A pilot study for the integration of cytometry reports in digital cytology telemedicine applications.

Up to date, tele-pathology in the three different forms of application, "dynamic", "static" and "virtual microscopy" has been mainly based on tele-hystology remote consulting. Today the diffusion of specialized WAN connections is guiding the research of new applications of tele-pathology. A specific analysis has been conducted, focused on digital cytology, in the biomedical laboratory of Sant'Andrea Hospital to investigate the technologies potentially useful to integrate in the LAN/WAN for telemedicine applications. Among the possible tools useful to be integrated in the LAN/WAN for telemedicine applications, the cytometry equipment available in the technical unity of cytometry has been considered important. The study finally provides a proposal for a tele-consulting architecture for the integration of cytometry reports both in the hospital LAN and the WAN for possible cooperative diagnosis and second opinion support.

Protein profile of Helicobacter pylori strains by isoelectrofocusing in patients affected by chronic gastritis.

BACKGROUND: To understand if relapse, following antimicrobial treatment was due to re-infection or to recrudescence. METHODS: Fifty patients with dyspepsia were studied prospectively. They were followed up by endoscopy and biopsy of antral mucosa before and after treatment with anti-microbial therapy. Gel isoelectrofocusing was used to characterize protein profile of Hp. RESULTS: At baseline 40 patients were affected by chronic gastritis associated with Hp. At the end of treatment 75% patients given omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin were Hp infected: 43% showed the same protein profile and 57% different. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the relapse is due to recrudescence or to reinfection.