Gadolinium induced recurrent acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas. The two most common causes are alcohol use and biliary stones. Drug-induced acute pancreatitis are rare (1.4-2%). In this present study, we present a case of recurrent acute pancreatitis induced by a specific magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) contrast agent called gadobenate dimeglumine.

Influence of HCV genotype 1 subtypes on the virus response to PEG interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin therapy.

New factors that influence the viral response in HCV non-genotype 2/3 patients must be identified in order to optimize anti-HCV treatment. This multicenter prospective study evaluates the influence of HCV variability and pharmacological parameters on the virological response of these patients to pegylated interferon α2a (peg-IFN-α2a: 180 µg/week) and ribavirin (RBV; 800-1,200 mg/day) for 48 weeks. HCV subtypes were identified by sequencing the NS5B region. Serum RBV and peg-IFN-α2a concentrations were measured at weeks 4 and 12. The 115 patients (67 men; median age = 49, range 31-76) included 64 who had never been treated and 27 co-infected with HIV. The mean baseline HCV RNA was 6.30 ± 0.06 log IU/ml and the HCV genotypes were: G1 (n = 93) with 1a (n = 37) and 1b (n = 50), G4 (n = 20) and G5 (n = 2). Most patients (79/108; 73%) had an early virological response. Independent predictors of an early virological response were interferon naive patients (OR= 2.98, 95% CI: 1.15-7.72) and RBV of >2,200 ng/ml at week 12 (OR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.31-8.90). Forty of 104 patients (38%) had a sustained virological response. The only independent predictors of a sustained virological response were subtype 1b (OR = 6.82, 95% CI: 1.7-26.8), and HCV RNA <15 IU/ml at week 12 (OR = 25, 95% CI: 6.4-97.6). Thus a serum RBV concentration of >2,200 ng/ml was associated with an early virological response and patients infected with HCV subtype 1b had a better chance of a sustained virological response than did those infected with subtype 1a.

Is physical activity possible and beneficial for patients with hepatitis C receiving pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy?

The great majority of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C are treated with pegylated interferon-ribavirin therapy. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that these patients were able to have some form of physical exercise, and that this activity can lead to an improvement in their quality-of-life. Twelve volunteer patients with hepatitis C, who were either sedentary or had become sedentary and who had been treated by combination therapy for the past few weeks, were recruited at hepatology clinics in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France early in 2006. All patients attended a sports medicine consultation for an initial evaluation: maximal aerobic power and maximal oxygen consumption tests, maximum heart rate (MHR), search for contraindications for participation in the proposed program of physical exercise. The patients were given a heart rate monitor so they could measure their heart rate during physical exercise and check that they exercised under safe conditions and remained within the so-called "endurance" zone. The patients came to a sports facility daily for 5 days for the exercise program. The activities were divided into four sessions each day: an individual physical exercise selected by the patient, team physical exercise, recreational physical exercise, lectures on the different types of hepatitis and their treatment, on nutrition and on sports medicine assessments. Data on hepatitis, results of the cardiorespiratory examination and personal history and record of past physical activity were collected for each patient. Quality-of-life (SF36) was assessed at enrollment in the study and one month after the training sessions. At the initial sports medicine consultation, all patients reached their MHR and were found capable of participating in the proposed physical exercise program. One enrolled patient was excluded from the analysis because of the presence of sinusitis on arrival. Seven men and four women, mean age of 46 years completed the full course of the study protocol. All participated in the three types of proposed physical activity with no problem. The score of the general perception item of the SF36 questionnaire increased from 63 on day 0 to 71 at one month (p=0.07). In conclusion, patients with hepatitis C receiving pegylated interferon plus ribavirin may safely participate in a program of suitably supervised physical exercise. Taking part in physical exercise leads to clear changes in the way patients perceive their bodies and its capacities. Participating in sports activities could improve self-confidence and lead to far-reaching changes in the way patients perceive their disease and the constraints of treatment.

[Quinquina and man]. / Du quinquina et des hommes.

Many great discoveries have been made by chance but some have been the result of human perseverance and ingenuity. A sterling example of the second case is quinquina that was discovered in Peru and is now produced in Java. Quinquina has gone through centuries without losing its medical efficacy that efficacy allowed the exploration and colonization of Africa and played a key role in the ability to conduct overseas military campaigns. Because of its strategic importance, it was a coveted resource. It led to the discovery of homeopathy and dyes, allowed the development of organic chemistry, and has been used to make alcoholic bitters and soft drinks.

