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Biomedical subjects

P Bioulac-Sage

Publications and source records attributed to P Bioulac-Sage.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Different varieties and anatomopathological description of primary tumors of the liver].

The different types of primary hepatic tumors are examined, focusing on their macroscopic and histologic features. A large variety of neoplasms can be observed, derived from the different components of the liver. Benign (adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia) or malignant (hepatocellular carcinoma) epithelial tumors of hepatocellular origin are very common. Hemangioma is the most common mesenchymatous-derived tumor. However, the frequency of each type of tumor varies considerably in the different age and sex groups. Some special entities recently reported, such as epithelioid hemangioendothelioma or fibrolamellar carcinoma are detailed.

Humans

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia in the rat induced by a selenium-enriched diet: study of a model.

Weaned male rats were fed a 4 ppm selenium diet. Compared after 2 mo with a control group fed a 0.4 ppm diet, the rats' body weights had not significantly decreased and liver function was normal, but portal pressure was 1.8 times higher (p less than 0.05). Liver weight was slightly increased (10.3%; p less than 0.05). All livers had an abnormal appearance. In the less severe cases the surface was only slightly irregular, but in the more severe cases, atrophic micronodular lobes and hypertrophic lobes, with mildly irregular surfaces, were present. On light microscopy, atrophic lobes displayed a peripheral nodular zone with micronodules separated by rows of atrophic hepatocytes without fibrosis, characteristic of nodular regenerative hyperplasia, and a central atrophic zone that was sometimes peliotic. Hypertrophic lobes and livers in the less severe cases had only minor and relatively localized evidence of nodular regenerative hyperplasia; occasional peliosis was seen. In all cases portal veins, hepatic veins and hepatic arteries were normal. By electron microscopy, in nonnodular zones with no obvious evidence of parenchymal atrophy, the endothelial wall showed signs of complete or incomplete capillarization with frequent enlargement of the Disse space. The selenium-enriched diet is a reproducible model of liver nodular regenerative hyperplasia. In this model, damage to the sinusoidal wall could represent the primum movens of microcirculatory disturbances.

Animals

Fatal neonatal liver failure and mitochondrial cytopathy: an observation with antenatal ascites.

Mitochondrial cytopathies are multisystemic diseases of extremely variable expression caused by a deficiency in oxidative phosphorylation. Only five cases of neonatal liver failure in the context of mitochondrial cytopathy have been reported, with incomplete morphological data of the liver in three. In the case presented here, ascites had been diagnosed prenatally and liver failure was particularly severe (factor V less than 15% with fatal coma the fourth day). Histologically there were incomplete cirrhosis, microvesicular steatosis, major canalicular cholestasis with proliferative neocholangioles, and bile duct thrombi. There were also some iron pigments in the periportal area and partial glycogen depletion. By electron microscopy, mitochondria in numerous hepatocytes appeared abnormal with occasional cristae in a fluffy matrix, some containing dense inclusions. Study of respiratory chain activity showed a defect in cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), revealed by oxygraphic measurement on fresh muscle biopsy and confirmed by spectrophotometric enzymatic assays performed on muscle and liver homogenates. The association of neonatal liver failure with hyperlactacidemia warrants investigation into a deficiency in oxidative phosphorylation.

Ascites

Liver adenomatosis with granulomas in two patients on long-term oral contraceptives.

We report two cases of liver cell adenomatosis associated with granulomatous hepatitis, both developed in white women (52 and 39 years of age) on long-term oral contraceptives (for 18 and 12 years, respectively). The first patient underwent surgery for five hepatic tumors 1-7 cm in diameter; the other patient had a partial segmentectomy for a 4-cm hepatic nodule of the right lobe. In both cases, dissection of the liver showed many other diffuse and smaller nodules. Histologically, all tumors were benign liver cell adenomas, with cellular atypia in the largest tumor and associated in both cases with granulomatous hepatitis, with numerous noncaseating epithelioid and giant cell granulomas located either only in the tumors (case 1) or diffusely in the tumoral and nontumoral hepatic parenchyma (case 2). During follow-up, ultrasound showed new nodular lesions in case 2, whereas in case 1 evolution was uneventful. In estroprogestative-associated liver diseases, adenomas are common, but adenomatosis and granulomas are rare. An association of these latter two conditions would seem to be exceptional. The prognosis for adenomatosis remains uncertain.

Adenoma

[Cutaneous tumors and nodules in the neonatal period].

