Presence of villin, a tissue-specific cytoskeletal protein, in sera of patients and an initial clinical evaluation of its value for the diagnosis and follow-up of colorectal cancers.

Villin is an actin-binding protein found in a few normal adult epithelia, namely epithelial cells in the digestive and urogenital tracts. Moreover, villin production is maintained in malignant cells. We assumed that cell lysis and necrosis of solid tumors producing villin might result in villin release into blood. We analyzed the villin content of sera from 788 patients and controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients and controls were classified into healthy donors, patients with benign diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, patients with colorectal cancers, and patients with malignant nondigestive diseases. In the panel of sera analyzed, the sensitivity of the assay for colorectal cancers was 50.5%, and its overall specificity for malignant digestive tumors was 94.5%. Results were statistically analyzed comparing each group of sera with each other. We conclude that the presence of villin is indicative of a pathological state in the gastrointestinal tract (P less than 0.001). Finally, we followed villin levels after tumor resections (60 patients). We found that the villin level in sera remains low in remissions but is raised in recurrences. We suggest that the villin assay may have clinical utility as a diagnostic adjunct for adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. It may also have some value in monitoring patients with advancing colorectal carcinomas after resection of these tumors.

Response to antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus-associated marginal zone lymphomas.

A link between chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and low-grade B-cell lymphomas has been suggested by epidemiological studies. Marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs) including splenic lymphomas with villous lymphocytes are among the most frequently reported subgroups in the setting of chronic HCV infection. In this study, we examined the effect of antiviral treatment in eight patients with HCV-associated MZL. We found that five out of eight patients have responded to interferon alpha and ribavirin. In some cases, hematologic responses were correlated to virologic responses. In addition, we report a case of large granular lymphocyte leukemia occurring in association with MZL and HCV, and responding to interferon and ribavirin. We suggest that there is an etiologic link between HCV and antigen-driven lymphoproliferative disorders.

Suppression of ectopic adrenocorticotropin secretion by the long-acting somatostatin analog octreotide.

The long-acting somatostatin analog (octreotide) was administered to a 37-yr-old woman with the ectopic ACTH syndrome. The patient had diffuse metastatic spread of a nonpituitary tumor, presumably of pancreatic origin, and severe and rapidly progressive hypercortisolism with extreme myopathy, hypokalemia, and diabetes mellitus. Plasma ACTH and lipotropin levels and 24-h urinary cortisol excretion were greatly elevated [218 pg/mL (48 pmol/L), 1340 pg/mL (220 pmol/L), and up to 830 micrograms/24 h (2290 nmol/day), respectively]. Urinary cortisol excretion decreased to normal within 3 days after the initiation of octreotide therapy (150, 300, and 600 micrograms/day), and plasma ACTH and lipotropin levels also decreased. Urinary cortisol excretion remained normal for 2 months during chronic octreotide therapy, and her general condition improved dramatically. The only side-effect was a slight increase in the number of bowel movements. Tumor progression, however, was not controlled, and she eventually died of hepatic insufficiency. These data indicate that octreotide can be a highly effective treatment for patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome.

Central retinal vein thrombosis associated with resistance to activated protein C.

PURPOSE/METHODS: Activated protein C resistance was recently described as a major cause of venous thrombosis. We observed a central retinal vein thrombosis in a woman with activated protein C resistance. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: DNA analysis showed the patient to be heterozygous for the factor V gene mutation, which is related to activated protein C resistance. Patients with retinal vein thrombosis should be examined for activated protein C resistance.

Patterns of sexual and injecting risk behaviours in French intravenous drug users not reporting HIV and hepatitis C virus seropositivities.

