response of irritable bowel syndrome [diarrheic type] to oral disodium cromoglycate treatment

Several studies on the usefulness of oral disodium cromoglycate [DSCG] in the treatment of systemic adverse reaction to foods have been performed, with less attention to gastroenterological symptoms. In the present study, we selected 41 patients with diarrheic-type irritable bowel syndrome which improved after an elimination diet and worsened after a challenge with specific food [s]. All patients were then tested for 48 commercial alimentary antigens by skin prick test [SPT] and underwent 8 wk of oral DSCG [500 mg three times a day], and the results were evaluated by means of a semiquantitative subjective and objective score. We observed an improvement of the symptoms in 65.9% of the 30 SPT-positive patients, whereas only 45.5% of the 11 SPT-negative patients showed a positive response to DSCG [p < 0.05]. These data confirm the protective role of DSCG in food-dependent diarrheic-type irritable bowel syndrome with food allergy features

Duodenal ulcer recurrence and its relation to helicobacter pylori

Preliminary evidence suggests that eradication of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] may lead to prolonged remission of duodenal ulcer [DU]. The aim of this study is to assess the long-term effect of eradication of H. pylori on the natural history of DU. Twenty-one patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers, who were found to have H. pylori infection on histology and culture, and who were successfully eradicated of H. pylori with combination treatment of colloidal bismuth subcitrate and antibiotics, were studied. All patients were endoscoped at entry, 4 wk after cessation of treatment and again at 1 yr or sooner, if symptoms recurred. At each endoscopy, two antral biopsies were taken and assessed histologically and microbiologically for evidence of H. pylori infection. Recurrence of H. pylori infection occurred in 7 patients [33.3%] and, of these, 4 patients had evidence of recurrent peptic disease. In contrast, of the 14 who remained negative for H. pylori at 1 yr, none developed evidence of recurrent DU. Overall, DU recurrence occurred in 4/21 patients [19.4%], and occurred only in patients reinfected with H. pylori. This relapse rate compares favorably with patients on maintenance H2-receptor antagonist treatment. These results lend further support to the hypothesis that antral reinfection with H. pylori is associated with relapse of DU

Neutrophil phagocytic activity in lymphoma

A study of the phagocytic activity of neutrophils using the modified Wilkinson method was made in 21 lymphoma and leukemia patients as well as 15 control subjects. The results indicate a marginal reduction of the percentage of phagocytic cells but a very highly significant depression of the phagocytic index. These two parameters could however be correlated [r - 0.95]. No significant differences could be obtained between the various subgroups. Whether the cases are fresh or under therapy seems to be of little bearing but advanced cases had on the whole the lowest figures. The results were discussed in the light of some of the known facts about cancer immunology

Alpha feto-proteins in lymphomas and leukemias

Serum AFP was determined by the quantitative enzyme immunoassay method in a heterogenous group of lymphoma and leukemia. Irrespective of age, type of therapy and whether or not hepatic involvement was present all the cases had their figures well within the normal limits. The findings indicate that. 1. The lymphoreticulo endothelial and myeloid systems have no potentialities for AFP production. 2. AFP has no place in detection of hepatic involvement in malignancies of these systems and other methods must be sought for this purpose. 3. The specificity of liver injury conductive to AFP is stressed and elevation of AFP in cases carrying a hepatic cancer potential should tip the balance to the exclusion of lymphoproliferature malignancy and leukemia