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Biomedical subjects

M Cerf

Publications and source records attributed to M Cerf.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Whipple disease: a single or multiple origin?].

After having been considered as an essentially digestive disease, Whipple's disease has appeared more and more to be a multivisceral disease with two main characteristics: on one hand Whipple's disease yields a diffuse infiltration of tissues by abnormal macrophages without any other inflammatory reaction; on the other hand, aspects of microbial invasion by intra or extracellular unique rod-shaped Gram+bacteria are found. This unusual pathological complex has alternatively been considered as suggestive of an immunological defect or as a very unusual type of bacterial infection. Though recent studies support the hypothesis of a primary microbial infection due to a hitherto undescribed bacterium (Tropheryma whippelii) or more or less related bacteria belonging to the actinomycetes family, they do not totally exclude a primary or acquired impairment of antigen processing by macrophages. Speculations about this fascinating pathophysiological model and about its optimal therapeutic modalities are not likely to reach a conclusion in the near future.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1989

[Acute diarrhea in adults in a Parisian district. Clinical, bacteriologic endoscopic and histologic aspects. Study of 52 cases].

From 1985 through 1988, 52 patients aged 16 to 85 years and referred for acute diarrhea underwent routine clinical, microbiological, endoscopic and histopathological examinations. Enteropathogens were isolated in 50 percent of patients, mostly from stool samples rather than from biopsy samples, though results were sometimes dissociated. Significantly lower digestive endoscopic abnormalities were seen in 60 percent of patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was not contributive. Rectal and colonic biopsies showed histological abnormalities in nearly all cases half of which were polymorphonuclear infiltrates and crypt abscesses. Glandular distortion was not found. An analysis of clinical, endoscopic and histological data showed that major abnormalities were mostly, but not constantly, related to infections due to enteroinvasive bacteria. As in other studies, a high rate of negative stool cultures was observed. Based on these results, we suggest to perform either further and more sophisticated microbiological investigations, or to conduct a routine search for viral infections whose incidence, among adult patients with acute diarrhea, is actually unknown.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

[Hypergastrin and hyperprolactin syndrome caused by mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary].

We report a case of a clinically and biologically typical hypergastrinemia syndrome due to ovarian mucinous cystadenoma. When examined under histoimmunofluorescence, this "border-line" tumor was shown to contain a polymorphous endocrine cell proliferation, composed primarily of G cells and, to some degree, of D cells. Electron microscopic study further evidenced a small amount of prolactin containing cells, which coincided with elevated prolactin-levels in blood. Ovariectomy combined with vagotomy and pyloroplasty resulted in a prompt disappearance of both clinical and biological abnormalities. Ovarian mucinous cystadenomas have been known for a long time to contain endocrine cells, but only five cases, including the present one, have been described with fully developed endocrine expression. We suggest that this particular condition could be more frequent than generally admitted, and could justify systematic screening for mucinous cystadenoma in the case of peptide hormone dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Chylous ascites and encapsulating peritonitis: unusual complications of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was diagnosed in a 36-yr-old woman 3 wk after she had delivered. The patient had no past history of abdominal or pelvic disease. Ampicillin therapy was started and determined complete resolution of infectious manifestations. Ten days later, chylous ascites and chyluria were evidenced. Thereafter an ascitic effusion persisted for 2 months, when an occlusive syndrome developed, requiring emergency surgery. An encapsulating peritonitis was recognized, encasing small bowel loops, stomach and partially, pelvic organs. In this case, encapsulating peritonitis was most likely a consequence of simultaneous bacterial infection and transient lymphatic blockade. Both mechanisms should be considered in the development of this rare and usually unexplained disease.

Adult↗