Biomedical subjects

S Harrabi

Publications and source records attributed to S Harrabi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

[Positive corneal findings of Propioni bacterium acnes and keratitis].

PURPOSE: Propioni bacterium Acnes may be isolated from corneal specimens. Its presence usually evokes a neighbouring tissue contamination. Nevertheless we have tried to find arguments in favour of a possible pathological responsibility of this microorganism in corneal affections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in thirty patients with proved P. acnes corneal infection. The specimens were collected immediately during the first examination in the emergency ward. The research of anaerobic bacteria was made for each corneal specimen. RESULTS: We studied nineteen corneal abscesses and eleven corneal ulcers. Ninety-one percent of the cases presented an associated irritating factor. In decreasing order we found: wearing of soft contact lenses (36%), foreign corneal body still in situ or recently removed (21%), recurrent corneal erosions (9%), palpebral surgery (6%), herpetic keratitis (6%) or rosacea (3%). P. acnes was the only microorganism identified in 97% of the cases. Starting treatment before bacteriological results were known to be effective in each case. CONCLUSIONS: These elements are an argument for the pathological role of P. acnes in corneal infections when combined with favourable local conditions. Its presence does not always mean actual contamination.

Abscess↗

PubMed1996

[Surgical treatment by vitrectomy and autologous serum of 36 idiopathic macular holes].

PURPOSE: To analyse the surgical results of a second series of full thickness idiopathic macular hole operated with autologous serum as adjuvant therapy, and to compare them to the results of a first series without autologous serum and the results of literature. METHODS: In a series of thirty-six patients, autologous serum has been used as healing adjuvant therapy. The surgical procedure included a posterior and peripherical vitrectomy combined with posterior hyaloid separation, fluid-air exchange, autologous serum injection, and final flushing with 40% sulfur hexafluoride. The patients then maintained strict face-down position post-operatively for a minimum of ten days. RESULTS: Anatomic success was obtained in twenty-nine cases of thirty-six patients (80%), with an anatomic success rate of 100% for the stage 2 holes. Twenty-nine patients had a pre and postoperative measurable visual acuity. Among these twenty-nine patients, median postoperative visual acuity was 20/70, compared with 20/125 preoperatively. Final visual acuity was improved in twenty-seven patients (75%), was stable five times (14%), and declined four times (11%). Among the twenty-nine anatomic successes, twenty-four (85%) improved their visual acuity. Complications were rare, and observed in the same percentage as described in literature. No complication in relation to autologous serum was noticed. CONCLUSION: Autologous serum is an inexpensive, easy to obtain, healing adjuvant therapy. It seems improving the surgical results like the other adjuvants described in the litterature.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Severe keratomycosis. Diagnosis and treatment].

We reported three consecutive cases of severe fungal keratitis initially undiagnosed by corneal scrapping. Corneal biopsy showed fungal elements of Paecilomyces lilacinus, Fusarium solani, Scedosporium apiospermum. Most cases of fungal keratitis could be treated successfully if adequate antifungal therapy were started early. Early and accurate diagnosis is of major importance. The results of our cases confirm the superiority of corneal biopsy over corneal scrapping. Corneal biopsy is a procedure of choice in suspected cases of keratomycosis in which corneal scrapings fail.

Abscess↗

PubMed1987

[A technic for human basophil degranulation].

We had studied the human basophil degranulation test (HBDT) in 26 cases of allergic patients with drugs (penicillin, erythromycin, josamycin) one month after their anaphylactic reaction. This test was negative in 7 cases on 8 for penicillin, positive in 8 cases on 10 for erythromycin and in 6 cases on 8 for josamycin. The failure of this test with penicillin can be explained by a sensitization to a metabolic penicillin product or to the complex hapten-carrier.

Basophils↗

PubMed1987

[Value of cellular immunity tests (lymphocyte transformation test and leukocyte migration test) in the detection of sensitivity to drugs].

We studied degranulation of human basophils (HBDT), lymphoblast transformation and leucocyte migration in 8 cases of patients who were sensitive to penicillin (type 1 hypersensitization of the Gell and Coombes classification). The HBDT was negative in 7 of the cases, whilst the lymphoblast transformation and leucocyte migration tests were positive in 6 cases and negative in 2. These latter tests are more efficient than HBDT in the detection of human sensitization to penicillin.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗

PubMed1986

Production of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in cultures of rat peritoneal macrophages.

Some authors attributed an increase in ACE activity in sarcoidosis to high production of this enzyme by alveolar macrophages. In order to study the production of ACE by peritoneal rat macrophages, we measured the ACE activity, by a modified version of Friedland and Silverstein's technique, in cultures of rat peritoneal macrophages, with dexamethasone, with Complete Freund Adjuvent (C.F.A.) or sarcoidosis node extract (Kveim Antigen). ACE activity was not detected in cultures. Our results were discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

[Modification of the Friedland-Silverstein technic for the determination of the activity of angiotensin I converting enzyme].

The authors studied the parameters of Friedland and Silverstein's technique for measuring the activity of the angiotensin I conversion enzyme and found a number of anomalies. The technique was modified by correcting the wide pH difference between the pH of the reagent and the pH of the reference solution. This modification made the technique optimal for the measurement of the enzyme activity by allowing a 20 to 40 per cent increase in this activity and a 15% increase in the positivity in cases of clinical sarcoidosis. The application of this modified test to the determination of the activity of the angiotension I conversion enzyme in control subjects, patients with sarcoidosis and patients with order respiratory diseases gave the following mean values, respectively: 39 +/- 10 IU; 81 +/- 23 IU; 41.5 +/- 2.5 IU in the serum and 0.2 IU; 1.1 +/- 0.5 IU; 0.2 +/- 0.1 IU in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The increase in enzyme activity in sarcoidosis is found in the serum in 75% of cases and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 85% of cases. This modified technique can be applied in routine practice and in research.

Angiotensin I↗