Extragonadal choriocarcinoma in a patient with Down syndrome.

There are several reports suggesting that there is a higher incidence of leukemia and testicular cancer in patients with Down syndrome. Fifteen patients with Down syndrome and testicular cancer were previously reported. The median age at diagnosis of testicular cancer was 18 years, (range: 3-45).

Cisapride and ranitidine in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease--a comparative randomized double-blind trial.

Forty patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and oesophagitis, documented by endoscopy (grades I to III by the Savary-Miller classification) were randomized to participate in a comparative double-blind trial to receive cisapride (10 mg q.d.s.

Evaluation of [14C]aminopyrine breath test, peripheral clearance of [99mTc]EHIDA, and serum bile acid levels in liver function and disease.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of the following tests in the assessment of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and cholestatic syndrome (CS): (1) aminopyrine breath test, measuring 14CO2 excretion in the expired air, (2) peripheral clearance of [99mTc]EHIDA, and (3) postprandial levels of glycocholic acid (GCA) and glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA). The results indicate that: (1) 14CO2 2-hr excretion rate is a specific and sensitive marker of liver function, with good correlation with postprandial bile acid levels, [99mTc]EHIDA retention, and the conventional tests of serum albumin and prothrombin time. (2) Peripheral clearance and retention of [99mTc]EHIDA increased in both groups of CLD and CS vs controls, but it does not discriminate between the two.

The impact of early or late diagnosis on patient survival in gastric cancer in Greece.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons for delayed diagnosis of gastric cancer in the Greek population and correlate survival with early or late diagnosis. We studied 100 patients with gastric cancer proven at endoscopy. Early diagnosis (less than 3 months from the onset of symptoms) was established in 28 patients (28%), while the diagnosis was late (greater than 3 months) in 72 patients (72%).

A comparative clinical trial of duodenal ulcer healing with two regimens of cimetidine: 800 mg once nightly and 400 mg twice daily.

The efficacy and safety of two dosage regimens of cimetidine were compared in a single-blind study of 50 adults with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers. Patients were randomly allocated to receive 800 mg cimetidine taken once nightly or 400 mg cimetidine taken twice daily for 4 weeks. Following 4 weeks' treatment patients again underwent endoscopy and, if healing was incomplete, they received a further 4 weeks' treatment.

Diagnostic value of serum ferritin in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

The diagnostic value of serum ferritin levels was evaluated in 19 patients with biopsy-proven primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) and 26 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Serum ferritin levels were significantly elevated in PHC, as compared with CLD and controls (p less than 0.0005).