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Biomedical subjects

D Benchimol

Publications and source records attributed to D Benchimol.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Open inguinal hernia repair by plug and patch: the value of fibrin sealant fixation.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic meshes give excellent results in groin hernia repair. However, although recurrence rates are very low, chronic pain remains frequent and mesh fixation may play a role in the occurrence of this complication. The use of fibrin sealant to secure the mesh may represent a useful alternative for the prevention of chronic pain. The aim of this study is to confirm that the mesh may be secured by spraying fibrin sealant and to assess the reduction in the incidence of chronic pain. METHODS: Seventy hernias were operated on in 57 patients and were evaluated on a prospective basis. The procedure involved placement of a plug and patch mesh which was secured with fibrin sealant alone. These patients were compared to a matched retrospective series of 57 patients who underwent the same procedure, except that conventional non-absorbable suture was used to secure the mesh. RESULTS: The two groups were equivalent for inclusion criteria and preoperative data. The complication rate was similar in the two groups. The operative time was shorter in the fibrin sealant group: 7 min for unilateral hernia (p=0.0017) and 16 min for bilateral hernia (p=0.0008). The length of hospital stay was also shorter in the fibrin sealant group (1.8 days vs. 2.5 days: p < 0.0001). There was no recurrence in the fibrin sealant group after a minimum follow-up of 12 months and no recurrence in the suture group after a minimum follow-up of 25 months. Finally, a significant reduction in chronic pain was observed in the fibrin sealant group (3.5% vs. 22.8%: p=0.042). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the effectiveness of fibrin glue in securing prosthetic meshes and reducing chronic inguinal pain.

Adult↗

EGFR in colorectal cancer: more than a simple receptor.

BACKGROUND: Advances in the understanding of tumor biology have led to the development of targeted therapies allowing progress in colorectal cancer treatment. One of the most promising targets is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). METHOD: The presence and distribution of high- and low-affinity EGFR was investigated retrospectively in a group of 82 colorectal cancer samples (43 normal colon-colon cancer paired samples) using a specific ligand binding assay (Scatchard Analysis). FINDINGS: A large majority of tumor samples exhibited one class of high-affinity binding sites (78%). Eighteen cases (22%) exhibited both high- and low-affinity binding sites. A wide interpatient variability was observed for the site number, with physiologically-relevant high-affinity sites ranging from 7 to 310 fmol/mg protein in tumors and from 6 to 313 fmol/mg protein in normal mucosa. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between tumor and normal mucosa for the high-affinity Kd values and for the number of high-affinity sites, suggesting a common regulation for both tumor and normal tissue. INTERPRETATION: These observations (i) could explain recently-reported clinically-active EGFR targeting in colorectal tumors apparently negative for EGFR, and (ii) may offer a plausible explanation for the link observed between toxicity in normal tissue (cutaneous rash) and clinical outcome of patients treated with anti-EGFR drugs. Present data extends our understanding of EGFR identity in colorectal cancer which could be useful in reconsidering the predictive tools for the identification of tumors putatively responsive to EGFR targeted therapy.

Aged↗

[Bening enterogenital fistulas arising from the digestive tract: three cases].

Fistulas between the female genital tract and the digestive tract occur after obstetrical, oncological, or post-operative complications. We report herein 3 rare cases of enterogenital fistulas: one colouterine fistula and one colotubal fistula in a patient with diverticulitis, and one ileovaginal fistula in a patient with Crohn's disease. Vaginal discharge was frequent and incited patients to consult a gynecologist. Better knowledge of enterogenital fistulas is necessary to enable earlier diagnosis and apply specific treatment. The incidence of colovaginal fistulas is increasing in diverticular disease because of increased prevalences of hysterectomies and diverticular disease.

Adult↗

Gastrojejunocolic fistula after gastric surgery for duodenal ulcer: case report.

