Localized tracheobronchial amyloidosis: a rare cause of pseudo-asthma

Localized tracheobronchial amyloidosis is an uncommon disease of unknown cause. Bronchial amyloid deposits can occur as focal nodules or multifocal infiltration of the submucosa. Clinical signs are not specific and the chest x-ray is usually normal. Diagnosis is rarely evoked before bronchial biopsies are done. We report a case of tracheobronchial amyloidosis disclosed by asthmatiform dyspnea. The diagnosis was obtained at bronchial fibroscopy performed as part of the work-up for secondary pneumonia.     

Estimation of gender-specific connectional brain templates using joint multi-view cortical morphological network integration

Brain Imaging and Behavior - The estimation of a connectional brain template (CBT) integrating a population of brain networks while capturing shared and differential connectional patterns across...     

Gemcitabine combined with oxaliplatin is safe and effective in patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the safety and the efficacy of a gemcitabine/oxaliplatin combination (GEMOX) as first line therapy in patients with metastatic or unresectable locally-advanced pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 as a 10-mg/m2/min infusion on day 1 followed on day 2 by oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 as a 2-hour infusion, each cycle being given every 2 weeks. All patients had measurable disease and histological diagnosis before inclusion. Patients were treated until progression or for 12 cycles in the absence of progression. Tumor lesions were assessed by computed tomography scan every 4 cycles. RESULTS: Between January 2001 and January 2003, 32 patients were eligible for the study. The objective response rate (OR) was 28.1% with a 12.5% complete response rate (CR). Median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 7 and 9 months, respectively. Median overall survival for patients with metastatic disease and locally-advanced disease were 7 and 25 months, respectively (P < 0.0007). Eleven patients were alive at 1 year (34.4%), six at 2 years (18.8%) and two at 3 years (6%). Fourteen (43.8%) of 32 patients experienced a clinical benefit response. CONCLUSION: These results support the safety, the antitumor activity and the possibility of durable responses of the GEMOX regimen in patients with locally-advanced disease.     

Bone density in Moroccan women with systemic scleroderma and its relationships with disease-related parameters and vitamin D status

In this case-control study, our first aim was to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its correlates. Secondarily, we aimed to evaluate 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 status and its relationships with disease parameters and BMD. Sixty patients with SSc and 60 age-and gender-matched controls were included in the absence of confounding factors that interfere with bone metabolism. Body mass index, menopausal status, familial history of osteoporosis and/or fractures; personal fracture history; exercise activity and laboratory parameters of bone metabolism were assessed in patients and controls. BMD was measured by using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 was measured in a subgroup of 30 patients and in a subgroup of 30 matched controls. Systemic manifestations of SSc, biological inflammatory parameters, functional disability (scleroderma health assessment questionnaire (S-HAQ)) and immunological status of disease were collected in patients' group. The mean age of patients was 49.44?±?13.07?years versus 49.55?±?12.11 in controls. The mean disease duration was 9.63?±?5.9?years. SSc patients had a significantly earlier age and longer duration of menopause than controls (P?=?0.003). Phosphocalcic metabolism parameters were within normal ranges in both groups. BMD was significantly lower in SSc patients than in controls both in lumbar spine (-2.97?±?0.25 in patients vs. 0.46?±?0.11 in controls) and femoral neck (-1.93?±?0.32 in patients vs. -0.81?±?0.69 in controls) (P?相似文献