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Biomedical subjects

A Grange

Publications and source records attributed to A Grange.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Chromium-induced vasculitis-like purpuric allergic contact dermatitis].

INTRODUCTION: Purpuric allergic contact dermatitis is a rare and poorly understood condition. CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old male patient with a personal history of atopic dermatitis since childhood consulted for chronic papular-purpuric rash present for 7 years. Moderate pruritus was seen. Profuse lesions were observed on the palms and soles and on the upper and lower limbs, with sparing of the trunk. These lesions consisted of purpuric papules, in some cases with crusts, forming large plaques. The clinical picture was initially suggestive of vasculitis, but this diagnosis was ruled out by histological examination and laboratory tests. Skin patch tests were evocative of chromium-induced contact dermatitis. Retrospective directed history-taking confirmed the relevance of the latter test since it revealed regular wearing of leather clothing. Lasting cure was achieved following eradication of the allergen. DISCUSSION: Reports of contact purpuric dermatitis are rare. This condition has been described principally for allergens consisting of rubber or dyes used in clothing. Our case was notable on account of the severity of the lesions, mimicking vasculitis, as well as the novelty of the incriminated allergen, chromium, found in leather garments. It underlines the value of routine skin patch tests in the event of chronic non-specific dermatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of chromium-induced purpuric allergic contact dermatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Hypersensitivity to fluindione (Previscan). Positive skin patch tests].

INTRODUCTION: Fluindione (Previscan) is an oral anticoagulant belonging to the vitamin K antagonist class and is very widely used in France. While bleeding is a common complication, severe immunoallergic reactions are less frequent. The authors report a case of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome. CASE REPORT: A 75 year-old woman was hospitalized for diffuse erythematous papular rash associated with facial oedema. These symptoms appeared 3 weeks after the beginning of treatment with fluindione, allopurinol and perindopril. Laboratory tests showed hyperleukocytosis, mixed hepatitis and moderate renal failure, with the entire picture being evocative of drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction. The eruption was associated with eosinophilia, hepatic cytolysis with cholestasis, and acute renale failure. While allopurinol and perindopril were stopped definitively, fluindione was only suspended temporarily following overdosage. On reintroduction, rapid recurrence of clinical and biologic signs was observed with increased severity. The skin rash resolved completely on withdrawal of the drug. Patch tests performed later were positive for fluindione and negative for allopurinol and perindopril. DISCUSSION: These manifestations were consistent with the diagnosis of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome due to fluindione. Very few cases have been described with fluindione despite widespread prescription of the treatment is in France. While there may be no skin involvement, immunoallergic signs such as fever, hepatitis and acute tubular interstitial nephritis have been described with fluindione and these may be related to this syndrome (DRESS - Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms). Skin patch testing, which is easily performed, can be extremely helpful in determining a causal relationship with medication.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Patient documentation. On the records.

Documentation of patient care is frequently the Achilles heel of clinical services. The use of a multidisciplinary, semi-structured healthcare record may achieve improvements, but it needs to be coupled with appropriate strategies to overcome professional and cultural barriers to unified documentation. When implementing changes, clinical staff may overestimate their clinical information needs while underestimating the problems of its routine collection.

Documentation↗
PubMed1996

[Non-hospitalization orders for subjects with presumed alcoholic intoxication].

OBJECTIVES: French law requires all persons in an apparent state of alcoholic intoxication taken into police custody to be examined at hospital to determine whether medical observation is necessary. A do-not-hospitalize order is required to return the person to police custody. We attempted to ascertain the number of orders delivered and the quality of medical management of these persons. METHODS: Over a one-month period, 140 persons in an apparent state of alcoholic intoxication and under police custody were seen at the University Hospital emergency ward at Tours, France. Do-not-hospitalize orders were delivered for 131 of them who were returned to police custody. Among the 66 other persons admitted for acute intoxication, 4 were also returned to police custody. Nurse and physician reports were assessed. RESULTS: The 135 persons, accounting for 12.7% of all emergency ward activity, were predominantly men (96%) and young (mean age 33 years). Many were aggressive (12.7%) and 80% arrived between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Nurse records revealed care was less rigorous at night and for the more aggressive subjects. Reasons for delivery of the do-not-hospitalize order were not sufficiently explicit in the physician records. CONCLUSION: The large volume of activity involved in caring for these persons and the difficulty encountered in correct medical management, together with legal implications, suggest that medical and paramedical teams need better training for the management of persons in an apparent state of alcoholic intoxication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of malto-dextrin/glycine oral rehydration solution.

