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Biomedical subjects

B Halioua

Publications and source records attributed to B Halioua.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

[An epidemiological model of genital herpes for assessment of potential impact of therapy and prophylaxis: application to France].

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to quantify the development of the number of cases of genital herpes and to assess the impact of different treatment strategies in France. METHOD: A model for the natural history of herpes simplex virus genital infection is presented and applied to the French population. The model encompasses infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2), first episodes, recurrences, viral shedding and the effect of treatment on infected individuals. RESULTS: In the Year 2000, 270,000 individuals would have suffered from genital herpes in France. A total annual cumulated number of 1.5 million episodes of recurrence and 23 million days of viral shedding were estimated. Seventy percent of viral shedding occurred in sub-clinical seropositive individuals. The expected number of attributable neonatal deaths remained very low. Systematic treatment of clinical episodes might reduce the number of days with lesions (- 27 p. 100), and is also effective on viral shedding (symptomatic: - 50 p. 100). Continuous treatment of the most severe patients (>or=6 recurrences per Year) might reduce viral shedding slightly more (- 85 p. 100). Antiviral treatment might have a major impact on the quality of life of these patients but would only slightly curb the number of new infections. DISCUSSION: This model tries to integrate the various data currently available at international level on the epidemiology of genital herpes. However, many aspects are still not well documented and remain uncertain. It is therefore necessary to define various assumptions in order to simulate the natural history of the disease in a population. The lack of French data especially on the HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence profiles reinforces these uncertainties. Our results should hence be considered as exploratory. However, this modeling approach is the only possible way to integrate the multiple parameters describing the pathology and predicting of the public health impact of different interventions. This model is an open tool which may be modified when new data become available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Contribution of Ancient Egypt to cardiovascular medicine].

As early as the Old Kingdom, 3,000 years before J.C., the Egyptians worked out the principles of medicine starting from their clinical observations and the description of the effectiveness of some remedies on the noted disorders. The originality of the Egyptian medicine was to try to offer rational explanations to the noted clinical expressions. They were the first to establish the importance of the pulse and its relationship with the contractions of the heart. Egyptians, authors of the first known book of cardiology the "treaty of the heart" in the Ebers papyrus, incontestably deserve the title of pioneers of the cardiology.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1999

Quality of life and use of health care among people with genital herpes in France.

In order to assess psychological morbidity in France related to genital herpes infection, we carried out a transversal study comparing infected patients with a control group. A total of 236 patients with genital herpes were first identified by means of a postal survey, then matched against a witness group of 236 noninfected persons. Detailed questionnaires were sent out to each person in the 2 groups. A total of 150 herpes patients and 200 non-infected persons answered the questionnaire, which enabled us to measure the incidence of the disease by means of 2 indicators: a herpes-specific scale and the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Emotional trauma due to genital herpes was reported amongst 23% of the participants. Of the participants, 57% indicated that herpes interfered with their sexual relationships; 50% felt it difficult to live with genital herpes; and 37% felt that herpes ruins their lives. An analysis assessing health-related quality of life indicated significant differences between the scores of the 2 groups and showed that quality of life is lower amongst herpes patients. Respondents with genital herpes required more frequent consultations with GPs (81% vs. 73%), and significantly more frequent consultations with specialists (59% vs. 45%). Our study confirms that substantial psychological morbidity exists in patients with genital herpes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Health hazards in international tourists visiting Paris in August: a five-year retrospective epidemiologic survey.

BACKGROUND: Travel-related illnesses have been studied in visitors to developing countries, but no studies have examined the incidence of health problems in visitors to developed countries. METHODS: 4, 093 foreign tourists visiting Paris in August and attending to emergency medical care for acute health problems were included in an epidemiological survey conducted over 5 consecutive years. The objective was to determine what types of acute health problems occur in a foreign tourist population and to estimate the incidence of the main health hazards. RESULTS: Gastroenteritis represented the main cause of medical care in that population (from 14.5-21.9%) followed by traumatology, ENT problem, viral syndrome and dermatology which represented altogether 60-64% of all medical problems. Two factors were related to the distribution of diseases observed: age and nationality. The monthly incidence of gastroenteritis was estimated to be between 1.33 to 2.92 per 10,000 visitors, and the overall incidence of health problems between 8 to 10 per 10,000. CONCLUSIONS: Even if the incidence rate of gastroenteritis is low compared with developing countries, further studies are needed to support the hypothesis that gastroenteritis could be attributed to sanitary conditions in some restaurants of the French capital.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

[Emergency consultations of foreign tourists in Paris in the month of August. 5 years of prospective surveillance (1992-1996)].

