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P Kraemer

Publications and source records attributed to P Kraemer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Risk of noscomial infection in intertropical Africa--part 1: background].

Nosocomial infection is a risk in any health care setting. A review of recent medical literature shows that there is a paucity of information on nosocomial infection in intertropical Africa. Often misunderstood or denied, nosocomial infection is in reality an underestimated public health problem at most medical facilities even university hospital centers. However most hospitals are confronted with the same financial, structural and logistics difficulties, with limited training and awareness about hospital hygiene among caregivers, and with situations bringing together contagious infections with susceptible subjects. Assessment of the risks for patients and caregivers is a necessary prerequisite for implementing measures to control nosocomial infections in intertropical Africa.

Africa↗

[Extensive bone marrow necrosis as presenting manifestation of sickle cell disease in Africa].

Extensive bone marrow necrosis is a rare but severe complication of sickle cell disease. A formerly healthy man was admitted for bone pain, fever, and jaundice with severe aregenerative anemia. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy showed extensive bone marrow necrosis while hemoglobin electrophoresis demonstrated homozygotic sickle cell disease. Despite early onset of septic arthritis of the right shoulder, outcome after blood transfusion and nonspecific treatment was favorable. Six months later, hemoglobin level remained stable up to 97 g/L. This first African case report illustrates typical features and good prognosis of extensive bone marrow necrosis in sickle cell disease. Extensive bone marrow necrosis is a highly unusual presenting manifestation of sickle cell in an adult.

Adolescent↗

[Management of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Outcome apropos of 326 cases treated with high-dose pentamidine isethionate].

The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the outcome of pentamidine isethionate treatment (4 mg/kg of Pentamidine by the intramuscular route on Days 1 and 3) of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 326 cases that occurred during an outbreak among French military personnel in French Guyana from 1998 to 1999. A great difference was found between the 205 patients treated in French Guyana (series G) and 32 patients treated at the Laveran Military Hospital in Marseille, France (series L). Failure rate, i.e. 25% in series L versus 5% in series G, was significantly correlated with the delay to treatment which was much longer in series L. Extensive rhabdomyolysis was observed in all cases tested: this side-effect has not been reported. Based on these findings and a review of the literature on pentamidine isethionate, the authors recommend prompt treatment using lower doses. Other treatment alternatives for American cutaneous leishmaniasis are also presented including two of the latest developments in the field, i.e., oral treatment using miltefosine and topical treatment using agents such as paromomycine.

Antiprotozoal Agents↗

[Does emergency tropical medicine exist? The physician's point of view].

The existence of tropical medical emergencies is a recurrent issue that joins the debate over the definition of tropical medicine. Is it medicine practiced in warmer climates, medicine practiced with poor diagnostic and therapeutic facilities or medicine involving only tropical diseases? Presentation of a few case reports provides a better response to this question than a long speech. The first case involves a 57-year-old man presenting a complicated attack of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and severe respiratory distress. The second case involves a pregnant AIDS patient presenting multifocal miliary tuberculosis associated with renal abscess and bacteremia. The third case involves a 34-year-old soldier hospitalized for right hilar pneumonia in whom work-up demonstrated co-infection by HIV 1 and 2, thick drop tests revealed uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and cytobacterial examination of sputum samples identified Salmonella enteritidis and acid-alcohol resistant germs. The fourth case involves a 60-year man hospitalized for febrile collapse in whom work-up revealed amebic pericarditis. These four case reports illustrate the main features of tropical medical emergencies: adult patients (frequently young), associated deficiencies or immunocompromise (HIV infection/AIDS), severe or complicated tropical disease, severe advanced stage disease because of inability to pay for care, multiple pathology, poor diagnostic/therapeutic facilities, and high mortality.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Epidemiologic surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Guiana. Summary of military data collected over 10 years].

This report describes the results of epidemiological surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis in French military personnel in French Guiana. Data was collected regarding microscopic diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and lesion location as well as compliance with vector control measures. Year-to-year variations in the incidence in the general population have been attributed to changes in climatic conditions. Monitoring incidence and density curves, correlation of findings with local epidemiological data, and analysis of the most recent epidemic in 1998/99 (326 cases, attack rate 3.2% men years) highlight the importance of behavioral factors. The proportion of total cases involving military personnel varied widely from 20 to 85%. Investigation consistently showed that failure to apply elementary protective measures against sandfly bites was the most determinant factor in this proportion. Strict compliance with these measures appears to reduce the risk of infection considerably.

Animals↗

[Clinical overview of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis].

