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Biomedical subjects

J B Raskin

Publications and source records attributed to J B Raskin.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Esophageal biopsy findings in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): clinicopathologic correlation in 20 patients.

We reviewed 20 esophageal biopsy specimens from 180 adult patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ten (50%) showed superficial Candida infection, and four revealed esophagitis due to cytomegalovirus. Candida was never invasive, even though it was associated with significant ulceration. Esophageal candidiasis did not necessarily imply the presence of oral candidiasis, and conversely, oral candidiasis did not imply esophageal candidiasis. Odynophagia was associated with significant histologic ulcerations in eight of ten patients. In the patients who had odynophagia, biopsy was almost equally likely to show Candida or viral cytopathic effect. We discuss the clinicopathologic implications of these findings.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The unusual presentation of "large" gallstones. The diagnostic role of endoscopy.

Large gallstones are usually seen in old people, but are distinctly uncommon. They may cause complicated gallbladder disease requiring extensive surgery. Unusual presentations of such stones include Mirizzi's syndrome, biliary fistulas, and gastric outlet obstruction (Bouveret's syndrome). Preoperative endoscopy can accurately define these complications to facilitate their surgical management.

Aged

Colonoscopic evaluation of rectal bleeding: a study of 304 patients.

We studied 258 patients with rectal bleeding and 46 patients with anemia and occult blood in the stool. All 304 patients had negative proctosigmoidoscopies, single-contrast barium studies that were negative or showed diverticula only, and colonoscopic evaluation. In the 258 patients, the overall incidence of finding significant lesions by colonoscopy was 41.5%. Twenty-nine patients (11.2%) had carcinoma and 17 patients (6.6%) had cecal telangiectasia. In the 46 patients, the overall incidence of finding significant lesions was 19.6%. Three patients with carcinoma were found in this group. A significant number of both benign and malignant lesions were detected by colonoscopy proximal to the splenic flexure. Colonoscopy should be done in patients with rectal bleeding or anemia and occult blood in the stool who have had negative proctosigmoidoscopies and single-contrast barium studies interpreted as normal or showing diverticula.

Adult

Cimetidine, antacid, and hospitalization in the treatment of benign gastric ulcer: a multicenter double blind study.

Two hundred forty patients with benign gastric ulcer were treated in a controlled clinical trial to assess the effect on healing of cimetidine, antacids, and hospitalization. Inpatients and and outpatients were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: cimetidine plus antacid, cimetidine plus dummy antacid, or placebo tablet plus antacid. In 206 patients who met criteria for analysis, ulcer healing as shown by endoscopy occurred by 12 days in 11 to 26 percent and by 42 days in 58 to 76 percent. There were no significant differences in healing between hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients or between treatment subgroups. Symptomatic response was equivalent in all groups. The median antacid consumption was 328 mEq of in vitro buffering capacity per day. Patients taking antacids experienced significant diarrhea compared with those taking no antacid. This investigation suggests that the effect of cimetidine is equivalent to that of large amounts of antacid, but because a true placebo group was not studied it is not possible to conclude from this study alone whether either agent influenced healing. In contrast to widespread belief, initiation of treatment in the hospital did not enhance healing, but because patients were not randomly assigned to inpatient and outpatient status no final conclusion about the effect of hospitalization on healing can be drawn.

Adult

Pancreatic ascites: successful treatment with pancreatic radiation.

A 51-year-old man with clinical and laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of pancreatic ascites is reported. Response to usual medical measures was inadequate. Single-dose irradiation to the pancreatic area (550 rads) resulted in marked improvement in his ascites. Operative pancreatogram months later revealed no evidence of ductal leakage. Low-dose pancreatic irradiation may be a unseful therapeutic adjunct in the older, high-risk patient with pancreatic ascites in whom surgery is not considered feasible.

Amylases

Juvenile polyposis coli concurrent with neurofibromatosis.

Juvenile polyposis coli associated with neurofibromatosis in a 24-year-old white man is reported. Juvenile polyposis coli is now recognized as a distinct clinical entity. Differentiating it from the other hereditable gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes is important because of the lack of reported malignancies. Radical surgery is unnecessary unless warranted by the clinical features of bleeding or diarrhea. The known gastrointestinal and extra gastrointestinal associations with juvenile polyposis coli are reviewed along with the gastrointestinal manifestations of neurofibromatosis. This is the first reported association of neurofibromatosis with this unusual syndrome.

Adult

Recent developments in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Endoscopic findings can be extremely valuable in directing or altering specific treatment. Endoscopy also has therapeutic applications, such as removal of polyps (gastric or colonic), coagulation of bleeding sites in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and the removal of foreign objects from the gastrointestinal tract. Laparoscopy is an easily performed procedure with minimal risk. On of its greatest values is in investigating diseases of the liver. Coloscopy has many uses, including evaluation of equivocal x-ray findings and histologic confirmation of cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a new, highly sophisticated procedure that offers a major advantage in investigating pancreatic disease and evaluating jaundice.

Biliary Tract Diseases