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Biomedical subjects

A Georges

Publications and source records attributed to A Georges.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The slim disease in African patients with AIDS.

Ten unselected African patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with slim disease were evaluated using physical examination, anthropometric measurements, Karnovsky performance score, and muscle biopsy. All had marked weight loss (36.8 +/- 10.8%) with extreme fatigue, marked diffuse wasting with significantly decreased circumferences of arms, thighs and calves (P < or = 0.002), and a low Karnovsky performance score (range 30-70). Mild to moderate motor deficit (in 9/10 patients) contrasted with the major amyotrophy. Chronic diarrhoea (in 7/10) and/or prolonged fever (in 7/10) were always associated with the amyotrophy. Atrophy of muscle fibers was the main finding of muscle biopsy. Only 5 patients met the CDC criteria for the 'HIV wasting syndrome'. We conclude that slim disease, which is highly suggestive of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Africa, is a condition associated with chronic diarrhoea and/or prolonged fever, that encompasses the 'HIV wasting syndrome' sensu stricto and probably other debilitating diseases associated with AIDS, such as tuberculosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Haemorrhagic fever virus activity in equatorial Africa: distribution and prevalence of filovirus reactive antibody in the Central African Republic.

Seroepidemiological surveys were conducted to determine the frequency and distribution of haemorrhagic fever virus (HFV) activity in the Central African Republic. Human serum specimens (4295) were collected from 5 ecologically distinct zones. Serological evidence of HFV activity was found in all the zones. The filovirus antibody prevalence (24.4%, 1051/4295) was greater than the combined prevalence for Lassa virus, Rift Valley fever virus and Crimean-Congo HFV antibody (1.1%, 45/4295; P < 0.01). Evidence of filovirus activity was found in all zones: 21.3% (914/4295) of the population were seropositive for Ebola virus antibody while only 3.2% (137/4295) were seroreactive with Marburg viral antigens. Age and sex were important host-related factors influencing filovirus activity, particularly in dry grassland and moist forest communities. These communities shared many factors, but differences, such as agricultural practices and ethnic backgrounds, may also affect the risk of infection. Filovirus infections appear to occur without apparent disease. Continued investigations are needed to evaluate the true pathogenicity of the African filoviruses and the likelihood that unidentified serologically cross-reacting and non-pathogenic members of the filovirus family are active in equatorial Africa.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Filovirus activity among selected ethnic groups inhabiting the tropical forest of equatorial Africa.

Seroepidemiological surveys were conducted to determine the frequency and distribution of filovirus activity among selected ethnic groups inhabiting the tropical forests of the Central African Republic. 427 serum specimens were collected from hunter-gatherers and subsistence farmers living in forest environs in the Lobaye District south of the river Lobaye and west of the river Oubangui. Striking serological evidence for filovirus activity was found in both populations. Ebola virus appears to be the most active filovirus; 17.6% (75/427) of the Lobaye survey population were seropositive for Ebola virus reactive antibody while 1.2% (5/427) were seroreactive with Marburg viral antigens. Ethnic background appeared to be an important risk factor influencing filovirus exposure in the forest communities. The filovirus antibody prevalence among 21-40 years old male Aka Pygmy hunter-gatherers was significantly (P = 0.03) 3 times higher (37.5%) than that in similarly aged male Monzombo and Mbati subsistence farmers (13.2%). Continued epidemiological investigations are needed to define ethnic-related events influencing human filovirus activity in the Congo basin of equatorial Africa.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association between HIV1 infection and sexually transmitted disease among men in Central Africa.

In Africa, heterosexual contact is the major route of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previous studies have strongly suggested that other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) may facilitate HIV transmission. However, the association of HIV infection with other STD may simply be a marker of sexual promiscuity. Thus, we compared the association of different STD, HIV status, and sexual behaviour of 160 STD patients and 95 STD-free control individuals. Results showed that STD patients differed from controls in most of the sociological and behavioural parameters, as well as in HIV serological status. Within the STD group, people with genital ulcer disease (GUD) (n = 62) were more likely to be HIV-seropositive (21%) than people with urethritis (n = 98, 11.2%). Meanwhile, there was almost no difference in the sociological and behavioural parameters between the GUD and the urethritis group. Thus, our results reinforce the specific role of mucosal breakage (i.e. genital ulcers) in the transmission of HIV.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bone remodeling assessment after total hip replacement].

