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Biomedical subjects

D Gendrel

Publications and source records attributed to D Gendrel.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Impairment of lung diffusion capacity in Schönlein-Henoch purpura.

Twenty-nine children with typical Schönlein-Henoch purpura (SHP) were tested at the initial phase of the disease for respiratory function. Of the 29 patients, 28 had a decrease of lung transfer for carbon monoxide (TLCO) as measured by a steady-state method. Lung volumes and blood gas values were normal; slight radiologic signs of interstitial lung involvement were observed in 18 of 26 patients. There was a decrease in TLCO to 56.8% of normal values for height and gender and to 58.5% when normal values were volume-adjusted to functional residual capacity. In 19 of 25 patients, TLCO measurements were performed at 3-month intervals during follow-up. In all cases, normalization of TLCO values was observed only after complete clinical recovery from SHP. All children with persisting symptoms, even limited to microscopic hematuria or slight proteinuria, had low TLCO values. In one patient low TLCO during follow-up preceded a late relapse of SHP in the form of acute nephritic disease with characteristic IgA deposits on renal biopsy. We conclude that low TLCO in SHP is probably related to alteration of the alveolar-capillary membrane by circulating immune complexes. This noninvasive technique may be useful in diagnosis, and during the follow-up of the disease as an early indicator of reactivation.

Carbon Monoxide↗

Serological tests in cerebrospinal fluid for congenital syphilis in central Africa.

Serological tests were performed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 13 children with active congenital syphilis (presence of specific IgM FTA-ABS antibodies) and of seven seropositive children with no active syphilis (FTA-ABS IgM-negative) born to syphilitic treated mothers in Libreville, Gabon. Antibodies against treponema were measured by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL), the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) and the fluorescent treponema antibody absorption tests (FTA-ABS IgG and IgM). Of the 13 children with active syphilis, seven had a positive FTA-ABS IgG in the CSF. The result of this test was not correlated with the severity of clinical features, CSF protein levels or number of CSF white blood cells. The CSF-TPHA test was positive in four out of 12 children, and the CSF-VDRL test was negative in all the children with active congenital syphilis. One of the seven newborns with mother-transmitted antibodies had a positive FTA-ABS and TPHA in the CSF. These data show that the VDRL is not sensitive enough to diagnose congenital neurosyphilis, and that FTA-ABS or, at least, TPHA are convenient, sometimes with false-positive results, when a sophisticated method of detecting specific IgM in CSF is not available.

Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test↗

Efficacy, safety and acceptability of halofantrine in the treatment of acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria in African children (Gabon).

Halofantrine chlorhydrate 2 per cent suspension was given to 50 children (mean age 6.2 years in a dose of 8 mg/kg three times a day as a single day treatment. The children were born and lived in Gabon, where malaria transmission is continuous. They all had acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The children were kept in hospital for 5 days, and regularly followed over a 15-day period. The 50 children were cured and efficacy was evaluated as good in 44 cases, and excellent in six cases, as judged by improvement in their clinical signs and parasitaemia. Two criterias were considered in the evaluation of efficacy: clearance of parasitaemia (mean day 4), fever clearance (mean hour 24). There were two cases of persistences of parasites at day 15 with a very low parasitaemia rate. Tolerance to halofantrine was good from a clinical and biological point of view. Acceptability was excellent in all cases. Halofantrine 2 per cent suspension is a good alternative in the treatment of acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children, especially with the present situation of multidrug-resistant strains in Central Africa.

Acute Disease↗

Influence of intestinal parasitism on lactose absorption in well-nourished African children.

Hydrogen breath tests were performed in Gabon (Central Africa) after a loading dose of lactose in 67 well-nourished African children (50 with intestinal parasites and 17 unparasitized) and in 18 unparasitized young adults. All had normal nutritional status, and none had diarrhea or digestive symptoms. Parasites that were found included Ascaris lumbricoides in 76% of the parasitized children, Trichuris trichiura in 58%, Giardia in 24%, Entamoeba histolytica in 20%, Schistosoma intercalatum in 16%, and Necator Americanus in 14%. A similar proportion of parasitized (64%) or unparasitized (62.8%) subjects were lactose malabsorbers. Giardia infection was associated with a higher, but not significantly different, proportion of lactose intolerance (10 of 12, 83.3%). The presence of infection with A. lumbricoides or T. trichiura did not increase the percentage of lactose malabsorption. These data indicate that a decrease of lactase activity in well-nourished African children is not related to the presence or the importance of Ascaris or other intestinal parasites if the nutritional status is normal.

