Comparative Risk of Incident Cancer in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Prior Non-digestive Malignancy According to Immunomodulator: a Multicentre Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge about the cancer risk when initiating a biologic in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients with prior malignancy remains scarce, especially for vedolizumab. Our aim was to evaluate the rate of incident cancer in a cohort of IBD patients with prior non-digestive malignancy, according to the subsequent treatment given. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study included consecutive IBD patients with prior non-digestive malignancy. Inclusion date corresponded to the diagnosis of index malignancy. Patients were categorized into different cohorts according to the first treatment [none, conventional immunosuppressant, anti-TNF, or vedolizumab] to which they were exposed after inclusion and before incident cancer [recurrent or new cancer]. RESULTS: Among the 538 patients {58% female; mean (standard deviation [SD]) age inclusion: 52 [15] years} analyzed, the most frequent malignancy was breast cancer [25%]. The first immunomodulator given after inclusion was a conventional immunosuppressant in 27% of patients, anti-TNF in 21%, or vedolizumab in 9%. With a median (interquartile range [IQR]) follow-up duration of 55 [23-100] months, 100 incident cancers were observed. Crude cancer incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 47.0 for patients receiving no immunomodulator, 36.6 in the anti-TNF cohort, and 33.6 in the vedolizumab cohort [p = 0.23]. Incident-cancer free survival rates were not different between patients receiving anti-TNF and those receiving vedolizumab [p = 0.56]. After adjustment, incidence rates were not different between patients receiving no immunomodulator, anti-TNF, or vedolizumab. CONCLUSIONS: In this large multicentre cohort study, there was no difference of cancer incidence in those IBD patients with prior non-digestive malignancy, treated with vedolizumab or anti-TNF.

Prison infrastructure, the right to health and a suitable environment for the inmates of the Women's Annex in Chorrillos Prison (Peru).

OBJECTIVES: Decide how prison infrastructure guarantees health's right a suitable environment of Establecimiento Penitenciario Anexo de Mujeres de Chorrillos (EPAMCh) prisoners. MATERIAL AND METHOD: For the materials was used an interview guide addressed to 10 specialist and interview guide addressed to 30 prisoners. About the method, it was selected the qualitative approach, the applied type with the phenomenological design. RESULTS: The interview experts said that Establecimiento Penitenciario Anexo de Mujeres de Chorrillos current infrastructure and don´t give minima sanitary services. In the polls, the prisoners unanimously answered that conditions were precarious, but mostly said that they were willing to incorporate to a health education program and bet for a preventive medicine without forget the curative. DISCUSSION: Is Important foment the preventive medicine in order to get a strong health education in jails. To reverse this reality would mean change a guarantee in their health rights and a suitable environment.

Infraestructura penitenciaria, los derechos a la salud y a un ambiente adecuado de las internas del Establecimiento Penitenciario Anexo de Mujeres de Chorrillos (Perú) / Prison infrastructure, the right to health and a suitable environment for the inmates of the Women's Annex in Chorrillos Prison (Peru)

Objetivos: Determinar cómo la infraestructura penitenciaria garantiza los derechos a la salud y a un ambiente adecuado de las internas del Establecimiento Penitenciario Anexo de Mujeres de Chorrillos (EPAMCh). Material y método: En cuanto a los materiales, se empleó una guía de entrevista dirigida a 10 especialistas en la materia y una guía de encuesta destinada a 30 internas. Por lo que se refiere al método, se seleccionó el enfoque cualitativo de tipo aplicado y un diseño fenomenológico. Resultados: Los expertos en la entrevista afirmaron en su mayoría que la infraestructura actual en el Establecimiento Penitenciario Anexo de Mujeres de Chorrillos no permite prestar los servicios sanitarios mínimos. Por otro lado, en la encuesta, de modo unánime, las internas respondieron que las condiciones son precarias, pero mayoritariamente manifestaron su disposición a incorporarse a un programa educativo sanitario y a apostar por la medicina preventiva sin prescindir de la curativa. Discusión: Es importante fomentar la medicina preventiva. Para ello, es necesario nivelar el grado de instrucción de las internas y conseguir una sólida educación sanitaria. Revertir esta realidad significaría un cambio en la garantía de sus derechos a la salud y de sus derechos a un ambiente adecuado

