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Biomedical subjects

A M Bertrand

Publications and source records attributed to A M Bertrand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Evaluation of gonadal function in 107 intersex patients by means of serum antimüllerian hormone measurement.

Fetal male sexual differentiation is driven by two testicular hormones: testosterone (synthesized by interstitial Leydig cells) and antimüllerian hormone (AMH; produced by Sertoli cells present in the seminiferous tubules). Intersex states result either from gonadal dysgenesis, in which both Leydig and Sertoli cell populations are affected, or from impaired secretion or action of either testosterone or AMH. Until now, only Leydig cell function has been assessed in children with ambiguous genitalia, by means of testosterone assay. To determine whether serum AMH would help in the diagnosis of intersex conditions, we assayed serum AMH levels in 107 patients with ambiguous genitalia of various etiologies. In XY patients, AMH was low when the intersex condition was caused by abnormal testicular determination (including pure and partial gonadal dysgenesis) but was normal or elevated in patients with impaired testosterone secretion, whereas serum testosterone was low in both groups. AMH was also elevated during the first year of life and at puberty in intersex states caused by androgen insensitivity. In 46,XX patients with a normal male phenotype or ambiguous genitalia, in whom the diagnosis of female pseudohermaphroditism had been excluded, serum AMH levels higher than 75 pmol/L were indicative of the presence of testicular tissue and correlated with the mass of functional testicular parenchyma. In conclusion, serum AMH determination is a powerful tool to assess Sertoli cell function in children with intersex states, and it helps to distinguish between defects of male sexual differentiation caused by abnormal testicular determination and those resulting from isolated impairment of testosterone secretion or action.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Factors associated with glycemic control. A cross-sectional nationwide study in 2,579 French children with type 1 diabetes. The French Pediatric Diabetes Group.

OBJECTIVE: To determine on a large scale the multiple medical and nonmedical factors that influence glycemic control in the general population of children with diabetes, we performed a nationwide French cross-sectional study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We enrolled 2,579 patients aged 1-19 years with type 1 diabetes of > 1 year's duration. The study was center based: 270 centers were identified, 206 agreed to participate, and 147 included at least 90% of their patients. Questionnaires were completed by physicians interviewing patients and family, and HbA1c measurements were centralized. To identify explanatory variables for HbA1c level and frequency of severe hypoglycemia, we performed multiple regression analysis using all the quantitative variables collected and stepwise logistic regression for the qualitative variables. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c value for the whole population was 8.97 +/- 1.98% (normal 4.7 +/- 0.7% [SD]). Only 19 children (0.7%) had ketoacidosis during the 6 months before the study, whereas 593 severe hypoglycemia events occurred in 338 children (13.8%). Control was better in university-affiliated hospitals and centers following > 50 patients, reflecting the importance of access to experienced diabetologists. Children had a mean of 2.3 injections, allegedly performed 2.8 glucose measurements per day, and were seen an average of 4.6 times per year at the center. In the multiple regression analysis, 94% of the variance of HbA1c was explained by our pool of selected variables, with the highest regression coefficient between HbA1c and age (Rc = 0.43, P < 0.0001), then with daily insulin dosage per kilogram (Rc = 0.28, P < 0.0001), mother's age (Rc = 0.26, P < 0.0001), frequency of glucose measurements (Rc = 0.21, P < 0.0001), and diabetes duration (Rc = 0.14, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression identified quality of family support and dietary compliance, two related qualitative and possibly subjective variables, as additional explanatory determinants of HbA1c. The frequency of severe hypoglycemia was 45 per 100 patient-years and correlated with diabetes duration, but not with HbA1c levels or other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Although overall results remain unsatisfactory, 33% of studied French children with type 1 diabetes had HbA1c < 8%, the value obtained in Diabetes Control and Complications Trial adolescents treated intensively. Diabetes management in specialized centers should be encouraged.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Treatment of neonatal hyperthyroidism with calcium iopodate].

BACKGROUND: Treatment of hyperthyroidism in those neonates born to mothers with Grave's disease is difficult. Calcium ipodate, an agent for oral cholecystography, inhibits extra-thyroid conversion of T3 to T4 and diminishes thyroid secretion. CASE REPORTS: Two neonates with clinical manifestations and biological findings of hyperthyroidism were given calcium ipodate orally, 400 mg every 3 days, from day 26 to 50 for the first patient and from day 9 to 18 for the second in association with a beta blocker. Clinical manifestations disappeared within 2 days and circulating levels of T3 and T4 were normalized within 2-5 days. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment was effective and well-tolerated in both patients and in three others previously reported; it should be confirmed in a larger number of patients and controlled by measuring levels of antibodies directed against thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors in order to avoid relapse after cessation of treatment as seen in our second patient.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1996

Three years of GH treatment in Turner's syndrome: complex effect of GH dosage on growth parameters. French Pediatric Clinics and Sanofi-Winthrop.

