Reduced incidence of stress ulcer in germ-free Sprague Dawley rats.

Recent findings with respect to the role of spiral gram-negative bacteria in peptic ulcer disease have stimulated interest in discerning the role of these agents in stress ulcer disease. We tested the hypothesis that a standard restraint-cold ulcerogenic procedure would fail to produce ulcers in axenic rats. Axenic, as well as normal Sprague Dawley rats, were exposed to a cold-restraint procedure. The germ-free condition was maintained throughout the study in the axenic rats. Axenic rats had significantly fewer ulcers as compared to normal rats exposed to the standard cold-restraint procedure, as well as handling control rats. The data represent the first report suggesting a microbiologic component in the development of stress ulcer using the rat model.

Seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori: lack of association with length of hospitalization.

To examine the possibility of nosocomial spread of Helicobacter pylori, a serosurvey (n = 238) was conducted at Perry Point Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, an institution providing both acute and chronic care. We hypothesized that if significant nosocomial transmission was occurring, seropositivity (as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) would correlate with length of stay in the facility. Whether treated as a continuous or dichotomous variable, the ELISA results did not correlate significantly with length of stay even after adjustments were made for age, race, antibiotic use, gastrointestinal instrumentation, and diagnoses by using multiple-regression models. Age was found to be a significant risk factor for a higher ELISA optical density value. A history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was significantly protective among internal medicine ward patients in adjusted analysis; black race was a significant risk factor among psychiatry ward patients. Our results confirm the association of H. pylori infection with age but provide no indication that extended hospitalization is a risk factor for infection.

A DRG-based management information system.

In the June 1984 issue of Pathologist, Larry Shaw, MD, encouraged pathologists to turn threat into opportunity by coming partners with hospital management in addressing prospective payment challenges. He cited his own experience at Desert Samaritan Hospital and Health Center of Mesa, Ariz., as an example of how pathologists could participate in setting policy. The author of the following article shares yet another approach.