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Biomedical subjects

J Barrier

Publications and source records attributed to J Barrier.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Neuromeningeal listeriosis in adults, excluding pregnancy. Prognosis and development of neurologic manifestations. Retrospective study of 63 cases].

Patients' constitutional background, treatment and neurological manifestations were analyzed in a retrospective study of 63 cases of neuromeningeal listeriosis in adults. Age over 60 and coma at the onset were of poor prognosis, but immunodepression (present in only 38% of the cases) did not seem to affect the outcome. The ampicillin-aminoglycoside combination did not appear to improve the vital and functional prognoses more than ampicillin alone. The neurological manifestations observed at the end of hospitalization in 16 of the 42 patients who were cured were not necessarily permanent: among the 13 patients who could be followed up for a mean period of 6.5 years, 5 recovered completely, 5 recovered partially and 3 remained unchanged at neurological examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pasteurella multocida bacteremia: report of thirteen cases over twelve years and review of the literature.

13 episodes of bacteremia caused by Pasteurella multocida were seen in a general hospital during a 12-year period. All the patients had an underlying disease (77% had cirrhosis) and 2 were receiving chemotherapy for hematologic malignancy. There was a numerical preponderance of male patients (69%). In 5/13 cases a recent animal-derived trauma could be found. In the other cases the source of the infecting organism was thought to be endogenous (from patients' own pharyngeal commensal flora) or secondary to contact with secretions of a pet animal. The clinical presentation of sepsis caused by this organism was nonspecific. Hypotension was seen in 5 cases. Localized sites of infection were certain in 6 and only clinically suspected in 4 other cases. The overall mortality rate was 31%. The administration of ampicillin seems the appropriate therapy for Pasteurella multocida bacteremia.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1987

[Value of initial chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced cancers of the uterine cervix].

Eleven patients who had advanced cancer of the cervix were treated with combination chemotherapy containing Cisplatin as a primary treatment. The cases were: 3 stage II B N+, 2 stage III not involving the bladder, 3 stage III involving the bladder and 3 stage IV. The response rate was 40% with 6 patients responding. The response was better than 50% in 3 and there were 5 failures. In the 6 patients where the treatment was helpful, 2 could have extended surgery whereas the others had follow-up radiotherapy without developing urinary fistulae. Just as it to be found in the literature, it was not possible to pick out prognostic criteria for sensitivity to chemotherapy. A protocol for treatment is suggested, starting with a therapeutic test of chemotherapy. If this is successful it should be followed by extended surgery or radiotherapy. It if is not successful, conventional treatment with radiotherapy will be undertaken. It is essential to carry out multicentre studies in future to find out whether this attitude is going to be successful.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Primary Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome with necrotizing polymyositis: favorable effect of hydroxychloroquine].

A 61-year-old woman was admitted for acute arthralgias and proximal weakness in all four limbs. Clinical examination found xerostomia, xerophthalmia, enlarged parotid glands. The Schirmer test was positive and the salivary gland biopsy showed a mononuclear, lymphoid, sometimes nodular infiltrate. A muscle biopsy showed necrotizing myopathy with perifascicular atrophy. The patient refused steroids and was given hydroxychloroquine (600 mg daily). She improved gradually, and one year later there were no further complications. The favorable course both of Sjögren's syndrome and polymyositis with hydroxychloroquine treatment is unexpected. This led us to suppose that both could have had a common cause.

Female↗
PubMed1986

[The drug combination amoxicillin-clavulanic acid compared to the triple combination ampicillin-gentamicin-metronidazole in the treatment of severe adnexal infections].

Forty-four patients with severe pelvic inflammatory disease were randomly divided into two groups. Single drug therapy with the amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was used in 22 patients (group A). The other 22 patients (group B) were given a combination of ampicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole. Clinical results were comparable in both groups with 91% successes and 9% improvements in group A, against 86% successes, 9% failures, and 5% non-interpretable results in group B. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 11.6%). 30% of patients in each group had positive serologic tests for Chlamydiae. This had no influence on therapeutic results but led to secondary prescription of a cycline. Because amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is active against aerobic and anaerobic pathogens, including beta-lactamase-producing microorganisms, it is a satisfactory alternative to the ampicillin-gentamicin-metronidazole combination, especially as it is simpler to use, less toxic and less expensive.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1986

[Value of the echography of the maternal kidney during pregnancy].

Routine ultrasonographic detection of renal tract dilatations in pregnant women is used to define a high risk population for urinary tract infections. In a first group of 96 patients with symptomatic urinary tract infection, 34% of the cases of uncomplicated infection were accompanied by ultrasonographic abnormalities, while 73% of cases of pyelonephritis presented such signs. Antibody coated bacteria were only found in 12% of uncomplicated urinary tract infections and in 30% of cases of pyelonephritis. In a second group of 273 patients, routine ultrasonography revealed abnormalities in 11.5% of cases. 7.5% of patients had dilatations of the upper renal tract, 2% had renal stones and 2% had occult renal malformations. Dilatations of the upper renal tract were associated with asymptomatic urinary tract infections in 30% of cases. Screening for upper renal tract dilatations is recommended between the 17th and 20th weeks of pregnancy. The presence of such lesions constitutes a risk factor for urinary tract infection and appropriate prophylactic treatment should be prescribed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

[Pleuropulmonary disease caused by Pasteurella multocida. Study of 9 cases. Review of the literature].

