[Bariatric surgery: 10-year results of the Swedish Obese Subjects Study]

The 10-year results of the prospective, controlled Swedish Obese Subjects Study were recently reported in the New England Journal of Medicine by L. Sjöström and colleagues. This trial compared obese subjects who underwent gastric surgery and contemporaneously matched, conventionally treated obese control subjects. The follow-up rate for laboratory examinations was 74.5 percent at 10 years. At that time, data of 627 patients of the control group (mean age of 48 years, body mass index of 41 kg/m2) were compared to those of 641 patients who were submitted to surgery (banding n = 156, vertical banded gastroplasty n = 451 and gastric bypass n =34). At 10 years, the body weight had increased by 1.6 percent in the control group and decreased by 16.1 percent in the surgery group (p < 0.001), and similar changes were observed for waist circumference (+2.8 percent versus -10.1 percent, respectively, p < 0.001). Energy intake was lower and the proportion of physically active subjects higher in the surgery group than in the control group throughout the observation period. Ten-year rates of recovery from diabetes, hypertriglyceridaemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertension, and hyperuricaemia were more favourable in the surgery than in the control group. The surgery group had lower 10-year incidence rates of diabetes, hypertriglyceridaemia, and hyperuricaemia (but not of hypertension) than the control group. In conclusion, as compared with conventional therapy, bariatric surgery appears to be a valuable option for the treatment of severe obesity, resulting in long-term weight loss, improved lifestyle, and, except for hypercholesterolaemia that was not significantly affected, amelioration in cardiovascular risk factors that were elevated at baseline. Obtaining long-term data concerning the effect of weight loss on overall mortality and on the incidence rates of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cancer remains a key-objective of this landmark study.

Intact cross-talk between insulin secretion and insulin action after postgastroplasty recovery of ideal body weight in severely obese patients

Most reports investigating the hormonal and metabolic effects of bariatric surgery studied obese subjects after partial weight loss only. Nevertheless, all studies showed significant improvements of insulin secretion, action, clearance and inhibition of its own secretion, although the parallel kinetics of all these changes remained questionable. Using the intravenous glucose tolerance test, we demonstrated a full normalization of insulin secretion, action on glucose metabolism and clearance in eight obese women who recovered and maintained ideal body weight following gastroplasty. Reciprocal changes were observed between postglucose acute insulin secretion and insulin-mediated glucose disposal so that the so-called disposition index (product of these two variables) remained unchanged after vs before gastroplasty in those individuals with normal glucose tolerance. These favourable results should encourage obtaining a drastic and sustained weight loss in patients with severe obesity at risk of developing type II diabetes.

Long-term results of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for the treatment of morbid obesity

BACKGROUND

Since the first laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) operation on September 1, 1993, there have been important publications related to this procedure. The majority of the articles reported surgical technique and short-term results. Long-term results of LAGB are lacking. The authors report long-term data (at least 4 years) from 3 major bariatric centers in Belgium that perform LAGB routinely.

METHODS

The 3 centers applied the same patient selection criteria, the same standard surgical technique, the same laparoscopic band (Lap-Band) and the same follow-up program. 763 patients have been enrolled. Sex ratio was 22% male/78% female. Mean age was 34 years, and mean preoperative BMI was 42 kg/m2.

RESULTS

The follow-up rate was 90%, and the minimum follow-up time was 4 years. The average BMI after 4 years was 30 kg/m2. Early complications were: gastric perforation 4 (0.5%); large bowel perforation 1 (0.1%); bleeding 1 (0.1%); and conversion to open 10 (1.3%). Late complications were: erosion 7 (0.9%); total food intolerance 59 (8%); access port problems 20 (2.5%); re-operations 80 (11.1%); death 1 (0.1%).

CONCLUSION

Long-term results of LAGB have been rarely reported, although publications on the procedure are copious. Our long-term data found that BMI evolution is good, the complication and re-operation rates are acceptable and the overall long-term results of the Lap-Band system are good.

[Clinical case of the month. Natural history of morbid obesity: towards insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes and reversal after bariatric surgery]

Morbid obesity is a crucial risk factor in the development of type 2 diabetes and is often associated with a metabolic syndrome closely linked to insulin resistance. This case report illustrates the natural history of morbid obesity, starting during the adolescence and ending with an extremely severe type 2 diabetes at the age of 40. Numerous attempts of weight loss with various medical approaches failed and diabetes mellitus rapidly became insulin-requiring in a context of extreme insulin resistance. Finally, the patient was submitted to a gastric bypass which resulted in a drastic weight loss over 50 kg during the year following surgery without any significant side-effects or complications. Type 2 diabetes almost disappeared and the classical markers of insulin resistance were markedly improved. This clinical case clearly demonstrates that successful management of obesity with bariatric surgery can reverse severe type 2 diabetes.

