[Is water hepatotoxic?].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Cordonnier.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The role of platelet activating factor (PAF), a potent ulcerogen mediator in the digestive tract, is thought to be important in the genesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of PAF in the perpetuation and aggravation of gastrointestinal damage resulting from limited ischemia in the 2-day-old piglet using a natural PAF antagonist (BN 50727). Animals were separated into six groups: U4, controls; S, sham operated animals undergoing laparotomy; I4 and I9, ligation of the mesenteric vessels in the last ileal loop; IT4 and IT9, same procedure together with treatment with BN 50727 (50 mg/kg) orally before and after surgery and intraperitoneally during surgery. Animals were killed at day 4 in groups U4, S, I4 and IT4 and at day 9 in groups I9 and IT9, with histological studies and mediator measurements taken. Macroscopic and histological lesions of intestinal wall in groups I4, I9, IT4 and IT9 were similar to those of human neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and did not vary according to the absence or the presence of BN 50727 treatment (P = .7, I4 v IT4 and P = .9, I9 v IT9). Peritoneal bands were significantly reduced in treated groups IT4 and IT9 as compared with untreated ones I4 and I9 (P = .003). Mucosal PAF levels in the terminal ileum were higher in group I4 than in groups U4 or I9. In the upper loop, mucosal PAF levels were comparable in all groups. An increase in stool PAF levels was observed only in group I9 (26.4 ng/g v 4.7 ng/g, I9 v U4 + S, P < .05), whereas values comparable to those observed in controls were detected in other groups (I4, 7.2 ng/g; IT4, 4.5 ng/g; IT9, 6.8 ng/g). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) measurements did not exhibit any difference between groups. Using a PAF antagonist, the role of PAF in the aggravation of intestinal damage after ischemia was not remarkable because treatment did not induce any modifications of parietal intestinal lesions. PAF antagonists appeared to reduce significantly the local peritoneal consequences of local inflammation.
The goal of this prospective longitudinal study was to determine the serological profile of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to test whether antikeratin antibody (AKA), antiperinuclear factor (APF), anti-RA33 antibody and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) had an additional diagnostic value when prescribed after rheumatoid factor (RF)-detecting methods. Sixty-nine patients with early polyarthritis suggestive of RA, seen between 1991 and 1993, were included. Five autoantibodies (i.e. RF, AKA, APF, RA33, ANA) were looked for at regular intervals. After 24 months follow-up, patients were classified as having RA (n = 49), unclassified polyarthritis (UP; n = 15) or other rheumatic diseases. Among patients with early RA, the sensitivity of these markers was 40.8% for RF, 36.7% for AKA, 28.6% for APF and 28.6% for anti-RA33. Among RF-negative RA patients, 51.7% were positive for AKA, APF, anti-RA33 antibodies and/or ANA. Positivity of the three recent markers usually persisted throughout follow-up, whereas RF was lost by 58% of patients with early, RF-positive, treated RA. Using multivariate analysis, only latex, RF test and AKA or APF had an independent and statistically significant diagnostic value for early RA. Our data suggest that RF and AKA (or APF) should be concomitantly determined for diagnosis in patients with suspected early RA.
An unusual case of leiomyosarcoma of the prostate presented as a recurrent pelvic cystic mass. Prostatic sarcoma are rare in adults with a poor prognosis. It is often difficult to determine a definite origin. The authors reviewed the differential diagnosis with pseudosarcoma, inflammatory fibrosarcoma and others rare tumors of the prostate and the seminal vesicle.
Respiratory symptoms are frequent after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Most studies focus on lesions of the lower respiratory tract. However, sinusitis is also common in this setting, especially after allogeneic BMT. The nasal respiratory epithelium is the first line of airway defense and is very similar to the bronchial epithelium, especially in terms of ciliary beat frequency and ultrastructural pattern of ciliated cells. We have prospectively studied the nasal respiratory epithelium of 20 marrow recipients (four autologous, 16 allogeneic) with or without sinusitis, by brushing and biopsy of the median turbinate between 2.5 and 148 months after transplant. Samples were studied for ciliary beat frequency, cytology, ultrastructural pattern and HLA-DR expression. We found that 17 of our 20 patients had abnormalities of their nasal epithelium, mainly consisting of either squamous metaplasia or heterogeneous axonemal defects of peripheral and central microtubules. No relationship between these findings and the presence of acute or chronic sinus infection, previous irradiation, graft-versus-host disease or immunosuppressive therapy could be demonstrated in this preliminary study. These abnormalities probably have multiple causes. Prospective studies are needed to determine the respective roles of treatments, infections and immune disorders associated with BMT in these abnormalities, and to know their natural evolution over time and their impact on the occurrence of upper or lower respiratory tract infections.
