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  Background & Objectives: The diagnosis�of Helicobacter pylori infection is based on invasive and non-invasive methods. The present study was carried out to evaluate the accuracy of three non-invasive and one invasive methods either separately or in combination for detection of Helicobacter pylori.

  Methods: A total of 108 dyspeptic patients older than 12 years who had not previously been treated for H. pylori infection were selected for upper GI-endoscopy. Histology was considered as a gold standard diagnostic test. Urea breath test, histologic examination and rapid urease test were done in endoscopy unit. Serology and stool anigen detection test were done in hematology unit of Nour Laboratory using ELISA Method.

  Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The tests results were compared using the McNemar test.

  Results: According to histologic method, 56 patients had H. pylori infection. Sensitivities and specificities were 89% and 71% for the rapid urease test, 94% and 52% for serology, 90% and 82% for the urea breath test, and 46% and 80% for the stool test respectively. The most accurate combination test was rapid urease test and urea breath test.

  Conclusion: Rapid urease test and urea breath test in combination showed excellent diagnostic reliability.

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Background & objectives: Azathioprine is widely used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It has negative effects on the function of kidney. Therefore, considering the protective effects of ginger on nephrotoxins, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of ginger on renal changes induced by azathioprine in rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 56 female rats were divided into 7 groups including control, sham and 5 experimental groups receiving azathioprine (50mg/kg), ginger (200mg/kg), azathioprine plus ginger (200,100 and 50 mg/kg). In this study, ginger was administered by gavage and azathioprine intraperitoneally in 21 consecutive days. At the end, serum levels of urea, uric acid and creatinine were measured and the histological structure of the kidneys was examined. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan tests at significance level of p≤0.05.
Results: The results showed that azathioprine caused the destruction of structure along with cell necrosis, tubular degeneration, glomerular atrophy, urinary space enlargement, hyperemia and inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal tissue, as well as an increase in the serum level of urea, uric acid and creatinine at p≤0.05. However, simultaneous use of ginger and azathioprine reduced the serum levels of urea, uric acid, creatinine and improved the kidney structure compared to the azathioprine group.
Conclusion: The results showed that ginger had a protective effect on kidney tissue, due to its antioxidant properties, by inhibiting free radicals produced by azathioprine and decreasing the severity degradation effects of azathioprine on kidney tissue and function.