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Biomedical subjects

G E Block

Publications and source records attributed to G E Block.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

The operative treatment of Crohn's enteritis complicated by ileosigmoid fistula.

An ileosigmoid fistula complicating Crohn's disease of the small bowel has been considered a perplexing entity, but in practice does not pose a serious operative problem. The presence of such a fistula does not signify that the sigmoid colon is a primary site of Crohn's disease. The operative treatment of this entity is simple and usually does not require resection of the sigmoid colon. Rather the sigmoid colon defect may easily be treated by simple closure, or by minimal partial resection and closure. Temporary diversion of the fecal stream is occasionally indicated because of local inflammation. Forty-four of the 48 patients treated in this manner had successful resolution of their problem. Four patients were found to have primary Crohn's disease of the colon and required further treatments in addition to closure of the fistula.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Ileoanal anastomosis with proximal ileal reservoir: an experimental study.

Endorectal ileoanal anastomosis with proximal interposition of an ileal reservoir was evaluated experimentally in dogs as an approach to retain sphincteric control of defecation after proctocolectomy. Two months after the operative procedure, eight animals with a reservoir had four to eight semisolid stools per day and were continent. In contrast, six animals with straight ileoanal anastomosis were incontinent with 10 to 14 evacuations per day. Motility studies demonstrated a reduction of propulsive peristalsis within the undistended reservoir, which is considered the responsible factor for increased intestinal transit time and reduced stool frequency. Filling of the reservoir to capacity elicited strong peristaltic contractions, which may assure a more complete evacuation of the reservoir during defecation. Reservoir capacity increased substantially (150% to 200%) within 2 months but only to a minor degree thereafter, indicating that the reservoir does not dilate progressively into an atonic viscus. Motility patterns remained unaltered as the reservoir became more complaint with time. Mucosal alterations (flattening of villi, submucosal inflammation) were detected in the reservoir but did not result in nutritional defects within an observation period of 1 year.

Anal Canal↗
PubMed1981

Biologic markers in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

We have reviewed several tumor markers that our advocates feel are now clinically useful, involve current assay technology, and are based on already available information. These include, in selected instances, estrogen receptors for breast cancer, thyrocalcitonin for medullary cancer of the thyroid, prostatic acid phosphatase for cancer of the prostate, alpha-fetoprotein for hepatocellular cancer, and carcinoembryonic antigen for monitoring colon cancer. We have considered the potential use of measurement of serum proteases and protein degradation products due to their activity as possible future areas of development, and we have explored measurement of tissue aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase to identify populations at risk of cancer resulting from chemical carcinogenesis. It is clear that the study of tumor markers is already improving patient care in some specific areas and offers exciting potential for the future.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1979

Inflammatory tissue reaction in rabbit bowel injected with Crohn's homogenates.

Homogenates from the terminal ileum of a patient with Crohn's disease with granulomas were prepared as snap-frozen or fresh and were injected into the ascending colonic walls of New Zealand white rabbits. Control animals were injected with 1 per cent bovine serum albumin alone. The rabbit bowel was examined after 1 year, and lesions were noted in each of the rabbits injected with Crohn's disease homogenate, irrespective of the type of tissue preparation. The observed lesions were diffuse and occurred both at the injection site and in the terminal ileum. These changes were not noted in the control group. This work confirms earlier results in the same animal model and suggests that either fresh or snap-frozen homogenates will produce the intestinal lesion but that bovine albumin alone will not.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Prospective evaluation of angiography in the diagnosis and management of patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer.

