Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Sicard

Publications and source records attributed to D Sicard.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Acute arthritis and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Rwanda.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the etiology of acute arthritis observed in adults and to define its relationship with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda. METHODS: From September 1, 1989 until March 31, 1990 we conducted a study of all new patients admitted with acute arthritis to the outpatient and inpatient services of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Centre Hospitalier de Kigali, in Kigali, Rwanda, a city highly endemic for HIV infection. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (27 men 9 women; mean age: 31 years, range 18-65) were included in the study. Twenty-six (72%) were HIV seropositive. Two main diagnostic categories emerged, both strongly associated with HIV infection: (1) aseptic arthritis: 16 (44.5%) patients including 12 (33.5%) patients with spondyloarthropathy of whom 10 (83%) were HIV seropositive, and 4 (11%) patients with HIV related arthritis, (2) septic arthritis: 11 (30%) patients of whom 9 (82%) were HIV seropositive, including 4 with gonococcal, 2 with staphylococcal, 1 with Salmonella B and 2 with tuberculous arthritis. CONCLUSION: In an area highly endemic for HIV, acute arthritis should be considered a possible manifestation of HIV infection and should prompt HIV testing.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

[Lupus, sicca syndrome and chronic interstitial nephritis. Apropos of a case].

A female patient from the French Antilles developed renal failure due to pure chronic interstitial nephritis six months after the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for which she was taking hydroxychloroquine. Over time, results of biologic tests became suggestive of concomitant Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome, but neither the clinical nor the histologic findings were consistent with this diagnosis. The diagnosis of overlap syndrome between SLE and Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome was established only six years later when the patient developed ocular and oral sicca syndrome with enlargement of the parotid glands.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to HIV-1 proteins.

OBJECTIVE: To study the degree of immunogenicity of each HIV-1 protein. DESIGN: In most viral systems, antiviral cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) from a given donor preferentially recognize only one or a small number of viral proteins. METHODS: Anti-HIV CTL were generated by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seropositive donors and tested against multiple HIV-1 proteins or groups of proteins encoded by seven genes (env, gag, pol, nef, rev, tat and vif). Using autologous target cells infected with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing one of the HIV-1LAI proteins, we compared the cytolytic activities obtained from bulk culture with those found in limiting dilution analysis (LDA). RESULTS: Our results were noteworthy for the following reasons. (1) Each responding donor reacted simultaneously to multiple proteins; this is very unusual in other viral systems. Anti-Gag CTL were detected in most, and anti-Pol in approximately three-quarters, of the patients, together with very high amounts of the corresponding CTL precursors in LDA. CTL against Env and Nef were found in two-thirds of the patients, while Vif- and Rev-specific CTL were less frequent. Finally, Tat was seldom recognized by CTL, but its antigenicity was revealed in LDA. (2) All responding cells revealed in bulk cultures as well as in LDA were CD8+ T-cells, and their in vitro differentiation did not require the help of CD4+ T-cells. (3) Proteins from the HIV-1LAI isolate were recognized with high frequency by CTL from seropositive donors, most certainly being infected by other isolates, which suggests that relatively conserved epitopes are predominant targets of CTL. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results are encouraging for vaccine purposes, since anti-HIV-1 CTL stimulation is thought to be a requirement for such a vaccine.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1991

Six epitopes reacting with human cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in the central region of the HIV-1 NEF protein.

In order to identify the target epitopes recognized by specific CTL in the NEF protein of HIV-1, 33 peptides derived from the HIV-BRU sequence were tested with NEF-specific CTL generated from HIV-seropositive donors. Six different epitopes were identified and several points were remarkable: 1) They were all located in two regions of the central part of the NEF protein corresponding to residues 73 to 94 and 113 to 147, respectively. 2) The CTL issued from a single donor could recognize several peptides of the NEF protein. 3) Some of these peptides could be recognized in association with at least two or three different HLA class I molecules. 4) Two different overlapping epitopes were present in a relatively short sequence of 15 amino acids. These results suggest that multiple epitopes corresponding to different HLA restrictions could coexist in a relatively small region of the NEF protein. The implications of these results in vaccine strategies using synthetic peptides bearing CTL epitopes are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Intravascular lymphomatosis (neoplastic angioendotheliosis) of the central nervous system: case report and literature review.

