PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Cerf

Publications and source records attributed to M Cerf.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Multifocal cryptogenetic stenosing enteritis: an autonomous entity?].

Multifocal idiopathic stenosing enteritis has been described as a relapsing disease affecting the small bowel. The main anatomical characteristics are multiple non-specific inflammatory strictures. Six cases (4 men, 2 women) presenting this disorder were followed up for 3 to 22 years. Five patients were young. Iterative obstruction or chronic diarrhea and loss of weight were the outstanding clinical features. Hyposideremic anemia and protein-losing enteropathy were common. The anatomical substrate was numerous (2-19) short annular strictures situated in the ileum (75 p. 100). These strictures presented shallow ulcerations and underlying fibrosis which never extended beyond the submucosa. The small bowel wall was otherwise normal and did not show mucosal or vascular abnormalities at microscopic examination. In case of relapse, strictures developed distal to or in close contact with previous suture lines. Cultures for pathogenic bacteria were constantly negative. The natural history of these 6 cases and of 7 other previously published cases suggests that this disease is an autonomous disorder which must be differentiated from other inflammatory bowel disease entities such as Crohn's disease or tuberculosis.

Adult↗

[Radiological aspects of the duodenum and small intestine in severe strongyloidiasis. Apropos of 4 cases].

Four cases of severe strongyloidiasis in Martinique patients are reported. Clinical features were typical of the affection, and the outcome was fatal in two cases. Fibroscopy findings were negative but larvae were demonstrated in biopsy specimens in 3 out of the 4 cases. A barium meal follow-through examination showed the different radiological images of the infestation: non-specific parasitic duodenitis and pseudo-stenosis of D3 with duodenal dilatation, barium reflux into the main bile duct, and absence of jejunal folds, these images being very suggestive of strongyloidiasis.

Adult↗

11C-L-methionine for evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function.

Pancreatic uptake of a natural amino acid, L-methionine, was measured in 58 patients using a scintillation camera. This was possible by labelling L-methionine with 11C, a short-lived isotope produced in a cyclotron. Time-activity-curves obtained in areas of interest selected over the pancreas in 25 normal subjects and in 14 alcoholic patients showed a plateau or a slight increase of activity with time. In contrast, in 19 patients with chronic pancreatitis an initial increase in radioactivity was followed by a decrease for 10 to 20 minutes and then by a plateau. The ratio of the height of the plateau at the 50th minute to the height of the peak was 0.74 +/- 0.21 in these patients, whereas it was 0.96 +/- 0.09 in the other subjects (P less than 0.001). This result was compared with direct measurements of 11C radioactivity and of amylase and bicarbonate in duodenal aspirate. The median amount of 11C incorporated into protein at the 70th minute was 53% of total activity in the control group, 28% in alcoholic patients, and only 3% in chronic pancreatitis, the differences between these values were highly significant. The absence of a peak of radioactivity in the duodenal juice, and the existence of a correlation between total 11C output and amylase output suggested that there was no release of protein in the duodenum in chronic pancreatitis. These results also suggested that the peak observed by external detection could be due to amino acid back-diffusion from the pancreas into the blood. External detection with 11C-L-methionine could be used for the assessment of pancreatic dysfunction in man.

Adult↗

Synthesis of abnormal immunoglobulins in lymphoplasmacytic disorders with visceral light chain deposition.

Three patients presented with renal or more diffuse tissue deposits of a nonamyloid material reactive with anti-kappa antibody by immunofluorescence. All patients had progressive renal failure with the nephrotic syndrome and extensive tubular basement membrane deposits. Glomerular lesions were conspicuous but heterogeneous. One patient also had hepatic deposits with peliosis at histopathologic examination. An underlying lymphoplasmacytic disorder was found in all patients: multiple myeloma in one, pleomorphic lymphoplasmacytic malignancy analogous to Waldenström's macroglobulinemia in one and bone marrow monoclonal plasmacytosis without overt myeloma in one. Biosynthesis experiments in two cases showed production of abnormal kappa chains which were not detected in appreciable amounts in serum and urine. These light chains had an aberrant size (abnormally short or large), their apparent molecular weight was larger in secretion than in cytoplasmic extracts (suggesting their glycosylation) and they were secreted as polymers. These results suggest a causal relationship between production of abnormal light chains and tissue deposition.

Adult↗

[Hepatic and renal deposits of kappa light chains revealing a dysglobulinemia (author's transl)].

A 38 year old woman presented portal hypertension and proteinuria. Liver biopsy showed peliosis hepatis with non amyloid deposits, reactive with anti-kappa antibody by immunofluorescence, along the sinusoids and in the Disse spaces. There are identical deposits along glomerular and tubular basement membranes. An underlying pleomorphic lymphoplasmocytic malignancy, analogous to Waldenström's macroglobulinemia was found, but without serum or urine monoclonal Ig. Biosynthesis experiments showed that the bone marrow cells synthesized abnormally short light chains with a larger apparent molecular weight when secreted than in the cytoplasmic extracts, presumably because of glycosylation. These results suggest a causal relationship between production of abnormal Ig chains and tissue deposition.

Female↗

[Primary exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the adult. Presentation of a case].

The authors report the case of a 37-year-old female complaining of chronic diarrhea since childhood. She had gross steatorrhea and azotorrhea . Pancreatic function tests using secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin stimulation, and analysis of pure pancreatic juice collected under secretin stimulation proved exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Oral glucose tolerance test was normal. Intestinal absorption tests, small bowel X-ray films and jejunal histology were normal. Brush-border specific enzyme activities were increased. In vitro palmitic acid uptake and esterification in the jejunal mucosa were decreased. There was no pancreatic calcification. Biliary tract was normal. Retrograde pancreatography, pancreatic ultrasonography and tomodensitometry showed no morphologic abnormality. No cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency could be detected. A son and a niece of the proband had chronic diarrhea and growth failure. The relationship of the described case with primary lipomatosis of the pancreas in childhood and hereditary exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in CBA/J epi mice is discussed.

Adult↗