Omeprazole versus H2-receptor antagonists in treating patients with peptic stricture and esophagitis.

Background/aims: Although dysphagia in patients with peptic stricture is attributed to a decreased luminal diameter, coexistent esophagitis may be an equally important cause. The goals of this study were to determine whether medical healing of esophagitis in patients with stricture improves dysphagia and decreases dilatation need and to compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of omeprazole versus H2-receptor antagonists (H2RA).

Methods: Thirty-four dysphagic patients with peptic stricture and erosive esophagitis were dilated and randomized to omeprazole 20 mg every day versus H2RA (ranitidine 150 mg twice daily or famotidine 20 mg twice daily).

LSA--a new liver-specific antigen in the rat. II: Immunological and biological properties.

The immunological and biological properties of a liver-specific antigen (LSA) from rat liver are described. LSA gave interspecies cross-reactions with liver extracts from several mammalian species, but no reaction of complete identify was observed. Moreover, no cross-reaction was found with chicken or frog livers, thus indicating the rather late appearance of LSA in the process of evolution.

LSA: a new liver-specific antigen in the rat. I. Purification and characterization.

A liver-specific antigen (LSA) was purified to homogeneity from rat liver by conventional methods of protein chemistry. By consecutive 100,000 g centrifugation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200, ion-exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose and affinity chromatography on concanavalin-Sepharose, it has been possible to isolate a preparation that migrated as a single band on SDS-PAGE. This preparation gave a complete identity pattern with the original crude rat liver extract when tested by double immunodiffusion.

Stress ulcer prophylaxis in medical patients: who, what, and how much?

Stress ulcers are a frequently encountered problem in critically ill medical patients. Gastric acid and decreased gastric mucosal blood flow appear to be important in the pathogenesis of these lesions. Occult bleeding from stress ulcers is common, although significant bleeding occurs in less than 20% of patients.