For five consecutive years, five major Parisian institutions in charge of emergencies have participated in a prospective collection of medical data for foreign patients visiting Paris in August; 4093 subjects have been studied. Gastroenteritis represented the main cause in calling on emergency medical care (14.5 to 21.9%), followed by traumatology, ear-nose-throat problems, syndromes labelled as viral, skin problems: these five categories represented 60 to 64% of all the serious problems encountered by tourists. The statistical frequency of different causes in calling on emergency care varied significantly according to two variables: the tourists' age and nationality. The incidence of gastroenteritis is estimated at between 13 and 30 per 100,000 visitors and the incidence of pathological problems taken all together--at 80 to 100 per 100,000.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of traditional and molecular methods for typing nontoxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Thirty-eight nontoxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated between 1987 and 1992 from clinical specimens of French patients were typed by biotyping, antibiograms, bacteriophage typing, ribotyping, and restriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Excellent correlation occurred between the genotypes defined by PFGE SfiI profiles or by ribotype BstEII profiles. Genotyping revealed seven genotype patterns among the 26 biotype mitis isolates, five among the nine biotype gravis isolates, and three among the three biotype belfanti isolates. Phage typing was nonreactive for nine of the 38 isolates. A combination of all the typing methods led to the identification of 19 different types of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

Clinical and molecular study of Corynebacterium diphtheriae systemic infections in France. Coryne Study Group.

Diphtheria is a disease with a long history that almost completely disappeared from developed countries. In addition, until 1987, systemic infections involving Corynebacterium diphtheriae were rare. However, in 1990, an epidemic occurred in Russia. These two circumstances have provided the stimulus to gain insight into the situation in France. In fact, between 1987 and 1993, a total of 59 C. diphtheriae strains were isolated. Epidemiological data were collected for patients from whom 40 strains were isolated from normally sterile sites, including 34 from blood cultures, and half of the bacteremic patients developed endocarditis. Osteoarticular involvement was noted in 11 of these 40 patients, including 5 bacteremic patients. The fatality rate following bacteremia was 36%, despite specific antibiotic treatment (beta-lactams and aminoglycosides). The mean age of the participants was 38 years, with half of the patients subsisting under low socioeconomic conditions and suffering from homelessness or alcoholism. Apparently, the skin turned out to be the major route of transmission in this reemerging disease. Eighty-eight percent of the isolates belonged to the C. diphtheriae biotype mitis. These were found predominantly in the Paris area, and most were of the same ribotype. Those isolates originating from the overseas territories (Guyana and New Caledonia) belonged to C. diphtheriae biotype gravis. No strains were positive for the tox gene by PCR. This study attests to the persistent circulation in France of C. diphtheriae in the form of systemic infections. The matter is especially significant since these strains are nontoxigenic and are of a unique ribotype. The strains are, however, sensitive to most antibiotics, although 20% are rifampin resistant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Sexually transmitted diseases and travel].

Travelers are highly exposed to acquiring sexually transmitted diseases especially since the most popular destinations are high risk areas. While this risk applies to all travelers, it is highest for the "sex" tourist who is typically a male with a mean age of 38 years. Awareness of risks is still incomplete, especially with regard to HIV. Several studies have shown that only 20% to 70% of travelers use condoms. This finding accounts for the high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in returning travelers: 2% to 10%. The risk of HIV infection is particularly high for persons living abroad. Based on available data, we can define the typical profile of the high risk traveler who should be targeted for prevention. Prevention depends on providing adequate information before departure, especially concerning HIV infection. Use of a condom throughout sexual contact is a basic safety rule. However condom quality is poor in many developing countries. Returning travelers should seek medical advice if manifestations involving the anogenital regions should appear.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Halo eczema around a histiocytofibroma: the Meyerson phenomenon].

We report a case of dermatitis forming a halo around a dermatofibroma. This phenomenon has initially been described around a naevocellular naevus and called Meyerson's naevus, then around other non naevus skin lesions. So far, it had not yet been reported around a dermatofibroma. The condition seems to be non-specific reaction of unknown mechanisms that does not modify the course or the prognosis of this circumscribed lesion.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Cyclosporin in dermatology].

Cyclosporin is a potent immunosuppressive agent with a selective and reversible inhibitory effect on helper T lymphocytes functions mainly interleukin-2 production. Cyclosporin has no myelotoxic, mutagenic or teratogenic effect. The drug is effective in preventing organ rejection, as well as in various auto-immune and inflammatory diseases. In dermatology the drug is extremely effective in psoriasis. Low doses (less than 5 mg/kg per day) have to be used to decrease the risk of nephrotoxicity and hypertension.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1990

[Hand dermatoses in children].

Dermatoses of the hand in children are part of an original entity which can be classified in two groups: a group involving exclusively the hands and another one which is predominantly involving the hands. Attention has been focussed mostly on hand dermatoses in children (acropustulosis of infancy, papular, acrodermatitis, hand foot and mouth disease, subungual, exostosis). We discuss also the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of scabies in children.

Acrodermatitis↗
PubMed1990

Risk: benefit ratio in the treatment of psoriasis with systemic retinoids.

This is a review of the efficacy of etretinate/acitretin in the treatment of psoriasis and of the currently reported side-effects. The data indicate that retinoids bring significant improvement (if not total clearing) with frequent low-morbidity but rarely serious side-effects. The most serious side-effect of etretinate/acitretin is teratogenicity.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