AIMS: To characterize and identify determinants of risk behaviour patterns of intravenous drug users (IDUs) independently of changes due to knowledge of HIV or hepatitis C Virus (HCV) seropositivity. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire concerning sexual, injecting and HIV and HCV antibody testing practices. SETTING: IDUs were interviewed in the Paris region at 10 treatment or psychosocial centres. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred and twelve consecutive sexually active IDUs over 18 years able to answer the questionnaire. MEASUREMENTS: Five hundred and ninety-five IDUs completed the questionnaire. The risk-behaviour patterns of the 328 IDUs not reporting HIV or HCV seropositivity were analysed by phi correlation. Risk factors for each risk behaviour were determined by regression logistic models yielding odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). FINDINGS: Several risk behaviour patterns were suggested: (1) lending, borrowing; (2) not or inconsistently testing HIV and HCV serology and not or inconsistently using condoms; (3) having multiple partners and prostitution; and (4) not using clean equipment. Alcohol abuse was independently and specifically associated with lending (OR = 3.8; 95% CI: 2.1-7.0) and borrowing (OR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.8-6.1); homelessness with injecting risk behaviours and with prostitution (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.2-6.1); low educational level and having children with not or inconsistently using condom and serology testing; and cocaine use with not or inconsistently using condoms (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.7) and serology testing and not using clean equipment (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8). Having multiple partners and prostitution had no common risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying specific risk factors could help to target drug harm reduction programmes for each risk behaviour pattern among IDUs not reporting HIV and HCV seropositivity.

Extradural spinal tophaceous gout: evolution with medical treatment.

A patient with chronic tophaceous gouty arthritis developed paraparesis due to medullar compression from a urate sodium tophus. We report the MRI features of this tophaceous gout, which showed an extradural hyperintense signal with an isointense nodule signal on T1 weighted sequences. Surgical removal of the epidural lesion resulted in complete clinical recovery. At the upper level of the spine, an extension of the epidural lesion was not removed, but after one year of medical treatment of the gout, MRI showed regression of the epidural compression.

Cutaneous and mediastinal lymphadenitis due to Mycobacterium kansasii.

Mycobacterium kansasii most commonly causes a slowly progressive pulmonary disease. Skin and disseminated infections are seen less frequently and only in immunocompromised hosts. To our knowledge, no case of Mycobacterium kansasii infection or skin infection associated with additional organ involvement in an immunocompetent patient has been reported.

Recurring episodes of meningitis (Mollaret's meningitis) with one showing an association with herpes simplex virus type 2.

Benign recurrent aseptic (Mollaret's) meningitis is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. We report the case of a 27-year-old woman who experienced three episodes of lymphocytic meningitis. Human Simplex Virus (HSV) type 2 DNA was detected in the CSF by PCR amplification indicating the diagnosis of recurrent HSV type 2 meningitis. Our observation suggests that search of herpes virus DNA by PCR amplification on CSF may be useful in unexplained recurrent meningitis.

Cyclic sciatica. A manifestation of compression of the sciatic nerve by endometriosis. A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case of cyclic sciatica secondary to ovarian cyst endometriosis is presented. OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical description and magnetic resonance imaging aspects of cyclic sciatica. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Endometriosis of the sciatic nerve is rare, but must be included in the differential diagnosis of sciatic mononeuropathies. METHODS: The authors report a new case of a woman whose cyclic sciatica was caused by an ovarian cystic endometriosis lesion. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging was described as hyper- and hypointense on T1-weighted sequences, and hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences at the sciatic notch. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging may permit a specific diagnosis of this unusual cause of sciatica by showing a hemorrhagic mass in the region of the sciatic nerve. Early recognition is necessary to prevent permanent damage to the sciatic nerve.

Venous thromboembolism in medical inpatients: prophylaxis with low-weight heparin in a university hospital and prevalence of thromboembolic events.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VT) in current prophylactic practice with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) among medical inpatients and to analyze associated risk factors for VT. A cross-sectional survey on five given days was conducted in the medical departments of a university hospital. The prevalence of prophylaxis and confirmed VT was measured. Risk markers for receiving high doses of LMWH and for VT under prophylaxis were assessed by logistic regression models. Of 1,194 inpatients, 1.4% suffered VT. The mean proportion of patients with LMWH prophylaxis was 24% (range: 4-64%). The prevalence of VT was higher among inpatients receiving prophylaxis than among those patients not receiving prophylaxis (3.5% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.002). Under prophylaxis, independent risk markers for thrombosis were history of vein thrombosis (odds ratio [OR]: 4.03; confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.04-15.62) and age (OR: 1.08; 95%CI: 1.01-1.15). Two factors were independently associated with the prescription of high doses of LMWH: obesity was positively associated (OR: 7.50; 95%CI: 2.97-18.92; p < 0.0001) and respiratory insufficiency was negatively associated. In medical departments, current prophylaxis practice leads to many patients being given LMWH. LMWH doses and other preventive measures should be adapted in high-risk inpatients.

