[Diagnosis of gastric cancer on endobiopsies using the WHO classification]

Gastric cancer (GC), one of the most frequent malignancies can be early detected on endobiopsies. Our aim was to evaluate histologically the GC on endobiopsies, using WHO 2000 and Lauren classifications. The study included 2424 gastric endobiopsies, routine processed; sections stained with HE, Giemsa, PAS and AB. GC was diagnosed in 451 cases (19%), mostly in men (311 cases--69%). The highest incidence was in 60-69 year-old aged patients (34%). Using Lauren classification, 279 cases were included in diffuse type (62%), 167 intestinal-type (37%) and 5 (1%) mixed type. Each of these three types were also histologically analyzed considering the WHO classification. We pointed out that GC can be diagnosed histologically on endobiopsy specimens, although it is difficult to diagnose the GC--mixt type, due to reduced size of endobiopsies. Lauren classification (including the two major types: diffuse and intestinal) is very useful, especially if correlated with histological criteria of WHO classification.

[Functional digestive disorders and the relationship with psychiatric diseases]

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are frequent causes for medical consultations. Features related to disease, patient or the environment could influence the medical referral. The aim of the study was to estimate the importance of psychiatric disorders in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study was designed to have two phases. Phase I consisted in studying the prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and psychiatric past history in a random sample of 338 from an urban community of 18000 people. Phase II consisted in studying the presence of psychiatric history in patients referred for IBS symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of IBS symptoms in the general population was: 14.4% (8.4% in males and 17.7% in females). Psychiatric positive history was present in 6.2% of the general population and in 6.1% of IBS subjects (p > 0.05). Psychiatric disorders were more common in the IBS subjects who were seeking medical assistance (18%) than in subjects with same symptoms from the general population (6.2%) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric disorders may influence the medial referral for patients with IBS.

Hepatitis C virus serotypes in Romanian patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serotypes in Romanian patients with chronic hepatitis infections and the association between them and disease's severity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Anti-HCV antibodies were first investigated by an indirect ELISA (Murex IIIrd generation). From 55 patients positive for anti-HCV, 22 patients (11 female and 11 male) with chronic active hepatitis (CAH--6 cases), chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH--11 cases) and cirrhosis (C--5 cases) were tested for HCV serotypes using an indirect ELISA (Murex HCV Serotypes 1-6 Assay). The average age for the selected group was 47.2 years (range 27 divided by 68).

RESULTS

In the first study from our region concerning this subject we have found the following serotypes distribution: serotype 1--68.18% (6/11--CPH; 4/6--CAH; 5/5--C); serotypes 2, 3, 4, and 6--4.54% for each of them (all were CPH cases); untypable--13.65% (2 with CAH and 1 CPH respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The serotype 1 seems to be predominant in our region in patients with chronic HCV infections and it is associated with the most severe cases. (2) The diversity of serotypes is higher compared with previous study group results (e.g. in haemodialized patients the serotype 1 was determined in almost 100% cases--unpublished data). (3) Untypable strains (13.65%) require the sequence analysis for HCV genome characterization.

[Prophylaxis of colorectal cancer with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- a new reality?]

The use COX-2 inhibitors induces regression of adenoma polyps and disrupts the sequence adenoma colorectal carcinoma. So that, this can be used in chemoprevention of colorectal cancer and also in cancer localised in other segments of the digestive tract. So far there is no agreement regarding the beginning of the treatment, the minimal efficient dose, the span of time required for chemoprevention. As the current studies in this field are quite encouraging we believe that in the next future COX-2 inhibitors could be used not only in chemoprevention but also in tumoral regression, and as a codrug in chemiotherapy of colorectal cancer.

Pancreatic enzymes replacement therapy in chronic pancreatitis: an update

Chronic pancreatitis is the major cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency which should be compensated by pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. There are now available a great number of pancreatic enzyme preparations, but encapsulated enteric-coated microspheres and minimicrospheres are considered the enzyme treatment of choice. However, full compensation of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency with enzyme replacement therapy cannot be obtained in all patients with chronic pancreatitis.

