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Biomedical subjects

P Descamps

Publications and source records attributed to P Descamps.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Prognosis of isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum].

We report preliminary results of a three year follow-up of ten children affected with apparently isolated corpus callosum agenesis (prenatal diagnosis). This population was collected from a multicenter prospective study: annual survey included physical examination, developmental outcome and psychometric evaluation. Febril convulsions appeared to be more frequent than in the general population; developmental outcome was normal at the last evaluation. Follow-up has to be performed up to 10 years to determine more accurately prognosis of isolated corpus callosum agenesis.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

[Is ultrasound screening for ovarian cancer possible in 1998?].

Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of gynecologic cancer death, as most patients present with advanced disease, in which the prognosis is poor. Five year-survival is only 35% for all stages, while it exceeds 90% in stage I. Consequently, there has been heightened interest in the development of screening modalities that can detect ovarian cancer at an early stage to reduce the mortality of this disease. Unfortunately, transvaginal sonography and color Doppler imaging still have a high false positive rate and low specificity increasing the number of surgical procedures, even among women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. Psychological impact and economical cost has also to be discussed when considering such programs.

Abdomen↗

[Management of premature rupture of membranes in a monofetal pregnancy before 28 weeks gestation].

To establish appropriate management of premature rupture of the membranes before 28 weeks, we examined maternal and fetal risks in pregnancies complicated by this rare problem (1-7/1000). Three main factors were identified in such circumstances: prematurity, infection and oligohydramnios. Prematurity is inevitable and depends on three factors: gestational age at rupture of the membranes which is an independent predictor of poor prognosis before 22 weeks; gestational age at delivery as neonates born before 26 weeks gestation have an overall perinatal survival < 50%, and latency period between preterm rupture of the membranes and delivery which ranged from 1 to 161 days with a mean 7.8 days. Infection is the second factor with a high incidence (> 30%) of chorioamnionitis. The third factor is skeletal deformations and pulmonary hypoplasia predicted by severe and prolonged (> 14 days) oligohydramnios. Only about 40% of such women will take home a live baby. Successful outcome can be achieved in about 60% of these survivors. Termination of pregnancy is warranted at 22 weeks gestation or less and may be proposed. Beyond 22 weeks gestation, management is based on a wait-and-see attitude with ultrasonographic and bacteriological surveillance. After 25 weeks gestation, management becomes more active with use of antibiotics, tocolytics and steroids which can help prolong the latency period and improve fetal outcome. Ongoing counselling and psychological support are essential in the management of this morbid complication of pregnancy.

Female↗

Predictors of distant recurrence in clinical stage I or II endometrial carcinoma treated by combination surgical and radiation therapy.

A retrospective analysis of 201 patients with clinical Stage I or II endometrial carcinoma treated by combined surgery and radiation therapy from January 1976 to December 1992 is reported. The aim of the study was to determine predictors, if any, for distant recurrence. Twenty-eight patients (13.9%) in our series developed a recurrence. The most common sites were peritoneal carcinosis (28.6%), bones (28.6%), and lungs (21.4%). Seventy-eight percent appeared within 3 years, and actuarial survival rates at 12, 36, and 60 months after recurrence were 39.2, 14.2, and 7.1%, respectively. An analysis of predictive factors significant for the development of distant recurrence was performed. Significant factors by univariate analysis were age (P = 0.019), stage (P = 0.02), grade (P = 0.014), depth of myometrial invasion (P = 0.007), lymph node involvement (P < 0.001), and peritoneal cytology (P = 0.006). A multivariate analysis of these variables showed that lymph node involvement was the strongest predictor for distant recurrence.

Aged↗

Etiology, prognosis and management of nuchal cystic hygroma: 25 new cases and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an algorithm for the prenatal management of patients when a cystic hygroma is diagnosed by ultrasonography. METHODS: We report a personal series of 25 cases diagnosed between 10 and 23 weeks gestation and a review of the literature comprising a total of 999 cases. We focused on the etiologies and the value of various prognostic factors in the management of cystic hygromas. These include karyotype, alpha-fetoprotein levels, sonographic findings in the fetus and within the hygroma itself, and natural history. RESULTS: According to the literature, fetal chromosomal abnormalities were associated with cystic hygromas in 62% of the cases. Turner's syndrome remains the most common (33%) but Down's syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13 are not rare (15, 7 and 2%). Others have Mendelian abnormalities. The prognosis remains gloomy. The literature reports that only 9% of cases result in healthy children with normal karyotypes. The remaining 91% are either terminated (89%) or liveborn (2%), but with chromosome abnormalities or various malformations. CONCLUSION: The prognostic factors associated with a poor outcome are an abnormal karyotype and associated structural malformations. Resolution of the hygroma by 20 weeks gestation suggests a good prognosis, but is not definitive. All other factors evaluated do not appear to be of prognostic value at this time. Careful analysis of these prognostic factors is very important to identify the small percentage of normal children and to advise parents effectively for a future pregnancy.

Adult↗

[Congenital toxoplasmosis with hydrocephalus diagnosed in utero: outcome of treatment].