[Hepatic ischemia and hypophyseal macroadenoma]. / Ischémie hépatique et adénome macro-hypophysaire.

We report the first case of recurrent hepatitis secondary to a pituitary macroadenoma in a 55-year old man. Liver ischemia is thought to be the main consequence of episodes of acute adrenal insufficiency. Sudden acute adrenal insufficiency was due to enlargement of the sella content secondary to several microhemorrhages in the macroadenoma.

[Study of hepatic drug metabolism. For a rationalization of a new molecular development]. / Etude du métabolisme hépatique des médicaments. Pour une rationalisation du développement des nouvelles molécules.

Interindividual variability of hepatic metabolism of drugs may be responsible for decrease in efficacy, increase in the incidence and severity of adverse effects or drug-interactions. This variability may be due to hepatic drug interaction, specific physio-pathologic condition or genetic polymorphism. Search for variability of hepatic metabolism and the factors determining this variability during the pre-clinical and clinical development of new drug contributes to an individual optimization of treatment during clinical research and after introduction into the market. This strategy results in an improvement of the benefit-risk ratio. The various methodological approaches to the study of hepatic metabolism during the successive phases of drug development and the integration of these studies in the clinical development plan of a new drug are discussed in this paper.

[Behaviors at risk of the intravenous drug addicts and prevention of HIV infection]. / Les comportements à risque des toxicomanes intraveineux et la prévention de l'infection par le VIH.

Needle sharing and sexual behaviour were studied in 396 intraveinous drug addicts (IVDA). Only 20% stopped needle sharing and used condoms. They were 6% before 1990 and 23% after. Both preventive measures were adopted by 32 of 78 HIV positive and only 25 of 210 HIV negative IVDA. Attention is drawn on the need for specific measures for prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV infection by IVDA.

[Lung neoplasms revealing a rare cutaneous tumor: eccrine porocarcinoma]. / Métastases pulmonaires révélatrices d'une tumeur cutanée rare: le porocarcinome eccrine.

INTRODUCTION: Eccrine sweat gland carcinoma, which belongs to the eccrine sweat gland carcinoma family, is a rare malignancy of the skin with a potential aggressive growth and metastatic spread. EXEGESIS: We report here a case of malignant eccrine poroma arising on the upper leg, with widespread pulmonary metastases. CONCLUSION: A brief synopsis of the pathological and clinical aspects of eccrine sweat gland carcinoma is presented with the currently available therapies.

[HIV infection in intravenous drug addicts]. / L'infection VIH chez les toxicomanes intraveineux.

Clinical course of HIV infection was studied among 156 intravenous drug users (IVDU). Mean follow up was 22.7 months. Characteristics of HIV infection in IVDU were frequent oral candidiasis and bacterial infections (BI), more frequent progression to AIDS after a second BI, rapid decline of CD4+ in a group of current IVDU. Progression to AIDS was 14.5% per year, not different among current and former IVDU. Twenty five IVDU died.

[Mediastinoscopy in the case of recurrent uveitis]. / La médiastinoscopie au secours d'une uvéite traînante.

INTRODUCTION: The authors report the case of a patient who presented for 4 years recurrent anterior uveitis accompanied by asymptomatic tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis. EXEGESIS: CT scan of the chest showed the existence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy (< 1 cm). Mediastinoscopy with biopsy of the right laterotracheal lymph node was performed. The culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, thus permitting the diagnosis of tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: This case report stresses the advantage of extensive etiological assessment when faced with unexplained uveitis; particularly it emphasizes the importance of investigating potential tuberculosis. The existence of granulomatous uveitis, a positive skin test, the ethnic origin, and mostly results of chest CT scan, were the rationale for the use of mediastinoscopy with lymph node biopsy to help guide diagnosis.

