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Biomedical subjects

J Beaune

Publications and source records attributed to J Beaune.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Alveolar hemorrhage. Diagnostic criteria and results in 194 immunocompromised hosts.

To establish the diagnosis of alveolar hemorrhage (AH) in cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), Golde and colleagues created a score based on the hemosiderin content of alveolar macrophages stained with Prussian blue. We used an easier method, calculating the percentage of siderophages among the total alveolar macrophages recovered by BAL. We have retrospectively studied this method in 240 BALs performed in 194 immunocompromised patients. Prussian blue staining was performed on each BAL sample, and the Golde score was calculated for 47 samples chosen at random. The methods were compared for diagnosing AH. The percentage of siderophages correlated well with the Golde score. AH was defined by at least 20% siderophages. This definition was validated by comparison with the method of Kahn and coworkers. AH was present in 87 (36%) of the samples and was significantly associated with four parameters: thrombocytopenia (< 50,000/mm3), other abnormal coagulation parameters, renal failure (creatinine > or = 2.5 mg/dl), and a history of heavy smoking. The diagnosis of AH did not correlate with either the cause or the outcome of pneumonia. AH was seen more frequently in cardiac transplant patients (75%). In our experience, (1) a percentage of siderophages > or = 20% is sufficient and is an easier determinant of the diagnosis of AH than the Golde score; and (2) AH is rarely the sole cause of lung injury and is usually associated with other causes of pneumonia. AH may be considered more as a sign than as a distinct disease in this population.

Adolescent

[Artefacts and intravascular ultrasonography. Analysis and implications for a better reliability in the interpretation of images and measurements].

Intravascular ultrasound catheters provide cross-sectional images of vessel walls and surrounding tissues with rotating transducers, and the behavior of ultrasound in heterogeneous media both cause degradation of image quality. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of in vivo studies are operator-dependent and limited by artifacts. We investigated these limitations by an in vitro study on plexiglass phantoms and segments of fresh arteries. We observed, analyzed and interpreted the most specific reasons for image artifacts: geometric distortions, the point spread function of the imaging system and the near field effects. Various practical implications have resulted from this study. Knowledge of the most obvious pitfalls will enable the user to obtain maximum benefits from intravascular ultrasound imaging, and to appreciate its limitations.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases

Artifacts in intravascular ultrasound imaging: analyses and implications.

The ability of an intravascular ultrasound catheter to give cross-sectional images of vessel walls and surrounding tissues, and the behavior of ultrasound in heterogeneous media, are at the origin of degradation of image quality. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of in vivo studies are then operator-dependent and are limited by artifacts. We investigated these limitations by an in vitro study on plexiglass phantoms and segments of fresh arteries. We used a 20 MHz transducer mounted on the tip of a 4.8 F catheter and an interventional ultrasound system. The ultrasound beam is reflected onto the rotating transducer at 600 rotations per minute (RPM), creating 360 degrees real-time images (10 images/second). We then observed, analyzed and interpreted the most specific reasons for image artifacts: geometric distortions, multiple echoes, the point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system, near-field effects, "petal-shaped" effect, and ultrasound speckle. Various practical implications have resulted from this study. Only a thorough knowledge of how to avoid some of the most obvious pitfalls will enable the user to obtain maximum benefits from intravascular ultrasound imaging, and to appreciate its limitations.

Arteries

[Intravascular echographic imaging: experimental validations and limits. An in vitro study].

Intravascular ultrasound is a new method of visualizing details of vascular pathology, providing (real time) high resolution images of vascular walls. Most of the research on the technique has explored its qualitative and quantitative capabilities to improve the assessment of atherosclerotic vascular disease in vivo. Intravascular ultrasound differs from angiography and angioscopy in its ability to penetrate below the surface of the vessel lumen, demonstrating specific appearances of the distribution and composition of plaque. Image analysis is operator dependent. Although this technology is very promising limitations such as artefacts and loss of image quality in heavily calcified vessels hinder its use. There is hope that this imaging technique may ultimately improve the results of endovascular interventions.

Arteries

Anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: evolution of left ventricular function and perfusion after surgery in a 44-year-old man.

Anomalous origin of left coronary vessel from the pulmonary artery is an almost universally fatal form of congenital heart disease unless appropriate corrective surgery is performed at an early age. A case was diagnosed in a symptomatic 44-year-old man who presented an impairment of systolic left ventricular function. The abnormality was successfully treated with ligation of the left coronary artery combined with left internal mammary artery anastomosis. Left ventricular function improved dramatically six months after surgery, both at rest and during exercise. Such an evolution suggests that surgery may be indicated not only in infants but also in adults with this congenital heart abnormality.

Adult

New cell lines of human breast cancer origin.

