AIM: To develop a technique of combined endoscopic sclerotherapy and ligation (ESL) in which both techniques of endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) can be optimally used.METHODS: ESL w...AIM: To develop a technique of combined endoscopic sclerotherapy and ligation (ESL) in which both techniques of endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) can be optimally used.METHODS: ESL was performed in 10 patients (age 46.4±7.9;9 males, 1 female) with cirrhosis of liver using sclerotherapy needle and Speedband, Superview multiple band ligater (Boston Scientific, Microvasive, Watertown, MA). A single band was placed 5-10 cm proximal to the gastro-esophageal junction over each varix from proximal to distal margin,followed by intravariceal injection of 1.5 % ethoxysclerol (4 ml each) 2 to 3 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction on the ligated varices distal to deployed band. EVL was then performed at the injection site. Similarly other varices were also injected and ligated from distal to proximally. In the subsequent sessions, ES alone was performed to sclerose small varices at the gastroesophageal junction.RESULTS: ESL was successfully performed in all patients.A median of 3 (ESL 1, ES 2) sessions (ranged 1-4) were required to eradicate the varices in 9 (90 %) of 10 patients.Recurrence of varices without bleed was seen in 1 patient during a mean follow-up of 10.3 months (ranged 6-15).Two patients died of liver failure. None died of variceal bleeding. None of the patients had procedure related complications.CONCLUSION: ESL may be useful in the fast eradication of esophageal varices. However, randomised controlled trials are required to find out its relative efficacy and impact on variceal recurrence in comparison to ES or EVL.展开更多
AIM:Gallstone disease is increasing in sub-saharan Africa (SSA).In the west, the majority of stones can be dissolved with bile salts,since the major component is cholesterol.This medical therapy is expensive and not r...AIM:Gallstone disease is increasing in sub-saharan Africa (SSA).In the west, the majority of stones can be dissolved with bile salts,since the major component is cholesterol.This medical therapy is expensive and not readily accessible to poor populations of SSA.It was therefore necessary to analyze the chemical composition of biliary stones in a group of patients,so as to make the case for introducing bile salt therapy in SSA.METHODS: All patients with symptomatic gallstones were recruited in the study. All stones removed during cholecystectomy were sent to Houston for x-ray diffraction analysis.Data on age, sex, serum cholesterol,and thepercentage by weight of cholesterol, calcium carbonate, and amorphous material in each stone was entered into a preestablished proforma. Frequencies of the major components of the stones were determined.RESULTS:Sixteen women and ten men aged between 27 and 73 (mean 44.9) years provided stones for the study.The majority of patients (65.38%) had stones with less than 25% of cholesterol.Amorphous material made up more than 50% and 100% of stones from 16 (61.53%) and 9 (34.61%) patients respectively.CONCLUSION:Cholesterol is present in small amounts in a minority of gallstones in Yaounde. Dissolution of gallstones with bile salts is unlikely to be successful.展开更多
AIM: To help clarifying the possibility of connective-tissue diseases in men with penile or testicular prostheses. METHODS: Eight patients underwent inflatable penile prostheses and 15, testicular prostheses consented...AIM: To help clarifying the possibility of connective-tissue diseases in men with penile or testicular prostheses. METHODS: Eight patients underwent inflatable penile prostheses and 15, testicular prostheses consented to the study. Their medical records were reviewed and a follow-up interview and physical and serological examinations were performed. RESULTS: In patients with penile prostheses, there was no abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA) or IgM elevation. The serum levels of the rheumatoid factor (RF), C4, IgA and IgG were abnormal in one patient, and the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C3, abnormal in two. Four had elevated IgE. In patients with testicular prostheses, there was no abnormal RF, ANA or IgM. The serum levels of ESR and IgA were abnormal in two, and three had abnormal C4, ten abnormal C3, and eleven decreased IgG. All had increased IgE. Men with penile prostheses had higher serum levels of IgG and IgM than those with testicular prostheses (P=0.001, P=0.016, respectively). The rates of abnormal values of IgE and IgG were higher in men with testicular prostheses than in men with penile prostheses (P=0.008, P=0.009, respectively). Physical examination was normal in all patients and nobody had documented symptoms pertinent to connective-tissue diseases. