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Biomedical subjects

F Denis

Publications and source records attributed to F Denis.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma in intertropical Africa: relationship between age and hepatitis B virus etiology.

Clinical observations of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) at Le Dantec Hospital, Dakar, Senegal, were studied to determine a correlation with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Of the 103 patients with PHC, 80 had an active HBV infection (HBsAg and/or anti-HBc); 23 showed signs of previous HBV infection (anti-HBs and anti-HBc). The two groups were similar in the detection of alpha-fetoprotein (approximately 60%) and in the major clinical findings: hepatomegaly, 76.25% and 86.96%, respectively; and ascites, 57.50% and 47.83%, respectively. Jaundice, however, was three times more frequent (P < 0.01) in the group of patients with signs of active HBV replication. Distribution of HBV markers as a function of age at onset of PHC revealed that the presence of HBsAg was primarily confined to the sera of the younger patients (< 50 yr old). When compared with leprosy patients and blood donors, the younger PHC patients differed in the frequency of detection of HBsAg and anti-HBs. The older people (> 50 yr old) in the three groups (PHC patients, leprosy patients, and blood donors) had identical HBV markers.

Adolescent↗

[Antibacterial effect of borreverine, an alkaloid isolated from Borreria verticillata (Rubiaceae)].

Borreria verticillata, a very common tropical plant, is used in traditional pharmacopeia to recover cutaneous infections. The Borreverine alkaloid extracted from this plant had an antimicrobial action in vitro. The minimal inhibitory concentration is lower than 50 micrograms/ml for Gram positive cocci, (specially Staphylococcus aureus) and than 6 micrograms/ml for Vibrio cholerae and upper than 200 micrograms/ml for several Gram negative rod-bacteria (Enterobacteria and Pseudomonas). These preliminary results underline the interest in the research about the antimicrobial agents from plant origin, in particular concerning naturally or chemically modified alkaloids.

Alkaloids↗

Hepatitis B virus antigens in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens was examined in specimens of liver tissue obtained at necropsy from black Senegalese patients suffering from primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). The results were correlated with markers of hepatitis B infection in serum. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antigen (HBcAg) were sought for in 15 liver extracts. HBsAg was found in the liver in 10 of 12 cases with HBsAg-positive serum. HBcAg was detected in three livers. The HBsAg was detected in seven of eight livers by immunofluorescence and orcein staining. HBsAg-positive cells were mainly located in the peri-tumoral cirrhotic tissue, although positive hepatocytes were also found in tumour nodules in liver from one of the patients. HBcAg was found in five of seven cases by immunofluorescence in hepatocytes of the cirrhotic areas. HBcAg fluorescence was primarily nuclear but, in some lobules, a patchy cytoplasmic fluorescence was observed. This suggests a cytoplasm-nucleus pathway in the synthesis of the HBV core antigen. Electron microscopy was performed on two HBsAg- and HBcAg-positive cases. Fibrillar and crystalline cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in tumour cells. In the same cells, 20-25 nm virus-like particles were present in swollen cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Adult↗

[The hepatitis B virus markers, in leprous patients (author's transl)].

The hepatitis B virus markers were studied on 553 leprous sera and 100 controls sera. HBs Ag detected by RIA were present on 25,4% of leprous and 12% of controls; the anti-HBs by RIA were revealed in 44,1% of patients out 38% of controls. The leprous was not carrying this markers were HBe Ag or anti-HBe or anti-HBc positive. By this vertical study it appears that 2,4% of the cases presented recent or acute hepatitis; 23% were chronic carriers; 41,7% had been in times past infected but were cured and the third remaining had been infected but coat markers were absent, it is more than likely that is an old infected group. The study revealed no significant difference in hepatitis chronic forms frequency between lepromatous and tuberculoïd patients.

Adult↗

[The prognosis and treatment of pneumococcal meningitis in Africa. 402 cases (author's transl)].

Over a period of 5 years (1973--1977), 1083 patients were hospitalised in the Infectious Disease Clinic of the Dakar University Hospital Centre with bacteriologically confirmed purulent meningitis. The pneumococcus was responsible in 462 cases (42.6%). Analysis of 402 records showed that 234 patients (58.2% of cases) died, 123 were completely cured (30.6%) whilst there were neurological sequelae in 45 cases (28% of the survivors). The chief factors in poor prognosis were the existence and depth of changes in conscious level, age over 20 years, a CSF cell count of less than 500 per mm3, a CSF protein level greater than 2 g per 1 and I CSF antigen level over 8 microgram per ml. From a therapeutic standpoint, the percentage mortality was similar with chloramphenicol and with penicillin G, but complete cures were statistically more frequent in the patients treated initially with chloramphenicol.

Adolescent↗

Hepatitis A infection and primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

The prevalence of antibody to the hepatitis A antigen (anti-HAV) has been studied in Senegal, among patients suffering from primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) and among healthy blood donors. Anti-HAV was found in 62.5% of 64 cases of PHC as compared to 64% of 50 blood donors. Anti-HAV was as prevalent among PHC patients who evidenced chronic hepatitis B infection as among those without markers of chronic hepatitis B infection. These data suggest that hepatitis A infection is not associated with PHC in Senegal.

Adult↗

[Epidemiologic features of pneumococcal meningitis in Africa. Clinical and serotypical aspects (author's transl)].

Pneumococcal meningitis, because of their frequency and their severity, are regarded as an important problem of Public Health in Africa. In a great number of African countries, particularly Equatorial and Central Africa, the pneumococcus is the first agent of bacterial meningitis. The annual prevalence is estimated as about 14/100 000 persons. The case fatality rate (on 1 600 cases) is 49,5% ; the annual mortality reaches about 7/100 000 (28 000 annual deaths in Africa). The babies and the old persons are more exposed to the risk, with an annual prevalence of 28,5/100 000 before five years old, and of 16,1/100 000 after sixty years old. The risk is small between five and forty five years old. The risk is very high in patients homozygous for sickle-cell disease. The spread of all detected serotypes, by descending frequency is : 1, 5, 6, 3, 23, 12, 2, 14, 9, 18, 19, 4, 8, 29, 40, others (Danish system of nomenclature). The distribution according to age is indicated by the authors. A vaccine with only 8 serotypes (1, 5, 6, 3, 23, 12, 2, 14) could cover 80% of serotypes in Dakar. For the babies, addition to pneumococcal vaccine with polyribose phosphate of Haemophilus influenzae b, could be useful, because high prevalence of meningitis with this germ before five years old in Africa.

Adolescent↗

[Contribution of counter-immunoelectrophoresis (electro-immunodiffusion) to the diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis (author's transl)].

The author has used the counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) comparatively with the routine bacteriologic method, in 220 pneumococcal meningitis at Dakar hospital. The omni-serum of Statens Serum Institute Copenhague applied to CSF, leads to detection of the quasi whole of antigens. The use of serums-pools is not essential in routine because his small supplement of information. The score of CIE is the same that the results of bacteriologic method, but the CIE is alone positive in 10,9% of cases. The detection of antigens in blood is interesting for the diagnosis (+ 2,3%) and the prognosis.

Antigens, Bacterial↗