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Biomedical subjects

D Vincent

Publications and source records attributed to D Vincent.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Reduced responsiveness of adenylate cyclase in alveolar macrophages from patients with asthma.

Alveolar macrophages from patients with asthma accumulated less cyclic adenosine monophosphate when these macrophages were exposed to isobutyl methylxanthine, salbutamol, or prostaglandin E2, compared to cells from control subjects without asthma, and the degree of the hyporesponsiveness was related to the severity of asthma. In addition, a significantly lower adenylate cyclase activity was observed in crude membrane fractions of macrophages from the group with asthma in the presence of salbutamol and prostaglandin E2. The refractoriness observed in patients with asthma is thus not accounted for by a specific beta-adrenergic desensitization at the adenylate cyclase receptor level but should rather be explained by a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent postreceptor mechanism.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Effect of a fish oil diet on asthma: results of a 1-year double-blind study.

Airway inflammation is a major component of asthma. Food intake of N-3 fatty acids (FA) is associated with a low incidence of inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. We treated 12 asthmatic patients with FA and report the positive results of this 1-year double-blind study. A positive effect on forced expiratory volume in 1 s was observed after the 9 month of treatment. Our results are in favor of the use of FA, but have to be confirmed by other studies.

Analysis of Variance↗

Disseminated cutaneous and synovial Mycobacterium marinum infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus had a protracted skin infection with Mycobacterium marinum after a puffer fish sting. Disseminated cutaneous and synovial disease was associated with clinically active systemic lupus erythematosus two years after the initial infection. The infection was poorly responsive to multiple antituberculous regimens. Hematogenous spread of infection was the likely route of dissemination.

Adult↗

A simple in vitro test to evaluate biocompatibility of dialysis membranes.

As arachidonic acid metabolites are implicated in hypersensitivity reactions, we measured arachidonic acid metabolites of dialysed patient's granulocytes, preincubated with different dialysis membranes. Results indicate that cuprophan and cellulose acetate membranes partially inhibit in vitro production of 15-HETE and 5-HETE, whereas polyacrylonitrile membrane does not. This suggests that polyacrylonitrile is a more biocompatible membrane.

Acrylic Resins↗

Spontaneous calcific cerebral embolus from a calcific aortic stenosis in a middle cerebral artery infarct.

Calcific emboli from a calcific aortic stenosis is an uncommon event, usually following local trauma, as from cardiac surgery or left heart catheterization or as a sequel to bacterial endocarditis. We report what we believe to be the first case of a spontaneous calcareous emboli demonstrated by cranial computed tomography. In this patient, systemic hypertension and mild aortic insufficiency may have caused increasing mechanical forces acting on the aortic cusps and may have precipitated embolism.

Aged↗

Quantitative study of lateral horn cells in 15 cases of multiple system atrophy.

Nerve cell counts of the lateral horns of the spinal cord were performed in 15 cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA) and three age- and sex-matched controls. The patients with MSA were comprised of eight with severe postural hypotension, three with orthostatic hypotension and little or no disability and four without any signs of autonomic failure. All cases of MSA had lost more than half their lateral horn cells but nerve cell loss could not be correlated with the degree of dysautonomia. These results confirm the involvement of the intermediolateral columns of the spinal cord in MSA. However, the lack of correlation between cell loss and severity of autonomic failure in our cases, suggests that lesions of other sites, such as sympathetic ganglia or the dorsal vagal nuclei, are also implicated in dysautonomia.

Aged↗

[Thrombopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation during treatment with heparin: 2 cases with neurological complications].

We report two cases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (H.T.) associated with a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). Heparin was prescribed after a cerebral infarct in the first case and after an orthopedic surgical procedure in the second case. The DIC induced neurological complications and the death of both patients. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is common but is exceptionally associated with neurological symptoms. Heparin-induced DIC is quite uncommon, since only 20 cases have been reported but neurological complications (focal deficits or disturbances of consciousness) are noted in about one third of the cases and the outcome is fatal in 60 percent of the cases. The treatment of heparin-induced DIC and thrombocytopenia is disappointing. Monitoring of the platelets count is warranted during heparin treatment to prevent this severe complication.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation↗

[Behçet's diseases with multiple intracranial arterial aneurysms].

