MALT lymphoma). The study included 121 patients: 53 having an endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis, 21 with peptic ulcer, 20 with duodenal ulcers, 3 adenocarcinomas of the gastric antro, 5 esophagus neoplasm, and 19 normal panendoscopies (dyspeptic). Gastroscopy was carried out on all patients and four biopsy fragments were taken from the antro and body regions of the stomach. For diagnosis and isolation of H. pylori a fast urease test was used. Gram stain and culture in brain heart agar with 10% horse serum, 0,25% yeast extract and Dent supplement (OXOID SR 147) during 7 days at 37 ºC in a jar with a microaerophyllic environment were also done. The presence of catalase and oxidase were also evaluated. An infection prevalence of 79,2% was observed in chronic gastritis patients, 100% in duodenal ulcer patients, and 90,4% in those with gastric ulcer, in agreement with the reports from other authors. In 100% of the gastric adenocarcinoma cases and 60% of the ones with esophagus neoplasm the microorganism was isolated. Isolation of H pylori in 78,9% of the endoscopic cases considered and reported as normal is a warning of the prevalence in dyspeptic patients.

La infección por Helicobacter pylori desempeña un papel fundamental en el desarrollo de diversas enfermedades digestivas. Actualmente se acepta que este microorganismo está relacionado con la gastritis crónica activa, la úlcera péptica (tanto gástrica como duodenal), el adenocarcinoma gástrico y el linfoma gástrico de células B del tejido linfoide asociado a mucosa (Linfoma MALT). Se estudiaron 121 pacientes, 53 con diagnóstico endoscópico de gastritis, 21 con úlcera péptica, 20 úlceras duodenales, 3 adenocarcinomas del antro gástrico, 5 neoplasias de esófago y 19 panendoscopias normales (dispépticos). A todos los pacientes se les practicó una gastroscopia y se tomaron cuatro fragmentos de biopsias distribuidas entre las regiones de antro y cuerpo gástrico. Para el diagnóstico y aislamiento de H. pylori se empleó la prueba de la ureasa rápida, la tinción de gram, y el cultivo en agar cerebro corazón con suero de caballo 10%, extracto de levadura 0,25% más suplemento Dent (OXOID SR 147) durante 7 días a 37 ºC en jarra en atmósfera de microaerofilia. También se evaluó la presencia de catalasa y oxidasa. Se observó una prevalencia de la infección del 79,2% en la gastritis crónica, un 100% en los pacientes con úlcera duodenal y un 90,4% en relación con la úlcera gástrica, lo que coincide con lo reportado por otros autores. En el 100% de los casos de adenocarcinoma gástrico y en el 60% de los casos de neoplasias de esófago se aisló el microorganismo. El aislamiento de H. pylori en el 78,9% de endoscopias realizadas e informadas como normales es una alerta de la prevalencia en pacientes dispépticos.