The efficacy and safety of malto-dextrin/glycine-based oral rehydration solution (ORS) when compared with the glucose-based oral rehydration solution (WHO) was evaluated in a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Thirty-one subjects and 31 controls were studied. The mean values of the ORS intake, stool output, duration of diarrhoea, urine output, weight gain and serum electrolytes were comparable in both the study and the control groups (p > 0.05). It was found that the malto-dextrin/glycine ORS offered no therapeutic advantage over the standard glucose ORS (WHO). In view of the accidental preponderance of children of significantly lower nutritional status among the control group (p < 0.05), it is likely that the efficacy of malto-dextrin/glycine ORS might actually be less than that of the glucose ORS.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗
PubMed1988

Ultrastructure and cell cycle distribution of bone marrow cells in protein-energy malnutrition.

Bone marrow aspirates from four children with kwashiorkor and three with marasmus were studied using the techniques of electron microscopy and combined Feulgen microspectrophotometry and 3H-thymidine autoradiography. The majority of the erythroblasts were ultrastructurally normal, the distribution of the early polychromatic erythroblasts between the various stages of the cell cycle was normal or almost normal, and the macrophages did not contain ingested erythroblasts. Since erythropoietin production has been shown to be normal in protein-energy malnutrition, these findings suggest that at least in some cases of PEM the impairment of erythropoiesis results primarily from an abnormality in the erythroid progenitor cell pool rather than from dyserythropoiesis and ineffective erythropoiesis. In one afebrile and apparently uninfected patient with marasmus, a substantial proportion of the neutrophil granulocytes and their more mature precursors contained electron-dense, myelin-containing intracytoplasmic structures which were presumed to be abnormal primary granules. In four of the patients, the 3H-thymidine labelling index of the neutrophil promyelocyte-myelocyte pool was increased. In addition, in all of the cases, neutrophils at various stages of degradation were readily found within the cytoplasm of some of the macrophages. Thus, whereas the techniques employed did not reveal a major disturbance in the morphologically recognizable precursor cells of the erythroid series in PEM, they demonstrated some abnormalities in such cells of the neutrophil series.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1985

Serum immunoreactive erythropoietin and erythropoiesis in protein-energy malnutrition.

Immunoreactive erythropoietin was estimated in the sera of 23 Nigerian children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and 14 healthy Nigerian children of similar age attending a well baby clinic. The geometric mean estimate for this parameter was 262 mIU/ml (observed range 39-1340 mIU/ml; 95% confidence range 25-1738 mIU/ml) in the children with PEM and 80 mIU/ml (observed range 43-257 mIU/ml; 95% confidence range 27-241 mIU/ml) in the health children. Erythropoietin levels were above the 95% confidence range for the healthy children in 14 of the cases of PEM. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between the haemoglobin levels of the children with PEM and the logarithm of immunoreactive serum erythropoietin estimates (r = -0.73; P less than 0.001). By contrast, statistically significant correlations were not found between the logarithm of erythropoietin estimates and either the percentage of erythroblasts in the marrow, the M/E ratio or the logarithm of the absolute blood reticulocyte count. These data suggest that there is no abnormality of erythropoietin production in PEM and that the anaemia seen in this condition results from an impairment of erythropoiesis. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between the logarithm of the erythropoietin level and the logarithm of the concentration of circulating neutrophil metamyelocytes plus myelocytes and we speculate on the aetiology of this finding.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1985

Limited value of serum ferritin in evaluating iron status in children with protein-energy malnutrition.

26 of 46 Nigerian children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) had elevated S-Ferritin levels; the geometric mean value in the entire group of children with PEM was 146 micrograms/l and the observed range 11-7000 micrograms/l. There was no statistically significant correlation between the logarithm of the S-Ferritin level and the amount of stainable iron in marrow fragments (r = 0.23; p greater than 0.2). A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis in which the logarithm of the S-Ferritin level was used as the dependent variable and a total of 17 clinical, biochemical and haematological parameters were used as the independent variables showed that 34.8% of the variability in S-Ferritin could be accounted for by variations in the percentage of lymphocytes in the bone marrow. We speculate that the latter parameter may be an index of previous infection and that the elevated S-Ferritin levels may, therefore, be at least partly caused by infections. Increased serum aspartate transaminase activities were also encountered in PEM, suggesting that hepatocellular damage may contribute to the high S-Ferritin levels in this condition. Our data indicate that S-Ferritin has a limited value as an indicator of iron status in subjects with PEM, presumably because of the frequency of infections and of hepatocellular damage in such subjects.

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1983

Leucocyte ascorbic acid levels in Nigerian children with protein-energy malnutrition.

Leucocyte ascorbic acid (LAA) levels were estimated in 26 Nigerian infants and preschool children with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in order to ascertain their ascorbic acid status. The children included eight with kwashiorkor, 12 with marasmus and six with marasmic kwashiorkor. The mean (SD) LAA level of 13.7 (8.2) micrograms/10(8) leucocytes in the malnourished children did not vary significantly from the mean level of 14.4 (8.8) micrograms/10(8) leucocytes found in 26 age-matched controls, and the values were unrelated to the presence or absence of megaloblastic change in the 14 bone marrows examined. It was concluded that ascorbic acid deficiency was not prevalent amongst children with PEM in Lagos, and was therefore not usually contributory to the anaemia, megaloblastic changes or other features of the syndrome seen in Nigerian children in Lagos.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1983

Folate levels and deoxyuridine suppression tests in protein-energy malnutrition.

