Antral gastritis in chronic alcoholism. Role of cirrhosis and Helicobacter pylori

OBJECTIVES: Antral gastritis is frequent in alcoholics. The role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of gastritis in these patients is not well known. The aim of our study was to study the role of H. pylori and cirrhosis in the pathogenesis of antral gastritis in alcoholic patients. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients were included in the study. All underwent upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy with antral biopsies, independently of the presence of abdominal pain, and had serological examination for H. pylori antibodies. RESULTS: Cirrhosis and gastritis were present in 50 and 40 patients respectively, H. pylori serological assay and histological identification of the bacterium were positive in 35 (44%) and 19 (24%) patients respectively. Discrepancy between the 2 tests were observed more frequently in cirrhotic patients. A positive serology with a negative histologic examination for H. pylori was present for 18 cirrhotic and 4 noncirrhotic patients (p < 0.05). A gastritis without evidence of H. pylori was more frequent in cirrhotic than in noncirrhotic patients. H. pylori was histologically present in 11 of 29 cirrhotic patients and in 8 of the 11 noncirrhotic patients with a gastritis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies between histological examination and H. pylori serology in patients with cirrhosis might be due to the inhospitable environment for H. pylori in case of portal hypertension; the positive serology could be in relation with a past infection.     

Endothelin-1 concentrations and optimisation of arterial oxygenation and venous admixture by selective pulmonary artery infusion of prostaglandin E1 during thoracotomy

PURPOSE: To demonstrate a superselective intraarterial chemotherapy as a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of previously treated recurrent lymph node metastases in breast cancer. METHODS: 14 patients with recurrent lymph node metastases in cases of breast cancer were presented to be treated by intraarterial chemotherapy of 25 mg mitoxantrone/m2 over a period of 24 hours. In two patients with superclavicular lymph node involvement an intraarterial therapy could not be carried out because of a vascular connection to the anterior spinal artery. Involved lymph stations could be reached in superselective technique by side branches of the subclavian artery. Heparin coverage was given intravenously. Every patient had had surgery, radiation, systemic chemo- and hormonal therapy before and was now graded as inoperable. Therapy indication was given by local tumour-induced symptoms. RESULTS: In the 12 treated cases complete remission was seen in three, partial remission in 4, a steady state in two and a progressive disease in three. There were no complications or severe side effects. CONCLUSION: Intraarterial chemotherapy is an effective and well tolerated treatment in recurrent lymph node metastases in cases of breast cancer even if conventional therapies can no longer be used.     

A high proportion of novel mutations in BRCA1 with strong founder effects among Dutch and Belgian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families

We have identified 79 mutations in BRCA1 in a set of 643 Dutch and 23 Belgian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families collected either for research or for clinical diagnostic purposes. Twenty-eight distinct mutations have been observed, 18 of them not previously reported and 12 of them occurring more than once. Most conspicuously, a 2804delAA mutation has been found 19 times and has never been reported outside the Netherlands. A common haplotype spanning > or = 375 kb could be identified for each of the nine examined recurrent mutations, indicating the presence of multiple BRCA1 founder mutations in the Dutch population. The 2804delAA mutation has been estimated to have originated approximately 32 generations ago. No specific breast or ovarian cancer phenotype could be assigned to any of the common mutations, and the ovarian cancer incidence among 18 families with the 2804delAA mutation was heterogeneous.     

Cutaneous toxicity following the administration of dactinomycin

The author describes a patient who has a successful coronary artery bypass. Six weeks later, after a physical examination of the chest, she had unbearable sharp, stabbing pain around the incision which was not responding to nerve blocks, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti inflammatory agents, and epidural blocks. The pain was responsive to mexilitine and disappeared after three weeks of treatment.     

Preparation of Poly(D,L-Lactide/Glycolide) Nanoparticles of Controlled Particle Size Distribution: Application of Experimental Designs

This study investigates the use of the solvent evaporation method for preparing acid and glycolic acid-based copolymer nanoparticles. Initially, appropriate technological and formulation factors for elaboration of polymeric particles were selected by screening. Most favourable results were obtained using polyvinyl alcohol as a dispersing agent and a high pressure homogenizer to reduce the droplet size of the emulsion initially formed. On the basis of the conclusion thus drawn, a composite rotational experimental design was employed to evaluate the joint influence of three formulation variables (phase volume ratio of the emulsion formed, polymer concentration and homogenization pressure) on the micromeritic properties of the suspension finally obtained (mean particle size, coefficient of variation and polydispersity of the particle size distribution). Analysis of variance corresponding to the experimental design, showed a significant influence of the volume phase ratio and the polymer concentration on the mean particle size and the coefficient of variation, whereas the polydispersity is also affected by the homogenization pressure. Considering this information, a 3² experimental factorial design was then selected to investigate the possible interaction between the phase volume ratio and the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol in the aqueous phase. Analysis of variance and subsequent sequencial regression analysis evidenced last hypothesis providing the way to determine the experimental conditions required to achieve a specific particle size distribution.     

A transgenic T cell receptor restores thymocyte differentiation in interleukin-7 receptor alpha chain-deficient mice

Traffic accidents are a well-known public health problem worldwide. In Mexico research into risk factors for motor involving vehicles accidents and their consequences has recently been taken into account. The relevant literature does not normally describe the methodological aspects involved in the collection of primary data, since most studies have used secondary data the good quality and validity of which are assumed. The paper presented seeks to discuss and share with researchers in this field, some of the methodological aspects to be considered in the attempt to recreate the scene of the accident and obtain information approximating to reality. The measurements in situ of, such traffic accident variables as injury, use of seat belt, speed and alcohol intake are discussed.     

Renopancreatic transplant. Urologic complications

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective study of urological complications in our series of reno-pancreatic transplants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between February 1983 and May 1994 our group has conducted 93 RPT, 80 of which, mean age 36 +/- 6 years (24-54 years), are studied in this paper: 57 male and 23 female with an average time in dialysis of 20 +/- 15 months (0-84 months) and diabetes evolution of 21 +/- 5 years (11-37 years). RESULTS: Actuarial annual survival of patient, renal graft and pancreatic graft has been 85%, 79% and 74% respectively. Haematuria: 25% incidence, with graft pancreatitis etiology in 16 cases, rejection in 8 and urinary fistula in 6. Urinary infection: 85% incidence, symptomatic in 23 patients (29%) and asymptomatic in the remaining cases. Dysuria, urethritis and urethral stenosis: 14 patients, all male, most with both conditions associated. Reconversion of pancreatic exocrine secretion by intestinal route was performed in 7 patients. Urinary fistula: secondary to surgery in 9 cases and rejection in 4. Etiology of one case remained unknown. In 4 cases it was resolved with conservative treatment, and with surgical correction in 8. One patient required pancreatic transplantectomy and one patient died of AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Urological complication in RPT account for a significant morbidity, urinary fistula being the one with greater repercussion on the patient and pancreatic graft survival.