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Biomedical subjects

C Vons

Publications and source records attributed to C Vons.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transgastric laparoscopic approach for resection of hemorrhagic Dieulafoy's vascular malformation.

We report the case of a successfully resected hemorrhagic Dieulafoy's vascular malformation using a transgastric laparoscopic approach. A 37-year-old man was admitted for hematemesis and anemia. Emergency endoscopy revealed active hemorrhage from a submucosal vascular malformation in the posterior gastric wall. Dieulafoy's disease was suspected. It was initially treated by repeated endoscopy. Due to recurrent bleeding, on day 3 the patient was scheduled for surgery. The laparoscopic treatment consisted of an anterior gastrotomy, followed by extirpation and resection of the lesion after evaluation of the gastro-esophageal junction. There was no need for intraoperative endoscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the application of a transgastric laparoscopic approach for the management of a hemorrhagic Dieulafoy's vascular malformation.

Adult↗

[Laparoscopic treatment of ventral hernias].

The use of mesh in incisional hernia repair has reduced the rate of hernia recurrence. Laparoscopic placement of mesh is a promising alternative to the classical open approach. Recent studies involving large numbers of patients have shown the laparoscopic approach to be feasible in 95% of cases; the incidence of postoperative complications was low and hernia recurrence occurred in 3-5% at three years. Several retrospective studies and one randomized study comparing open versus laparascopic ventral hernia repair suggest that the laparoscopic repair yields better results (fewer postoperative complications and lower recurrence rate) than the classical open approach.

Hernia, Ventral↗

[When should peripheral lymphadenopathy be biopsied?].

Excisional biopsy for lymphadenopathy is sometimes necessary to confirm the diagnosis of lymphoma or metastatic disease from an unknown primary site. Lymph node excision should be preceded by less invasive approaches which may confirm a benign pathology. Collaboration with medical and hematologic specialists will allow a well-reasoned diagnostic approach with complementary studies; excisional biopsy, if necessary, will then be done under the best conditions and in the most cost-efficient manner.

Biopsy↗

Low-cost laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Hospital managers are continually trying to decrease the cost of patient care. The aim of this prospective study was to propose changes that would decrease the operating room costs of laparoscopic cholecystectomy without affecting clinical results. METHODS: The study included 112 consecutive patients who underwent an elective cholecystectomy between January 1997 and December 2000. The procedure was changed in eight ways: the American position, open laparoscopy, reusable trocars, reusable instruments, bipolar coagulation of the cystic artery, intracorporeal ligature of the cystic duct, no use of suction lavage apparatus, and use of a surgical glove as a bag to extract the gallbladder. Complete compliance with the procedure, whether any abnormal operative events or complications occurred, the duration of hospitalization, and the material and labour costs of the procedure were recorded. RESULTS: There were no abnormal operative events. Only two patients suffered from postoperative complications. The mean duration of hospitalization was 55.8 h. Fifteen patients (13.4 per cent) were not hospitalized overnight. The operating costs fell from 560 euros before the study to 330 euros in 2000. CONCLUSION: By applying simple measures, it is possible to decrease the operating room cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy whilst maintaining good results. Such measures should be applied to other laparoscopic procedures.

Adult↗

Transplantation of hepatocytes in nonhuman primates: a preclinical model for the treatment of hepatic metabolic diseases.

BACKGROUND: The transplantation of isolated hepatocytes in large animals, including nonhuman primates, must be evaluated before clinical trials are performed. However, in the absence of large transgenic animals and large-animal (as opposed to small-animal) models of genetic deficiencies, it is difficult to evaluate the fate of transplanted hepatocytes, their localization, survival, and function within the parenchyma of the host liver. In this work, we aimed to develop a technique for delivering hepatocytes to the liver of a nonhuman primate and to evaluate their localization and functionality in the short term. METHODS: A 20% hepatectomy was performed in 34 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and hepatocytes were isolated. Hepatocytes were labeled in vitro with a recombinant retrovirus expressing the beta-galactosidase gene and returned to the liver by infusion through a portal catheter left in place. Liver biopsies were performed 4 and 7 d after transplantation. RESULTS: Twenty-four monkeys underwent surgery to define the necessary technical adjustments and to optimize conditions. Six monkeys died. The whole protocol, including the transplantation of genetically marked hepatocytes and procurement of liver biopsies, was performed in the remaining 10 monkeys. In eight monkeys, transplanted hepatocytes expressing the beta-galactosidase gene were widely distributed in the portal tracts, sinusoids, and hepatocyte plates of the host liver 4 and 7 d after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed an experimental nonhuman primate model for the evaluation of hepatocyte transplantation. We demonstrated the engraftment and functioning of transplanted hepatocytes in the host liver 4 and 7 d after transplantation.

Animals↗

Engraftment of autologous retrovirally transduced hepatocytes after intraportal transplantation into nonhuman primates: implication for ex vivo gene therapy.