Nine cases of pleuro-pulmonary infection due to Pasteurella multocida were observed over an 11 year-period (1974-1984) occurring in seven men and two women, with a mean age of 65 (range: 47-80 years). There were 4 pneumonias and 5 cases of empyema, occurring on three occasions after septicemia. There was a background of depressed immunity in 7 cases: alcoholic cirrhosis (4 cases), blood dyscrasias (2 cases), breast cancer (1 case); and of a chronic broncho-pulmonary pathology in two cases. Animal inoculation was present in six cases but only one case of pneumonia followed injury by an animal (cat scratch). The clinical, radiological and epidemiological data of these nine cases were similar to those in the literature (forty-five published cases). There was a zero mortality in our (from 30%) in the literature. Pasteurella multocida is an opportunistic organism, noncommensal in man, producing pulmonary infections in subjects with generalised or localised diminished resistance, the portal of entry being airborne (indirect animal contact) or haematogenous. The organism is nearly always sensitive to Penicillin and other B-lactamines. The gravity of infections to Pasteurella multocida relates to the degree of decompensation or severity of the underlying disorder.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Endogenous digitalis-like substances in umbilical cord blood: analytical interference or new hormones?].

Endogenous substances with a digitalis-like action have been found in the newborn and in women in the first three months of pregnancy. These substances have three properties that are characteristic of cardiotonic heterosides: a positive inotropic effect; inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase and binding with anti-digoxin antibodies. The result of this last property, when immunological methods are used to calculate the levels of digoxin, is that significant concentrations of "apparent digoxin" seem to be present although neither the mother nor the newborn child have received any digoxin. We describe the existence of concentrations of the "apparent digoxin" found in 37 cord sera using two radioimmunological methods. In the one, the concentrations were 0.88 +/- 0.20 nmol/L, and in the other 0.17 +/- 0.10 nmol/L. These results emphasize the significant differences obtained when the two methods are used for calculating levels (p less than 0.01). There was no significant variation as far as the geographical origin, the sex of the infant and associated therapy carried out at the delivery. The nature of the interference is not yet known. It could be due to natriuretic hormones or steroids. Its existence gives rise to numerous problems: the physiological role, the validity of pharmacokinetic studies and the control of treatment with digoxin in pregnant women and in the newborn.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1986

[Incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in a population of pregnant women at risk].

So long as the diagnosis is made early and treatment is prolonged adequately pulmonary tuberculosis in pregnant women has been shown to have a much better prognosis than formerly. 13 new pregnant women were found to have tuberculosis in 18 months, which gave an incidence of 32 per 10,000 population. This is 5 times more than the mean incidence in France; and makes it worth while screening for the condition, particularly among immigrant.

Africa↗
PubMed1986

[Finger plethysmography for studying the blood rheological and hemodynamic components of an acrosyndrome].

Digital plethysmography allows investigation of maximum digital pulse (M.D.P.) after immersion of hands at 45 degrees C over three minutes. It is correlated with digital arterial blood flow. Reactivity to cold is determined from the ratio M.D.P./digital pulse after local and body cooling over 3 minutes. Tests were performed on 65 controls, 69 patients with idiopathic Raynaud's syndrome, 12 with scleroderma, 10 with digital arteritis and 15 with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to hemorheologic affections. Maximum digital pulse was significantly decreased in patients with digital arteritis and scleroderma. The M.D.P. was normal in controls and patients with idiopathic Raynaud's syndrome, and was significantly increased in patients with a rheologic Raynaud's phenomenon. Digital artery reactivity differentiates the populations studied: it was maximum in patients with scleroderma, moderate in controls and patients with isolated digital arteritis and marked in patients with idiopathic Raynaud's disease and those with rheologic Raynaud's phenomena.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Clavicle osteolysis in MacDuffie's syndrome].

MacDuffie's syndrome emerges from systemic vasculitis as including recurrent urticaria-like skin lesions, episodic angio-oedemas, articular manifestations and abdominal pains, with a tendency to affect women. Renal involvement may burden the prognosis. Hypocomplementemia is usual by deficiency of the classical pathway. Corticosteroid therapy is habitual. The case reported, fitting to this nosological entity offers two new features: in the first place, the osteolysis of the distal part of the clavicle whereas the joints are not affected by destroying lesions; then the non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was effective within a period of one year without complication.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Arterial diseases of the lower limbs in subjects less than 40 years old. Nature and prognosis. Apropos of 41 surgically treated patients].

This study of 41 cases of young patients with obliterative arterial disease treated surgically, with follow-up for 6 and a half years, used the standard classification. Collection of the patients from a department of treatment falsified their true distribution. Atheroma was present in 90% of cases. Sixty eight per cent of patients were initially at stage II and 44% had a good long term result, essentially following the insertion of an aorto-bifemoral bypass. The mortality was 12%. The choice of surgical technique and ideal timing remain difficult to define. It would seem necessary to delay the date of the first operation for as long as possible, stressing the gravity of the first decision to operate.

Adult↗