[Correlation between hemodynamic parameters of the portal circulation in cirrhotic patients].

The aim was to study the relationships between portal hemodynamic parameters in cirrhotic patients. Portal hemodynamics was assessed by scintisplenoportography and sonography, and the measurement of portohepatic gradient. Gradient between wedged and free hepatic venous pressures was 2.

[Assessment of portal blood flow by isotope splenoportography. Methodology and 1st results in cirrhosis].

The authors report a new non-invasive method of portal blood flow (PBF) measurement, after injection of a radiotracer into the spleen. PBF was equal to the product of the radiotracer bolus velocity and the cross-section area of the portal vein as measured by ultrasonography. In 16 patients with cirrhosis, the velocity of the portal blood flow (V) and PBF were determined in 11 cases.

[A new case of Menkes syndrome. Prenatal exclusion diagnosis in a subsequent pregnancy].

Authors report the cases of a boy with a Menkes' disease which began by a convulsive encephalopathy at the age of two months with growth failure and metaphysical abnormalities. An oldest brother died at 2 years of age in an analogous scene. The diagnosis proved to be founded by the low serum copper and coeruleo-plasmia levels and by the increased uptake of copper in the cultured skin-fibroblasts.

[Aspirin and gastroduodenal toxicity. A double-blind endoscopic study of the effects of placebo, aspirin and lysine acetylsalicylate in healthy subjects].

The aim of this double-blind endoscopic study was to compare the effects of placebo (group I, 5 patients), lysine acetylsalicylate (group II, 7 patients) and acetylsalicylic acid (group III, 7 patients) on the gastric and duodenal mucosa in healthy humans. Endoscopy was performed before and one hour after endoscopic instillation of aspirin (500 mg) or placebo in the stomach. Endoscopy was repeated after one week of aspirin-treatment (2 g per day) or placebo.

Healing of malignant ulceration in a case of early oesophageal carcinoma presenting as haematemesis.

A 77-year-old male was hospitalised following haematemesis of sudden onset. Emergency endoscopy revealed an oesophageal ulcer 5 cms in length. Biopsies taken from the margin of this lesion showed severe dysplastic changes.

[Pharmacokinetics of intravenous ranitidine and its effect on gastric acid secretion stimulated by pentagastrin in the cirrhotic].

The pharmacokinetics of 50 mg intravenous ranitidine and the consequences on pentagastrin (2 micrograms/kg/h)-stimulated gastric acid secretion were studied in ten cirrhotic patients. Group I (n = 5) included patients without ascite; group II (n = 5) was characterized by the presence of ascites. Blood creatinine was normal in all the subjects.

[Evaluation of protein-losing enteropathy in the cirrhotic patient by assessing the intestinal clearance of alpha 1 antitrypsin (author's transl)].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate protein-losing enteropathy in cirrhotic patients by assaying the intestinal clearance of alpha 1 antitrypsin (C alpha 1), 28 patients were divided into 5 groups: group A = 4 controls, group B = 6 patients with peptic ulcer, group C = 5 cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices (EV), group D = 6 cirrhotic patients with EV but without ascites, group E = 7 cirrhotic patients with EV and ascites. A significant increase in C alpha 1 was found only in groups D and E. The C 1 level was equal to the mean level found in controls multiplied by 2.

Increased cell loss in the human jejunum induced by laxatives (ricinoleic acid, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate, magnesium sulphate, bile salts).

Two conjugated bile salts (10 mmol/l sodium glycocholate, 10 mmol/l sodium taurodeoxycholate) and three laxatives (30 mmol/l magnesium sulphate, 10 mmol/l ricinoleic acid, 2 mmol/l dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate) were tested on seven subjects with no intestinal lesions in 14 experiments by intestinal perfusion of the jejunum. A 25 cm segment was studied. Each solution was perfused at the rate of 10 ml/min.

[Manometric effects of metopimazine on the lower esophageal sphincter (author's transl)].

The effects of metopimazine on gastric, jejunal and colonic motility were recently described. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the action of a bolus injection of metopimazine (10 mg IV) on lower esophageal sphincter pressure with continuously perfused catheters. Significative increase (p less than 0,05) of lower esophageal sphincter pressure is always observed in 10 normal subjects and 5 patients with symptomatic gastro-esophageal reflux.

[Meckel's diverticular leiomyoma revealed by digestive hemorrhage. Preoperative diagnosis by selective arteriography (author's transl)].

In connection with a case revealed by digestive tract hemorrhage per rectum, the authors emphasize the infrequency of Meckel's diverticula leiomyomas and stress the value of selective arteriography of the superior mesenteric artery as a means of pre-operative identification of these tumors.