Hepatic schistosomiasis. X-ray computed tomographic aspects. Apropos of 97 cases

Ninety seven patients with liver cirrhosis of schistosomiasis were collected. Its CT findings and features were analysed on the clinicopathological basis including (1) the high percentage of the hepatomegaly and of the enlargement of the left lobe; (2) occurrence of deposition and calcification of eggs in large bowel wall (5/5), the portal vein system (22/97), the root of the mesentery (9/97) and the liver (93/97); (3) the variety and characteristics of the appearances of the intrahepatic calcification; (4) widened and fibrotic changes in the portal canal region. It was also noted that high percentage of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with this disease in the present series (25/97).     

Emphysematous cystitis. X-ray computed tomographic aspect. Apropos of a case

Emphysematous cystitis is a rare urinary infection which is characterized by gas collection within the bladder wall, with or without gas in the lumen itself. The diagnostic is radiologic. We report a new case, discovered with C.T. and we discuss the interest of this technique.     

Chronic external instability of the ankle. Contribution of dynamic radiographies, x-ray computed tomography and x-ray computed tomographic arthrography

We retrospectively evaluated the anterior talo fibular ligament and the tarsal sinus of 17 patients who had complained of chronic ankle external instability. This study based on both surgery and CT-arthrography findings shows the pathologic or normal aspects of the talo-fibular anterior ligament (normal, lax, fibrosis residue, ruptured). It confirms the good anatomic analysis of the tarsal sinus, in particular the anterior talo-calcaneal interosseous ligament and the search for fibrosis. We underline that capsular distension due to subtalar laxity is not detected with medical imaging. Compared with surgery (all patients), CT arthrography demonstrated the different aspects of the anterior talo fibular ligament injuries (normal, lax, discontinuous).     

Echo-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis. Apropos of 41 cases

Differents studies note many complications of the traditional cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in critically ill and very old patients. We report a retrospective study of ultrasound-guided cholecystostomy as an alternative treatment avoiding surgery in 41 patients between April 1988 and January 1994. Mean-age was 77.8 years (42-95). Hospital mortality concerned five (12.2%) patients. Four (9.8%) required surgical procedure, all of them with simple post-operative course. Six (14.6%) had a recurrence between 1 and 67 months after the end of the drainage. Twenty-six patients are considered as healed, without recurrence, after a mean-follow-up of 33 months. The percutaneous echoguided cholecystostomy seems to be a treatment of choice for patients with a contraindication for a surgical procedure. This technic allows an efficient treatment in patients with post-operative cholecystitis.     

Decompression craniotomy in acute brain edema. Apropos of 30 operated cases

Uni or bilateral decompressive craniotomy was carried out in 30 patients bearing severe cerebral edema of etiology predominantly traumatic. Coma, midriasis and decerebrate state were the mostly commonly clinical features presented. The average survival in the series was 46.6%.     

The role of percutaneous drainage in acute calculous cholecystitis. Apropos of 27 cases

This study was conducted to determine whether gender differences exist in adrenergic receptor sensitivity and baroreflex response. Adrenergic receptor sensitivity was assessed by administering sequentially increasing intravenous doses of phenylephrine and isoproterenol. Baroreflex sensitivity was determined from the slope of pulse intervals plotted against phenylephrine-induced rise in systolic blood pressure (SBP). Drug-induced changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and brachial artery diameter were measured and statistically compared. Women required a lower infusion rate of phenylephrine to increase SBP by 20 mmHg from baseline. There were no statistically significant gender-related differences in baroreflex sensitivity. The dose of isoproterenol needed to increase heart rate by 25 beats per minute from baseline also did not differ significantly between groups. Percent changes from baseline in brachial artery diameters in response to phenylephrine also were similar between groups. These data suggest that women may have greater alpha-adrenergic receptor sensitivity than men, whereas beta1-adrenergic receptor sensitivity is similar between genders. A trend toward a greater baroreflex sensitivity in men than in women was also observed. This study also provides evidence for a possible relationship between adrenergic receptor sensitivity and baroreflex sensitivity.     

