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Biomedical subjects

J C Lefebvre

Publications and source records attributed to J C Lefebvre.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Isolation of LAV/HTLV III from tears of patients with the ARC syndrome].

Isolation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was attempted from the tears of seven patients with ARC. For two of these patients the fluid from cell cultures showed significant reverse transcriptase activity. One strain was maintained on C.E.M. (T lymphocytes cell line). Indirect fixed cell immuno fluorescence and Western Blot tests have shown this strain to be a HIV. This result confirms other already published data. Although there is no evidence of transmission through tears, the presence of the virus should not be forgotten.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

[Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), thrombopenia and pregnancy].

Three cases of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women are described. Two of these patients had an AIDS-like illness and the third one had AIDS. This HIV-associated change occurred in 8% of the complications of a consecutive series of 38 pregnant women who were positive for the HIV antibody test in the course of one year. A link with HIV was established after eliminating idiopathic pregnancy thrombocytopenic purpura and after eliminating every other viral cause for the thrombocytopenia. The normal myelogram speaks in favour of a peripheral origin for the platelet destruction. Treatment consisted in administering immunoglobulins intravenously in a continuous transfusion in doses of 0.04 g/kg per day. The method was effective in two cases. Three cesareans were carried out. In two cases the recovery was uncomplicated and in the third case the haemorrhagic syndrome developed immediately after delivery. This patient died 35 days after delivery. Fetal scalp blood or fetal cord blood could not be taken in any of these three cases. The newborn did not have thrombocytopenia at birth, but they did have anti-IVF antibodies and one of them developed and AIDS-like syndrome. The time interval has not been long enough to assess the further development in the two other cases. The survivors are being followed up with a threefold assessment of the blood picture, the immunological state and the virology. This is being done on the two surviving mothers and the three infants.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

XC-cell fusion induced by murine plasmocytoma cells. II. Cytological and ultrastructural study.

The MF2 strain, a mouse myeloma derived cell line, was found to induce the mixed culture cytopathogenicity test when cocultured with XC cells. Only one MF2 cell was present per syncytium, as shown by autoradiography. Pretreatment of cells with inhibitors of DNA, RNA or protein synthesis suggested that a normal RNA synthesis was required to obtain optimal polykaryon growth. Immunoelectron microscopy using a syngenic mouse MF2 cell antiserum and peroxydase labeling revealed a complete mixing and redistribution of the respective plasma membrane sites of MF2 and XC cells on polykaryon surface.

Animals↗

Rapid genotyping of hepatitis C virus by direct cycle sequencing of PCR-amplified cDNAs and capillary electrophoresis analysis.

There is an increasing demand for the genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV), since it has been shown that different HCV genotypes are associated with distinct profiles of pathogenicity and responses to antiviral treatment. Hence, there is a need for a simple and precise genotyping assay for routine diagnosis of HCV types and subtypes. Here we show that direct sequencing, considered as the reference method, can provide an accurate and rapid method for large-scale screening of HCV genotypes. PCR-amplified cDNAs of the HCV 5' non-coding region (5' NCR) were obtained from the widespread "Amplicor" HCV detection system. Semi-purified PCR products were directly cycle-sequenced in a single tube using multicolour dye terminator chemistry. Sample loading, electrophoresis and sequence analysis were automatically achieved by a capillary electrophoresis-based genetic analyser. Out of a total of 500 samples, HCV subtype 1b accounted for the majority of the infections (41%), followed by HCV 3 (31%) and HCV 1a (22%). This procedure failed to identify a genotype in only 3 samples. In addition, several cases of mixed HCV infection were also documented. The combination of direct cycle sequencing of PCR products with capillary electrophoresis provides a simple and rapid method convenient for routine HCV genotyping analysis.

Automation↗

[Positive HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) serology in the pregnant woman: current data on its management. Apropos of a continuous series of 56 cases].

56 cases of pregnant women with a positive HIV serology were reported in 20 months at the Maternity of the Nice Hospital Center. In 10 cases, there were clinical signs of the disease (9 ARC-Syndrome, one case of AIDS). The predisposing factor was most of the time drug addiction, 53 cases (94.5%) and one case occurred after a blood transfusion. In the majority of the cases (52%) the pregnancy was pursued because of the late term or the patient's decision. A therapeutic abortion was performed in 12 instances (25%) and an interruption before 12 weeks of amenorrhea in 15 cases. 24 women delivered. The obstetrical complications were frequent with especially a fetal death in utero, five premature deliveries and fifteen hypotrophies. A severe infectious complication (septicemia, pneumopathy secondary to Pneumocystis carinii) was observed in 9 cases, a marked thrombopenia causing profuse post-partum haemorrhages in one case. Finally, one woman died 35 days after delivery. The study of the consequences on the child is incomplete because of insufficient follow-up: all children were sero-positive at birth and among thirteen children aged between 12 to 20 months, there were one death, one AIDS syndrome, 4 ARC-syndrome, 4 sero-positive and 3 sero-negative. The notion of HIV sero-positivity in a pregnant woman presents serious problems for the obstetrician. Decompensation of the disease during the pregnancy is uncertain but it is now confirmed that the child is affected, and this is a well established fact. These important consequences lead to propose, at this time a therapeutic interruption of pregnancy when possible, depending on the term, and when accepted by the patient.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication: prospective study of 100 cases. Results at one year and literature review.

We report a prospective evaluation of 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication according to Toupet. All these cases where suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux resistant to medical treatment or recurring after stopping it. Only one conversion into laparotomy was required. Perioperative morbidity (4%), mortality (0%), median hospital stay (4 days) and return to work (3 weeks) were lower than in case of open surgery in the literature. One year after the operation, clinical results were similar to those of laparotomy with 93% of patients free of symptoms. Excellent results of this technique lead us to assert that laparoscopic Toupet procedure is an interesting way of treating the gastro-oesophageal reflux that does not respond to medical treatment.

Adolescent↗