A review of neonatal cutaneous tumors and nodules is presented, based on a 10-year experience. Pitfalls in diagnosis are especially emphasized. A biopsy should be performed in most instances when there is a clinical doubt.

Dermoid Cyst

Lipid-laden perisinusoidal cells in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Liver biopsies were taken from ten AIDS patients. Liver architecture was normal in all patients. On 1-micron-thick sections stained with toluidine blue, all ten cases showed lipid overload of perisinusoidal cells (1 massive, 5 moderate and 4 mild) compared to 2/8 in control patients, who had mild lipid overload. Other sinusoidal abnormalities such as hypertrophy of Kupffer cells and inclusions in endothelial cells were also noticed. Some hepatocytes presented evidence of cellular damage. Perisinusoidal cell lipid overload was not associated with hypervitaminosis A. We hypothesize that the abnormal accumulation of lipids in perisinusoidal cells (non-induced by hypervitaminosis A) in patients with AIDS could be due to defective transport of vitamin A from perisinusoidal cells to hepatocytes, and/or from hepatocytes to blood. The cause of the defect is unknown. Since lipid overload occurs in many and diverse conditions (diabetes, cholestasis, primary biliary cirrhosis, etc.), it seems reasonable to propose that the defect is non-specific and limited to functional or structural damage of the liver whether induced by drugs, liver or systemic diseases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Analysis of 63 cases.

We retrospectively analyzed 63 observations collected in nine French departments of dermatology of an acute pustular dermatosis, recently named in the French literature acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Even though 11 of these cases occurred in patients with a history of psoriasis, AGEP appeared distinct from pustular psoriasis based on several slight pathologic differences, drug induction in most cases, and a more acute course of fever and pustulosis, with rapid spontaneous healing. We, therefore, suggest that AGEP is a reaction pattern, perhaps favored by a "psoriatic background." The most frequent causes of AGEP seem to be drug reactions, acute infections with enteroviruses, and hypersensitivity to mercury. With 55 (87%) of 63 cases attributed to drugs in this series, AGEP should be added to the list of cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Among drug-induced skin eruptions, AGEP is remarkable by its short time to onset after the administration of the suspected drug (less than 24 hours in half of our cases) and the great predominance (80%) of antibiotics as causative agents. It is suggested that some cases previously reported as "drug-induced pustular psoriasis" were in fact AGEP.

Acute Disease

Characterization of liver-associated natural killer cells in patients with liver tumors.

The existence of a marginal lymphocyte population in rat liver sinusoids has already been demonstrated using the sinusoidal lavage method. We used the same technique to study the lymphocyte population in human liver obtained ex vivo after partial hepatectomy for benign or malignant tumors and compared it with peripheral and portal blood lymphocyte populations. Percentages of lymphocyte surface phenotypes were evaluated by flow cytometry. The lymphocyte population obtained from human liver is mainly made up of CD56+ (35%) cells. This percentage is three times greater than that found in peripheral and portal blood. Two-color flow cytometry analysis showed that within the CD56+ liver cell population, at least three distinct subsets could be found: (a) CD3+/CD56+/CD16-; (b) CD3-/CD56+/CD16-; and (c) CD3-/CD56+/CD16+. Although these subsets were also present in peripheral and portal blood, the percentage distribution was completely different because most CD56+ cells in peripheral and portal blood belonged to the CD3-/CD56+/CD16+ subset. These results show the existence of a heterogeneous natural killer cell population in human livers with tumors. The functional significance of this heterogeneity still needs to be explained.

Adult

Fine structure of hepatic sinusoids and sinusoidal cells in disease.

Liver sinusoids are special capillaries that are limited by fenestrated endothelial cells, without a genuine basement membrane, surrounded by perisinusoidal cells storing vitamin A, and harbouring Kupffer cells and pit cells, resident macrophages, and large granular lymphocytes, respectively. Each nonparenchymal cell and parenchymal cell of the liver interacts with all others and with the extracellular matrix. Therefore, the functional ability of each cell is constantly being modified by the metabolic activity of the others. Human liver biopsies (132), needle or surgical, perfusion-fixed with glutaraldehyde and processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and occasionally for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were examined. The study included liver diseases (such as alcoholic liver diseases, benign and malignant liver tumors, cholestasis of various origins, fulminant hepatitis, acute rejection after orthotopic liver transplantation, Budd-Chiari syndrome), as well as general or extrahepatic diseases (such as diabetes, hemochromatosis, hypervitaminosis A, various hematological disorders), and normal controls. Ultrastructural abnormalities are described and illustrated under two different headings: 1) elementary lesions of sinusoidal cells (endothelial, Kupffer, perisinusoidal and pit cells), nonsinusoidal cells (in the space of Disse and/or in the lumen), the extracellular matrix; and 2) the major pathological entities including perisinusoidal fibrosis, capillarization of sinusoids, sinusoidal dilatation, and peliosis. In the discussion, an overview of the major abnormalities reported in the literature is presented, and some specific questions regarding 1) perisinusoidal fibrosis in liver with normal histology, 2) the overload of perisinusoidal cells with lipids in non-hypervitaminosis A intoxication and 3) the etiological relationship of sinusoidal dilatation, peliosis, perisinusoidal fibrosis, or sinusoidal tumors with drugs and toxic compounds are discussed. In the event that lesions are not specific to any diagnosis, the knowledge of the ultrastructure of sinusoids is extremely useful from the perspective of the liver as an ecosystem.

