Annales de gastroenterologie et d'hepatologie最新文献

A review of the recent progress in the study of the mode of action of the sennosides, the active constituents of the senna drug, is presented. An interaction between rhein anthrone, the active metabolite of the sennosides, and the immune cells of the colon is suggested as a base for laxative activity.

A 49-year-old diabetic patient with abdominal pain was found upon ultrasonography and computed tomography to have a cystic mass in the head of the pancreas with dilation of the main pancreatic duct. The head of the pancreas and duodenum were removed surgically. Examination of the operative specimen showed chronic pancreatitis, dilation of the main pancreatic duct, and impacted mucus in the secondary ducts with villous proliferation of the ductal epithelium, establishing the diagnosis of intraductal adenomatosis. There was no evidence of malignancy. The resection margin was involved, and consequently the remainder of the pancreas was removed six months after the initial surgical procedure. A review of the literature showed that intraductal adenomatosis tends to spread and carries a high risk of malignant transformation. Surgery is required because of the risk of pancreatic duct obstruction and pancreatic cancer. Intraductal adenomatosis of the pancreas shares many characteristics with other adenomatous proliferations of the gastrointestinal tract (colorectal villous adenoma, bile duct adenomatosis), including presence of villous structures with increased mucus production, a tendency to spread massively, and a high risk of malignant transformation.

In 1986, our institution published the first results of surgical résection of hepatocarcinoma in cirrhotic patients. The aim of this paper is to present long term results of this surgical management. From April 1978 to February 1992, 74 patients were operated on at the surgical clinic of University Medical Center of Rennes (35000) France. There were 60 hepatectomies and 14 transplantations. The mean age was 60.2 years-9 years and the sex ratio: 70 males and 4 females. The etiology was alcoholic in 43 patients (58%), post hepatitis (B and C) in 22 patients (30%) and due to hemochromatosis in 9 patients (12%). According to the Child Pugh classification, 48 patients were Child A, 11 Child B and one Child C in the hepatectomy group and 9 patients Child A and 5 Child B in transplantation group. The operative mortality was 10% in hepatectomy group and 35.7% in liver transplantation group. Overall survival was 61.8% at 1 year, 47.1% at 2 years, 38.2% at 3 years and 20% at 5 years. 5 year survival is 21.4% after transplantation and 18.5% after resection. This difference is not significant. In conclusion, according to 5 years survival and to operative mortality the treatment of choice is hepatectomy in HCC in cirrhotic patients. However the best treatment is the prevention of cirrhosis.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the contribution of sigmoidoscopy with bioptic microbiology to the etiologic diagnosis of acute diarrhea in adults. Patients and methods. Sixty-five patients with acute diarrhea were included prospectively from February 1993 to November 1994. Ages ranged from 17 to 83 years. In each patient, two stool samples were cultured and three examined for parasites. Clostridium difficile toxin was looked for in the 18 patients who had taken antimicrobials before onset of the diarrhea. Sigmoidoscopy with collection of biopsy specimens for bacteriologic cultures was performed routinely. Results. A pathogenic organism was identified in 35 patients (54%). Eighteen patients (28%) had positive stool cultures. Clostridium difficile toxin was detected in six patients. Colonic biopsy cultures were positive in 26 patients (40%). Endoscopic findings established the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis with negative tests for C. difficile toxin in two patients, diverticulitis in one, ischemic colitis in two, and cryptogenic colitis in seven. Conclusions. Sigmoidoscopy ensured the diagnosis in over 72% of cases of acute diarrhea. This investigation complements stool cultures and should be done routinely in adults with severe acute diarrhea.