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the risk of connective-tissue diseases is not higher in patients wearing prostheses as the ANA is negative and there is no apparent manifestation suggestive of connective-tissue diseases.展开更多
AIM:Anaemia caused by acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is treated with blood transfusion or iron,but patients usually face a two-month recovery period from post- haemorrhage anaemia.This prospective,randomised,op...AIM:Anaemia caused by acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is treated with blood transfusion or iron,but patients usually face a two-month recovery period from post- haemorrhage anaemia.This prospective,randomised,open, pilot study was designed to investigate whether recombinant human erythropoietin(Epoetin)therapy accelerate haematocrit increase in the post-bleeding recovery period. METHODS:We studied hospitalised patients admitted because of acute ulcer bleeding or haemorrhagic gastritis, who had a haematocrit of 27-33% and did not receive blood transfusions.One day after the endoscopic confirmation of cessation of bleeding,they were randomised either to erythropoietin(20 000 IU Epoetin alfa subcutaneously,on days 0,4 and 6)plus iron(100 mg im,on days 1-6,(G_1)or iron only(G_2).Haematocdt was measured on days 0,6,14, 30,45,and 60,respectively. RESULTS:One patient from G_1 and two from G_2 were lost to follow-up.Therefore,14 and 13 patients from G_1 and G_2 respectively were analysed.Demographic characteristics,serum iron,ferritin,total iron binding capacity,reticulocytes,and haernatoait were not significantly different at entry to the study. Median reticulocyte counts were significantly different between groups on day six(G_1:4.0,3.0-6.4 vs G_2:3.5,2.1-4.4%, P=0.03)and median haematocrit on day fourteen [G_1:35.9, 30.7-41.0 vs G_2:32.5,29.5-37.0%(median,range),P=0.04]. CONCLUSION:Erythropoietin administration significantly accelerates correction of anemia after acute ulcer bleeding. The haematocrit gain is equivalent to one unit of transfused blood two weeks after the bleeding episode.展开更多
文摘AIM: To develop a technique of combined endoscopic sclerotherapy and ligation (ESL) in which both techniques of endoscopic sclerotherapy (ES) and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) can be optimally used.METHODS: ESL was performed in 10 patients (age 46.4±7.9;9 males, 1 female) with cirrhosis of liver using sclerotherapy needle and Speedband, Superview multiple band ligater (Boston Scientific, Microvasive, Watertown, MA). A single band was placed 5-10 cm proximal to the gastro-esophageal junction over each varix from proximal to distal margin,followed by intravariceal injection of 1.5 % ethoxysclerol (4 ml each) 2 to 3 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction on the ligated varices distal to deployed band. EVL was then performed at the injection site. Similarly other varices were also injected and ligated from distal to proximally. In the subsequent sessions, ES alone was performed to sclerose small varices at the gastroesophageal junction.RESULTS: ESL was successfully performed in all patients.A median of 3 (ESL 1, ES 2) sessions (ranged 1-4) were required to eradicate the varices in 9 (90 %) of 10 patients.Recurrence of varices without bleed was seen in 1 patient during a mean follow-up of 10.3 months (ranged 6-15).Two patients died of liver failure. None died of variceal bleeding. None of the patients had procedure related complications.CONCLUSION: ESL may be useful in the fast eradication of esophageal varices. However, randomised controlled trials are required to find out its relative efficacy and impact on variceal recurrence in comparison to ES or EVL.
