[Occurrence of myasthenia in HIV infection. 2 cases].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Michelet.
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We report a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in whom the acute onset of neurologic disorders and renal failure could be attributed to thrombotic microangiopathy. Clinical, biological, and pathological features were compatible with the diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Such cases have been previously described, but histologically documented case reports are uncommon.
A retrospective study analyzing the case notes of 49 hospitalized adults, either in intensive care (n = 26) or in thoracic medicine units (n = 23), for acute bacteriologically proven pneumococcal pneumonia based on samples obtained other than by sputum examination. The mortality was 54% in intensive care and 17% in the thoracic medicine unit. This significant difference may be explained in part by a respiratory distress syndrome in whom there were adequate criteria on admission for 7 patients in the intensive care group. Among these latter only one patient had had a splenectomy. The others did not have underlying disorders (three were chronic alcoholics); 7 patients were shocked on admission, four with a leukopenia less than 5,000/mm3 and six had a thrombocytopenia less than 100,000/mm3; finally 6 had a temperature of less than 38 degrees C. 7 patients died in less than four days (mean 2 days) in a clinical context of refractory hypoxemia. The significance of the respiratory distress syndrome is probably very different from the usual pneumonia; it seems rather to be an integration of the toxins induced by the pneumococcus. Its presentation can be particularly misleading as regards the diagnosis; the prescription of antibiotics once a diagnosis is obtained would seem insufficient by itself in this context to obtain a cure.
To estimate the rate of infectious diseases and the efficiency of medical care in our hospital, we conducted a prevalence survey of both infections and antibiotic use on 588 inpatients. Results showed that 125 patients (21% of the total) had infections; of these, 56 had nosocomial infections. A third of the patients had been receiving antimicrobial drugs; among them, 30% were receiving the drugs for prophylactic reasons. A misuse in the prophylaxis of infections was determined, particularly in the duration of treatment. The study demonstrated that an effective infection-control program and an antibiotic policy are required in our hospital.
Cessation of massive hemoptysis after iatrogenic balloon catheter rupture of the pulmonary artery was observed after a 2-ml inflation of the balloon. A wedge angiogram showed a small cavity near the rupture. Secondary lobectomy was performed; however, the patient died 1 month later. Therapeutic approaches of this life-threatening complication are presented.
The known failures and risks of inducing labour ought to provoke research for novel techniques. Comparison of the results of different methods of established harmlessness must comply with the strict rules found occasionally in the literature. The necessary maturation of the cervical tissue seems an indispensable requirement. Known physiological facts readily call to mind the role played by the granulocytes in collagenolysis. Clinical tests based on them give results identical with other techniques.
A case of P. aeruginosa septicaemia originating from a pace-maker electrode is described. Cure was obtained by surgical ablation of the contaminated electrode by a right thoracotomy and monotherapy with cefsulodin, an antibacterial agent. Nephrotoxicity was observed during treatment and regressed after its withdrawal. No other potentially nephrotoxic drug was used. The therapeutic indications of new beta-lactamase stable cephalosporins are reviewed.
The inadequacy of the standard bacteriological method in the study of expectorations is unanimously accepted. Oropharyngeal contamination of specimens largely explains why this examination is a poor index of the causative organisms in bacterial respiratory infections. In a mixed clinical situation with few or non-specific signs of bacterial infection and of variable severity, the physician should answer two questions: 1) Is it a bacterial infection? 2) What is the causative organism? and their corollary: 1) Should one prescribe an antibiotic? 2) Which one? Only culture of blood or pleural fluid allow an accurate reply to these questions in about 50% of cases and they are the indispensable investigations of reference. Initial efforts undertaken to improve the standard examination of expectorations never overcome the stumbling block of oro-pharyngeal contaminations. The bacterial count of expectorated bacteria, a non traumatic method, represents some real progress. In 50% of cases it enables a predominant pathogen to be identified before any antibiotics are given. Bronchoscopy diminishes contamination, allows direct sampling and the inspection and biopsying of bronchial mucosal lesions and aids drainage in very suppurative disorders. Trans-tracheal puncture avoids oropharyngeal contamination in the majority of cases and appears to provide reliable results much more often. A pragmatic approach is recommended according to the clinical picture. Bronchial and limited alveolar infections which are well tolerated, heal without exception on blind antibiotic therapy. In suppurating infections (bronchiectasis, cavitating pneumonias), the yield and the reliability of the examinations are increased. Serious bacterial infections, by their extent or by their site, justify a more aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic attitude. It should be stressed, however, that death caused by inadequate antibiotic therapy remains the exception when one or two successive courses of antibiotics have been prescribed for the pathogens presumed responsible according to the clinical picture or found after one or more bacterial examinations.
