MultiHance in the assessment of intracranial tumors: results of phase II clinical studies.

Purpose: To assess preliminarily the efficacy of 0.1 and 0.2 mmol/kg doses of MultiHance for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of brain tumors.

[Gastric metastasis of breast carcinoma].

Although distal dissemination from breast cancer is commonly found in bones, lungs, liver and brain, others less common sites have been occasionally reported. A 60 year-old woman with long standing disseminated breast cancer disease was admitted to our hospital with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. At endoscopy, an abnormal area was seen in the lesser curvature of the stomach.

Metastatic neuroendocrine tumors to the thyroid gland mimicking medullary carcinoma: a pathologic and immunohistochemical study of six cases.

The clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical features of six cases of metastatic neuroendocrine and carcinoid tumors to the thyroid simulating medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are described. The patients were women between the ages of 24 and 70 years who, without symptoms or significant past medical histories, presented with either a single mass or multiple thyroid nodules. The primary source of the tumor was only discovered on follow-up.

Models to study thrombotic disorders.

Experimental models of thrombosis and vascular injury are important research resources that have enhanced our understanding of this pathophysiological process. Animal models provide insights into the prevalence of mechanisms that have been outlined in isolated cell and protein studies. The availability of transgenic and gene knockout animals will allow to pinpoint the relative functional importance of single changes in specific gene products in the pathophysiological process.

Totally implanted device for long-term intravenous chemotherapy: experience in 123 adult patients with solid neoplasms.

Vascular access in patients receiving prolonged chemotherapy is a difficult problem. This led to the introduction of a totally implanted device. We intend to assess the efficacy of this device in a subset of oncologic patients.

[An infection study of total parenteral nutrition catheters for Y-site drug administration].

When faced with the frequent use of parenteral nutrition (TPN) and the multiple problems which the maintenance of venous pathways presents, we initiated this study to try and show that the use of TPN catheters for the perfusion of drugs in "Y", does ot increase the incidence of infection. 70 patients subjected to TPN were studied, divided into 3 groups: I: TPN with exclusive use catheter (23 patients). II: TPN with a catheter through which antibiotic medication is administered in "Y" (22 patients).

[Proposal for improving the integration of drug dependencies in psychiatric nosology].

The classic model of the substance induced psychotic disorder is applicable to the substance dependence. The drugs of abuse produces an organic disorder over basal forebrain systems, which are the biological substrate of desire and impulse control. As a result emerge the specific substance dependence psychopathology.

A gonadotrophin dependent stromal luteoma: a rare cause of post-menopausal virilization.

A stromal luteoma is an uncommon ovarian tumour in post-menopausal women, which presents rarely with hyperandrogenism and virilization. We present the case of a 64-year-old woman referred for evaluation of virilization which had developed over 5 years. Testosterone, FSH and LH were markedly inhibited following the administration of a GnRH analogue, suggesting a gonadotrophin dependent, testosterone secreting ovarian tumour, which could not be localized with imaging techniques.

[Low incidence of mutations in codon 12 of the c-K-ras gene in bladder cancer].

During vesical carcinogenesis a variety of genetic alterations such as oncogene mutation or loss of suppressor genes have been detected. Codon 12 mutation of the c-K-ras gene has been seen with a high frequency in several human neoplasias but its participation in the development of vesical cancers has not been fully dilucidated. Using the DNA restriction fragments polymorphism (RFLP) technique enhanced by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a study has been made of codon 12 mutation at the c-K-ras gene in 55 patient with vesical cancer undergoing surgery between 1991 and 1992.

[The effects of physical training].

Regular practice of dynamic physical exercise produces cardiovascular, metabolical, biochemical, hematological and endocrine changes among the most important ones. To reach the majority of these effects, it is not necessary to perform particularly intense training. The equivalent to one hour of active walking per day would be sufficient.

[Early gastric cancer in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona during the last decade].

Pathological features from seventy cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) diagnosed at the Hospital de la Santa Cruz y San Pablo of Barcelona, between 1981-1990, were analyzed. Large lesions showed greater deep infiltration, and higher nodal involvement. Women had larger tumours than men.

Prepyloric antrectomy, truncal vagotomy, and front pylorotomy for the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

We have performed a suprapyloric antrectomy with anterior pylorotomy and truncal vagotomy in 106 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer between 1975 and 1990. Follow-up was carried out in 94 patients, during a mean time of 6 years. We have had no postoperative mortality and no long-term recurrence.

[Early gastric cancer at a third-level hospital in Barcelona in 1981-1990. Clinical considerations].

The records from seventy cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) diagnosed at the Hospital de la Santa Cruz y San Pablo in Barcelona during 1981-1990 were reviewed in order to analyze their clinical features and their influence on survival. There was a male predominance (47/23). The disease was seen mostly in patients who were 60-70 years old, although women were younger than men.

[Splenic rupture in the course of pancreatitis].

We present the case of a young patient with a history of alcoholism and chronic relapsing pancreatitis, who developed an associated pseudocyst. During the course of the disease he presented an acute abdomen due to splenic rupture and splenic thrombosis, disclosed by laparotomy. Following splenectomy and drainage the evolution was satisfactory.

[Cardiac tamponade: a fatal complication of parenteral nutrition].

Several complications are associated with the use of central venous catheters for total parenteral nutrition; cardiac tamponade is one of the most severe. The recent use of flexible materials made of silastic polymeric silicone has great decreased the incidence of this complication, but has not eliminated wholly. We report the case of a patient with fatal cardiac tamponade, while receiving parenteral hyperalimentation trough a silicone central venous catheter placed in the right jugular internal vein, secondary to superior vena cava perforation.

Mycobacterium alvei sp. nov.

A new species of rapidly growing, nonphotochromogenic mycobacteria, Mycobacterium alvei, is described. The inclusion of this organism in the genus Mycobacterium is based on its acid fastness, its mycolate pattern, and its G + C content. A study of six strains showed that they form a homogeneous group with an internal phenotypic similarity value of 97 +/- 2.

Outcome and long-term effects of pregnancy in women with hyperprolactinaemia.

Twenty-four women with high circulating prolactin became pregnant on 39 occasions, of which 32 ended in delivery. Sixteen patients showed radiological evidence of pituitary tumour, 6 exhibited a normal CT and 2 had an empty sella. The pregnancies were induced in 4 patients after successful pituitary surgery, in 3 after surgery and medical treatment, and in the rest by bromocriptine (16) long-acting repeatable bromocriptine (1) and methergoline (1).