Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Dewilde

Publications and source records attributed to A Dewilde.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Value of interferon alpha determination in the diagnosis of meningoencephalitis presumed to be of viral origin].

Quantitative determination of alpha interferon (IFN) is used as an early marker in viral encephalitis. IFN is detected during 10 days following the onset of clinical symptoms. In 26 patients (11 children from 1 day to 6 year old and 15 adults from 17 to 70 year old) with central nervous system disorders (15 meningo-encephalitis, 5 meningitis, 1 myelitis, 1 polyradiculoneuritis, 1 dementia, 1 epilepsy and 2 other), alpha IFN is quantified using a cytopathic effect inhibition assay of VSV on MDBK cells. The mean value of alpha IFN is 80 UI/ml (range from 0 to 512 UI/ml). Virus involved are herpes virus in 38.5% of cases (10/26) and 66% of viral meningoencephalitis (8/12), H.I.V. in 3 cases, VZV in 2 and measles virus in 1 case. Viral aetiology is suspected in six other patients. The results show the importance of early determination of alpha IFN (immediately after the first symptoms and on the first admission to the hospital) in sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) simultaneously with viral culture and antibody research. The presence of alpha IFN only in CSF and a higher titre of alpha IFN in CSF than in serum are important data to distinguish primitive acute necrotizing encephalitis from post eruptive or post infectious perivenous encephalitis. In herpes virus infections with specific treatment all the patients recover. However to prevent brain damage in survivors the treatment should be established as soon as possible.

Adolescent↗

Quantitative determination of dibekacin using radioimmunoassay, substrate-labelled fluorescent immunoassay and rate nephelometric inhibition immunoassay for tobramycin.

Radioimmunoassay, rate nephelometric inhibition immunoassay and substrate-labelled fluorescent immunoassay were employed for the quantitative determination of dibekacin in serum. The cross-reactivity of the antibody provided with each assay allowed the use of tobramycin assay procedures for measuring dibekacin concentrations. With radioimmunoassay and nephelometric immunoassay, a dibekacin calibration curve was required, whereas fluorescent immunoassay was directly suitable for dibekacin assay, with cross-reactivity of nearly 100%. This allows the purchase of one assay kit for testing two antibiotics and thus reduces the cost to medical laboratories.

Cross Reactions↗

[Detection of human papillomavirus DNA by molecular hybridization in tube: interest in cervical neoplasia].

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in 79 cervical specimens obtained from 70 patients was studied by using a molecular hybridization technique performed in tube. The results were compared to those of the cytological and histological studies. The molecular hybridization technique in tube (Hybrid Capture I) detects two groups of HPV types. One group is highly associated with the development of cancer (types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 51, 52, 56) whereas the second group (types 6, 11, 42, 43, 44) is not. Among 42 patients with cervical lesions before any treatment, high risk DNA of HPV was found in 50% of those with low grade cytology and 90% with high grade cytology. In total, 32 out of the 42 patients (76%) who presented histological lesions, were actually infected by HPV. Samples were obtained before and after treatment from 9 patients. Seven out of 9 presented high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 2 other patients had low grade CIN. HPV DNA was not detected in any of the patients after treatment. Detection of HPV DNA by molecular hybridization in tube is simple, sensitive, standardized, inexpensive and is well adapted to screening programs. It can be used in complement of the cytological diagnosis, in the surveillance of equivocal cytological abnormalities, and in the follow-up of treated patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Congenital human cytomegalovirus infection: value of human cytomegalovirus DNA quantification in amniotic fluid].

A quantitative PCR assay (RS Elosa CMV, Lambdatech) was used to quantitate HCMV DNA in maternal amniotic fluid of 12 fetuses with congenital infection (group 1) and of 10 fetuses without congenital infection (group 2). HCMV detection was performed for both groups using culture and qualitative PCR. Histologic examinations of fetal tissues and placenta were carried out for 9 patients from group 1. The amniotic fluid viral loads were negative in all patients of group 2. In group 1, all viral loads were high (from 1.105 to > 107 cop/mL) and no difference was observed between symptomatic and asymptomatic foetuses. Further evaluation on larger samples is needed to define more precisely the pronostic value of HCMV DNA quantification in amniotic fluid.

