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Biomedical subjects

P Ramon

Publications and source records attributed to P Ramon.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

High-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy in sarcoidosis.

Intravenous methylprednisolone in "pulse" dose (30 mg/kg, once a week for 6 weeks) with or without oral maintenance corticosteroid therapy was administered to 12 patients with chronic sarcoidosis. Disease activity was evaluated by broncho-alveolar lavage, serum angiotensin converting enzyme assay and 67Ga scanning. Efficacy was assessed by clinical, radiological, and functional data. Pulse methylprednisolone produced immediate improvement in all patients but eight of the 12 patients relapsed 1 year later; one patient without maintenance corticosteroids and three patients with maintenance oral corticosteroids showed persistent improvement. However, there was no significant difference in criteria of disease activity of each patient before pulse therapy and 1 year later (p greater than 0.5). In conclusion, high dose therapy has immediate but transient effects whether or not it is supplemented by conventional corticosteroid therapy at the lower maintenance dosage.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Subacute pneumopathy caused by hydrochlorothiazide. Cytologic study of the broncho-alveolar lavage].

We report a case of diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease in a 73 year old woman treated for moderate hypertension for one year with the combination of hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg/day) and Amiloride (5 mg/day). The bronchoalveolar lavage showed a neutrophilia of 23% and a 5.5% eosinophilia. The absence of any other aetiological factor and the favourable outcome on cessation of the sole medication incriminate the latter as an aetiological agent in this interstitial pneumonitis.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Opportunistic pneumopathy caused by Torulopsis glabrata].

Yeasts are taking a growing place in the development of opportunistic pneumonias in a hospital environment. We report a case of pneumonia due to Torulopsis glabrata in a patient of 58 years in complete remission from a malignant oesophageal tumour after surgery and radiotherapy, and not given immunosuppressive treatment.

Candidiasis↗
PubMed1985

[The association of asthma and gastroesophageal reflux: strategy of paraclinical studies].

This study was carried out on 104 patients of whom 94 were asthmatic and 10 patients presented with a spasmodic intractable cough; all presented with symptoms evocative of an associated gastro-oesophageal reflux (RGO). The clinical symptoms revealed a nocturnal cough (67%), cough preceeding asthma (46%) and heartburn in 60%. The asthma was severe (type III and IV in 89% of cases), or dependent on corticosteroids (37% of cases). pH monitoring of the oesophagus is the most sensitive examination (88% with positive results) slightly ahead of manometry and scintigraphy (both 81%), these examinations were clearly superior to radiographic examination (49%) and oesophageal fibroscopy (36%). The combination of pH monitoring and of scintigraphy enabled 98% of RGO cases to be identified by their clinical data. Medical treatment with Tagamet, Gaviscon and Primperan (alone or in combination) produced an improvement in the respiratory symptoms in 50% of the cases. Of the 14 surgically treated, 7 obtained an improvement in their respiratory symptoms. Seven of the ten patients with spasmodic cough were improved by medical treatment. Our study shows the frequency of oesophageal reflux in patients with severe asthma. In half of them RGO intervened as an aggravating factor and the medical treatment of RGO led to a clear improvement in the respiratory symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Value of tracheobronchial endoscopy in facial burns].

41 patients suffering from facial burns had a systematic tracheo-bronchial endoscopy in the 24 hours after admission to hospital. There were 21 cases of explosion (town gas or explosives), 11 burns from flames (petrol) and 9 burns occurring during fires (in houses or cars). 12 patients showed isolated mucosal inflammation, 5 blackish deposits (of impacted soot) and blisters in 6 (with shreds of mucosa hanging loose); the endoscopy was normal in 18; 66% of those with blisters (4 cases out of 6) and 40% with blackened mucosa (2 cases out of 5) were observed in burns from fires. The 18 patients without endobronchial lesions and 12 patients with only mucosal inflammation did not develop respiratory complications; 5 patients presenting with blackish deposits later develop complications and 4 out of 6 patients presenting with extensive blistering died from these respiratory complications. A study of the evolution of the lesions, as far as could be ascertained from several cases enabled the rules of local therapy to be set in such patients: aspiration and unblocking of the airways by repeated aspiration and lavage. In conclusion, the frequency of tracheo-bronchial lesions and their significance when planning therapy and their consequences on the prognosis justify tracheo-bronchial endoscopy to be used routinely in burns to the face.

Bronchoscopy↗
PubMed1984

Presence of alveolar macrophages as a criterion for determining the suitability of sputum specimens for bacterial culture.