文摘AIM:Gallstone disease is increasing in sub-saharan Africa (SSA).In the west, the majority of stones can be dissolved with bile salts,since the major component is cholesterol.This medical therapy is expensive and not readily accessible to poor populations of SSA.It was therefore necessary to analyze the chemical composition of biliary stones in a group of patients,so as to make the case for introducing bile salt therapy in SSA.METHODS: All patients with symptomatic gallstones were recruited in the study. All stones removed during cholecystectomy were sent to Houston for x-ray diffraction analysis.Data on age, sex, serum cholesterol,and thepercentage by weight of cholesterol, calcium carbonate, and amorphous material in each stone was entered into a preestablished proforma. Frequencies of the major components of the stones were determined.RESULTS:Sixteen women and ten men aged between 27 and 73 (mean 44.9) years provided stones for the study.The majority of patients (65.38%) had stones with less than 25% of cholesterol.Amorphous material made up more than 50% and 100% of stones from 16 (61.53%) and 9 (34.61%) patients respectively.CONCLUSION:Cholesterol is present in small amounts in a minority of gallstones in Yaounde. Dissolution of gallstones with bile salts is unlikely to be successful.
文摘AIM: To help clarifying the possibility of connective-tissue diseases in men with penile or testicular prostheses. METHODS: Eight patients underwent inflatable penile prostheses and 15, testicular prostheses consented to the study. Their medical records were reviewed and a follow-up interview and physical and serological examinations were performed. RESULTS: In patients with penile prostheses, there was no abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA) or IgM elevation. The serum levels of the rheumatoid factor (RF), C4, IgA and IgG were abnormal in one patient, and the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C3, abnormal in two. Four had elevated IgE. In patients with testicular prostheses, there was no abnormal RF, ANA or IgM. The serum levels of ESR and IgA were abnormal in two, and three had abnormal C4, ten abnormal C3, and eleven decreased IgG. All had increased IgE. Men with penile prostheses had higher serum levels of IgG and IgM than those with testicular prostheses (P=0.001, P=0.016, respectively). The rates of abnormal values of IgE and IgG were higher in men with testicular prostheses than in men with penile prostheses (P=0.008, P=0.009, respectively). Physical examination was normal in all patients and nobody had documented symptoms pertinent to connective-tissue diseases. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the risk of connective-tissue diseases is not higher in patients wearing prostheses as the ANA is negative and there is no apparent manifestation suggestive of connective-tissue diseases.
文摘AIM:Anaemia caused by acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is treated with blood transfusion or iron,but patients usually face a two-month recovery period from post- haemorrhage anaemia.This prospective,randomised,open, pilot study was designed to investigate whether recombinant human erythropoietin(Epoetin)therapy accelerate haematocrit increase in the post-bleeding recovery period. METHODS:We studied hospitalised patients admitted because of acute ulcer bleeding or haemorrhagic gastritis, who had a haematocrit of 27-33% and did not receive blood transfusions.One day after the endoscopic confirmation of cessation of bleeding,they were randomised either to erythropoietin(20 000 IU Epoetin alfa subcutaneously,on days 0,4 and 6)plus iron(100 mg im,on days 1-6,(G_1)or iron only(G_2).Haematocdt was measured on days 0,6,14, 30,45,and 60,respectively. RESULTS:One patient from G_1 and two from G_2 were lost to follow-up.Therefore,14 and 13 patients from G_1 and G_2 respectively were analysed.Demographic characteristics,serum iron,ferritin,total iron binding capacity,reticulocytes,and haernatoait were not significantly different at entry to the study. Median reticulocyte counts were significantly different between groups on day six(G_1:4.0,3.0-6.4 vs G_2:3.5,2.1-4.4%, P=0.03)and median haematocrit on day fourteen [G_1:35.9, 30.7-41.0 vs G_2:32.5,29.5-37.0%(median,range),P=0.04]. CONCLUSION:Erythropoietin administration significantly accelerates correction of anemia after acute ulcer bleeding. The haematocrit gain is equivalent to one unit of transfused blood two weeks after the bleeding episode.