Gastrojejunocolic fistulae, a late complication of gastroenterostomy, are presently uncommon. Patients can present with symptoms of a fistula 20 years or more after their original gastric surgery. The knowledge of this rare condition can allow prevention, through a better operative strategy and a medical treatment at the phase of stomal ulcer with proton pump inhibitor and Helicobacter pylori eradication. We present a case of gastrojejunocolic fistula and discuss the modern management of this condition. Its etiological, clinical, and surgical features were briefly discussed.

Aged↗

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status in primary colorectal tumors correlates with EGFR expression in related metastatic sites: biological and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). There are several potential strategies to target EGFR. However, monoclonal antibodies and low molecular weight tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the most advanced in clinical development. The majority of studies so far have merely required EGFRs to be expressed by CRC cells. The detection of EGFR expression is usually performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the primary tumor. There are few data regarding the EGFR status in the corresponding distant metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: EGFR status was analyzed by IHC in 80 patients (31 male, 49 female) with CRC (70 colon, 10 rectum) and at least one distant metastatic lesion. Metastatic sites analyzed (n=80) were liver (79 patients) and lung (one patient). RESULTS: EGFR reactivity was similar in the primary tumor and the related metastases. Among the 80 paired primary/metastatic tumors, only five (6.3%) showed discordance in EGFR status: two cases with EGFR expression in the primary tumor but not in the metastasis, and three samples with EGFR expression in the metastasis but not in the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Between the paired primary tumors and distant metastatic lesions, 94% of samples had concordant EGFR status when analyzed by IHC.

Adult↗

[Rupture of a pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm with median arcuate ligament syndrome: report of a case].

Aneurysms of pancreaticoduodenal arteries represent only 2% of all aneurysms of digestive arteries. Occurrence of these aneurysms are favoured by stenosis or occlusion of the celiac axis. Aneurysm rupture is frequent and carries a mortality rate of 20%. Computed tomography with intravenous contrast and selective coeliomesenteric arteriography can make the diagnosis of this disease which can be treated by either surgery or embolotherapy. We report the case of a patient with a ruptured aneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal arcades mimicking a perforated duodenal ulcer, and successfully treated by surgical ligation.

Aged↗

Concomitant leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the oesophagus.

Leiomyosarcoma of the oesophagus is a malignant tumor that originates from smooth muscle cells. The filiation between oesophageal leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma is controversial, with few cases reported in literature. The authors describe un uncommon situation with the simultaneous presence of a leiomyoma and a leiomyosarcoma of the oesophagus in a 75 year-old man, which have been successfully treated with surgical resection. It could probably be a case of a malignant transformation of a previous pre-existing multiple non-confluent leiomyoma.

Aged↗

Anatomy of the presacral venous plexus: implications for rectal surgery.

The presacral venous plexus results from anastomoses between the lateral and median sacral veins, and courses into the pelvic fascia covering the anterior aspect of the body of the sacrum. The presacral venous plexus is not directly visible during rectal surgery, and injuries to this plexus may be life-threatening. Dissection of the retrorectal plane or anchoring of the rectum to the sacral promontory as in rectal prolapse surgery exposes the patient to the risk of injury to the presacral venous plexus. The aim of this study was to identify some avascular areas in the anterior aspect of the sacrum in order to lower the occurrence of such injuries during rectal surgery. The pelvis of 10 fresh cadavers was dissected after injection of a colored resin into the inferior vena cava, and the presacral venous plexus was studied. Four avascular tetragonal areas were common to all the specimens. The corners of a square with a side of 3 cm, centered on the anterior aspect of the body of sacrum, were always contained in the avascular areas. The upper side of this square was parallel to a line passing through the sacral promontory, at a 3 cm distance from it. Staples or sutures should be placed in the avascular areas to avoid injuries to the presacral venous plexus.

Cadaver↗

[Retained fecalith after laparoscopic appendicectomy].

The subhepatic abscess due to retained fecalith is a rare complication following appendicectomy. The incidence of this complication is probably going to increase due to high rate of laparoscopic appendicectomy. We report 2 cases of subhepatic abscess 1 and 2 years after laparoscopic appendectomies. This potentially serious complication could be preventing with technical recommendations. When it occurs, this complication has to be directly treated by surgical drainage, percutaneous drainage couldn't be successful because it leaves fecalith in its place which is a cause of recurrence. Our reports are the first to use a laparoscopic treatment of this complication.

