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Biomedical subjects

F Guillemin

Publications and source records attributed to F Guillemin.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Prognostic implications of downstaging following preoperative radiation therapy for operable T3-T4 rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic value of tumor downstaging after preoperative radiation for resectable rectal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighty-eight patients with non-metastatic resectable rectal cancers (76 T3 and 12 T4) were treated with preoperative irradiation. Median dose was 40 Gy (30-46 Gy) delivered over 32 days (range 11-40). Seventeen patients received preoperative chemotherapy, two courses of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) 350 mg/m2/day and folinic acid 20 mg/m2/day; 5 days per week during the first and fifth weeks of radiotherapy. Surgery was performed with a mean delay of 46 days after completion of irradiation and included 66 abdominoperineal resections and 22 anal sphincter-preserving procedures. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered in 44 patients. RESULTS: Histological tumor stages were: complete histological response in 7%, pT2N0 in 19%, pT3N0 in 46%, and pT2-3N1 in 28%. Tumor downstaging occurred in 26%. No predictive factor of downstaging was statistically significant. The median follow-up was 33 months. The 3- and 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were 100% for the pT0N0 and pT2N0, respectively, 89% and 68% for pT3N0, and 64% and 0% for pT2T3N1. After preoperative irradiation, the pathological tumor stages remained a prognostic factor. Patients with downstaging (pT0T2N0) had significantly higher cancer-specific survival rates than the group without downstaging: 100% and 80% at 3 years, and 100% and 45% at 5 years; respectively (p = 0.011). The 3- and 5-year recurrence free-survival rates were 94% for the group with downstaging and 56% and 50%, respectively, for the group without downstaging (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Downstaging after preoperative irradiation in this retrospective study results in an improvement in local control and survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Corticosteroid osteoporosis in the adult].

EARLY BONE LOSS: Bone loss is greatest in patients given supra-physiological doses of corticosteroids during the first months of treatment. The rate of loss then tapers off but persists throughout the duration of the treatment because of depressed osteoblast activity. EVALUATE THE RISK: Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis is a multifactorial phenomenon depending in part on the duration and the dose of the treatment and in part on prior bone status and the causal disease. Young subjects can expect to recover bone mass partially or completely after withdrawal. Menopaused women not taking hormone replacement therapy have a low bone mass and are high risk patients. PREVENTION: Preventive measures against corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis should begin with treatment onset. Patients should be given calcium and vitamin D supplements, hormone replacement therapy (menopaused women) or androgens (hypogonadic men), and biphosphonates (for young patients at risk or in case of bone mass despite the preceding measures).

Adult↗

Pretransplant hepatitis C virus infection: a predictor of proteinuria after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Reports have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected kidney recipients may develop de novo glomerular lesions caused by the virus. We studied the relationships between pretransplantation anti-HCV antibodies and the occurrence of proteinuria and the link with short- and long-term patient and graft survival. METHODS: A total of 322 consecutive renal recipients treated at a single center from 1989 to 1994 whose sera were routinely assayed for anti-HCV antibodies at the time of transplantation were analyzed. The risks of persistent proteinuria (>1 g/day), graft loss, or death were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The relationship between clinical variables and each outcome was examined by Cox multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Before transplantation, 9.6% of the recipients were anti-HCV antibody positive. Persistent proteinuria developed in 13.6% recipients. The presence of anti-HCV antibodies was strongly associated with proteinuria (relative risk [RR]=5.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.49-11.51). Proteinuria occurred more frequently in second grafts (RR=2.64, 95% CI=1.10-6.29). The number of HLA-A,B mismatches was an independent risk factor (RR=1.55, 95% CI=1.10-2.19). Recipient age (RR=0.80, 95% CI=0.63-1.02) and duration of dialysis (RR=0.86, 95% CI=0.77-0.96) were protective factors. Histology of biopsies from 26/44 recipients with proteinuria showed that de novo glomerular lesions were more frequent in HCV-positive patients, although the difference was not significant. One- and five-year graft survival rates were significantly worse in patients with proteinuria (90.7% and 41.1%) than in patients without it (95.6% and 91.8%) (P<0.00001). Despite the strong association between HCV infection and proteinuria, patient and graft survival rates in anti-HCV-positive and anti-HCV-negative recipients were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of anti-HCV antibodies before renal transplantation seems to be a major risk factor of proteinuria after transplantation. This may be due to glomerular lesions caused by HCV. However, anti-HCV has no impact on 5-year patient and graft survival.