Increased incidence of indinavir nephrolithiasis in patients with hepatitis B or C virus infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A HIV-1 patient database was scanned in March 1998, and 750 patients were identified who had received HAART including indinavir. Of these, 28 cases had nephrolithiasis; and 85 asymptomatic indinavir-treated patients were randomly selected as controls. The characteristics of cases and controls were compared by analysis of variance for quantitative parameters and by Fisher's exact test for classes. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in the incidence of nephrolithiasis in patients co-infected with HIV-1 and either hepatitis C virus (HCV) (HCV RNA-positive) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) (HBs antigen-positive) (odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals: 2.8 and 1.1-7.7), whereas no significant differences were demonstrated between cases and controls with regard to age (42.4 +/- 8.0 versus 39.8 +/- 9.8 years), sex (male patients 70.4 versus 74.1%), duration of HIV-1 infection (8.6 +/- 3.1 versus 7.7 +/- 4.0 years), duration of indinavir treatment (16.1 +/- 5.8 versus 14.1 +/- 5.4 months), AST increase > or = 1.25 of normal (29.6 versus 25.9%), or ALT increase > or = 1.25 of normal (33.3 versus 22.4%). In co-infected patients, ALT increase (> or = 1.25 of normal), but not AST increase, at the time of indinavir initiation was statistically related to the occurrence of nephrolithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant increase of nephrolithiasis incidence in patients co-infected with HIV-1 and HCV or HBV, which suggests that underlying multifactorial hepatic damage may limit liver catabolism of indinavir, and consequently increase its renal excretion and the risk of nephrolithiasis. Caution is therefore advised when initiating indinavir treatment in HIV patients with evidence of HBV or HCV infection.

Study of the association between major histocompatibility complex class II genes and the response to interferon alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of HLA class II genes on the response to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: The distribution of HLA DRB1 and DQB1 alleles was assessed in 170 caucasoïd patients treated with IFN-alpha for chronic hepatitis C. 50 patients had a long term sustained response to treatment whereas 120 patients were nonresponders. RESULTS: Female sex, non-1 HCV genotype particularly genotype 2 and pretreatment low serum HCV RNA level were associated with long-term sustained response to IFN-alpha. A trend towards a higher prevalence of DRB1*07 allele in non responders than in patients with sustained response (45% vs. 28%, odds ratio 2.1; P < 0.05) on the one hand and of DQB1*06 allele in HCV genotype 1 patients with sustained response than in HCV genotype 1 nonresponders (75% vs 27.3%, odds ration 7.9; P < 0.02) on the other hand, were observed. However, none of these two differences remained significant after Bonferroni's correction. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, we conclude that the response to IFN-alpha therapy is more tightly related to virus factors than to host's HLA class II genes.

Lack of effect of propranolol in the prevention of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: a randomized trial. French-Speaking Club for the Study of Portal Hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Beta-blockers have been shown to reduce portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis and limit the development of portosystemic shunts in portal hypertensive animals. Thus, a randomized double-blind trial was conducted to evaluate propranolol in the prevention of the development of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis without varices or with small varices. METHODS: One hundred and two patients received long-acting propranolol (160 mg/day) and 104 patients received a placebo. At inclusion, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical characteristics or biochemical tests. At 2 years, the size of varices was estimated on video recordings. RESULTS: One-third of the patients were lost to follow-up, and 95%/97% of the remaining patients were compliant in the propranolol and placebo groups, respectively. At 2 years, the proportion of patients with large varices was 31% in the propranolol group and 14% in the placebo group (P< 0.05). Three and four patients bled in the propranolol and placebo groups, respectively, and nine and ten died, respectively. CONCLUSION: This trial suggests that propranolol administration cannot be recommended for the prevention of the development of large oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis; thus other studies are needed in selected subgroups of patients.

[Functional study, in man, of congestive gastropathy in cirrhosis by measurement of potential difference]. / Etude fonctionnelle, chez l'homme, de la gastropathie congestive au cours de la cirrhose par la mesure de la différence de potentiel.

The morphologic features of the gastric mucosa in patients with cirrhosis have been well investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate its functional disruption by measuring the gastric potential difference. Forty patients were investigated, 12 control subjects and 28 consecutive cirrhotic patients with endoscopically proved congestive gastropathy. Potential difference was measured the morning, on an empty stomach, at least 3 days after endoscopy; the method used a double channel gastric perfused probe placed under fluoroscopy 10 cm above the cardia, and a subcutaneous reference, both connected to a millivoltimeter via gelose agar-KCl bridges. Potential difference was recorded in each case 20 min before (baseline) and after local instillation of lysine acetylsalicylate (500 mg) as a provocative test. Cirrhotic patients had significantly lower basal potential difference than controls (-28.3 +/- 1.5 mV vs -33.8 +/- 1.3mV, p = 0.007). Potential difference was significantly lower in patients with severe gastropathy than in patients with mild gastropathy (-20.5 +/- 2.1 and -28.9 +/- 1.6 mV, respectively, p less than 0.01). After stimulation with acetylsalicylate, the area under curve and the irritability index were greater in patients with gastropathy (81.4 +/- 12.8 vs 41.2 +/- 8.6 mV.min, p = 0.032 and 0.935 +/- 0.19 vs 0.290 +/- 0.07 mV.mV.min, p = 0.022, respectively). These differences were explained by a higher drop in potential difference (delta DPmax/baseline; 28.1 +/- 3 vs 16.1 +/- 3 p. 100, p = 0.006) whereas basal return time remained unchanged (16.2 +/- 2.1 vs 13.7 +/- 2.2 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Enterovenous fistula. An unusual complication of Crohn disease]. / La fistule entéro-veineuse. Une complication exceptionnelle de la maladie de Crohn.

We report a case of enterovenous fistula in a young 22-year-old patient with Crohn's disease associated with jaundice. Ultrasound and computed tomography showed stationary gaz and barium in the liver. Pathological examination showed a fistula between the lumen of the inflamed segment of the ileum and the superior mesenteric venous system. This unusual finding in Crohn's disease may be a severe complication.