Amniotic Fluid↗

[Mechanisms of imiquimod indirect antiviral activity].

The potential role of an immune response in HPV-related anogenital disorders had already been anticipated by clinicians. Indeed the lesions efflorescence and the relapsing HPV infection in HIV positive patients as well as the lack of recurrence in patients with spontaneous cure, provided relevant clues for a likely immune mechanism. At present time, the role of the immune system in the development of HPV-related anogenital disorders is well established : HPV induce a humoral and cell mediated immune response. This response is mainly exerted towards infected cells; it is also exerted at the systemic level, through antibodies synthesis, but this pathway remains a secondary one. Due to the limits of the present therapies (either purely destructive and characterized by the rate of recurrences, or antiviral, but difficult to use), it was necessary to find a new treatment type which enhances the local immune response, results in the disappearance of lesions and allows for a decrease in the risk of recurrences. The original mechanism of action of the first cell-mediated immune response modifier: imiquimod, for local use (Aldara 5 % cream) is an answer to this need. The first positive results observed in vitro and in animals were confirmed in patients with HPV anogenital warts in a double blind placebo-controlled study: imiquimod inhibits HPV replication and results in the condyloma regression. Its action is based on the combined activation of the natural local immunity, by stimulating interferon alpha; and of the acquired immunity, by stimulating a T-cell mediated immune response. Thus imiquimod appears to be an original antiviral compound, because it does not act directly on the virus itself.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Various approaches of therapeutic vaccination for the treatment of HIV type 1 infection].

HIV-1 infection is a major pandemic situation. With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), morbidity and mortality associated with HIV-1 infection have been dramatically reduced. However, HAART does not enable eradication of the virus. The efficacy of these new regimens is limited by problems over long-term use such as toxicity and resistance. Therapeutic vaccination is an alternative approach to HIV-1 infection. The main aim is to boost and reinforce virus-specific host immune responses. Several immunogens and schedules of immunization have been tested. In this review, various strategies designed for therapeutic vaccines for HIV-1 infection are presented.

AIDS Vaccines↗

[Fatal fulminant Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis].

Infectious mononucleosis is a common and benign disease. Although hepatic cytolysis is common during infectious mononucleosis, fulminant hepatitis is rare. We report an observation of a fatal fulminant hepatitis complicating a primary EBV infection in a 15 year-old male.

Adolescent↗

[Emergent viruses: SARS-associate coronavirus and H5N1 influenza virus].

Two viral agents with RNA genome are responsible for emerging illnesses: influenza virus A/H5N1 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS). For the diagnosis of SARS virus infection, an epidemiological investigation is necessary to know whether the patient has been exposed to a risk in a country where the SARS virus is circulating or whether the patient had worked in a laboratory handling SARS virus. The detection of SARS virus is possible in various clinical samples (including urine) by viral culture or RT-PCR. The handling of those samples and RNA extraction must be performed in a BSL3 laboratory. The SARS virus RT-PCR is poorly sensitive, therefore the test should be performed on samples collected consecutively for several days. In front of a suspicion of A/H5N1, similar procedures are recommended. An epidemiologic investigation is necessary to specify whether the patient stayed in a country where A/H5N1 virus was circulating. Clinical samples needed for a specific diagnosis are: nasopharyngeal, throat-swab or fecal samples, cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The presence of A/H5N1 virus is confirmed by viral isolation or RNA detection by RT-PCR. RNA extraction must be performed in a BSL3 laboratory. For diagnosis of A/H5N1 virus infection, RT-PCR test amplifies specifically a fragment of H5 gene (Hemagglutinin). In french laboratories of medical virology, procedures are ready to diagnose the first case of A/H5N1 virus infection and cases of reemerging SARS virus infection.

Communicable Diseases, Emerging↗

[Acute polyarthritis during a parvovirus B19 primary infection].

Parvovirus B19 classically causes erythema infectiosum in children, febrile arthralgia or acute erythroblastopenia in adult. The clinical spectrum of adult primary infection is sometimes misleading. We report an observation of an acute rheumatoid-like arthritis following primary parvovirus B19 infection in a 42-year-old woman.

Adult↗