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B Dragosics

Publications and source records attributed to B Dragosics.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Blood groups Lewis(b) and ABH expression in gastric mucosa: lack of inter-relation with Helicobacter pylori colonisation and occurrence of gastric MALT lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Blood group Lewis(b) antigens mediate Helicobacter pylori attachment to gastric mucosa with attachment being particularly strong in subjects with ABH blood group O. AIMS: To determine whether H pylori colonisation or the occurrence of gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas might be related to gastric Lewis(b) expression or occurrence of particular ABH blood groups on gastric mucosa. PATIENTS: Gastric resection specimens from 89 cases with gastric MALT lymphoma and gastric mucosal biopsy specimens from 95 patients undergoing upper endoscopy due to upper gastrointestinal complaints, including five cases with gastric MALT lymphoma, were studied. METHODS: H pylori was visualised with the Warthin-Starry stain. Immunostaining (Lewis(b), Lewis(a), A, B) was performed by applying a three step immunoperoxidase technique and indirect immunofluorescence staining on formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded tissue. In 40 patients red blood cell Lewis phenotype and ABH blood groups were additionally determined by haemagglutination assay. RESULTS: Gastric surface epithelial cells showed an immunoreactivity to blood groups A, B, and AB in 80 (43.5%), 22 (12%), and 11 (6%) cases respectively and no immunoreactivity to any of these blood group substances (blood group O) in 71 (38.5%) patients. Lewis(b) expression of all gastric surface epithelial cells (secretor status) was found in 130 (70.7%) cases. Lewis(a) expression of all gastric surface epithelial cells (non-secretor status) was found in 36 (19.6%) cases, secretor status remained unclassified in 18 (9.8%) patients. Colonisation with H pylori was found in 134 (72.8%) cases. The occurrence of H pylori was neither significantly associated with secretor status nor with certain ABH blood groups. The infiltration of gastric mucosa with MALT lymphoma was highly significantly associated with H pylori colonisation (p < 0.0003) but neither with secretor status nor with certain ABH blood groups. There was no inter-relation between secretor status or ABH blood groups and type, stage, grade of, and survival after MALT lymphoma. CONCLUSION: This study failed to show an inter-relation between secretor status or particular ABH blood groups and either H pylori infection or the occurrence of gastric MALT lymphomas.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Preferential expression of the mucosal homing receptor integrin alpha 4 beta 7 in gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Recent studies have identified the integrin alpha 4 beta 7 as a mucosal homing receptor that mediates lymphocyte migration to the intestinal mucosa by binding to MAdCAM-1, a vascular recognition molecule (addressin) selectively expressed on mucosal endothelium. In the present study, we have assessed the expression of alpha 4 beta 7 on B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of different primary localization and on related normal lymphocytes. Among B-lineage lymphomas, expression of alpha 4 beta 7 was present in the majority of cases of malignant lymphomatous polyposis of the intestine and low-grade lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue/monocytoid B-cell lymphoma and in some cases of precursor B-cell lymphoma. CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma, (nodal) mantle cell lymphoma, follicular center cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were virtually always alpha 4 beta 7 negative, as was the case when localized in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. The normal B cells of the follicle mantles and part of the B cells of the extrafollicular B-cell compartment of lymphoid tissues expressed moderate levels of alpha 4 beta 7. By contrast, follicular center cells were alpha 4 beta 7 negative. Among T-lineage lymphomas, expression of alpha 4 beta 7 was also strongly related to the primary localization; in mucosal, nodal, and cutaneous T cell lymphomas the percentage of positive cases was 56%, 17%, and 0%, respectively. All cases of precursor T-cell lymphoma were alpha 4 beta 7 negative. High expression of alpha 4 beta 7 was found on a subset of peripheral blood memory T cells as well as on lymphocytes in the intestinal mucosa. We conclude that non-Hodgkin's lymphomas that are related to mucosa-associated B- and T-lymphocyte populations selectively express the mucosal homing receptor alpha 4 beta 7. The presence of this receptor underscores their distinctive character and may play an important role in determining their characteristic mucosal dissemination pattern.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Helicobacter pylori reinfection with identical organisms: transmission by the patients' spouses.

