Double-blind dose-finding study of olsalazine versus sulphasalazine as maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis.

Objective: To determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of three doses of olsalazine compared with the standard dose of sulphasalazine.

Design: Randomized double-blind multicentre 6-month study comparing three doses of olsalazine (0.5, 1.

[Intestinal obstruction with invagination caused by an inflammatory fibroid polyp of the small intestine].

We observed the rare case of a 50-year-old man with intestinal obstruction due to an inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) of the jejunum. Here, we report its clinical and pathological characteristics, and its histologic appearance. Limited small bowel resection led to complete recovery of the patient.

[Lead poisoning following administration of "home specialties"].

Three cases of lead intoxication after the administration of "house specialties" are illustrated. The lead source could be traced to a lead-containing ointment in all three patients. Two of them suffered lead intoxication as a result of topical application to the lips, while the third had ingested the ointment orally.

Diagnosis of achlorhydria by plasma secretin determination--a tubeless approach.

To investigate the value of plasma secretin determination in the diagnosis of impaired gastric secretion, blood samples were drawn for secretin assay (radioimmunoassay) at specified intervals before and after pentagastrin stimulation in 10 healthy volunteers and 11 subjects with suspected hypo- or achlorhydria (less than 10 mEq HCl/2 h). The tests were performed twice, once with and once without aspiration of gastric juice for estimation of acid output. In six other patients with proven achlorhydria, the test was performed once without gastric aspiration.

[Comparison of tumor incidence in 251 first-degree relatives of 50 patients with colorectal carcinoma with those of the Basel population].

A tumor-centered family history obtained in 50 patients with colorectal carcinoma without polyposis coli revealed that first-degree relatives of such patients have a 3.6 times greater risk of developing colorectal carcinoma themselves. The simple and harmless family history method can be employed by any physician for the identification of healthy persons at high risk for colorectal carcinoma.