The microscopic and bacteriological findings in paired saliva and sputum specimens from 66 patients with chronic bronchitis were compared in order to determine whether the presence of alveolar macrophages is a valid criterion for determining the suitability of a sputum specimen for bacterial culture. Alveolar macrophages were mainly present in sputum specimens, the culture results of which differed from the culture results of the matching saliva specimen (p less than 0.001). Sputum specimens containing alveolar macrophages appeared to be contaminated less with oropharyngeal flora than specimens which did not contain alveolar macrophages. Potential pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were isolated only from sputum specimens containing alveolar macrophages. It is concluded that the presence of alveolar macrophages indicates that sputum originates from the lower respiratory tract. The results also showed that the presence of leukocytes in sputum may be considered significant if alveolar macrophages are also present.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1983

[Bronchoalveolar lavage in pneumoconiosis of coal miners. Cytologic aspects].

The cytological characteristics of broncho-alveolar fluid were studied in 94 coal workers and six subjects exposed to varied risks of silicosis. In coal worker's pneumoconiosis with the usual micronodular or nodular type, there was a significant increase in the cellularity of the peripheral airways compared to non-exposed controls, making allowances for smoking habits. There were no striking changes in the white cell count nor any correlation with the possible elevation in the serum angiotensin I-enzyme conversion level. On the other hand a striking elevation of the alveolar lymphocyte count was noted in three cases with rapidly developing silicosis. Where there was the co-existence of another disorder (connective tissue disorders, sarcoid, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, radiation lung or diffuse interstitial fibrosis) the anomalies noted were those occurring during the progress of the associated disease. At the time of collection the alveolar macrophages in the dust exposed subjects showed a similar vitality to these observed in control subjects. After 24 hours of observation " in vitro ", the vitality of the cells and their phagocytic and bactericidal activity was markedly diminished.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Apropos of 2 cases].

Pathologic findings in two patients with no previous history of atopic affections were apical pulmonary infiltration, a marked general syndrome with altered general state and hyperthermia, a productive cough, and a circulating eosinophilia. Clinical manifestations and the particular radiographic images of homogeneous condensation of the two apices in the form of "helmet crests", together with the typical course during corticoid treatment and histopathologic findings in one case, established a diagnosis of chronic eosinophil pneumonia. The principal characteristics of this affection, as exemplified by these two cases, are analyzed.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1983

[Bronchopulmonary pathology with hypereosinophilia of fungal origin (excluding allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis)].

Five cases of eosinophil lung are reported in which the fungus responsible for the affection was not Aspergillus. Documented data include reports on 19 similar cases with a clinical picture suggestive of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis but with negative tests for Aspergillus. The various fungal species isolated included Candida albicans, Penicillium, Geotrichum candidum, Stemphylium lanuginosum, Culvularia lunata, and Drechsleria hawaïensis. Diagnostic criteria are discussed, with particular emphasis on the importance of the inhalation provocation test, as well as possible efficacy of antifungal treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Bronchoalveolar lavage, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, and gallium-67 scanning in extrathoracic sarcoidosis.

Results of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), 67Ga scanning, and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE) assay are compared in the assessment of pulmonary involvement in ten cases of extrathoracic sarcoidosis. Standard clinical, radiologic, and pulmonary function tests detected no pulmonary changes in these patients, but BAL demonstrated an increased alveolar lymphocytosis in eight of ten cases. SACE levels were increased in two cases, and the thoracic gallium uptake was normal in all cases. BAL appears to be the best technique for diagnosing latent pulmonary involvement in extrathoracic sarcoidosis.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1982

[Cell populations recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage in pneumoconiosis of coal miners].

Studying the cellular products obtained by broncho-alveolar lavage in 81 patients, 77 coal-miners and 4 other subjects exposed to silicotic risks of various origin, the authors could demonstrate the interest of this new method of exploring the peripheral lung tissues. In 57 cases of usual pneumoconiosis and controls matched for the smoking habits, the repartition of the different cellular types was quite similar. On the contrary, the authors observed an increase of the lymphocytes in three cases of accelerated elution of the pneumoconiosis. Moreover various modifications were noticed in cases with morbid associations as conectivitis, sarcoïdosis, allergic alveolitis, and primitive diffuse interstitial fibrosis as well. At the moment they were collected, the alveolar macrophages of the subjects to dust showed the same properties of vitality and adherence capacity as the controls. After 24 hours of survival their vitality and bacterial activity on staphylococcus aureus was clearly diminished.

Adult↗