BACKGROUND: The neurological outcome for severe toxoplasmosis can be poor despite appropriate management. CASE REPORT: A maternal toxoplasma infection occurred at 16 weeks of amenorrhoea; prenatal diagnosis was attempted at 20 weeks, fetal infection was confirmed by mouse inoculation at the 30th week. Pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine treatment was initiated. However, at 37 weeks of amenorrhoea, sonographic examination of the fetus detected hydrocephalus. Despite prompt ventriculo-peritoneal shunting after birth and medical treatment of toxoplasmosis, the neurological developmental outcome was complicated and prognosis is poor at 5 years of age. CONCLUSION: This case shows that parents must be carefully warned about risks of a prenatal toxoplasmosis.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Treatment of fibromas.

This study defines the current modes of treatment of patients with uterine fibromas with a review of the literature. Progesterone treatments appear to be principally used in cases of minor functional symptomatology and we discuss recent studies of mifepristone. GnRH agonists are particularly effective in preoperative treatment for conservative surgery. The indications and results of hysteroscopic resection and laparoscopic myomectomy are compared to those of classic myomectomy and hysterectomy. The indications for myolysis are discussed.

Female↗

Ureteral endometriosis revealed by an acute renal failure.

The authors report a case of an acute renal failure secondary to an obstructive bilateral ureteral endometriosis. They show the limits of the clinical diagnosis as well as the limits of additional explorations and discuss the therapeutic management at the time and in the after effects of the initial acute period.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Cryopreservation of isolates of Toxoplasma gondii in cell culture].

For a better preservation and identification of Toxoplasma gondii isolates, we propose a new method of freezing of toxoplasma growth in THP-1 cell culture. A cystogenic strain isolated from foetal blood has been grown in these cells and frozen in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, toxoplasma recover the same growth rate and morphology in vitro and the same capacity to form brain cysts into mice compared to the initial strains. The freezing of the cell suspension provides a simple and appropriate method for preservation of Toxoplasma gondii within "bank" isolates.

Animals↗

[In utero measurement of the umbilical cord in full term pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: The length of the umbilical cord varies widely from one pregnancy to another. Although its average length is 50 cm, this measurement could vary from as little as 20 cm to more than one metre. The purpose of our study was to evaluate, in utero, the length of the umbilical cord during the third trimester of pregnancy knowing the propagation velocity of the pressure wave along the cord. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The computation of the apparent length requires two ultrasound transducers, one situated at the aortic fetal arch, the other at the placental extremity of the umbilical artery. Knowing the velocity of the pressure wave (v), as well as the time interval between the systolic peak of two waves (delta t), we can deduce the length of the umbilical cord (delta t x v). RESULTS: The comparison between the calculated length and the actual length measured shows a significant correlation with a probability of 1%. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the length of the umbilical cord is quite useful in the physio-pathological interpretation of the placental resistance index. It is also of interest, before the delivery, to know the length of the cord in order to foresee dystocy and how it relates cord which is either too short or too long.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Indications for castration in women treated for breast cancer].

Historically, castration has been the first endocrine treatment in breast carcinoma. In premenopausal metastatic patients, castration improves quality of survival during a median period of 10 months, in one third of patients. As adjuvant treatment, prophylactic castration can be an alternative to chemotherapy in patients with positive receptors. Prospective randomized trials are being conducted to define indications of each adjuvant treatment.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 8 mosaicism in CVS after abnormal ultrasound findings at 12 weeks.

We describe a case of trisomy 8 mosaicism in which fetal chromosome analysis was prompted by ultrasound abnormalities, i.e., hygroma colli and dilatation of the renal pelves. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed, with a false-negative result on direct karyotype analysis, although cultured trophoblasts revealed trisomy 8 mosaicism. Fetal autopsy confirmed the abnormalities found on ultrasound examinations and fetal tissue examination showed different levels of trisomy 8 mosaicism. To our knowledge, this is the first prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 8 made on ultrasound findings.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Endometriosis of the sciatic nerve: case report demonstrating the value of MR imaging.

Among the many causes of sciatica, endometriosis, a rare aetiology, should be considered in menstruating women in view of the diagnostic strategy and ensuing therapeutic implications. We report a case of sciatic nerve involvement with endometriosis in contact with the nerve in the left sciatic notch. Exploration by MRI was invaluable for the diagnosis, revealing a signal on the stem of the nerve suggestive of a lesion with haemorrhagic content.

Adult↗

Abdomino pelvic irradiation after second-look laparotomy for stage III ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective analysis of 34 patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma was to review results and morbidity of whole abdominal irradiation after surgery and chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: All of the 34 patients had reached a complete clinical remission after first cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. After second-look laparotomy each patient underwent whole abdominal irradiation. Except for two patients with chronic myelosuppression, the dose administered was of 22.5 Gy to the abdominal cavity with a boost of 22.5 Gy added to the pelvis. RESULTS: Three and 5-year overall survival rates were 62% and 43%, respectively. Three and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 53% and 38%. Twenty-three patients (68%) developed local relapse or local disease progression. Metastasis occurred in five cases and were always associated with an abdominal cavity recurrence. Residual disease after first cytoreductive surgery appeared as a prognostic factor in univariate analysis. Patients with unresected residuum had a 5-year survival probability of 35% versus 83% for patients without residual disease. We observed 12% grade-3 intestinal toxicities and one fatal case of radiation enteritis. CONCLUSION: Despite its curative potential, the long term benefit of whole abdominal irradiation in the multimodality treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma must be evaluated in well designed controlled trials.

Antineoplastic Agents↗