Objective: To determine how the prison infrastructure can guarantee health rights and an adequate environment for inmates at the Women's Annex of Chorrillos Prison (EPAMCh. Material and method: The materials consisted of a guided interview conducted with 10 specialists on the subject and a guided survey completed by 30 inmates. The method consisted of an applied qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. Results: The experts interviewed said that the current infrastructure of the Women's Annex of Chorrillos Prison is in a state of crisis and does not provide even minimal healthcare services. The surveys completed by the prisoners gave the unanimous response that conditions were precarious, but the majority said that they were willing to form part of a health education program and to commit to preventive medicine without forgetting curative methods. Discussion: Preventive medicine must be promoted. To do this, prisoners' educational levels need to be improved and solid health education systems in prisons should be provided. Changes would need to be made in the guarantees of their rights to health and to adequate surroundings to bring about the necessary changes

Tratamiento quirúrgico y endovascular en pacientes con arteritis de Takayasu / Surgical and endovascular treatment in patients with Takayasu arteritis

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[Slowly regressing acute pandysautonomia associated with esophageal achalasia: a case report]. / Pandysautonomie aigue lentement regressive associee a une achalasie de l'oesophage: a propos d'un cas.

Acute pandysautonomia is a rare acute autonomic neuropathy that mainly affects young women. We report a case of idiopathic acute pandysautonomia associated with an esophageal achalasia in a 30-year-old woman. The clinical features were inaugural dysphagia followed by signs of parasympathetic failure of the entire digestive tract, bladder and pupils. Twenty-four hours of electrocardiographic recording showed involvement of sympathetic adrenergic nerves. Esophageal achalasia was patent on esophageal manometry. Upper digestive tract motility was first involved and then extended to the entire digestive tract with intestinal obstruction, which required emergency ileostomy. Recovery of autonomic functions was slow. After 16 months, dysphagia and gut paresis improved and digestive continuity was restored. In case of subacute intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with autonomic dysfunction, acute pandysautonomia should be suspected. In our report, the association with esophageal achalasia is uncommon.

[Long-term evolution of achalasia of the lower esophageal sphincter and intestinal paraneoplasic pseudo-obstruction revealing small cell lung carcinoma]. / Evolution à long terme d'une achalasie du sphincter inférieur de l'esophage et d'une pseudo-obstruction intestinale paranéoplasiques révélatrices d'un carcinome pulmonaire à petites cellules.

We report a case of a small cell carcinoma of the lung revealed by chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with achalasia of the lower esophageal sphincter. Tumoral remission was achieved for more than 21 months after chemoradiotherapy but this did not prevent the paraneoplasic syndrome from persisting and medical treatment was not successful in treating the intestinal pseudo-obstruction or the dysphagia, which was not improved by esophageal dilation.

The nocturnal jejunal migrating motor complex: defining normal ranges by study of 51 healthy adult volunteers and meta-analysis.

Interdigestive human small bowel motility is characterized by the migrating motor complex (MMC). The aims of this study were to: (i) establish the normal range of variables of the nocturnal jejunal MMC and (ii) incorporate these data in a subsequent meta-analysis. Eighty-one recordings were performed by prolonged (24 h) ambulatory manometry in 51 subjects in two centres. Quantitative analysis was undertaken of 419 Phase III and 332 Phase II episodes. Adjusted mean values of seven variables were calculated using a mixed-effects model. Meta-analysis of pooled published data to generate a reliable 95% reference range was also performed. Adjusted mean values and confidence intervals are presented for all seven variables. Intrasubject variances were large in comparison with intersubject. Meta-analysis of 19 studies (356 pooled patients) meeting inclusion criteria produced wide reference ranges. At least five such ranges are useful for the detection of abnormality in the individual. This is the largest study of normal volunteers presented to date, with ranges for many variables produced using appropriate statistical methodology. A model for definition of abnormality has been proposed. We recommend that these data may be used by investigators in this field as a complement to other existing indicators of small bowel dysmotility.

Automated quantitative analysis of nocturnal jejunal motor activity identifies abnormalities in individuals and subgroups of patients with slow transit constipation.

