[Cancer of the thoracic esophagus. Evaluation of 478 resections].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Hassoun.
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With automated analysers, bacterial identification and susceptibility testing can be performed in 4-5 hours instead of 12-18 hours with conventional methods. A controlled trial was carried out in the surgical ward of a university hospital to evaluate the clinical repercussions of these rapid methods. The automated analyser reduced delays in the laboratory by about 25%, and optimizing information transfer from laboratory to ward brought the reduction up to 50%. It was found that earlier results of susceptibility testing modified prescriptions and this may be expected to result in a more rational use of antibiotics.
In a bacteriology laboratory where automated and non-automated procedures co-existed during the study period (1 year), patients were randomly assigned to each type of procedure and we observed the physicians behaviour as well as patients well-being in a surgical service using the results from the laboratory. Contrary to our expectations, the reduction in the time delay necessary to obtain information did not alter either the prescribing behaviour of physicians nor the welfare of patients. Besides, the gain in time was significantly lower than expected. We also discuss in detail the meaning and relevance of the results.
A 33-year old farmer ingested approximately 300 ml of a 20% solution of diquat along with about 80 mg flunitrazepam. The patient presented neurological (coma grade I), digestive (oro-pharyngeal erosions, ileus), hepatic (cytolysis), hematological (thrombopenia) and renal (tubular dysfunction) signs. Plasma creatinine did not exceed 1.22 mg/dl (upper normal value), but retinol binding protein level in urine (a marker of renal tubular dysfunction) reached a value of 337 mg/d (normal values less than 300 micrograms/d). Its level returned to normal value 18 days after the ingestion. Four hours after the poisoning, diquat level in blood amounted to 10.4 mg/l, but its level was below the detection limit (0.2 mg/l) 6 hours later. In urine, however, diquat was detected until day 13. The following therapy was applied: ventilation (FiO2:0.21), gastro-intestinal lavage, hemoperfusion, anti-oxidants and prolonged forced diuresis. The patient made an uneventful recovery. intestinal washout must be applied with caution since an ileus is a classical complication of diquat poisoning. Hemoperfusion was found to be of little value. The interest of prolonged application of forced diuresis is suggested by the detection of diquat in urine for about 2 weeks along with the presence of biological signs of renal tubular dysfunction.
Glucose homeostasis of normal rats was studied after chronic or acute administration of chloroquine. Male rats received, in drinking water, a daily dose of 5-20 mg chloroquine/kg, for 20 weeks. The high dose caused a slight decrease in food intake and weight gain. In these animals, plasma glucose levels were somewhat lower than in controls after an overnight fast and after oral administration of glucose or intravenous administration of insulin, but not after intravenous administration of glucose. Their insulin response to oral or intravenous glucose was normal. The insulin content of their pancreas was decreased by about 15%. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of myeloid bodies and numerous lysosomes in B cells. Acute intraperitoneal administration of chloroquine was without effect on glucose tolerance and insulin release. This study shows that chloroquine, at plasma concentrations similar to those reached in treated patients, does not impair glucose homeostasis in normal rats.
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A case of acute Dapsone intoxication due to voluntary ingestion of 3 g of this drug as a suicide attempt is described. A severe methemoglobinemia developed, accompanied by intense cyanosis, dyspnea, headache, and nausea. Subsequently, significant sulfhemoglobinemia responsible for prolonged cyanosis was observed, as well as mild hemolytic anemia. Relapses of methemoglobinemia after methylene blue treatment required repeated administration of the reducing agent. The need of a careful follow-up for several days in this type of intoxication is emphasized.
A case of acute poisoning by oral ingestion of fenthion is reported. The different clinical signs, especially the delayed and prolonged symptomatology, are described. The various types of therapeutic measures (gastric lavage with charcoal, administration of atropine, Toxogonine, lyophilized human cholinesterase, and fresh plasma and exchange transfusion) are discussed. Correlation studies between clinical signs and plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities are presented together with plasma fenthion levels and the anticholinesterase capacity of the patient's plasmas.
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Hemin is known as an interesting drug in the treatment of acute attacks of porphyria: this was verified in a case of porphyria variegata. Furthermore, bimestrial perfusion of 500 mg of hemin prevented new biological and clinical deterioration. If confirmed, this schedule would represent a major progress in the management of porphyria variegata.
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An accurate, quick, and reproducible method to assay serum lipase activity allowed a parallel study of lipase and amylase in 147 patients. Lipase appeared very specific of pancreatic distress. In acute pancreatitis its increase was constant, frank, quick and lasting. It brought a diagnostic argument superior to the dosages of amylase activities in serum and/or urine. But its value as an evolutive and pronostic test was as much limited. Its interest as a negative argument for differential diagnosis was not superior either. In chronic pancreatic diseases, it gave evidence of massive spread or complications.
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The method is based mainly on the extraction of the substance by a small volume of organic solvent from an alkaline medium containing a fairly important amount of inorganic salt. The extract is then subjected to thin layer and/or gas chromatography. The authors present also the relative frequency that they met on hexapropymate intoxications together with the concentrations in blood obtained in cases accompanied with deep coma.
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