The main impediment to effective ex vivo liver gene therapy of metabolic diseases is the lack of experimental work on large animals to resolve such important issues as effective gene delivery, cell-processing techniques, and the development of appropriate vectors. We have used a nonhuman primate, as a preclinical model, to analyze the limiting steps of this approach using recombinant retroviruses. Seven monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) underwent the complete protocol: their left liver lobe was resected, a catheter was placed in the inferior mesenteric vein and connected to an infusion chamber, and the hepatocytes were isolated, cultured, and transduced with a retroviral vector containing the beta-galactosidase gene. The hepatocytes were harvested and returned to the host via the infusion chamber. Biopsies were taken 4-40 days later. No animal was killed in the course of the experiments. They all tolerated the procedure well. We have developed and defined conditions that permit the proliferation and transduction of up to 90% of the plated hepatocytes. A significant proportion of genetically modified cells, representing up to 3% of the liver mass, were safely delivered to the liver via the chamber. Polymerase chain reaction analysis detected integrated viral DNA sequences and quantitative analysis of the in situ beta-Gal-expressing hepatocytes indicated that a significant amount of transduced hepatocytes, up to 2%, had become integrated into the liver and were functional. These results represent substantial advances in the development of the ex vivo approach and suggest that this approach is of clinical relevance for liver-directed gene therapy.

Animals↗

[Diagnosis of appendicular syndromes: for a rational approach].

Diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made in 80% of cases by analysis of symptoms and physical examination. Epigastric pain, secondary located in the lower quadrant, along with tenderness is the most specific sign of acute appendicitis. In 20% of cases, diagnosis is difficult. High level of leucocytosis is not of great value. Laparoscopy has been proposed to visualize the appendix. Echotomography and tomodensitometry are less invasive and less costly procedures, that let surgeons identify the appendix and confirm or reject the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Thus, surgical acts should be restricted to necessary appendicectomies.

Abdominal Pain↗

[Transplantation of isolated hepatocytes, is it an alternative for total liver transplantation? On the treatment of hereditary hepatic metabolic diseases].

Since 1976, it has been demonstrated in the small animal that isolated hepatocytes transferred into the liver can integrate into the recipient organ, survive and perform differentiated functions. This cell therapy technique can be used to partially correct for hereditary metabolic disorders in animal models of human hereditary metabolic diseases. The first methods used for hepatocytes transplantation involved a mass of hepatocytes that was clearly to limited (about 0.5% and never more than 2%). Integration fo the hepathocytes was limited by poorly understood factors. The vary variable clinicial results in the eight trials performed in the 90s is a clear demonstration. Recent work has helped understand the mechanisms limiting the integration of transplanted hepatocytes in the recipient liver. This led to the concept of repopulation, increasing the percentage of the hepatocyte mass reconstituted during the transplantation. The goal is to give the transplanted hepatocytes a proliferation advantage over he native hepatocytes. Several models have been designed and are currently being evaluated for application in humans. We are not far from new clinical trials with hepatocyte transplantation in humans for the treatment hereditary metabolic diseases. For certain disease, 3 to 5% normally functioning hepatocytes in the recipient liver would be sufficient to achieve a clinically significant effect for the patient.

Animals↗

[Effect of portal branch ligation on liver regeneration in the rat].

GOAL: The aim of this study was to assess liver regeneration after partial portal ligation. METHODS: 70% partial portal occlusion was obtained by ligation of the left portal vein branch. Total liver weight ratio were measured 96 hours after partial portal occlusion and in sham operated animals. The kinetics of hepatocytes division was evaluated by measuring the incorporation of 5-bromo-21-deoxyuridine into replicating cells at various time points by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Partial portal occlusion did not alter the total liver weight 96 hours after surgery. It resulted in atrophy of the ligated lobes and hypertrophy of the lobes with preserved portal flow. Hypertrophy was associated to an increase of the percentage of replicating hepatocytes. The replication rate was maximum at 28 hours with a peak at 12.5% and was prolonged beyond the 48th hour. CONCLUSIONS: Partial portal occlusion results in major and prolonged regeneration process in the liver lobes with preserved portal flow.

Animals↗

[Ovarian endometriosis cyst with iodine 131 uptake : first case of false positive in the follow up for differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

A whole body scan is performed after a radioiodine treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. This scan is useful coupled with thyroglobulin level for the patient's management. When unusual uptake is found, investigations have to be done to eliminate thyroid metastasis. A 28-year old woman underwent a total thyroidectomy for micro papillary carcinoma. Two years and a half after, ultrasonography of the neck showed a small lymph node in homolateral side of carcinoma. It was decided to begin treatment with iodine 131. The post-therapeutic scan showed an abnormal pelvic uptake. IRM found no osseous abnormality but an ovarian lesion. After surgery, histological diagnosis was an endometriosis cyst without thyroid or tumoral cells. Abdominal ou pelvic iodine false positive are rare. Ovarian cysts may be the cause of false positive radioiodine uptake. Endometriosis cyst was not previously described and the mecanism of iodine uptake is not clear.

Adult↗