Adult↗

[Diagnostic value of ERTL4: a screening test of language disorders in 4-year-old children].

BACKGROUND: Language disorders in children are frequent and may sometimes severely affect their development. ERTL4 (screening test for language disorders of children aged 4) is the first test for screening language disorders to be used by doctors. It has not yet been evaluated. AIM: The objective of this study is to assess and optimize the diagnostic value of the ERTL4 test and to evaluate its potential interest as a screening test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of 370 children was randomly constituted among children aged between 3 years 9 months and 4 years 6 months from schools in Nancy, France and surrounding areas. These children undertook both the ERTL4 test and a standardized examination of language and speech as a reference. RESULTS: Among the 325 children included in the analysis, 34.1% presented with disorders requiring speech and language therapy. ERTL4 sensitivity and specificity were 88.6% and 66.8%, respectively. Varying thresholds for disorder diagnoses and proposals for a modified test led to a sensitivity of 72.9% and a specificity of 91.0%. The proportion of well-classified subjects improved from 73.8% to 85.3% (P < 10(-3)). The positive predictive value was 78.7% and the negative predictive value was 88.1% (with the observed frequency in the sample). CONCLUSION: ERTL4 is a good test for doctors to screening of children's language disorders and their management.

Adolescent↗

Intracellular distribution of tamoxifen in resistant human breast adenocarcinoma cells using tamoxifen-eosin association.

A tamoxifen-resistant cell line (MCF7TAM) was established from tamoxifen-sensitive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells expressing estrogen receptors. Though the resistant cell line grows in the presence of tamoxifen, estrogen receptors continue to be expressed at similar levels as in the parental cell line. However, estrogen receptors appeared to be altered in the resistant cell line since important discrepancies are observed between results obtained with ligand binding assays and immunoenzymatic assays, tending to show modifications of estrogen receptor ligand binding capacity. The intracellular distribution of tamoxifen in sensitive and resistant cell lines was investigated using fluorescence of eosin-tamoxifen ionic association. Fluorescence emission spectra of eosin, tamoxifen and eosin-tamoxifen complex (lambda(ex)=480 nm) were analyzed and the maximal fluorescence intensity found for the complex (lambda(em)=540 nm) was four times higher than that of eosin alone, while tamoxifen alone did not emit any fluorescence in this spectral range. In MCF-7 cells, tamoxifen was found to be mainly located surrounding the nucleus, although nuclear fluorescence intensity was significantly lower. No highly fluorescent granules were observed in the resistant cell lines as opposed to sensitive cells. Improvement of this fluorescence microscopy methodology could appear of interest, taking into account the complexity of tamoxifen resistance molecular pathways.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Antibodies against phospholipids and beta 2-glycoprotein I increase the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients without systemic lupus erythematosus.

We studied the prognostic significance of antiphospholipid antibodies for recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), in 71 patients admitted for acute VTE (deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) in a single internal medicine unit. Lupus anticoagulant (LA), antibodies directed against beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI) and antibodies against both beta 2GPI and a mixture of phospholipids (cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid) (APAs) were measured. The patients were followed-up (mean 4.9 years) to determine the time to the next VTE. We found LA in nine patients, anti-beta 2GPI antibodies in seven patients and APAs in six patients. The cumulative risk of recurring VTE was higher in patients with beta 2GPI-binding antibodies (hazard ratio 12.6, 95% CI 1.5-104.9; p = 0.0029). The risk associated with APAs was 11.5 (95% CI 1.3-98.9; p = 0.0049) and that for LA was 3.7 (95% CI 0.9-15.6; p = 0.055). The risk of VTE recurring was higher both in patients with antibodies directed against beta 2GPI, and in patients with antibodies directed against beta 2GPI and a mixture of phospholipids, than in patients without these antibodies.

Adolescent↗

Use of spa therapy to improve the quality of life of chronic low back pain patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness of adding spa therapy to usual drug treatment in chronic low back pain patients. METHODS: A total of 224 patients were assigned randomly to either a treatment (n=128) or a control (n=96) group. Subjects in both groups received usual drug therapy. Those in the treatment group also underwent spa therapy in Vittel, France, for 6 days a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Effectiveness was assessed using a quality-of-life scale (the Duke Health Profile), clinical measures, and the Roland and Morris disability questionnaire. Groups were compared using an analysis of variance with repeated measures. RESULTS: At both 3 weeks and 3 months, patients in the treatment group exhibited significant improvement in measures of: physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, anxiety, depression, pain duration, pain intensity, and functional disability. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that spa therapy is an effective treatment for chronic low back pain patients.