Severe/extreme obesity: a medical disease requiring a surgical treatment?

Obesity poses a serious health hazard and its treatment is often disappointing. Surgical approaches have been proposed for treating severe obesity (body mass index or BMI > or = 35 kg/m2) with comorbidities or extreme obesity (BMI > or = 40 kg/m2). Before accepting bariatric surgery as alternative treatment, the four following prerequisites should be met: 1. the medical condition is serious enough; 2. it can not be treated satisfactorily with classical means; 3. the surgical treatment is effective in improving the clinical situation; and 4. bariatric surgery is safe enough, so that the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. On the basis of the literature and our own experience, it appears that gastric reduction surgery may be considered as a valuable alternative for treating severe/extreme obesity, despite the possible occurrence of perioperative and, more frequently, late complications, provided that it is performed by an experienced and multidisciplinary team in well-selected patients.

[How I treat ... an individual with severe obesity and metabolic abnormalities with gastroplasty]

Severe obesity, defined as a body mass index > or = 35 kg/m2, is frequently associated with various biological abnormalities, particularly in the presence of intra-abdominal adiposity. The most important disorders belong to the so-called insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome or syndrome X: hyperinsulinaemia, impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemias, hyperuricaemia, hyperfibrinogenaemia. All these metabolic abnormalities are considered as cardiovascular risk factors. They are also correlated with the severity of the liver steatosis which is commonly observed in individuals with severe obesity. We report our experience of the evolution of these metabolic abnormalities after a marked weight loss induced by gastroplasty. We will analyse the favourable effects of bariatric surgery on insulin sensitivity, biological components of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and liver steatosis.

Effects of gastroplasty on body weight and related biological abnormalities in morbid obesity

Obesity is a prevalent metabolic disorder associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Medical treatment rarely succeeds, and bariatric surgery has been proposed as an alternative therapy. The purpose of this non-controlled retrospective study was to evaluate time-course changes in body weight in severely obese patients who underwent vertical ring gastroplasty or adjustable silicone gastric banding, and to assess the prevalence and potential reversibility of several of the biological abnormalities associated with morbid obesity. From an initial cohort comprising 658 patients, regular body weight measurements and biological data were obtained in 505 patients [419 females, 86 males; age 36 +/- 11 years; body mass index 42.7 +/- 6.9 kg/m2; (mean +/- SD)] with a mean follow-up of 26 +/- 14 months. Mean weight loss was 32 +/- 16 kg. Most weight reduction occurred within the first 6 months, followed by near-stabilisation or even slight weight regain. Most biological parameters were obtained before surgery and after at least 6 months of follow-up. The high prevalence and severity of metabolic disturbances associated with the insulin resistance syndrome (hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, decreased HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridaemia, elevated fibrinogen levels and hyperuricaemia) before gastroplasty were significantly decreased after weight loss. No major biological deficiencies were observed following gastroplasty, except low iron serum levels. It is concluded that marked weight loss associated with gastroplasty involved a remarkable reduction in the prevalence and severity of several biological abnormalities classically considered as cardiovascular risk factors.

Long-term results of polyglactin mesh for the prevention of incisional hernias in obese patients

The aim of this study was to compare prospectively the incidence of incisional hernia in two groups of patients operated on for morbid obesity, with or without intraperitoneal polyglactin mesh. From October 1990 to September 1993, a total of 288 patients were randomly assigned to the two groups. There were 144 patients in the mesh group and 144 in the no-mesh group. Altogether 240 patients (83%) were reviewed personally, 45 (16%) were interviewed by phone (n = 39) or mail (n = 6), and 3 (1%) were inaccessible for follow-up since discharge from the hospital. The mean follow-up period was 29.8 months (range 0-67 months). A total of 33 incisional hernias were observed in the mesh group and 41 in the no-mesh group. There was no significant difference in the distribution of herniation time between the two groups (p = 0.43). The two main predictive factors of herniation were age and weight. In conclusion, the use of an intraperitoneal polyglactin mesh does not prevent postoperative incisional hernias in obese patients.

Liver abnormalities in severely obese subjects: effect of drastic weight loss after gastroplasty

OBJECTIVE

To examine the factors associated with liver steatosis in severely obese subjects and to test the potential reversibility of fatty liver after weight loss.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinical study.

