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Biomedical subjects

R Colin

Publications and source records attributed to R Colin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Controlled study of propranolol in the prevention of recurrent hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients].

The aim of this study was to assess, by a pragmatic controlled trial, the value of propranolol in the prevention of recurrent bleeding in patients with cirrhosis. From January 1982 to December 1984, 368 cirrhotic patients were admitted for bleeding episode due to portal hypertension. Ninety-nine patients were included in the trial 24 h after cessation of bleeding (5 days on the average after hospital admission) and were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 51 patients receiving propranolol at doses that reduced the resting heart rate by 25 p. 100 and 48 receiving neither treatment nor placebo. Ninety-one per cent presented a rupture of varices, and 9 p. 100 acute gastric erosions: 94 p. 100 had an alcoholic cirrhosis. The distribution according to Child Turcotte's classification was grade A: 45.5 p. 100, B: 45.5 p. 100, C: 100 p. 100. The two groups were not significantly different excepted for previous bleeding episodes. The cumulative percentages of recurrent bleeding were not significantly different: between the treated and untreated groups (60 p. 100 vs. 68 p. 100 at 18 months); between the compliant patients (n = 39) and untreated and not compliant patients altogether; between the treated and untreated patients of Child's grade A on the one hand, and patients grades B and C on the other hand. The curves of cumulative survival were not significantly different between treated and untreated patients (66 p. 100 vs. 78 p. 100 at 18 months).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

[Epidemiology of cancer of the pancreas. Current data].

In view of the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer, improvements in our knowledge of its epidemiology are desirable. The present study describes its main geographical and chronological features and presents an up-to-date view of the principal risk factors associated with that disease. Mortality from pancreatic cancer is characterized by its increase with age, its predominance among males and its preferential ethnic and geographical distribution. The most striking point, however, is the increase of incidence noted since 1950, with an as yet unexplained tendency to stabilization. Among the various risk factors suspected of being associated with pancreatic cancer, only tobacco smoking seems to be well established. The methodological problems encountered in analytical studies explain that the role of nutritional, occupational and associated pathological factors remains hypothetical in the present state of our knowledge.

Adult

Colonic transit time of radiopaque markers and rectoanal manometry in patients complaining of constipation.

Transit time, rectoanal manometry, and symptoms were studied in 61 patients complaining of constipation. A slow transit, in the colonic area of most of the patients, was found in 49. Rectoanal manometry was abnormal in 40. Both examinations were abnormal in 32 patients, colonic transit only in 17, and manometry only in eight. Finally, both examinations were normal in only four subjects. A transit delay was always associated with less than three stools per week, and straining at stool was constant when rectoanal manometric disturbances were shown. Objective abnormalities appear common in patients complaining of constipation and, correlated with symptoms, suggest that clinical study in constipation could be of more value than usually is believed.

Adolescent

Decreased brush border hydrolase activities without gross morphologic changes in human intestinal mucosa after prolonged total parenteral nutrition of adults.

Animal experimentation with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has revealed the occurrence of atrophy of the intestinal mucosa and decreased enzyme activities of the brush border, notably the disaccharidases. These findings have heretofore not been confirmed in human investigation. We performed endoscopic biopsies in the third part of the duodenum in 7 adults before TPN, after 21 days of TPN, and after a progressive oral refeeding. We noted a clear-cut decrease of major enzyme activities during TPN (sucrase, maltase, lactase, glucoamylase, acid aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase) without any morphologic modifications as observed with standard histology. Electron microscopy showed a slight but significant decrease in the height of microvilli. The decreased enzyme activities were rapidly restored after oral refeeding. Thus, the functional consequences of the modifications observed during medium-term TPN in adults are probably limited.

Adult

Controlled trial of bowel rest in the treatment of severe acute colitis.

In a prospective, randomised clinical trial, 47 patients with severe, acute, non-infective colitis treated with 60 mg intravenous prednisolone daily, received either bowel rest with parenteral nutrition or oral diet. Although those who received 'bowel rest' experienced a reduction in daily stool weight, there were no differences in the operation or mortality rates between the groups. Fourteen of the 27 patients with ulcerative colitis, but none of the 16 patients with Crohn's disease required urgent surgery. Bowel rest did not affect the outcome in severe ulcerative colitis treated with intravenous prednisolone. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis behaved differently in the acute attack.

Acute Disease

[Myoclonic cerebellar dyssynergia (Ramsay-Hunt syndrome) and cerebellar telangiectasia].

