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F Bricaire

Publications and source records attributed to F Bricaire.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Herpes zoster.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

[Role of spleen cells in protection against malaria].

IMMUNITY: The anti-infectious effect of the spleen in general and its anti-malarial effect has been known for a long time. This effect is associated, among other functions, with the spleen's capacity to filter and destroy erythrocytes parasitized by plasmodies or altered by various physical (heat...) or chemical factors. In addition, splenic immunity, which associates specific and nonspecific humoral and cellular effector mechanisms is no longer a question of debate. OPEN QUESTIONS: There remains nevertheless one aspect of the question to be elucidated: the probable interaction between this immunity and other (genetic...) factors of the malarious host. CELL FUNCTIONS: This article summarizes current knowledge in connection with: a) participation of various cell populations in the mechanisms of splenic filtration and phagocytosis and b) genesis of a repertory of B and T lymphocytes, plasmodio-specific memory cells. During an infection, lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages are recruited from peripheral blood and, in cooperation with cells known as "barrier" cells, increase the capacity of splenic filtration/purge and phagocytosis. In addition, the appearance of B and T lymphocytes with specific memory of P. falciparum result from hypermutation in VH genes (for B lymphocytes) or from clonal selection (for T lymphocytes). The folicular dendritic cells accomplish a reserve function. By constantly releasing the antigen, these cells would contribute to maintaining immune memory or to stimulating naive cells. Further studies are necessary to better understand the role of the splenic microcirculation and to identify parasite components which stimulate the protective response of the spleen against plasmodies.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases--a challenge for public health].

We have recently seen a worldwide explosion of infectious diseases: emerging diseases like the HIV/AIDS pandemic, or old diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, diphteria, plague, yellow fever, dengue, or malaria. These reemerging diseases are on the surge because of multiple factors: environmental changes, transformation of ecosystems, ongoing socioeconomic degradation and deterioration of public health systems in many countries. The increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics or virologic resistance to antiviral drugs are becoming a serious problem today. This global danger needs a global response. There must be a cooperation between the different actors in the field of public health. The general practitioner should look for good therapeutic compliance, control vaccinations, and give his patients health education, including prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

[Primary HIV infection, how to recognize it?].

The primary HIV infection is the period of time following HIV inoculation. Its manifestations are diverse. We present here some clinical cases: a mononucleosis-like syndrome with fever, angina, lymphadenopathy and skin rash, a frequent picture, with among other signs, flu-like symptoms, lymphocytic meningitis and facial paresis. In presence of those nonspecific clinical pictures, it is important for the primary health care physician to consider primary HIV infection, detect a history of exposure and order HIV-tests including p24-antigenemia. On one side, an early treatment blocks replication and dissemination of HIV in the body and brings an amelioration of prognosis. On the other side, the patient is particularly infectious during this phase and should take appropriate preventive measures.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed2000

Similar subcortical pattern of cognitive impairment in AIDS patients with and without dementia.

The aim of this study was to develop a series of neuropsychological tests that define the cortical and subcortical features of cognitive impairment and the characteristics of memory in demented and mildly cognitively impaired AIDS patients. We attempted to establish a usable method to assess and determine the type and degree of cognitive impairment in individual AIDS patients. We examined 53 patients without central nervous system opportunistic infections. A short battery included two scales of global efficiency (the Mattis dementia rating scale and the Mini Mental State Examination), a psychomotor speed test, an executive control assessment and explicit memory evaluation. Patients were categorized into four groups based on their score on both the Mattis dementia rating scale and the DSM-IV criteria: (1) asymptomatic; (2) having AIDS without cognitive impairment; (3) having AIDS with mild cognitive impairment; and (4) having AIDS dementia. Patients with mildly impaired cognition demonstrated slowed thinking, abnormal initiation and conceptualization, and memory impairment. AIDS dementia patients had slower motor activity and memory recall was more severely affected. The short neuropsychological battery was able to characterize modified cognitive performances in both severely and mildly cognitively impaired AIDS patients. The subcortical pattern of the memory disorder was obvious, regardless of the degree of cognitive impairment.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed2000

Multiple organ failure complicating probable scrub typhus.

This report describes a case of life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome with multiple organ failure complicating probable scrub typhus. Favorable outcome was associated with fluoroquinolone therapy. Scrub typhus should be suspected in travelers returning from Southeast Asia presenting with unexplained respiratory manifestations.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Systemic vasculitis with bilateral perirenal haemorrhage in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia.

The cases of two patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia associated with periarteritis nodosa-like, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative, systemic vasculitis, are reported. A 61 year old man was admitted with fever, diffuse myalgia, and abdominal pain. Blood and bone marrow examination showed chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. Vasculitis of the gall bladder was responsible for acalculous cholecystitis. A massive spontaneous bilateral perirenal haemorrhage occurred. A 73 year old woman with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia had been followed up for one year when unexplained fever occurred. Two months after the onset of fever, sudden abdominal pain was ascribed to spontaneous bilateral renal haematoma related to bilateral renal arterial aneurysms. Neuromuscular biopsy showed non-necrotising periarteriolar inflammation. To our knowledge, systemic vasculitis has never been reported in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. In our two cases a non-random association is suggested because (a) chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia is a rare myelodysplastic syndrome, (b) spontaneous bilateral perirenal haematoma is not a usual feature of periarteritis nodosa.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Cutaneous vasculitis disclosing pulmonary tuberculosis].

