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Biomedical subjects

M Salmeron

Publications and source records attributed to M Salmeron.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Predicting common bile duct lithiasis: determination and prospective validation of a model predicting low risk.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this two-part prospective study was: (1) to identify simple, noninvasive, preoperative factors associated with low or very low risk of common bile duct lithiasis (CBDL); and (2) to test the validity of the statistical model obtained during Part One by the postcholecystectomy follow-up of patients classified into a low-risk group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In Part One of the study, preoperative clinical, biologic, and ultrasonographic data, and intraoperative cholangiographic findings were collected from 503 consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy for symptomatic lithiasis from 1985 to 1989. Using the data obtained in Part One, a linear logistic model was used prospectively in Part Two to determine the prediction of absence of CBDL in 279 consecutive patients. No jaundice, normal transaminase levels, common bile duct (CBD) diameter < 8 mm, and no intrahepatic duct enlargement defined the low-risk group of CBDL. RESULTS: In Part One, CBDL was present in 84 (17%) of all patients. Five parameters were used to classify 73% of all patients as low risk of CBDL and 27% as high risk. In the low-risk groups, CBDL was present in 1% of 116 cases with acute gallbladder complications, and 5% of 250 cases with no acute gallbladder complications. In Part Two, 171 (61%) patients were classified in the low-risk group (Group 1), and CBD stones were not sought by any additional preoperative investigations or intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). One hundred eight patients (39%) were considered at risk of CBDL (Group 2). Mean follow-up was 20.6 months (median 19); 2 patients (1%) in the low-risk group presented a symptomatic retained stone. CONCLUSIONS: This study validated this simple model for predicting risk of CBDL and avoiding invasive preoperative investigations--as well as IOC--in more than 60% of symptomatic cholelithiases. In addition, this model seemed useful for defining patients in whom further exploration for CBDL was justified, since 42 (39%) of the 108 Group 2 patients were proved to have CBDL.

Analysis of Variance

Value of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of common bile duct stones: comparison with surgical exploration and ERCP.

An accurate and safe preoperative method of imaging the common bile duct is essential for the proper diagnosis of calculous biliary tract disease, especially in the current era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The value of endoscopic ultrasonography in detecting common duct stones has been reported, albeit in small series. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the accuracy of EUS in a large series of patients. We compared EUS to direct cholangiography in the evaluation of 422 patients for common duct stones. Ductal stones were imaged by EUS in 168 patients (43.4%). No complications were encountered. EUS failed in 2.3% of cases, ERCP failed in 8.3%, and surgical exploration failed in 0.5%. Comparison of EUS with surgical exploration in 185 patients showed a sensitivity of 94.9%, a specificity of 97.8%, and an accuracy of 95.9%. EUS was compared to ERCP in 219 patients. All common duct stones found by ERCP were evident by EUS. Concordance was obtained in 91.3% of cases. Review of videotapes disclosed 3 false-positives and 16 unequivocal true-positives. We conclude that EUS is a safe and highly accurate means of detecting common duct stones and should be proposed before laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients at risk of choledocholithiasis.

Adolescent

Primary malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (metaplastic carcinoma) of the female peritoneum. A clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical study of three cases and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Malignant mixed mesodermal tumors (malignant mixed Müllerian tumors [MMMT]) occur rarely in extragenital sites. METHODS: The authors analyzed the clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features of three cases of primary MMMT of the female peritoneum. RESULTS: The neoplasms occurred in 60-, 64- and 84-year-old women and arose from pelvic peritoneum. Two patients died with disseminated disease 8 and 24 months postoperatively. The third died of cardiac failure 12 months postoperatively with questionable metastatic disease. Microscopically, two tumors were of the heterologous type, containing foci of rhabdomyosarcomatous (case 1) and chondrosarcomatous (case 3) differentiation. Immunohistochemically, coexpression of keratin and vimentin was observed focally in both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components in all three neoplasms, whereas coexpression of low molecular weight cytokeratin, vimentin and actin was observed focally in case 2. Rhabdomyosarcomatous areas were positive with desmin and actin, and chondrosarcomatous areas for S-100 protein. Both epithelial and mesenchymal components were positive for alpha-1 antichymotrypsin in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the present cases and a review of 15 reports from the literature, primary MMMT of the female peritoneum proved to be a rare but highly malignant neoplasm occurring in elderly postmenopausal women. Of 15 patients with available follow-up, 12 died with disease, mostly within 1 year, regardless of the initial tumor stage, histology (homologous versus heterologous MMMT) or treatments attempted. The tumor developed within pelvic peritoneum in half the cases. Histogenetically, peritoneal MMMT are thought to represent "metaplastic" carcinomas originating from the secondary Müllerian system.