OBJECTIVE: There have been few studies of GH dose responses in Turner's syndrome. We have therefore compared the growth effect of two doses of subcutaneous GH: 0.45 (D1) or 0.90 (D2) IU/kg/week. DESIGN: Multicentre study with two parallel randomized groups treated with D1 or D2 dose for one year, then with D2 for the second and third years in both groups. PATIENTS: Ninety-seven girls with Turner's syndrome aged from 4.8 to 16.5 years. RESULTS: The first mean height velocity (HV) was significantly higher with D2. At one year the girls changed from D1 to D2 showed a further acceleration in HV. During second and third years HV remained above the mean for untreated Turner girls, in both groups. Mean cumulative height gains over the 3 years were 1.06 and 1.17 SDS/CA (Ranke's Turner standard) in groups G1 and G2 respectively. Bone maturation, over 36 months, was 33.7 (G1) and 31.9 (G2) months. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, if a higher initial GH dose is associated with a greater net initial height gain, the duration of treatment might affect the long-term results. Intermittent treatment should be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Final height in Turner syndrome patients treated with growth hormone.

The first treatment trials on patients presenting with Turner syndrome were successful in accelerating growth velocity. It is therefore essential to know the final height of the patients who were treated in order to ascertain whether or not growth hormone treatment increases final height. We are reporting on a group of 117 patients with Turner syndrome whose growth hormone treatment was initiated in 1986. The mean growth hormone dose was 0.74 IU/kg/week for an average period of 4 years. At the start of treatment, the patients' chronological age was 129/12 years, height -3.8 +/- 1.0 standard deviation scores (SDS) and bone age 10.5 +/- 2.1 years. Mean final height was 147.7 +/- 5.6 cm, i.e. a gain of 1.5 SDS. We noted no significant difference due to the type of chromosomal abnormality, nor to oxandrolone or estrogen-associated treatment. A significant correlation was found between final height, mean parental height, the duration of the treatment, height SDS at the start of treatment and growth hormone peak during pharmacological stimulation tests. However, there was no correlation between growth hormone dosage, chronological age and bone age at the start of treatment. These results show that the growth hormone treatment improves the final heights of patients with Turner syndrome.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed1991

[Counseling for the prevention of HIV infections in pediatric situations].

Health care professionals who are not adequately informed may have irrational attitudes when caring for HIV-infected pediatric patients. Prevention of contamination rests on thorough knowledge of high-risk pediatric groups and of potentially contaminating situations. In the delivery room and in intensive care settings, a broad set of measures for preventing contamination by blood is needed, whereas in maternity wards preventive steps are needed only during cord stump care. In pediatric departments, care should be taken to avoid injuries with sharp, blood-soiled instruments and to cover all skin lesions. HIV-infected children should be allowed to participate in group activities if they are healthy enough to do so. If an injury should occur, management includes immediate disinfection, reporting, and serial serologic testing, as well as early AZT therapy.

Counseling↗
PubMed1991

[A manifestation suggesting juvenile spondylarthropathy: anterior tibial enthesitis. Apropos of 3 cases].

The tibial tuberosity may be affected by enthesitis in seronegative spondylarthropathies, especially in childhood. Three personal cases illustrate this possibility. Data from the literature seem to confirm that enthesitis is more common in juvenile forms (where it may occur as the first manifestation) than in adult forms. Enthesitis is manifested mainly by clinical symptoms. Roentgenographic changes are inconsistent and variable; ossification may develop. Osgood Schlatter disease is the main differential diagnosis. Persistent enthesitis of the tibial tuberosity in a young boy should suggest spondylarthropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Screening for hepatitis B carriers at the maternity unit of Besançon teaching hospital].

There are more than 280 carriers of the hepatitis B virus worldwide. The risk of chronic carriers, and a fatal outcome due to hepatocarcinoma, is estimated to be about 50% in Asian children contaminated by materno-fetal transmission. Serovaccination of the neonatal infant born to a HBV carrying mother provides protection in nearly 100% of cases. Routine screening for HBV carriers at the Besançon teaching hospital maternity unit led to the vaccination of 1.12% of the babies born in 1990, which corresponds to the current national average.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1990

The penetration of ceftriaxone into human brain tissue.

The cerebral penetration of ceftriaxone in patients who underwent surgery for cerebral tumours was investigated. Seventeen patients received 2 g of ceftriaxone given intravenously 2 to 13 h before blood and brain samples were taken. Antibiotic levels were determined by an agar-well diffusion method. Cerebral ceftriaxone concentrations ranged from 0.3 to 12 micrograms/g, with a mean value of 1.63 micrograms/g. These values were less than 2% of corresponding serum concentrations, but enough to inhibit 75% of bacterial strains recently isolated from brain abscesses in our unit.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome in 4 cases].

The authors report on 4 cases of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. The specific features of this clinical entity of unknown aetiology, are emphasized: mental retardation, characteristic faecies, broad thumbs and large toes; short stature and cryptorchidism are often associated.

Child↗
PubMed1990

[Diffusion of ceftriaxone into the human brain].