It is known that total hip arthroplasties (THA) lead to adaptative remodeling changes resulting in periprosthetic bone loss. DEXA is recognized as the most precise and accurate method for quantifying bone mineral density (BMD) in humans. The present study compares over two years after THA, DEXA data to those of urinary deoxypyridinoline (uDPYR), a pyridinium crosslink of bone collagen fibrils proven to be a reliable bone resorption marker. 41 patients (21 postmenopausal female, 20 male) underwent cemented THA. Urinary excretion of DPYR was determined using ACS : 180 SE (Bayer Diagnostics) and normalized for creatinine excretion while periprosthetic BMD (g/cm2) was measured (QDR 4500, Hologic), at post-operative day, 3 months, 1 year and 2 years after surgery. The 7 periprosthetic subregions (R1-R7) of the Gr en method are the regions of interest for evaluating bone remodeling process. uDPYR showed a significant decrease between postoperation and 1 year: 10.6 0.80 vs 4.8 0.6 nmol/mmol, p < 0.0001 (Wilcoxon Test for paired samples and statistical significance accepted at p < 0.05) and non significant variation between 1 and 2 years. Between post-operation and 3 months global and regional BMDs decrease significantly (p < 0.04) followed by an increase in distal BMD (R3, R4, R5). During the second year BMD increases also for other regions. At 2 years BMD in distal regions is recovered except in the proximal R7 when comparing post-operation and 2 years, pattern consistent with literature. Thus, a discrepancy is observed between uDPYR and DMO results that does not allow us to use a bone resorption urinary marker to monitore local bone periprosthetic remodeling.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[CA 125 kinetic pattern during chemotherapy].

CA 125 is a tumoral marker that may be elevated in non-mucinous epithelial ovarian tumours but is neither sensitive nor specific enough to be used as a diagnostic tool. However, CA 125 serum concentration variations can be used for monitoring chemotherapy efficiency. This study concerns 75 patients who underwent surgical cytoreduction followed by a first-line chemotherapy during which CA 125 serum variations were studied by calculation of mono-exponential regression curve slopes and half-lives. Persistence of tumour residues was evaluated by tomodensitometry and/or second look surgery du- ring a post-chemotherapy check-up. A slope > - 0,0156 (half-life > 44,43 d) was a perfect predictor of a persistent tumour; conversely, a slope < - 0,0340 (half-life < 20,39 d) reliably predicted the absence of detectable tumour. We propose a personalised graphic representation of CA 125 variations to follow-up chemotherapy. Its exploitation, in association with classical prognostic factors, could improve patients monitoring.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Thyroglobulin mRNA detection in the follow-up of thyroid carcinomas].

The follow-up of differentiated carcinomas is based on the detection of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the serum. Tg assays are immunoassays that may be hampered by autoantibodies directed against Tg. To avoid this problem some authors advocated the use of mRNA extraction and RT-PCR amplification. Quantitative methods have been developed to achieve a good analytical sensitivity. These techniques may then be alternative to the Tg assay when anti-Tg antibodies are present in the serum should it be proven they display pronostic values reliable enough for clinical diagnosis use.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[I131 in blood samples: management in the laboratory].

OBJECTIVES: Patients treated by (131)I may require blood sampling in the days following its administration. We investigated the safety of such samples in terms of radioactivity and the possible disturbance of the analyses by these "131I-spiked" samples. METHOD: 1) The radioactivity of blood samples from 131I-treated patients was measured (dose rate, surface activity, total activity) ; 2) The risk for the personnel was subsequently evaluated and ; 3) The interference of this 131I-generated radioactivity on the results of routine automated and IRMA assays was investigated. RESULTS: 1) All RA measures but two were found below the European limits ; 2) Irradiation of personnel was negligible ; 3) The faint radioactivity did not disturb any analyses. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate the safety that results from the negligible radioactivity in these blood samples.

Drug Contamination↗