Actins

Diarrhea and autonomic dysfunction in a patient with hexosaminidase B deficiency (Sandhoff disease).

The causal factors and the physiopathology of motor diarrhea are still unclear. This case report describes a 60-year-old white man with severe diarrhea for more than 10 years and minor signs of autonomic dysfunction. Extensive investigation showed that small intestinal motility and absorption were normal but that accelerated colon transit precluded water and solute absorption from the large bowel. Orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, and loss of sweating suggested dysfunction of the autonomous nervous system, which was confirmed by reduced plasma concentrations of norepinephrine and dopamine. Rectal biopsy specimens showed enlarged enteric ganglion cells filled with lipidic material. Levels of total hexosaminidase and hexosaminidase B in plasma, white blood cells, and fibroblasts were decreased, as found in Sandhoff disease. The pedigree of the proband's family showed several affected and heterozygous individuals, detected by examination of total hexosaminidase and hexosaminidase B levels in plasma. Among the five homozygous subjects, three had a clinical picture of diarrhea and orthostatic hypotension since the age of 50. Therefore, hexosaminidase B deficiency should probably be regarded as a cause for dysautonomia; dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested by motor diarrhea or esophageal dysmotility, could be the initial and prevalent presentation of dysautonomia.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases

[Pancreatic endocrine tumors: contribution of ultrasound endoscopy in the diagnosis of localization].

Endoscopic ultrasonography is a new imaging technique which has previously demonstrated its accuracy in localization of small pancreatic cancers. The aim of this retrospective study was to report our experience of this new method for localization of small endocrine tumors of potential pancreatic origin. Thirteen patients with insulinoma and 17 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome were studied. All were imaged in a reference center by ultrasound (US) and CT scan (CT) before endoscopic ultrasonography. Insulinomas: 78.5% of tumors were 15 mm or less in size. The endoscopic ultrasonography was more accurate (79%) than US (7%) and CT (14%) for localization of the 14 tumors removed in the 13 patients who underwent surgery. Gastrinomas: Endoscopic ultrasonography was able to image 7 to the 9 pancreatic gastrinomas, the 2 duodenal gastrinomas, and the 2 gastrinomas located in peripancreatic lymph nodes which were removed in the 9 patients who underwent surgery. US and CT were able to image only one of the two peripancreatic lymph nodes. We concluded that endoscopic ultrasonography is a highly accurate tool for localization of small pancreatic endocrine tumors and should be performed early in the management of these tumors.

Adult

[One hundred and twenty-five consecutive choledochotomies for suspected lithiasis without mortality. Current state of complications from common bile duct surgery].

The postoperative courses of 125 consecutive surgical common bile duct explorations performed between 1983 and 1990 were analysed. All cases of common bile duct lithiasis, but three, were operated on. Intraoperative cholangiography was performed in 98 percent and cholangioscopy in 92 percent of patients; common bile duct stones were found in 95 patients (76 percent); the common bile duct was sutured without drainage in 78 patients (58 percent). There were no deaths. Morbidity was 14 percent, of which 10 percent were serious. Four percent of common bile ducts retained stones. The specific morbidity was 4 percent. These results confirm the reliability of surgical management of common bile duct stones and therefore should be considered for the evaluation of new procedures, such as laparoscopic treatment of common duct stones, or combined laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Aged

Pathophysiological study of diarrhoea in a patient with medullary thyroid carcinoma. Evidence against a secretory mechanism and for the role of shortened colonic transit time.

