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Biomedical subjects

R Obert

Publications and source records attributed to R Obert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[CT of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis and its differential diagnoses].

PURPOSE: This review shows the diagnostic potential of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis. METHODS: Using a single detector spiral CT, standard examination of the entire abdomen is performed after oral and rectal administration of diluted iodinated contrast medium with collimation of 8 mm, pitch of 1.5, and reconstruction increment of 8 mm before and after intravenous contrast injection. Intravenous administration of spasmolytic agents, various patient positions, and the thin-section technique with 3-5 mm slices are beneficial in difficult cases. RESULTS: The differential diagnosis of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis includes tumorous, inflammatory, and ischemic diseases of the colon as well as infarctions of epiploic appendages and the omentum majus. The knowledge of the various CT criteria of acute colonic diverticulitis and their differential diagnoses helps to establish a correct diagnosis in a wide majority of cases. CONCLUSION: At present, CT is the diagnostic procedure of choice for assessing acute diverticulitis. Distinct knowledge of the CT features helps to differentiate the various entities accurately.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

[Computed tomography (CT) of acute diverticulitis of the cecum and ascending colon].

Acute diverticulitis of the cecum and ascending colon, also called right-sided diverticulitis, represents a relatively rare disorder in the western hemisphere. Pseudodiverticula and, less frequently, solitary congenital diverticula are regarded as the underlying causes of acute diverticulitis. We report the helical CT findings in four patients with acute right-sided colonic diverticulitis. The CT was performed with a collimation of 8 mm, a pitch of 1.5 and an increment of 8 mm, and with variable administration of intravenous, oral and rectal contrast material. In two of the four patients, the acute diverticulitis was detected in the cecum and ascending colon, respectively. In two patients, the diagnosis could be confirmed during surgery and subsequent histologic examination of the resected specimen. On the initial CT studies, acute diverticulitis was correctly diagnosed in two patients and suspected in one patient without identifying an inflamed diverticulum. In one patient, the offending diverticulum in the ascending colon caused an inflammatory pseudotumor at the level of the ileocecal region. This process was initially mistaken as Crohn's disease. The CT diagnosis of a right-sided colonic diverticulitis is based on an inflamed diverticulum in the center of pericolic inflammatory changes and a preserved wall enhancement (target sign). Other CT findings, such as fatty pericolic infiltration and colon wall thickening, are rather non-specific and can also be found in a number of different ileocolic disorders, especially in colon cancer. In selected cases, the diagnosis can only be established by follow up CT after the pericolic infiltration has markedly subsided and an offending diverticulum has emerged.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

[CT findings in acute small bowel diverticulitis].

Small bowel diverticulitis is a rare cause of an acute abdomen. Originating from acquired diverticula of the jejunum, less often of the ileum, or Meckel diverticulum, the symptoms are nonspecific, simulating other acute inflammatory disorders, such as appendicitis, cholecystitis or colonic diverticulitis. The diagnosis of small bowel diverticulitis is solely based on radiologic findings, with computed tomography (CT) regarded as the method of choice. In recent years, a number of case reports have described the spectrum of the CT features in acute small bowel diverticulitis and its dependence on the severity of the inflammatory process. Typical findings are an inflamed diverticulum, inflammatory mesenteric infiltration, extraluminal gas collection and mural edema of adjacent small bowel loops with resultant separation of bowel loops. An enterolith is rarely found in an inflamed diverticulum. Complications include abscesses, fistulae, small bowel obstruction and free perforation with peritonitis. Small bowel diverticulitis can be a diagnostic problem if it involves the terminal ileum or Meckel's diverticulum. For preoperative confirmation of the presumed diagnosis of small bowel diverticulitis on CT, an enteroclysis for acquired diverticula or a technetium scan for Meckel's diverticulum should be performed. We present the CT findings in three patients of acute small bowel diverticulitis, two affecting the jejunum and one a Meckel's diverticulum.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed2001

The 3'-->5' exonuclease of DNA polymerase delta can substitute for the 5' flap endonuclease Rad27/Fen1 in processing Okazaki fragments and preventing genome instability.

