Colonic Metastasis from Carcinoma of the Breast that Mimicks a Primary Intestinal Cancer

Although the lung, liver, or bones are the most common location for distant metastases in breast cancer patients, metastases to the intestinal tract are very rarely recognized in the clinic. We will present an unusual case of colonic metastasis from a carcinoma of the breast that mimics a primary intestinal cancer, along with a through review of English language medical literature. Despite the fact that isolated gastrointestinal (GI) metastases are very rare and much less common than benign disease processes or second primaries of the intestinal tract in patients with a history of breast cancer, metastatic disease should be given consideration whenever a patient experiences GI symptoms

La modélisation en ethologie (applications des réseaux neuronaux et de la logique fuzzy)

OBJET DE L ETUDE :La prédiction du comportement humain par des réseaux neuronaux artificiels couplés à la logique fuzzy(floue). MATERIELS ET METHODES : Compilation d'un logiciel neurofuzzy permettant d'intégrés les observations de 59 sujets sur 106 observés afin d' obtenir des prédictions sur leurs comportement dans un réfectoire d'un centre hospitalier. RESULTATS : Excellente corrélation (pearson p<0.01) entre les résultats prédis par le logiciel et le comportement observé sur le terrain. CONCLUSIONS : Les réseaux neuronaux artificiels et la logique fuzzy semblent être un outil intéressant dans la modélisation en éthologieAIM of this study was to provide adequate predictions of behaviour in humans using a neurofuzzy approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Ethogramms were integrated in fuzzy logic and neural networks capable to provide predictions after adequate training with data from 59 out of 106 observations. Predictions concerned behaviour exhibited during occupation of a waiting room ofaD.G. hospital. RESULTS : Correlation of the results was excellent among predicted and observed results (Pearson p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS : A Neurofuzzy approach for modelling may be an interesting tool in EthologyPARIS5-Bib. SHS Descartes CNRS (751062113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Pelvic floor study in patients with obstructive defecation - Influence of biofeedback

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathophysiologic abnormalities in patients with obstructive defecation or dyssynergia and to assess the role of biofeedback treatment. Three groups were studied. Group A had 24 patients with obstructive defecation; B, 25 patients with constipation; and C, 22 healthy volunteers. Rectosigmoid segmental transit time of group A was 28.5 hours (SD +/-: 13.4); B, 17.2 hours (SD +/- 11.5); and 28.5 hours (SD +/- 6.3) (p &lt; 0.05). There was no statistical difference in resting and squeezing anal pressure among the three groups. Anorectal angle at rest revealed no difference among the three groups. At strain, a statistically significant difference between groups A and C (p &lt; 0.05) and a marginal difference between groups A and B was noted. Rectocele of the anterior rectal wall was present at strain in 17/24 patients of group A and 7/22 patients of group C (p &lt; 0.05). Electromyography during strain revealed abnormal contractions of puborectalis muscle and external anal sphincter, in 13 and 14 patients of group A, respectively, which differed from that observed in groups B and C (p &lt; 0.001). Biofeedback treatment was applied with good results in 7 of 11 patients of group A. At six months, constipation relapsed in only one of treated patients. Patients sufferings from obstructive defecation seem to have slower rectosigmoid transit time than the others. Defecography shows smaller anorectal angle at strain and rectocele of the anterior rectal wall more often. Abnormal pelvic floor contraction at strain is often noted in anal electromyography. Some of these patients seem to respond favorably to biofeedback treatment