Established human mammary tumor cell lines constitute an important tool in the study of breast cancer. The aim of this work was to isolate and characterize two new mammary tumor cell lines, JCK and GCS, which were obtained from the pleural effusion and ascitic fluid, respectively, from two breast cancer patients. Both cell lines had some properties of transformed cells, namely immortalization and growth in soft agar. The carcinoma cells presented epithelial morphology shown by light and electron microscopy, and antigenic properties shown by different tumor markers such as a cytokeratin cocktail, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and human milk fat globule membrane antigen. A significant increase was also found (P greater than 0.05) in cell growth and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA in the JCK and GCS cell lines in the presence of 17 beta estradiol at concentrations of 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, respectively, after 5 days in culture. These cells presented estradiol receptor levels which were similar in the biopsies and the resulting cell lines. The aromatase activity was also similar in the JCK cell line and the original patient biopsy. However, there was a considerably higher aromatase activity in the GCS cell line than in the biopsy specimen. Southern hybridizations with the neu oncogene showed an additional 12 kb fragment in both cell lines, as also seen in patients with breast cancer. We conclude from these studies that this in vitro system may provide us with a way to study metastatic cells and improve clinical management of breast cancer patients.

Aromatase

Chlamydial endocarditis: a report on ten cases.

Over the period 1983-1990, 10 cases of infective native-valve endocarditis as a result of Chlamydia were seen. All patients were men, with a mean age of 42 years, and none had a history of exposure to Chlamydia psittaci. Symptoms, such as weight loss and anorexia, with fever in eight cases, had persisted for at least 2 months before admission. Haemodynamic failure was present in seven patients, and neurological signs in four. The aortic valve was involved in seven cases, the mitral valve in one and both valves in two. Vegetations, often fingerlike, were observed by echocardiography in nine cases. All patients required valve replacement, and three died in the year following diagnosis. Blood cultures were consistently negative in all cases, and no antibiotics had been given before admission. Significant titres of complement fixing anti-chlamydial antibodies were present in six cases, and micro-immunofluorescence using the three chlamydial species showed cross-reacting antibodies in all nine cases studied, with transient IgM positivity in six cases. Histologically, the leaflets were fibrosed and infiltrated by large macrophages containing dark red granules after Machiavello staining. These granules were specifically stained by immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibody to Chlamydia common antigen, but not by that specific for C. pneumoniae. No organisms were seen after Gram staining, and no positive chlamydial immunofluorescence was seen on sections of valves from patients with staphylococcal or streptococcal endocarditis.

Adult

Plasma sex hormones and aromatase activity in tissues of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Clinical observations and experimental data suggest that sex hormones influence the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An imbalance between androgen and estrogen plasma levels may suggest an abnormality in the aromatase activity involved in estradiol synthesis. Aromatase activity in skin and subcutaneous tissue and plasma sex-hormone levels (testosterone, androstenedione, estrone, estradiol, dehydrosterone sulfate, cortisol) were measured in 15 SLE patients (nine female, six male) who had never received corticosteroid treatment and in eight (four female, four male) healthy control subjects. There was a tendency toward an increase in aromatase activity in SLE patients when compared to control subjects. Among SLE patients the aromatase activity varied inversely with disease activity. Patients with SLE had decreased androgen and increased estrogen levels. Aromatase activity in SLE patients had significant direct correlation with estrogen levels. These data suggest that abnormal regulation of aromatase activity may partially explain the abnormalities of estrogen synthesis in SLE.

Adolescent

Influence of associated valvular lesions on long-term prognosis of mitral stenosis. A 20-year follow-up of 202 patients.

Other valvular lesions associated with pure MS were studied in 202 consecutive patients whose mean age was 43.4 +/- 12.7 years; 76.7% were females. MS was isolated in 63.4%, associated with aortic regurgitation (AR) in 27.7%, aortic stenosis in 1.0%, tricuspid stenosis (+aortic valve lesion) in 1.0%. In isolated MS, 42.4% were NYHA class III or IV, compared with 49.0% in MS + aortic valve lesion. One hundred and sixty-nine (85.4%) patients were operated on; 23.1% had mitral valve replacement, 76.9% had closed (31.4%) or open (45.6%) mitral commissurotomy; 7.1% had associated aortic valve replacement. There were perioperative complications in 20.4%, and the perioperative death rate was 4.1%. Two patients were reoperated in the postoperative course, and 28 patients after this period. The follow-up was 13.3 +/- 4.5 years. The survival rate was 77.7 +/- 4.6% (SE) for isolated MS, and 71.1 +/- 6.3% for MS associated with an aortic valve lesion (NS). The prognosis of MS is very good: the survival rate at 20 years follow-up is 75%. The association of aortic stenosis or tricuspid stenosis does not appear to alter this survival, but numbers are small. Important aortic regurgitation is a significant predictor of higher mortality in patients with MS.

Adolescent

[Abnormal origin of the left coronary artery in the adult. Scintigraphic and surgical correlations].

The authors report two cases of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in the adult. The two patients were pauci-symptomatic and were successfully operated, the one by reimplantation of the left coronary artery in the aorta and the other by an internal mammary artery left anterior descending artery bypass. Resting and stress myocardial scintigraphy and radionuclide ventriculography were performed before and after surgery in both cases. An analysis of segmental wall motion was possible in one patient. Before surgery, there was hypo-fixation of the tracer during the stress test and an alteration of left ventricular function. Postoperative isotopic investigations confirmed the efficacy of surgery the absence of regional ischemia and the normalisation of the ventricular contraction. These results argue in favour of a surgical reconstruction of a two coronary system, given the spontaneous risk of sudden death in this condition.

