Colonoscopy in complicated diverticular disease may assist the clinician in establishing the diagnosis of associated strictures. A review of the literature shows that carcinoma was identified in 21 (17%) of 125 patients and that an additional diagnosis was made in 40 (32%) patients. Although colonoscopy may be a difficult procedure in patients with diverticular disease the caecum was reached in 27 (61%) of 44 patients and took no longer than routine colonoscopic orpcedures. Further analysis of these results confirms that the barium enema frequently produces both false positive and false negative diagnoses of carcinoma and polyps. The presence of bleeding strongly suggests the presence of a concomitant lesion. Fifteen (11%) carcinomas were identified in a group of 135 patients with persistent rectal bleeding whose barium enema showed only diverticular disease and an additional diagnosis was made in 50 (37%) of these patients. Colonoscopy is an important investigation in patients with complicated diverticular disease.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inflammation, acid and ulcers.

Chronic active type B gastritis is invariably the result of Helicobacter pylori infection and is an important factor in duodenal ulcer disease. The actions of mediators produced (a protein factor, a lipid soluble "pore-forming factor" and urease) or induced (immune/inflammatory cell mediators) by this bacterium on the control of gastric acid secretion are currently being investigated. These studies are reviewed in light of our current knowledge of the physiological control of gastric acid secretion.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

pH, healing rate and symptom relief in acid-related diseases.

Suppression of gastric acid secretion is widely used and logical for the treatment of acid-related diseases. Healing of duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease is correlated significantly with the degree and the duration of suppression of intragastric acidity over 24 hours and with the length of the treatment. To date, proton pump inhibitors are the most effective agents among the currently available antisecretory drugs in offering the highest healing rate and fastest resolution of symptoms. Combinations of an antisecretory drug with one or more antimicrobial agents accelerate healing of peptic ulcers.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