We report the case of a patient with leukocytoclasic vasculitis that disclosed active pulmonary tuberculosis. This patient had no signs of systemic vasculitis. The clinical course was favorable with anti-tuberculosis drugs alone. There has been no recurrence at 8 months. Vasculitis associated with tuberculosis is uncommon. The pathophysiological mechanism remains uncertain. No immunosuppressor treatment is needed and the vasculitis generally regresses with treatment of the infection.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

[Coxiella burnetii pneumopathy on return from French Guiana].

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis but is not often a common cause of fever among travellers returning from the tropics. We report a case of acute Q fever, revealed by a pneumonia and acquired by a traveller in French Guyana. The chest radiography showed alveolar opacities and pleural effusion. Biological abnormalities were elevated liver enzyme levels and thrombocytopenia. The patient improved or the third day of antibiotic treatment. She mentioned that 3 other people she lived with during her trip had been diagnosed with Q fever. A common source outbreak was then suspected. They all stayed in the same farm in French Guyana. Animal exposure occurred there, in particular with a goat and a dog (both were parturient). The disease was probably transmitted by airborne dust to our patient, as no other vectors of transmission were found. Since the clinical presentation of Q fever is not specific, in order for the physician to diagnose it, he must have an awareness of the disease. Our case emphasised that looking for risk factors of Coxiella burnetii exposures is particularly important. Amongst them, the most important seems to be contact with farm animals. The clinician should thus try to trace such a possible contact when treating a case of traveler's Q fever.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Neuro-degenerative diseases: role of reactive oxygen species and of apoptosis].

NEURON DEATH: Major progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases has greatly benefited from the convergence between work devoted to reactive oxygen species (including nitric oxide) and programmed cell death, or apoptosis, and exitotoxicity. LATERAL AMYOTROPHIC SCLEROSIS: The discovery of a mutation in the copper-zinc superoxide dismutase gene in patients with lateral amyotrophic sclerosis has made it possible to analyze the events leading to neuron death in transgenic mice. An overload of reactive oxygen species accelerates apoptosis and oxidative stress is implicated in excitotoxicity which is a hyperstimulation of excitatory amino acides (glutamate, aspartate) producing neuron death. OTHER CHRONIC CONDITIONS: Based on evidence from the mouse model, apoptosis, excitotoxicity and oxygenated free radicals could play a causal role in other neurodegenerative diseases including HIV-related encephalopathy, Parkinsonís disease and Alzheimerís disease.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1999

Determinants of paradoxical CD4 cell reconstitution after protease inhibitor-containing antiretroviral regimen.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the parameters influencing CD4 cell reconstitution after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapies in real life, as well as the frequency and the determinants of the discrepancies occurring between virus and CD4 cell count evolution. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 317 pre-treated patients starting a protease inhibitor (PI)-containing regimen were prospectively followed for 2 years on an intent-to-treat basis for CD4 cell counts and viral loads. RESULTS: The CD4 cell counts rapidly increased from baseline (50/mm3) by a median of 50/mm3 at month 2 (+0.72 CD4 cells/mm3/day) and up to 137/mm3 at the last follow-up (second slope: +0.16 CD4 cells/mm3/day). Two independent major factors among five parameters tested significantly affected the first phase, which was negatively correlated to the slope of CD4 cell decline before PI initiation, and was positively correlated to baseline CD4 cell counts (P = 0.0001); the second phase was mostly affected by the mean viral load reduction over time (P = 0.0001). Paradoxical CD4 cell reconstitution (15% of cases) was defined by a rapid or slow CD4 cell increase contrasting with a minor or strong viral reduction, respectively. The role of previous CD4 cell decline and the low effect of viral load reduction during the first 2 months explain the early paradoxical CD4 cell responses. The major influence of viral load reduction on the long-term reconstitution, however, reduces such paradoxical responses at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Early paradoxical CD4 cell reconstitution after the introduction of a PI are explained by the major influence of previous disease progression on the early CD4 cell increase, whereas the magnitude of viral load reduction over time reduces such paradoxical evolutions in the long term.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Immunologic reconstruction after antiretroviral treatment].

DATA FAVORING IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION: Multiple drug therapies for HIV infection have enabled a major reduction in the viral load, higher CD4 counts, and a lower incidence of opportunistic infections and tumor formations, and subsequently lower hospitalization rates and mortality. TWO STAGES OF CD4 RECONSTITUTION: In HIV-positive patients with advanced stage disease treated with a protease inhibitor associated with 2 nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors and followed prospectively, it has been observed that CD4 counts rise considerably, with a rapid increase during the first 2 months followed by a slower but still positive slope over a period of 18 months. Discordant results have however also been observed suggesting an ineffective anti-viral effect or a retarded immune reconstitution. SEVERAL MECHANISMS: The lymphocyte amplification observed during the early phase corresponds to re-circulation of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes which had been sequestered in lymphoid organs; most of these CD4 lymphocytes are memory cells. A second phase corresponds to a more moderate and progressive rise in naive CD4 cells which originate from an unknown source. This biphasic reconstitution of CD4 lymphocytes is associated with a correction of the chronic lymphocyte overactivation. PARTIAL IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION: With treatment, the capacity to respond to known antigens reappears. This restored capacity is secondary to the amplification of CD4 memory cells and appears prior to the expansion phase of naive cells. The response remains moderate and is only observed against antigens from microorganisms highly prevalent during advanced stage infection.

Antiviral Agents↗