[Gastroesophageal reflux during pregnancy: 24-hour esophageal ph monitoring]

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs in 30-50% of all pregnancies. The progressive rise in plasma progesterone has been suggested as a possible mediator of GER during pregnancy. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to detect GER through monitoring of esophageal pH for prolonged periods, including sleep. 24-hour pH monitoring is the proper method for diagnosing GER in pregnant women. If 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring is to be a useful diagnostic tool, it must reliably discriminate GER patients despite daily variations in distal esophageal acid exposure. To address this issue, we studied 62 women (30 healthy non-pregnant women without GER symptoms and 32 pregnant women with GER symptoms-heartburn, acid regurgitation) with 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring. Intrasubject reproducibility of three pH parameters to discriminate the presence of abnormal acid reflux was determined (DeMeester score, Kaye score, circadian one hour diagram for pH < 4). Each patient was interviewed, using a reliable questionnaire detailing individual habits, life style characteristics and symptoms, at four time points during the first, second, third trimesters of pregnancy and post-partum period. Symptoms of GER are common in pregnancy and although GER rarely endangers maternal or fetal health, it can significantly affect patient comfort and quality of life. We conclude: 1. GER is almost constantly present during pregnancy, increasing with gestational age. 2. The most important pH--parameter is DeMcester score. 3. Heartburn disappear after delivery. 4. 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard for measuring acid exposure and is a reproducible test for the diagnosis of GER in pregnancy.

Apoptosis in human embryo development: 2. Cerebellum

We analysed the spatial and temporal distribution of apoptosis in human cerebellum development, during embryonic and fetal periods. Cerebella excised from two human embryos (8 weeks old) and eight fetuses (12-22 weeks old), were paraffin embedded and serially sectioned. Apoptotic cells were identified by propidium iodide staining, and TUNEL. In addition, immunohistochemistry for suicide receptor Fas(APO-1/CD95) was performed. We determined the distribution and percentage of apoptotic cells as well as Fas(APO-1/CD95)-positive cells in different regions and stages of development. Apoptotic cells were seen in both proliferative zones and postmitotic regions along the migratory pathways as well as in the developing cerebellar cortex in all examined stages. The Fas(APO-1/CD95) immunoreactivity was present in all examined stages in a small population of apoptotic cells: either neuroblasts or differentiated cells in postmitotic zones. These findings suggest that apoptosis drives the selection of the cells which are committed to differentiate during the early stages of cerebellar development. The differences between apoptotic cells distribution and Fas receptor expression suggest that cell selection is driven by different apoptotic pathways.

[Gastroesophageal reflux disease in pregnancy]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms are common in pregnancy, occurring in approximately 45% to 80% of pregnant women. Although the symptoms associated with reflux in pregnancy are similar to those described in the nonpregnant state, some of the etiologies are distinct due to hormonal fluctuations and other physiologic changes often associated with pregnancy. Diagnostic tools and therapeutic regimens that might be used without hesitation in the nonpregnant patient must be given with cautious consideration in the gravid patient due to potential fetal risks. Pregnant patients with symptomatic GERD should be managed aggressively with lifestyle modification and dietary changes. Antacids and antacids/alginic acids combination or sucralfate should be considered first-line medical therapy; treatment with cimetidine or ranitidine should be considered; these H2 receptor antagonists are preferred during pregnancy. Proton-pump inhibitors should be used with caution because little human experience is available.

[The examination of the digestive tract in patients with iron-deficiency anemia]

According to literature the gastroenterologic consultations for iron-deficiency anemia are quite frequent. The aim was the evaluation of the part played by gastrointestinal examinations for the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia. There were 115 patients admitted in the Medical Clinic between 1998-1999, with iron-deficiency anemia in the absence of macroscopic bleeding who carried out upper or lower endoscopy. A digestive lesion which account for iron deficiency anemia was identified in 35% of the cases. In the upper digestive tract there were 60%, in decreasing order of frequency: peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, erosive gastritis, angiodysplasia. In the lower digestive tract were 35% of the cases (colorectal cancer, polyps, angiodysplasia and hemorrhoids). In 5% of the cases there were found synchronization of the digestive tract lesions. So the digestive tract examination is worth doing because it establishes the diagnosis in 35% of the cases with few symptoms. The digestive tract lesions are more frequent in the upper tract, but they are more severe in the lower digestive tract. The possibility of the synchronization of lesions proves the necessity of carrying out the complete examination of the whole digestive tract.