Many DNA polymerases (Pol) have an intrinsic 3'-->5' exonuclease (Exo) activity which corrects polymerase errors and prevents mutations. We describe a role of the 3'-->5' Exo of Pol delta as a supplement or backup for the Rad27/Fen1 5' flap endonuclease. A yeast rad27 null allele was lethal in combination with Pol delta mutations in Exo I, Exo II, and Exo III motifs that inactivate its exonuclease, but it was viable with mutations in other parts of Pol delta. The rad27-p allele, which has little phenotypic effect by itself, was also lethal in combination with mutations in the Pol delta Exo I and Exo II motifs. However, rad27-p Pol delta Exo III double mutants were viable. They exhibited strong synergistic increases in CAN1 duplication mutations, intrachromosomal and interchromosomal recombination, and required the wild-type double-strand break repair genes RAD50, RAD51, and RAD52 for viability. Observed effects were similar to those of the rad27-null mutant deficient in the removal of 5' flaps in the lagging strand. These results suggest that the 3'-->5' Exo activity of Pol delta is redundant with Rad27/Fen1 for creating ligatable nicks between adjacent Okazaki fragments, possibly by reducing the amount of strand-displacement in the lagging strand.

Alleles↗
PubMed1989

[Bronchial carcinoma in subjects under 40].

We investigated a series of 30 patients younger than 40 years with histologically proven bronchogenic carcinoma. Most patients were symptomatic for a mean duration of 3 months before examination. The most common cell types were squamous carcinoma in 10 patients, oat cell carcinoma in 9 patients, and adenocarcinoma in 5 patients. The disease was categorized as Stage I in 3 patients, Stage II in 3, Stage III in 17, and Stage IV in 7. Ten patients underwent resection, whereas 3 patients were inoperable at surgery. The average length of survival for the nonoperated patients was 4.2 months (range 1 to 16 months). The mean survival for the surgically treated patients was 23.3 months (range 0 to 84 months). Extent of resection did not have any statistical significance in the survival rates which were mainly affected by staging of disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

[Collageno-vascular diseases and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. An analysis of diagnostic tests].

Collagenovascular diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, LES and scleroderma frequently involve the lung. A group of 15 patients with collagen vasculopathies was analysed with a view to identifying the most suitable invasive and noninvasive tests for the diagnosis of the interstitial fibrosis of the lung that often accompanies such disorders. Among the noninvasive tests only the respiratory function tests (especially DLCO) are adequately sensitive, while chest X-rays, gallium scintigraphy of the lung and ACE are relatively unreliable. Bronchoalveolar lavage is often altered (though the intensity varies considerably) and transbronchial biopsy appears to be the ideal diagnostic examination.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[Usefulness of the determination of CEA and Ca 19-9 in the diagnosis and staging of bronchial carcinoma].

The value of CEA and Ca 19-9 assays in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer is examined. The particular sensitivity of CEA especially in extensive or metastasised tumours is demonstrated. The minimal sensitivity of Ca 19-9 is pointed out but also its absolute specificity in high risk control groups (smokers and BPCO). It is therefore concluded that Ca 19-9 might be used together with CEA in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1987

[Diagnostic contribution of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the pleural fluid and serum of patients with metastatic pleural effusion caused by neoplasm of the breast].

The problem of the diagnosis of pleural exudates in breast cancer is examined. It is pointed out that cytology is very little help and it is suggested that carcinoembryonic antigen could be used for assays of the serum and pleural fluid given its high sensitivity even when the cytological examination is negative.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

[Pathological and clinical aspects of bronchial carcinoid tumor. The authors' own case reports].

Data (radiological, endoscopic, histological, clinical and surgical) are presented on 21 subjects with pulmonary carcinoid tumour encountered in the Turin University Chest Surgery Centre in 1980-1985. All patients were subjected to fibrobronchoscopy which revealed the tumour in 18 cases (14 were given multiple biopsies and in 4 cases samples could not be taken due to the patient's intolerance of the endoscopic manoeuvre). No appreciable bleeding occurred after any biopsy. Surgery was performed on all 21 patients (2 pneumonectomies, 7 bilobectomies, 12 lobectomies). There was 85.71% correspondence between pre and post-operative histological diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Usefulness of the determination of CA 19-9 in the follow-up of patients with gastroenteric neoplasms in comparison to CEA].

28 cases of carcinoma of the digestive tract were studied in order to assess the value of assaying a new tumour marker (CA 19-9) on monitoring the postoperative course of neoplasia. CEA, a tumour antigen of more certain dependability was assayed at the same time. In the case series examined it was found useful to monitor both antigens since although CA 19-9 is less sensitive then CEA in cancers of the large intestine, it is more sensitive in carcinomas of the stomach and pancreas. These early data will have to be confirmed on larger samples but in general terms they do indicate the value of the combined monitoring of this new antigen and CEA in the follow-up of patients given surgery for carcinoma of the digestive tract.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1986

[pH measurement in the diagnosis of pleural exudates].

The diagnostic accuracy of pH measurement of various types of pleural exudate is examined. Despite the limitations of this examination it is easy and quick to perform and offers an undeniable diagnostic validity especially in the case of pleural transudates or malignant effusions.

Adult↗