[A systematic approach to the prediction of psychosomatic disease]. / Approccio sistematico alla previsione di malattia psicosomatica.

This paper is an introduction to the "philosophy" adopted in research on the influence of mental factors in the onset of psychosomatic diseases. The research is oriented to the construction and implementation on a computer of a model that makes it possible to formulate predictions regarding the onset and possibly the classification of the "type" of psychosomatic disease so as to be able to activate an appropriate prophylaxis.

Gastric emptying and anxiety in chronic duodenal ulcer.

The authors have evaluated in a group of patients afflicted with duodenal ulcer whether anxiety might be in some way linked to gastric emptying. The 23 patients studied were subdivided into two groups: "fast" emptiers (n = 12; t 1/2 less than 90 min) and "normal" emptiers (n = 11; t 1/2 greater than 90 min). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the following parameters: sex, age, marital status, educational level, social class, number of cigarettes smoked per day, type of treatment undergone for the duodenal ulcer and maximal acid output. Anxiety levels measured with the Q4 and QII factors of the Cattell's PF 16 were found to be the same in the two groups. The authors conclude that anxiety does not seem to be linked to gastric emptying in chronic duodenal ulcer.

Pepsinogen Group I radioimmunoassay and total serum pepsinogen colorimetric determination: a comparative study in normal subjects and in peptic ulcer patients.

Pepsinogens, proteolytic enzymes produced by peptic cells of the stomach and discharged into the gastric lumen as well as into the blood have been divided into two groups: PG-I, originating from chief cells, and PG-II, mainly from antrum peptic cells. Both total serum pepsinogen (s-Pg) and PG-I have been separately reported as being significantly increased in gastric (GU) and duodenal ulcer (DU) patients and related to maximal acid output. In order to ascertain the relationship between s-Pg measured by means of the colorimetric Uete method, and PG-I determined by RIA method, these were assayed in 72 control subjects, 35 GU and 95 DU patients. s-Pg was found to be significantly increased both in GU and DU patients in comparison with control subjects. Likewise PG-I was significantly enhanced in GU and DU patients as compared with controls. A significant direct correlation between s-Pg and PG-I was found in all the subjects studied (r = 0.732).