Early gastric cancer: the case for long term surveillance.

Thirty five patients with early gastric cancer have been treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary since 1965. The number of cases diagnosed has doubled in the last 10 years. Epigastric pain (74%), loss of weight (63%), and gastrointestinal bleeding (43%) were the most common presenting symptoms, with a median length of history of 12 months (range five days to 72 months). Life table survival curves showed a crude five year survival of 71% (age adjusted 92%) and a crude 10 year survival of 63% (age adjusted 85%). Sixteen patients have been followed up clinically, endoscopically, and by scintigraphy with technetium-99m p-butyl iminodiacetic acid to assess the risk of recurrent disease. Of seven patients with pronounced bile reflux, two had moderate dysplasia of the gastric remnant, and one patient was found to have developed a metachronous tumour nine years after surgery. Partial resection seems to be the best choice of treatment for early gastric cancer, giving good functional results. Consideration should, however, be given to Roux en Y diversion, and long term surveillance of the gastric remnant is recommended.     

Cimetidine in patients with gastric ulcer: a multicentre controlled trial.

Forty-five adult outpatients with endoscopically confirmed gastric ulceration completed a double-blind trial of either cimetidine (1 g/day) or placebo. After six weeks 18 of the 23 patients receiving cimetidine showed complete ulcer healing compared with only six of the 22 patients receiving placebo. The cimetidine group also had fewer days with pain than the placebo group but the difference was not statistically significant. Cimetidine therefore seems to promote healing of gastric ulcers without severe side effects, although its effect on pain is less pronounced than in patients with duodenal ulcers.     

Subcutaneous mastectomy data: a preliminary report.

This is a preliminary report on data accumulated in the first 12 months by the Subcutaneous Mastectomy Data Evaluation Center at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, California. We present some statistics on 419 subcutaneous mastectomies performed by 105 plastic surgeons.     

Hyperactives as young adults: preliminary report.

Thirty-five individuals aged 17 to 24 in whom severe chronic hyperactivity had been diagnosed 10 years before were studied together with 25 matched controls. There were no significant differences in mean height or weight or in electroencephalographic findings, but the mean pulse rate was significantly higher in the hyperactive group. Cognitive style tests indicated continued difficulty in reflection (resulting in more errors) but less impulsivity (longer reaction time) in the hyperactive individuals. Compared with controls, hyperactive subjects were continuing to have more scholastic difficulty, although this difference seemed to be less pronounced than 5 years before. Their adjustment in work situations and living arrangements did not differ significantly from that of the controls. Restlessness, both reported and observed, continued to be a problem for the hyperactive individuals, and socialization skills and sense of well-being continued to be poorer than in the controls. The hyperactive individuals did not show significantly more antisocial behaviour, nonmedical use of drugs or serious psychiatric disturbances.