Reinfection with Helicobacter pylori after eradication is responsible for the recurrence of duodenal ulcer disease. The mode of transmission has not yet been established. In this study, 18 patients with chronic duodenal ulcers in whom H pylori had been eradicated with amoxicillin and metronidazole were entered into a prospective follow up study. Control endoscopies were performed 4, 8, 14, 27, and 43 months after starting treatment and the results of direct tests were compared with the kinetics of H pylori specific IgG titres. After eradication there was a noticeable and consistent fall in anti-H pylori IgG, while reinfections were characterised by a significant increase in specific titres. Reinfection was detected in two patients after 14 and 43 months, respectively. The H pylori strains responsible for these reinfections, the corresponding pretreatment isolates, and the strains isolated from the spouses of these patients were examined by polymerase chain reaction based DNA fingerprinting. Analysis showed that reinfection had been caused by the same H pylori strain and identified the spouses of these patients as carriers of the identical strain. Considering the genomic diversity and the interpatient heterogeneity of H pylori these results suggest a person to person transmission of H pylori reinfection. By the end of the observation period reflux oesophagitis had developed in 10 of the 16 patients who had not been reinfected. This surprising finding may be explained by the changed eating habits of patients after healing of duodenal ulcer disease.

Adult↗

Expression of the mucosal homing receptor alpha 4 beta 7 in malignant lymphomatous polyposis of the intestine.

Recent studies have identified the integrin alpha 4 beta 7 as a mucosal homing receptor that mediates lymphocyte migration to the intestinal mucosa by binding to MAd-CAM-1, which is a vascular recognition molecule (adressin) selectively expressed on mucosal endothelium. The expression of the alpha 4 beta 7 mucosal homing receptor was studied in eight cases of malignant lymphomatous polyposis (MLP). This unusual presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of mantle cell type is characterized by multifocal lymphomatous involvement of the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike nodal mantle cell lymphomas, cases of MLP showed expression of alpha 4 beta 7, suggesting that this homing receptor plays an important role in determining the characteristic mucosal dissemination pattern of MLP.

Aged↗

Effect of ranitidine and amoxicillin plus metronidazole on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the recurrence of duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Persistent infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with the recurrence of duodenal ulcer. Whether the efficacy of bismuth therapy in reducing the rate of recurrence of duodenal ulcer is due to its antimicrobial effects on H. pylori or to a direct protective action on the mucosa is still a matter of debate. METHODS: To study the effect of the eradication of H. pylori on the recurrence of duodenal ulcer, we treated 104 patients with H. pylori infection and recurrent duodenal ulcer with either amoxicillin (750 mg three times daily) plus metronidazole (500 mg three times daily) or identical-appearing placebos, given orally for 12 days. All patients also received ranitidine (300 mg each night) for 6 or 10 weeks. Endoscopy was performed before treatment and periodically during follow-up for up to 12 months after healing. RESULTS: Among the 52 patients given antibiotics, H. pylori was eradicated in 46, as compared with 1 of the 52 given placebo (89 percent vs. 2 percent, P < 0.001). After six weeks, the ulcers were healed in 48 patients given antibiotics and 39 given placebo (92 percent vs. 75 percent, P = 0.011). Side effects, mainly diarrhea, occurred in 15 percent of the patients given antibiotics. Among the patients followed up for 12 months, duodenal ulcers recurred in 4 of 50 patients given antibiotics and 42 of 49 given placebo (8 percent vs. 86 percent, P < 0.001). Ulcers recurred in 1 of 46 patients in whom H. pylori had been eradicated, as compared with 45 of 53 in whom H. pylori persisted (2 percent vs. 85 percent, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer, eradication of H. pylori by a regimen that does not have any direct action on the mucosa is followed by a marked reduction in the rate of recurrence, suggesting a causal role for H. pylori in recurrent duodenal ulcer.

