[Diagnostic efficiency of histological and simple microbiological tests for Helicobacter pylori detection in a community hospital]. / Rendement diagnostique de l'histologie et des tests bactériologiques simples pour le dépistage d'Helicobacter pylori dans un centre hospitalier intercommunal.

The objective of this study was to compare histology and microbiology (direct method, urease test, culture) for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in antral biopsies. Thirty-six patients, aged between 18 and 82, with a peptic ulcer (active or not), or gastritis or duodenitis were studied. Eighteen patients (50%) had a positive culture, 17 (47%) had a positive urease test, 16 (41%) had positive direct microbiology and 15 (42%) had positive histology. Correlation between histology and culture was 84%. This study confirms the good sensitivity of histology and the urease test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori. Combination of both methods could optimise detection of the organism.

Small intestinal stricture complicating superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. A study of three cases.

Mesenteric vein thrombosis associated with intestinal stricture, as a consequence of intestinal ischaemia, has only been mentioned twice in published works. The clinical, biological, and morphological aspects as well as the treatment of this morbid association were studied in three patients. In all, a two stage clinical course (initial acute abdominal pain and fever, followed by chronic intestinal obstruction), corresponding to the sequence thrombosis/stricture, was found. x Ray studies showed a regularly contoured intestinal stricture. Surgical resection was required in all three cases for stricture, associated in one case with mesenteric infarction. Anticoagulation treatment was used to preclude recurrence. Increased clinical awareness could lead to the diagnosis of intestinal stricture secondary to mesenteric vein thrombosis more often and at an earlier stage. Treatment consists of evaluation of predisposing features, intestinal resection when necessary, and anticoagulation therapy, as indicated.

[Hepatosplenic angiosarcoma complicated by hemoperitoneum and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Treatment by arterial embolization and chemotherapy]. / Angiosarcome hépato-splénique compliqué d'hémopéritoine et de coagulation intravasculaire disséminée. Traitement par embolisation artérielle et chimiothérapie.

We report a case of hepatic and splenic angiosarcoma in a 34 year-old man presenting with hemoperitoneum and consumption coagulopathy. Histological and immunohistological diagnosis was based on a biopsy specimen obtained through the transjugular route. Embolization via the splenic artery for the most significant lesions and intravenous chemotherapy resulted in a partial response in the liver and splenic tumour masses and survival with a good quality of life. The initial complications recurred after chemotherapy was stopped and death occurred after 15 months. The benefit of arterial embolization and chemotherapy in this rare and usually rapidly fatal disease should be assessed in other patients.

[Post-radiation duodenal ulceration treated with hyperbaric oxygen]. / Ulcération duodénale post-radique traitée par oxygène hyperbare.

Radiation enteric disorders are rare and difficult to treat. A case of radiation duodenitis treated by hyperbaric oxygen is reported. A sixty-year-old man underwent right nephroureterectomy, chemotherapy (platin and 5 fluorouracil) and radiation therapy (54 Gy) for excretory urinary carcinoma. Six months later, even though he was under omeprazole therapy for reflux oesophagitis, he experienced antroduodenitis, duodenal ulceration, and duodenal telangiectasia. Symptoms and duodenal ulcer disappeared 2 months later with hyperbaric oxygen (10 one hour sessions at 2 ATA). Most likely, hyperbaric oxygen can reduce the consequences of obliterative endarteritis due to irradiation, responsible for ischaemia and fibrosis later on.

Influence of human immunodeficiency virus infection on hepatitis delta virus superinfection in chronic HBsAg carriers.

It is generally agreed that hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is reduced by hepatitis delta virus infection (HDV) and augmented by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, the precise nature of the interactions between HBV, HDV and HIV is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on HBV and HDV replication, and on histological scores during delta virus superinfection in HDV-positive, chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We studied 38 men and six women, 15 of whom were HIV-positive and all of whom had at least one marker of HDV infection. Serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA, HDV RNA, anti-delta antigen antibodies (anti-HD) IgM, anti-HD IgG and hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg) were tested for in the serum and liver, respectively; anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies were detected using a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay. Histological specimens were scored blindly according to Knodell's classification for periportal and intralobular necrosis, portal inflammation and fibrosis. HBV DNA was detected more frequently in the HIV-positive patients than in those who were HIV-negative (25 vs 0%; P = 0.01), while markers of HDV replication (serum anti-HD IgM, serum HDV RNA and liver HDAg) were as frequent in the HIV-positive patients (69%, 40% and 50%, respectively) as in those who were HIV-negative (75%, 52% and 30%, respectively; P > 0.05). By contrast, 31% of the HIV-positive patients were serum HDAg-positive compared to only 6% of the HIV-negative patients (P = 0.001). HDV antigenaemia and anti-HD antibodies usually fluctuated in the HIV-positive patients during follow-up. The mean Knodell score was similar in the HIV-positive (11.5 +/- 3.2) and HIV-negative (10.7 +/- 2) subgroups, as was the mean semi-quantitative index of hepatic necrosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Our results provide evidence that in HDV-positive patients: (1) HIV infection counters the inhibitory effect of HDV superinfection on HBV replication; (2) serum anti-HD IgM. HDV RNA and liver HDAg are not more frequent in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative patients, suggesting that HIV infection has no effect on HDV replication (although the significance of the increased frequency of HD antigenaemia remains unclear); (3) the histological severity of liver disease is not influenced by HIV status.

[Invalidating polyarthritis in chronic pancreatitis. Recovery by pancreaticojejunostomy]. / Polyarthrite invalidante au cours d'une pancréatite chronique. Guérison par wirsungo-jéjunostomie.

A 38 year-old man presented with migratory joint arthropathy. He complained of abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss for 2 years. Periarticular needle aspiration yielded cytosteatonecrosis. The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis was based on the results of ultrasound, CT scan, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. The latter showed a dilated and moniliform main pancreatic duct. Failure of symptomatic medical treatment of arthritis led to perform pancreaticojejunostomy which was followed immediately by complete relief of arthritic symptoms. During pancreatic disease, whether malignant or benign, joint involvement is often associated with bone, cutaneous, serosal, and multiorgan involvement. The pathogenesis and therapy of joint lesions in pancreatic disease are controversed. Surgical treatment of the causative disease, and especially pancreaticojejunostomy should undoubtedly be considered more often.