Ambulatory Care↗

Meta-analysis of the risk of venous thrombosis in individuals with antiphospholipid antibodies without underlying autoimmune disease or previous thrombosis.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are at a greater risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) than SLE patients without these antibodies. For patients without SLE there is a controversy about the risk associated with these antibodies and about their prognostic significance. We reviewed the degree of evidence and describe the odds ratio for VTE associated with aPL, namely the lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), in patients without SLE. The study was a meta-analysis of seven observational studies of risk for antiphospholipid associated venous thromboembolism (VTE), excluding SLE patients. The strategies to identify published research included a computerized literature search and the review of citations in primarily relevant articles for the period 1983 to 1997. A summary of study characteristics and a critical appraisal of study quality were done. Summary odds ratios were obtained conducted using a random and a fixed effects-model. The overall odds ratio for aCL associated VTE obtained by fixed-effects model was 1.56 (95% CI, 1.10-2.24) and 1.64 (95% CI, 0.93-2.89) by random-effects model. The heterogeneity of these results appeared to be due in part to the detection limit of the aCL assay: the odds ratio was 3.21 (95% CI, 1.11-9.28) with both models when high titres only were considered. The overall odds ratio for LA associated VTE was 11.1 (95% CI, 3.81-32.3). In conclusion meta-analysis of the risk for antiphospholipid associated thrombosis demonstrated a higher risk in patients with the LA than in other patients. This risk was also higher than in patients with aCL even when high titres only were considered.

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid↗

[Mammography use among 35-50-year-old women. Descriptive study of a population seeking services at the centers of health tests].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate mammography rates and indications (diagnosis or screening) among women from 35 to 50 of age, and to search the main factors associated to mammographic screening. DESIGN AND SETTING: The data were collected from 6409 women through a specific questionnaire completed by a nurse. RESULTS: Among women from 35 to 50 years of age, 61% have undergone at least one mammography during their life; 25.6% had undergone a screening mammogram within the last three years. Whatever women's age or indications, the gynecologist was the first physician to prescribe mammography. Logistic regression model adjusting for multiple variables was used to examine factors associated with women who underwent a screening mammography within the last three years. Women more likely to be screened were 45 to 50 years of age (vs 35-40 years of age: adjusted OR 8.9, 95% CI: 7.2 to 11.2), had higher educational level (adjusted OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.5), had family history of breast cancer (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI: 2.1 to 3.4), and used routine gynecologic care (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6 to 2.4). CONCLUSION: Individual screening by mammography very often occurs after 40 years, Such behaviors may lead public health professionals to question current recommendations for breast cancer mass screening in women 50 years of age and older.

Adult↗

[A review of evaluation questionnaires for physical activity].

The need to evaluate or quantify an individual's physical activity often raises the problems of choosing the instrument which most adequately meets the requirements of the study. This article offers a presentation of various questionnaires available in the literature. It proposes a table intended to characterize these questionnaires as well as a summary of validation steps. These tools allow rapid comparisons between questionnaires and are helpful in guiding the user's choice of a well adapted questionnaire.

Exercise↗

Characterization of photodegradation of meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) in solution: biological consequences in human tumor cells.

The photobleaching of meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) (irradiation wavelength 413 nm) in protein-containing solution was evaluated by decay in absorbance in Soret band and in fluorescence (lambda exc = 423 nm, lambda em = 655 nm). Light exposure resulted in a decrease in absorption throughout the spectrum and simultaneous appearance of new absorption bands in the spectral region 325-450 nm. The rate of mTHPC photodegradation, followed by decay in absorbance, was 15-fold lower than that observed in fluorescence. This fact reflects the photobleaching of presumably monomeric, fluorescing species of mTHPC. In order to determine the consequences of photobleaching of fluorescing mTHPC material on cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity, human HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cells were incubated with photobleached mTHPC during 5 h with or without following irradiation with the fixed fluence. Surprisingly, but up to the time when the fluorescence decreased by 50%, only a slight decrease in photocytotoxicity was detected. Either aggregated forms that have been taken up undergo intracellular monomerization (but we did not observe increase in fluorescence in living cells) or the photodynamic activity is mostly due to aggregates. The discrepancy of mTHPC-photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect and fluorescence measurements may suggest that aggregated mTHPC plays an important role in mTHPC-PDT.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Interstitial brachytherapy in infiltrating cancer of the bladder. The Nancy experience].

