Laparoscopic liver sectionectomy 2 and 3 (LLS 2 and 3): towards the "gold standard"

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this article is to define the state of the art in laparoscopic liver sectionectomy 2 and 3 (LLS 2 and 3) in order to advance the good option towards the "gold standard".

METHODS

Based on a large review of the literature as well as on our personal experience the authors define clearly: the feasibility and the effectiveness of LLS 2 and 3.

RESULTS

In this review the conversion rate was <4%, the histological positive margins was <0.8%, and the mortality was inferior to 0.8%.

CONCLUSION

The LLS 2 and 3 seem equivalent or perhaps better option compared with the same intervention performed by laparotomy and can be proposed as primary with a grade C recommendation.

Impact of rapid enterovirus molecular diagnosis on the management of infants, children, and adults with aseptic meningitis

Enteroviruses (EV) are the main etiological agents of aseptic meningitis. Diagnosis is made by detecting the genome using RT-PCR. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a positive diagnosis on the management of infants, children, and adults. During 2005, 442 patients were admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis. Clinical and laboratory data and initial treatment were recorded for all patients with enteroviral meningitis. The turnaround time of tests and the length of hospital stay were analyzed. The results showed that EV-PCR detected EV in 69 patients (16%), 23% (16/69) were adults. About 18% of CSF samples had no pleocytosis. After positive PCR results, 63% of children were discharged immediately (mean 2 hr 30 min) and 95% within 24 hr. Infants and adults were discharged later (after 1.8 and 2 days, respectively). The use of antibiotics was significantly lower in children than in infants and adults. The PCR results allowed discontinuation of antibiotics in 50-60% of all patients treated. Patients received acyclovir in 16% of cases (7% children vs. 50% adults) and 23% (11% vs. 69%) underwent a CT scan. Clinical data were compared between patients whose positive EV-PCR results were available within 24 hr (n = 32) and those whose results were available > 24 hr after collection of CSF (n = 14). Duration of antibiotic treatment (difference: 2.3 days; P = 0.05) was reduced between the two groups. No statistical difference in the length of stay was observed. The EV-PCR assay should be performed daily in hospital laboratory practice and considered as part of the initial management of meningitis.

[Prostatic granulomas revealing a peripheral T-cell lymphoma]

INTRODUCTION

The presence of granulomas on tissue biopsie has been reported in a wide range of disorders. The clinical presentation and the diagnostic work-up of granulomatosis can be difficult as it is illustrated in the following report.

CASE REPORT

A 59-year-old patient was referred in 2002 for a granulomatous prostatitis. Physical examination was normal. Except for the increase of prostate-specific antigen (which motivated a biopsy), the laboratory results were normal. Thoracic CT-scan disclosed mediastinal lymph nodes. A minor salivary gland biopsy was consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. In 2004, the patient presented an epidermal necrolysis, and in 2005 the deterioration of general status raised suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disorder. Liver and bone marrow biopsies revealed a granulomatous process. Despite steroid therapy, the patient died. Autopsy discloses a anaplasic T cell lymphoma.

CONCLUSION

This report illustrates the relationship between sarcoidosis and lymphoma as a mode of presentation, a complication, or an accidental but misleading association? The association between anaplastic lymphoma and sarcoidosis is exceptional.

Start and stop of an avalanche in a granular medium subjected to an inner water flow

We report experimental results on the maximum angle of stability, i.e., the so-called avalanche angle, of a granular medium subjected to an inner water flow controlled by a constant pressure drop. A unique avalanche threshold is derived by two alternative theoretical developments, namely a continuum and a discrete approach, and is successfully confronted to many measurements in a large experimental range. A qualitative analysis of the instability triggering reveals different dynamical behaviors depending on whether the water flow is downward or upward in the granular layer, namely stabilizing versus destabilizing regime. Contrary to the purely hydrostatic situation, the free surface following an avalanche departs from a linear shape because the dynamical pressure gradient is no longer constant in the medium. A simple model is proposed that can satisfactorily predict the postavalanche height profile as well as its subsequent evolution for higher inclinations.

[Nodular thrombophlebitis and granulomatous systemic disease]

INTRODUCTION

Nodular thrombophlebitis is septal hypodermitis characterised by vasculitis with vein thrombosis. It may indicate serious underlying disorders.

