[The dependence of the nitrosation activity of the gastric juice in humans on their age and the type of pathological status of the gastric mucosa].

The study involved two groups of patients aged 6-14 and 40-60 years, and identification of different conditions of gastric mucosa. The study has established a correlation between the nitrosation activity and acidity of gastric juice and the pathological condition of the gastric mucosa. Enhanced nitrosation activity was observed in samples with a pH under 4.0. That activity was at its lowest in cases of normal gastric mucosa, and at its peak--in high-acidity superficial and erosive gastritis. In cases of superficial gastritis with similar levels of acidity, the nitrosation activity of gastric juice for different amines in children was 2-4 times that in adults. The difference in nitrosation levels for different amines tended to diminish with the decrease in the basicity of the amine in question. A linear correlation was observed between the free-radical activity of gastric juice samples and nitrosation activity (correlation coefficient, k = 0.72).