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Biomedical subjects

B H Novis

Publications and source records attributed to B H Novis.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Immunoproliferative small-intestinal disease: follow-up of an alpha-chain negative, lymphoma-free group.

Six patients had the clinical and pathological features of immunoproliferative small-intestinal disease (IPSID). All were female with malabsorption or growth retardation in whom testing for alpha-heavy chains was repeatedly negative. They were followed for a mean of 7.5 years, during which time no significant alteration in the jejunal biopsy appearances of five patients has occurred, none have developed lymphomas.

Adolescent↗

Betazole-induced GIP secretion is not mediated by gastric HCl.

Betazole, a pyrazole analogue of histamine, as well as pentagastrin and HCl stimulate GIP secretion. We have asked the question as to whether betazole acts directly or via the production of HCl. Eight normal subjects and 4 patients with achlorhydria secondary to pernicious anemia were given betazole (0.5 mg/kg) by IM injection. Another six normal subjects were also given betazole but this was preceded by 200 mgs. of the H2 receptor blocker cimetidine given IV 60 mins. previously and a slow infusion of 200 mg. cimetidine given over the next 4 hr. Our results have shown that the GIP response to betazole is maintained in achlorhydric subjects as well as during H2 blockade. The results suggest that betazole and therefore histamine may stimulate GIP directly and not necessarily via the mediation of HCl.

Achlorhydria↗

Endoscopic sphincterotomy in biliary tract disease.

In many centers endoscopic sphincterotomy is replacing surgery, which has never been an ideal treatment for retained common duct calculi. We attempted endoscopic sphincterotomy in 70 patients, succeeding in 60 (85%). Sixty-one patients had choledocholithiasis (58 postcholecystectomy), 7 had papillary stenosis, 1 carcinoma of the papilla of Vater, and 1 hydatid disease. Repeat cholangiography in 56 patients with gallstones showed spontaneous passage in 44. In three patients the sphincterotomy required extension, and in three the stones were extracted using a Dormia basket. In four patients the stones did not pass, and surgical removal was necessary. Satisfactory biliary drainage was obtained in all the other patients, and the only complications noted were cholangitis and severe pancreatitis. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is reasonably safe and an acceptable, if not preferable, alternative to surgical removal of retained gallstones, and it is also effective in relieving papillary stenosis.

Aged↗

Pure pancreatic juice cytology obtained at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Aspiration cytology was performed in 38 patients, in whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed because of jaundice or abdominal pain suspected of being pancreatic in origin. The fluid for the cytologic examination was obtained through a catheter in the pancreatic duct after administration of secretin i.v. Neoplastic cells were found in the aspirate of 12 of the 20 patients who were eventually proven to have an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Aspiration cytology of fluid obtained during ERCP has been shown to be useful in preoperative confirmation of pancreatic malignancy.

Carcinoma↗

Bicitropeptide, antacid and placebo in gastric and duodenal ulceration. A two-centre, double-blind, comparative endoscopic study.

A bismuth-peptide complex (BCP Compound), an antacid (Maalox) and corresponding placebos were studied in a 6-week comparative double-blind trial of treatment in 106 randomized ambulant patients with endoscopically proven duodenal and gastric ulcers. Patients were examined after 1, 3 and 6 weeks' treatment and results assessed separately for duodenal and gastric ulcers on endoscopic evidence at weeks 3 and 6 respectively. Bicitropeptide was significantly better than antacid and placebo at 3 and 6 weeks for treatment of both duodenal and gastric ulcers. In the bicitropeptide group 100% of the patients in the duodenal ulcer group and 95,2% in the gastric ulcer group responded to treatment (improved or healed). No haematological or biochemical changes were noted and no adverse effects were recorded.

Adult↗

Primary intestinal lymphoma in South Africa.

All adult cases of primary intestinal lymphoma seen during the years 1953--77 at Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa, were reviewed. Seventy percent of patients with solitary lymphoma and 80% with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease were mulatto. Patients in the latter group presented with malabsorption and those with a solitary lymphoma presented with intestinal obstruction. Four of 15 patients tested for the presence of alpha-heavy-chains were found to have alpha-heavy-chain disease. Family studies of potential genetic and immunologic factors showed some significant differences in IgA and IgG levels in the families of two patients with alpha-heavy-chain disease. Elevated alkaline phosphatase of intestinal origin was found in four of six patients with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease and in a high proportion of relatives. Fifty percent of the six patients were of blood group B. Minor blood groups, ABH secretor state and Pi phenotype distribution were similar to those of the control subjects. HLA gene frequency was particularly increased in the HLA-A9 antigen. These studies suggest that genetic factors may be relevant to the pathogenesis of immunoproliferative small intestinal disease.

Adult↗

The Mallory-Weiss syndrome. A prospective study in 130 patients.