Adult↗

Kinetics of specific IgG antibodies for monitoring the effect of anti-Helicobacter pylori chemotherapy.

A total of 104 patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer were treated with either ranitidine plus amoxicillin plus metronidazole or ranitidine plus placebo. To study the effect of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on the systemic immune response in an IgG ELISA, sera were drawn from all patients before the onset of therapy and at 6, 16 +/- 2, 32 +/- 2, and 60 +/- 2 weeks after therapy. In patients with eradication of the organism, a significant (P < .001) reduction of the specific IgG titer occurred. This was not observed in patients without bacterial eradication. If a titer reduction of > 50% was taken as an indicator for eradication of H. pylori, the sensitivity of the serologic test was 97.6%-99.7%. Its specificity increased with the interval to the onset of chemotherapy from 56.3% to 97.6%. Serologic tests are simple to perform and cause very little discomfort to the patient.

Amoxicillin↗

Gastrointestinal malignant lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue: factors relevant to prognosis.

Three hundred seven cases (244 gastric, 63 intestinal) of primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in stages EI and EII, according to a modified Ann Arbor system, were examined retrospectively. The histological classification for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-derived lymphomas was applied. Gastric NHLs (male-female ratio, 0.97; mean age, 64.5 years) were stage EI in 51% and stage EII in 49% of cases. Histological grade of malignancy was low in 41% and high in 59% of cases; all NHLs were B-cell type. Tumors were radically resected in 87%, and overall 2-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 61%, 55%, and 46%, respectively. Early lymphomas (substage EI1) had best prognosis (5- and 10-year survival rates, 90% and 70%, respectively). Intestinal NHLs (male-female ratio, 1.1; mean age, 54.4 years) were stage EI in 30% and stage EII in 70% of cases. Histology was low grade in 21% and high grade in 79%, and all but 11 cases were B-cell type. In 58% of cases, radical tumor resection resulted in overall 2- and 5-year survival rates of 44% and 24%, respectively. Major prognosticators for survival in gastric location were low-grade histology, low depth of infiltration, and low stage and radical resectability of lymphoma; all factors were strictly intercorrelated. In intestinal site, radical tumor resectability was highly significant for survival. Cumulative proportion of relapses after 5 years was higher in intestinal than in gastric sites (44% vs. 22%). In conclusion, primary gastrointestinal tract NHLs may represent an entity with respect to characteristic histological features, focal tumor growth, and potential cure by radical resection. Because of late relapses, clinical follow-up is needed.

Adolescent↗

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas of the intestine.

Twenty-seven cases of primary peripheral T-cell lymphomas of the intestine (PTLI) were investigated. Seven patients had histories of malabsorption. The most frequent symptoms at presentation were weight loss, abdominal pain, and acute abdomen. The jejunum was the most common site of lymphoma and multifocal disease was found in 72% of the cases. Twenty-two patients (92%) presented with localized disease confined to the intestine and abdominal lymph nodes, only two patients had generalized disease. According to the pattern of lymphoma infiltration and the morphology of the uninvolved small intestinal mucosa, 21 cases were separated histologically into three categories; 1) enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATCL, n = 9) showing predominant intramucosal lymphoma spread and villous atrophy of uninvolved mucosa with high density of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), 2) EATCL-like lymphoma without enteropathy (EATCL-LLWE, n = 5) but with an infiltration pattern similar to EATCL, and 3) T-cell lymphoma without features of EATCL (Non-EATCL, n = 7). Distinctive features of EATCL were the high incidence of malabsorption states, multifocal intestinal disease in all cases, and the high frequency of intestinal recurrences. On frozen sections four of eight PTLI showed the phenotype CD3+ CD4- CD8- HML-1+, which is also expressed on a small subset of normal IEL. The morphologic and immunomorphologic findings suggest that the majority of PTLI is derived from mucosal T lymphocytes. This derivation may be responsible for certain biologic features, such as the preferential spread to and relapse of PTLI at small intestinal sites.

Adult↗

[Therapy of peptic ulcers with famotidine. Report of experiences with an open clinical study].

