Combined resection of the pancreas and inferior vena cava for pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.

Indications for pancreatic resections for metastatic disease have not yet been defined to date, and few guidelines exist for the management of these lesions. However, most authors recommend surgery as the treatment of choice for pancreatic metastasis (PM). Resection of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is rarely done during removal of peripancreatic cancer.

Low molecular weight fucoidan prevents neointimal hyperplasia after aortic allografting.

Background: Fucoidan, a new low molecular weight sulfated polysaccharide (LMWF), has previously been shown to mobilize bone marrow-derived progenitors cells via stimulation of stromal derived factor (SDF)-1 release. Mobilized progenitor cells have been suggested to repair intimal lesions after immune-mediated endothelial injury and thus prevent intimal proliferation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of LMWF treatment in a rat aortic allograft model of transplant arteriosclerosis (TA).

Attempted vaginal versus planned cesarean delivery in 195 breech first twin pregnancies.

Background: To compare neonatal and maternal outcomes for breech first twins according to whether vaginal or cesarean delivery was planned and to verify that in appropriate selected cases, attempted vaginal delivery is a reasonable choice.

Methods: A retrospective study of all twin pregnancies with the first twin in breech position and gestational age at least 35 weeks at birth at two French university hospital centers from January 1994 through December 2000. The primary outcome was a combined indicator of neonatal mortality and severe morbidity, as defined by one or more of the following: death before discharge, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, 5-minute Apgar score <7, cord blood pH <7.

The use of methotrexate alone or in combination with low doses of oral corticosteroids in the treatment of alopecia totalis or universalis.

Treatment of severe alopecia areata (AA) remains difficult. To assess the tolerance and efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of severe long-term AA, we retrospectively evaluated 22 patients with AA totalis or universalis with a mean duration of 11.0 +/- 8.

Undernutrition is predictive of early mortality after palliative self-expanding metal stent insertion in patients with inoperable or recurrent esophageal cancer.

Background: Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) are a first-line therapeutic procedure in the palliative treatment of dysphagia in patients with esophageal cancer. However, the impact of SEMS insertion on patient nutritional status has never been assessed.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of patients after insertion of a SEMS and the impact of a preexisting undernutrition status on survival.

Effects of vertical positioning on gas exchange and lung volumes in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: Supine position may contribute to the loss of aerated lung volume in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We hypothesized that verticalization increases lung volume and improves gas exchange by reducing the pressure surrounding lung bases.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational physiological study in a medical ICU.

Impact of radiation schedule and chemotherapy duration in definitive chemoradiotherapy regimen for esophageal cancer.

Unlabelled: Impact of radiotherapy (RT) schedule on local response and duration of the 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin (5 FU/CDDP) chemotherapy (CT) on m are still questioning in chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen in esophageal carcinoma.

Aim: Evaluate two RT schedules and two different CT durations by a retrospective comparison of the CRT regimens used by two centres between 1994 and 2000.

Methods: In centre I (regimen I), patients received 2 CT concomitantly to a continuous RT (50 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks).

Polyhexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride exposure and erythema multiforme in a physician.

A 52-year-old woman physician developed recurrent erythema multiforme. Occupational and environmental exposure assessment suggested a disinfectant containing polyhexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride (PHMB), Phagosept. Elimination of the product was followed by disappearance of symptomatology.

Prior chemoradiotherapy is associated with a higher life-threatening complication rate after palliative insertion of metal stents in patients with oesophageal cancer.

Background: Self-expanding metal stents are used routinely to palliate dysphagia due to oesophageal cancer.

Study Aim: To compare the frequency of life-threatening complications after self-expanding metal stent insertion, depending on whether patients received prior chemoradiotherapy or no treatment.

Patients And Methods: During 7 years, 116 consecutive patients were treated at a single centre in a palliative intent by insertion of self-expanding metal stent for dysphagia due to an oesophageal cancer.

Evaluation of macular changes before and after successful retinal detachment surgery using stratus-optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To assess preoperative and postoperative infra-clinical macular changes in macula-off retinal detachment (RD) using third-generation optical coherence tomography (OCT3).

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Methods: Twenty-two nonconsecutive eyes of 22 patients with macula-off RD underwent best-corrected visual acuity measurement and OCT3 scans through the fovea before and after successful surgery.

Endoscopic markers of villous atrophy are not useful for the detection of celiac disease in patients with dyspeptic symptoms.

Background And Study Aims: Celiac disease can manifest with nonspecific symptoms, including functional gastrointestinal disorders such as dyspepsia. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of duodenal endoscopic markers of villous atrophy for the selection of dyspeptic patients for histological assessment.

Patients And Methods: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in dyspeptic patients, in patients considered to be at risk of having celiac disease, and in healthy controls.