PURPOSE: From 1975 to 1996, 98 patients with infiltrative vesical carcinomas were treated at the Centre Alexis Vautrin by conservative surgery and interstitial brachytherapy (192lr). The mean follow-up was about eight years. From this retrospective non randomized study, we tried to determine the tolerance to this treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 86 men and 12 women. The mean age was 63 years. We found three pTis tumors, 28 stage pT1 tumors, 38 stage pT2 tumors, 24 stage pT3A tumors, four stage pT3B tumors and one stage Tx tumors. The therapeutic scheme consisted of pelvic radiation therapy (3 fractions of 3,5 Gy) immediately followed by lymphadenectomy (for stage pT3 tumors) and by cystotomy or partial cystectomy during which we inserted brachytherapy plastic tubes. The delivered dose was 50 Gy for superficially infiltrative tumors and 30 Gy for deeply infiltrative tumors; at the lowest dose, the treatment ended with external beam irradiation. RESULTS: At 5 years the control rate was 72%, the specific survival 80% and the global survival 71%. Twenty-nine patients had a local recurrence. Of these, seven underwent total cystectomy. Thirty-seven patients developed 43 complications; 35 were intravesical, 10 (28%) were estimated to be higher than grade 2 because of technical problems that led us to modify the technique. CONCLUSION: It is essential to develop close collaboration between surgeons and brachytherapists, to select patients and to use a rigorous technique. Interstitial brachytherapy for infiltrative vesical carcinomas thus yields both high local control and satisfying results in regard to patient's well-being.

Brachytherapy↗

[Comparative value of MR-angiography, helical CT and digital angiography in the preoperative assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms].

PURPOSE: To compare helical CT with MR angiography in pre-operative assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with AAA underwent helical-CT, MR-angiography and digital angiography. All exams were interpreted independently by two groups of observers. Kappa and rho were calculated to assess correlations. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to compare each method with the "gold standard" digital angiography. RESULTS: Inter-observer correlation was excellent. There was a very good agreement between both methods in the assessment of the maximal diameter and the proximal neck of the aneurysm. There was no significant difference in the assessment of stenoses of the visceral and iliac arteries, the number of renal arteries, and iliac extension. CONCLUSION: Helical CT and MR angiography are equivalent in pre-operative assessment of AAA.

Aged↗

Conservative treatment by irradiation of epidermoid carcinomas of the anal margin.

PURPOSE: Few series have described treatment results of anal margin tumors as defined in the UICC 87 classification. The purpose of this article is to describe experience with an uncommon condition in a single cancer center. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1971 to 1995, 32 patients with carcinoma of the anal margin were irradiated with a curative intent, and 31 were followed-up for more than 6 months (mean = 4.5 years). There were 9 T1, 15 T2, 7 T3, and 1 T4 (vulvar), with 26 N0 and 6 N1. There was a minor invasion of the lower canal in 17 patients. The histological types were 24 squamous cell and 7 basocellular carcinomas, and 1 Paget's disease. The treatment was a combined External Beam Irradiation (EBI) and Brachytherapy (BT) in 16 patients, an exclusive BT in 12 patients, and an exclusive EBI in 4 patients. No prophylactic inguinal irradiation was delivered. RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial results are as follows: overall survival = 67%, specific survival = 89%. The only prognostic factor was nodal involvement (p < 0.001). T-stage, T-size, age, sex, and treatment schedule were not significant. The overall local control was 77%, and 93.5% after salvage. Two N0 patients relapsed in inguinal areas (one was salvaged). Twenty-six percent presented a Grade 3 or 4 late complication, necessitating a temporary colostomy in only one patient. The sphincter conservation reached 84% for the whole series, 80% for patients followed-up 5 years or more, and 89% for cured patients. CONCLUSION: Results are similar to other series, and seem better than for anal canal cancer. We recommend exclusive irradiation. There is no data recommending concomitant chemotherapy. Depending on the tumor size and localization, the tumor boost can be applied by EBI or BT. Surgery is reserved for small tumors far from the canal or for salvage. An inguinal prophylactic bilateral irradiation should be recommended for N0, with tumors over 4 cm.

Adult↗

Measurement methods of drug consumption as a secondary judgment criterion for clinical trials in chronic rheumatic diseases.

