Background
: Upper gastrointestinal diseases are relatively important in Korea. There are various studies on upper gastrointestinal diseases, especially relationships with Helicobacter pylori, but studies on young adults are relatively fewer. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to know the prevalence of various upper gastrointestinal diseases and the association with Helicobacter pylori among young policemen.

Methods : Diagnosis and classification of upper gastrointestinal diseases were made in 260 policemen, who visited the outpatient department of family medicine at one general hospital in Seoul from March 2, 2001 to December 31, 2002.

Results : The frequencies of upper gastrointestinal diseases were gastritis (62.2%), duodenal ulcer (14.4%), gastric ulcer (7.5%), duodenitis (6.9%), and no active lesion (9.0%). The frequency of multiple upper gastrointestinal disease was chronic superficial gastritis and duodenal ulcer (37%), chronic superficial gastritis and duodenitis (21.9%), and acute gastritis and duodenal ulcer (16.4%), and these groups comprised the most with 75.3%. The location of the lesion was found at antrum (62.2%) and duodenum (21.6%). Ulcer stages in gastric and duodenal ulcer were mostly in active stage. Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric and duodenal ulcer were 36% and 85.4%, respectively.

Conclusion : Most symptomatic patients had lesions which were found at antrum and duodenum as in other studies. Ulcer diseases in duodenum were much more frequent than those in stomach, which probably be associated with Helicobacter pylori. Therefore, suitable examination and treatment are necessary.

Background
: This study was conducted to investigate the reason why H.pylori infected people develop different patterns of gastric diseases and in some infected patients have peptic ulcers, but the others have not.

Methods : We analyzed 177 cases of H. pylori positive patients who were confirmed by histologic evaluation of gastric endoscopic biopsy specimens from January 1998 to July 1998 in Health Promotion Center of one medical college hospital. Among these 177 cases, 63 cases(35.6%) were peptic ulcer patients and 114 cases(64.4%) were non ulcer patients. We anlayzed the difference of sociodemographic finding, alcohol and smoking habit, past history, family history, drug history, emotional factors, body mass index and serum biochemical profiles between ulcer and non ulcer patients.

Results : 1. There were no differences of age, sex and occupation between peptic ulcer and non ulcer patients. 2.Heavy smoking(p<0.001), heavy drink(p=0.011), past history of upper gastrointestinal disease(p<0.001), fatigue(p<0.001) and depressive mood(p=0.001) were significantly more frequent in H.pylori positive peptic ulcer patients than non ulcer patients. 3.We found several related factors that might affect peptic ulcer development in H. pylori infected patients through logistic regression analysis of variables. These factors were heavy smoking(odds ratio 5.91, 95% CI 2.54-13.78), past history (odds ratio=4.24, 95% CI 1.72-10.42), depressed mood(odds ratio 2.76, 95% CI 1.15-6.63), and fatigue(odds ratio 2.42, 95% CI 1.03-5.69).

Conclusion : We conclude that past history, heavy smoking, depressed mood, and fatigue are related factors of peptic ulcer disease in H.pylori positive patients.

Background
: Helicobacter pylori infection is thought to be an important factor the pathogenesis of gastric and duodenal ulcer. But in Korea, there are new studies on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer patients and their relationship between the location of ulcers and Helicobacter pylori infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection of gastric and duodenal ulcer patients in Korea and the relationship between the location of ulcers and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Methods : We studied 476 consecutive patients with duodenal ulcers or benign gastric ulcer which were diagnosed by gastrofiberscopy in Family Medicine of Hanil Hospital from January 1995 to December 1998l Helicobacter pylori infection was evaluated with rapid urease test(CLO test) in 72.7% patients.

Results : The test rate of CLO test was not significantly different by sex, age and site of gastric ulcer lesions, but test rate in the gastric ulcer was significantly lower than in the duodenal ulcer. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosed with CLO test was 90.1%. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was not significantly different between males and females. Also it was also not significantly different according to age. 90.8% of those with gastric ulcer patients and 88.9% of the duodenal ulcer had Helicobacter pylori infection, but the difference was not significant. significantly. 94.6% of gastric ulcers located in only one area had Helicobacter pylori infection, compared to 83.6% of gastric ulcers which was located in multiple areas. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was significantly lower in patients who had lesions located in multiple areas.

Conclusion : We conclude that the majority of peptic ulcer patients in Korea have Helicobacter pylori infection. Gastric ulcer located in multiple areas had significantly lower prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, which may suggest that gastric ulcers in multiple areas have other etiologic factors.

Background
: Stress has long been recognized as a risk factor to various disorders including peptic ulcer disease. Life events are universal which everybody experiences. This study was done to find out whether stressful life events have a role in the development and exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease(PUD) and non-ulcer dyspepsia(NUD) comparing Lee's life stress scale between patients with gastroscopically proven PUD and NUD and those of control.

Methods : On hundred twenty two patients with PUD were studied at our institution from February 1, 1997 to June 30, 1997. Patients who experienced abdominal discomfort and found to have normal or chronic superficial gastritis by gastroscopic exam during the same period were selected for NUD group. Controls were selected from asymptomatic individuals who underwent upper gastrointestinal series procedure for a health screening. Stressful life events investigated were total, positive, and negative stresses measured by Lee's life stress scale(98 items), marital status, level of education, income, occupation, religion, history of cigarette smoking, and the amount of alcoholic consumption and were compared between the three groups. The data were analyzed by one was ANOVA and chi-square test.

Results : No statistically significant difference was found in total, positive, and negative stress scores between PUD group and NUD group, although they were significantly higher in PUD and NUD groups than those of the control group(p<0.05). Also statistically significant difference in income and occupa-tion, tests and school, problems associated children and familial conflict were found between PUD group and the control group)p<0.05), as weel as between NUD group and the control group(p<0.05).

Conclusion : Stressful life events were associated with development of PUD and NUD.