Adolescent

Cerebrovascular accidents in infective endocarditis: role of anticoagulation.

Anticoagulation is still a matter of debate in infective endocarditis, since it can increase the risk of complications, mostly neurological. In our series of 269 patients with native valve endocarditis studied between 1970 and 1982, 35 were anticoagulated. We observed 14 patients with brain infarcts, of whom five died, and 12 patients with cerebromeningeal or brain haemorrhage of whom six died. In a similar series of 63 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis, all of whom were on anticoagulation and were studied between 1972 and 1987, we observed five patients with brain infarcts, three of whom died, and two patients with brain haemorrhage, one of whom died. The frequency of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was similar for both groups (11.1% in prosthetic endocarditis vs 11.5% in native valve endocarditis, P = ns), as was mortality rate (57% vs 48.4%, P = ns). CVA are significantly more frequent among anticoagulated patients (19/94 vs 19/238: P less than 0.01), but the mortality rate in CVA is similar for anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated patients (11/19 vs 8/19: P = ns). The indications for anticoagulation in infective endocarditis remain similar to those in valvular heart disease. In patients with infective endocarditis, anticoagulation with heparin should be maintained whenever a brain infarct is present, unless it is large and/or haemorrhagic.

Adolescent

Comparison of enalapril versus digoxin for congestive heart failure.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted to compare the effects of enalapril and digoxin on clinical signs and symptoms, as well as exercise capacity, in 142 patients with congestive heart failure classified as mild to severe (New York Heart Association functional classes II to IV). The patients received optimal treatment with digitalis and diuretics for 2 to 4 weeks. Thereafter, they were randomly assigned to receive either enalapril plus diuretics (n = 72) or digoxin plus diuretics (n = 70). After 8 weeks of treatment, a significant improvement in classification was observed in 22 of 63 patients (35%) in the enalapril group and in 17 of 61 (28%) in the digoxin group (difference not significant [NS]). Similarly, duration of exercise increased in both groups (p less than 0.005; p = NS between groups). Blood pressures decreased in the enalapril group (from 129 +/- 19/80 +/- 10 to 121 +/- 20/78 +/- 11 mm Hg; p less than 0.001), but not in the digoxin group (from 134 +/- 19/82 +/- 12 to 138 +/- 19/85 +/- 10 mm Hg; NS). Serum creatinine and electrolytes did not exhibit any significant change from baseline values, except for serum potassium, which increased slightly in the enalapril group (from 4.24 +/- 0.48 to 4.43 +/- 0.49 mmol/liter; p less than 0.05) and decreased slightly in the digoxin group (from 4.28 +/- 0.47 to 4.18 +/- 0.40 mmol/liter; p less than 0.05). Adverse events were reported in 13 patients (5 withdrawals) in the enalapril group and in 7 patients (2 withdrawals) in the digoxin group (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical Trials as Topic

[Prognosis of chronic non-dystrophic and surgically treated aortic insufficiency].

Between January 1972 and March 1983, 123 patients with isolated non dystrophic aortic insufficiency underwent aortic valve replacement. During a mean follow-up period of 4.3 years per patient, 25.6 p. 100 of the patients died, including a 4.1 p. 100 hospital death rate. The actuarial survival rate was 74 p. 100 at 5 years and 62 p. 100 at 10 years. The main causes of mortality were heart failure, dysrhythmias and sudden death. A study of prognostic factors based on the preoperative data showed that clinical, radiological, electrocardiographic and haemodynamic signs were informative. In agreement with other authors, we found that preoperative cardiac dilatation and left ventricular dysfunction were predictive of a poor prognosis.

Adult

[Valvular replacement for isolated aortic stenosis. Predictive value of the preoperative cardiac index in survival].

The immediate and long-term results of aortic valve replacement for pure or predominant aortic valve stenosis were evaluated in 186 patients operated upon since 1975 and followed for up to 10 years. This population fell into two groups depending on whether the pre-operative cardiac index was superior (group I, n = 111) or inferior (group II, n = 75) to 2.3 l/min/m2. There was no significant difference between the two groups as regards the immediate (i.e. within 30 days) post-operative mortality rate (6.6% vs 8.1% respectively). In contrast, the cardiac index proved to be a significant post-operative prognostic factor in aortic stenosis, since the probability of survival at 5 years was 96.4% in group I and only 71.7% in group II (p less than 0.001). This high rate of mortality in group II was exclusively due to myocardial dysfunction (sudden deaths included) in these patients with low cardiac index. When late mortality was analyzed according to age (over or below 60 years) and to pre-operative cardiothoracic ratio (over or below 50), these two criteria also proved to be significant prognostic factors. However, considering the poor prognosis of unoperated aortic stenosis, these long-term results in group II should encourage surgical treatment in many cases, even those with advanced cardiopathy.

Aged