Diagnostic accuracy of early radiology in acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

The accuracy of early radiology in patients with acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage has been studied by a comparison of the radiological opinion with the established diagnosis. A full examination has proved safe and uncomplicated with a high degree of accuracy and no false-positive results.Analysis of the errors shows that the presence of residue discourages the radiologist from making the correct diagnosis, and modification of the standard bariummeal technique may be needed to overcome this difficulty.

The effect of retaining antral innervation on the reductions of gastric acid and pepsin secretion after vagotomy.

The result of a prospective trial of 40 patients with duodenal ulcer treated either by proximal gastric vagotomy (antrum innervated) or by selective vagotomy (antrum denervated) shows that they are equally effective in reducing gastric acid and pepsin secretion. Preservation of antral innervation by proximal gastric vagotomy reduces gastric secretion as effectively as denervation of the entire stomach.

A sex difference in the leucocyte count.

In a study of a group of 325 blood donors between the ages of 18 and 65 years, the total leucocyte and polymorph counts of the females aged 50 to 65 years were found to be significantly lower than those of the corresponding group of male donors. In the whole series of female donors, there were significantly lower total leucocyte and lymphocyte counts with increasing age and a less significant (P [unk] 0.1) fall in the polymorph count.