This year's Nobel Prize to gastroenterology: Robin Warren and Barry Marshall awarded for their discovery of Helicobacter pylori as pathogen in the gastrointestinal tract

摘要

During the last century peptic ulcer research was much focused on the understanding of the relationship of peptic ulcers to acid secretion. The dictum of Karl Schwarz: "No acid - no ulcer" provided the framework for ulcer research. Surgery aiming at reducing gastric acid secretion is a common treatment of choice, as drugs such as anticholin-ergics and antacids are not good enough in achieving a reliable treatment response. The surgery involves selective and proximal vagotomy of the parietal cell mass, removal of the gastrin-producing antrum, or combinations of the two. The most extensive operations carried out are the Billroth Ⅰ and Billroth Ⅱ operations which regularly remove the antrum, alone or in combination with vagotomy and gastro-enteroanastomosis. Both operations involve major surgery and often postoperative complications.