Treatment of osteoid osteoma by CT-controlled percutaneous drill resection. Apropos of 27 cases

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor requiring excision due to pain, usually severe and invalidating. Surgical "en bloc" resection is not always easy. Complete resection of the nidus is required to prevent recurrence while at the same time a limited resection should also be used to avoid a pathological fracture or a growth plate injury in children. In order to achieve these 2 goals, we have developed an alternative method: CT guided drill resection. This method is reported with special reference to its technical aspects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty seven patients (16 children and 11 young adults) were treated during a seven year period (June 87 through June 94) and observed clinically and radiologically with an average two-year follow-up (range one to three years). Osteoid osteoma was localized mainly in the lower limb: Femoral neck (or head): 10 cases, 3 in the acetabulum; Femoral shaft: 6 cases; Tibial shaft: 4 cases. Diagnosis was based on clinical features and imaging: radioisotope bone scan and computed tomography in all cases--angiography in 3 patients to assess the diagnosis more accurately. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia (a short hospitalization is needed). The nidus was first localized by Computed Tomography, then approached and resected through a small percutaneous incision. A special device has been manufactured in order to remove a bone cylinder containing the nidus. It was thus possible to perform histological studies of the specimen and confirm the diagnosis. Histological confirmation was possible in 50 per cent of the cases. No complication (except a case of transient extensor hallucis palsy) was observed in this series, 24 patients healed completely; pain disappeared immediately, and the control CT scan returned to normal after a one-year follow-up. In 3 patients, because of a technical error, the nidus was not totally removed. These patients underwent a second procedure, which was effective. DISCUSSION: This method is a good alternative to the direct surgical approach because of its technical advantages: precision in nidus localization and minimal bone resection; consequently, one should underline the practical benefits for the patient: short hospitalization, immediate full weight bearing, quick return to socio-economic activities. Furthermore, some localizations of the nidus which are difficult to reach (for instance the acetabulum) represent a good indication for the method. Accurate pre-operative diagnosis has now become possible with recent advances in imaging techniques but still remains "uncertain". The resection of the specimen allows confirmation of the diagnosis is most of cases. This procedure should ideally be performed by a team (orthopedic surgeon and a radiologist): collaboration instead of competition is in fact the best way to progress in this field of "interventionnal radiology".     

替米沙坦联合糖皮质激素治疗特发性肺纤维化30例临床观察

目的:探讨替米沙坦联合泼尼松治疗特发性肺纤维化的临床疗效.方法:选取我院2008年1月～2010年1月收治的60例特发性肺纤维化病人的临床资料,随机分为治疗组(30例)和对照组(30例),对照组病人应用泼尼松治疗,治疗组病人在对照组治疗的基础上加用替米沙坦,连续治疗6个月,比较两组病人的临床疗效.结果:治疗组病人临床症状和肺功能改善优于对照组,两组病人比较差异有统计学意义(p＜0.05).结论:替米沙坦联合泼尼松治疗肺纤维化,能明显减轻病人的临床症状,改善肺功能,疗效满意值得在临床推广.     

Serologic monitoring of disease and treatment in a patient with pulmonary aspergilloma

Disease progression and efficacy of fungistatic treatment in pulmonary aspergilloma (PA) are difficult to monitor. The usefulness of chest tomography, IgG-ELISA serology, double immunodiffusion, and IgG-immunoblotting was assessed in monitoring disease progression and efficacy of itraconazole treatment during a 9-yr follow-up of a patient with two exacerbations of PA. A rise in IgG-ELISA titer coincided with a recrudescence of clinical symptoms, whereas a decrease after treatment paralleled clinical improvement. IgG-binding to a 32-kD serine protease and to 60- and 94-kD proteins produced with collagen-containing culture medium closely corresponded with IgG-ELISA titers. IgG-binding to a 40-kD metalloprotease remained at very low levels until symptoms and fungal growth became well advanced, when a sharp rise was seen. Responses to all antigens rapidly diminished after the start of successful treatment with itraconazole. Serology may be a useful adjunct in the monitoring of disease progression and the efficacy of itraconazole treatment in patients with PA. IgG-binding to individual fungal proteins shows subtle differences in kinetics. Immunologic responses to fungal proteases raised with collagen-containing culture media may reflect fungal proteolytic involvement during disease progression and treatment more closely than responses to proteins raised with conventional media.     

Multicenter clinical trial of itraconazole in the treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma. Pulmonary Aspergilloma Study Group

Itraconazole 100-200 mg was orally administered to 49 patients with pulmonary aspergilloma once a day in principle immediately after breakfast. Drug concentrations in fungus balls and in aspergilloma cavities were determined in each measurable case and the data were evaluated in terms of efficacy and safety. Overall evaluation was done considering the following 3 criteria: improvement of clinical symptoms, X-ray findings and mycological findings. The efficacy rate was 63.4% (26/41 cases). Out of 49 cases, adverse reactions and abnormal laboratory test values were observed in 8 (16.3%) and 13 (26.5%) cases, respectively. The safety rate was 81.6% (40/49 cases). 160 ng/g-4, 010 ng/g of itraconazole was detected in aspergilloma in 4 measurable cases. This finding showed that itraconazole had infiltrated into the fungus balls. Itraconazole was detected in aspergilloma cavities as well: drug concentration was 825 ng/g and 1,020 ng/g respectively. Based on overall view of clinical effects and drug concentrations in fungus balls and in the walls of lung cavities, it is concluded that itraconazole showed efficacy in reducing the size of aspergilloma and that this drug is useful also in terms of safety.     