A group of 39 Nigerian infants and pre-school children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) have been studied. Red cell folate levels were within the range observed in 19 age-matched healthy Nigerian children. Serum vitamin B12 levels were either normal or raised. Deoxyuridine (dU) suppression tests were performed on the bone marrow cells of 30 of the patients and were abnormal in 13. It is proposed that the abnormal dU-suppressed values were not caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency and were probably a consequence of the protein deficiency. A few megaloblasts and several giant metamyelocytes were found in four of the cases of PEM; the remaining 35 cases had normoblastic erythropoiesis, sometimes with small to moderate numbers of giant metamyelocytes. All four marrow samples containing megaloblasts gave abnormal dU-suppressed values. However, in the marrows showing normoblastic erythropoiesis there was no correlation between the presence or absence of giant metamyelocytes and the dU-suppressed value.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1981

Experimental studies on the "cow's urine mixture".

Samples of the "Cow's Urine Mixture" (a traditional remedy for convulsions) administered intraperitoneally to fasting grey rabbits were found to produce significant depression of their plasma glucose. A similar effect on the plasma glucose was produced by a sample of Cow's Urine Mixture given by the nasogastric route. These findings confirm that the mixture has a significant hypoglycaemic effect when given both parenterally and enterally, the latter being the usual mode of administration of this concoction. The probable nature of the hypoglycaemic agents contained in the mixture is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Lactose malabsorption among adult Indians of the Great Basin and American Southwest.

The prevalence of primary adult lactose malabsorption and the pattern of milk use were studied among 109 Indians from various tribes of the American Great Basin and Southwest. Included were 100 persons who reported being full-blooded Indians as well as three with Mexican admixture and 6 with some European ancestry. Lactose malabsorption was found in 92% of the full-blooded Indians but in only 50% Indians who acknowledged European admixture. These results agree with those of studies of native Americans done elsewhere which show very high prevalences of such lactose malabsorption among adults reported as fullblooded and lower prevalences among individuals with admitted European ancestors. The suggestion made is that in pre-Colombian times, before interbreeding with Europeans began on any scale, such lactose malabsorption may have been nearly universal among native American adults. Most of the Indians studied consumed abundant milk since childhood but were nevertheless predominantly malabsorbers as adults. This argues against the induction hypothesis advanced by some to explain the striking ethnic differences that occur around the world in primary adult lactose malabsorption.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Lactose malabsorption among the Pima indians of Arizona.

Lactose loading tests and other means were used to determine the pattern of primary "adult" lactose malabsorption (LM) and milk use among 171 subjects, including 122 children and 49 adults, almost all of them Pima Indians of Arizona. LM develops at quite young ages in full-blooded Pima children: already in the 3- to 4-year age group, 40% had LM. Of 62 full-blooded Indians (greater than or equal to 4 years of age), 59 (95%) had LM. Of 41 Indians (greater than or equal to 4 years) who were of mixed Indian-northern European ancestry, however, only 25 (61%) had LM, and, among them, prevalence of LM correlated with degree of northern European admixture. Whereas only 21% of Pima lactose absorbers reported symptoms after the loading test, 72% of malabsorbers did so, with older malabsorbers more likely to experience symptoms. In their everyday lives, only 23% of malabsorbers recognized symptoms brought on by milk consumption, but the percentage of malabsorbers making such an association increased with age. Nevertheless the Pima, adults as well as children, continue to drink reasonable quantities of milk. Family pedigrees are consistent with the hypothesis that adult lactose absorption is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Over-all results of this study, moreover, support the geographic hypothesis advanced to explain ethnic or racial differences in prevalence of LM, rather than the induction hypothesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tuberculous panophthalmitis.

The case of a one-year-old Nigerian with tuberculous panophthalmitis is reported. He presented initially with a localised episceleral mass which was thought to be retinoblastoma due to rapid spread over the fundus induced by subconjunctival depromedrol. Histological examination of the enucleated eye showed that the lesion was due to tuberculosis. The subsequent favorable response of the ocular and radiological chest lesions to antituberculous therapy was quite remarkable. In contrast, there was an adverse response to radiotherapy which had followed enucleation on the strong suspicion of retinoblastoma. Not unnaturally, ocular tuberculosis was not thought of because of the rarity of ocular involvement with this disease. To our knowledge, this is the first case of its type reported from the African Continent.

Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patients' rights to access their healthcare records.

Improving communication between different healthcare disciplines and with patients is hampered by professional insecurity. In this article, the authors examine the compelling reasons for making records more accessible to patients and describe the potential benefits for patients and professionals.

Attitude to Health↗