Hepatitis B vaccination and central nervous system demyelination: an immunological approach.

Demyelination events or multiple sclerosis following hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination have been reported. We therefore compared the T-cell response to HBsAg in patients with CNS demyelination following HBV vaccination and in HBV-vaccinated healthy individuals. Our data showed no differences in terms of T-cell proliferation or cytokine production between these groups and may help to allay concerns that HBV vaccination might trigger a deleterious immune response.

[TVT: Revolutionary treatment of urinary incontinence]. / Le TVT: traitement révolutionnaire de l'incontinence urinaire.

Stress urinary incontinence represents an important, often unknown and, yet, certainly most unpleasant pathology. Over years, several different surgical techniques have been proposed and reported to have variable success. TVT, a simple and reproducible technique, aims at stabilizing mid-urethra, and not bladder-neck. Our own clinical experience amounts to 139 cases. All these patients were evaluated by clinical examination and, subjectively, by a questionnaire. 89.2% were cured and 6.5% improved. The most frequent complication was bladder perforation (6.5%), but it had no incidence on the final results. Morbidity was low. This revolutionary technique is very promising and our own results are similar to those reported by others.

Combination of ballistic lithotripsy and transurethral prostatectomy in bladder stones with benign prostatic hyperplasia: report of 120 cases.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with the combination of ballistic lithotripsy (BL) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in 120 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and bladder stone(s). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The mean stone size, appreciated by measuring the greatest diameter, was 18.5 mm (range 10-80 mm). The mean prostate volume was 35.4 cc (26-62 cc). All procedures were monitored under direct endoscopic control with a videocamera. RESULTS: Lithotripsy and evacuation of fragments was performed in an average time of 27.5 minutes (10-80 minutes). The only intraoperative complication was mild hematuria in 38 patients (32%), which did not affect vision for TURP. The mean resection time was 42 minutes (range 15-65 minutes). Four patients experienced mild postoperative bleeding, and one patient had clot retention. The mean hospital stay was 1.2 days (range 1-4 days). CONCLUSIONS: Combined BL and TURP is effective, safe, and economical.

[Spontaneous perirenal urinoma during nephritic colic]. / Urinome périrénal spontané survenant au cours d'une colique néphrétique.

A case has been reported of the spontaneous rupture of the kidney during an attack of nephritic colic. This rare complication is due to excessive pressure in the renal cavities caused by an obstructive ureteral calculus. Complete resolution of the urinoma was obtained after endoscopic fragmentation of the calculus and double J stenting.

[Repair of urethrocutaneous fistula with double skin flap. Report of 32 cases]. / Réparation des fistules uréthrocutanées par double lambeau cutané. A propos de 32 cas.

OBJECTIVES: Urethro-cutaneous fistula constitutes the main complication of urethroplasty for hypospadias. The frequency of this complication ranges from 12 to 90%. The multiplicity of fistula closure techniques, reflects the difficulty involved in repairing these lesions. The authors evaluated fistula repair by a double pedicle skin flap according to the Wise technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 32 patients were treated: 18 had already undergone 34 attempted repairs of urethro-cutaneous fistulas complicating urethroplasties (9 Mathieu, 17 Duplay and 6 Leveuf) for anterior penile (9), middle penile (14) and penoscrotal hypospadias (9). In 14 cases, the Wise technique was the first procedure used to repair the fistula. RESULTS: The authors obtained 29 successes. The 3 failures concerned fistulas after Duplay urethroplasties to correct penoscrotal hypospadias. The overall success rate of this technique in our series (90%) was therefore close to that reported by Wise (5 out of 6 successes), who described this technique in 1977. CONCLUSION: The Wise technique is a good technique for repair of large, recurrent urethro-cutaneous fistulas after several attempts of repair.

[Uretero-uterine fistula: what is the role of ureteroscopy?]. / Fistule urétéro-utérine : quelle place à l'urétéroscopie ?

We present a case of uretero-uterine fistula that occurred following cesarean section complicated by postoperative peritonitis subsequent to failure of the uterine sutures. The distal and the proximal ends of the ureter were successfully explored by ureteroscopy. We discuss the contribution of ureteroscopy in ureter exploration and endoscopic treatment of uretero-uterine communications.

[Bladder pheochromocytoma]. / Le phéochromocytome vésical.

OBJECTIVE: Report of a new case of a rare bladder tumour: bladder phaeochromocytoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 45-year-old patient presented with paroxysmal symptoms consisting of headaches, palpitations, tinnitus and excessive sweating after each micturition. Complementary investigations: ultrasonography, intravenous urography and magnetic resonance imaging, suggested a circumscribed tumour with a 2 cm long axis in the bladder dome, and the diagnosis of bladder phaeochromocytoma was proposed. Partial cystectomy was performed. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful and the subsequent outcome was favourable with resolution of all symptoms with a follow-up of 28 months. Histological examination of the operative specimen confirmed the diagnosis of bladder phaeochromocytoma. CONCLUSION: Bladder phaeochromocytoma is a rare tumour. Treatment of this lesion requires the same preparation as for any other site of phaeochromocytoma. Partial cystectomy ensures radical and effective treatment. Long-term surveillance is necessary, as recurrences or metastases have been described 20 and 40 years after treatment.

Sensitization of Lewis rats with sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside: electrophysiological and immunological studies of an animal model of peripheral neuropathy.

Antibodies against sulfoglucuronosyl glycosphingolipids (SGGLs) are known to be present in sera of patients with chronic polyneuropathy associated with IgM paraproteinemia. We recently studied rats sensitized with sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside (SGPG), a major SGGL species, emulsified with keyhold limpet hemocyanin and Freund's adjuvant. The titer of the IgM class antibodies against SGPG increased up to 1:1,600, while that of the IgG class increased up to 1:800 2 weeks after sensitization. The antibodies showed a high degree of antigenic specificity; no cross-reactivity with other brain glycolipids could be detected. They, however, reacted with human myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) by Western blot analysis, but not with rat MAG. These animal models showed minor but clear clinical signs of neuropathy, consisting of mild tail muscle tone loss and walking disabilities. Electrophysiological examination of the sciatic nerves revealed nerve conduction abnormalities which consisted of conduction block and mild decrease in conduction velocity. Thus, our results support the concept that anti-SGPG antibodies may play an important pathogenetic role in this type of chronic neuropathy.

[Rupture of a hydatid cyst of the liver into the peritoneal cavity. Value of computed tomography]. / Rupture d'un kyste hydatique du foie dans le péritoine. Intérêt du scanner.

The authors report one case of a intraperitoneal rupture of an hydatic cyst. The diagnosis of rupture was performed pre-operatively by tomodensitometry which has demonstrated the rupture and an intraperitoneal epanchement.