An automatic method for atom identification in scanning tunnelling microscopy images of Fe-chalcogenide superconductors.

We describe a computational approach for the automatic recognition and classification of atomic species in scanning tunnelling microscopy images. The approach is based on a pipeline of image processing methods in which the classification step is performed by means of a Fuzzy Clustering algorithm. As a representative example, we use the computational tool to characterize the nanoscale phase separation in thin films of the Fe-chalcogenide superconductor FeSex Te1-x , starting from synthetic data sets and experimental topographies. We quantify the stoichiometry fluctuations on length scales from tens to a few nanometres.

Long-term therapy with interferon in anti-HCV positive chronic hepatitis: is it conceivable?

HCV positive hepatitis possesses a relevant social impact as regards national health costs. On the other hand, interferon (IFN) therapy represents to date the best therapeutic approach to this problem. However, several clinical questions have arisen regarding the efficacy and safety of long-term treatments, and above all the management of those patients who did not respond to acute therapy. Nevertheless, it is well known there is a high rate of relapse after the cessation of treatment. The goal of the present paper has therefore been to verify both efficacy and safety of a weekly single dose of IFN in maintaining an adequate remission rate in 38 outpatients who obtained a good response (either type I or II according to Marcellin's classification) to a 12 months' IFN course. Our results evidenced that a maintenance therapy with a single a weekly dose of IFN (3MU) did not seem to lead to a lower rate of relapses when compared to patients who were not given any treatment.

Gastric ulcer and cancer ulcer. Retrospective evaluation of the current endoscopic diagnosis.

Aim of this experience has been to evaluate the current diagnostic potentiality of the endoscopy in the framework of the gastric ulcerous pathology. On the total of the gastric ulcers 17.9% have resulted to be neoplastic with the hystologic examination. The diagnostic accurracy of the endoscopy has resulted to be of the 87% compared to hystology. From our data it is evidenced how the endoscopy examination has a relevant diagnostic accuracy in defining the nature of the gastric ulcer which however has to be confirmed by the histology which seems to be diriment.

Gastric chief cell mass in duodenal ulcer

A 25 pacientes ulcerosos duodenales y 40 controles sanos se les calculó la massa de células principales y el Pepsinogeno serico I. Se comparó también con la masa celular parietal y la secreción ácida estimulada. La masa celular principal fue expresada por el índice Zinogenico (IZ) obtenido multiplicando al número de células principales por mm2 por el espesor de la capa glandular. Se encontró una significativa disminución del IZ en pacientes com úlcera duodenal que en controles. El agrupamiento según la edad por encima y debajo de 50 anos, confirma que el IZ disminuye significativamente en ulcerosos duodenales en relación a controles. No hay cambios de IZ en ulcerosos duodenales con gastritis fundica superficial en comparación con aquellos con mucosa fundica normal. El pepsinógeno serico II está aumentado en pacientes ulcerosos con gastritis fundica superficial en relación a los que tienen mucosa normal. Se observa hipopesinogenemia en pacientes con hiperparietolismo y normopepsinogenemia en los pacientes con normoparietolismo. Finalmente no se observa correlación entre índice Zinogenico y Pepsinógeno serico I

Gastric chief cell mass in duodenal ulcer

A 25 pacientes ulcerosos duodenales y 40 controles sanos se les calculó la massa de células principales y el Pepsinogeno serico I. Se comparó también con la masa celular parietal y la secreción ácida estimulada. La masa celular principal fue expresada por el índice Zinogenico (IZ) obtenido multiplicando al número de células principales por mm2 por el espesor de la capa glandular. Se encontró una significativa disminución del IZ en pacientes com úlcera duodenal que en controles. El agrupamiento según la edad por encima y debajo de 50 anos, confirma que el IZ disminuye significativamente en ulcerosos duodenales en relación a controles. No hay cambios de IZ en ulcerosos duodenales con gastritis fundica superficial en comparación con aquellos con mucosa fundica normal. El pepsinógeno serico II está aumentado en pacientes ulcerosos con gastritis fundica superficial en relación a los que tienen mucosa normal. Se observa hipopesinogenemia en pacientes con hiperparietolismo y normopepsinogenemia en los pacientes con normoparietolismo. Finalmente no se observa correlación entre índice Zinogenico y Pepsinógeno serico I (AU)

[The interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Short- and long-term therapy and the problem of nonresponders]. / Trattamento con interferon della epatite cronica C. Terapia a breve e lungo termine, problema dei non responders.

The interferon therapy has represented a breakthrough in the treatment of chronic hepatitis. In this article we analyzed the results of short- and long-term therapy of hepatitis C, particularly referred to different dosage regimens and side effects. We paid particular attention to patients non responders to interferon therapy, for whom we reported the results obtained with the association of interferon and ursodeoxycholic acid, and with steroidal treatment.

[Peptic activity of gastric juice in chronic gastritis. Morpho-functional aspects]. / Attività peptica nel succo gastrico nelle gastriti croniche: aspetti cito-funzionali.