SUBJECT

528 obese patients before bariatric surgery and 69 obese subjects of the initial cohort evaluated before and 27+/-15 months after gastroplasty.

MEASUREMENTS

Fatty deposition (scored as mild, moderate or severe) and inflammatory changes were evaluated in liver biopsies; clinical (body mass index (BMI), age, gender, duration of obesity) and biological (glucose, triglycerides, liver enzymes) parameters were related to histological findings.

RESULTS

74% of the 528 biopsies showed fatty change, estimated as mild in 41% of cases, moderate in 32% and severe in 27%. The prevalence of steatosis was significantly higher in men than in women (91% vs 70%, P = 0.001) and in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes compared with nondiabetics (89% vs 69% P = 0.001). The severity of the steatosis was associated with BMI (P = 0.002) but not with the duration of obesity or the age of the patient. When compared with patients without fatty change, those with liver steatosis had significantly higher fasting plasma glucose (5.5 mmol/l vs 5.1 mmol/l, P = 0.007) and triglycerides (1.8 mmol/l vs 1.3 mmol/l, P = 0.002). Mean serum liver enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gammaGT) were significantly (P < 0.001) increased in patients with fatty change but remained within laboratory reference values. In the 69 patients who have been evaluated after a marked weight reduction (-32+/-19kg), 45% of the biopsies were considered as normal (vs 13% before, P < 0.001) while pure fatty change was still observed in 38% of the patients (vs 83% before, P = 0.001). However, the severity of the steatosis was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced (mild: 62% vs 21%; moderate: 23% vs 37%; severe: 15% vs 42%). In addition, a significant increase of hepatitis was observed in 26% of the biopsies (vs 14% before, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver steatosis in obese subjects is associated with men, diabetic status, BMI, higher fasting glucose and hypertriglyceridaemia. Postgastroplasty weight loss reduces liver steatosis, but seems to increase the incidence of inflammatory lobular hepatitis.

Adult groin hernias: new insight into their biomechanical characteristics

The biomechanical properties of the transversalis fascia and rectus abdominis aponeurosis were assessed in adult groin hernias, using a computerized-suction device (Cutometer) equipped with a 2-mm probe. Evaluations were made ex vivo on fresh samples collected from 63 patients with unilateral or bilateral hernias and 30 control subjects without hernias. Under 50 and 200 mbar suctions, there was no statistical difference between the overall mechanical properties of control and patient aponeuroses. For both 50 and 200 mbar suctions, the maximum distension (MD) and the biological elasticity (BE) of fasciae from direct hernias were significantly increased, compared with control fasciae. In the same comparison, the MD-50 and -200 and the BE-50 of patient fasciae from the non-herniated sides were also significantly increased. It is concluded that the presently reported biomechanical alterations seem to be the cause and not the consequence of the hernias. These data suggest that a functional connective tissue pathology probably plays a role in the genesis of groin hernias.

Use of a preperitoneal prosthesis for strangulated groin hernia

BACKGROUND

Prostheses are widely used in the elective treatment of adult groin hernias. Their use for strangulated hernias remains controversial because of the potential risk of sepsis.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with a strangulated groin hernia were treated by insertion of a prosthetic mesh via a midline preperitoneal approach. Nine patients needed an intestinal resection for irreversible necrosis without peritonitis, and an appendicectomy was carried out in three others.

RESULTS

There were two postoperative wound infections, neither in patients who had an intestinal resection. No mesh had to be removed. The recurrence rate was one of 35 after mean follow-up of 4.2 years.

CONCLUSION

A strangulated groin hernia can be repaired safely with prosthetic mesh. When an intestinal resection is carried out with sufficient care to minimize infective complications, the use of mesh is not contraindicated.

Use of an absorbable polyglactin mesh for the prevention of incisional hernias

Nowadays, incisional hernias are still one of the more common complications of abdominal surgical procedures. A population, at high risk of developing an incisional hernia, has been chosen for this study, namely patients suffering from morbid obesity. The aim of the study was to compare prospectively the incidence of incisional hernias in 2 groups of patients operated upon for morbid obesity (Vertical Silicone Ring Gastroplasty) with or without intraperitoneal polyglactin mesh. Patients were randomly assigned in the 2 groups. For this preliminary study, 112 patients operated upon before 01/04/1992 were selected; the mean follow-up period was 28.3 months (S.D.:5.7); 81 patients have been reviewed personally, 31 interviewed by phone call or mail. The 2 groups of patients were not significantly different as regarding age, sex, weight, body mass index, diabetes and wound infection. Sixteen incisional hernias were observed in the group with mesh and 17 in the group without mesh. According to these preliminary results, there is no argument for recommending the use of the polyglactin mesh in the prevention of postoperative incisional hernias, in obese patients.

