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Biomedical subjects

H Picard

Publications and source records attributed to H Picard.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

[Piercing and its infectious complications. A public health issue in France].

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES: Piercing, an act that modifies the body, has progressed considerably in France over the last few years. The population involved has grown and become more diversified. Performed with a solid needle or a catheter, a wide variety of anatomic localizations are concerned, particularly the nose, ears, and navel. The shape of the "rings", generally made of surgical steel, niobium or titanium, varies greatly. Wound healing by epithelialisation can take up to several months. INFECTIOUS RISK: Between 10% and 20% of all piercings lead to a local infection. The most commonly found causal agests are Staphylococcus aureus, group A Streptococcus and Pseudomonas sp. These germs can cause severe life-threatening complications even in common localizations (earlobe). Viral transmission is another risk (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis delta, HIV). A few cases of fatal fulminant hepatitis have been described immediately after piercing. SAFETY MEASURES: Generally performed under less than desirable sanitary conditions, safety measures are needed for piercing. Among professional "piercers", a certain number have emphasized the need for providing their clients with safer services. The prevention of infection risk should be a priority for all. Work along this line has been done in the United States and Canada. In light of the impact on public health, it is important to rapidly develop guidelines and regulations for piercing in France. Both professional piercers and health care workers should participate in developing these safety measures in order to assure their implementation.

Cosmetic Techniques↗

Monitoring pancreatin supplementation in cystic fibrosis patients with the 13C-Hiolein breath test: evidence for normalized fat assimilation with high dose pancreatin therapy.

BACKGROUND: 13C-Hiolein is a randomly 13C-labeled mixture of long chain triglycerides synthesized by algae. METHODS: Because the 13C-Hiolein breath test is a suitable noninvasive tool to detect and monitor pancreatic steatorrhea, we used this new breath test for monitoring the effect of enzyme replacement therapy with an acid resistant enteric coated polydisperse pancreatin preparation (1.500 U/kg d) in children with cystic fibrosis. RESULTS: Administration of 1.5 mg/kg 13-C-Hiolein together with a physiological mixed meal (1.5 g/kg rice cookies, containing 25% fat and 37% starch) resulted in significantly higher breath 13CO2/12CO2 ratios in controls than in cystic fibrosis children (maximal delta over baseline responses (DOBmax) 39.2 +/- 18.1% vs. 13.1 +/-13.9%; p < 0.001). With pancreatin, DOBmax in the cystic fibrosis patients responses returned completely to normal (39.2 +/- 29.2% DOBmax). A breath hydrogen increase indicating the malassimilation of starch was noticed in one patient with severe pancreatic insufficiency only. CONCLUSION: In contrast to fecal fat analysis, the 13C-Hiolein breath test reflects postprandial fat assimilation immediately after a given, labeled meal. Monitoring the oxidative fate of physiological test meal with a stable isotope breath test, this study shows that fat assimilation in cystic fibrosis patients can be normalized with high dose pancreatin.

Adolescent↗

[Evaluation of the population received and cared for in France in the "Doctors of the World" Health Centers].

For 11 years now, Médecins du Monde's Mission to France has tried to respond to the needs of a part of marginalized population, which has no access to health care. In 1996, 72,000 consultations have been given throughout the 31 free Health centers based in 31 cities in France. Who is this population? Basically young people (more than half are under the age of 30 and 10% are underaged), men in 213 of the cases, living alone, in 80% of the cases. How do they live? Almost 65% live with less than 20 francs per day (given by social care); 54% are officially jobless. As far as housing is concerned, only 1/4 have a home (women in particular). The others live in hostels, self-made shelters, hotels, or with relatives; 13% admit living on the street. Why do they come to health centers? Almost all diseases observed are identical to the ones detected in regular Health care centers, i.e., Ear--Nose and Throat, respiratory and gynecological infections. What makes them particular is the fact they are diagnosed later than usual, which makes them more serious than usual. The living conditions of this marginalized population explain the high frequency of skin problems (12%) and neuropsychologic disorders. Why do they come to Médecins du Monde? 1/4 of the patients do benefit from social welfare, but are unable to advance the payment of medical costs, or support the difference between the actual cost and the reimbursement by the Social security. 40% have no social coverage whatsoever. However, other motives (1 to 7%) such as administrative problems, rights outside their district, refusal to start the administrative procedures, ignorance of their rights ... are rarely put forward. The population with no access to health care is still unknown. This is why the information gathered is so important. It allows a better qualification of the patients' requests and, consequently, a better comprehension of the social exclusion phenomenon, particularly in the area of health.

Adult↗