Drug consumption is sometimes used as a secondary judgment criterion for clinical trials. Many measurement methods are available to quantify drug consumption. Several methods were applied in a rheumatic disease trial involving 121 patients with chronic low back pain who lived around Saint-Nectaire, France, and who participated in the trial from April to November 1993 to determine an easily used and practical measurement method to detect a significant drug consumption change over time. Analgesic and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were classified according to the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification. Consumption was quantified on a weekly basis in number of tablets (method 1), unit of defined daily dose (method 2), milligrams of active principle (method 3), and NSAID equivalence score (method 4). These methods were applied in a randomized clinical trial of spa therapy on sufferers of chronic low back pain. An analysis of variance with repeated measures showed a significant difference in drug consumption between treatment and control groups detected by all methods, except for the NSAID consumption measured with method 3. The comparison of each method by the relative efficiency index indicated that method 1 had a greater sensitivity for detecting changes of drug consumption. Tablet count appears to be a more sensitive and more practical method for detecting a drug consumption change in clinical trials.

Analgesics↗

Sensitive isocratic liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of 5,10,15,20-tetra(m-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin in plasma and tissue with electrochemical detection.

A simple extraction procedure and a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method are described for the determination of the photodynamic therapeutic agent 5,10,15,20-tetra(m-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) in plasma and tumour tissue. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was performed on a C18 column (70 x 4.6 mm I.D.) with a mobile phase of 0.01 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate buffer, pH 2.5-acetonitrile (55:45, v/v) and a coulometric detection (+0.80 V). The mean recoveries of mTHPC in the concentration ranges (5-2000 and 10-1000 ng/ml) were 90 and 89% for plasma and tumour samples, respectively. The procedure for plasma and tissue preparation involved solvent precipitation using methanol combined with ammonia solution and dimethyl sulphoxide (4, 0.2, 0.1, v/v/v) and (2, 0.1, 0.1, v/v/v) for plasma and tissue, respectively. For mTHPC at concentrations ranging from 5 to 2000 ng/ml, the within-day relative standard deviations, based on triplicate determinations were less than 8% and the between-day relative standard deviations calculated by performing extraction procedure of plasma samples on three different days ranged from 3 to 18%. This highly sensitive method, 5 and 10 ng/ml for plasma and tissue respectively, was applied successfully to the determination of mTHPC in mouse tumours for pharmacokinetic studies.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Conservative treatment by irradiation of epidermoid cancers of the anal canal: prognostic factors of tumoral control and complications.

UNLABELLED: We analyzed in a retrospective series of patients treated by conservative irradiation for an epidermoid cancer of the anal canal (ECAC) the prognostic factors of locoregional control (LRC), survival, late severe complications (LSC), and sphincter conservation (SC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1976 until 1994, 118 patients presenting with an ECAC were conservatively treated (mean age, 65 years). According to the 1987 International Union Against Cancer (TNM) classification, they were: 19 T1, 70 T2, 22 T3, 7 T4, 94 N0, and 24 N1-3. The treatment started with external beam irradiation (EBI) (36 Gy in 3 weeks or 45 Gy in 5 weeks). Concomitant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C) was delivered to 31 patients. Two months later, a boost of 20 Gy was delivered by interstitial 192Ir brachytherapy to 101 patients and EBI in 5. Twelve other patients had an abdominoperineal resection (APR). The mean follow-up was 6 years. RESULTS: At 5 years the overall survival was 60%, and specific survival (SS) was 75%; it was 94% for T1, 79% for T2, 53% for T3, and 19% for T4. In multivariate analysis, tumor size (> or = 4 cm), node involvement, and no response to the EBI were factors of poor prognosis for SS. Thirty-two locoregional recurrences occurred of which 21 were local recurrences in the 106 patients treated by a conservative schedule. Only tumor size and response to the EBI were prognostic factors on multivariate analysis for local and LRC. A total of 17 patients presented with LSC (Grade 3, 16 patients; and Grade 4, 1 patient), which was treated by APR in 4 patients and colostomy in 11 (of which 7 were definitive). The only significant prognostic factor for LSC in the multivariate analysis was the total extrapolated response dose of irradiation. The definitive rate of SC after conservative treatment in cured patients was 100% for T1, 82% for T2, 58% for T3, and 100% for T4. Since 1989, improvements of the technique have allowed reduction of the LSC in maintaining the same local control. CONCLUSION: The results of this series are similar to those of the literature. The confirmation of pretherapeutic prognostic factors related to response to the treatment should allow us to adapt the therapeutic intensity for each case to obtain better tumor control, with as few sequelae as possible, to yield a better rate of SC.

Adult↗