[False positive with Tl-201 in the study of Ewing's sarcoma of the astragalus caused by reflex sympathetic dystrophy]

We describe a 14 year old male, diagnosed of Ewing sarcoma in left astragalus. We performed two 201-Thallium scan for evaluating the response to chemotherapy (before and after the treatment). The scan performed after chemotherapy showed patchy uptake in astragalus, calcaneus and some joints of the foot. The following radiology and scintigraphy diagnosed a reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the left foot due to disuse of the limb. The 201-Thallium overestimated viability of the tumour for this reason. We must discard the presence of this kind of associated pathology in order that they could be cause of false positives.

[Course of cellular immunity in patients with chronic inflammatory intestinal disease]

In a preliminary study of the immunological aspects of intestinal inflammatory disease we found an immunological deficit of T helper lymphocytes, decreased monocytes and chemotaxis and poor response to nonspecific mitogen stimulus. Based on these findings, the study was repeated in the same patients three years later to confirm the evolution of this deficit. Recuperation was observed in the cases in which the disease evolved favorably, suggesting that certain aspects of the immune disorder might be secondary.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind study comparing once-daily bedtime administration of famotidine and ranitidine in the short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer

The efficacy and safety of famotidine and ranitidine in the treatment of active duodenal ulcer were compared in a multicenter, randomized double-blind study. The study was carried out at 5 centers and involved a total of 143 patients with endoscopically documented active duodenal ulcer. The patients received either famotidine (1 40 mg tablet at night) or ranitidine 2 150 mg tablets at night). Endoscopic examinations were performed at 4 and 6 weeks of active treatment. Day and nocturnal pain were also monitored, and the laboratory and clinical profiles evaluated. One hundred and thirty-three patients fulfilled the evaluation criteria (66 patients in the famotidine group and 67 in the ranitidine group). Healing rates at weeks 4 or 6 of treatment showed no significant differences between the famotidine group and the ranitidine group. The healing rates were 78% at week 4 and 96% at week 6 in the famotidine group, and 76% at week 4 and 95% at week 6 in the ranitidine group. Similar results were observed in both treatment groups with regard to pain resolution, decrease in antacid intake and safety profile.

A multicentre, randomized, double-blind study comparing nocte famotidine or ranitidine for the treatment of active duodenal ulceration

The efficacy and safety of famotidine and ranitidine in the treatment of active duodenal ulcer were compared in a multicentre, randomized, double-blind study. The study was carried out in five centres which included a total of 143 patients with endoscopically documented active duodenal ulcer. The patients received either famotidine (one tablet of 40 mg at night) or ranitidine (two tablets of 150 mg at night). Endoscopic examinations were performed at 4 and 6 weeks of active treatment. Daytime and nocturnal pain were also monitored, and the laboratory and clinical profiles evaluated. One hundred and thirty-three patients fulfilled the evaluation criteria (66 patients in the famotidine group and 67 in the ranitidine group). Healing rates at 4 or 6 weeks of treatment showed no significant differences between the famotidine and ranitidine groups. The healing rates were 80% at week 4 and 97% at week 6 in the famotidine group, and 77% at week 4 and 96% at week 6 in the ranitidine group. Similar results were observed in both treatment groups with regard to pain resolution, decrease in antacid intake and safety profile.