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Biomedical subjects

J Astruc

Publications and source records attributed to J Astruc.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Efficacy and tolerance of a new formulation of amoxicillin 100 mg--clavulanic acid 12.5 mg in acute otitis in infants].

A multicenter study of the new pediatric formulation of Augmentin (containing 100 mg amoxicillin and 12.5 mg clavulanic acid per ml) in acute otitis media (AOM) in patients aged three months to three years was carried out by hospital-based pediatricians. Study patients seen at the hospital outpatient clinics were given the drug in a daily dosage of 80 mg in three (83% of cases) or four (15%) divided doses for 6 to 10 days; 28% of patients were also given an antiinflammatory agent. A total of 83 patients with a mean age of 13.5 months were included (89% of patients were less than two years of age); one-third of these patients were included after failure of another antimicrobial agent (macrolide 46%, cephalosporin 23%). The AOM was bilateral in most patients (69.5%) and 46% of patients had a history of previous AOM. Temperature was elevated in 85% of cases and more than half the patients had gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea) prior to initiation of the study drug. At the interim evaluation on the fourth treatment day, tympanic membranes were normal in 43.5% of cases and improved in 22% of cases. Over 92% of patients achieved resolution of their AOM by the end of the treatment period, regardless of whether or not myringostomy had been performed on Do. Among the 27 patients given the study drug as rescue therapy after failure of another antimicrobial, 24 (89%) recovered fully.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

Axonal response to traumatic brain injury: reactive axonal change, deafferentation, and neuroplasticity.

Axonal injury appears to be a feature common to all traumatic brain injuries, and has been linked to much of the morbidity seen in head-injured patients. We consider how such axonal injury contributes to morbidity and also sets the stage for CNS reorganization postinjury. Efforts should continue to determine the correlates of such reorganization and to find therapeutic strategies to expedite it.

Animals↗

Variations in anatomy of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel: pitfalls in the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

Two processes account for most instances of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: compression in the retroepicondylar groove, and compression by the humeroulnar aponeurotic arcade joining the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris. While conventional electrodiagnostic criteria may localize an ulnar neuropathy to the elbow, separating retroepicondylar compression from humeroulnar arcade compression is more difficult. In 130 cadaver elbows, we examined the relationships between the medial epicondyle, flexor carpi ulnaris, and ulnar nerve. The humeroulnar arcade lay from 3 to 20 mm distal to the medial epicondyle, the intramuscular course of the nerve through the flexor carpi ulnaris ranged from 18 to 70 mm, and the nerve exited the flexor carpi ulnaris 28 to 69 mm distal to the medial epicondyle. In 6 specimens, dense fibrous bands bridged directly between the medial epicondyle and the olecranon proximal to the cubital tunnel proper; accessory epitrochleoanconeus muscles were present in 14 specimens: both may cause ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Anatomical variations may contribute to the difficulty in separating causes of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

Cadaver↗

[Treatment of bacterial meningitis in children].

The initial treatment of infantile and childhood bacterial meningitis is now well standardized, but three current aspects are discussed in this paper. Although classically, ampicillin can still be given as the initial treatment of bacterial meningitis in children, current epidemiologic data demonstrate the emergence of resistant strains of Haemophilus and Pneumococcus, and consequently use of a third-generation cephalosporin should be preferred. Concerning duration of treatment, 4 to 5 days seem adequate for meningococci and 7 days for Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococci. Lastly, the usefulness of adjunctive antiinflammatory treatment is considered. The purpose of this treatment is to lower the risk of cerebral complications and neurosensory impairment. Current data suggest that use of corticosteroids as early as possible may be helpful. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of pediatric bacterial meningitis has led to other forms of treatment being proposed, but their value remains to be proven.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Reduction of antibiotic treatment of bacterial meningitis in children. Value of C-reactive protein monitoring].

