Duodenal gastric metaplasia, gastric anatomic-functional correlations (parietal cell mass and hydrochloric acid secretion) and Helicobacter pylori. Any differences between chronic autonomous non-specific duodenitis ("non active") and duodenal ulcer?

Background And Methods: Aim of the present experience was to carry out a study on a dyspeptic population in order to verify the role of Helicobacter Pylori (HP), duodenal gastric metaplasia (GM), hydrochloric acid secretion in the genesis of chronic autonomous non-specific duodenitis (ANSD). A comparison with duodenal ulcer (DU) was effected.

Results: Histology showed the presence of ANSD in 24.

Gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori: biologic and epidemiologic inconsistencies.

In this report we examine biologic and epidemiologic data with the aim of understanding any correlations between Helicobacter pylori infection and preneoplastic and neoplastic changes. As far as biologic data are concerned, some elements point to the role of H. pylori in the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic changes, such as intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia.

Duodenal tumours.

Duodenal tumours is an extremely fragmentary topic since the experience of various specialists: gastroenterologists, pathologists, radiologists and surgeons is involved. At present, correct epidemiologic data is lacking whereas much progress has been made in the diagnostic field, thanks to the endoscopic, histologic and radiologic techniques. Thus a different classification scheme has been suggested in the attempt to codify the fundamental aspects of this lesion.

[Helicobacter pylori, chronic gastritis and precancerous gastric manifestations].

Helicobacter Pylori (HP) has been noticed in about 80% of cases of superficial chronic gastritis. In about 75% of HP positive biopsies degenerative lesions of superficial gastric epithelium, represented by irregularities of the superficial profile, micropapillar-transformation and erosions have been observed. Furthermore, it is possible the observation, in areas of high bacterial colonization, of vacuoles which are the result of a direct action of HP strains producing vacuolating cythotoxin.

Levosulpiride in functional dyspepsia: a multicentric, double-blind, controlled trial.

Abnormalities in gastrointestinal motility have been reported in a substantial proportion of patients with functional dyspepsia, supporting the use of prokinetic drugs for treatment of dyspeptic symptoms. To evaluate efficacy and safety of levosulpiride in short-term treatment, 1298 patients were enrolled in a double-blind multicentric study carried out in 45 Italian Gastroenterology Departments. Patients were randomly assigned to either levosulpiride (25 mg tid), domperidone (10 mg tid), metoclopramide (10 mg tid) or placebo (1 tablet tid) for 4 weeks.

Gastric ulcer and cancer ulcer. Retrospective evaluation of the current endoscopic diagnosis.

Aim of this experience has been to evaluate the current diagnostic potentiality of the endoscopy in the framework of the gastric ulcerous pathology. On the total of the gastric ulcers 17.9% have resulted to be neoplastic with the hystologic examination.

Chronic gastritis: its clinical and physiopathological meaning.

Chronic gastritis (CG) is the chronic inflammation of gastric mucosa associated with varying degrees of damage of superficial and glandular epithelia. The causes of CG are exogenous (mainly Helicobacter pylori) and endogenous. The process is concluded by atrophy of parenchyma.

[Influence of Helicobacter pylori on gastric secretion. Study on variously associated gastric body, fundus and antrum chronic gastritis].

Among the various themes related to Helicobacter pylori (HP) which is still a subject of discussion, there is the possible influence of this bacterium on gastric secretory physiology. In the present study, an evaluation has been carried out of stimulated gastrinemia, stimulated acid secretion and total peptic activity in gastric juice in the course of a paradigmatic condition, as autonomous chronic gastritis, in order to reveal possible modifications induced by the HP infection. In cases of HP positive chronic superficial antral gastritis associated either with normal body-fundic mucosa or with superficial gastritis, there is a significant increase of stimulated gastrinemia in comparison to HP negative groups and controls.

Stimulated gastrinemia, parietal cell mass and stimulated acid secretion in autonomous chronic gastritis: Helicobacter pylori influence.

Background/aims: In the present experience, an evaluation has been carried out of stimulated gastrinemia, parietal cell mass, and acid secretion in the course of a paradigmatic condition, such as autonomous chronic gastritis, in order to reveal possible changes induced by the presence of Helicobacter Pylori (HP).

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 153 patients with chronic gastritis of the antrum and/or body fundus, in different combinations not associated with peptic pathology.

Results: In the group of subjects with antral superficial chronic gastritis associated with normal body-fundic mucosa or with body-fundic superficial chronic gastritis, about 40% of the subjects in the HP positive group show gastrinemia values which are higher than the norm.

[Total peptic activity in gastric juice and peptic cell mass (chief fundic cells and mucopeptic fundic-antral cells): cellular-secretory correlations in normal subjects].

The aim of this experience has been to evaluate cytosecretory correlations between total peptic activity in gastric juice and gastric peptic cell mass (chief cells and fundic-antral mucopeptic cells) in normal subjects. Gastric peptic cell mass and total peptic activity do not change depending on sex. Concerning age, in spite of a significant decrease of gastric peptic cell mass, peptic activity does not significantly decrease.

Epidemiology and etiology of "autonomous" nonspecific duodenitis.

In this prospective study we looked for possible epidemiological and etiological factors in "autonomous" nonspecific duodenitis. Of 136 dyspeptic patients who entered the study, duodenitis was found in 25.6% (94.

The gastroenterologist-patient relationship.

A strong doctor-patient relationship is a vital need, especially in gastroenterology, a specialty fraught with problems of ambience, logistics, invasiveness of both diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, and frequent inclusion in therapeutic trials. Studies designed to assess the degree of emotion aroused by endoscopic examination show the sensitivity of many patients to them and the emotion also generated at times in the endoscopist. In this era of rapid technological advancement, it is essential to pursue this problem at the cultural level.