The clinical features of the Mallory-Weiss syndrome were prospectively documented in 130 of 1 667 patients submitted to endoscopy for gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, an incidence of 7,8%. The important clinical features found in these patients were: alcohol abuse (21%); retching or vomiting (38%); salicylate ingestion (36%); dyspepsia (39%). The correct clinical diagnosis was therefore often difficult to make. Additional lesions were found in 40% of patients at endoscopy. Blood loss was relatively small, and surgery was not required in any patient. The 2 deaths that occurred were not attributable to haemorrhage. A high index of suspicion and early endoscopy are required to establish the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Serum lysozyme in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Serum lysozyme (muramidase) concentrations were determined in 55 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 6 with miscellaneous bowel disease, 40 with pulmonary tuberculosis, and in 20 normal subjects. The mean (+/- SE) lysozyme concentration for each group was as follows: controls 6,95 +/- 0,36 microgram/ml; ulcerative colitis 9,61 +/- 1,02 microgram/ml; inactive Crohn's disease 7,61 +/- 0,53 microgram/ml; active Crohn's disease 20,77 +/- 2,17 microgram/ml; sputum-negative tuberculosis 13,05 +/- 1,06 microgram/ml; and sputum-positive tuberculosis 20,35 +/- 2,08 microgram/ml. The mean enzyme levels were significantly higher in patients with Crohn's disease than in those with ulcerative colitis (P less than 0,05) or in normal controls (P less than 0,01). Our findings suggest that serum lysozyme levels may be useful in differentiating active Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis, but the results overlap somewhat. However, the enzyme level may be a useful index of disease activity in following up patients with Crohn's disease. As tuberculosis is endemic in this country it must first be excluded, because patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have similarly high levels of serum lysozyme.

Adolescent↗

Alpha-chain disease. A case report with autopsy findings.

A 19-year-old Coloured man with alpha-chain disease died after perforation of a lymphoma in the duodenojejunal region. At autopsy he was found to have a dense plasma cell infiltration of the lamina propria of the entire small bowel, causing thickening of that organ, and a malignant lymphoma in the duodenojejunal region which had spread to regional mesenteric nodes and to the liver only.

Adult↗

Histamine H2-receptor antagonists in the treatment of duodenal ulcers.

A double-blind trial of histamine H2-receptor antagonists and placebo was carried out in 46 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulceration. H2-receptor antagonists (metiamide and cimetidine) produced a significantly greater degree of completely healed ulcers and fewer complete failures than placebo. The results of the trial indicate that H2-receptor antagonists promote the healing of ulcers. The action of these compounds would appear to be related to the inhibition of acid secretion. Neither the duration of the illness, rate of recurrence of the ulcers of level of gastric acid secretion materially affected the healing rate in indvidual patients. There were no serious side-effects over the 6-week period of drug administration, but the metiamide was replaced by cimetidine because reports from other centrea indicated that agranulocytosis was associtated with metiamide therapy.

Antacids↗

The use of an elemental diet in gastro-intestinal diseases.

An elemental diet containing predigested protein, a high content of predigested fat and carhobydrate, trace elements and vitamins, was administered as the only form of nutrition to 9 adult patients with chlonic, ileal and pancreatic fistulae, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, malabsorption states and abdominal lymphoma, and to 4 children with protracted diarrhoea. The diet was administered orally through a nasogastric tube for 1 - 8 weeks. Two patients were treated on an outpatient basis. There was considrable clinical improvement in 6 adults and in 3 children. Two adults and 1 child did not respond and 1 adult did not co-operate. The results justify the use of this elemental diet in carefully selected patients under strict medical supervision.

Adult↗

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the evaluation of pancreatic disease.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was carried out in 98 patients with unexplained abdominal pain or known pancreatitis with recurrent pain. Patients with jaundice were excluded from the study. In 38 patients with a clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis, the radiological findings on ERCP were graded according to the criteria of Kasugai et al. Advanced pancreatitis was found in 20 patients (52,5%), moderate changes in 7 (18,4%) and minimal-change pancreatitis in 6 (15,8%). ERCP had normal pancreatic function tests. In 35 patients investigated for unexplained abdominal pain, changes consistent with pancreatitis were found in 7, pancreatic carcinoma in 5, a duodenal ulcer in 2, gallstones in 1 and a duodenal tumour in 1. ERCP was normal in 19 patients. A comparison of the findings on ERCP and the standard secretin-cholecystokinin pancreatic function test was available in 52 patients. There was a good agreement between the two tests in the patients with advanced or moderate pancreatitis as revealed by ERCP, but less agreement in the patients with minimal-change pancreatitis. A few patients with clinical pancreatitis and abnormal ERCP had normal pancreatic function tests. ERCP increases the diagnostic yield in patients suspected of having pancreatitis and is at present the only reliable method of diagnosing pancreatic carcinoma which is not evident by other non-operative techniques. ERCP is also of value in the assessment of the severity of pancreatitis and is a necessary investigation before pancreatic surgery to confirm or exclude cyst formation or the site of duct obstruction. The finding of an unsuspected cyst at ERCP necessitates early operation because of the danger of introducing infection during the procedure.

Adolescent↗

A review of colonoscopy in 200 patients.

During the examination of the colon by fibre-optic colonoscopy in 200 consecutive patients it was possible to reach the caecum or suspected lesion in 80% of cases. Careful bowel preparation, sedation and detailed attention to techniques described are necessary for safe and successful performance of this procedure. In 85% of examinations, colonoscopy produced positive results including the definition of uncertain radiological lesions in 45 patients, finding of a cause for rectal bleeding not shown on barium studies in 15 patients, the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease in 28 patients, and the removal of polyps in 40 patients. Important was the finding of a normal colon in 49 cases, which obviated unnecessary surgery. Colonic perforation occurred in 2 patients. The limitations and complications of the procedure must be realised, but it is concluded that the colonoscope provides a valuable and effective means of diagnosis and therapy of lesions in the large bowel.

Adolescent↗

The Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: a report of 3 cases.

Three cases of the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome are reported and the literature is reviewed. The difficulties in the management of these patients are described and the importance of radiology and endoscopy is emphasised.

Adolescent↗