This study was conducted to assess recent trends in negative appendectomy rates at our institution taking into account age, gender and ethnicity. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the Universitas Hospital Complex (Universitas and Pelonomi Hospitals, Bloemfontein, South Africa) from 2005 to 2009. All

patients who had undergone surgery for clinically suspected acute appendicitis at the Pelonomi and Universitas Hospitals from Ensartinib mouse 2005 to 2009 were included. Patients with incidental appendectomy were excluded, whilst those with other appendiceal pathologies, such as carcinoid and tuberculosis, who had presented as acute appendicitis, were included. The patients were stratified according to age, gender and ethnicity. Results: Between 2005 and 2009, 708 appendectomies were performed. Seven hundred and four (n = 704) of these were included in our study. Of these, 163 were negative appendectomies (23.3%). The age range was 4 to 84 years, with a median age of 20 (25th percentile 14 years and 75th percentile 29 years). The male : female ratio was 1.4 : 1. The percentage of negative appendectomies was greater this website amongst women than men (32.0% vs. 16.7%, respectively; p < 0.0001). The number of patients with negative appendices was higher in the childbearing age group (between 13 and 50) than in children (27.0% vs. 7.3%, respectively; p < 0.0001). The average rate of perforation was 32.8%

(231 of all patients). Ethnic distribution in our setting was 69.3% black patients, 11.2% white, 19.1% coloured and 0.4% other ethnic groups. When comparing negative appendectomies among patients by ethnicity, a statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence between black and white groups (18.4% vs. 39.2%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Other appendiceal histology was found in 0.9% of cases, with a prevalence of carcinoid tumour of the appendix found in 0.14% of our MCE study population. Conclusion: Negative appendectomy was found to have a relatively high prevalence, despite efforts to reduce the tendency. On the other hand, delays in referral and diagnosis may have led to an increase

of perforated appendicitis, with attendant increase in morbidity and mortality. More liberal use of imaging studies and laparoscopy should be assessed as means to improve diagnostic accuracy, particularly in children, the elderly and women of child-bearing age. Key Word(s): 1. appendicitis; 2. appendicectomy; 3. surgery; Presenting Author: WANG DAN Additional Authors: WANG JING, WANG LIBO, XU HONG Corresponding Author: XU HONG Affiliations: JiLin University Objective: To investigate the relationship between the multiple serum Helicobacter pylori antibodies and peptic ulcer or chronic gastritis, and evaluate the clinical application value of protein chip technique in detection of Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: The antibodies CagA, VacA and Ure in 200 serum samples were detected by protein chip technique.