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Biomedical subjects

L de Haro

Publications and source records attributed to L de Haro.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Reactive airway dysfunction syndrome and bronchiolitis obliterans after exposure to acid vapors].

A 37-year-old male non-smoker developed rapidly severe respiratory disease after a 3-hour exposure to hydrobromic acid fumes. An upper airway syndrome ensued with anosmia and aphonia as well as non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity, obstructive bronchiolitis (which led to a persistent respiratory volume of about 20% of the normal level with exercise-induced dyspnea) and obstructive bronchiolitis. Lung transplantation is currently being considered. When inhaled at irritant concentrations, certain toxic gases, such as chlorine, can lead to reflex apnea via laryngeal nerve reaction, limiting gas penetration into the bronchial tree. Other gases are cell toxins and can enter the deeper part of the lung before provoking irritating cough. This is what occurred for our patient who continued work in the polluted atmosphere until his severe cough obliged him to leave his job. This case is an example of cellular toxicity resulting from atmospheric gas fumes at low weakly-irritative concentrations, explaining the insidious nature of disease onset.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[A wine pitcher, cause of lead poisoning].

A 35-year-old male nurse hospitalized for recurrent episodes of intolerable abdominal pain was found to have non-hemolytic anemia and saturnism with blood lead level reaching 500 micrograms/l. Search for the source of the lead led to the discovery of an earthenware jug purchased in a Corsica craftsware shop. This jug had been used to hold the patient's daily consumption of wine (estimated at one-half to three-quarters liters per day) in the refrigerator. On the basis of lead release measurements using the method described in the EEC directive 84/500 (maximum tolerated limit for crockery = 4 mg lead/litter contents), it was found that the jug released 216 mg/l and estimated that the patient had ingested 0.8 to 1 mg of soluble lead daily for the past 8 years. The patient was successfully treated with chelator agents. This case of lead poisoning caused by a single earthenware wine jug confirms the need for rigourous governmental directives to control the production and distribution of varnished earthenware.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Research into individual predisposition to develop acute rhabdomyolysis attributed to fenoverine.

A xenobiotic, well tolerated by the majority of treated patients, can cause serious complications in patients with individual susceptibility. Based on the hypothesis that such a phenomenon may occur in rare cases of rhabdomyolysis attributed to fenoverine (DCI), we designed a protocol to look for a genetic predisposition. Six patients were included who had previously had an episode of rhabdomyolysis after taking fenoverine. A seventh patient was added, who had only experienced myalgia without cytolysis. All patients were investigated by the following tests: 31-phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, histopathological examination of the muscle, muscle contraction tests and biochemical analysis of the muscle. All patients examined proved to have muscle abnormalities. The pathology found varied greatly from patient to patient: mitochondrial myopathy, lipid storage myopathy, sensitivity to malignant hyperthermia or disorders of oxidative metabolism. The probability of finding by chance such rare muscle disorders associated with the equally rare rhabdomyolysis attributed to fenoverine is practically zero. We conclude that there is a cause and effect link between underlying abnormalities and the muscular cytolysis attributed to fenoverine.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

[Latrodectism in southern France. A series of cases from the poisoning center of Marseille].

OBJECTIVES: Black widows, which belong to the genus Latrodectus, are particularly dangerous spiders. The clinical syndrome caused by their bite is known as latrodectism. In Provence and in Corsica, there is a locally-found species, Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus called "malmignate". A series of 30 cases were collected by the Marseille Poison centre between 1973 and 1993 inclusive. RESULTS: The cases of poisoning involved patients bitten in the summer, mostly in Corsica (only 5 of the cases were from Provence) in rural areas. The symptoms were generally widespread pain and muscle contractions, sometimes associated with neurosomatic symptoms, such as increased sweating, or alterations in the blood pressure or body temperature. On the other hand, local signs remained benign or were absent, this sometimes causing confusion with the diagnosis: in 5 of the cases were surprisingly severe, the outcome of the poisoning was always favourable, using symptomatic treatment including infusions of calcium salts, which combat the effects of toxins (disturbance of presynaptic ion exchange).

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Latrodectism in Madagascar].

Data concerning lactrodectism in Madagascar is scarce. Two spider species of the Latrodectus genus are found on the Grand Isle: the black widow Latrodectus mactans mena vody and the brown widow Latrodectus geometricus. From March 1991 through July 1992, 10 cases of envenomation by these spiders were treated in the Intensive Care Unit of Antananarivo Hospital. Symptomatology was remarkable with regard to severity (one fatality due to cardiovascular failure, one gangrene of the foot) as well as clinical manifestations (immediate local pain, kidney dysfunction, arterial hypertension). In two cases, the spider was captured and identified. Both were female brown widows (Latrodectus geometricus), which might explain the differences observed in comparison with the classic features of latrodectism that have been established from American and European black widow bites. Since antivenom was unavailable, only symptomatic treatment was administered, including intravenous calcium that proved effective for pain relief.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Accidental ingestions of paracetamol in the form of EFFERALGAN pediatric syrup: experience of the Marseille Anti-poison Center during 1998].

In 1998, 77 cases of accidental ingestion of paracetamol paediatric syrup (Efferalgan) in children were notified to the Marseille Poison Centre. In a quarter of them, the alleged dose taken was greater than the toxic dose. Ingestion was mainly due to the child opening the bottle. The proximate marketing of a product with a child-proof top, which should allow the number of accidents to be reduced. Doctors and pharmacists should be informed rapidly, so that they can warn the families who still have the old type of bottle.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Accidental ingestion of paracetamol in the for of the pediatric syrup EFFERALGAN: case studies during the six months following the institution of the child-proof top].

During the 6 months following the child-proof top commercialisation for the paediatric syrup EFFERALGAN in France, 51 cases of accidental ingestion were collected by the Marseilles Poison Centre. For 21 pour cent of them, the alleged dose taken was greater than the toxic dose. For 2 cases only, the responsible bottle had a child-proof top and was open on the table. For all other cases, it was simple-opening bottles (old bottles still present in houses, or bottles without a special top but sold in order to get rid of stocks). This study proves that such a preventive measure (modification of the top of the syrup bottles) is only fully effective if additional measures are undertaken such as return of unsold stocks or the provision of information to pharmacists and physicians.

Accidents↗