OBJECTIVE: Small bowel dysmotility has previously been demonstrated in some patients with slow transit constipation (STC), suggesting a generalized intestinal disorder. However, no study has addressed whether the incidence of small intestinal dysfunction differs between subgroups of patients in this heterogeneous population. Using appropriate methodology, we aimed to determine prospectively the proportion of individuals with abnormal small bowel motility, and to assess whether heterogeneity in terms of pattern of colonic transit delay (based on (111)In diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) isotope scintigraphy), or mode of onset (based on clinical history) is of importance. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with STC underwent 24-h ambulatory jejunal manometry; data were compared with those obtained in 38 healthy controls. Automated quantitative analysis of seven variables of the nocturnal migrating motor complex was performed, to assess whether differences existed between groups, and whether individual patients had evidence of small intestinal dysmotility, defined as two or more measures of migrating motor complex variables outside the normal range. Four variables differed significantly between STC patients and controls: in phase III, propagation was slower, duration was longer, and contraction amplitude was higher; in phase II, contraction frequency was increased. Seven of 24 patients with a generalized pattern of colonic transit delay had abnormal small bowel motility compared with none of 13 with a left-sided delay (p < 0.04). These included four patients with chronic idiopathic symptoms and three with acquired symptoms. Approximately one third of patients with a generalized delay in colonic transit had evidence of jejunal enteric neuromuscular dysfunction. Individual patients with a left-sided colonic delay did not satisfy the criteria for nocturnal small bowel dysmotility, but as a group, some differences were noted from controls. In contrast to previous reports, evidence of generalized enteric dysmotility may be present irrespective of the mode of onset.

The value of immunoscintigraphy in the detection of recurrent colorectal cancer.

The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (anti-CEA) scintigraphy is a useful additional technique in the diagnosis recurrence of colorectal cancer. Forty patients with suspected recurrence of colorectal cancer, underwent immunoscintigraphy (IS) and helical computed tomography (CT) in the 2 weeks before surgery. Surgical findings were used to evaluate the performance of the imaging techniques. Suspected areas on IS and CT were systematically explored. Helical CT was found to be superior to IS for the liver, the sensitivity and specificity of CT being 100% and 90%, respectively, vs 53% and 100% for IS. However, IS was better than CT for the detection of extra-hepatic abdominal recurrence: sensitivity and specificity of IS were 100 and 82% respectively vs 33 and 82% for CT. Seven cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis were overlooked by helical CT. Our results indicate that IS improves detection of extra-hepatic abdominal recurrence of colorectal cancer. Immunoscintigraphy is valuable as a guide to the treatment strategy and operative procedures.

Evolution of clinical and radiological features at diagnosis of achalasia during a 19-year period in central France.

OBJECTIVES: Symptoms of achalasia are often misinterpreted, resulting in delayed diagnosis. The aims of our study were (1) to estimate the evolution of clinical and radiological features of a large population of achalasic patients between two successive periods; and (2) to determine the influence of symptoms on diagnostic delay. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1998, all achalasia patients treated in our unit were assessed at the time of manometric diagnosis for clinical and radiological features. These data were compared between two successive periods (1980-1994 and 1994-1998). Then, a correlation between the diagnostic delay, clinical and radiological data and symptoms was investigated. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-five consecutive achalasia patients were assessed (mean age at diagnosis, 56 years; mean diagnostic delay, 5.7 years). The duration of the disease was correlated with the oesophageal diameter (P = 0.0001). Dysphagia, chest pain and heartburn were more frequent in young patients (respectively, P = 0.003, 0.0001 and 0.001). Women had 1.7 times the risk of men for suffering of chest pain (95% CI, 1.1 -2.6) and 2.2 times the risk for heartburn (95% CI, 1.2-4.0). Pulmonary involvement was more frequent when the oesophagus was dilated (P = 0.0002), and 3.4 times more frequent when associated with regurgitations (95% CI, 1.3-8.9). The oesophageal diameter was significantly smaller (38 vs 48 mm) in the last period, but we have not observed any significant shortening of the diagnostic delay. No symptoms influenced the diagnostic delay. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a smaller oesophageal diameter at the time of diagnosis, during the period 1994-1998, diagnostic delay was not reduced. No clinical features associated with late diagnoses could be identified.