One hundred three patients suspected of having pancreatic cancer underwent celiac and superior mesenteric arteriography which was reported 'blind.' Final diagnosis, operative findings, and resectability of pancreatic cancers were correlated with angiography reports. Forty patients had pancreatic cancer. Thirty-seven of these underwent laparotomy, and 14 (37%) had resectable lesions. Sensitivity and specificity of arteriogrphy for pancreatic cancer were 72% (29/40) and 71% (45/63) respectively. Resectability was unrelated to the angiographic diagnosis. Nonresectability was related to an angiographic finding of definite tumor vessel (4/4), large-vessel encasement (14/7), and major venous pathology (8/11). Only the first of these was unique to pancreatic cancer. Hepatic metastases were detected in only six of 13 patients. Small-artery encasement, arterial occlusion, vessel displacement, and gallbladder distention were not indicators of diagnosis or extent of disease. Major anatomic anomaly of foregut vasulature was revealed in 25% of angiographic studies. Prior knowledge of such anomalies has important bearing on the operative approach to pancreatic resection. We conclude that angiography should be performed prior to laparotomy whenever a resectable pancreatic cancer is suspected from other investigations. When used prospectively, angiography is not a reliable diagnostic or prognostic tool for pancreatic cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Characteristics of the primary lesion of malignant melanoma as a guide to prognosis and therapy.

The histologic materal from the original lesion of 113 patients suffering from Clinical Stage I and Clinical Stage II malignant melanomas were reviewed in an attempt to correlate depth of invasion with prognosis and to test whether or not current methods of microstaging were a valid guide to therapy. Both the microstaging methods of Clark and Breslow were eminently successful in indicating the prognosis of the patient, but were of no greater utility than other histologic parameters such as mitotic activity, perineural, vascular, or lymphatic invasion, or the presence of superficial ulceration. The value of elective node dissection for the treatment of primary malignant melanoma is uncertain. Deterents against empiric dissection are its low yield of occult metastases, its inability to prevent recurrence in a substantial portion of patients independent of the status of the nodes, and the difficulty in demonstrating an improved survival rate when this method of therapy is employed. Neither Clark's nor Breslow's methods or microstaging appeared to yield adequate criteria by which to choose node dissection. A simplified method of microstaging is proposed utilizing well defined anatomic levels, and yields statistically valid criteria for the performance of elective node dissection. Using this method, elective node dissection is advocated solely for those tumors that clearly invade the reticular dermis. Patients with tumors restricted to the papillary dermis do not appear to be benefited by empiric node dissection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Enhanced survival of patients with colon and rectal cancer is based upon wide anatomic resection.

From 1966 through 1970 we performed resections in 216 patients with carcinoma of the large bowel. The relative five year survival for all patients was 65.5%. The relative five year survival for all potentially curable patients was 80.4%. Patients with positive lymph nodes and full-thickness penetration of their tumors had a five year survival of 70.5% and a 10 year survival of 60.5%. In performing this study we have tested the principles of wide anatomical resection and radical lymphadenectomy. For their specific influences on survival we have also examined stage, site, age, sex, race, margins, local recurrence, hypogastric lymph node dissection, serosal penetration and various aspects of nodal status. The information derived from these parameters has confirmed our hypothesis that survival is directly related to radical anatomical resection and lymphadenectomy. For rectal cancer, extensive resection also reduces the incidence of local recurrence. We are persuaded that the principles of operation for large-bowel cancer are valid and that they merit universal adoption.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Correlation of estrophilin content of primary mammary cancer to eventual endocrine treatment.

The estrogen receptor protein content of recurrent breast cancer correlates well with the clinical response of hormonal manipulation. This predictive value of the ER of the primary tumor obtained at the time of mastectomy has not yet been proven. If this predictive capability should hold for primary tumors and eventual endocrine treatment, the ramifications are obvious: endocrine therapy could be offered to patients on a rational basis and adjuvant therapy could be considered on a plausible biochemical basis. This report details our observations as to the ER content of the primary tumor and the eventual result of endocrine therapy. Thirty-seven patients whose tumor ER was determined from the primary tumor eventually underwent some form of endocrine therapy for recurrent disease. Fifteen of the primary tumors had significant ER content and 22 possessed insignificant amounts. Only one of the 22 patients with insignificant ER content was benefited by endocrine treatment. Those patients whose tumors contained low amounts of ER experienced recurrence of their disease more rapidly than did those with higher ER content. There was no correlation of age, cell type of tumor or metastatic site with the ER content of the tumor. There is a positive correlation between response to chemotherapy and ER content of tumor. Measurement of the estrogen receptor protein content of the primary breast tumor is a reliable method for choosing patients for eventual endocrine therapy. Those patients whose tumors contain insignificant estrophilin are not candidates for such attempts at palliation.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1978

The prognosis of carcinoma of the colon and rectum complicating ulcerative colitis.

