[A comparative evaluation of the antacid properties of the preparations Maalox and Almagel].

Basic modes of action and indications for aluminium and magnesium-containing antacids are reviewed. Antacid properties of Maalox were studied versus those of Almagel in 24 duodenal ulcer patients by the following indices of pH-metry: time of pH response onset, "alkaline time", alkalification area and index. All the features were significantly different when assessed in the body of the stomach.

[Diagnostic informative value of enzyme tests in the detection of pancreatic involvement in systemic scleroderma].

Thirty-three patients with systemic scleroderma were examined using a complex of enzymatic tests to detect pancreatic involvement. The diagnostic informative value of these tests was found to be not inferior to that of acknowledged instrumental methods of examination: pancreatic involvement was detected in 25 of the 33 patients with systemic scleroderma.

[Effectiveness of lecedil (famotidine) in the therapy of patients with peptic ulcer].

A total of 30 patients (29 with peptic ulcer and 2 with erosive gastroduodenitis) received lecedil, a new famotidine blocker of histamine H2-receptors. The effect of the drug was not related to the dose regimen (20 mg twice or 40 once a day). In good tolerance side effects were not reported.

Diagnostic value of some subjective and objective symptoms of gastric ulcer.

Some subjective and objective symptoms, that are believed to be specific of peptic ulcer, were analyzed in 425 patients with endoscopically confirmed gastric ulcer. It was noted that the pain syndrome may have variants while pain after meals remains a typical sign of gastric ulcer. But asthenic habitus, tendency to sinus bradycardia and arterial hypotension, the absence of a coated tongue, and the tendency to erythrocytosis and decelerated ESR were not typical for the observed patients.

Analysis of association of peptic ulcer and essential hypertension from the standpoint of the problem of concomitant pathology. A possible role of vascular factor in the genesis of ulcer formation.

Patients with association of peptic ulcer and essential hypertension were found to form a heterogeneous group. Examination of this patients' group made it possible to distinguish certain clinical variants of such an association. Patients who first developed essential hypertension and then peptic ulcer were established to have a severe pattern of essential hypertension, unmarked and little symptomatic clinical picture of peptic ulcer, to be characterized by proneness to the complicated disease course.

[Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and conservative treatment of slowly healing stomach ulcers].

The paper presents the analysis of examination and treatment data on 80 patients with long-healing gastric ulcer (12 weeks or longer), of contributing factors (sex, age, ulcer site and size, smoking, alcohol abuse, associated diseases), of changes in the antral and fundal gastric mucosa as well as in immune system, of conservative treatment results.

[Clinical aspects and diagnosis of peptic ulcer].

The paper is concerned with clinical and diagnostic aspects of peptic ulcer interesting to practitioners. Atypical variants of ulcer course are considered as are criteria for differential diagnosis between ulcer and symptomatic gastroduodenal ulcer, between ulcers and infiltrative-ulcerative gastric cancer.

[Value of ultrasonographic examination of the inferior vena cava in congestive heart failure].

The analysis of 118 ultrasonographies of the vena cava inferior (VCI) in 57 patients with congestive heart failure complicating valvular disease suggested that VCI ultrasonic evaluation may contribute to detection of the greater circulation insufficiency. The VCI calibre increase in the circulatory insufficiency stage IIB and III correlates with elevated venous pressure. Ultrasonic follow-up of the VCI condition may serve a basis for conclusions on the effectiveness of the therapy conducted.

[Late results of cholelitholytic therapy of patients with cholelithiasis using chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids].

Specially selected 78 patients with cholelithiasis received drugs of chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids. Concomitant cardiovascular disorders were in 38 of them. Upon the end of the treatment course (12 months, on the average) the patients were examined and it was found that the stones disappeared in 22 of them.

[The use of histamine H2-receptor blockaders in the clinical picture of internal diseases].

The analysis of the literature, the material, and the results of the authors' own studies concerning the comprehensive investigation of blockers of histamine H2-receptors are presented. The attention is paid to the reparative action of drugs of this group, side effects, interaction with other drugs. The limitations and possibilities of their use in various diseases proceeding with gastric hypersecretion and hyperchlorhydria are determined.

[Lipid metabolism in cholelithiasis].

The results of studies of the blood and bile lipid metabolism in normal subjects and cholelithiasis patients and the findings of guinea pig experiments indicate that lipid levels decrease with age. The time course of the blood and bile lipids and the relationship thereof reflect the depression of cholesterol hydroxylation processes and reduction with age of cholic and deoxycholic acids synthesis and conjugation intensities in the patients with cholelithiasis, as well as a reduction of deoxycholic acid synthesis in normal subjects.

[The importance of the works of I. P. Razenkov for the development of clinical gastroenterology].

Clinical implications of I. P. Razenkov's studies are reviewed.