EXEGESIS

We present two cases of nodular superficial phlebitis, which revealed tuberculosis and sarcoidosis.

CONCLUSION

Nodular thrombophlebitis are classic during evolution of Behçet disease or Buerger vasculitis. In sarcoidosis, erythema nodosum and granulomatous involvement are the most common cutaneous manifestation. Nodular thrombophlebitis has never been described. Panniculitis are classical in tuberculosis. But most cases are erythema nodosum and cases of erythema induratum of Bazin. Nodular thrombophlebitis could reveal thrombophilic abnormalities, and even more neoplasms especially when they are recurrent and migratory.

On the existence of stationary states during granular compaction

When submitted to gentle mechanical taps a granular packing slowly compacts until it reaches a stationary state that depends on the tap characteristics. The properties of such stationary states are experimentally investigated. The influence of the initial state, taps properties and tapping protocol are studied. The compactivity of the packings is determinated. Our results strongly support the idea that the stationary states are genuine thermodynamic states.

Effect of daily versus twice weekly long-term iron supplementation on iron absorption and status in iron-deficient women: A stable isotope study

OBJECTIVES

This work aims at studying the effect of daily versus twice weekly long-term Fe supplementation on Fe absorption and status in Fe-deficient women.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study design is a randomized controlled open study carried out in the Internal Medicine Department, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, France. Twenty-four young women participated in this study and were randomized into two groups: Group 1 received 50 mg Fe daily, and group 2 received 50 mg Fe twice weekly for 3 months. On day 10 (D10) and on day 90 (D90) of Fe supplementation, blood samples were obtained, and women received orally about 5 mg of 57Fe, and blood was sampled at different times over 24 h. The 57Fe absorption was evaluated by calculating the areas under the curves (AUC). Fe and oxidative stress status were also assessed.

RESULTS

57Fe absorption was similar in both groups on D10 but was greatly decreased in Group 1 and remained high in Group 2 on D90. Fe status was more improved in Group 1 than in Group 2. Oxidative stress status remained statistically unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that daily Fe supplementation is able to correct an Fe deficiency much more than twice weekly Fe supplementation in young women.

[Measles, pertussis, rubella and mumps completeness of reporting. Literature review of estimates for industrialized countries]

BACKGROUND

Surveillance data for infectious diseases in industrialized countries have been providing useful epidemiological information for several years. However, surveillance is complex and notifications underestimate the true disease incidence. The goal of this paper is to determine the completeness of reporting of measles, pertussis, rubella and mumps through notification in industrialized countries.

METHODS

A thorough literature review of papers published (in French or English) on surveillance data of measles, pertussis, rubella and mumps was undertaken with PUBMED. The review was limited to studies conducted in industrialized countries that quantitatively assessed the completeness of the reporting of these diseases.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies published from the 1920s met the inclusion criteria. For measles, the studies suggest that 64-85% of symptomatic patients sought medical care, 13-57% of those were diagnosed with measles and 22-81% of the diagnosed cases were reported for a completeness of reporting ranging from 7% to 63% between 1920 and 1980 and 3% to 41% in recent years. For pertussis, it was estimated that 49-59% of symptomatic patients sought medical care, 12% of those were diagnosed and 19-47% of the diagnosed cases were reported for a completeness of reporting ranging from 5% to 25% between 1920 and 1980 and from 3% to 12% in recent years. Very few studies on rubella and mumps were found and none allowed the determination of the global completeness of reporting.

CONCLUSION

Reporting has been found to be considerably incomplete. Continued efforts to improve the recognition and reporting of these diseases are needed.

[Non infectious endocarditis: retrospective study (6 cases)]

PURPOSE

If there is cardiac valve vegetation and the blood cultures are negatives we need to look for slow growing bacteria, fungi, Legionella pneumophilia, Bartonella henselae and quintana, Brucella melitensis and abortus, Coxiella burneti, Chlamydiae pneumoniae by serologic tests. The diagnosis of non- infectious endocarditis could be considered only if these results were negative. The main purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and echocardiographic signs of non-infectious endocarditis cases observed in two different wards.

METHODS

This study was done retrospectively during a five-year period in a cardiology and an internal medicine wards. The selection criteria are: the proof of at least one cardiac valve vegetation, observed on echocardiography, negative blood cultures and negative serologic tests as described above.

