[Chronic pancreatitis: natural history and development in relation to alcoholism].

42 cases of chronic pancreatitis treated between 1976 and 1986, presenting 0.2% of all patients seen at the surgical clinic in the same period, have been reviewed. 37 patients (88%) were alcoholics and the prevalence of males was 83%.

[Effects of chronic pancreatitis on salivary secretion].

In chronic pancreatitis, increased concentrations of Na+ and Cl- in sweat have been attributed to increased parasympathetic drive. It was postulated that similar changes might occur in saliva. To avoid masking increased parasympathetic drive, saliva was collected without stimulation.

Healing and relapse of reflux esophagitis during treatment with ranitidine.

In 108 patients the healing and relapse of reflux esophagitis, defined endoscopically by the presence of epithelial defects (erosions and ulcerations) of the esophageal mucosa, were studied. In the first study, with open treatment of ranitidine, the healing rate after 6 wk was 50%. The most important factor that negatively influenced healing was the extent of esophageal erosions.

Gastric ulcer: a double-blind comparison of 100 mg pirenzepine plus antacid versus 800 mg cimetidine plus antacid.

Fifty-five patients with endoscopically confirmed gastric ulcers received either cimetidine (28 patients) or pirenzepine (27 patients) in a randomized double-blind manner. Fifty-seven per cent of the patients treated with cimetidine and 48% of those treated with pirenzepine presented with endoscopically healed ulcers after 4 weeks of treatment. By 8 weeks complete healing had occurred in 83% of the patients taking cimetidine and 76% of those taking pirenzepine.

[Ranitidine therapy of duodenal ulcer: comparison of once-a-day and twice-a-day administration. A Swiss multicenter double-blind study].

In a Swiss multicenter double-blind trial ranitidine was given in doses of 300 mg nocte and 150 mg b.d. for the treatment of duodenal ulcer.