Exceptional association of Budd-Chiari syndrome with pheochromocytoma.

We are reporting a case revealed by an abdomino-thoracic painful syndrome associated with multi-organ failure. A 61-year-old hypertensive woman was hospitalized for the management of hypertensive emergency associating acute coronary syndrome and abdominal pain. A thoraco-abdomino-pelvic CT-scan showed a right adrenal mass associated with hepatic vein thrombosis. After medical preparation, an adrenalectomy was performed by way of open surgery; the study of the surgical specimen found a pheochromocytoma score PASS 4. The follow-up was marked by the normalization of blood pressure and biological abnormalities.

Ductus diverticulum associated with Takayasu disease and incidental finding of Wolff Parkinson White syndrome.

Ductus diverticulum is either a remnant of the ductus arteriosus or the right dorsal aortic root. The most common diagnosis is the differentiation of an aortic isthmus pseudoaneurysm from a type III ductal diverticulum. Both aortic entities occur at roughly the same anatomical location often leading to diagnostic confusion. Aortic dissection should be considered if it is Takayasu's disease. We are reporting the case of a 31-year-old woman with chest pain and muscle weakness, functional impotence of the left upper limb with intermittent palpitations. Thoraco-abdominal CT angiography was in favor of inflammatory arteritis of the thoraco-abdominal aorta, common carotids and the left subclavian artery. Sub-occlusive stenosis of the left axillary artery was noted, in favor of Takayasu disease. There was an aspect of aortic ductus diverticulum type III, 24mm from the emergence of the subclavian artery simulating aortic dissection or ulceration of the aortic isthmus. An electrocardiogram revealed Wolff Parkinson White syndrome with left lateral Kent. There was good clinical outcome after immunosuppressive drugs and antiarrhythmic therapy.

Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea exhibits distinguishable behavioural responses to crude oil under semi-natural multiple stress conditions.

Aquatic ecosystems are subject to many anthropogenic disturbances, and understanding their possible impacts is a real challenge. Developing approaches based on the behaviour of bivalve mollusks, an integrating marker of the state of the organisms, and therefore of their environment, is relevant, whether within a natural ecosystem or an ecosystem subject to industrial activities. The main objective of this study was to identify by HFNI Valvometry a reliable and reproducible clam behavioural response in the presence of crude oil in a multistress context. To closely replicate actual field conditions, Corbicula fluminea was exposed in outdoor artificial streams that were subject to natural variations and were continuously fed by fresh water from the Gave de Pau (S.W. France). After a period of 26 days in these artificial streams, the clams (n = 14-16 per condition) were separately exposed for 10 days to crude oil alone, crude oil and barium, crude oil and noise pollution, crude oil and turbidity pulses, barium alone, noise pollution alone, turbidity pulses alone or natural changes alone. The secondary objective was to characterize the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in 3 tissues (gills, adductor muscles and foot) in clams exposed for 10 days to crude oil alone or under multistress conditions (n = 5 clams per condition) and then to compare the accumulation and behaviour of clams under these conditions. The response of clams to crude oil alone or under multistress conditions was visually and statistically significant and not confounded by the other disturbances tested, despite large variations in water temperature. In the presence of crude oil, the behaviour of clams was characterized by an increase in valve-closure duration, a decrease in valve-opening amplitude and an increase in valve agitation index. In the presence of crude oil, the clam behaviour showed no direct relationship with PAH accumulation in the gills, adductor muscles or foot, although hypothetical mechanisms are discussed. This work supports the growing interest in studying the behaviour of bivalve mollusks in the context of biomonitoring of the aquatic environment surrounding oil facilities.

[Retrospective study on the isolated strains of Salmonella in an Iranian hospital in Kermanshah]. / Etude rétrospective des souches de Salmonella isolées à l'hôpital iranien de Kermanchah.

A survey of occurrence of Salmonella in blood and bone marrow cultures was conducted in 1989-1990 and 1999-2000 (Sina hospital, Kermanshah). A total of 496 (12.3%) and 60 (2.4%) Salmonella strains were isolated (from 4020 and 2447 cultures). In 1989-1990, the isolated strains were: S. typhi 448 (98.5%), S. paratyphi A 40 (8%), S. paratyphi B 5 (1%) and S. paratyphi C 3 (0.5%). In 1999-2000, the isolated strains were S. typhi 59 (98%) and S. paratyphi B 1 (1.5%). There was a 60.9% reduction in the number of specimens over the 2 periods. The rate of Salmonella isolation fell from 12.3% (1989-1990) to 2.4% (1999-2000). There was a 10.2, 8.3 and 6.6 times increase in resistance of S. typhi strains to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole respectively.

[Retrospective study on the isolated strains of Salmonella in an Iranian hospital in Kermanshah]

A survey of occurrence of Salmonella in blood and bone marrow cultures was conducted in 1989- 1990 and 1999- 2000 [Sina hospital, Kermanshah]. A total of 496 [12.3%] and 60 [2.4%] Salmonella strains were isolated [from 4020 and 2447 cultures]. In 1989- 1990, the isolated strains were: S. typhi 448 [98.5%], S. paratyphi A 40 [8%], S. paratyphi B 5 [1%] and S. paratyphi C 3 [0.5%]. In 1999- 2000, the isolated strains were S. typhi 59 [98%] and S. paratyphi B 1 [1.5%]. There was a 60.9% reduction in the number of specimens over the 2 periods. The rate of Salmonella isolation fell from 12.3% [1989- 1990] to 2.4% [1999- 2000]. There was a 10.2, 8.3 and 6.6 times increase in resistance of S. typhi strains to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole respectively

[Barret's esophagus and acid gastroesophageal reflux. Two-channel pH-metric measurements and manometric study]. / Endobrachyoesophage et reflux gastro-oesophagien acide. Enregistrements pH-métriques étagés et étude manométrique.

Although the pathogenic role of gastroesophageal reflux in Barrett's esophagus (BE) is now widely accepted, the pattern of pH profile in the esophagus of patients with BE is not well documented. The aim of this study was to assess the severity and "extent" of acid exposure in patients with BE using an automated single or two-channel 24-hour pH monitoring system. Eighteen patients with histologically proven BE were compared with 3 other groups: a) 100 patients with clinical symptoms and pHmetrically proven acid reflux divided in 2 sub-groups: 38 patients without esophagitis at endoscopy, and 62 patients with esophagitis (Savary-Miller classification; grade I: n = 24, grade II: n = 27, grade III: n = 8, grade IV: n = 3) and b) 9 healthy volunteers. In 17 patients with BE, and in 14 patients with reflux and healthy volunteers, 2 electrodes were placed 5 (electrode E1) and 10 cm (electrode E2) above the lower esophageal sphincter. In the other patients, pH was monitored using a single pH electrode (E1) only. The mucosal acid exposure at E1 (percentage of time below pH 4 on total period, day and night), the number of reflux episodes longer than 5 min were significantly higher in the BE group when compared with the other groups. The number of patients with abnormal acid exposure at E2 was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in the BE group (15/17 cases) than in the reflux group (5/14 cases). The mean duration of acid reflux was significantly longer in BE than in other groups at both recording sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)