The duration of antibiotic treatment of bacterial meningitis is always a topical issue. In our study (58 children), 21 of 24 meningococcal meningitis were treated for 4 or 5 days, 16 of 22 Haemophilus influenzae and 4 of 6 pneumococcal meningitis were treated for 7 days without increase in neurologic sequelae. A return of blood CRP levels to normal values was observed in all these patients simultaneously. Thus, CRP seems to be a good biological parameter for discussing treatment discontinuation. Furthermore, in some complications such as subdural effusion, a new increase of CRP levels was observed after the 5th day. A sequential follow-up of CRP levels at days J0, 5, 7, 10, seems a very useful tool for management of bacterial meningitis.

Adolescent↗

Sparing of the flexor carpi ulnaris in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

A common misconception attributes sparing of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) to its innervating branch arising "at or above the elbow." We examined the relationship of FCU branches to the medial epicondyle (ME) and humeroulnar aponeurotic arcade (HUA) in 30 cadaver elbows. In only three did the first FCU branch arise at or proximal to the ME. In 36 UNE cases with fibrillations in the first dorsal interosseous, the FCU was normal in 10, mildly abnormal in 11, and severely abnormal in 15. FCU involvement correlated with the severity of the neuropathy and with whether compression was retroepicondylar or at the HUA. We conclude that sparing of the FCU in UNE is unrelated to the level of origin of its innervating branch, but rather is related to the internal neural topography and to the severity and level of compression.

Elbow↗

[Extracardiac malformations in tetralogy of Fallot].

The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence and type of malformations associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TF). Among 133 patients followed up for 12 years, 30 who had either complete TF (n = 26) or pulmonary atresia and interventricular septal defect (n = 4) presented with another, extracardiac malformation. These malformations were part of a malformative syndrome in 21/30 patients, including 4 trisomies 21, 6 embryofoetopathies unquestionably (antiepileptics n = 2, alcohol n = 1) or possibly (hormonal treatment n = 1) of environmental origin, 6 branchial arch pathologies and 5 miscellaneous syndromes. The extracardiac malformation was isolated in the remaining 9 patients, including 5 cases of skeletal anomaly and one case each of omphalocele and microcephaly. Altogether, in these 30 patients skeletal and neurosensory anomalies were largely predominant. Skeletal anomalies involved the vertebral column in 8 cases (cervical 3, thoracic 4, lumbar 1) and the limbs in 5 cases (2 of which were phocomelias). The 4 patients with pulmonary atresia and interventricular septal defect also presented with an early embryopathy: Shprinzen's velocardiofacial syndrome (n = 2), DiGeorge syndrome (n = 1) and situs inversus (n = 1). We compared TF with other congenital heart diseases in our population and found that the incidence of associated malformations was about average. The various associations are discussed. In genetic syndromes, trisomy 21 predominates and TF is less frequent than atrioventricular canal. In syndromes of environmental origin, the role of antiepileptic drugs (chiefly phenytoin and trimethadione) is well-known, alcohol is less often responsible and the TF-phocomelia association is suggestive of progesterone. In branchial arch syndromes, TF is the usual cardiopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

[Materno-fetal infections caused by unusual germs. Apropos of 9 cases].

A retrospective study carried out from January 1981 through August 1988 identified nine cases of materno-fetal infections (Staphylococcus aureus, 1 case; Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3 cases; enterococcus, 3 cases; Hemophilus influenzae, 1 case; and Pneumococcus, 1 case) in six girls and three boys; four premature infants developed respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. In four cases, maternal history found risk factors for infection. All patients developed circulatory failure and one had purulent meningitis. Diagnosis was confirmed upon recovery of the microorganism from a central sample in six cases; in three cases, only the peripheral cultures were positive but diagnosis was supported by the positive maternal history and by clinical findings. Bacterial species were not associated with specific clinical or biological features, but infections due to Hemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and pneumococcus were particularly severe (two deaths and two infants with neurologic sequelae). In some studies, unusual microorganisms account for 46% of septicemias and 36% of purulent meningitis. Group D streptococci are the most common bacteria in this category and may account for 10% to 15% of early neonatal septicemias. Organism-specific features are analyzed on the basis of data from the literature. Concerning therapy, this epidemiologic aspect of materno-fetal infections complicates the choice of the initial antimicrobial agents; because third-generation cephalosporins are not effective on listeria and group D streptococci, we advocate more widespread use of the ureidopenicillins instead of ampicillin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Ceftazidime in the treatment of purulent meningitis].

