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Biomedical subjects

B Christoforov

Publications and source records attributed to B Christoforov.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Presence of villin, a tissue-specific cytoskeletal protein, in sera of patients and an initial clinical evaluation of its value for the diagnosis and follow-up of colorectal cancers.

Villin is an actin-binding protein found in a few normal adult epithelia, namely epithelial cells in the digestive and urogenital tracts. Moreover, villin production is maintained in malignant cells. We assumed that cell lysis and necrosis of solid tumors producing villin might result in villin release into blood. We analyzed the villin content of sera from 788 patients and controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients and controls were classified into healthy donors, patients with benign diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, patients with colorectal cancers, and patients with malignant nondigestive diseases. In the panel of sera analyzed, the sensitivity of the assay for colorectal cancers was 50.5%, and its overall specificity for malignant digestive tumors was 94.5%. Results were statistically analyzed comparing each group of sera with each other. We conclude that the presence of villin is indicative of a pathological state in the gastrointestinal tract (P less than 0.001). Finally, we followed villin levels after tumor resections (60 patients). We found that the villin level in sera remains low in remissions but is raised in recurrences. We suggest that the villin assay may have clinical utility as a diagnostic adjunct for adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. It may also have some value in monitoring patients with advancing colorectal carcinomas after resection of these tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Suppression of ectopic adrenocorticotropin secretion by the long-acting somatostatin analog octreotide.

The long-acting somatostatin analog (octreotide) was administered to a 37-yr-old woman with the ectopic ACTH syndrome. The patient had diffuse metastatic spread of a nonpituitary tumor, presumably of pancreatic origin, and severe and rapidly progressive hypercortisolism with extreme myopathy, hypokalemia, and diabetes mellitus. Plasma ACTH and lipotropin levels and 24-h urinary cortisol excretion were greatly elevated [218 pg/mL (48 pmol/L), 1340 pg/mL (220 pmol/L), and up to 830 micrograms/24 h (2290 nmol/day), respectively]. Urinary cortisol excretion decreased to normal within 3 days after the initiation of octreotide therapy (150, 300, and 600 micrograms/day), and plasma ACTH and lipotropin levels also decreased. Urinary cortisol excretion remained normal for 2 months during chronic octreotide therapy, and her general condition improved dramatically. The only side-effect was a slight increase in the number of bowel movements. Tumor progression, however, was not controlled, and she eventually died of hepatic insufficiency. These data indicate that octreotide can be a highly effective treatment for patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome.

ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic↗
PubMed1987

Effect of cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of the new beta-blocker betaxolol.

The effect of cimetidine on the new beta-blocker betaxolol (Kerlone) was investigated in 7 healthy volunteers. Propranolol was used as a reference beta-blocking drug. In the control study, a single oral dose of propranolol (80 mg) was given (D0) followed by 5 daily doses of cimetidine (1 g) (D1-D6) and a second oral dose of propranolol (D7). The study was repeated with 20 mg of betaxolol replacing the propranolol dose. The oral clearance of propranolol was significantly decreased (21%). No significant effect of cimetidine on the kinetics of betaxolol was observed.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1987

[Systematic ileocolonoscopy in seronegative spondylarthropathies].

An inflammation of the ileum was observed by Mielants and Veys in patients suffering from reactional arthritis associated to HLA B27 antigen. We thought it would be interesting to perform a systematic ileo-colonoscopy in patients suffering from seronegative spondylo-arthropathy, whether it was an axial or a peripheral form of the disease, or it was associated or not to HLA B27 antigen. The results observed in 30 patients who responded to the criteria of Wright and Moll for the diagnosis of seronegative spondylo-arthropathy, were compared to those of 18 patients suffering from various gastro-intestinal disorders. Macroscopically, a minimal abnormality (erythematous patches and/or micro-ulcerations) was observed in 10 out of 30 patients, and never in the reference group (p less than 0.02). The histological examination demonstrated, in patients suffering from spondylarthritis, a higher frequency of minimal signs of inflammation (lympho-plasmocytes infiltration) at the level of the ileum (in 18 out of 19 patients versus 11 out of 18 patients in the reference group, p less than 0.05) and at the level of the rectum (in 15 out of 19 patients, versus 8 out of 17 patients in the reference group, p less than 0.05). This study suggests therefore the presence of minimal ileorectal inflammation in patients with seronegative spondylo-arthritis, which could have an influence on the pathogenesis and/or the evolutive course of the disease.

