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Biomedical subjects

J Carles

Publications and source records attributed to J Carles.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome) in a patient with scleroderma treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis].

Esophageal involvement is a common situation found in 50 to 80% of patients with scleroderma, but Boerhaave's syndrome is rare in this context. The authors report the first case of spontaneous esophageal rupture occurring in a chronic renal failure patient treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. In this observation, sclerodermal esophageal dyskinesia, chronic renal failure which is a classical cause of vomiting and the peritoneal dialysis which play an increasing role in the intraabdominal pressure are potential contributing factors to Boerhave's syndrome. In such patients presenting risk factors, even if they are asymptomatic, it seems reasonable to propose esophageal explorations with manometry or/and endoscopy looking for dyskinesia or other complications of gastro-esophageal reflux.

Esophageal Diseases↗

Case report: incomplete septal cirrhosis with liver cell dysplasia.

A 60-year-old woman was transplanted for end-stage alcoholic cirrhosis. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was made 13 years earlier on the basis of features of portal hypertension and a wedge liver biopsy. Liver function tests were subnormal except for a low prothrombin time. Unproven possible alcohol abuse was the only aetiological factor. Her condition remained unchanged until transplantation, despite complete abstinence. Histological examination of the explant showed incomplete septal cirrhosis associated with distal obstructive portal venopathy, cirrhotic nodules predominantly in the subcapsular areas and nodular regenerative hyperplasia with septal fibrosis elsewhere. In addition, there were areas of large and small liver cell dysplasia. This observation shows the difficulty in making a diagnosis of incomplete septal cirrhosis and the hypothetical link between liver cell dysplasia (which has never been reported in incomplete septal cirrhosis but is well known to be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis) and rare cases of liver adenomas and carcinomas reported in patients presenting with liver vascular disorders.

Female↗

Anal carcinoma: a 14 year experience.

A retrospective analysis of 20 patients with anal carcinoma treated at Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) from 1982 to 1995 was performed to evaluate clinical and pathological characteristics. This subset represents 2.1% of all the colon and rectum cancers registered in the same period. The mean age was 74 years (42-92), the female to male ratio was 1.5:1. The most frequent site was anal canal (80%) and the histological type was squamous cell and basaloid carcinomas in all cases. Five aged patients were not treated. Twelve patients were primary treated by abdominal perineal resection, 2 patients by radiotherapy and one by a local excision. The prognosis of 8 patients treated with palliative surgery was poor and none survived 30 months after surgery. In contrast, 4 of 5 patients are alive after radical surgery with a minimum 5 year follow-up. Two patients treated with radiotherapy are disease free at 7 and 13 months after treatment. The incidence of anal carcinoma is low, but our experience shows that it is diagnosed at an advanced stage and surgery is not always successful. Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, is an effective alternative.

Aged↗

Local recurrence of low rectal cancer after abdominoperineal and anterior resection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the risk of local recurrence between two groups of patients with low rectal cancer treated by either abdominoperineal resection (APR) or anterior resection. METHODS: From 1982 to 1992, 106 low rectal cancers (tumour situated 3-8 cm from the anal verge), of Dukes stage B and C were treated by curative surgery, 52 by APR and 54 by anterior resection. Mean follow-up was 60 months after APR and 50 months after anterior resection. RESULTS: The local recurrence rate of low rectal cancer was 16 of 52 (31 per cent) after APR and 15 of 54 (28 per cent) after anterior resection. The risk of local recurrence in univariate and multivariate analysis was not associated with clinical and histological variables, nor with the type of intervention. CONCLUSION: Sphincter-saving resection can be performed for low rectal cancer without an increased risk of local recurrence.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Prospective study of microscopic lymph node involvement of the hepatic pedicle during curative hepatectomy for colorectal metastases.

Extensive lymph node dissection of the hepatic pedicle was undertaken in 100 consecutive patients undergoing curative hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases in whom lymph node involvement of the hepatic pedicle was not macroscopically detectable. Microscopic lymph node involvement was found in 14 patients, in very different lymph node sites, and was related only to the number of metastases, extent of liver involvement and carcinoembryonic antigen level (all P < 0.05).

Adult↗

Cystic smooth-muscle tumor of the liver and spleen associated with Epstein-Barr virus after renal transplantation.