In a two center open uncontrolled clinical trial, the efficacy of a single evening dose of 40 mg famotidine (Ulcusan) was studied in a total of 37 patients (20 with chronic duodenal ulcers, 9 with recurring and 8 with acute gastric ulcers). 35 patients completed the study. In all 35 cases, endoscopic examination confirmed that ulcers had healed. All but one gastric ulcer healed within 4 weeks (80%) or 8 weeks (94.3%) of therapy. The cumulative rate of recovery for gastric ulcers was 87.5% and for duodenal ulcers 100%. During the first 4 weeks of therapy, vanishing of symptoms occurred and additional intake of antacids diminished progressively. Day-time symptoms tended to disappear earlier than nocturnal symptoms during the course of treatment. No objective or subjective side-effects were reported. A temporary exanthema appeared in 1 case after 4 weeks of treatment but could not be identified as causally related to famotidine. In this study famotidine turned out to be very effective in ulcer healing and was free of side effects. Thus, this preparation may be recommended also for "low-dose long-term prophylaxis" of chronic peptic ulcers.

Adult↗

Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Silymarin, the active principle of the milk thistle Silybum marianum, protects experimental animals against various hepatotoxic substances. To determine the effect of silymarin on the outcome of patients with cirrhosis, a double blind, prospective, randomized study was performed in 170 patients with cirrhosis. 87 patients (alcoholic 46, non-alcoholic 41; 61 male, 26 female; Child A, 47; B, 37; C, 3; mean age 57) received 140 mg silymarin three times daily. 83 patients (alcoholic 45, non-alcoholic 38; 62 male, 21 female; Child A, 42; B, 32; C, 9: mean age 58) received a placebo. Non-compliant patients and patients who failed to come to a control were considered as 'drop outs' and were withdrawn from the study. All patients received the same treatment until the last patient entered had finished 2-years of treatment. The mean observation period was 41 months. There were 10 drop outs in the placebo group and 14 in the treatment group. In the placebo group, 37 (+2 drop outs) patients had died, and in 31 of these, death was related to liver disease. In the treatment group, 24 (+4 drop outs) had died, and in 18 of these, death was related to liver disease. The 4-year survival rate was 58 +/- 9% (S.E.) in silymarin-treated patients and 39 +/- 9% in the placebo group (P = 0.036). Analysis of subgroups indicated that treatment was effective in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (P = 0.01) and in patients initially rated 'Child A' (P = 0.03). No side effects of drug treatment were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Accomplishments of tumor surgery in tumors of the lymphatic system].

Malignant lymphomas behave like localised tumors and should be removed by radical operation. Stage, histology, type of surgery and postoperative therapy significantly influence prognosis. Curative resections should be carried out in stage I/1 and I/2, palliative resections in all other stages. Postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is currently obligatory in all stages except I/1 and I/2.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Primary multiple colonic carcinoma.

Polypoid lesions of the colon are commonly accepted risk factors for the development of carcinomas of the colon. Fifty-two of 266 patients with one or more polypoid lesions of the colon showed a carcinoma in one of the polyps, 6 patients had a second carcinoma. Our study demonstrates the importance of preoperative investigation of the total colon in patients with carcinoma of the colon. Furthermore, the necessity of total exstirpation of each polypoid lesion is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. A retrospective clinicopathologic study of 150 cases.

