Conformational analyses on histamine H2-receptor antagonists.

In a series of compounds with H2-antihistaminic activity, a conformational analysis was performed based on force field calculations. The drugs studied were cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, roxatidine and the conformationally more restricted ICI127032. For the compounds containing a flexible chain, the local minima conformations and the global minimum conformation were calculated.

[Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura. Analysis of its immunohistochemical aspects].

To evaluate the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the diagnostic distinction between pleural mesothelioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma to the pleura, the authors studied formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 14 pleural mesotheliomas and 20 primary adenocarcinomas of the lung, stomach, ovary and breast by using 16 commercially available antibodies to cytokeratin (KL1), vimentin, EMA, CEA, CA19.9, CA125, Egp 34 (detected by HEA 125), secretory component, S100 protein, SP1-béta 1, Leu M1, alpha-1-AT, alpha-1-ACT, lysozyme, desmin and factor VIII. Keratin positivity was found in all mesotheliomas and adenocarcinomas.

[Blind-pouch syndrome after side-to-side intestinal anastomosis].

Side-to-side anastomosis is a bad technique to restore intestinal continuity. In fact, it leads to the progressive distention of the cul-de-sac, which produces definite pockets of stasis and bacterial infection. Although it is well tolerated by a number of patients, it causes a number of gathered complications in others.

[Therapeutic problems of intra-abdominal liposarcoma].

Intra-abdominal liposarcomas are very rare tumors. We present our personal experience with one case of mesenteric liposarcoma which had perforated into the peritoneal cavity, occurring in a seven-month pregnant female patient. Seven years later, the patient is doing well.

[Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a child. Diagnostic difficulties in a locally "non tumoral" form, revealed by cervical lymph node metastasis].

We report the unusual case-history of a ten-year-old girl who presented with enlarged cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes apparently due to sinus histiocytosis upon initial histological evaluation. However, they were shown to be nodal metastases from an epithelial form of malignant mesothelioma coexpressing keratin, vimentin, and desmin. Exploratory laparotomy disclosed a diffuse "non tumoral" peritoneal mesothelioma.

[Hepatic undifferentiated (or embryonal) sarcoma. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems apropos of botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma].

Primary undifferentiated sarcomas (also called embryonal sarcomas or malignant mesenchymomas) are an exceptional form of cancer of the liver, occurring preferentially in children or adolescents. They can exhibit poor differentiation, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma being the most frequent. To date, therapeutic success has been reported only rarely.

Breast cancer-associated pS2 protein: synthesis and secretion by normal stomach mucosa.

The human pS2 gene is specifically expressed under estrogen transcriptional control in a subclass of estrogen receptor-containing human breast cancer cells. The pS2 gene encodes an 84-amino acid protein that is secreted after signal peptide cleavage. The distribution of pS2 protein in normal human tissues was studied with antibodies to pS2; pS2 was specifically expressed and secreted by mucosa cells of the normal stomach antrum and body of both female and male individuals.

[Uninodular bronchiolo-alveolar cancer. Apropos of 5 cases with a prolonged course].

Five cases of uninodular bronchioloalveolar cell (BAC) carcinoma are reported. These 5 cases were characterized by the protracted course of the disease: 14.5 and 11.

[A case of pheochromocytoma with cardiac localization. Review of the literature].

In a 26-year old man who died post-operatively, post-mortem examination revealed the presence of a phaeochromocytoma located in the atrio-ventricular sulcus and involving the trunk and bifurcation branches of the left coronary artery. Pre-operative investigations, including whole-body computerized tomography, and exploratory laparotomy had failed to detect the tumour. In contrast with the case reported here, the 4 other cases previously published concerned intrapericardial phaeochromocytomas in contact with the posterior wall of the left atrium.

[Urothelial bladder carcinoma in situ involving the whole urinary tract. One case (author's transl)].

We report a case of urothelial carcinoma in situ extended to the whole excreto-urinary tract and involving the prostatic gland and the papillary ducts of the kidney. The patient was followed up for almost five years. The evolution was unfavorable, as multifocal invasion appeared.

[Well differentiated adenocarcinoma ("yellow cancer") of the prostate. Problems of diagnosis and prognosis (author's transl)].

This paper reports the case of a very large hyperdifferentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma, characterized by a very high lipid content; there is little information in the literature about diagnosis and prognosis of this rare type of cancer. Relevant characteristics of this tumor were its middle prostatic location, its soft consistency and its homogeneous yellow appearance (the so called "yellow cancer") - In spite of its large size, the growth remained confined to the prostate. The histological aspect of this cancer is close to intense glandular hyperplasia, so the differential diagnosis is quite difficult on scanty biopsy samples without lipid stains.

Light and electron microscopic study of ear cartilage in a case of relapsing polychondritis evolving under corticoid treatment.

Light and electron microscope studies of the ear cartilage in a patient with relapsing polychondritis (RP) under corticoid treatment are reported. Unilateral auricular deformation evolved without inflammatory epidoses and the lesions consisted mainly of marginal erosions filled with fine collagen fibrils and containing degenerating perichondrial cells in their basal parts. Degenerative cells were scattered throughout the perichondrium, but cartilage erosions only occurred when numerous cells were affected in a same area.

Unusual familial cardiomyopathy with storage of intermediate filaments in the cardiac muscular cells.

Unusual histological and ultrastructural changes in cardiac muscle cells have been found in 3 brothers with progressive myocardial deficiency. Histologically, this cardiomyopathy was characterized by massive storage of PAS-negative proteinaceous material in most cardiac muscle cells. The electron microscope showed that this material consisted of sinuous filaments, 7-10 nm in diameter, similar to the intermediate filaments normally present in cardiac muscle cells.

Hyperammonemia following ureterocolostomy in the rat.

Following ureterosigmoidostomy, encephalopathy with hyperammonemia may occur in the presence of cirrhosis, and the same complication was also observed in a few patients without liver damage. This suggests overloading of normal liver ureagenisis by an increased portal ammonia supply. To test this hypothesis and to try to produce an experimental model of chronic hyperammonemia without portal or hepatic damage, ureterocolostomies were performed in rats.

[Familial cardiomyopathy: a study of two families with myocardial and skeletal muscle biopsies].

Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in several members of two families. This familial cardiomyopathy showed symmetrical or asymmetrical hypertrophy of the ventricular walls with or without obstruction to the left ventricular outflow tract. Certain forms were asymptomatic and were revealed by the family history and echocardiography.