Laryngeal squamous carcinoma associated with longstanding localised amyloidosis. A case report.

An unusual case of squamous carcinoma arising in the background of longstanding localised tracheolaryngeal amyloidosis is reported and the relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Abdominal cocoon--the cauliflower sign on barium small bowel series.

We report a case of abdominal cocoon encasing the small bowel diagnosed pre-peratively on radiology. Barium small bowel series showed the ileal loops clumped together as within a sac, giving a cauliflower-like appearance on sequential films. At surgery, the membrane enclosing the loops was thin and flimsy.

Double-blind comparison of the safety and efficacy of famotidine with ranitidine in patients with endoscopically diagnosed peptic ulcer.

In a double-blind randomised trial, 40 patients with active gastric or duodenal ulcer were treated with a single nocturnal dose of famotidine 40 mg or ranitidine 300 mg for 4 to 8 weeks. Antacid tablets were allowed as additional treatment, only if needed, for pain relief. Endoscopy was repeated after 4 weeks, and if the ulcer had not healed at 6 and/or 8 weeks. Relief of upper gastro intestinal symptoms with which the patient presented and the number of antacid tablets consumed, if any, were recorded on weekly basis. Two patients in famotidine group and 5 patients in ranitidine group did not complete the therapy and were considered dropouts. At the end of therapy, ulcers in 100% of the patients receiving famotidine & 93% of patients receiving ranitidine were healed. This difference was not statistically significant. Relief from ulcer related symptoms was rapid in both the groups. None of the patients in either group reported side effects. Overall opinion of investigator was comparable for both the treatments; however, significantly (P = 0.0334) larger proportion (100%) of patients from famotidine group rated it as an excellent therapy compared to only 73% from ranitidine group. Famotidine provides excellent healing of ulcers and early relief of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in Indian patients with peptic ulcer.