This richly illustrated article (80 color photographs) based on the authors' experience in French Guyana documents the clinical diversity of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Main highlights include the often outstanding aspect of lesions, the high frequency of forms not associated with ulceration or scab formation that must be recognized to achieve diagnosis in travellers returning from endemic zones, and the special prognosis of clinical forms associated with intradermic, lymphatic or hematogenous spread. The article also reviews an original diagnostic method based on culture of cutaneous biopsy specimens on specific nutrient mediums that provides isolates in a high percentage of cases (80%) and thus allows identification of offending parasite.

Humans↗

[The plague].

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Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[An uncommon cause of persistent fever in France].

Miliary tuberculosis is rare and requires rapid diagnosis. Outcome is fatal in 25% of the cases. Since radiography and laboratory tests contribute little to early diagnosis, clinical findings are primordial. Antituberculosis antibiotic therapy is frequently started before microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis.

Adult↗

[Soft tissue eosinophilic granuloma or Kimura's disease: a case report].

Soft tissue eosinophilic granuloma or Kimura's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. It is endemic in the Far East but can occur sporadically in other populations especially Middle Eastern peoples as illustrated by the present case involving a 55-year-old man. Examination 8 years after an initial episode revealed masses in the cheek and submaxillary regions with hypereosinophilia and characteristic histological findings. The usual clinical presentation of Kimura's disease includes subcutaneous nodules with lymph node involvement or presence of tumor in the salivary glands. These clinicopathological findings require differential diagnosis with Hodgkin's lymphoma, dermopathic lymphoma, or Castelman's disease. However, the most difficult distinction involves angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. Final diagnosis requires anatomopathological study. The most frequently encountered histological criteria are preservation of node structure, highly developed germinal centers, eosinophilic infiltration, and presence of numerous postcapillary veinlets. Prognosis is favorable but multiple relapses are possible. Corticosteroid therapy is usually effective but radiation treatment may be necessary in patients with recurrent disease.

Algeria↗

[Diagnostic and treatment of hypereosinophilia upon return from the tropics: 102 patients].

Management of blood eosinophilia in travelers returning from the tropics is controversial. In this prospective study, 102 asymptomatic tropical travelers underwent investigation and treatment for hypereosinophilia. In contrast with direct tests for parasitic infection which were positive in only 15% of cases, immunological tests were suggestive of helminthic infection is 77%. The most common diagnoses were toxocarosis (49%), strongyloidiasis (30%), and filariasis (19%). Anti-parasite treatment was undertaken based on laboratory findings (12 cases) or on presumptive diagnosis using two-agent therapy (ivermectin and praziquantel) in 13 cases or three-agent therapy (ivermectin, praziquantel, flubendazole) in 77 cases. As a result of treatment, eosinophil count returned to normal in 61% of cases and decreased in 30%. These findings suggest that presumptive treatment of blood eosinophilia can be undertaken in tropical travelers using three anti-parasitic drugs: ivermectin (1 x 0.4 mg/kg), flubendazole (2 x 100 mg per day for 3 days), and praziquantel (1 x 40 mg). As a precaution before using ivermectin, tests should be performed to detect loiasis which can lead to adverse reactions.

Adult↗

SEN6, a locus for SV40-mediated immortalization of human cells, maps to 6q26-27.

Normal cells show a limited lifespan in culture and the phenotype of cellular senescence. Tumors and tumor cell lines have typically overcome this form of growth suppression and grow continuously as immortal cell lines in culture. We have exploited the DNA virus SV40 to study the mechanism by which human fibroblasts overcome senescence and become immortal. Multiple steps have now been identified, including inactivation of cellular growth suppressors through direct interaction with SV40 large T antigen and through mutation of a gene on chromosome 6 (designated SEN6). In this study, we sublocalize the site of SEN6 to 6q26-27 based on molecular genetic analysis. Twelve SV40-immortalized fibroblast cell lines share a deletion in this area based on assessment for loss of heterozygostiy (LOH) for seven informative markers on 6q. Two immortal cell lines (AR5 and HALneo) appeared to have retained separate single copies of chromosome 6 despite the fact that they are both derived from the same preimmortal SV40-transformant and should share the same mutated allele of SEN6 (Hubbard-Smith et al., 1992). Detailed analysis by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism and fluorescence in situ hybridization shows, however, that although they differ for 17 markers from the centromere to 6q26, they share AR5 derived sequences (eight markers) distal to 6q26 including the minimal deletion region, further supporting the assignment of SEN6 to this region. Since human tumors including non-Hodgkins lymphoma, mammary carcinoma and ovarian carcinoma show LOH in 6q26-27, inactivation of SEN6 may be responsible for immortalization of these tumors as well.

Cell Line, Transformed↗