Humans

Late recurrence of a hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with incomplete Alagille syndrome.

In this study, the case of a patient presenting a second hepatocellular carcinoma 13 years after resection of a first tumor of the same type is reported. In this case, etiological investigations remained negative, but an incomplete form of syndromatic Alagille syndrome with paucity of bile ducts in the nontumoral tissue was detected and associated with nodular regenerative hyperplasia and foci of dysplasia. Malignant transformation in Alagille syndrome seems to be extremely rare. The fact that such tumors evolve very slowly could be an argument for partial hepatectomy and, if necessary, liver transplantation.

Bile Ducts

Nerves and perisinusoidal cells in human liver.

Unmyelinated nerve fibres are visible in the human hepatic lobule. They extend through the Disse space, surrounded by Schwann cell processes, often close to perisinusoidal cell processes. A few bare nerve endings or varicosities are found contiguous to either hepatocytes or perisinusoidal cells. These nerve endings or varicosities contain large and small granular vesicles and small clear vesicles. This heterogeneity probably corresponds to the presence of various neurotransmitters (noradrenaline, acetylcholine, various neuropeptides...). The effect of nerves on perisinusoidal cells has not yet been elucidated. However, the location, shape, morphology and origin of perisinusoidal cells would suggest that they play a role in the hemodynamic regulation of sinusoidal blood flow. It has recently been shown how important non-parenchymal-parenchymal communication is in the action of nerves on glucose release by hepatocytes; the cell to cell communications may also apply to nerves and sinusoidal cells for the hemodynamic regulation of sinusoidal blood flow.

Cell Communication

Modifications of the sinusoidal barrier in a model of postsinusoidal hypertension in the rat. An ultrastructural study of endothelial cells.

Sinusoids and sinusoidal cells were examined by light and electron microscopy, using a rat model of postsinusoidal hypertension. One month after partial ligation of the vena cava (PLVC) above the hepatic veins, subcapsular hemorrhagic areas were visible with proliferation of hepatic veins; in non hemorrhagic areas, sinusoidal congestion was found. Postsinusoidal hypertension led to a significant increase in sinusoidal volume and to major abnormalities of the endothelium such as endothelial processes and pouches with numerous diaphragmed fenestrae; some red blood cells could be seen in these pouches. Endothelial cells sent out processes in between hepatocytes. Complete and incomplete pseudo-neolumens were found near sinusoids. Numerous Kupffer cells were located either in the sinusoidal barrier or infiltrating the Disse space close to extravasated red blood cells and perisinusoidal cell processes. 18 months after PLVC, lesions were much the same except for the presence of red blood cells in the Disse space.

Animals

Perisinusoidal cell hypertrophy in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 33-year-old heterosexual white man underwent a liver biopsy for determination of mild elevation of aminotransferase levels (aspartate aminotransferase, two times; alanine aminotransferase, three times). The patient had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (stage IVC2) with tuberculosis of the lymph nodes. Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen were positive. Syphillis tests were positive. Liver architecture was normal; sinusoids were dilated with perisinusoidal, centrilobular, and portal fibrosis. On a 1-micron-thick section and under electron microscopy, perisinusoidal cells appeared to be massively loaded with lipids, while endothelial cells contained numerous dense bodies. Some hepatocytes presented evidence of cell damage. Sinusoids were infiltrated by an increased number of lymphocytes and macrophages. This patient who had recently been treated for tuberculosis was not taking extra vitamin A. He had no disease so far reported as being associated with perisinusoidal cell hypertrophy. This case and others are evidence that acquired immunodeficiency syndrome represents another cause of perisinusoidal cell hypertrophy in which there is no documented hypervitaminosis A.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome