[Alcohol consumption by young adults from three cities in Southern France]. / La consommation d'alcool de jeunes adultes dans trois villes du Sud de la France.

AIM: To identify potential factors of change in alcohol consumption and regional differences which could explain why and how habits are evolving. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and thirty three subjects aged 20 to 34 years, were recruited by random sampling in Marseilles, Montpellier and Toulouse. A quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data on alcohol consumption. A stepwise logistic regression was applied to the total sample, to the sub-sample of drinkers, and to the sub-samples of drinkers of each type of alcoholic beverage. Factors associated with each type of alcoholic consumption were analyzed by city. RESULTS: Montpellier and Toulouse samples were pooled because of the similarity in alcoholic consumption, which was different from that in Marseilles. There are significantly more drinkers in Montpellier/Toulouse than in Marseilles (74.4% versus 53.8%; p=0.001) and also more binge drinking subjects (31.1% versus 10.3%; p=0.001). Age, tobacco, leisure physical activity are independently associated with alcoholic consumption, female sex and Marseilles, being inversely associated. These two last factors are similarly associated with binge drinking, as well as age. CONCLUSION: The study of the factors for alcoholic consumption by site suggests that differences in behavior could explain these results. These distinct characteristics should be considered when implementing anti-alcoholic prevention in youth.

[Y-loop gastrojejunostomy in postoperative gastritis caused by reflux]. / Gastro-jéjunostomie sur anse en Y pour gastrite post-opératoire par reflux.

This prospective study involving 24 patients operated for postoperative reflux gastritis spanned over the period between 1974 and 1987. Diagnosis by exclusion was based on clinical, endoscopic and histological findings collected a few months to 16 years following surgery, the outcome of which was either alteration or destruction of the antropyloric sphincteral mechanism. All patients had Y-loop gastrojejunostomy performed according to Roux's procedure (at 50 cm). The clinical results as assessed on the basis of Visick's score and by gastroscopy were good. Anatomopathological examination of pre- and postoperative bioptic specimens blind-collected by a single operator indicated that foveolar hyperplasia is a good indicator of enterogastric reflux.

Changing patterns in the vascular form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

We report and analyze two cases of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type 4. The first manifestation of the disease was a spontaneous perforation of the colon in a 47-year-old man; he was successfully reoperated on five years later for the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Abdominal pain demonstrated the syndrome in a 33-year-old woman in whom multiple abdominal aneurysms were found. A ligation of the anterior tibial artery for spontaneous rupture was performed five years later. Light and electron microscopic studies of the skin disclosed similar alterations in both cases. The diameter of the collagen fiber bundles was reduced and the diameter of collagen fibrils was increased. It appears that EDS type 4 might be less characteristic than has been previously described. Classification of the different types of EDS according to electron microscopy is not possible.

Endoscopic noninvasive manometry of esophageal varices: prognostic significance.

Our study attempts to establish a relation between the pressure in the esophageal varices and the clinical outcome in 18 patients in whom sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices was performed. The measured pressure was compared to the endoscopic findings. Before sclerotherapy, a noninvasive manometric measurement was performed on the varices using a spheric membrane manometer fixed at the tip of an endoscope. Twelve of our 18 patients suffered repeated hemorrhage which led to death in five. We discovered a relation between the measured pressure and the outcome. Beside this, we measured the highest pressures in the largest varices. The relation that seems to exist between the pressure in the esophageal varices, the endoscopic findings, and the severity of the portal hypertension may provide new opportunities for research in this field.

[Treatment of refractory ascites by means of the LeVeen shunt]. / Le traitement de l'ascite réfractaire par le shunt de LeVeen.

Amongst the surgical treatments that have been suggested for refractory ascites, the one that has met with the greatest success is the LeVeen shunt. It nevertheless involves certain risks and might even be fatal. The authors' brief experience in this domain has confirmed its positive immediate effects and has also brought to light some of its drawbacks. The large number of potential complications leads one to conclude that the LeVeen shunt should be reserved for refractory ascites and hepato-renal syndrome, and should not be prematurely employed in other situations.

[Gastroesophageal reflux: long-term results of surgical management]. / Reflux gastro-oesophagien: résultats à long terme du traitement chirurgical.

73 patients presenting with hiatus hernia and reflux oesophagitis verified endoscopically, were controlled and checked by endoscopy 5 to 15 years after surgical correction of reflux. In half of these cases the intervention consisted of a "fundoplicatio" and in the other half, of a "hemi-fundoplicatio" or closure of the angle of His. The long-term results show a higher degree of efficiency of the "fundoplicatio" particularly that which concerns the curing of the oesophagitis. The adjunction of a vagotomy-pyloroplasty in 9 patients showed an increase in the frequency of bile reflux in the stomach. The absence of cancer in the oesophagus in the 73 patients controlled after a period of many years, suggests that correction of the reflux and of the oesophagitis constitutes a high measure of efficiency.

[Liver tumors and oral contraceptives]. / Tumeurs hépatiques et anticonceptionnels oraux

Benign liver cell tumors in young women are reported with increasing frequency. An association between benign tumors and oral contraceptive use was first suggested in 1973 by Janet Baum. During the past ten years we have observed 15 benign liver cell tumors, all of the focal nodular hyperplasia type. Ten of the 15 women were taking or had taken oral contraceptives. This association was found not to be statistically significant (0.06 greater than p greater than 0.05). We also diagnosed 2 liver cell carcinomas in women who had taken contraceptives.

[Postoperative reflux gastritis]. / Réalité de la gastrite postopératoire par reflux.

Postoperative reflux gastritis is generally considered a definite clinical syndrome. It is the possible sequel to any gastric surgery suppressing pyloric continence. Incidence of this complication is still difficult to evaluate, whereas enterogastric reflux is often seen during endoscopy. 75 patients were studied clinically and endoscopically, and their gastric mucosa histologically, after gastric surgery. Results were compared to those in a 2nd group of patients whose reflux induced symptoms had been brought under control by endoscopically confirmed surgical correction of reflux. Enterogastric reflux is common (80%), but its effect on the gastric mucosa is observed endoscopically only when it is relatively marked (69%). Clinical suspicion of reflux gastritis is most often confirmed by endoscopy, but endoscopic reflux gastritis is symptomatic in only half of patients undergoing surgery. Foveolar hyperplasia is the only histological criterion related to reflux gastritis.

[Postoperative gastritis caused by reflux. Apropos of 16 cases]. / La gastrite postopératoire par reflux. A propos de 16 observations.

We observed 16 patients suffering from postoperative gastritis: 8 after a truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty, 6 after a Billroth II type gastrectomy, 1 after a truncal vagotomy with a Billroth I type antrectomy, 1 after correction of a hiatal hernia with pyloroplasty. Symptoms appeared from 1 month to 16 years after surgery. They consisted in epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss. The diagnosis is established essentially on the clinical picture and the endoscopy, which shows the presence of bile in the stomach and hyperemia of the mucosa. Microscopic lesions are constant, but there is no histologic specificity. 12 of 16 patients were operated on (Roux-enY loop). The reflux was suppressed in each case. Results of the operation were excellent or good in 10 patients, fair in one and unsatisfactory in one.

Efficacy and risks of the distal splenorenal shunt in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices.

Analysis of twenty-two patients who underwent distal splenorenal anastomosis shows that the operative mortality and morbidity are low if the indications for the procedure are strictly adhered to. The decompression of the esophageal varicosities is effective, even in the presence of persistent varicosities. This decompression is probably less important and perhaps slower than after portacaval shunting, so we now do not recommend distal splenorenal shunting as an emergency operation. Thrombosis of the shunt is rare and related especially to local anatomic conditions and operative technic. Shunt thrombosis is an early complication that we observed on two occasions manifested by recurrence of hemorrhage. There does not appear to be an appreciable difference between the terminoterminal and terminolateral distal splenorenal anastomoses. The effect of ligation of the splenic artery in the hypersplenism is doubtful. The frequency of postanastomotic encephalopathy is minimal with this type of shunt. Liver function tests were little changed during the period of postoperative observation, but our results do not permit us to conclude that the distal spleno-renal anastomosis less unfavorably affects liver function than do classic shunts.