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Biomedical subjects

D Bernard

Publications and source records attributed to D Bernard.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Variations in committed stem cells (CFU-GM and CFU-TL) in the peripheral blood of cancer patients treated by sequential combination chemotherapy for breast cancer.

The present work compared the blood variations in some committed stem cells (CSC), and corresponding differentiated WBC during the first three courses of a 6-day sequential chemotherapy given to 16 breast cancer patients for 28 days each. The granulomonocytic and lymphocytic colony-forming unit levels in blood were significantly lowered in cancer patients before treatment. These CSC appeared to have cyclic variations following each course of chemotherapy. In granulomonocytic colony-forming units, a nadir was observed by Day 15, followed by a sharp rebound above the initial values by Days 22 to 24, which was not affected in magnitude by the continuation of treatment. In lymphocytic colony-forming units, the Day 1 level increased with the continuation of chemotherapy. The initial decrease was less marked, but by Day 15 a minimal level was also observed, followed by a progressive increase to reach a maximum by Day 28. Leukocytes and granulocytes reached a nadir by Days 16 to 17 and recovered by Day 25. The cyclic evolution of monocytes was less apparent as was that of lymphocytes; however, there was less restoration of monocytes and lymphocytes than of granulocytes at the end of the resting period. This study showed: (a) an apparent relationship between the level of CSC in blood, and subsequent variations in the corresponding mature cells of the same lineage; and (b) a weak interval of time between the nadir and peaks of CSC and the corresponding mature cells, which was more evident in the granulocytic lineage. These observations seemed to be of physiological importance, but the possible prediction value of peripheral granulomonocytic colony-forming unit peak magnitude following treatment remains to be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A new method of preparing hapten-carrier immunogens by coupling with Saccharomyces cerevisiae by periodate oxidation.

A new method of preparing hapten-carrier immunogens is described. The carrier used was Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Coupling was carried out with bovine serum albumin (BSA). BSA was conjugated with mannose residues of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls, following periodate oxidation to produce aldehyde groups reactive with side chain amino groups of BSA. The coupling was stabilized and non-reactant aldehydes were blocked with sodium borohydride reduction. A hapten, 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodo-L-tyrosyl-L-tyrosine, was also coupled with the yeast. Anti-hapten antibodies were obtained in rabbit with this conjugate.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Fistulas in diverticular disease of the colon: study of 29 cases].

In analysing 29 patients with diverticular disease of the colon complicated by fistula, the authors encountered four types of fistula: colovesical, colovaginal, coloileal and colocutaneous. The commonest was the colovesical fistula (50%), which was diagnosed by the history and the suggestive cystoscopic findings. Colovaginal fistula was also suspected by the history and the presence of a pelvic mass in hysterectomized patients. Colocutaneous fistulas are demonstrated by fistulography whereas coloileal fistulas, which do not have clinical signs, are discovered only at operation. Surgical treatment, consisting of resection and anastomosis of the involved segment of the colon, is necessary. A one-stage procedure is usually feasible with little morbidity if the delay between the acute phase and the operation is longer than 3 months. When the operation is attempted sooner, the surgeon may have to use more than one stage with a longer period of disability and the possibility of more complications. Because the development of a fistula with diverticular disease seldom needs urgent surgical exploration, the authors recommend 3 months of conservative therapy after the acute phase to allow the local inflammatory reaction to subside so a one-stage operation can be performed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Plasma and urinary antithrombin III in the nephrotic syndrome in adults].

The occurrence of thromboembolism in nephrotic syndrome has been recently correlated with acquired antithrombin III (AT III) deficiency (and this raised the question of the prevention and treatment of thromboembolism with heparin). We studied AT III levels in plasma and urine in 39 adults with nephrotic syndrome. Three patients have had thromboembolic manifestations (before treatment with heparin). Their albuminemia was less than 18 g/l, their plasmatic AT III levels were normal and one had an elevated urine AT III level. Plasmatic AT III levels and albuminemia were positively correlated (r = 0.34; p less than 0.05) but AT III levels remained in the normal range being moderately diminished in only 3 patients never less than 70 p. 100. There was no correlation between plasmatic AT III level and proteinuria or urinary AT III levels. We conclude that the risk of thromboembolism in adults with nephrotic syndrome is not correlated with plasmatic AT III levels. This suggests that heparin therapy would be effective in preventing thromboembolism in this disorder. Indeed, no such episodes were seen in our patients under heparin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

High intermuscular anal abscess and fistula: analysis of 25 cases.