A 8 year-old girl presented with generalized epileptic seizures followed by the progressive onset of myoclonic jerks, sometimes associated with willed movements, and a static and kinetic cerebellar syndrome without conspicuous intellectual impairment. Death occurred 10 years after the onset of the disorders. There was no family history. Neuropathological studies showed lesions confined to the cerebellum. Diffuse and bilateral telangiectases were present in the cerebellar white matter. They were associated with patchy cortical alterations of the distal parts of some folia involving mainly the granule-cells ans sparing the Purkinje cells. No Lafora bodies and no abnormal lipofuscin storage were observed. The dentate nuclei, superior cerebellar peduncles and red nuclei were normal as were the inferior olives and inferior cerebellar peduncles. The spino-cerebellar tracts were unaffected. This case confirms the hypothesis that dyssynergia cerebellaris myoclonica corresponds only to a clinical entity. It may be encountered in various degenerative or metabolic disorders involving the cerebellum and/or its pathways. To our knowledge the association of a Ramsay Hunt syndrome with a vascular malformation has not been previously reported.

Adolescent

[Hereditary visceral myopathy: an entity in idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction].

A 17 year-old girl with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is reported. Abnormalities of smooth intestinal muscle were shown on light and electron microscopic studies of the excised small intestine and led to the diagnosis of visceral myopathy based on the following features: vacuolar degeneration of intestinal smooth muscle cells with replacement by fibrous preferential involvement of the external longitudinal muscle layer normal myenteric plexus. For the first time similar ultrastructural changes were found on histological study of the colon. Manometric studies revealed a diffuse disease involving the esophagus, small bowel, and bladder. Anorectal abnormalities, never described before, were reported. Family involvement was shown by abnormal esophageal and anorectal manometries in the patient's brother and by paternal history of fatal small intestine occlusion without mechanical obstruction. The prognosis of severe forms of visceral myopathy is generally poor because of the inefficiency of drugs. In this case, after a long period of parenteral nutrition with maintenance of a good nutritional status, a terminal ileostomy (with a special procedure to avoid evagination) associated with a second stage total colectomy allowed to stop parenteral nutrition.

Adolescent

[Gastrointestinal haemorrhage related to alcoholic cirrhosis. Prognostical influence of digestive lavage (author's transl)].

During gastrointestinal bleeding associated with cirrhosis, the presence of blood within the lumen of the gut may cause or favorise the onset of hepatic coma. Digestive lavage by rapid intragastric infusion of an isotonic solution based upon mannitol may reduce the mortality due to hepatic coma. The value of this method was studied retrospectively by comparison of two series of haemorrhagic complications: Group I-1971-1976: 224 haemorrhagic complications treated in the usual manner; Group II-1976-1977: 127 haemorrhagic complications treated in accordance with a protocol which included digestive lavage. The results indicate the prognostic significance of certain clinical signs (ascites, jaundice, shock), and also made it possible to determine the cause of death and to demonstrate a reduction in mortality in the group treated by digestive lavage (p < 0.02), concerning only deaths as a result of hepatic coma (p < 0.01) above all in forms with a poor initial prognosis with shock or decompensation with jaundice and ascites.

Adult

Oral BCG vaccine in Crohn's disease.

In a randomised double-blind trial over one year oral BCG has been compared with a control preparation in the treatment of chronic Crohn's disease. Overall assessment scores deteriorated in nine of 22 patients taking BCG, and 11 of 26 in the control group (P = 0.25); this deterioration was great enough to be regarded as a clinical relapse in three patients taking BCG and in seven taking the control preparation (P greater than 0.1). No significant benefit from oral BCG treatment has been demonstrated.

Adolescent

Elastic properties of the rectal wall in normal adults and in the patients with ulcerative colitis.

The elastic properties of the rectal wall have been studied in 16 normal adults (group I) and in 24 patients with ulcerative colitis, during a nonactive (13 cases, group II) or an active period (11 cases, group III). The rectal intraluminal pressures after accommodation to the distension were significantly higher in group III than in groups I and II. These pressures were not related to distending volumes in groups I and II but were correlated with the distending volumes in group III. The rectal elasticity coefficient was significantly greater in group III than in the other two groups. There was an inverse correlation between the rectal elasticity coefficient and the rectal area. These results suggest a loss of the rectal distensibility in active colitis.

Adolescent