[Value of MRI for the diagnosis of cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis]. / Apport de l'IRM dans l'exploration de l'atteinte cardiaque au cours de la sarcoïdose.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the place of cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in patients with sarcoidosis with or without cardiac involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with histologically-proven sarcoidosis underwent initial cardiac evaluation including MRI, ECG, holter ECG, echocardiography. Seven of them had cardiac involvement (cardiac insufficiency, auriculo-ventricular block, bundle-branch block). Fiveteen patients had a second evaluation at 10-month follow-up. MRI was classified in three stages, on the base of literature data (stage 1 "granulomatous", stage 2 "exsudative", stage 3 "fibrotic"). RESULTS: A good correlation between the type of the sarcoidosis and MRI was observed: patients with cardiac involvement had all stage 2 MRI; patients with quiescent sarcoidosis had normal or stage 3 MRI; patients without cardiac involvement had all stages on MRI. A good correlation was observed between cardiac MRI abnormalities and evolution of sarcoidosis. Patients under corticoid, with or without cardiac involvement all had regression of MRI lesions and sarcoidosis. In 2 cases, MRI was predictive of clinical cardiac involvement. CONCLUSION: Cardiac MRI is a useful non-invasive method for the early diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac sarcoidosis.

[Primary bilateral adrenal lymphoma as viewed by MRI. Apropos of a case]. / Lymphome surrénalien bilatéral primitif, aspect en IRM. A propos d'une observation.

Clinically silent adrenal involvement in lymphoma is a relatively common occurrence, involvement of bilateral adrenal glands by lymphoma as the sole manifestation of lymphoma is very rare, with only 30 cases reported in the literature. We report a patient with this unusual conditions, with CT scan and MRI aspects.

[Pregnant seropositive drug addicts]. / La toxicomane séropositive enceinte.

Understanding actual experiences of sexuality and pregnancy in HIV positive drug addicts is essential for the prevention of AIDS dissemination. A rigorous organization and a coherent therapeutic project are needed for pregnancy supervision (pregnancy being carried on in over 50 percent of cases), for psychological preparation to the recognition of foetus reality and birth, and for newborn follow up to prevent his abandonment. The specific problems of pregnancy, seropositivity and drug addiction should be taken into account at the same time. The intervention of a voluntary, motivated and polyvalent team and a hospital opening towards outreach workers are two essential conditions of success.

[Lyme borreliosis: therapeutic aspects]. / Borrélioses de Lyme: aspects thérapeutiques.

CAUSAL AGENTS: Several Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species have been recently described which cause different clinical forms of Lyme disease. B. garinii is implicated in neurological forms, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in articular forms and B. afzelii in late cutaneous forms. As such disease diversity is seen only in Europe and Asia, clinical management in Europe is somewhat different than in North America. NUMEROUS CLINICAL TRIALS: A recently proposed classification of the European forms of Lyme disease is based on clinical presentation: contagious conditions or erythema migrans, early neurologic or cardiologic complications, late articular, neurologic or cutaneous complications. Therapeutic proposals should be guided by the results of European trials, taking into account this classification. ADAPTED MANAGEMENT: For contagious conditions or erythema migrans, amoxicillin and doxycycline are the first intention antibiotics and should be given for 14 to 21 days. Other antibiotic classes (macrolides, oral cephalosporins) have not been found be more effective and should be reserved for second line treatment. Early neurological involvement requires penicillin, a third generation cephalosporin or doxycycline for one month. Oral antibiotics are preferred in case of joint involvement using amoxicillin or doxycycline as first line therapy. A second regimen could be proposed in case of failure. Parenteral administration should be reserved for second line treatment. There is little data available on chronic atrophic acrodermatitis and protocols are based on ceftriaxone, doxycycline or penicillin.