We retrospectively reviewed 34 consecutive patients with serologically confirmed leptospirosis admitted during years 1992-2002. Nine patients (26.5%) had respiratory symptoms on admission including cough (n = 4), shortness of breath (n = 4), cyanosis (n = 2), and hemoptysis (n = 1). Six patients had pulmonary radiographic findings including (1) diffuse, ill-defined, ground-glass density (n = 3); (2) diffuse alveolar opacities (n = 2); and (3) small nodular density (n = 1). Male/female ratio was 8/1 and mean age was 47 years. Seven patients reported their exposure source including hunting (n = 2), fishing (n = 2), fresh water swimming (n = 2), and canoeing (n = 1). All patients had fever (mean = 40.1 degrees C). Other common symptoms were headache (n = 4), vomiting (n = 3), and myalgia (n = 3). Biological abnormalities included elevated liver enzymes (n = 8), proteinuria (n = 7), lymphopenia (n = 6), hematuria (n = 5), renal failure (n = 4), anemia (n = 4), and elevated neutrophil count (n = 4). PaO(2 )was measured for 3 patients while they were breathing room air (32, 55, and 66 mmHg). Suspected diagnosis on admission included leptospirosis (n = 2), bacterial pneumonia (n = 2), intoxication, influenza, viral hepatitis, biliary tract lithiasis, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (one patient each). The first serologic testing for leptospirosis was positive for 5 patients (55%). Serovar was presumptively identified for 7 patients: Australis (n = 3), Grippotyphosa (n = 2), and Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 2). Seven patients were treated with penicillin; two patients received no antibiotics. All patients were cured. In conclusion, patients with leptospirosis may present predominantly with nonspecific pulmonary symptoms. In these patients, leptospirosis must be suspected when there is a potential exposure to rats, especially in case of high-grade fever, myalgia, hepatitis, and renal abnormalities.
BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy and safety of the triple NRTI combination of abacavir (ABC), lamivudine (3TC), and tenofovir (TDF) in a once-daily regimen. METHOD: 38 HIV-naive patients (pts) were treated in a prospective open-arm study over 48 weeks (W48). Virological failure was defined as never achieving plasma HIV-1 RNA < 400 copies/mL or rebound of > or = 0.7 log10. RESULTS: 12/36 (33%) pts had virologic failure at W24 and 10 additional pts had HIV RNA > 50 copies/mL at W12 or W24. There was a significant association between baseline viral load (VL) and virologic failure in 0%, 29%, and 64% pts with baseline VL levels < 4, 4-5, and > 5 log10 copies/mL, respectively (p = .014). 76% of pts developed K65R and M184V/I mutations by W24, and 19% developed M184V/I alone. At W4, 86% of pts had adequate plasma Cmin for the 3 drugs. 14 pts with K65R and M184V/I were given a rescue therapy with a successful outcome (< 50 copies/mL; median follow-up 48 weeks). CONCLUSION: Convergent genetic pathway to resistance, in conjunction with lower antiretroviral potency, may explain the high rate of selection K65R and M184V mutations. These mutations did not appear to have a negative effect on rescue therapy with a variety of regimens.
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The spectrum of 182 hospital Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, collected over a five-year period, is reviewed. The diagnosis was based on complement fixation test. Mycoplasma infection was encountered mainly in young people, mean age 29 years. Eighty-four per cent presented with an atypical pneumonia, 33 per cent had extrapulmonary manifestations mainly neurological and cutaneous. Acute respiratory failure occurred in 32 cases. Only 5 patients died. Macrolides or tetracyclines remain the most effective antibiotics but spontaneous recovery is usual.
Diagnosis of small intestine parasitosis can be realized by string-test. This examination, easily performed, does not produce side-effects in ninety percent of cases. The main problems are: good string unrollment and duodenal passing over. When Necator ova or gardia cysts are found in the stools by the Junod's technic, string-test is always positive. In one case, this latter even showed Schistosoma mansoni ova. Among 18 patients with unexplained hypereosinophilia, in spite of a parasitologic check up involving three stools examinations, the string-test showed Necator ova. With regard to strongyloidiasis, when properly performed, string-test is positive in seventy percent of cases. Therefore, this technic seems very useful on the field or in laboratories which do not usually realize the Junod's technic.