A survey of herpesvirus resistance to antiviral drugs was conducted by mailing a questionnaire to the centers of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Results from 68 centers were reported. The number of centers with proven or suspected resistance of herpes simplex virus (HSV) was 17 (25%), of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was three (4%), and of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was 19 (28%). Acyclovir-resistant HSV strains were recovered from 10 patients with HSV disease. Replacement of acyclovir by foscarnet in seven of these patients resulted in improved or healed HSV disease in five (17%). Acyclovir-resistant VZV was isolated from one patient with zoster which improved after a change to vidarabine therapy. CMV resistance to ganciclovir was proven in only two patients but was suspected in 23. Ganciclovir was replaced by foscarnet in 15 of these 25 patients which resulted in better virological and/or clinical outcome in 13 (87%). These results suggest that herpesvirus resistance is an emerging problem in marrow transplant recipients, and that foscarnet treatment may prove to be a valuable alternative when the presence of acyclovir- or ganciclovir-resistant herpesvirus disease is documented in these patients.
Because they receive many infected patients with various degrees of immunosuppression, the haematology departments have a high consumption of antibiotics. The possible relationship between antibiotic consumption and bacterial resistance is discussed in many specialities, especially for some classes like quinolones. This possible relationship has to be evocated in haematology where patients are at high risk of severe sepsis because of neutropenia. In Henri Mondor hospital, we studied the evolution of bacterial susceptibility and of antibiotic consumption in the haematology unit on a 6 year period. We found that this susceptibility was finally stable over time. The main factors which may influence the evolution of the bacterial susceptibility in our study, and in the literature are discussed.
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a potentially curative therapy in selected patients with hematologic disorders (acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, lymphoma) or solid tumors (testicular or breast cancer). Pulmonary complications occur in 40 to 60% of patients receiving BMT, and are related to various mechanisms: chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, pulmonary toxicity of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, graft-versus-host disease. Bacterial or fungal pneumonia occurring during the initial period of neutropenia, and interstitial pneumonia (related to cytomegalovirus or of unknown origin) are the major respiratory complications of the first 100 days. Bacterial sinusitis and pulmonary infections, and obstructive airways disease related to bronchiolitis are the main late-onset respiratory disorders. No single risk factor can predict the development of these complications, which result from a sequence of events including infections, pulmonary injuries related to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and inappropriate immunological reaction after transplantation. Antimicrobial prevention has been shown to reduce the mortality of these complications, but they still result in both important morbidity and mortality. They are the most frequent non relapse cause of death among long term surviving patients. Better understanding of their pathogenesis, and early recognition and treatment of respiratory complications of BMT should improve the efficacy of this therapy.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The authors wanted to study diagnosis contribution and therapeutic importance of tenography in posterior tibial tendon tenosynoviopathies. MATERIAL: The series included 42 patients (26 females and 16 males) from 23 to 69 years old. The affection had a course for about two years. A trigger or promoter factor was founded in 32 cases. Clinical examination found only 12 standard feet. Biological exams were normal. METHODS: All patients had a tenography. When tenosynoviopathy was diagnosed, the surgeon injected cortivazol in the sheath by the catheter, within the extra-tendinous space. In case of treatment failure, a synovectomy was realized with possible tendinous suture, under the protection of a weight bearing plaster cast for 21 days. RESULTS: Pathological features: we have founded 26 major irregularities of the sheath, extensive with scalloped outlines of which 8 were supra-malleolar and 18 sub-malleolar, 15 irregularities located at the level of the sheath outline of which 4 were supra-malleolar and 11 sub-malleolar and with a tear of 1 cm length. Long term results: among 36 reviewed patients, pain disappeared in 29 cases, after only one injection (21 cases), or after a surgical treatment (8 cases). DISCUSSION: Tenography has for us great interest for the diagnosis of a tenosynoviopathy, allowing in the same time an extra-tendinous injection of corticoid in the sheath itself. But it doesn't always allow to make a diagnosis of a tendinous tear. A part of our failures can be secondary to these tears. According to our results it could be recommended to practice in a first time a tenotomodensitometry (teno TDM). In case of a tear, a surgical treatment by synovectomy with suture may be proposed first, for a tenosynoviopathy an injection must be realizes. CONCLUSION: Tenography allows a precise diagnosis and in the same time, a treatment by injection. The tendinous tears require a surgical suture but are better diagnosed on a teno TDM.