Colonoscopy↗
PubMed1985

[Septicemia in cirrhotic patients].

The clinical features of 22 patients with cirrhosis of the liver complicated by septicaemia were studied retrospectively and compared with a control group of 52 patients with septicaemia without cirrhosis. The incidence of septicaemia was higher in the cirrhotic group (4.25 p. 100) than in the control group (0.64 p. 100). The overall incidence of cirrhosis in patients with septicaemia was 19 p. 100. Nine of the 22 cirrhotic patients and 16 patients in the control group died. Prognostic factor common to both groups of patients were: shock, coma, delayed apyrexia and the isolation of more than one infecting organism on blood culture. Poor prognostic factors specific to the cirrhotic patients were the presence of ascites, especially if infected, and signs of hepatocellular failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Sarcoidosis at the Cochin University Hospital Center from 1975 to 1982].

An analysis of 80 cases of sarcoidosis admitted to the departments of respiratory medicine (36), rheumatology (19) and internal medicine (25) over a 7 year period, revealed a wide range of clinical presentations; there was a higher incidence of associated disease and a greater number of localisations of the disease in patients admitted to the department of internal medicine than in those admitted to the other two departments. On the other hand, bronchial biopsy was more commonly positive in patients admitted to the department of respiratory medicine whose respiratory function was more disturbed than the patients in the other two departments. The patients referred to the departments of rheumatology and internal medicine without radiological respiratory involvement had respiratory function tests and positive alveolar lavages. The prognosis was the same in all three departments; 50 p. 100 were treated with steroids. The recruitment of the patients in this series allows a different evaluation of the disease compared to series reported from more specialised departments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Tuberculous meningitis in adults. Diagnostic elements: analysis of 32 cases].

The aim of this study was to determine the value of paraclinical investigations in the diagnosis of 32 adults with TB meningitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in spinal fluid cultures of 21 patients (66 p. 100). But only two had positive smears. In five with positive cultures the sampling was performed between one and 13 days after the beginning of chemotherapy. In 7 patients with negative spinal fluid cultures, mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in gastric contents aspiration (3); urine (2); bone marrow (1) and abscess (1). Cytochemical analysis of first spinal fluid samples showed an elevation of protein from 0.5 to 7 g/l in all patients (mean 2.1 +/- 1.6 g/l); sugar was low in 26 (mean 0.30 +/- 0.26 g/l); cell count was less than 500/mm3 in 26, with a mononuclear response in 24. 20 patients had lymphocytic and hypoglycorrachic meningitis. Cytochemical findings were independent of the delay between the first clinical symptoms and lumbar puncture. A. C. T. scan of the brain was performed in 8 patients with neurologic complications. Hydrocephalus was found in 3, and after the injection of contrast material, focal high-density areas in the basal cistern and the sulci of the cerebrum were observed in 2. Chest X ray showed miliary TB in 13 patients; but positive skin test for tuberculosis and hyponatremia were rarely helpful. To confirm adult tuberculous meningitis, we suggest that two spinal fluid samplings are necessary, but mycobacterium tuberculosis must be looked for simultaneously in the sputum, gastric contents, urine and bone marrow. Specific treatment can be started immediately after the first spinal fluid sampling. Chest X ray may be helpful, but C.T. scan of the brain and tuberculin test are of no value.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Tuberculous meningitis in adults. Prognostic factors].

Clinical and biochemical data likely to constitute prognostic factors were investigated in a retrospective study of 32 cases of tuberculous meningitis. Age appeared to be a much more important factor than the initial clinical severity of the disease and the delay of treatment. Over the age of 50 years, the mortality rate was doubled. There was no correlation between age and initial severity of the clinical picture. The number of cells and level of glucose in the CSF on admission were of no prognostic significance. CSF protein levels were higher in patients who died or developed complications than in those who made an uneventful recovery (p less than 0.05). The time required for temperature and CSF protein and glucose levels to return to normal had no prognostic value. An unfavourable or complicated course should be feared when CSF protein levels are higher than 7 g/l and in the presence of persistently low CSF glucose levels.

Adult↗