A case of multiple intracranial arterial aneurysms occurring in a 43 year-old patient with an 8-year history of Behcet's disease is reported. The diagnosis was based upon the past occurrence of polyarthritis, oral and scrotal aphthous ulcers and cutaneous hypersensitivity. There was a three year remission after a brief treatment with corticosteroids. At the end of this period, a left hemiplegia occurred. CT scan showed an infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Angiography showed fusiform aneurysms of the intracranial right internal carotid, right anterior and middle cerebral arteries. The draining veins and sinuses were normal. Careful angiographic examination of visceral and peripheral arteries showed only bilateral retinal artery aneurysms. Large artery involvement is a rare complication of Behcet's disease, and a thorough review of the literature showed only one reported case of an intracranial aneurysm.

Adult↗

[Myxedema coma with hypervasopressinism. 2 cases].

Hyponatremia is usual during myxedema coma. Hereafter we report two cases with increased plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP). Patients were admitted because of hypothyroid coma. In each case, there was an hyponatremia with normal urine sodium and low serum osmolality. Renal function was normal. On hormonal results, primary hypothyroidism was evident. Plasma AVP was increased. The plasma cortisol of one patient was high. Immediate therapy associated: water restriction, hypertonic saline infusion, furosemide, oral thyroid hormones with low doses. On the fourth day, conscience improved obviously. Natremia and plasma AVP went back to normal state before returning to euthyroid state. Patients went on improving along with normalizing thyroid status. Hyponatremia can be a serious sign of hypothyroidism. In case of myxedema coma with hyponatremia, clinical improvement seems to be related to fast correction of water and electrolyte disturbances and we prefer to give low doses of thyroid hormones at first. The hyponatremia and increased plasma AVP mechanisms are complex. However, in each of these cases, plasma AVP come back to normal before returning to euthyroid state. In one case, high plasma cortisol level rules out adrenal insufficiency as causal mechanism of electrolyte disorders.

Aged↗

Nerve and muscle microvasculitis in peripheral neuropathy: a remote effect of cancer?

In a series of 50 cases in which nerve and/or muscle microvasculitis was seen on biopsy, seven were associated with malignancy. In two cases, the cancer was found after the discovery of microvasculitis. All patients exhibited sensory-motor neuropathy, which was often painful and asymmetrical, with a progressive course. ESR and CSF protein levels were always elevated. Motor conduction velocity was slightly reduced in three cases, unmeasurable in one case, and normal in three. Cancers involved were adenocarcinoma in five cases (three prostate and two lung), Hodgkin's disease in one and immunoblastic lymphadenopathy in one. A thorough search for cancer should be performed when microvasculitis is seen in nerve or muscle biopsy specimens, especially when ESR and CSF protein levels are elevated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9: value in pancreatic pathology].

In order to determine the diagnostic usefulness of the dosage of carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) serum levels in pancreatic diseases, 38 patients with pancreatic lesions proved at laparotomy were studied. Pancreatic lesions were classified into two groups: a) group I: pancreatic adenocarcinoma (17 cases) b) group II: benign pancreatic diseases (21 cases). CA 19-9 serum levels were statistically higher in patients of the first group (p less than 0.001). All patients except one with CA 19-9 higher than 60 U/ml had pancreatic carcinoma. All patients except two with CA 19-9 less than 60 U/ml had a benign lesion. The sensitivity and specificity of CA 19-9 were 88 and 95 p. 100 respectively. These results show that CA 19-9 dosage is useful in distinguishing between benign and malign lesions of the pancreas.

Adenocarcinoma↗