Immunosuppression is known to favor the development of various types of tumors. After organ transplantation, the risk of lymphoproliferative disease, whether clonal or not, is particularly increased and clearly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. We report a case of an unusual large cystic tumor of the liver with satellite hepatic and splenic nodules occurring 4 years after renal transplantation. Radiologic examination showed a rich vascularization of the tumor. Light and electron microscopy of a surgical liver biopsy, completed by an immunohistochemical study, demonstrated a well-differentiated tumor of smooth-muscle origin. Using in situ hybridization, we showed large amounts of Epstein-Barr virus messenger RNAs within the tumor cells. In addition, Southern blot analysis revealed that viral DNA was present in the form of a single monoclonal episome within the tumor. The polymerase chain reaction analysis of the genomic DNA of tumoral cells also indicated a monoclonal pattern. At last, the tumor was shown to be of host origin. Six months later, and despite three courses of chemotherapy, the tumoral lesions were unchanged. This case underlines the role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in the development of unusual and clonal smooth-muscle tumors after organ transplantation. The evolution of these rare tumors is uncertain.

Female↗

[Gastric duplication or pancreatic pseudocyst. Diagnostic difficulties apropos of a case].

Gastric duplication was diagnosed in a 50 year-old patient who was initially thought to have a pancreatic pseudo-cyst until laparotomy was performed. There are many clinical and radiological similarities between gastric duplication and pancreatic pseudo-cyst. However, the following elements can suggest the diagnosis of gastric duplication in the case of the discovery of a cystic mass in the gastric or pancreatic area: normal pancreatic enzyme levels, ultrasonic identification of a hyperechoic inner rim and a hypoechoic outer rim with peristaltic movements into the cyst, visualization of a communication between the cyst and the gastro-intestinal tract, and detection of associated vertebral abnormalities. Surgical treatment of gastric duplication is only necessary in symptomatic cases.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Morphology of hepatic stellate cells in patients with fulminant or subfulminant hepatitis requiring liver transplantation.

Hepatic stellate cells were studied by immuno-cytochemistry with anti smooth muscle alpha-actin antibody (an activation marker for these cells) and electron microscopy, in eleven patients transplanted for fulminant or subfulminant hepatitis. Numerous smooth muscle alpha-actin positive cells were found in necrotic areas. In both fulminant and subfulminant hepatitis, hepatic stellate cells appeared enlarged, often irregular, with spikes. There were numerous signs of activation and many contained numerous small lipid droplets. In the cases of fulminant hepatitis, hepatic stellate cells presented, at times, some subcellular damage. Hepatic stellate cells processes, often in several layers, displayed numerous cytoplasmic microfilaments with conspicuous dense plaques below the plasma membrane. Hepatic stellate cells were never surrounded by a basement membrane. The extracellular matrix was loose and granulofibrillar. In areas of multiacinar nodules (in cases of map-like pattern), hepatic stellate cells were grossly normal. These results are in agreement with in vitro data showing that acutely damaged hepatocytes activate hepatic stellate cells but do not fully transform them into myofibroblasts.

Acetaminophen↗

Heterozygous protein C deficiency and dysfibrinogenemia acquired by liver transplantation.

Orthotopic liver transplantation is now a successful treatment for end-stage liver diseases. Since most components of the coagulation system are synthesized by liver parenchymal cells, there is always a risk of genetic defects of hemostasis being transmitting by liver transplantation. Some coagulation factor defects, such as protein C deficiency, do not induce abnormalities in routine coagulation tests and, thus, go undetected before organ procurement. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of the transmission of heterozygous protein C deficiency, an autosomal recessive genetic defect, associated with dysfibrinogenemia, an autosomal dominant trait, by liver transplantation. Both the recipient and the donor presented with severe thrombotic complications. This case shows that potentially morbid genetic defects can be transmitted by organ transplantation, and it emphasizes the difficulty associated with organ procurement criteria, particularly for liver transplantation, in which routine blood tests appear insufficient for determining whether or not organs can or should be procured from a given donor.

Afibrinogenemia↗

The bronchial arteries: anatomic study and application to lung transplantation.