[The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric cancer and gastric stump cancer]

In 1994, the International Agency for Research in Cancer recognized Helicobacter pylori (Hp) as "a definitive cause of human cancer". The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hp infection in the gastric cancer developed on the background of a disordered stomach as compared with gastric stump cancer. The prevalence of Hp infection was a twice higher in the patients with gastric cancer than in those with gastric stump cancer, and in both cases much lower than that reported in the literature. Possible explanation would be the much older mean age of the patients, the protective role of gastrectomy, and the multifactorial etiopathogenesis in both gastric and gastric stump cancers.

[The importance of ano-rectal manometry in irritable bowel syndrome]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) represents a frequent cause for gastroenterological referral. 50% of all gastroenterological consultations are for functional gastrointestinal disorders (IBS included). Multiple motility abnormalities were described in IBS. The AIM of the study was to evaluate the role of ano-rectal manometry in the diagnosis of IBS.

STUDY DESIGN

24 patients with IBS (mean age 50.8 +/- 15.4) and a control group of 10 subjects with no abdominal symptoms (mean age 48.1 +/- 12.3) had each an ano-rectal manometry examination.

RESULTS

After exclusion of constipation predominant IBS subjects, the IBS patients presented lower perception threshold (22.1 +/- 10.9 ml) than the control group (60.2 +/- 11.3 ml) (p < 0.05) and than the constipation predominant group (81.3 +/- 44.0) (p < 0.05). In 44% of constipation predominant IBS concomitant pathology, revealed by manometry, was present: megarectum or hemorrhoids (spasm).

CONCLUSION

Anorectal manometry could be a useful tool for the evaluation of IBS patients.

[Seizures during the treatment with interferon for chronic C hepatitis]

Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) is a well-established first-line treatment for chronic viral hepatitis. Side effects of IFN-alpha therapy are common but generally mild and self-limited. Generalized seizures during IFN-alpha therapy are very uncommon and are present in clinical isolated cases and usually in association with high doses of IFN-alpha. In our case a female of 39 years old, seizures have occurred at low doses of IFN-alpha used as therapy for chronic C viral hepatitis. As it comes to our knowledge, till now, there were published only 4 cases of generalized seizures that occurred during treatment with IFN-alpha for chronic C viral hepatitis. The physiopathology of this complication is unknown. Generalized seizures can be reasonable due to IFN-alpha therapy, as long as the patient didn't have any seizure history, or other factors, which can develop seizures. Neurological examination, EEG and brain scan were normal. The recurrence of these seizures was absent stopping IFN-alpha therapy without any other seizure treatment.

[Cystic dilatation of main biliary tract]

The choledochal cyst (particularly with congenital origin) is a clinical form from a complex syndrome of ecstasies of the intra-, extra-, or both situations of biliary tree. The disease has until now an unsure etiopathogeny. Very frequent to child, teen-ager and young adult the incidence decreases through the third age. During the period 1960-1998, 13 patients were operated on (annually rate 0.3). The extreme ages of our patients were 5 and 72 years; being operated six children and 7 adults (two of them being 63 and 72 years old). The clinical presentation was nonspecific. The jaundice (with or without cholangitis) (n: 7), right upper quadrant pain (n: 11), a palpable abdominal mass (n: 5) were registrated but the classic triad (Sénéque--Thailhefer) was in out series the exception rather than the rule. Concomitantly there were discovered different complications of the disease: hepatic biliary cirrhosis (n: 3--two macroscopic diagnosed and one microscopic confirmed), portal hypertension (n: 8), biliary lithiasis (including the intracystic stones) (n: 6) and cholangio-carcinoma (n: 1). The clinic and biologic preoperative diagnosis is up to date difficult and not sure like in our experience too. In our series, especially in the last 20 years, the accurate imaging diagnosis was helpful (the ultrasonography, CT, hepatic scintigrams). ERCP was not available for us until now. In concordance with Todani--Watanabe classification our patients were included in the following types: I-a (n: 6), I-b (n: 1), I-c (n: 2), II (n: 2), IV-a (n: 2). All patients were operated on: cysts-digestive derivations or partial excision of the cyst with billio-digestive reconstruction were the choice procedures at a beginning of our experience or for the very fragile patients (n: 5). The total excision of the cyst with choledochal--jejunostomy (Roux-en-Y) is the preferred method now (n: 8) when it is possible. The microscopic pathology of the disposable specimens (cystic wall) showed:--chronic intra- and perimural inflammation (n: 7);--severe displasia and metaplasia (n: 2); cholangiocarcinoma islands (n: 1); additional lesions: hepatic chirrosis (n: 1); hepatic fibrosis (n: 3).