Third generation cephalosporins have modified the first-line treatment of bacterial meningitis in adults and children. Among these compounds, ceftazidime has a particularly wide antibacterial spectrum, and clinical results have confirmed its superiority, notably in the treatment of meningitis caused by Pseudomonas spp. It is an excellent first-line empirical treatment while awaiting bacteriological results, but in view of the severity of these diseases and of the dangerous pathogens that are often involved, it seems preferable to combine ceftazidime with an aminoglycoside. Route of administration (systemic or in situ) and duration of treatment must be tailored to each individual case.

Adult↗

Salla disease in one non-Finnish patient.

In a 5-year-old boy, an early onset psychomotor retardation with non-progressive ataxia and without dysmorphic features, associated with lysosomal storage disease found on ultrastructural examination of the conjunctiva, led to the diagnosis of Salla disease. This was supported by a tenfold excretion of urinary free sialic acid, without abnormal oligosacchariduria or anomaly in lysosomal enzymes. This boy is a native of Southern France. Screening of urinary sialic acid has to be introduced in aetiological investigations of patients with apparently non-progressive psychomotor retardation associated with ataxia or dystonic movements.

Child↗

Skin test reactivity in infancy.

Skin tests represent a major tool in the diagnosis of reaginic allergy; however, their interpretation does not appear to be without difficulty in children under the age of 3 yr. Seventy-eight infants from birth to 24 mo were prick tested and compared with 30 nonallergic adult subjects. Skin tests were performed without bleeding by use of two strengths of histamine hydrochloride (1 and 10 mg/ml), a mast cell degranulating agent (codeine phosphate, 50 mg/ml), and allergenic extracts. Negative control solution elicited a small wheal (less than 1.5 mm) in two infants who were excluded from further results. A clear and significant (p less than 0.001) hyporeactivity to both histamine and codeine phosphate was observed in infancy, especially before the age of 6 mo. Six infants were allergic and presented positive prick tests to either food or inhalant allergens. These tests were confirmed by serum specific IgE and a suggestive clinical history. The size of the allergen-induced prick test wheal ranged from 2 to 5 mm in diameter, suggesting that prick test wheals may be smaller in infants. This study confirms that prick tests can be performed and interpreted without difficulty in infants, keeping in mind the small wheal size induced by both positive control solutions and allergen-induced prick tests.

Allergens↗

[Use of cefotaxime in severe infections in newborn infants].

Twenty-seven septicemia, 2 urinary tract infections and 2 meningitis were treated with Cefotaxime. The pathogenic organisms were most often entero-bacteria (16 E. coli, 2 Klebsiella, 2 Enterobacter cloacae, 1 Proteus, 1 Acinetobacter); sometimes they were Streptococcus (5 Streptococcus D, 3 Streptococcus B, 1 Streptococcus Salivarius). Cefotaxime was given alone to 16 patients, in association to an aminoglycoside in 15 cases. It was administered by infusion over 30 minutes every 8 hours in a daily dose of 150 mg/kg (during 10 days in case of septicemia and during 18 days if it was a meningitis). A clinical and bacteriological success was obtained in 86% of the 22 cases caused by Enterobacteria, in one of the 5 septicemia due to Streptococcus D and in the 3 infections caused by Streptococcus B. It may be concluded from these results that cefotaxime may be used in neonate infection due to a Gram-. But when a Listeria or a Streptococcus D is discovered the ampicillin classically prescribed must be maintained.

Bacterial Infections↗

Vertebro-basilar arterial occlusion in childhood--report of a case and review of the literature.

A 9-year-old boy developed ataxia, right transient hemiparesis, left transient hemichorea, dysarthria and swallowing difficulties with left velar paralysis following two transient episodes of vomiting, headache and dizziness. Angiography demonstrated an occlusion of the distal part of the basilar artery. Thirty-six previously reported cases of vertebro-basilar arterial occlusion in children were reviewed, with particular regard to possible etiologies.

Ataxia↗