The records of 150 primary gastrointestinal (GI) lymphomas in adults collected from 1974 to 1982 at the Department of Pathology, University of Vienna, were reviewed. One hundred thirty-three cases of malignant lymphomas (ML) were analyzed with respect to histologic type, presenting tumor stage, and clinical course, as well as for factors influencing prognosis. The histologic type of ML as assessed by the Working Formulation and the Kiel, the Lukes and Collins, and the Rappaport classifications showed only a minor influence on prognosis. MLs of follicular center cell origin prevailed in the stomach and large cell, immunoblastic MLs prevailed in the bowel. Immunoperoxidase studies indicated a B-cell nature of GI MLs and demonstrated intracytoplasmic IgM kappa or lambda in most of the MLs of the small lymphocytic, plasmacytoid, and immunoblastic type, respectively. The 105 cases of gastric MLs represented 3.6% of all malignancies of the stomach collected during the study period. Clinical symptoms preceded the diagnosis by 4.4 months on average, and endoscopic biopsy specimens indicated malignancy in 78%. Presenting tumor stages of gastric MLs according to the Ann Arbor staging system were Stage I in 20%, Stage II in 76.2%, and Stage IV in 3.8%. The 28 cases of intestinal ML localized in the small and large bowel without any site prevalence presented with Stage I in 14%, Stage II in 82%, and Stage III in 4%. Tumor resection was performed in 90% of all cases and was followed by multiagent therapy in 53%. Radical tumor resection was obtained in 58% of the gastric MLs and only 28.6% of the intestinal MLs and was closely related to tumor stage. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant influence of the presenting tumor stage on prognosis as expressed by the overall 2-year survival rate of 70% for Stage I versus 39% for Stage II ML. In addition, Stage II1 according to Musshoff et al. run a better course than II2 as shown by the disease-free 2-year survival rate of 49% versus 15%, respectively. Radical tumor resection was a major determinant of survival and cure of disease as exhibited by the disease-free 2-year survival rate of 57% after radical resection versus 8% after nonradical resection of ML. Finally, diffuse tumor growth and tumor penetration of the gastric wall beyond serosa decreased the survival rates.

Adult↗

[Primary biliary cirrhosis and scleroderma: long-term benign course of a complex autoimmune disease].

A 57 year old female patient suffered from Raynaud's syndrome and relapsing necrotizing lesions of the finger tips. Diagnosis of sclerodermia was established by angiography and biopsy. A spotty brownish coloration of the skin and cirrhosis of the liver were observed in addition. Clinical chemistry showed increased alkaline phosphatase and increased titers of antimitochondrial antibodies. Histology of liver tissue was compatible with a diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. After a course of several years a Sicca syndrome appeared. On investigation of family members an increased incidence of positive antinuclear and antimitochondrial antibodies was found. The patient has now been followed for 5 years. Prognosis may be considered to be good.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

[Sonography and scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of diffuse liver parenchymal diseases].

70 patients with established diffuse liver disease (steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis) were investigated by sonography and scintigraphy. Sonographic parenchymal morphology and scintigraphic activity pattern were correlated with the histological diagnosis. Scintigraphy as a functional diagnostic technique revealed early fibrotic changes of the liver not seen by ultrasound. Cirrhosis could be demonstrated equally by both methods. The two major advances of ultrasound were: high accuracy in steatosis and ability of simultaneous analysis of the other abdominal organs.

Celiac Disease↗

Relative incidence of primary liver cancer in cirrhosis in Austria. Etiological considerations.

The incidence of primary liver cancer (PLC) was assessed in 652 patients (429 male, 223 female) with liver cirrhosis. By the end of the study 416 (64%) of all patients had died. The autopsy rate was 65%. PLC developed in 73 patients. Histologically, 67 cases were classified as hepatocellular (HCC), one as mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocellular and five as cholangiocellular carcinoma. In 30 cases, HCC was confirmed within a year of diagnosis of cirrhosis, and in the remaining 37 cases HCC developed 2-13 years later. At autopsy, the frequency of HCC was almost twice as high in males (27%) as in females (15%) (p less than 0.025). This difference occurred in alcoholic and posthepatitic cirrhosis but not in cryptogenetic cirrhosis. HBsAg was detected in 19.0% of male and 9.2% of female patients (p less than 0.01). Comparison of patients with and without HCC revealed no significant differences in the prevalence of HBsAg. These data indicate that HCC is common in Austrian patients with cirrhosis, representing 60% of all malignant tumors in this group. In view of the high HBsAg carrier rate and the prevalence of chronic alcoholism in patients with cirrhosis, it is suggested that the two factors together lead to an increased risk of cirrhosis followed by an increased incidence of HCC.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