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Biomedical subjects

E Noel

Publications and source records attributed to E Noel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Cobalamin deficiencies in adults: update of etiologies, clinical manifestations and treatment].

PURPOSE: Update of the adult cobalamin deficiencies. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: More precise definitions establish the true cobalamin deficiencies and determine their real epidemiology. The current clinical data suggest the concept of food-cobalamin malabsorption as the leading etiology of cobalamin deficiency. The new features of cobalamin deficiency include neurological, gynecological and vascular manifestations. Current treatment modalities include nasal, sublingual and oral cobalamin administration. PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: Studies are in the way to establish the relevance of the new clinical manifestations and to validate the usefulness of oral cobalamin therapy.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

[Update of pernicious anemia. A retrospective study of 49 cases].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the present clinical characteristics of the pernicious anemia (PA). METHOD: It is a retrospective (1996-2002) multicenter (five departments of internal medicine) study of 49 patients presenting an established cobalamin deficiency related to PA. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 74 years (25-93), the female/male ratio 2:9. Several autoimmune disorders were noted in 35% of the patients. Various clinical manifestations, mainly neurological, cutaneous and thrombotic, were found in 65.4% of the patients, at least one hematological abnormalities in 100%. Average serum vitamin B12 and homocystein levels were with 73 pg/ml (20-1960) and 42.9 micromol/l (7, 8-124). Anti-intrinsic factor or anti-parietal gastric cells antibodies were found in 87.5% and 62% of the patients (at least one antibody, in 96%) abnormal Schilling's test results in 86%. All the followed patients were successful treated with intramuscular (n = 27) or oral crystalline cyanocobalamin (n = 5). CONCLUSIONS: PA was associated with several autoimmune disorders; PA may be responsible of various clinical manifestations or biological abnormalities; and oral crystalline cyanocobalamin treatment may be successful.

Adult↗

[Is there a link between the food-cobalamin malabsorption and the pernicious anemia?].

BACKGROUND: A relation between food-cobalamin malabsorption and pernicious anemia has been suggested, particularly in the event of food-cobalamin malabsorption related to hypochlorhydric atrophic gastritis. STUDY DESIGN: This work describes three cases of well-documented cobalamin deficiency related to food-cobalamin malabsorption in three women aged 56, 82 and 68 Years who had atrophic gastritis (not associated with Helicobacter pylori infection) and later developed authentic pernicious anemia. CONCLUSIONS: This work illustrates the potential relation between these two disorders responsible for cobalamin deficiency.

Adult↗

Current management of adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in practice: a cohort study of 201 patients from a single center.

To define usefulness and response to therapy and outcome in adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in clinical practice. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 201 consecutive patients with ITP, diagnosed between 1985 and 1994. In particular, we analyzed the therapies used, their response rates, prognostic indicators of response and outcome. In 62 patients, with minor bleeding episodes and a mean (+/- SD) platelet count of 88 +/- 23 x 10(9)/l, no treatment was used and chronic ITP was diagnosed in 59%. A total of 139 patients, with bleeding episodes in 71.2% cases and a mean platelet count of 20 +/- 13 x 10(9)/l, received at least one treatment. Three patients died (1.5% of the series). Corticosteroids were used in 118 patients, with an initial response rate of 82.2% and a long-term complete response (CR) of only 22.9%. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 26 patients, with an initial transient response in more than 60%. A splenectomy was performed in 55 patients, with an initial response rate of 92.5% and a long-term CR in 60%. Young age and prior response to corticosteroids were significant predictors of a durable response to splenectomy. Danazol was given in 37 patients, with a favorable response in 73% of cases. Our results illustrate the guidelines of the American Society of Hematology. Patients with moderate thrombocytopenia do not require treatment. In severe cases, splenectomy is the only treatment giving durable cures in a significant proportion of patients. Despite frequent chronicity, ITP is life-threatening only in a minor subset of patients.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Vitamin B12 deficiency with normal Schilling test or non-dissociation of vitamin B12 and its carrier proteins in elderly patients. A study of 60 patients].

PURPOSE: Approximately 15% of people over 60 years old have a cobalamin (Cbl) deficiency in relation with a food-cobalamin malabsorption (FCM). But to date, only case reports or small series have been reported. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of the FCM in old subjects. METHODS: Sixty patients, at least 65 years old, presenting a Cbl deficiency related to FCM, were extracted from a cohort study of the Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, France (n = 169). All these patients had an established diagnosis of Cbl deficiency and met the Carmel's criteria of FCM. Their clinical data were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The median age of the 60 patients was 75 years and the female/male ratio was 2.3. The principal clinical symptoms were peripheral neuropathy (35%), confusion and dementia (30%) and anemia-related manifestations such as asthenia and edemas of the legs (20%). Average hemoglobin was 10.7 +/- 2.5 g/dl and average mean erythrocyte cell volume was 95.5 +/- 13.8 fl. There was an anemia, a leucopenia, a thrombocytopenia and a pancytopenia in respectively 27%, 18%, 15% and 8% of the cases. Average serum vitamin B(12) and homocystein levels were with 138 +/- 42 pg/ml and 22.5 +/- 15.2 micro mol/l. No patient had anti-intrinsic factor antibody and the Schilling's test was normal in all patients. Main disorders associated with FCM were atrophic gastritis (59%), long-term metformin or antiacid intake (17%), chronic alcohol intake (8%) and idiopathic FCM (n = 10). Sixteen patients have been successfully treated with oral crystalline cyanocobalamin (500 +/- 280 micro g/d). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that: firstly, the Cbl deficiency related to FCM may be responsible of severe neurological and hematologic manifestations in approximately 20% of the elderly patients; secondly, the disorders associated with the FCM are multiple in old age, with mainly atrophic gastritis; and thirdly, in clinical practice, oral cyanoCbl treatment may be successful.