RESULTS

The postoperative morbidity--three patients--one of them died with a peritonitis. Long-term follow-up, effective for only 10 patients, reveled recurrent cholangitis in two cases treated by the reoperation of the former anastomosis; the other 8 patients had a normal evolution.

CONCLUSION

The choledochal cyst is an exclusive indication for surgery as soon as it was discovered.

Possible role of Ca2+ dependent ATPase in determining the relationship between stimulation frequency and action potential duration in the myocardial fibre

At present, action potential duration (APD) is considered to be dependent on the activation of the transient outward current. We applied a stimulation frequency (SF) pattern which was continuously and linearly increased (from the third stimulus on, every stimulus was applied 40 ms earlier than the previous one). Our previous results (Stanciu and Stanciu, 1995) have shown both a decrease of APD--in the interval between 0.5 Hz and 2 Hz, and in the one between 4 Hz and 8 Hz, and an increase of APD--in the interval between 2 Hz and 4 Hz. Triiodothyronine, which stimulates Ca2+ dependent ATPase, has positive effects on APD for all SF, ranging from 0.5 Hz to 6 Hz. On the contrary, increasing the pH value (from 7.4 to 8.6), which prevents Ca2+ binding to membrane proteins, determines a decrease of APD for the same SF levels. Therefore, we advance the assumption that there should be some attached protein molecules, having a role in Ca2+ storage, on the external side of the sarcolemmal membrane. In this case, it is the sarcolemmal Ca2+ dependent ATPase which performs the loading of those stores. The loading up to saturation state is accomplished during a time lapse that depends on the working rate of the Ca2+ dependent ATPase. The premature occurrence of a stimulus finds the store only partially loaded with Ca2+, which may explain the decrease in APD associated with the increase in SF. The continuous and linear increase of SF results in a high internal Ca2+ concentration and--consequently--in the stimulation of Ca2+ dependent ATPase. That explains the APD increase for SF ranging between 2 Hz and 4 Hz. The same pattern of SF increase (continuos and linear), but using frequencies higher than 4 Hz, results in an overflow of the maximal operating capacity of the Ca2+ dependent ATPase and also in the reduction of APD amplitude.

Helicobacter pylori infection, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and gastroduodenal pathology: current status

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are now widely used medicines and their relationship with gastroduodenal injury is well established. The overall risk for serious gastrointestinal side effects in patients taking NSAIDs is three times greater than that of control groups and this risk rises to more than five times in elderly patients. Moreover, the risk of gastrointestinal surgery is ten times greater in elderly patients taking NSAIDs than in controls. Therapeutic aspects like the necessity of eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in order to reduce the gastroduodenal risks for NSAIDs users, the indication for eradication of H.pylori of those with past history of peptic ulcer and require NSAID therapy, the role of eradication when the NSAIDs are used in association with misoprostol.

[Solitary intra-articular osteochondroma of the fingers in children]

In the hand, osteochondromas are rarely found. When encountered, these lesions occur at the metaphyseal region adjacent to the growth plate usually in patients with multiple hereditary exostosis. Our experience with solitary epiphyseal osteochondromas in the phalanges of seven children is reviewed. All patients presented a progressive angular deformity leading to limited function of the hand. Five patients had limited range of motion. Good restoration of motion and function was achieved by excision of the lesion and collateral ligament reconstruction. Early resection is recommended to correct and prevent further deformation in the growing skeleton of children.

Basic mechanical rhythm in the rat small intestine

The basic electrical rhythm (BER) of the small intestine in rat proves its physiological usefulness in generating the basic mechanical rhythm (BMR) as a specific form of muscular tonus in the interdigestive (respite) phases BMR is susceptible to amplitude modifications under the influence of factors that are intrinsic or extrinsic to the muscle fibre, an influence which is exerted either directly over the contractile phenomenon, or by means of electrical phenomena. Recording of BMR is made possible through the use of transducers appropriate in point of sensitivity and of size for the area from which information about the contraction force is collected.