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Biomedical subjects

E Pichard

Publications and source records attributed to E Pichard.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Specificity of the solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay for the diagnosis of human Schistosoma mansoni infection.

The species specificity of the solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay (APIA) for the immunological detection of human immunoglobulin G antibodies to the alkaline phosphatase of adult Schistosoma mansoni was evaluated. Sera from schistosomiasis patients from South America, West Africa, south-east Asia and uninfected control subjects were compared. Only the sera of patients infected with S. mansoni gave positive results. There was no apparent difference between 2 populations infected with S. mansoni, one from South America and the other from West Africa. The results with sera from various regions of West Africa were also indistinguishable. Although the APIA was not able to discriminate the geographical origin of the S. mansoni-infected subjects, the method appeared to be specific for S. mansoni and suitable for use in the immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni, particularly in endemic areas where mixed infections of Schistosoma spp. occur.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pain in oncology].

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Analgesics↗
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[Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Mali].

This review summarises epidemiological and clinical data of HIV infection who was recognized in Mali since 1985. The most important rate of seropositivity for HIV is observed in the prostitutes group (40%). The estimated seroprevalence for adult population is between 1% and 5%. 46 cases for AIDS are reported in both sexes. The mean age is 35 years. Main signs are weight loss (91%), fever (80%), diarrhea (70%) and lymphadenopathy (50%). Three among the five cases of Kaposi's sarcoma are aggressive. 19.5% of AIDS have antibodies to HIV1, 41.3% to HIV2 and 39.1% to HIV1 and HIV2. Death rate is more than 50%. These data are compared with other countries of Africa.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effectiveness of a water iodination system for preventing iodine deficiency diseases in Central Africa].

Iodine deficiency disorders are major problems in most developing countries. According to WHO more than one billion people worldwide are at risk for iodine deficiency. However, prophylaxis programs based on the distribution of iodized salt have been unsuccessful in developing countries for socioeconomic reasons. We tested the efficacy of iodination of water with sodium iodide incorporated into silicone matrices (Rhône-Poulenc-Rorer-Doma). Nine such matrices were placed into each of the 198 wells supplying more than 90% of the 85,037 inhabitants of the Nana-Grebizi prefecture (figure 1). Efficacy was evaluated by following classical markers of iodine deficiency in representative samples of the population (figure 2): goiter size was measured immediately before (T = 0, n = 3,090) and twelve months after (T = 12, n = 2,645) installation of the matrices; and urinary iodine concentrations were assayed at T = 0 (n = 319), 6 (n = 304) and 12 (n = 261). The prevalence of goiter was 60.9% (visible goiter 10.7%, cretinism 0.7%) and the median urinary iodine concentration was 2.1 (95% confidence interval 2.0-2.3) micrograms/dl. Thus the population suffered from severe iodine deficiency. All villages were severely affected, despite inter-village variations (tables 1 and 2, figure 4). Twelve months after iodination of wells, the overall prevalence of goiter fell to 44.5% (p < 0.0001, table 1 and figure 3) and that of visible goiter to 2.5% (p < 0.0001). With the exception of one village (Bokanzi) the prevalence of goiter decreased by 18.6 to 56.3% (table 1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rebound fever in bacterial meningitis: role of dexamethasone dosage.

Since introducing dexamethasone as adjuvant therapy to antibiotics for bacterial meningitis, we have noticed an increase in the number of cases with secondary fever. Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis of the 19 consecutive cases occurring during the last 5 years. Six patients received dexamethasone for 4 days, 5 received a 2-day course of dexamethasone and 8 received antibiotics only. The etiologic agents included: Haemophilus influenzae (in 11 patients), Streptococcus pneumoniae (in 6) and Neisseria meningitidis (in 2). Among the 11 patients receiving dexamethasone, the fever remitted within 1-5 days (average 1.7 +/- 1.2) while among the 8 patients not receiving dexamethasone the initial fever lasted 1-17 days (average 5.3 +/- 1.7) (P = 0.009). There was secondary fever without a definable clinical or bacteriological source in 9 of 11 patients receiving dexamethasone and in none of those who were treated without steroids (P < 0.001). The secondary fever among those who received dexamethasone for 2 days was low grade (37.5 degrees-38 degrees C) and lasted for 1 day only, while among those who received dexamethasone for 4 days it was > 38 degrees C and more prolonged (7 +/- 2.3 days) (P < 0.03). Total days of fever were 2.2 +/- 0.2 days when dexamethasone was administered for 2 days only vs. 7.8 +/- 1.7 for the patients in each of the two other groups (P < 0.03). The relatively benign course with the 2-day regimen of dexamethasone makes us consider whether a 2-day course of dexamethasone might save costly evaluations of secondary fever and much concern. Further studies are needed in order to document the efficacy of this regimen in reducing neurological sequelae.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Human intestinal microsporidiosis in Bamako (Mali): the presence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in HIV seropositive patients].

A study was conducted between 1993 and 1996 in Bamako to determine the rate of occurrence of microsporidia in 88 patients. Most (80%) had chronic diarrhea associated with weight loss and 87.5% were HIV-positive. Intestinal microsporidia were detected in 32% of the patients infected with HIV-1, HIV-2, or coinfected with both strains. Microsporidiosis was also diagnosed in three of the eleven HIV-negative individuals (27%). Microsporidiosis was confirmed by electron microscopy in 6 HIV-positive patients and 1 HIV-negative individual. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected in each case. These results suggest that microsporidia are common pathogens in HIV-positive patients in Bamako. Cases of microsporidiosis have been reported for the first time in HIV-2-infected patients. The proportion of women microsporidiosis patients is higher in Mali than in industrialized countries. The presence of microsporidia in HIV-negative patients suggests that these parasites may be an underestimated cause of enteritis in developing countries.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