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Campylobacter-like organisms were detected by light microscopy in association with 57 of 102 (56%) of gastric ulcers, all the gastric erosions associated with gastritis, three of five (60%) of gastric erosions without gastritis, five of 13 (39%) of mild superficial gastritis and two of 36 (6%) of normal gastric mucosa. They were also seen in four of 20 (20%) of duodenal ulcers, but not in duodenal erosions with duodenitis or normal duodenal biopsy specimens. They were seen in association with 12 of 64 (19%) of cases of Barrett's oesophagus. Moniliasis was seen in nine of 78 (12%) of the gastric ulcers in which campylobacter-like organisms were found, and the incidence of moniliasis was three of 15 (20%) in association with duodenal ulcers when ulcer debris was present in biopsy material, and in association with six of 25 (24%) of cases of Barrett's oesophagus. These findings do not support the hypothesis that campylobacter-like organisms cause inflammatory and ulcerative lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Histological sections of adenomatous polyps of the colon showing carcinoma were studied by video image analysis. Nuclear DNA content and morphology were measured in regions identified as either dysplasia, carcinoma confined to the mucosa, or carcinoma invading the muscularis mucosa. Where carcinoma was present, areas of dysplasia in the same polyp were found to have similar distributions of nuclear DNA content and size, supporting the notion that adenomatous polyps becomes cancer. The method can be used to detect those regions in sections of adenomatous polyps with the most severe nuclear abnormality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The nuclei of colonic adenomatous polyps and some colonic carcinomas have a normal diploid profile. The remaining carcinomas are aneuploid, and this change most probably occurs after the dysplasia that determines invasiveness, because even adenomatous polyps with carcinoma in situ are diploid. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The oesophageal epithelium of patients with reflux oesophagitis has been studied by means of computer aided morphometry. Measurements of histological features were made on biopsies from six cases before and after treatment. The size and elongation of the nuclei and their variation, the number of nuclei per unit length or per unit sectioned area, and the size and number of nucleoli per nucleus were measured for two zones of the epithelium, the base layer and the intermediate layer, which were independent of section orientation. The measurements were analysed using discriminant analysis. Significant discrimination was found between the two groups. The most important parameters were the number of intermediate layer nuclei per sectioned square millimetre, the mean intermediate layer nuclear area, and the number of nuclei per millimetre of base epithelium. These parameters are consistent with increased cell turnover of the non-ulcerated epithelium before treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The number of gastrin-producing cells in biopsy specimens from the gastric and duodenal mucosae in 19 duodenal ulcer patients was quantitated using a morphometric method. The level of immunoreactive gastrin in a sample of fasting serum obtained at the time of the biopsy was measured by radioimmunoassay. The results show no significant difference when compared with those from a group of normal control volunteers. Moreover, there was no correlation between the numbers of gastrin-producing cells and the fasting serum gastrin level in either controls or duodenal ulcer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Immunoglobulin-containing cells have been counted in the mucosa of colectomy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. An increase in IgA cells occurs in both when compared with normal. In Crohn's colitis the increase is significantly higher than in ulcerative colitis. The importance of these findings in relation to pathogenesis is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The mesenteric lymph nodes in total colectomy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis were assessed for immunological reactivity. Despite the suggestion of previous work using different methods that immunological difference between the diseases exist and may be important in pathogenesis, no significant differences were found in this study. Changes were observed in both diseases and when ulceration was present these consisted of both cellular and humoral immune reactivity. There was no evidence of diminished cell-mediated immunity in Crohn's disease and the presence of granulomata did not constitute any special immunological group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A simple method is described for the quantitative examination of small intestinal mucosal biopsies involving the determination of an index related to the surface-to-volume ratio of the mucosa. The method is of value in distinguishing minor degrees of villous abnormality and will prove useful in comparing serial changes in a given patient. It will also allow comparisons to be made between biopsies taken in different medical centres. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The advent of the fibreoptic gastroscope with biopsy facilities has provided the means of obtaining biopsy specimens under direct vision from any part of the stomach. This creates new opportunities for the study of chronic gastritis, and, in particular, its evolution, topographical location, and causal relationships. On the basis of an experience with more than 2,500 biopsy specimens we have outlined a method for their systematic examination and have proposed a classification of chronic gastritis. This classification includes the type of mucosa, the type and stage of activity of the gastritis, and the presence and type of metaplasia. The classification is sufficiently flexible to allow within it quantitative assessment of individual histological features. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nine patients are described, four men and five women, aged between 14 and 62 years, who presented with symptoms of severe anaemia. Deficiencies of iron and folic acid were subsequently demonstrated in each case. Although malabsorption was not initially suspected, further investigations showed an abnormally high excretion of faecal fat in seven cases. Anaemias which are `unexplained' or which show a suboptimal response to treatment should be investigated from the viewpoint of intestinal dysfunction. Such anaemias are not a particularly uncommon problem. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The G-cells of the gastric antrum were accurately quantitated in preparations stained with an immunoperoxidase method. In 15 normal young adults the mean G-cell count per unit area was 200 +/- 15-9. Serum gastrin levels were measured in 12, and all fell within the normal range (mean 59-7 +/- 5-4 pg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]