Risk factors for immediate complications after progressive pneumatic dilation for achalasia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the risk factors of early complications after progressive pneumatic dilation for achalasia. METHODS: Five hundred four dilations were performed in 237 consecutive achalasic patients between 1980 and 1994 with the same technique: low-pressure pneumatic dilation every other day with balloons of increasing diameter until success criteria were obtained (depending on manometric examination and esophageal x-ray transit performed 24 h after each dilation). Clinical, radiographical, endoscopical, and manometrical data as technical procedure characteristics for patients with perforations or other early complications were compared with those without complications. RESULTS: We observed 15 complications (6% of patients): 7 perforations (3%), 3 asymptomatic esophageal mucosal tears, 4 esophageal hematomas, and 1 fever. Perforations occurred in 6 of 7 patients during the first dilation. The mean age was 68.5 yr in the group with complications versus 56.4 yr for the remainder (p < 0.05). Two deaths occurred in patients older than 90 yr. Instability of the balloon during dilations was noted in 8 of 15 cases of complications versus 57 of 222 patients (p < 0.05). No other data differed significantly. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a low prevalence of early complications using this progressive technique. Patients with hiatal hernia, esophageal diverticulum, or vigorous achalasia may safely undergo progressive pneumatic dilation. Only patients older than 90 yr should be referred for progressive pneumatic dilation with caution. Most of perforations arose during the first dilation, but there was no predictive pretherapeutic factor of perforation.

Esophageal swallowing phase assessed by audiosignal recording: relationship with manometry in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.

The acoustic technique has been used for pharyngeal exploration but to date no such technique has been devised to assess esophageal motility. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that displacement through the esophagus can be quantified using this method in healthy subjects and in patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Concurrent manometric and acoustic recordings were also performed in the patients. Fifteen controls (38.5 +/- 13 years old) and 10 patients (34.9 +/- 6 years old) were included. All were recorded during wet and dry swallow sequences with microphones placed below the cricoid cartilage and on the xiphoid appendix. Standard manometry was performed for lower esophageal sphincter (LES) exploration. For the acoustic technique, the frequency of xiphoid signals (FX), esophageal transit time (ETT), duration of xiphoid sound (SD), and for the manometric study, the duration of LES relaxation (RD) were recorded and mean values were calculated (FXm), (ETTm), (SDm), (RDm). FXm for wet (94 vs 81.6%) and dry swallows (86 vs 66.6%) decreased in patients. ETTm was significantly higher (P < 0.01) for wet than for dry swallows (5.6 +/- 0.9 vs 5.2 +/- 1.2 sec) for controls but not for patients. ETTm was significantly higher for patients for wet (7.2 +/- 2.1 sec) and for dry swallows (6.5 +/- 2.3 sec) than for controls and SDm was lower. Xiphoid sound appeared in the second half of LES relaxation. Our noninvasive acoustic technique is simple and reproducible. It is well correlated with manometry, and it allows characterization of the displacement of the bolus through the esophagus and the LES. The technique could be used alone to determine appropriate pharmacological and surgical treatments for esophageal motility disorders.

[Hepatic artery ligation for liver metastasis of a acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas revealed by a nodular panniculitis]. / Ligature de l'artère hépatique pour métastases hépatiques d'un carcinome à cellules acineuses du pancréas révélé par une panniculite nodulaire.

We report the case of a 67-year-old-man presenting with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma revealed by dermatological manifestations of cytosteatonecrosis and treated by hepatic artery ligation. The pancreatic etiology of these lesions was suspected due to hyperlipasemia, and was confirmed by abdominal computerized tomography showing a pancreatic tumor and multiple liver nodules, and by histological examination of one of these lesions. Because of symptomatic treatment failure, rapid impairment of patient's general condition, and by analogy with the treatment of hepatic metastases of neuroendocrine tumors, hepatic artery ligation was performed. Lipasemia decreased markedly and symptoms disappeared for 45 days. Hepatic artery obstruction may be used for emergency treatment of secreting liver metastases.

[Myotomy for esophageal muscular hypertrophy with eosinophil infiltration of the esophagus associated with toxocariasis revealed by esophageal motor disorder]. / Myotomie pour hypertrophie musculaire avec infiltration à éosinophiles de l'oesophage associée à une toxocarose et révélée par un trouble moteur oesophagien.

