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Unsuspected abnormalities are occasionally detected during real-time examinations. To determine the frequency of such findings detected during the standard ultrasound examination of the entire abdomen, the records of 765 consecutive patients were reviewed. A significant number of occult abnormalities were detected: approximately one-fourth of all abnormalities were found in the abdominal survey. The influence of the abdominal survey on the clinical management and improved radiological consultation are discussed.

The pH values in 203 patients with various gastroduodenal pathologies were measured by means of a glass electrode inserted into the bioptic channel of the gastroscope. Analysis of the results confirms what we know of pH variations in gastric or duodenal ulcer cases and shows where perendoscopic pH measurements may be used beneficially. In particular it was found that mucous pH is not affected by H2 antagonists if these are taken more that 12 hours before the examination. Perendoscopic pH measurement appears to be a valuable tool in screening stomach lesions at risk in cases of chronic gastritis, since it facilitates the identification of atrophic or metaplastic lesions.

Total bile acid concentrations were estimated in fasting serum samples from 251 patients with chronic liver disease and 108 controls without liver disease, together with conventional liver tests. Serum bile acids level was significantly higher in patients with liver disease than in control group. Fasting serum bile acid concentration was raised in 172 of the 251 patients with impaired hepatic function (68.5%). Only gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and transaminase tests exhibited a higher abnormality frequency. Two-hour postprandial serum bile acid concentrations were measured in 78 patients: the meal test shows a rise in sensitivity (+26.9%). Our results confirm that serum bile acids concentration represent a sensitive and reproducible test for hepatobiliary disorders.

Artificial hair made of synthetic leacryl fibre was inserted into the skin of a rabbit in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of the insertion of heterologous material. On the 7th and 30th day following insertion, samples were taken from the areas involved and were observed by MO, TEM and SEM studies. Granuloma in both the early stage (7th day) and later at 30 days was evidenced and found to develop to cicatricial sclerosis.

Cultured fibroblast derived from 7 and 14 days chick embryonic skin were tested with three fluorescent lectins (Con A, WGA and SBA). The result obtained shown that the percentage of cells that bind WGA decrease from 7 to 14 days, supporting the presence of an age-dependent heterogeneity at cell surface level. In both cellular population only the 50% of the cell bind to SBA, suggesting a more subtle heterogeneity into the same population.

This paper shows that cultured chick embryo fibroblasts derived from lung, heart and skin contain different amounts of sulphurated glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The sulphurated GAGs were detected by X-ray microanalysis at scanning electron microscopy. The results support the current hypothesis on the heterogeneity of the embryonic fibroblast populations.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the eventual activity of the total dialysate of two uremic nephrectomized patients in recirculating dialysis and the chromatographic peak of the dialysate fractionated by Sephadex column G 15 on PMN chemotaxis. Only the total dialysate and the chromatographic peak B showed inhibition of chemotaxis. On the contrary the commercial polyamines in the same concentration range, and the other chromatographic peaks, containing polyamines too, did not revealed inhibition. Our data show, therefore, that the chemotaxis inhibition could be due to the middle-molecules present in the peak B, rather than the polyamines itself. Polyamines were determined by dansylation method, separated by thin layer chromatography and quantified by spectrofluorimeter. Chemotaxis was evaluated using the modified Boyden chamber.

Observation of a case of CREST syndrome associated with autoimmune chronic hepatopathy (so-called Reynolds syndrome) and Sjögren's syndrome brings to the fore the importance of symptomatological superimpositions within the autoimmune diseases. A number of diagnostic and pathogenetic aspects of this rare disease association are discussed.

We studied possible effects of uremic toxins and polyamines (PAs) on organ cultures of chick embryo. We added on culture media the lyophilized of total dialysate and its chromatographic peak II obtained with chromatography with Sephadex G 15. The total dialysate and peak II showed toxicity with degeneration of the culture, whereas the free PAs, we added, did not effects.