[The possible uses of balneotherapy in treating chronic venous insufficiency of lower limbs].

The Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) of inferior limbs is a widespread disease, with an increasing incidence as a consequence of longer life expectance, life-style, obesity, smoking, use of drugs as oestrogens and progestins and working conditions. Medical therapy is still lacking for evidence of efficacy, and compression therapy is useful only in preventing a worsening of this condition. Surgical treatment is the only radical therapy effective for the advanced phases of the disease.

[Helicobacter pylori and hepatobiliary diseases].

The aim of this short review is to understand if the Helicobacter pylori could have some sort of importance in the pathogenesis and in the development of not only gastroduodenal diseases, but in particular of those of the liver: a summary of the last researches has been done on the relations between this bacterium and some liver diseases; our intention is to continue this researches.

[Hepatic steatosis: clinical-statistical study of patients diagnosed by histological or ultrasonographic methods].

Purpose: This study wants to document eziopathogenetic factors and clinical, instrumental and hystological characters that associate to the various types of hepatic steatosis.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective study have been examined two different groups of randomized patients. The "Group 1" comprehended 70 patients with hystologic diagnosis of hepatic steatosis (steatohepatitis--SH--60%; steatosis--SE--40%).

[Motility of the gastric antrum and the gallbladder following oral administration of sulfate-bicarbonate].

The authors evaluate the influence of a sulphate-bicarbonate mineral water on gastric emptying and cholecystic motility. Nine healthy volunteers drunk at settled intervals and with same procedures equal doses of mineral water and tap water on alternate days. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the gastric emptying and cholecystic volumes was performed before and after mineral water and top water drinks at settled intervals.

[Endoscopic and histologic findings of gastric mucosa and Helicobacter pylori prevalence in patients suffering from chronic liver disease].

In this research we evaluated the prevalence of Hp in the gastric mucosa in patients suffering for chronic liver disease, either chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. Sixty-three patients 27 with chronic hepatitis and 36 with liver cirrhosis, were examined by EGDS; of them we evaluated: endoscopic findings of stomach and duodenum, histology of gastric mucosa (antrum and corpus-fundus), presence of Hp in the histologic samples. We compared the positivity for Hp with the following parameters: presence of esophageal varices, macroscopic aspect of the gastric and duodenal mucosa, presence of hystological findings of gastritis, gastritis's activity, grading of the hepatic damage.

[Current orientation on medical therapy of Crohn disease].

The Crohn's disease has an increasing incidence and prevalence in the western countries and also in Italy; genetic, familiar and enviromental factors, but, above all, altered immunity have pathogenetic effects for the chronic flogosis and damage of gastroenteric tract. With ulcerative rettocolitis, the Crohn's disease is part of the chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In the present paper the medical therapy of Crohn's disease is especially studied; it is based on the use of corticosteroids and SASP or its active metabolite 5-ASA.

[Chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy. Epidemiologic aspects and balneotherapy potential].

The authors remember the epidemiological data of BPCO in Italy and in the world and stress the increasing incidence and prevalence of these disease, interesting above all industrial-urban areas, middle and old aged, males and smokers. The pathogenetic role of atmospheric pollution, caused by industries, heating system and motor vehicles, in exposed. At the end Auctors summarise the results of the inhalatory therapy by mineral waters in BPCO, especially of sulphureas and salso-jodic spas.