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Biomedical subjects

M Dumas

Publications and source records attributed to M Dumas.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Tick-bite meningoradiculoneuritis: clinical, electrophysiologic, and histologic findings in 10 cases.

We studied 10 adults with meningoradiculitis several weeks after a tick bite (Ixodes). EMG evidence of denervation was associated with normal motor conduction velocities, prolongation of distal latencies, and low sensory amplitudes, suggesting axonal neuropathy. Sural nerve biopsies confirmed the axonal involvement. Infiltrations of lymphocytes and plasma cells, sometimes forming thick pericapillary cuffs with no accompanying necrosis of vessel walls, were numerous. Many capillaries of the endoneurium, perineurium, and epineurium were affected in this way.

Aged↗

[Neuropathies of unknown etiology. A study of 48 cases].

A prospective study, carried out over 7 years, showed that out of 432 peripheral neuropathies followed up for 12 months, no cause could be discovered in 48 (11%). This is discussed with respect to the previous few reports. In fact none of these studies is strictly comparable. In spite of complementary investigations and observation of the course of the disease, it may be difficult to be sure to which etiology any individual case belongs; e.g. genetically determined neuropathies, chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuritis or drug-induced neuropathies. However, it is clear that the group of neuropathies of undetermined origin, is clinically, pathologically and developmentally heterogeneous. This suggests that these patients should be classified as having a yet undetermined disease process. In our series, long term follow up enabled us finally to find a cause in a significant number of cases.

Adolescent↗

Urinary beta 2-microglobulin: early indicator of high dose cisdiamminedichloroplatinum nephrotoxicity? Influence of furosemide.

To evaluate the efficacy of beta 2-microglobulin as an indicator of cisplatinum nephrotoxicity, creatinine clearance and urinary beta 2-microglobulin were measured in 19 patients during 5 h after administration of a single dose of 80 mg/m2 cisplatinum. Eleven patients received furosemide as a concomitant therapy. Serum creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin remained unchanged. A decrease of creatinine clearance was observed. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin increased between 1 and 3 h after administration. This suggests transient tubular damage immediately after the treatment course. The concomitant administration of furosemide does not modify these results. However, patients who developed long-term nephrotoxicity had no early rise of urinary beta 2-microglobulin excretion; thus, it is not possible to predict cumulative nephrotoxicity by measuring beta 2-microglobulin immediately after the first course of high-dose cisplatinum.

Cisplatin↗

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Limousin (Limoges area, France).

Several epidemiological studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have suggested that this neurological disease is uniformly distributed throughout the world. We report here the only study providing data on the incidence of this disease in France. It is based on a retrospective study of the Limoges region (Limousin) which contains only one university department of neurology. The study, conducted from February 1, 1977, to February 1, 1985, was not limited to in- and out-patients seen at this department, as we also contacted other non-hospital doctors who might have examined such patients. The average normal incidence was found to be 0.91 per 100,000 population. The male:female ratio was 1.16:1, and the median age of onset was 65 years. Median survival was 20.7 months.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Secondary degeneration of oligodendrocytes in canine distemper virus infection in vitro.

To study the pathogenesis of demyelination in canine distemper virus (CDV) infection, primary canine brain cell cultures were infected with CDV to examine specific virus-induced glial cell changes. Cultures were harvested at regular intervals after inoculation and were immunostained for the specific demonstration of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and CDV antigen. The infection spread slowly with moderate cytolysis and cell fusion. Soon after inoculation, infection of astrocytes was found by means of double immunofluorescent labeling. One week after inoculation, CDV-induced astrocytic fusion and rearrangement of astroglial fibrils became apparent. The astrocytic changes progressed during the observation period. Double immunofluorescent labeling failed to show oligodendroglial infection. Despite clear absence of viral replication within oligodendrocytes at all stages of the experiment, these cells exhibited marked pathologic changes starting at about 20 days after inoculation and progressed to complete cytolysis within 10 days. The degeneration of the oligodendrocytes was thought to be secondary to CDV-induced changes in other cell types of the culture probably through the release of toxic factors in the tissue culture medium. Since little evidence has been found for oligodendroglial infection in demyelinating lesions in canine distemper in vivo, the present tissue culture findings suggest that demyelination in vivo could be the result of indirect oligodendroglial damage caused by CDV-induced changes in other cell types such as astrocytes.

Animals↗

[A swollen leg disclosing a popliteal cyst. Apropos of a misleading case].

A patient was admitted with a clinical suspicion of left sural thrombophlebitis. Analysis of the clinical features and the results of rheoplethysmography, phlebography, arteriography and, most importantly, ultrasonography led to the diagnosis of popliteal synovial cyst and demonstrated the vascular repercussions of this lesions responsible for the swollen leg. A review of the literature confirms the frequently misleading clinical features of popliteal cysts. The authors present a strategy for the investigation of these cases, based on vascular functional investigations and in particular ultrasonography.

Angiography↗

Myasthenia gravis associated with adrenocortical insufficiency. Report of two cases.

Two cases of Addison's disease associated with myasthenia gravis are reported. This association has been described only rarely in the literature. In the first case, there were marked immunological abnormalities. It is most likely that the origin of the adrenocortical insufficiency in the second case is tuberculous. The pathogenetic mechanism of these associations is briefly discussed.

Addison Disease↗

Canine distemper virus does not infect oligodendrocytes in vitro.

Dissociated canine brain cell cultures were infected with virulent canine distemper virus (CDV). Double immunofluorescent labelling was done to simultaneously demonstrate viral antigen and specific glial cell markers. Virus containing oligodendrocytes were not found at any stage of the infection. A certain proportion of the infected cells were shown to be astrocytes. It was concluded that CDV has no obvious tropism for oligodendrocytes which could explain the mechanism of demyelination in distemper in vivo.

Animals↗

A monoclonal antibody that binds to both astrocytes and myelin sheaths.

A monoclonal antibody designated III 5H8 was shown to bind both to astrocytes and to myelin sheaths as studied with immunocytochemical techniques on brain sections and cell cultures. Binding to astrocytes was confirmed by double immunofluorescent labelling of frozen sections and cell cultures with anti-GFAP, and appeared to be sensitive to formalin treatment. Binding to myelin sheaths was confirmed by comparing sections labelled with III 5H8 with sections labelled with antibodies against axons and myelin basic protein as well as by staining of sections of hypomyelinated spinal cord with III 5H8. On immunoblots of separated white matter III 5H8 revealed two bands, while on immunoblots of purified myelin only one band was seen. The findings are discussed with respect to the function of astrocytes in white matter and shared antigenic determinants between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Animals↗

Case of dementia and myoclonia in an adult associated with anomalies in polyunsaturated fatty acids in leukocytes and peripheral nerve. An ultrastructural study of peripheral nerve.

We report a case of a 66-year-old patient presenting with abnormal movements and associated dementia. Death occurred 4 years after the onset of symptoms. In spite of the lack of autopsy results, the picture was one of late onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Kufs' disease). Ultrastructural study of a peripheral nerve biopsy sample indicated a process of demyelination associated with unusual inclusions in Schwann cell cytoplasm. Biochemical analysis of the same sample and leukocytes showed considerable alterations in polyunsaturated fatty acid levels. These findings are discussed in the light of work on cases of infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Aged↗