Animals↗

[Immunity to and incidence of measles in a population of Parisian children].

BACKGROUND: Measles remains prevalent in France despite the development of nationwide vaccination program. This study evaluates measles immunity and correlates it with active immunization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 250 (131 boys and 119 girls) French children, aged 2 to 15 years, seen as outpatients in our hospital, were studied from 1.01.90 to 1.06.91; 133 had received live measles vaccine during the 2nd year of life, the 117 others were not vaccine-protected. Evaluation included medical records, specially those concerning past-history of measles or measles-like diseases and immunizations. Measles IgG and IgM antibodies (ELISA) were looked for in all 250 children. RESULTS: 102 of the 117 children who were not vaccine-protected had a detectable antibody titer. 42 of these 102 had a history of measles, before the age of 5 years in 30, between 5 and 10 years in 9 and after the age of 10 years in 3. Only 4 of the 70 children aged over 10 years and not vaccine-protected had no detectable antibodies. 131 of the 133 actively immunized children had detectable antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Measles is probably more frequently subclinical than was believed until now. Its relative frequency in France in children who had not received the live vaccine explains the high percentage of those aged over 10 years who had detectable antibodies and the relatively low incidence of the disease in teenagers and young adults.

Adolescent↗

[Imaging in pediatrics. Strategy and economic implications for the Third World].

The cost of acquiring medical imaging equipment is too high for many Third World nations. Ultrasonography and conventional roentegenography provide adequate data in most pediatric patients in tropical countries, for a low maintenance cost. Special training of practitioners in the use of these investigations is essential, before even performing the necessary choices among available equipment.

Developing Countries↗

[Decreased intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestinal mucosa in children with malnutrition and parasitic infections].

In Gabon, 15 children aged 13 to 36 months admitted for malnutrition with chronic diarrhea underwent a small bowel biopsy for detection of parasites in the duodenal contents and histologic evaluation of the intestinal mucosa. In every case, intraepithelial lymphocyte counts (IELC) were under the lower limit of normal for children and adults, regardless of whether or not parasites were found. Partial villous atrophy was a consistent finding. Proportion of lymphocytes among intraepithelial cells was 7.4% in the 6 children with no parasitic infection, 7.9% in the children with giardiasis, and 8.1% in the children with strongyloidiasis. Appropriate treatment of the parasitic infections was quickly followed by resolution of the diarrhea in the nine patients with demonstrable intestinal parasites. These data should be compared with the well documented lymphocyte function anomalies associated with protein-calory malnutrition. The fall in IELC and lack of response to local anigenic stimulations are features of malnutrition.

Atrophy↗

[X-ray findings in pulmonary tuberculosis in children and its complications].

Pulmonary tuberculosis is still a common disease in children, especially those of immigrant families. Prevention and diagnosis rest on the plain chest film which should remain the first step of the work-up. Apart from cerebromeningeal complication, CT scan is also useful for evaluating chest lesions including mediastinal lymphadenopathies and lung parenchyma involvement. CT scan combined with endoscopy ensures detection of complications including bronchogenic dissemination. With a few cases as illustrations, the role of roentgenographic investigations in the management of pediatric tuberculosis is outlined.

Adolescent↗

[Meningeal attacks during the course of congenital syphilis and therapeutic consequences].

In a study carried out in Gabon, antibodies against the treponema were looked for in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 13 children with active congenital syphilis (presence of specific IgM antibodies) and in 7 children with positive serologic reactions reflecting transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. Serologic reactions used included the VDRL test, the TPHA test, and the FTA-ABS IgG and IgM tests. Among the 13 children with syphilis, 7 had a positive FTA-ABS IgG test in the CSF without correlation with severity of clinical features, CSF protein levels or CSF cytologic findings. The TPHA test was positive in only four children and the VDRL test was always negative. Passage of antibodies into the CSF is possible (1 case in this study after treatment of the mother), but TPHA is helpful in developing countries of research of neurosyphilis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

[Role of cryptosporidiosis in infants in Gabon. Results of two prospective studies].

Two epidemiological surveys of cryptosporidiosis in urban and suburban areas of Libreville, Gabon, Equatorial Africa, were conducted in children. On 450 fecal samples on the first study, Cryptosporidium sp. has been seen about 3.11%. For the second survey, on 296 children, aged between 0 and 2 years, with acute diarrhoea, the rate of infestation was 24%. The maxima was observed for infants aged between 6-18 months, in case of malnutrition and during wet seasons.

Acute Disease↗