Although the majority of anal abscesses and fistulas are of the simple or low variety (intersphincteric or transsphincteric in Parks' classification), some of the simple, but high intermuscular, type are not recognized clinically and are not properly treated because they do not present the usual visible signs. Characteristically, there is no external swelling, induration or opening and there is high extension with a palpable mass or induration above the levator ani. Out of 350 patients with anal abscesses and fistulas treated by the first author, 25 (7%) patients had a high intermuscular abscess. Of these 25, 14 (56%) had a history of anal problems. Eight of these 14 had undergone anorectal surgery previously, and in 3 laparotomy was added, 2 being left with a diverting colostomy. On the other hand, 11 (44%) patients had no previous anal manifestation and 9 of them presented with an acute abscess. All patients had a palpable mass or induration above the levator ani and in all but one a primary opening was found on the dentate line. Fistulotomy was done in 22 of the 25 cases and incision and drainage into the anorectum in the other 3. The authors conclude that for prompt diagnosis and proper treatment the surgeon should be highly suspicious of the condition, have a perfect knowledge of the surgical anatomy of anal abscesses and fistulas and follow three steps: (a) look for a primary opening at the dentate line, (b) pass a cannula from this opening into the cavity or induration and (c) divide the circular muscle and internal sphincter until the upper end of the tract is reached.

Abscess↗
PubMed1982

Suppressor cells in Lewis rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: prevention of the disease and inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by the suppressor cells or their products.

Lewis rats primed with myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant develop experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and suddenly recover 15 to 17 days later. It was previously found that nondraining lymph node (non-DLN) cells taken at the time of convalescence and transferred into syngeneic normal animals inhibit the subsequent induction of EAE. In this report, it is shown that a suppressive factor can be extracted from non-DLN cells which mimics the inhibitory effect of cells when injected into the recipients. Non-DLN cells keep their suppressive activity on the induction of EAE after a culture of 48 h but their supernatant of culture failed to exert any protective effect in vivo. However, in vitro both the culture supernatant and the suppressor cells were found to have an inhibitory effect on the proliferative response of immune lymphoid cells to the antigen (MBP).

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Alkaline reflux gastritis: Roux-en-Y diversion is effective.

Even though controversy persists over the physiopathology of alkaline reflux gastritis, Roux-en-Y diversion is a well-accepted surgical treatment and was used in 23 patients over a 6-year period at the Hôpital St-Luc in Montreal. Of the 23 patients, 21 had complete relief of symptoms. Objective criteria for the selection of patients who would benefit from operation are still to be defined. The authors discuss the physiopathology through an extensive review of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Epidemiological and serological study of hepatitis A virus outbreaks in France: a comparison between immunoadherence and radioimmunoassay.

An epidemiological study and the simultaneous evaluation of anti-HAV antibody using radio immunoassay (RIA) and immunoadherence hemagglutination assay (IAHA) was performed during three hepatitis A epidemics in the Tours area (France). Fifty-seven sera from 35 subjects with viral hepatitis type A and 16 sera from nine children who did not develop any clinical signs of hepatitis were studied. The more explosive epidemic occurred in an institution for mentally retarded children (attack rate 68%). The two major outbreaks observed were due to the introduction of the institutions of individuals infected with hepatitis A virus. Two out of three of the index cases had a seafood dinner three to four weeks before onset of jaundice. Sera taken one week after jaundice were always found to be anti-HAV positive by both RIA and IAHA, and sera taken more than three days before the appearance of jaundice were negative by both methods. Sera taken at the peak of the transaminase elevation were anti-HAV positive by RIA but only one out of two were positive by IAHA. The anti-HAV titre by RIA increased from the time of the appearance of jaundice and the highest titres, over 1/20000 were seen only after several months. Observations of subjects in close contact with patients who seroconverted without any manifestation of hepatitis, confirmed the existence of clinically mute infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Prognostic importance of skin tests in high-risk patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit].

This report involves the study of skin test carried out using five antigens (tuberculin, candidin, -haemolytic streptococcus, staphylococcus albus, pertussis bacillus) in 33 patients hospitalised in a polyvalent intensive care unit with two criteria of inclusion:--associated excretion of 20 g of nitrogen or more per hour;--severe infectious complications (either pneumonia or septicaemia). Three patient populations were found: true anergism (all skin tests negative), relative anergism (one test only positive) and reactive (at least two tests positive). Results were analysed at two levels. With regard to the value of the tests: the use of candidin or of haemolytic streptococcus alone would have sufficed to classify the patients within the same groups with two exceptions. Secondly, from a prognostic standpoint, the study confirmed data in the literature. There was a significant between the anergic and reactive groups in terms of survival. This applied both to tests performed at the time of admission of the patients as well as those repeated one week later.

Adult↗