A 63-year-old woman developed gradual slowness, recurrent multifocal deficits, severe constitutional symptoms and hypopituitarism which progressed to death over 2.5 months. Elevation in lactico dehydrogenases was the main biological abnormality. Necropsy showed an intravascular malignant proliferation which proved to be a lymphoma of B-lineage. In order to better define diagnostic criteria, we reviewed previously reported cases of intravascular lymphomatosis of the central nervous system. A strategy for establishing the diagnosis is proposed.

Blood Vessels↗
PubMed1991

Heparin cofactor II: an acute phase reactant in patients with deep vein thrombosis.

In human plasma, heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a thrombin inhibitor which displays similarities with antithrombin III (ATIII). As previously reported for hereditary ATIII deficiency, cases of recurrent thrombosis were reported in patients with hereditary HCII deficiency. Here, plasma HCII activity was studied in 372 patients with a history of thrombosis, classified according to their anticoagulant therapy. The mean plasma HCII level was significantly higher in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) under heparin therapy than in patients with a history of thrombosis, who were studied more than 3 months after the acute event, and were either on, or had been on, oral anticoagulant therapy. HCII and fibrinogen were significantly correlated in all three groups of patients. These results were strengthened by those of a follow-up study in 23 patients with acute DVT. Changes in plasma HCII activity paralleled those of fibrinogen. This suggests that HCII might behave like an acute phase reactant in patients with thrombosis and that the measurement of its plasma level as a risk factor for thrombosis should be performed some time after the acute episode. In conclusion, the prevalence of HCII deficiency in patients with a history of thrombosis might have been underestimated in series which included patients with acute thrombosis.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1991

[Vasculitis and neoplasms. 14 cases].

Fourteen cases of vasculitis associated with a neoplasm are reported. The vasculitides were classified as: leukocytolytic vasculitis 7, periarteritis nodosa 4, purpura rheumatica 1, cutaneous granulomatous vasculitis 1, microvasculitis nervosa 1. The neoplasms were diagnosed as: 10 hemopathies (including 4 cases of refractory anemia) and 5 solid tumors (1 patient had 2 tumors). The cutaneous manifestations (purpura, papules, subcutaneous nodules, etc.) and fever were the most common, while joint and neurological involvement were the rarest. The evolution of the vasculitis was usually corticosensitive and independent of the underlying neoplasm. A review of the literature revealed that these vasculitides (primarily leukocytolytic) were frequently associated with dysplastic myelogenous syndromes and hairy cell leukemia, while bronchopulmonary and colonic neoplasms were the most common solid tumors. The mechanisms giving rise to these vasculitides are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Systemic bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection, 'BCGitis', in patients treated by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for bladder cancer.

Among 169 patients treated for supeficial bladder tumor with 150 mg Pasteur-strain bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical instillation, 5 cases of 'BCGitis' were observed, i.e. a severe systemic BCG infection with bronchopulmonary lesions and granulomatous hepatitis. In 4 cases, the complications appeared at the early stage of treatment (after the 3rd, 6th, 6th and 8th instillations, respectively). In 1 case, treated with monthly maintenance therapy for 2 years, BCGitis appeared 6 months after treatment had been completed and, in addition to pulmonary basal infiltrate and granulomatous hepatitis, intramedullary granulomatosis was observed. In 3 patients, trauma must be taken into consideration as BCGitis appeared after traumatic instillation with bleeding. All patients were cured by treatment with rifampicin, isoniazid and prednisone.

Administration, Intravesical↗