A critical review of a personal series of 1000 gastroplasties

INTRODUCTION

In a world suffering from famine, it is paradoxical to find in Belgium and in most Western countries a marked tendency to obesity. A recent study has revealed that one Belgian out of five is overweight. The literature has provided evidence that behaviour modification or dietary therapy do not result in long term weight loss for severe obese. As a result, more and more obese people are treated by surgery and we present here our personal experience of bariatric surgery during the last eight years. All the surgical procedures have been performed by a single surgeon as part of a multidisciplinary approach that also involves internists, dieticians, psychiatrists and basic scientists.

Postgastroplasty recovery of ideal body weight normalizes glucose and insulin metabolism in obese women

To study the metabolic effects of normalizing body weight, a frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test (0.3 g/kg) was performed before [body mass index (BMI), 37.7 +/- 0.5 kg/m2] and 14 +/- 2 months after successful gastroplasty (BMI, 23.7 +/- 0.6 kg/m2) in eight obese women and, for comparison, in eight age- and weight-matched nonobese control women (BMI, 23.6 +/- 0.7 kg/m2). All subjects had normal oral glucose tolerance. The insulin secretion rate (ISR) was derived by deconvolution of plasma C-peptide levels and the insulin MCR (MCRI) by dividing the 0-180 min area under the curve (AUC) of ISR by that of plasma insulin levels (IRI). The insulin sensitivity index (SI) and the glucose effectiveness index (SG) were calculated using Bergman's minimal model. Before gastroplasty, obese subjects showed higher AUC-IRI (P < 0.001) and AUC-ISR (P < 0.02), lower MCRI (P < 0.005) and SI (P < 0.002), but similar SG values, compared to nonobese controls. After gastroplasty, the AUC-IRI dramatically decreased, due to both a reduction of AUC-ISR (from 58,252 +/- 8,437 to 36,675 +/- 4,274 pmol; P < 0.05) and an increase in MCRI (from 658 +/- 117 to 1,299 +/- 127 mL/min.m-2; P < 0.02). SI significantly rose from 4.74 +/- 0.74 to 9.15 +/- 0.96 10(-5) min-1/pmol.L (P < 0.01), whereas SG remained unchanged. All of these parameters became similar to those in nonobese controls (respectively, 32,522 +/- 3,458, 1,180 +/- 101, and 8.48 +/- 1.25; all P = NS). In conclusion, after gastroplasty-induced normalization of body weight, postobese women recover normal insulin secretion, clearance, and action on glucose metabolism.

Therapy for obesity--today and tomorrow

Obesity poses a serious health hazard and its treatment is often disappointing. Besides conservative methods, the place of pharmacotherapy, very-low-calorie diets, and even, in selected cases, mechanical means or surgery can be considered. Effective drug treatment for obesity must reduce energy intake, or increase energy expenditure, or increase energy losses in faeces. All these possibilities have potential activities but also serious limitations. Current pharmacotherapy essentially uses anorectic drugs and the other approaches, although promising, are still under investigation. Of the anorectic compounds currently available, serotoninergic agents, like dexfenfluramine and fluoxetine, appear to have the most suitable pharmacological profile. Very-low-calorie diets could help in the short-term but should be associated with other approaches to increase the rate of long-term success. They must be well-balanced as macronutrients and micronutrients are concerned, be prescribed in well-selected patients under careful medical supervision, and not be followed longer than a few weeks. Surgery can provide palliation for severe obesity when all medical approaches have failed. It may consist in decreasing food intake (gastric procedures), affecting calorie absorption (intestinal shunting, biliopancreatic bypass), or removing localized excess fat (lipectomy, liposuction). Gastric reduction operations are safe and effective provided they are performed by experienced surgeons in well-selected patients. They can be considered now as the best option for a minority of patients with morbid and refractory obesity. Finally, in very selected patients, mechanical means (such as the waist cord) may also help losing weight and/or avoiding weight regain. Even if all these therapeutic approaches can be helpful, at least in some obese individuals, they also have important limitations so that prevention remains up to now the 'treatment' of choice for obesity.