Validity of medical staff assessment at admission of patient's risk of nosocomial infection: a prospective study in a surgical intensive care unit.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) medical staff to assess at admission the individual risk of nosocomial infection (NI) during SICU stay in patients admitted for at least 48 h.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: A tertiary-care university hospital.

Secondary localisation of an intra-thoracic benign mesenchymoma in the fossa poplitea: a rare paediatric case.

Thymomas are tumours that rarely occur in children, are almost invariably benign, and are usually discovered incidentally in the anterior mediastinum on chest X-rays. Whereas in adults these tumours are often associated with myasthenia gravis and other autoimmune diseases, this occurrence is very rare in the paediatric population. Multiple localisation and/or extra-thoracic recurrence of thymomas in children also appears to be exceptional with no reported cases in the English literature.

Primary diffuse multinodular leptomeningeal gliomatosis: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis is an exceptional neoplasm, and only 30 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a recent case and compare data with previously published observations.

Methods: A 50-year-old man was admitted to the neurosurgery department for a previous 4-month history of headache, associated with nonspecific neurological signs.

Prenatal diagnosis of an exceptional intrauterine herpes simplex type 1 infection.

Objective: To assess ultrasound findings of a fetus with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and skin damage, related to intrauterine herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

Methods: A 23-year-old, G1, P0 woman was referred at 23.5 weeks' gestation (WG) for IUGR.

Fetal death in a patient with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Background: Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy reduces concentration of transaminases and bile acids in maternal serum, and is thought to reduce fetal death. We report a case of fetal death in a patient with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy who had responded well to ursodeoxycholic acid, demonstrated by a low bile level.

Case: A young nulliparous woman presented with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy at 28 weeks of gestation.

Intra-individual comparison of sentinel lymph node scintigraphy on the day of injection and on the following day in breast cancer.

Objectives: To compare, intra-individually, the detection rates of sentinel node on lymphoscintigraphy performed on the day of injection (D0) and on the following day (D1) in breast carcinoma. We also compared 2-day and 1-day protocols in the two groups of patients.

Methods: The 2-day and 1-day protocols included 76 patients in group 1 and 23 patients in group 2.

Evaluation of a rigid registration method of lung perfusion SPECT and thoracic CT.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate a rigid registration method in lung perfusion SPECT using thoracic CT as a standard.

Materials And Methods: The reproducibility of markers selection and the robustness of the method were assessed on a torso phantom. The accuracy of registration regarding the number and location of markers and the breathing state during CT was evaluated on eight patients using 10 external markers placed around the thorax before SPECT and CT acquisitions.

Palliative esophageal stent placement using endoscopic guidance without fluoroscopy.

Aims: Fluoroscopy is not available in every endoscopic unit. This situation leads to delays in treatment or to transfer of patients to other centres for stent insertion. We assessed safety and effectiveness of expandable esophageal metal stent placement under endoscopic control without fluoroscopy using a thin gastroscope.

Current usefulness of free/total PSA ratio in the diagnosis of prostate cancer at an early stage.

The aim of our study was to evaluate five different free/total PSA (f/t PSA) kits for the diagnosis of early stage prostate cancer. We compared the PSA density and the f/t PSA ratio to differentiate between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. This prospective study included a total of 120 patients with suspected prostate cancer (PSA between 4 and 15 ng/ml) observed over a period of 30 months.

Management of coralliform lithiasis on renal allograft with bricker-type ureterointestinal anastomosis.

Purpose: The authors report the management of a coralliform lithiasis that occurred in a renal allograft in association with a Bricker ureterointestinal anastomosis for urinary diversion.

Materials And Methods: A 58-year-old patient with a significant previous urological history, ie, surgery for childhood incomplete bladder extrophy, trans-ileal Bricker type ureterostomy, and in the end a renal allograft, presented with hematuria and septicemia. Complete radiological examination revealed an obstructive upper tract coralliform lithiasis in the transplanted kidney.

Long-term outcomes of transanal rectocele repair.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the risk of rectocele recurrence after transanal repair and identify its predictive factors.

Methods: A series of 71 females who had undergone transanal repair of low isolated rectocele was retrospectively reviewed. The functional outcome was assessed by a standard questionnaire.

Defecographic disorders in anal incontinent women: relation to symptoms and anal endosonographic patterns.

Objective: The need for a defecography in incontinent women is still debatable. We prospectively evaluated the prevalence of defecographic abnormalities in incontinent women in order to determine whether any symptom or endosonographic findings could be associated with a particular defecographic pattern.

Material And Methods: Fifty incontinent women (aged 30-87 years) underwent defecography and anal endosonography to look for pelvic floor descent, rectocele, intussusception, enterocele and the presence of anal sphincter defects.