Intubation techniques and scintigraphic studies were used to determine the origin and mechanism of diarrhoea in a patient with medullary thyroid carcinoma, high plasma immunoreactive calcitonin and normal circulating serotonin, substance P and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha. Normal function of the small intestine was found for the following: (a) absorption tests; (b) water and electrolyte absorption in the proximal jejunum; (c) 24 hour flow rate and composition of fluid entering the colon and (d) gastric emptying rate and small intestinal progression of a normal meal. By contrast, colonic function was markedly impaired in three ways: (a) water absorption was decreased by half; (b) as the main excreted solutes were organic acids, a large electrolyte gap was recorded in faecal water, and (c) colonic transit time of the meal marker was very short, and was in agreement with the rapid transit of ingested radioopaque markers. These data strongly suggest that decreased absorption in the colon secondary to a motor disturbance is the main mechanism of diarrhoea in this case of medullary thyroid carcinoma, while calcitonin induced small intestinal fluid secretion suggested earlier is either non-existent, or only of minor importance.

Adult

[Chlamydia trachomatis perityphlitis, an anatomo-clinical entity? Study of 3 cases].

The authors describe three cases of perityphlitis secondary to Chlamydia trachomatis infection and revealed at laparotomy. Clinically, the symptoms invariably mimicked acute appendicitis. The pathogen was identified by a direct immunofluorescent assay with specific monoclonal antibodies (Microtrak). Prompt cure was achieved by doxycycline therapy. Thus, peroperatively, the discovery of an isolated perityphlitis with a normal appendix should raise the possibility of a C. trachomatis infection, even if there is no salpingitis.

Adult

Diarrhoea and malabsorption in acquired immune deficiency syndrome: a study of four cases with special emphasis on opportunistic protozoan infestations.

Chronic diarrhoea is frequent in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) but has been poorly investigated so far. We report four patients with AIDS in whom diarrhoea and malabsorption were outstanding features, and who underwent extensive digestive investigations. Diarrhoea was a presenting symptom in all subjects and was of secretory type in three of them. D-xylose and vitamin B12 were malabsorbed in all cases; steatorrhea was found in the two patients who could ingest significant amounts of fat. Faecal alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance was increased in all subjects. Search for digestive pathogens showed unusual protozoans in all patients: in case 1, optical and electron microscopy revealed the presence in the cytoplasm of villous enterocytes of Microsporidia protozoans still unreported in AIDS. Stool and jejunal fluid examination showed Isospora belli in case 2 and Cryptosporidium in cases 3 and 4. On histological and ultrastructural study the former was localised in the cytoplasm of a few enterocytes and the latter was scattered throughout the villus and crypt brush border. Otherwise small intestinal histology only showed minor non-specific changes and the enterocytes were ultrastructurally normal. In patient 3 the slow marker intestinal perfusion technique showed a profuse fluid secretion in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. All patients needed prolonged total parenteral nutrition. Cryptosporidium and Microsporidia could not be eradicated despite multiple drug trials. Isospora belli was transiently cured by pyrimethamine-sulphadiazine. Only patient 2 is presently at home, and patients 1, 3, and 4 died after two, six, and nine months of total parenteral nutrition, respectively.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Hyperenteroglucagonaemia and small intestinal mucosal growth after colonic perfusion of glucose in rats.

Beside intraluminal factors, humoral agents play an important role in intestinal adaptation. Enteroglucagon, the mucosal concentration of which is maximal in the terminal ileum and colon, is the strongest candidate for the role of small intestinal mucosal growth factor. The present experiment was designed to study the role of colonic enteroglucagon in stimulating mucosal growth in rats with a normal small intestine. After eight days of glucose large bowel perfusion, enteroglucagon plasma concentrations were 120.7 +/- SEM 9.2 pmol/l, versus 60.1 +/- 6.8 in mannitol perfused control rats (p less than 0.001). Gastrin, cholecystokinin, neurotensin, pancreatic glucagon, and insulin plasma concentrations were unchanged. Crypt cell proliferation, measured by the vincristine metaphase arrest technique, increased significantly in the small intestine of glucose perfused animals (p less than 0.005-0.001) in comparison with the controls. This resulted in a greater mucosal mass in both proximal and distal small bowel: mucosal wet weight, DNA, protein and alpha D-glucosidase per unit length intestine were all significantly higher (p less than 0.05-0.001) than in mannitol perfused rats. Our data, therefore, support the hypothesis that enteroglucagon is an enterotrophic factor and stress the possible role of the colon in the regulation of small bowel trophicity.

Animals