Second- and third-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: feasibility and potential benefits in a retrospective series of 117 patients.

Background: Chemotherapy is effective in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC), but the benefits of second- and third-line chemotherapy remain unclear.

Methods: We studied all patients followed consecutively for metastatic PAC, and registered at our institution between 1997 and 2006. We retrospectively analyzed the following data in terms of chemotherapy: tumor response; time to tumor progression (TTP) for each line; and overall survival (OS).

Chemotherapy as initial treatment of locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer: a valid option?

Introduction: Radio-chemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Chemotherapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of metastatic disease and we therefore evaluated its use as a first-line treatment for LAPC.

Patients And Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients treated for LAPC (N=33) between July 1997 and April 2005, analysing the results of first-line chemotherapy (CT group) and radio-chemotherapy (RCT group) in this setting.

[Yersinia enterocolitica: a cause of acute intestinal intussusception].

Objectives: Yersinia enterocolitica infection is a rare cause of intestinal intussusception, especially in adults. We report here a case in a 29-year-old man and review the literature on diagnosis and therapy.

Case Report: A 29-year-old man presented with a 2-week history of diarrhea and weight loss.

[Increase of alpha-fetoprotein in pancreatic endocrine tumors with hepatic metastases. Apropos of 2 cases].

We report two cases of metastatic non-functioning pancreatic endocrine tumour with very elevated plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein. In these two cases, serial plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein, initially normal, correlated well with hepatic tumour progression and were associated with fatal outcome. These results suggest that elevated plasma concentration of alpha-fetoprotein may be caused by metastatic pancreatic endocrine tumour and than alpha-fetoprotein serial measurement may be useful in prognostic evaluation.

[Effect of a buzepide metiodide-haloperidol combination in treating functional intestinal disorders. Randomized double-blind controlled versus placebo study].

The efficacy and safety of a combination of buzepide metiodide and haloperidol was assessed in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial during 2 months in 224 patients (154 women, 79 men) with the irritable bowel syndrome. The 2 groups were comparable at inclusion. The efficacy was assessed at days 15, 30 and 60.

Rioprostil vs. ranitidine in duodenal ulcer healing: a double-blind multicentre trial.

A total of 156 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers are randomized in a double-blind, multicentre trial comparing rioprostil, 300 micrograms b.d., with ranitidine, 150 mg b.

Surgical treatment of a tuberculous thoracoabdominal aneurysm.

We report a case of tuberculous thoracoabdominal aneurysm successfully treated by surgery. Computerized tomography was diagnostic for location and etiology. The therapeutic plan included antituberculosis drug therapy started before surgery, direct PTFE prosthetic replacement and omentoplasty.

Transcatheter embolization of multiple pulmonary artery aneurysms in Behçet's syndrome. Report of a case.

Transcatheter embolization of a pulmonary artery aneurysm in Behçet's disease has rarely been attempted. A report is presented of a case with four pulmonary aneurysms and massive hemoptysis. Transcatheter embolization was successfully performed in three of these aneurysms, with clinical improvement during a follow-up period of 11 months.

[Diffuse recto-colic malacoplakia: association with cryptogenic colitis and remission following long-term antibiotic therapy].

Diffuse digestive malakoplakia appears exceptional. A case of rectocolic malakoplakia with multiple localisations is reported in a 22 year old man presenting with inflammatory bowel disease. The most prominent clinical features were deterioration of his general condition, fever, and rectal bleeding, with fistula.

[Parathyroid adenoma disclosed by a massive subcapsular hemorrhage].

In the case reported here a parathyroid gland adenoma was revealed by the sudden occurrence of a large subcapsular haematoma compressing cervical structures and causing recurrent nerve paralysis; spontaneously regressive hypercalcaemia was present. The place of these haemorrhages among other manifestations of a hitherto silent parathyroid gland adenoma is discussed, together with the diagnostic value of thyroid gland scintigraphy and cervical ultrasonography. In view of their potentially somber prognosis, emergency surgery is mandatory in such cases.

[Decrease of the 3rd fraction of serum complement. Study in a hospital population of 13000 patients].

Patients with serum concentrations of C3 lower than 0.40 g/l among 13 000 patients in a general hospital seen over an 18 months period were studied. 95 cases were eligible for study.

[Relation between monoclonal gammopathy and hepatobiliary disease].

Eleven cases of monoclonal gammopathy associated with chronic hepato-biliary diseases are reported. The gammopathy was benign and the majority of hepato-biliary diseases consisted of cirrhosis complicated or not by hepatocellular carcinoma. The small number of cases reported and the absence of distinctive clinical, biochemical and evolutive features of the gammopathy and hepato-biliary disease suggest that the association was fortuitous.

Aldosterone in sustained essential hypertension.

Plasma aldosterone (PA), plasma renin activity (PRA), extracellular fluid volume (EFV) and hepatic blood flow were measured in forty-four patients with sustained essential hypertension and compared with forty-two normotensive controls of same age and sex. All patient had inulin clearances within the normal range and balanced sodium intake and urinary output. In hypertensives, PA, PRA, EFV and hepatic blood flow were within normal ranges; the log-ratio PA:PRA was significantly elevated (P less than 0.