Abscess↗

Subcutaneous or intrahepatic injection of suicide gene modified tumour cells induces a systemic antitumour response in a metastatic model of colon carcinoma in rats.

BACKGROUND: Suicide gene therapy consists of the transfer into tumour cells of a "suicide" gene that can convert a non-toxic compound into a lethal drug. Expression of the cytosine deaminase gene leads to the conversion of the non-toxic compound 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil. We have recently shown that "suicide cell based vaccination" consisting of intrahepatic injection of cytosine deaminase expressing colon cancer cells followed by 5-fluorocytosine treatment induces regression of a distant wild-type liver tumour in rats. AIMS: This study was conducted to test if (i) a distant bystander effect on a liver tumour can be induced after subcutaneous suicide cell based vaccination and (ii) suicide cell based vaccination is efficient in limiting tumour dissemination to extrahepatic compartments. METHODS: An aggressive variant of rat colon carcinoma cells was selected after successive passages in vitro. Rats carrying an experimental liver "metastasis" generated by injection of these cells were vaccinated by subcapsular or subcutaneous injection of cytosine deaminase expressing cells followed by 5-fluorocytosine treatment. RESULTS: Subcutaneous and subcapsular vaccination induced 70% regression in the median volume of the pre-established liver tumour (p=0.001) and abolished tumour dissemination compared with control animals. CONCLUSIONS: This study has compared for the first time the efficiency of subcutaneous and intrahepatic suicide cell based vaccination in a metastatic colorectal carcinoma model in rats. The results indicate that both modes of vaccination are equally efficient in inducing a systemic antitumour response, suggesting that this strategy is a powerful approach against the development and dissemination of metastatic colon carcinoma.

Animals↗

[Treatement of colorectal obstruction with self-expanding metallic stents under fluoroscopic guidance].

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate fluoroscopic-assisted insertion of self-expanding metallic stents before surgery or for palliative treatment of soft tissue colorectal obstruction. Materials and methods. From January 1999 to October 2000, 18 consecutive patients with colorectal obstruction were included in the study. Treatment with self-expanding metallic stent was either the first line of treatment before surgery (n=8) (group I) or purely palliative (n=10) (group II). Colic stenosis was located proximal to the sigmoid in seven cases. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 83.3% of cases and colic decompression was observed after 48 hours in all patients with a stent. Thirty days mortality and stent related complications were respectively 0% and 37.5% for group I, and 20% and 50% for group II. All complications were minor except for one colic perforation by a guidewire. CONCLUSION: Stent insertion was effective and provided relief of colic obstruction in the majority of cases. Randomized studies would be necessary to demonstrate a definitive reduction in mortality and morbidity with this technique as compared to the classical surgical approach.

Aged↗

Seasonal variation in acute intestinal vasculopathy mortality in France.

OBJECTIVES: Seasonal and circadian rhythms are observed in cardiovascular diseases. Seasonal variation in acute intestinal vasculopathy has never been investigated. This report describes the seasonal variation of acute intestinal vasculopathy mortality in the French population. METHODS: All deaths that occurred among French adults over the period 1987-1996 (N = 20,830) for acute intestinal vasculopathy (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 557.0) were examined retrospectively. Cumulated monthly averages were expressed as the percentage above or below the average monthly value during the entire study period. RESULTS: Deaths for acute intestinal vasculopathy peaked in January (15% above the trend), and were lowest in July (11% below the trend), both in the overall population (Roger's test: p < 0.001) and in subgroups defined by age (>69 yr old) and sex. Compared to other subgroups, the >90 yr old individuals had a higher incidence of acute intestinal vasculopathy with a greater amplitude of seasonal variation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of higher risk during winter would help to reduce the high mortality from acute intestinal vasculopathy. A better understanding of this seasonal pattern would allow practitioners to improve early diagnosis and treatment.

Acute Disease↗