RESULTS

Six non-bacterial endocarditis were described. Four Libman-Sacks endocarditis, two associated with a primary antiphospholipid syndrome revealed by an acute ischemia of leg for one patient and by an eclampsia for another and the other two associated with a systemic lupus erythematous revealed by fever for one patient and by neurologic symptoms for the other. One fibroblastic endocarditis associated to an essential hypereosinophilia and one marastic endocarditis associated to a metastatic mucin-producing cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

For these six cases, a complete physical examination, a CBC for hypereosinophylia, a dosage of antiphospholipid antibodies and a thoraco-abdominal CT-scan allowed the etiologic diagnosis of non infectious endocarditis. Libman Sacks endocarditis associated with an antiphospholipid syndrome is the main etiology for which a long-term anticoagulation treatment was not followed.

A continuous series of 96 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs in children by a new technique

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was evaluate a novel technique of laparoscopic hernia repair in children.

METHODS

Eighty two consecutive patients aged >or=2 years old were operated on for hernia repair using a laparoscopic technique that reproduced every step of the conventional open procedure. Technical details and clinical results are reported.

RESULTS

Ninety six sacs were divided in 82 patients (15 girls and 67 boys). Fourteen bilateral hernias that had been diagnosed before operation in nine cases and during laparoscopy in five cases were repaired. Nine controplateral dimples were left and not repaired. Mean operative time was 23 min in girls and 28 min in boys for unilateral hernias, and 30 min in girls and 40 min in boys for bilateral hernias. Sixty-seven of the children were followed up 6 months later. None of them suffered recurrences. No unsightly scars were observed at the port sites. Discomfort did not extend beyond 48 h after the operation, enabling a rapid return to normal activities.

CONCLUSION

Dividing the sac and suturing the peritoneum is feasible and efficient by laparoscopy. Compared with the other techniques that have previously been reported, either without any dissection of the sac or any ligature, our technique seems to be advantageous. It is not time consuming and does not require any special laparoscopic skill.

[Gastroparesis on a gastric ulcer]

INTRODUCTION

Gastroparesis is the failure of the stomach to empty because of decreased gastric motility. It's a fairly frequent medical problem. Diabetes is the most common known cause.

OBSERVATION

The first case report is that of an 82 year-old woman, in whom acute gastric distension occurred, evoking a gastric volvulus on the scan. Upper endoscopy revealed gastric ulcers. All symptoms disappeared with medical treatment. The second case report concerns a 37 year-old man who was admitted with signs of occlusion. CT scans revealed acute gastric distension. Emergency surgery revealed no gastric volvulus. Upper endoscopy revealed gastritis and numerous ulcers. The signs regressed with medical treatment.

DISCUSSION

Our observations are original in their -pseudo-surgical discovery. Acute gastric distension is rare, but must be recognised because of the risk of perforation and rupture of the stomach walls. These case reports are also original in their aetiology. Gastric ulcers are rarely described in this situation. CONCLUSION; Gastroparesis is a frequent situation but potentially severe. A review of the principle signs, aetiology and treatment is made.

Haematopoetic stem cell transplantation for refractory autoimmune cytopenia

This study describes the outcome of patients receiving haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to treat severe refractory autoimmune cytopenia. The registry of the European Group of Blood and Marrow Transplantation holds data on 36 patients receiving 38 transplants, the first transplant was autologous for 27 and allogeneic for nine patients. Patients had autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (autologous: 5; allogeneic: 2), Evans's syndrome (autologous: 2; allogeneic: 5); immune thrombocytopenia (autologous: 12), pure red cell aplasia (autologous: 4; allogeneic: 1), pure white cell aplasia (autologous: 1; allogeneic 1), or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (autologous: 3). Patients had longstanding disease having failed multiple prior treatments. Among 26 evaluable patients mobilized for autologous HSCT, three died of treatment-related causes, one died of disease progression, seven were non-responders, six patients had transient responses and nine had continuous partial or complete remission. Of the seven evaluable patients receiving allogeneic HSCT, one died of treatment-related complications, one with transient response died of progressive disease and five had a continuous response. Autologous and allogeneic HSCT may induce a response in a subset of patients with autoimmune cytopenia of long duration albeit at the price of considerable toxicity.