Administration, Oral↗

Efficacy of short-term oral cobalamin therapy for the treatment of cobalamin deficiencies related to food-cobalamin malabsorption: a study of 30 patients.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that oral cobalamin (vitamin (B12)) therapy may be an effective therapy for treating cobalamin deficiencies related to food-cobalamin malabsorption. However, the duration of this treatment was not determined. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In an open-label, nonplacebo study, we studied 30 patients with established cobalamin deficiency related to food-cobalamin malabsorption, who received between 250 and 1000 microg of oral crystalline cyanocobalamin per day for at least 1 month. ENDPOINTS: Blood counts, serum cobalamin and homocysteine levels were determined at baseline and during the first month of treatment. RESULTS: During the first month of treatment, 87% of the patients normalized their serum cobalamin levels; 100% increased their serum cobalamin levels (mean increase, +167 pg/dl; P < 0.001 compared with baseline); 100% had evidence of medullary regeneration; 100% corrected their initial macrocytosis; and 54% corrected their anemia. All patients had increased hemoglobin levels (mean increase, +0.6 g/dl) and reticulocyte counts (mean increase, +35 x 10(6)/l) and decreased erythrocyte cell volume (mean decrease, 3 fl; all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that crystalline cyanocobalamin, 250-1000 microg/day, given orally for 1 month, may be an effective treatment for cobalamin deficiencies not related to pernicious anemia.

Aged↗

Integration of tuberculosis screening at an HIV voluntary counselling and testing centre in Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the integration of tuberculosis screening into the activities of an HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centre in a country with endemic tuberculosis. SETTING: An HIV VCT centre in Port au Prince, Haiti. DESIGN: All patients presenting for HIV VCT who reported cough received same-day evaluation for active tuberculosis. Of the 1327 adults presenting to the centre for the first time between January and April 1997, 263 (20%) reported cough and of these 241 (92%) were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 241 patients evaluated for cough, 76 (32%) were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Of the 76 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, 28 (37%) had a positive smear for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), 14 (18%) had a negative AFB smear but a positive sputum culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 34 (45%) had culture-negative tuberculosis. Also, 31 out of 241 (13%) VCT clients evaluated for cough were diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. CONCLUSION: This report confirms that in areas with a high HIV and tuberculosis prevalence, a high proportion of VCT clients have active pulmonary tuberculosis. The integration of tuberculosis screening offers several benefits, including the diagnosis and treatment of large numbers of individuals with tuberculosis, a decreased risk of nosocomial tuberculosis transmission, and the opportunity to provide tuberculosis prophylaxis to HIV-positive patients in whom tuberculosis has been excluded. Future studies are needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of integrated tuberculosis and HIV VCT services, and whether integration should be recommended in all countries with high HIV and tuberculosis rates.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Effects of joint lavage and steroid injection in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of joint lavage and intraarticular steroid injection, alone and in combination, in the treatment of patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with painful tibiofemoral OA were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, controlled, 2 x 2 factorial-design trial of 6 months' duration. The 4 treatment groups consisted of 1) intraarticular placebo (1.5 ml of 0.9% normal saline), 2) intraarticular corticosteroids (3.75 mg of cortivazol in 1.5 ml), 3) joint lavage and intraarticular placebo, and 4) joint lavage and intraarticular corticosteroid. Outcome measures evaluated at baseline, week 1, week 4, week 12, and week 24 included severity of pain (100-mm visual analog scale [VAS]), global status (100-mm VAS), and Lequesne's functional index. RESULTS: No interaction between steroid injection and joint lavage was demonstrated. Patients who had undergone joint lavage had significantly improved pain VAS scores at week 24 (P = 0.020). In contrast, corticosteroid injection had no long-term effect (P = 0.313); corticosteroid injection was associated with a decrease in pain only at week 1 (P = 0.003) and week 4 (P = 0.020). After week 4, Lequesne's functional index was not significantly improved regardless of the assigned treatment. CONCLUSION: Compared with placebo, both treatments significantly relieved pain but did not improve functional impairment. The effects of the 2 treatments were additive. Cortivazol provided short-term relief of pain (up to week 4). The effects of joint lavage persisted up to week 24.

Aged↗

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

OBJECTIVES: To describe magnetic resonance imaging findings in idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder underwent magnetic resonance imaging involving two spin-echo T2-weighted sequences with fat saturation and two spin-echo T1-weighted postgadolinium sequences; for all sequences, sections were obtained in the oblique coronal and transverse axial planes. Findings were compared to those obtained using the same imaging protocol in 15 patients with clinical manifestations of rotator cuff tear. RESULTS: Postgadolinium enhancement of the joint capsule and synovial membrane was seen in the rotator interval in all 25 adhesive capsulitis patients and in the axillary recess in 22 of the 25. Only one of the 15 rotator cuff tear patients had this finding. In both groups, postgadolinium enhancement occurred in the subacromial bursa, in the rotator cuff tendons, and in the acromioclavicular joint. No significant rotator cuff tears were found in any of the adhesive capsulitis patients. CONCLUSION: In difficult cases, magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium injection can contribute to the diagnosis of idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Adult↗