The aim of this study has been to evaluate peptic activity in gastric juice and gastric peptic cell mass in chronic gastritis. As regard peptic activity, there is a close correlation between it and the peptic gastric cell mass considered globally and expressed as Peptic Gastric Index (PGI), resulting from the individual average between fundic peptic index (chief cells + fundic muco-peptic cells) and antral peptic index (antral muco-peptic cells), both obtained by multiplying the number of peptic cells per mm2 by the thickness of respectively fundic and antral gland layer). In particular fundic and antral superficiale gastritis does not involve changes in peptic activity in gastric juice. On the contrary, in case of fundic pre-atrophic or atrophic there is a significant drop of peptic activity in gastric juice, regardless of the histological condition of the antrum. The lowest value of peptic activity may be noticed in case of atrophic pan-gastritis. Pre-atrophic and atrophic gastritis limited to the antrum--with superficial fundic gastritis--does not involve significant decreases of peptic activity in gastric juice. In this experiences Helicobacter pylori seem to influence peptic secretion: in fact, there is an increases of peptic activity in gastric juice in case of chronic pre-atrophic gastritis HP+.

[Interferon therapy in liver cirrhosis]. / Terapia con interferon nella cirrosi epatica.

Ten patients were given 3MU/3 times/week of r-interferon alpha 2b for 4 months; six patients were given 1MU/3 times/week for 4 months. The choice of these regimes has been based on the number of platelets. Among the patients treated with 9MU/week we observed a type I response (alanine-aminotransferases normalization) in 40% of cases, a type II (ALT fifty percent reduction) in 40% of cases, and a type III (no response) in 20% of cases. Among the patients treated with 3MU/week we observed a type II response in 16.7% and a type III in 83.3% of cases. Treatment of Child A liver cirrhosis with r-interferon demonstrates to rise, therefore, the same percentage of response which are obtained in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis, when the same doses are administered (9MU/week).

Gastric chief cell mass in duodenal ulcer.

Chief cell mass and serum Pepsinogen I were calculated in 25 duodenal ulcer patients and in 40 healthy controls. Comparisons were also made with parietal cell mass and the stimulated acid secretion. Chief cell mass was expressed bay a Zymogenous Index (ZI) obtained by multiplying the number of chief cells per mm2 for the thickness of the glandular layer. The analysis of the data shows a significant decrease of ZI in duodenal ulcer patients in comparison with controls. The grouping of the subjects according to the age (over and under fifty years), confirms that ZI decreases significantly in duodenal ulcer groups in relation with the respective groups of control. In case of duodenal ulcer with fundic superficial gastritis no behavioural changes of ZI are observed in comparison to those affected by duodenal ulcer with normal fundic mucosa. The serum Pepsinogen I significantly increases in duodenal ulcer patients in comparison to the controls, either in the subjects over and under fifty. In the group of duodenal ulcer patients with superficial fundic gastritis a significant increase of serum Pepsinogen I can be pointed out in comparison to the ulcer patients with normal fundic mucosa. The grouping of the patients on the basis of hyperparietalism and normoparietalism has shown in the former group hypozymogenism and in the latter normozymogenism. Finally, no correlation has emerged between Zymogenous Index and serum Pepsinogen I.

Gastric chief cell mass in duodenal ulcer.

Chief cell mass and serum Pepsinogen I were calculated in 25 duodenal ulcer patients and in 40 healthy controls. Comparisons were also made with parietal cell mass and the stimulated acid secretion. Chief cell mass was expressed bay a Zymogenous Index (ZI) obtained by multiplying the number of chief cells per mm2 for the thickness of the glandular layer. The analysis of the data shows a significant decrease of ZI in duodenal ulcer patients in comparison with controls. The grouping of the subjects according to the age (over and under fifty years), confirms that ZI decreases significantly in duodenal ulcer groups in relation with the respective groups of control. In case of duodenal ulcer with fundic superficial gastritis no behavioural changes of ZI are observed in comparison to those affected by duodenal ulcer with normal fundic mucosa. The serum Pepsinogen I significantly increases in duodenal ulcer patients in comparison to the controls, either in the subjects over and under fifty. In the group of duodenal ulcer patients with superficial fundic gastritis a significant increase of serum Pepsinogen I can be pointed out in comparison to the ulcer patients with normal fundic mucosa. The grouping of the patients on the basis of hyperparietalism and normoparietalism has shown in the former group hypozymogenism and in the latter normozymogenism. Finally, no correlation has emerged between Zymogenous Index and serum Pepsinogen I.

[Zymogenic cell mass and serum pepsinogen I: the cell secretory correlations in patients with gastric intestinal-type cancer of the corpus-fundus]. / Massa cellulare zimogenica e pepsinogeno I sierico: correlazioni citosecretorie in pazienti con cancro gastrico di tipo intestinale del corpo-fundus.

The chief cell mass and serum pepsinogen I (PGI) have been evaluated in 18 patients with gastric cancer of intestinal type of the body-fundus. Moreover, a correlation with the parietal cell mass and the maximal acid output it has been effected. The patients have been subdivided in relation to histologic condition of the fundic mucosa. In case of gastric cancer with preatrophic fundic gastritis it has been revealed hypozymogenism with normoPGI and hypoparietalism with hypochlorhydria, in case of gastric cancer with atrophic fundic gastritis it has been revealed hypozymogenism with hypoPGI and hypoparietalism with hypochlorhydria. From this experience it emerges a similar anatomic-functional profile between gastric cancer of the body-fundus and chronic fundic gastritis without cancer. In particular, it emerges that serum PGI is a good marker of atrophic fundic gastritis, but it is not discriminant between atrophic fundic gastritis and atrophic fundic gastritis associated to gastric cancer.