Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists induce osteoporosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Tavernier.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
There have been few studies and case-reports of bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma. To determine the characteristics of these metastases, we retrospectively studied 22 patients in whom the diagnosis was established either on the basis of concomitant occurrence of malignant bone lesions and hepatocellular carcinoma in the absence of other detectable malignant disease (n = 15) or on the basis of histological evidence of bone metastasis from an hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 7). There were 21 males and one female. Mean age was 62.5 years. Most patients (88.2%) had chronic alcohol abuse. The bone metastases occurred as the first manifestation of the liver cancer in half the cases (11/22). Time interval between onset of bone symptoms and admission was less than one month in 6 of 11 patients; mean interval was 7.4 weeks. Hepatomegaly was found upon initial physical evaluation in 9 of 11 patients. Pain was the main symptom of bone disease (18/22). Palpable bone masses were found in 6 of 22 patients. Purely osteolytic lesions were seen on roentgenograms in every case; rupture of the cortex and spread to adjacent soft tissues were common findings. The radionuclide bone scan was normal in four of 12 patients. An advanced primary hepatic tumor was found in 84.2% of cases. Histologic examination of bone specimens established the diagnosis of metastasis from a hepatocellular carcinoma in 7 of 9 patients (77.8%). Severe bleeding occurred during one of the nine biopsy procedures. Patients were given symptomatic treatment. Systemic chemotherapy was used in five patients, unsuccessfully. Median survival was three months.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The authors report eight personal cases of severe and multiple osteolysis in rheumatoid arthritis. 42 other cases were found in the international literature. Osteolytic rheumatoid arthritis concern almost exclusively women, often with small stature. Lesions prevail on upper limbs. All peripheric joints can be involved, except knees, ankles and tarses. The most typical and the most constant aspect is the "opera glass hands". Extra-articular manifestations occur in the same rate as for common rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor are present in 2/3 of the cases. Pathogeny of these osteolyses remains unknown and a neurologic mecanism is inprobable.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
From a prospective study of 152 patients admitted to an emergency department on account of "malaise" (i.e. dizziness with or without syncope), the authors have extracted a number of interesting points. After 24 hours under observation with questioning, physical examination and measurement of blood alcohol, glucose and carbon dioxide levels, the cause of the "malaise" could be determined in 84 per cent of the patients. Among 37 patients who were detained for more than 24 hours, only 3 additional diagnoses were made. Patients with syncope had the same cause of dizziness as those without syncope. One hundred and nineteen patients were followed up for one year. The mortality rate in patients with a cardiovascular cause of "malaise" was significantly higher than in patients with other causes. Patients with dizziness of unknown origin had the same mortality rate. Patients of more than 70 years of age had a mortality rate (50 per cent) significantly higher than that of patients aged less than 70 (25 per cent). Finally, the patient's history and physical examination proved to be the most helpful aids in establishing the cause of the "malaise".
Epidemiological features of multiple myeloma were studied over a seven-year period (1980-86) in the department of Côte d'Or (population 478,000). The crude annual incidence rates were 3.7/100,000 for males and 4.0/100,000 for females. The corresponding age-standardized rates were 2.5 and 2.1. The sex ratio was 1.2. Cumulative rates were 0.3% for both sexes. Age and specific incidence were low before 50 and increased with advancing age up to 85 years in males and females. There was no significant variation in incidence over the seven-year period. The risk of multiple myeloma was slightly higher in urban than in rural areas (the variations were not significant). The period between the beginning of the symptoms and the diagnosis was often short, less than one month in 56% of the cases. When compared to other population based registries the incidence rates are similar to those reported all over the world (except for registries with a high proportion of blacks in the population). Cases have been staged according to Durie and Salmon classification: 32% of the cases were classified as Stage I. This result suggests that globally cases diagnosed in a well-defined population are less severe than those reported in hospital statistics. Survival showed significant differences: there were better rates for patients under 75 and for patients at stage I and II compared with stage III patients. Percentage and morphology of plasma cells also influenced prognosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The authors analyse peri-prosthetic ossification, a complication which can occur in the presence of certain risk factors. Grades I and II calcifications are frequent and do not interfere with the final post-operative result. On the other hand, grades II and IV result in a progressive stiffening of the coxo-femoral joint within one year after the operation. They may be bilateral and can sometimes be responsible for serious handicap. These cases should be re-operated in order to restore joint mobility, but surgical treatment should be completed by radiotherapy according to a defined protocol. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and diphosphonates also have a preventative action. Subjects at risk (ankylosing vertebral hyperostosis, spondyloarthritis, alcoholism, patients with a history of ossification of the first side) require effective prophylactic treatment. In the authors' own series, 49 cases of ossification were observed in a retrospective analysis of 100 patients, including 6 cases of grades III and IV ossification. They analyse their results in relation to the initial hip pathology treated by prosthesis, but their series is too small to allow an statistically valid conclusions. Complementary studies are required.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Ultrasonic examination was performed in 7 infants with renal venous thrombosis. Early findings included renal enlargement, increased echogenicity with a low cortico-medullary difference and very thin intra-renal excretory cavities. Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava was seen in one case. Ultrasonic follow-up was in agreement with findings on IVP. In favorable cases all findings returned progressively to normal. In cases with poor prognosis kidney size decreased but echogenicity and renal cavities remained unchanged. In addition, ultrasonic examination is useful in differentiating renal venous thrombosis from other causes of retroperitoneal masses in infancy.
Radiological examinations have always been considered of secondary importance during diagnostic investigations of temporomandibular joint affections because of the frequency with which negative results were obtained. For most authors its only value has been to establish a differential diagnosis from other lesions of the manducatory apparatus in which clinical manifestations are comparable. A systematic study of the manducatory apparatus in patients with temporomandibular joint affections was carried out by taking two films, one with the month open, the other with the month closed, according to Hirtz's incidence. The results showed that abnormalities of varying degrees of severity were present relatively frequently. They usually involved the temporomandibular joint, either morphologically or physiologically. The multiplicity of the abnormalities observed, their character, and their frequency raise the problem of defining their role in the genesis of the disorders described and strongly suggests that the place of radiological investigations in the diagnostic tests for temporomandibular joint affections has to be reconsidered. The examination described would be, because of its simplicity, the basic investigation in the radiological study, with other studies possibly following on later to complement it.
The authors describe a simple and reliable technique of successive mucography of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the stomach. The examination is begun in a seated position, in dorsal horizontal and trickling provides perfect conditions of study, selective and with no opaque superimposition, of the posterior surface of the stomach, the site of 90% of organic lesions. Study of the anterior surface is also simplified. Practically no patient cooperation is required and the technique may be used in the elderly and those with physical incapacity. The aim is to obtain a morphologically and physiologically pure picture of the mucosa and the gastric folds. Very small lesions may be visualised without resort to other techniques and the study of cases of gastritis is greatly simplified.