The bronchial arterial system (BAS) and its territory was studied in dissections of 40 fresh adult cadavers. The arterial distribution was assessed by catheterisation of the ostia and injection of contrast medium. The number of bronchial aa. varied from 2 to 4. The origin of the arteries was between the upper border of T5 and the lower border of T6 in 90% of cases. The intercostobronchial trunk was the virtually exclusively component of the right bronchial arterial system, present in 97.5% of cases. It was associated with an accessory right bronchial a. in 7.5% of cases, which was merely supplementary. A common arterial trunk for both bronchial systems was present in 50% of cases. The left BAS was characterised by the presence of a direct left bronchial a. (LBA) in 76% of cases, and by the combination of two LBAs in 20%, one of which was usually dominant. However, major anatomic networks between the different vessels found allowed reimplantation of the LBA alone in the former situation, and in the latter it was possible to rely on the dominant LBA alone when reimplantation of the different ostia was impossible. The proximity of the different ostia and the interostial interval, which was less than 1.5 cm on average, permitted multiple revascularisations by the same vascular supply.

Adult↗

Progression from idiopathic portal hypertension to incomplete septal cirrhosis with liver failure requiring liver transplantation.

We report the case of a 30-year-old male patient suffering from what was initially thought to be end-stage cryptogenic cirrhosis with portal hypertension and liver failure, who underwent liver transplantation. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed incomplete septal cirrhosis. At the age of 17 this patient had presented pancytopenia and splenomegaly, which were treated by splenectomy. The surgeon discovered portal hypertension. Re-examination of the wedge liver biopsy taken at this time revealed features of idiopathic portal hypertension. This case clearly shows that incomplete septal cirrhosis may be a late manifestation of idiopathic portal hypertension. The presence of sinusoidal dilatation and peliosis as well as early evidence of fibrosis which are already visible on the initial biopsy and are still present on the late specimen, are indirect evidence of a continuous process which ultimately led to incomplete cirrhosis with liver failure.

Adult↗

Central venous brachial catheter (P.A.S. Port TM) and catheter scanning system (Cath-Finder TM).

To assess the effectiveness and safety of an implanted portal with a central venous brachial implanted catheter, P.A.S. Port TM(P-P), and the accuracy of its Cath Finder TM tracking system (C-F), (Pharmacia Deltec) vs. radiology, a phase II multicentric study was designed. The catheter was implanted in 53 oncologic patients treated with chemotherapy and the performance of the catheter was evaluated for 3 months. No problems arose during the implantation in 77% of the cases and in all cases radiologic location of the catheter tip coincided with the C-F. We can conclude that P-P is easy to implant and to maintain in the arm and that it is well tolerated by the patients. C-F is an accurate and reliable system for locating the catheter tip. The use of both systems is an attractive alternative to the standard ones.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Anatomic basis of vascular distribution in combined removal of liver and pancreas (28.5.93).

Based on the study of the arterial distribution of 120 hepatic grafts removed from brain-dead patients, the authors assess the possibilities of vascular partition in cases of combined removal of the liver and pancreas. The discussion deals with the vascular distribution of each organ. The presence of a right hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric a. (SMA) requires preservation of the SMA with the hepatic graft, while the pancreas is removed with the celiac trunk (CT) and its branches. The presence of a left hepatic artery arising from the CT requires its preservation with the hepatic graft, the pancreas being removed with the SMA and the splenic artery.

Arteries↗

Preservation of human liver grafts in UW solution. Ultrastructural evidence for endothelial and Kupffer cell activation during cold ischemia and after ischemia-reperfusion.

Biopsies taken from 13 human liver grafts at different stages of the transplantation process were used for study of the morphology of sinusoidal cells prior to harvesting (5 biopsies), after preservation in UW solution (10 biopsies), and after complete revascularization (13 biopsies). The mean cold ischemic period was 12 h 30. Immediate follow up was uneventful and the mean peak of post-operative transaminases below 1300 IU/l. Biopsies were perfusion-fixed by the transparenchymal route to ensure satisfactory ultrastructural results. There were no loose sinusoidal endothelial cells in the lumen and no signs of cellular death. Some endothelial cells presented signs of activation at the end of the preservation period, and even more after revascularization, with numerous lucent vacuoles resembling endosomes in the cytoplasm. Kupffer cells also presented signs of activation, particularly after reperfusion. The retraction of endothelial cell processes which formed large gaps during cold ischemia proved to be partly reversible after reperfusion. Signs of endothelial cell damage with gaps and partial rupture of the plasmic membrane were also observed, particularly after revascularization, in areas which contained numerous inflammatory cells adhering to the wall. The Disse space was not generally enlarged and contained no inflammatory cells. The sinusoidal pole of hepatocytes was occasionally damaged with the formation of blebs. These results strongly suggest that any drug or preservation solution that will inhibit endothelial and Kupffer cell activation could be beneficial in the prevention of preservation and reperfusion injury.

Adenosine↗