We report the case of a 61-year-old-man with an eosinophilic esophagitis with esophageal motor disorder associated with toxocariasis. He complained of non cardiac chest pain and had eosinophilia leading to the detection of Toxocara canis infection. Pain persisted despite treatment of toxocariasis. Basal manometry was normal but ambulatory 24-hour manometry-pHmetry showed diffuse esophageal spasm. Ultrasonography showed a thickening of the esophageal musculature in the two inferior thirds of the esophagus. After failure of treatment with sodium cromoglycate steroids and esophageal dilatation, calcium antagonists were partially effective. A long esophageal myotomy was performed permiting the disappearance of symptoms. The histological examination of a side myotomy biopsy showed an eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal muscle layer. This observation leads to discuss the possible relation between toxocariasis, the esophageal motor disorder and the eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal muscle layer.

Long-term weekly treatment of colorectal metastatic cancer with fluorouracil and leucovorin: results of a multicentric prospective trial of fluorouracil dosage optimization by pharmacokinetic monitoring in 152 patients.

PURPOSE: A relationship between fluorouracil (5-FU) dose and response has been previously shown in advanced colorectal cancer. In a previous study with 5-FU stepwise dose escalation in a weekly regimen, and pharmacokinetic monitoring, we defined a therapeutic range for 5-FU plasma levels: 2,000 to 3,000 microg/L (area under the concentration-time curve at 0 to 8 hours [AUC0-8], 16 to 24 mg x h/L). The current study investigated 5-FU therapeutic intensification with individual dose adjustment in a multicentric phase II prospective trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Weekly high-dose 5-FU was administered by 8-hour infusion with 400 mg/m2 leucovorin. The initial dose of 5-FU (1,300 mg/m2) was adapted weekly according to 5-FU plasma levels, to reach the therapeutic range previously determined. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients entered the study from December 1991 to December 1994: 117 patients with measurable metastatic disease and 35 with assessable disease. Toxicity was mainly diarrhea (39%, with 5% grade 3) and hand-foot syndrome (30%, with 2% grade 3). Among 117 patients with measurable disease, 18 had a complete response (CR), 48 a partial response (PR), 35 a minor response (MR) and stable disease (SD), and 16 progressive disease (PD). Median overall survival time was 19 months. The 5-FU therapeutic plasma range was rapidly reached with a variable 5-FU dose in the patient population: mean, 1,803 +/- 386 mg/m2/wk (range, 950 to 3,396). Thirteen patients were immediately in the toxic zone, whereas 51 required a > or = 50% dose increase. CONCLUSION: Individual 5-FU dose adjustment with pharmacokinetic monitoring provided a high survival rate and percentage of responses, with good tolerance.

[Complete remission of a mesenteric fibromatosis after taking sulindac]. / Régression complète d'une fibromatose mésentérique après prise de sulindac.

We report the case of a 22-year-old-man having a familial adenomatous polyposis coli treated by total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis. Two years after the operation, an asymptomatic mesenteric fibromatosis appeared which was nonresectable due to mesenteric vessels infiltration. Nine years later, sulindac therapy was started for residual polyps in the rectal stump. This treatment was taken intermittently, during periods of 1 to 8 months, for 6 years. After 4 years of treatment, the tumor was no longer palpable. Four years after sulindac discontinuation, the patient was operated on for suspicion of intestinal adhesion. The mesenteric fibromatosis had completely disappeared and mesenteric vessels were free. This complete macroscopic regression of a desmoid tumor after sulindac therapy emphasizes again the interest of this treatment for mesenteric fibromatosis.

[Acute reversible pan-dysautonomia: effect of erythromycin on gastrointestinal involvement]. / Pan-dysautonomie aiguë réversible: effet de l'érythromycine sur l'atteinte gastro-intestinale.

We describe a case of acute autonomic neuropathy in an 18-year-old woman. Gut dysfunction was sufficiently severe for the patient to undergo laparotomy for suspected mechanical-intestinal obstruction before the diagnosis was made. Apart from the gut, other organs affected included the pupils, sweat and lachrymal glands. Cardiovascular autonomic function tests showed the involvement of sympathetic adrenergic nerves. Small bowel barium X-ray showed resolution of gastric stasis and emergence of jejunum dilatation during intravenous administration of erythromycin but this treatment did not eliminate intestinal obstructive symptoms. The patient had an incomplete recovery in 3 months. Erythromycin might have therapeutic value in patients with intestinal motility dysfunction in acute dysautonomia.