Insulin secretion, clearance and action before and after gastroplasty in severely obese subjects

This study investigated the effects of a drastic weight reduction on insulin secretion rate (ISR), insulin metabolic clearance rate (MCRI) and insulin sensitivity (SI) in severely obese subjects. A frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT, 0.3 g/kg) was performed before and 8 +/- 1 months after a vertical ring gastroplasty in 12 overnight-fasted obese non-diabetic subjects; the results were compared to those obtained in 12 lean controls matched for age and sex. ISR was derived by deconvolution of plasma C-peptide levels; MCRI was obtained by dividing the area under the curve (AUC180 min) of ISR by the corresponding AUC of plasma insulin levels (IRI); the SI and the glucose effectiveness index (SG) were calculated by Bergman's minimal model. Before gastroplasty, obese subjects showed significantly higher ISR (P < 0.02), lower MCRI (P < 0.001), lower SI (P < 0.001) but similar SG when compared to lean controls. After gastroplasty (reduction of body weight from 104.8 +/- 3.8 to 73.4 +/- 3.6 kg and of BMI from 37.9 +/- 0.8 to 26.5 +/- 0.9 kg/m2; P < 0.001), ISR only decreased from 53,125 +/- 7968 to 42,302 +/- 3716 pmol/180 min (not significant) while AUC-IRI dramatically fell from 53,626 +/- 6378 to 21,111 +/- 2584 pmol.min/l; P < 0.001); consequently, MCRI markedly increased from 526 +/- 96 to 1257 +/- 150 ml/min/m2; P < 0.01). SI significantly rose from 3.12 +/- 0.45 to 7.10 +/- 1.20 x 10(-4) l/mU/min (P < 0.005) while SG remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Malignant lymphoma complicating Crohn disease of the ileum. Apropos of a case]

The association of cancer and Crohn's disease is well documented and comprises 2% of cases, but the onset of a malignant lymphoma during the course of the disease is a very rare finding (20 cases reported). A patient presented with a malignant plasmocytic lymphoma complicating an ileal Crohn's affection. Both clinical and radiological diagnosis were uncertain, most such cases being discovered perioperatively, confirmation of the diagnosis being provided by histology and immunohistology, which also allow classification of the lymphoma to allow adaptation of complementary postoperative treatment.

[Surgical treatment of incarcerated inguino-crural hernia with interposition of a preperitoneal prosthesis]

For the last four years, 17 inguinal and femoral strangulated hernias have been treated at our institution by a median subumbilical incision. In all cases, a prosthesis has been placed by preperitoneal approach. An intestinal resection for irreversible necrosis has been performed in five patients. This procedure gives good control of the herniated organs, allows easy intestinal resection and good management of unforeseeable situations. The surgical exploration of the other hernial orifices and, if needed, their simultaneous treatment can be performed. Intestinal resection does not represent, in our opinion, an absolute contra-indication to the implantation of a prosthesis. In our study, the morbidity does not seem to be increased.

Tumor IGF-II content in a patient with a colon adenocarcinoma correlates with abnormal expression of the gene

We have recently reported abnormal insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) mRNA levels in a number of human colorectal adenocarcinomas. Using an IGF-II radioimmunoassay, we have now detected high levels of both 10-kDa and 7.5-kDa IGF-II species (2,370 ng/g) in a right colon tumor showing a 800-fold IGF-II gene over-expression in comparison to the normal adjacent tissue. The higher-molecular-mass form represents 74% of the total immunoreactive IGF-II detected in the tumor. This form appears to be less reactive in the radioreceptor assay than in the radioimmunoassay. The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration in the tumor is low. The patient's pre-operative serum IGF-II level is not increased and the proportion of the 10-kDa species is normal. In addition, the IGF-II/IGF-I ratio is 3 in the serum and 308 in the tumor. Our results show that the very high IGF-II level produced by the tumor does not influence the seric concentration of the growth factor.

Operative mortality following surgery for colorectal cancer

From 1973 to 1986 at the Baviere Hospital, University of Liège, 476 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancers. The overall operative mortality rate was 13.4 per cent. The following postoperative life-threatening complications occurred: myocardial infarction (14 per cent of the postoperative deaths) during the first three postoperative days; bronchopneumonia (27 per cent of the postoperative deaths) mainly during the first postoperative week; pulmonary embolism (17 per cent of the postoperative deaths) mainly during the second postoperative week; anastomotic leakage and cerebrovascular accident (14 and 8 per cent of the postoperative deaths respectively) mainly during the third and fourth postoperative weeks. Specific risk factors were chronic obstructive airways disease associated with a higher incidence of postoperative bronchopneumonia, and previous myocardial infarction associated with postoperative myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism. General risk factors were old age and emergency procedure, both of which were associated with a higher incidence of infectious complications. The operative mortality rate fell from 20.1 per cent in the 1973-79 period to 7.8 per cent in the 1980-86 period.

