Left ventricular myocardial uptake of a labeled somatostatin analog in carcinoid syndrome.

We report a case of left ventricular (LV) myocardial uptake of a labeled somatostatin analog in a patient with a carcinoid tumor of the small bowel. The patient developed liver metastases and a carcinoid syndrome, including right carcinoid heart disease, without right-to-left shunt on contrast ultrasonography or left ventricular myocardial metastases. The basis for visualization of the LV myocardium is probable somatostatin receptor upregulation.

[Lactitol in the treatment of constipation in the adult. Open, non-comparative study of its efficacy and its clinical and biological tolerance]. / Le lactitol dans le traitement de la constipation de l'adulte. Etude ouverte, non comparative de son efficacité et de sa tolérance clinique et biologique.

To study clinical and biological tolerability, 114 chronically constipated patients of both sexes, aged 18-70, without any organic alteration of the colon, received lactitol over a period of one or two months. Clinical tolerability was found to be good by 80 per cent of patients and biological tolerability excellent. Clinical efficacy was found correct for 80 per cent of patients with a dosage of 20 g (single dose in the evening). All patients, except one, agreed with the packaging and the taste of the product.

Comparison of two sucralfate dosages presented in tablet form in duodenal ulcer healing.

Two hundred twenty-two patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers participated in a controlled trial to assess and compare the effects of two dosage regimens of sucralfate tablets on ulcer healing, i.e., 1 g four times daily (group A, n = 131) and 2 g twice daily (group B, n = 128). Healing was defined as complete re-epithelialization. Clinical and endoscopic assessments were performed after four weeks (Day 28) and, if complete healing was not achieved, after four more weeks (Day 56). After four weeks, in group A (n = 114: eight patients were lost and nine were withdrawn), the ulcers had healed in 90 patients (79 percent), and in group B (n = 108: six patients were lost and 14 were withdrawn), the ulcers had healed in 80 patients (74 percent). The cumulative healing rates after eight weeks were 94 percent in group A and 95 percent in group B. No serious adverse effect was observed in either group. These results suggest that sucralfate tablets in a dosage of 2 g twice daily are as effective as 1 g four times daily in the treatment of acute duodenal ulcers and could lead to better patient compliance.

[Does the finding of a bilious mucous lake during endoscopy have physiopathological significance? Study of gastric pH during 24 hours]. / La constatation d'un lac muqueux bilieux en endoscopie a-t-elle une signification physiopathologique? Etude du pH gastrique pendant 24 heures.

The aim of this study was to determine if there was any relationship between the presence of bile in the stomach at endoscopy and the nycterohemeral variations of the gastric pH. Endoscopy and 24 hour gastric pH monitoring with radiotele-pHmetry were performed in 38 patients. These patients were then divided into two groups according to the color of the mucous lake at endoscopy: group A (15 patients) in which there was a clear mucous lake and group B (23 patients) in which a bilious mucous lake was found. In group A, spontaneous alkalinizations (SA) were uncommon and almost always lasted less than 30 min. In group B, SA were more frequent and more prolonged (p less than 0.01), especially those lasting more than 30 min (p less than 0.001). In this group, the number and duration of SA were significantly higher during the night. These results suggest that duodenogastric reflux may be responsible for the SA observed in patients with a bilious mucous lake. This hypothesis, however, needs further confirmation especially concerning the analysis of the gastric contents during the periods of alkalinization.

[Management software for reports of digestive endoscopies: an 8-month experience with 3500 tests]. / Logiciel de gestion des comptes rendus d'endoscopies digestives: une expérience de 8 mois portant sur 3.500 examens.

A program using a 5 M-byte hard disk microcomputer system has been used routinely for eight months in our digestive endoscopy center, both to prepare medical reports and to store patient data. This program has been written by computer engineers in close collaboration with members of our medical staff. Using the program does not need any special training. The system is based on three main files: a) a text file contains text fragments of variable length (max. 300 characters), identified by a three character alpha-numeric code. These phrases, always the same, allow to standardize the reports; however, new formulations may be added at any time; b) a patient file stores medical data concerning the patients (max. 20,000 patients) in coded form. This file allows statistical studies and multifactorial sorting; c) a physician file stores the references of the correspondents (max. 1,000 physicians). Three main functions are available: a) report construction, b) statistical studies, c) fast edition of complete reports (available for the 45 last reports). Using this program should allow substantial savings by assuring a complete independence of report writing, which is done by the endoscopist himself. By establishing a thesaurus of keywords and keyphrases in digestive endoscopy, the method should facilitate multicenter studies.

[Cardiobacterium hominis septicemia (author's transl)]. / Septicémie a Cardiobacterium hominis.

The authors report a case of septicemia due to Cardiobacterium Hominis. This commensal germ of the respiratory system is rarely the cause of pathologic diseases. All the organic manifestations described are included in endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium Hominis but the above mentioned observation is characterized by the absence of endocarditis.

[A new therapeutic approach of associated metabolic diseases. 1 000 patients treated with benfluorex (author's transl)]. / Une nouvelle approche thérapeutique des polysurcharges métaboliques. A propos de mille malades traités par le benfluorex.

Multiple metabolic factors of atherosclerosis frequently associated in the same patient proves the interest of a multifactorial treatment of atherosclerosis. In the paper the authors studied the results of the treatment with benfluorex of 1 000 patients suffering one or more metabolic risk factors. After a 3 month treatment, a highly significant and simultaneous reduction of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia is observed. The treatment is the more efficient that initial values are higher and that the diet is better observed. The results remain significant even in patients who have not lost weight.