The usefulness of the acridine-orange stain in identifying Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies.

The efficacy of the Acridine-orange stain (AOS) in identifying Helicobacter pylori (HP)-like organisms in biopsy smears from adults with gastroduodenal disease was studied. The results obtained indicate that AOS can replace Gram Stain in HP organism identification in gastroduodenal mucosa specimen.

[Comparison of methods for the identification of Campylobacter pylori in gastric biopsies of patients with dyspepsia]. / Confronto di metodiche per l'identificazione di "Campylobacter pylori" in biopsie gastriche di pazienti con dispepsia.

Campylobacter pylori has been associated with gastro-duodenal inflammatory disease. Ninety-five adults with dyspepsia were examined for the presence of C. pylori in the gastric antrum and near gastric or duodenal ulcers (when present) by means of culture, Gram and acridine orange stains, and urease activity of biopsies. C. pylori was identified from 51 out of 67 patients with chronic gastritis, from 9 out of 9 patients with duodenal ulcer, and from 8 out of 10 patients with gastric ulcer. Acridine orange stain revealed the highest number of positive cases, followed by culture, Gram stain and urease test. The latter showed a 100% specificity when carried out with a selective urea broth containing colistin, trimethoprim, vancomycin and amphotericin B. It has to be considered a further diagnostic tool which enables clinicians and microbiologists to diagnose the etiology of a dyspeptic syndrome even at the patient's bedside.

[Serum bile acids in acute hepatitis. Clinical observations]. / Gli acidi biliari del siero nelle epatiti acute. Osservazioni cliniche.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of total bile acids concentrations has been evaluated in 26 patients with acute viral hepatitis. The levels of fasting and post-prandial blood cholates have been compared with the values found in normal subjects, in 20 patients with extrahepatic pathology and in 10 cases of non-viral icteric diseases. A remarkable rise in serum bile acids concentration has been showed in acute stage of hepatitis; the level of cholates is significantly higher in cholangitic jaundice, but difference is not found in respect of patients with extrahepatic cholestasis. The improvement of disease decreases the serum bile acids concentration; the decrease going on at the same rate of serum transaminases lowering but preceding the serum bilirubin one. No difference was found between fasting and post-prandial blood cholates. In conclusion, serum bile acids concentration has no diagnostic value in hepatitis, nevertheless it seems an useful test for monitoring the course of the hepatitic disease.