The influence of smoking on the healing of duodenal ulcer treated with oxmetidine or cimetidine.

The influence of smoking on duodenal ulcer healing was examined during a double blind study of 83 patients randomly allocated to oxmetidine or cimetidine treatment. Smoking habits were recorded but patients were not advised to change these. Smokers and nonsmokers were similar clinically and did not differ in compliance with medication.

Real-time adaptive contrast enhancement.

A recursive filter approach is introduced to simplify real-time implementation of an adaptive contrast enhancement scheme for imaging sensors. With this scheme, even scenes possessing large global dynamic ranges (>40 dB) can be accommodated by the limited dynamic range (20 dB) of a display without losing the local contrast essential for image interpretation. This paper describes the recursive filter implementation of the local area contrast enhancement scheme using charge-coupled devices and the resultant real-time hardware capable of processing standard 525 and 875 line TV compatible video (from vidicons, videotape recorders, etc).

Family operational co-factors in the epidemiology of childhood lead poisoning.

A large-scale data base was derived from the New Haven Connecticut Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program. A subset of 918 children was examined to explore the associations of blood lead levels in these children and four family operational factors. Elevated lead in the children was positively associated with: (a) larger numbers of children under 6 yr in the family; (b) fewer parents at home; (c) fewer parents employed; and (d) lack of day care.

The significance of lowered jejunal disaccharidase levels.

Disaccharidase estimations on 115 consecutive jejunal biopsies are reported. The patients were divided into four groups: 1. Normal jejunal biopsy light microscopy, not milk intolerant, 82 cases.

The diagnosis of giardiasis.

Four methods of diagnosing giardiasis are compared. Examination of smear preparations made from the jeunal biopsy specimen showed positive results in all of the 20 consecutive cases of giardiasis reported. The test was more reliable than examination of histological sections of the jejunal biopsy, wet preparations of jejunal aspirate, or faecal smears.

Early gastric carcinoma.

Seven cases of early gastric carcinoma are reported. This condition by definition refers to a carcinoma confined to the mucosa and submucosa only. The definition depends upon the depth of spread and not the surface area covered by tumour or the period over which it is believed to have been present.

The value of endoscopy and biopsy in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma.

The value of endoscopy and biopsy in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma has been examined. Out of a total of 550 patients, gastric carcinoma was suspected in 101. Endoscopy and biopsy provided a firm diagnosis in 43 of the 44 cases of gastric carcinoma present, and effectively excluded gastric carcinoma in 48 cases.