Thirty-three carcinomas of the colon and rectum occurring in patients with ulcerative colitis have been compared with matched controls from a population without colitis. There is no difference in length of survival between the patients in the two groups. More extensive tumor spread in the control group is due to the method of selection.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1977

Convulsions complicating colectomy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Convulsions have complicated the surgical management of life-threatening inflammatory bowel disease in five patients. These patients experienced a transient, generalized convulsive disorder and toxic ambylopia. Results of neurological examination were unremarkable. Treatment included metabolic stabilization along with the administration of oxygen and anticonvulsive medication. Various factors, such as hypoxia, fluid overload, cerebral edema, steroid administration, and deficits in calcium, magnesium, and potassium, may have contributed to the cause of this complication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Effect of antrectomy on gastric hypersecretion induced by distal small bowel resection.

Seven male Rhesus monkeys, with demonstrated gastric hypersecretory response to 50% distal small bowel resection, were studied. This increase in gastric acid output had persisted for more than 6 months. Precise, anatomical antrectomy without vagotomy was performed and intestinal continuity restored by gastroduodenostomy. Complete abolition of basal acid secretion and of the secretory response to histamine occurred. These effects could not be reversed by continuous (5 hour) infusions of pentagastrin at 0.2 microgram/kg hr-1 or 2 microgram/kg hr-1. The dose response curve to gastrin pentapeptide was altered; maximum secretion was greatly reduced and occurred at 10 microgram/kg hr-1. Neither basal serum gastrin or basal serum GIP was significantly reduced by antrectomy. These findings indicate that in this animal model the antrum is essential in the genesis of the hypersecretory state. If these findings are relevant to man precise antrectomy may be the procedure of choice for symptomatic acid hypersecretion after small bowel resection or disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

The operative treatment of Crohn's disease in childhood.

Fifteen pediatric patients have been presented who required operative treatment for Crohn's disease. This disease is associated with severe side-effects in children, especially maturation and growth arrest. There are clear indications for surgical treatment: fistula, chronic obstruction, hemorrhage and perforation. Failure to grow, when associated with obstruction of the small intestine, is an urgent indication for operation. From our observations, we conclude that growth arrest in these patients occurs because of malnutrition. In a majority of patients, chronic obstruction of the small intestine contributes significantly to this malnutrition. Operative treatment is one of conservative resection, and the operative mortality is nil. The majority of patients with growth arrest will grow postoperatively. Operative treatment of Crohn's disease is carried out for its complications, and treatment is quite effective in relieving these complications, although the disease itself may persist.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

The production of an unusual tissue reaction in rabbit bowel injected with Crohn's disease homogenates.

Recent reports have suggested a transmissible factor in the etiology of Crohn's disease, which had yet to be confirmed. The specificity of the transmission was tested with a disease control of ulcerative colitis as well as normal bowel. Twenty New Zealand White rabbits received inoculum of tissue homogenates from the terminal ileum of normal, ulcerative colitic, and Crohn's disease patients. This inoculum was injected into the wall of the ascending colon and the animals were examined after one year. Changes were noted consistently only in those animals receiving the Crohn's disease inoculum. These changes consisted of thickened bowel wall with increased mucosal folds, thickened mesenteric fat with some creeping, irregular areas of thin colonic mucosa, and hyperplastic mesenteric lymph nodes. The terminal ileum distant from the inoculum site was smooth with atrophic changes only in the Crohn's inoculated group of animals. These animals also had discrete collections of macrophages in colon or sacculus, mucosal and submucosal edema, and chronic inflammation of the colon. However, the characteristic features of Crohn's disease were not reproduced.

Animals↗