Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Akovbiantz

Publications and source records attributed to A Akovbiantz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Emergency interventions in complicated colonic diverticulosis].

An account is given in this paper of 480 patients who had been hospitalised for colonic diverticulosis or diverticulitis in the surgical department of the Municipal Waid Hospital of Zurich, between 1970 and 1986. Laparotomy had to be performed on 219 of them (45.6 per cent), among them 84 emergency interventions. The average age of these patients was 70.7 years. Indications for emergency surgery included diffuse or locally delimited peritonitis with abscess development in 72 patients, ileus in ten cases, and massive colon haemorrhage in two. The latter two cases were handled with good success by subtotal colectomy with ileorectostomy and, one of them with the source of bleeding known, by colotomy and suturing of that source of bleeding. Sigmaincontinence resection according to Hartmann has been considered the optional approach since 1977 to diffuse peritonitis and to many cases of ileus (n = 39). In more recent time, anastomosis has been used as primary approach to some patients who survived fibrinous abdominal peritonitis (n = 4). The mortality rate associated with drainage operations according to expectation, has been clearly higher than that following resection, the comparable figures being 32.3 and 17.2 per cent. That has been attributable to non-removal of the septic focus. After all, nowadays combined antibiotic therapy is commonly used for seven to ten days for simultaneous control of both aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. This has become routine practice and involves aminoglycoside, metronidazole, and ampicillin. Overall mortality associated with emergency interventions is clearly higher than that after planned operations, the figures being 22.6 and 4.4 per cent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1986

[Estrogen and progesterone receptors in human liver: does their study contribute to a better understanding of benign contraceptive-associated liver tumors?].

The estrogen and progesterone receptor content of liver cytosol was measured in female patients with focal nodular hyperplasia associated with oral contraceptive use and compared with the receptor content of non-tumorous liver and of primary hepatocellular carcinomas. Receptors were found in very low concentrations or were not measurable at all. In one case of focal nodular hyperplasia the estrogen receptor content of the tumor was higher than that in the adjacent normal liver. Malignant liver tumors and the male liver were characterized by a low or non-measurable receptor content. The study of nuclear receptors combined with the use of monoclonal antibodies may be more helpful in elucidating the complex relationship between oral contraceptive use, benign liver tumors and hepatic steroid receptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Course and outcome of chronic pancreatitis. Longitudinal study of a mixed medical-surgical series of 245 patients.

Over the last 20 yr, 245 patients with chronic pancreatitis (163 with alcoholic relapsing pancreatitis; 145 of them with calcific pancreatitis) were prospectively studied at regular intervals with particular regard to pain, pancreatic functions, calcifications, pancreatic surgery, and survival. The median period of observation in the group with alcoholic relapsing calcific pancreatitis was 10.4 yr. In this group of 145 patients, 85% experienced lasting pain relief within a median time of 4.5 yr from onset. A gradual increase of pancreatic calcifications and pancreatic dysfunction was observed with increasing duration of the disease. Pain relief was accompanied by a marked increase in pancreatic dysfunction and calcification. Of 163 patients with alcoholic relapsing pancreatitis, 87 (53%) needed no pancreatic surgery. Seventy-six patients (47%) with recurrent or persistent severe pain, mainly due to pseudocysts (n = 56), underwent either a cyst drainage procedure (n = 22), papillotomy (n = 4), distal pancreatectomy (40%-60%, n = 24), or Wirsungo-jejunostomy (n = 26). The proportion of patients experiencing lasting pain relief was similar in the operated and nonoperated group of patients. In both groups lasting relief from pain was correlated with the duration of the disease and was associated with marked pancreatic dysfunction. The 50% survival time in alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (with or without pancreatic surgery) was 20-24 yr (after onset), thus markedly shorter than in nonalcoholic pancreatitis. Of the 245 patients, 86 died. About 20% of deaths were related to pancreatitis and its complications. Most extrapancreatic causes of death were malignancies, cardiovascular diseases, severe infections, and nonpancreatic surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma: indication for a possible causal connection even in non-endemic Switzerland].

62 patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma have been investigated for the presence of serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection, and the findings have been related to alpha 1-fetoprotein measurements and to the nature of the basic disease process affecting the liver. The results document a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers as compared to patients with cirrhosis of the liver only, pointing to a probable etiological relationship between hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma even in areas of the world where the infection is not endemic. Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma is limited by the remarkably high percentage of patients who have no, or only marginal, elevation of serum alpha 1-fetoprotein.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B virus infection. Analysis of 75 cases from Switzerland.

The prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was investigated in 75 patients with histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis Bs-antigen (HBs-Ag) was found in 30.8% and evidence of present or past infection in 61.5%. In a control group of 115 patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies in whom evidence of a coexistent HCC was lacking, the corresponding numbers were significantly lower (16.5% and 41.7% resp., p less than 0.05). Below the age of 65 years, markers of present or past HBV-infection were significantly more frequent than in patients above 65 years of age (p less than 0.025). All patients positive for HBs-Ag had an underlying cirrhosis; in seven cases, HCC was found in a non-cirrhotic liver. Alpha-fetoprotein measurements failed to identify patients with HCC in up to 43.6% of the HBs-Ag negative cases. It is concluded that HBV-infection does represent a cofactor in the malignant transformation of the liver, even in areas of lower incidence. Alpha-fetoprotein measurements need to be complemented by other investigations if early recognition of HCC is to lead to better survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Treatment of human echinococcosis with mebendazole. Preliminary observations in 28 patients.

Preliminary results of a long-term, prospective therapeutic trial with mebendazole in 28 patients mainly with inoperable echinococcosis are reported. The course of disease was monitored closely and plasma mebendazole levels were checked regularly. A major problem is the lack of reliable methods for defining and measuring early success or failure of therapy. Most of the patients improved clinically. No marked change of parasitic lesions was observed except in one patient with constantly low plasma mebendazole levels who deteriorated. No serious side effects occurred. The preliminary results are encouraging and suggest that mebendazole has a "parasitostatic" effect on larval growth.

Adult↗