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Biomedical subjects

F Blanc

Publications and source records attributed to F Blanc.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Interobserver concordance of echographic semiology in liver cirrhosis].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interobserver agreement of cirrhosis symptomatology. METHODS: Eight patients with cirrhosis (without ascites) and 23 patients with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis were included. Four observers (2 juniors and 2 seniors, with 1 specialist and 1 general radiologist in each group) independently evaluated video recordings. Agreement of 18 variables was calculated by using kappa index (k), intraclass correlation coefficient (r) and agreement proportion. Observer bias and poorly trained observers were also investigated. RESULTS: Liver: surface: k = 0.68, homogeneity: k = 0.25, span: r = 0.87, caudate lobe: r = 0.4 to 0.57 according to 3 dimensions, right lobe length: k = 0.33. Veins: portal diameter: r = 0.73, splenic diameter: r = 0.75; umbilical vein: presence: k = 0.19, diameter: r = 0.5; left gastric vein: presence: k = 0, diameter: r = 0.18; spleno-renal shunt: k = 0.41. Spleen length: r = 0.93. Presence of cirrhosis: k = 0.53. The mean agreement for the 18 variables was not significantly different between juniors (0.53 +/- 0.32) and seniors (0.40 +/- 0.38) but was significantly better in specialists (0.61 +/- 0.22) than in general radiologists (0.43 +/- 0.40; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement of ultrasonography is good to excellent for the main characteristics of the liver, the main splanchnic veins and spleen but poor to fair for collateral vessels and the caudate lobe. Agreement for diagnosis of cirrhosis is good but should be improved by only selecting reliable signs or experienced echographists.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multivariate analysis in 113 patients].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to identify clinical, biological or morphological prognostic factors in 113 patients with HCC in terms of survival. All patients (100 men, aged 65 [28-85], 95% cirrhosis) were diagnosed between 1982-1990. Mean survival time was 21 +/- 3 weeks. Eleven (over 25) variables were isolated by univariate analysis. A multivariate survival analysis (Cox regression model) disclosed that serum creatinine (p = 0.0002), alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.02) and Okuda's stage (p = 0.025) were independent predictors of survival. Comparison of survival curves for different values of these prognostic variables allows division of patients in three groups of prognostic significance in terms of survival (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: these results facilitate stratification of patients with HCC to design and evaluate future controlled trials.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Control by traps of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes for protecting livestock in Central African Republic. IV. Entomological, parasitological and zootechnical impact].

Neighteen Mbororo zebu herds were monitored to evaluate the impact of a trapping campaign against Glossina fuscipes fuscipes restricted to the watering places. This programme is part of the strategy of an integrated campaign against bovine trypanosomoses in the Central African Republic. Trapping reduces the densities of G. f. fuscipes and causes trypanosome prevalence to fall. These effects are shown by the improved hematocrit values and the reduced number of trypanocidal treatments administered. The impact on productivity is more difficult to assess over a short period; nevertheless, it seems clear from the parameters calculated.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Progress in tomodensitometry. Applications in cancerology].

Since 1992, spiral CT scanners replace conventional CT units in radiology departments. In the first part of this paper, we present some technical considerations concerning spiral CT (continuous rotation and emission of the source-detector; continuous translation of the patient at a constant rate through the gantry), as well as advantages and limitations of volumic acquisition. The main advantages can be summerized as: reduction of the acquisition time, optimization of contrast enhancement with intravenous opacification, and post processing allowing retrospective creation of overlapping images, multiplanar reconstructions, and 3-D reconstructions. Spiral CT improves lesions detection and characterization. Disadvantages are due to contrast media injection and radiation exposure. Then we describe clinical applications in the carcinologic field concerning pharyngo-laryngeal tumors, bronchogenic carcinoma, mediastinal tumors, pulmonary nodules, sub-diaphragmatic tumors. However, tumors of brain, spine, bone, and soft tissue are better explorated with MRI. Authors conclude on the future improvements of spiral CT.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Focal hepatic masses: comparison of detection during arterial portography with MR imaging and CT.

PURPOSE: A prospective study was performed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) both performed during arterial portography in depicting focal hepatic masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with 31 pathologically proved focal hepatic masses were prospectively evaluated. MR arterial portography was performed with 4 mL of a 0.5 mmol/kg solution of gadolinium tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid (DOTA) injected through a catheter into the superior mesenteric artery during multisection gradient-echo imaging. RESULTS: MR arterial portography depicted 29 of the 31 masses (sensitivity, 94%). CT arterial portography depicted 27 of the 31 masses (sensitivity, 87%). Two masses not depicted with either CT or MR had a diameter of 3 and 7 mm, respectively. Neither MR nor CT demonstrated a false-positive finding (specificity, 100%). The difference in sensitivity and specificity between the two techniques was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: MR arterial portography does not enable detection of significantly more focal hepatic masses than does CT arterial portography.

Female↗
PubMed1994

[Tsetse and livestock in Central African Republic: retreat of Glossina morsitans submorsitans (Diptera, Glossinidae)].