Controlled mobilisation after suture of extensor tendons of the hand. Apropos of 30 consecutive cases

The present study documents the prevalence of deficits in the ability to carry out a variety of activities of daily living in early Huntington's disease (HD), along with the associated neuropsychological and motor deficits. Eighty patients with HD were assessed with the Huntington's Disease-Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (HD-ADL). Sixty-seven patients also completed a comprehensive assessment of cognitive and voluntary motor functioning and chorea. The latter measures were correlated with HD-ADL total score and with most HD-ADL items, but not with those items dealing with marital and family relationship adjustment. Findings suggest that psychomotor speed and the ability to regulate attention may be particularly important determinants of everyday functioning in mild HD. Consistent with previously reported observations, this appears to be true even after accounting for individual differences in the severity of chorea and voluntary motor impairment.     

Common fibular nerve lesions. Etiology and treatment. Apropos of 146 cases with surgical treatment

Acute anterior shoulder dislocations are extremely painful conditions that force patients to present to emergency rooms or physicians' offices immediately. The diagnosis usually is established through a careful history and examination, and may be confirmed by appropriate radiography. The immediate treatment objective is to achieve reduction as early as possible, preferably through a closed reduction method with the least discomfort. Current methods of reduction are based on either traction or leverage maneuvers, with each having its own merits and disadvantages. This article, however, revisits the subject by a comprehensive literature review. It addresses obstacles to reduction and reports a closed reduction technique for the acute anterior dislocations of the shoulder that uses both traction and leverage maneuvers simultaneously. In addition, the technique eliminates failing factors of current reduction methods such as the surgeons' weakening or slippery grip when using traction methods. It is expected, by virtue of the method, that it would reduce the chances for complications such as humeral shaft fractures as can occur in leverage maneuvers. This method addresses all potential anatomical and pathological features of acute anterior dislocations of the shoulder to facilitate an earlier and more comfortable reduction.     

Use of prosthesis-generated computed tomographic information for diagnostic and surgical treatment planning

Diagnosis, treatment planning, and prediction of a final implant-supported prosthetic outcome require precise noninvasive presurgical information. By combining the use of a clinically verified barium-coated template and interactive computed tomography (SIM/Plant, Columbia Scientific, Inc., Columbia, Maryland), the implant team can determine and address the relevant issues affecting treatment outcomes. Those issues include: implant-prosthesis incompatibility, recognition of anatomic limitations and anomalies, the need for presurgical bone augmentation, implant diameter and distribution, abutment type and angle, bone density, soft tissue augmentation requirements, accurate fee determination, and medicolegal protection. The data collection methodology and format for the Mecall and Rosenfeld prosthesis prediction analysis are discussed as part of case presentation.     

Trans-symphyseal approach in the treatment of cervico-urethro-vaginal fistulas. Apropos of 2 cases

We opted for a symphysiotomy approach in the management of cervico-urethro-vaginal fistulae in two patients. This approach offers an excellent exposure of the region of the bladder neck. After section of the symphysis pubis with a Gigli's wire saw, the anterior wall of the bladder was taken down to the fistulae and we excised the fistulous tract. Longitudinal closure of the fistulae and the bladder followed. Results were satisfactory and there were no urinary incontinence.     

Urogenital tuberculosis. Apropos of 40 cases

The authors report a series of 40 cases of genitourinary tuberculosis diagnosed and treated in the department of urology "B" of Avicenne hospital over a 7-year period. The objective of this study is to define the various diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this disease. The patients were predominantly males (62.5%) with a mean age of 40 years. 25% of cases reported a history of extra-urinary tuberculosis. The very polymorphous clinical presentation is dominated by signs of cystitis (45%). Intravenous urography is frequently suggestive of the diagnosis based on the appearance and multiplicity of the lesions. The radiological lesions most frequently encountered were silent kidney (19 cases) and small tuberculous bladder (11 cases). The definitive diagnosis was established by pathological examination in 38 cases (biopsies, operative specimens, prostatic resection chips) and/or by demonstration of AFB in 2 cases (urine, pus). Tuberculostatic treatment was administered to all patients, either alone (5 cases) or, more usually, in combination with surgical and/or endo-urological treatment (35 cases), reflecting the magnitude and severity of the destructive and scar lesions.