Study of the penetration of ceftriaxone into the brain of patients who underwent surgery for cerebral tumors. Seventeen patients received 2 g of ceftriaxone intravenously 2 h to 13 h before blood and brain samples were taken. Ceftriaxone levels in serum and in non tumoral cerebral tissue were determined by the agar well diffusion technique. Hemoglobin concentration was measured in cerebral samples in order to subtract ceftriaxone due to blood contamination. True ceftriaxone levels in cerebral tissue ranged from 0.3 to 12 mcg/g, mean 1.63 mcg/g. The ceftriaxone level ratio in brain and serum was low, mean about 2%, but cerebral ceftriaxone concentrations would be sufficient to inhibit more than 75% of bacteria isolated in recent cerebral abscesses. These results allow to do further therapeutic studies of ceftriaxone in cerebral abscesses due to identified and susceptible bacteria or in random treatment in association with antibiotics directed on anaerobic organisms and resistant hospital strains.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Isolated central nervous system relapse in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in children. Experiences of the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG/SAKK) 1976-1986.

The incidence of isolated CNS-relapse in the SPOG ALL studies 1976-1986 was analyzed and the prophylaxis of meningosis leucaemica of the different studies was compared. In the SPOG ALL high-risk study 1979-1983, the incidence of isolated CNS-relapse was significantly higher (17/71, 24%) than in the other studies. In this period, radiotherapy was omitted and the prophylactic treatment consisted only of moderately high doses of intravenous methotrexate and intrathecal methotrexate. In other studies, it was shown that the prophylactic combination of CNS-radiotherapy and intrathecal methotrexate, or the periodic administration of combined intrathecal chemotherapy alone, during the whole therapy of 2 1/2 years, produced comparably good results. The prophylaxis with the combined intrathecal chemotherapy was less neurotoxic and allowed the use of a curative radiotherapy in case of a CNS-relapse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of relapsing acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood. I. Experiences with 82 first bone marrow and 17 isolated central nervous system relapses observed 1968-1980.

Of 99 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first bone marrow or isolated CNS relapse seen between 1968 and 1980, 48 were treated without standardized protocol and 51 according to a relapse protocol. Of 16 patients with bone marrow relapse after cessation of the initial treatment 6 survived 8 1/2 years or more, of 66 with bone marrow relapse while on therapy only 4 survived. All of the latter were low risk patients with an initial WBC of less than 20 x 10(9)/l and no enlargement of the mediastinum. All of the 17 patients with isolated CNS relapse died. The relapse protocols used probably improved the chances of children with first bone marrow but not of those with isolated CNS relapse.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of relapsing acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood. II. Experiences with 45 first bone marrow and 24 isolated central nervous system relapses observed 1981-1984.

Of 45 children with ALL who had a first hematological recurrence between 1981 and 1984, 33 relapsed while still on treatment and 12 after cessation of therapy. Of the former 1 of 16 high risk (initial WBC greater than or equal to 20 x 10(9)/l and/or enlargement of the mediastinum) and 5 of 17 low risk patients (initial WBC less than 20 x 10(9)/l and no enlargement of the mediastinum), of the latter 6 patients survived after a minimum follow-up of 20 months. During the same time period, a first isolated CNS relapse was observed in 24 children of whom 16 survived. These results suggest that at the time of evaluation 1. the prognosis of children with ALL in first hematological relapse during the years 1981-1984 was not significantly different from that of similar children treated earlier; and 2. the prognosis of children with isolated CNS relapse had improved.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1987

[Cerebral aspergillosis. Apropos of 4 cases].

Four patients with aspergillosis of the central nervous system collected in less than two years are reported. Three patients had hematologic malignancies (acute myelogenous leukemia, Hodgkin's disease) and were treated with corticosteroids and chemotherapy. One patient received antimicrobial agents fort a post operative meningitis (after acoustic neuroma surgery). Analysis of these cases and review of literature available us to point out the increased frequency of invasive and cerebral aspergillosis particularly in immunocompromised hosts treated by cytotoxic drugs or broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Diagnosis is very difficult because: --there are non specific radiologic features for aspergillus granuloma, abscess, aneurysm or meningitis, --blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures are invariably negative, --serologic tests have limited value in immunosuppressed patients (poor capacity to elaborate antibodies). Diagnosis can be made only by surgical biopsy who isolate fungal elements. However diagnosis in greatest cases is only made at autopsy. Treatment consist by antifungal drugs administered intravenously and surgery when it is possible. Prognosis of cerebral aspergillosis is very poor and mortality rate very high about 70%.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Importance of the study of allergy and determination of the HLA group in the lipoid nephrosis in children. Study of 8 cases].

Eight children with steroid-response nephrotic syndrome were investigated to study the relation-ship between steroid responsive syndrome, allergy and HLA-antigens. Six of them had clinical and/or biological allergic symptoms. The allergen was identified in four out of six cases (grass-pollen 2 cases, house dust 1 case, frullania 1 case). Six children had DR7 HLA-antigen, five had B12 antigen. Three of the four children with cortico-dependent nephrotic syndrome have associated B12-DR7 HLA antigens. Search of an allergen seems to be of interest in children with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome, since eviction of the allergen may be proposed as a complement to cortico-therapy.

Child↗