Functional and structural properties of rhesus monkey skinned fibres were studied in order to examine the relationship between calcium/strontium (Ca/Sr) activation characteristics and protein composition. The fibres were classified according to their Ca/Sr affinity into slow (61%) and fast groups (39%). According to the myosin isoform composition, two additional hybrid types were defined. Thus, four profiles were characterized: two corresponding to slow (S) and fast (F) isoforms and two corresponding to a mixed proportion of slow and fast isoforms. They were called hybrid slow (HS) or hybrid fast (HF) based on the predominant myosin isoform. Tension/pCa parameters and maximal shortening velocities were determined. S fibres showed a higher pCa threshold and affinity as well as shallower slopes of their tension/pCa curve than did F fibres. HS and HF fibres exhibited tension/pCa curves which were positioned close to those of S and F fibres, respectively. No significant difference was observed between S and HS fibres or between F and HF fibres. Maximal shortening velocity values were higher for fibres expressing predominantly fast myosin isoforms. We suggest than when both S and F isoforms of myofibrillar proteins are expressed in a muscle fibre, the functional properties are mainly governed by the predominant isoform.
A knowledge of the bacterial ecology of a haematology unit should help in the management of the febrile patient with or without neutropenia. We studied the prevalence and the susceptibility profiles of bacteria isolated during a six-year period among patients hospitalized in a 44-bed haematology unit. Antibiotic use over this period was also studied. The most prevalent bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (35.1%), Escherichia coli (11.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.9%), Enterococcus spp. (8.2%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.5%). The susceptibility of CNS to oxacillin decreased from 67-44% over six years, while that of enterobacteriaceae to amoxycillin and piperacillin was reduced by about 50%. P. aeruginosa susceptibility to ceftazidime remained remarkably stable at around 90%, despite extensive empirical use. Imipenem and ciprofloxacin were used restrictively and ceftazidime-resistant P. aeruginosa remained susceptible to these two agents in most cases. Our antibiotic policy was found to be compatible with the frequency of the bacterial strains isolated in our department and with their susceptibility profiles.
A competitive PCR assay involving the use of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) was developed. For this purpose, a 1-kb mitochondrial DNA fragment of Aspergillus fumigatus was sequenced. The primers used allowed amplification of A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. niger DNAs but not DNAs of other fungi and yeasts. BAL samples from 55 consecutively enrolled patients were tested. Three samples were excluded because of failure of correct amplification of the internal competitive control. Of 28 immunocompromised patients, 6 were PCR positive; 3 died of IPA and their BAL cultures yielded A. fumigatus; and 3 were culture negative and did not develop IPA. Of 15 human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients and 9 immunocompetent patients, 5 and 4, respectively, were both PCR positive and culture negative, and none developed aspergillosis. Thus, PCR confirmed IPA in three patients but gave positive results for 25% (12 of 49) of the patients who did not develop aspergillosis. The predictive value of PCR-positive results seems low for patients at risk for aspergillosis. Moreover, the risk of contamination of reaction buffers or biological samples with Aspergillus conidia seems high and has to be weighed in regard to the potential diagnostic benefit of PCR testing as a routine procedure.
To establish the diagnosis of alveolar hemorrhage (AH) in cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), Golde and colleagues created a score based on the hemosiderin content of alveolar macrophages stained with Prussian blue. We used an easier method, calculating the percentage of siderophages among the total alveolar macrophages recovered by BAL. We have retrospectively studied this method in 240 BALs performed in 194 immunocompromised patients. Prussian blue staining was performed on each BAL sample, and the Golde score was calculated for 47 samples chosen at random. The methods were compared for diagnosing AH. The percentage of siderophages correlated well with the Golde score. AH was defined by at least 20% siderophages. This definition was validated by comparison with the method of Kahn and coworkers. AH was present in 87 (36%) of the samples and was significantly associated with four parameters: thrombocytopenia (< 50,000/mm3), other abnormal coagulation parameters, renal failure (creatinine > or = 2.5 mg/dl), and a history of heavy smoking. The diagnosis of AH did not correlate with either the cause or the outcome of pneumonia. AH was seen more frequently in cardiac transplant patients (75%). In our experience, (1) a percentage of siderophages > or = 20% is sufficient and is an easier determinant of the diagnosis of AH than the Golde score; and (2) AH is rarely the sole cause of lung injury and is usually associated with other causes of pneumonia. AH may be considered more as a sign than as a distinct disease in this population.