Preoperative radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment in rectal cancer. Final results of a randomized study of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)

A randomized clinical trial was conducted by the European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer (EORTC) Gastrointestinal Cancer Cooperative Group to study the effectiveness of irradiation therapy administered in a dosage of 34.5 Gy, divided into 15 daily doses of 2.3 Gy each before radical surgery for rectal cancer (T2, T3, T4, NX, MO). Four hundred sixty-six patients were entered in the clinical trial between June 1976 and September 1981. Tolerance and side effects of preoperative irradiation were acceptable. The overall 5-year survival rates were similar in both groups. When considering only the 341 patients treated by surgery with a curative aim, the 5-year survival rates were 59.1% and 69.1% in the control group and in the combined modality group, respectively (p = 0.08). The local recurrence rates at 5 years were 30% and 15% in the control group and the adjuvant radiotherapy group, respectively (p = 0.003). Although this study did not show preoperative radiotherapy to have a statistically significant benefit on overall survival, it does have a clear effect on local control of rectal cancer. Therefore, before performing radical surgery, this adjuvant therapy should be administered to patients who have locally extended rectal cancer.

[Results of a policy of conservative treatment of breast cancer (146 cases)]

Tumorectomy and irradiation for small cancer of the breast. Tumorectomy followed by breast irradiation and a single course of chemotherapy is the most accurate treatment for small cancer of the breast. The 5 and 10 years survival are 92.5% and 85% respectively: this demonstrates the efficacy of the conservative treatment in the control of most of the small breast cancer provided a strict selection of the cases was done. Patients who develop local recurrence have the same life expectancy than the other cases when they are soon treated by mastectomy.

[Submucous hematoma of the cecum under anticoagulant therapy]

A patient developed an intramural hematoma of cecum as a result of indirect anticoagulant treatment. The case is remarkable with respect to the symptomatology and the very restricted extension of the lesion, these features probably resulting from a process of secondary infection.

Antimitotic activity of strychnopentamine, a bisindolic alkaloid

Strychnopentamine has been tested for its cytotoxic and antitumor activities and compared with two other bisindolic alkaloids that possess an usambarane skeleton. The presence of a N-methylpyrrolidine group increases the antimitotic activity of this type of alkaloids.

[Value of radioimmunological serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in the postoperative monitoring of rectocolonic cancer]

Fifty four patients, operated for colorectal cancer have been followed up for 2 to 100 months after surgery by carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) determinations and classical, clinical, biological, radiological, echographical, isotopical and tomoscanninvestigations. Each new serum sample has been assayed for CEA with previously collected samples within the same patients. This repetition of CEA on the same samples allows to check the good reproducibility of CEA radioimmunoassay (variation coefficient between assay is less than 10%) and to get a complete profile of CEA level evaluation within the same assay. There is a good correlation between clinical evolution and CEA levels. In 42 patients, CEA levels remained or became normal (less than 10 ng ml) after surgical resection of the tumors and no metastasis or local recurrence were detected. In 12 cases, CEA levels remained or became abnormally high (greater than 20 ng ml) at the same time or before clinical and/or paraclinical evidences for metastases or local recurrence. These results showed CEA assay in a quantitative parameter to assess the follow-up of colorectal cancer complementary to clinical, biological, radiological, echographical and isotopical criterias.

FPi analysis. II. Use of the method to monitor the in vivo kinetics of cell populations perturbed by hydroxyurea

In a previous report, we described a new method called FPi analysis to analyze time sequences of DNA histograms taken from a perturbed population of cells. In this paper we utilize the method to analyze the in vivo kinetic response of bone marrow and of lung metastases of the B16 tumor to various chemotherapeutic agents. We show that the technique allows useful kinetic data to be obtained with minimal processing of the raw histograms, thus allowing fast analysis of the data. We also show that, in order to monitor the kinetic response of living tissues, it is essential to collect multiparameter distributions; to monitor only the one dimensional fluorescence histogram can give rise to misleading results. Using these multiparameter histograms, we are also able to monitor the growth fraction of the lung metastases during treatment, allowing discrimination between cell synchrony and cell recruitment from the resting compartment.