In the early 1960s, the most part of the Central African Republic was located inside the distribution area of Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newst. Since the last distribution studies of this tsetse in CAR (in 1963), the number of cattle has increased from 400,000 to approximately two millions, mainly of the Mbororo zebu breed. To set up the present distribution of G. m. submorsitans a study by trapping has been carried out in 27 livestock areas, regarding about 1,200 pastoralists' settlements. Furthermore, north-south transects have been made using both trapping (with bipyramidal traps laid every 2,000 meters) and net-catching (within a car driving slowly). The result have shown the disappearance of G. m. submorsitans from the main livestock areas in the west (Bouar, Bozoum, Bocaranga, Batangafo, Bossangoa, Paoua), centre (Bossembélé, Bouca, Dékoa) and east (Bambari, Grimari, Ippy). The southern border of the distribution area has been moved upwards to the north by up to 400 kilometres in the west of the country. This important retreat is discussed. It leads to a huge increase in the pastures available for the Mbororo pastoralists. Their access is still restricted in the centre-north and in the east by wild game reserves where G. m. submorsitans remains.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[The hosts of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Newstead, 1910 (Diptera: Glossinidae) in 2 animal breeding zones in the Central African Republic].

From 1987 to 1993, a survey on the feeding behavior of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes was conducted in the Central African Republic. A total of 556 blood-meal samples was analyzed by ELISA. According to the results, the number of blood meals from cattle was rather low (12% on average). During the rainy season, this number increased significantly and varied according to the sampling area. Along the riverine forests, this amounted to 5%, while blood meals from wild ruminants amounted to 87%. In the neighborhood of watering-places, the number of cattle blood meals reached 9-22%. Reptiles were found to be important hosts (17-35%). In all cases, man presented a non-negligible host (4-14%), similar to suidae (2-19%). The authors discuss the relevance of these results to risk of trypanosomes transmission.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Umbilical Paget's disease and prostatic carcinoma.

We report a case of umbilical Paget's disease occurring in a patient with a prostatic carcinoma. No other malignancy was found, and the patient was treated by surgical excision of the lesion. To our knowledge, the occurrence of extramammary Paget's disease of the umbilicus has not been reported previously. The clinical presentation, its association with prostatic carcinoma, and the possible pathogenesis are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The role of hormonal and dietary factors in pancreatic carcinogenesis.

The pancreatic cancer continues to represent an important problem, as a cancer with extremely poor prognosis. To date more than 16 chemicals have been shown to induce pancreatic tumors, in animal models. The tumors developed in rats are essentially of acinar type and those in hamsters mostly of ductal type. Many studies proved the direct or indirect role of hormonal and dietary factors in pancreatic cancer. The development of alternative treatments according to biological and biochemical steps of carcinogenesis is available as adjuvant treatment. We present herein an overview of current experimental and clinical results in order to understand the evolution, histogenesis and biological behaviour of pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

[Failure factors of guided puncture of hepatic masses].

This study was carried out to assess the failure factors of guided hepatic mass puncture in 320 biopsies. Results of the puncture, follow-up or surgery allowed us to divide 320 biopsies into true positives or false negatives. Compared with the group of true positive diagnosis, the group of false negative diagnosis revealed a significantly higher percentage either of lesions less than 2 cm (52.5% versus 34%), of benign tumors (19% versus 5%), or of pseudotumors (24% versus 1.5%). Compared with the group with cytology and histology diagnosis, the group in which only histology established the diagnosis revealed a significantly higher percentage of hepatocellular carcinoma (52.5% versus 34%) and of benign tumors (21% versus 0%). A diameter less than 2 cm, a histology of benign tumors or pseudotumors, are failure factors of guided biopsy. The use of histology is useful for the diagnosis of benign tumors and increases the accuracy of diagnosis for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1993

Bullous amyloidosis. Report of 3 cases and review of the literature.

We report 3 cases of bullous immunoglobulinic amyloidosis and review 25 published cases. In 2 of our patients, amyloid deposits were not detected with special staining, but by means of ultrastructural methods. Investigations of the skin lesions permitted the diagnosis of associated plasma cell dyscrasia in 2 patients. Unexplained bullous lesions should be investigated for amyloid deposits and the presence of monoclonal gammopathy by methods including electron microscopy and immunochemical analysis of serum and urine.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Acral persistent papular mucinosis and IgA monoclonal gammopathy: report of a case.

The case of a 60-year-old man with acral persistent papular mucinosis (APPM), thought to represent a new distinctive form of dermal mucinosis not associated with systemic diseases, is reported. The patient had a 4-year history of multiple small papular lesions on the distal forearms, wrists and back of the hands. Histologically, mucin deposits in the upper and mid dermis sparing a superficial subepidermal grenz zone were observed. In contrast to previously described cases, a monoclonal IgA of kappa light chain isotype was detected. Our findings challenge the view that absence of paraproteinemia is a peculiar characteristic of APPM and raise once more the question of its relationship to the discrete papular form of lichen myxedematosus.

Diagnosis, Differential↗