PURPOSE: To confirm and extend encouraging preliminary results of timed sequential chemotherapy (TSC) in patients with previously treated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the results of the regimen of mitoxantrone on days 1 to 3, etoposide on days 8 to 10, and cytarabine on days 1 to 3 and 8 to 10 (EMA) in 133 patients, with a median follow-up of 40 months. RESULTS: Sixty percent of patients, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 51% to 68%, achieved complete remission (CR), including 44% (CI, 32% to 57%) of refractory patients and 76% (CI, 64% to 86%) of late first-relapse patients (P = .0002). Twenty-nine percent of patients did not respond to therapy, and 11% died from toxicity. Median duration of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was 31 days and 29 days, respectively. Severe nonhematologic toxicity included sepsis in 54% of patients and mucositis in 23%. Postinduction therapy included a second course of EMA in 27 patients, maintenance in 10, autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 12, and allogeneic BMT in 13. Median survival of patients who did not have transplantation performed is 7 months, with 11% (CI, 4% to 18%) survival at 5 years. Median disease-free survival (DFS) is 8 months with 20% (CI, 8% to 32%) DFS at 5 years. Twenty-eight percent (CI, 15% to 44%) of nontransplanted patients who achieved CR had an inversion of CR duration. Previous refractoriness was the main factor associated with poor prognosis for CR achievement, DFS, and survival. CONCLUSION: These results confirm initial reports on TSC and show that approximately 20% of patients with first relapse after therapy can enjoy prolonged DFS using chemotherapy only.
The authors report a case of recurrent pigmented intraspinal schwannoma with malignant progression. Electron-microscopic study confirmed that melanin pigment was produced by tumor cells and that these cells were derived from the nerve sheath. The histogenesis of pigmented tumors is explained by their neural crest origin and the problem of differential diagnosis of the malignant form with melanoma is discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Increased numbers of recipients of BMTs and autologous BMTs are becoming long-term survivors. Existing data support that loss of protective immunity to agents such as tetanus and poliovirus is common in patients who received BMTs and autologous BMTs. Thus, a reimmunisation programme is needed to ensure immunity. A questionnaire concerning immunisation practices was sent to EBMT member centres. The immunisation practices varied extensively in the 59 responding BMT and 48 responding autologous BMT centres. Sixty five per cent of responding centres routinely immunise patients who received allogeneic BMTs whereas 37% were routinely immunising recipients of autologous BMTs. Tetanus toxoid and inactivated poliovirus vaccine were the most frequently used vaccines in both BMT and autologous BMT centres. Immunisations of recipients of both BMTs and autologous BMTs with tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, inactivated poliovirus vaccine and influenza vaccine are recommended. Other vaccines, and in particular live attenuated vaccines, may be considered on an individual basis.
Disease recurrence remains the major problem in autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for hematologic malignancies. To improve the therapeutic efficiency of autologous BMT, we investigated the use of autologous marrow activated in vitro with interleukin 2 (IL-2) to generate killer cells for in vivo purging. A feasibility trial was initiated in 5 patients with poor prognosis acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who were transplanted, after marrow ablative therapy, with autologous marrow cultured for 10 days with 10(3) units of IL-2/ml. A highly significant increase in NK activity and an induction of LAK activity were observed after incubation. Patients received 0.64 to 1.56 X 10(8) cultured BM cells/kg and 1.87 to 44.8 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg. Four patients engrafted and achieved granulocyte counts > 0.5 x 10(9)/l on days 35, 24, 36 and 22 after transplant. Three of these patients showed platelet recovery to > 50 x10(9)/l on days 25, 42 and 40 after transplant. One patient remained thrombocytopenic until relapse. One patient died on day 12 after transplant. This study demonstrates that cultured BM activated with IL-2 can be used successfully for hematological rescue in the clinical setting.