PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Hubert

Publications and source records attributed to B Hubert.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

A time series construction of an alert threshold with application to S. bovismorbificans in France.

Epidemiological surveillance can be used to initiate preventive measures and Salmonella infection is a prime example of application. It is important that any unusual increase of reported cases should be detected as rapidly as possible. Reliable forecasts based on a suitable model of the temporal structure of a pathological indicator are necessary for the elaboration of an alert threshold. We first discuss the specific problems associated with the identification and the estimation of the temporal structure of indicators of infectious diseases when they present both epidemic peaks and an underlying stationary structure. Then we consider how an alert threshold can be defined. Our application concerns infections caused by S. bovismorbificans in France for which an alert threshold is constructed and tested both retrospectively and prospectively.

France↗
PubMed1991

An outbreak of pneumonia and meningitis caused by a previously undescribed gram-negative bacterium in a hot spring spa.

An outbreak of infection caused by a previously undescribed Gram-negative bacterium affected people attending a hot (37 degrees C) spring spa in France in 1987. Thirty-five case of pneumonia and two cases of meningitis occurred. None of these patients died. Attack rates were significantly higher for patients above 70 years old and for male patients. An epidemiological comparison of the 26 hospitalized cases with 52 matched controls suggests that spa treatment early on the first day (OR = 4.8) and attendance at the vapour baths (OR = 10.7) were significant risk factors for acquiring the infection. Person-to-person spread was not thought to have occurred. The same bacterium was isolated from the hot spring water. All strains studied shows a single rRNA gene restriction pattern. Epidemiological data indicated that the thermal water was the source of infection. This outbreak stresses the need for increased surveillance of infections in people attending hot spring spas.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The preparation and acute antihypertensive effects of a nanocapsular form of darodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker.

We have addressed two problems associated with the use of dihydropyridine calcium entry blockers in antihypertensive therapy, namely, potent vasodilation and short half-lives, by incorporating the representative blocker, darodipine, into a nanocapsular vehicle. In awake, renovascular hypertensive rats, darodipine nanocapsules lowered blood pressure when given orally or intramuscularly, and the initial fall in blood pressure was less marked than that observed with the same dose of darodipine dissolved in polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG). Intramuscular administration of the nanocapsular form of darodipine had an antihypertensive effect which lasted for at least 24 hr.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

What is known about the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis?

The French programme for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis consists of the diagnosis and treatment with spiramycin of acute infections during pregnancy and monthly follow-up of all identified seronegative women. The major flaw is that the efficacy of spiramycin in preventing contamination of the fetus, or at least in reducing the extent of the infection, has never been evaluated in a randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial. Its evaluation would require the follow-up of children born to mothers contaminated during pregnancy for more than 6 months, a goal that is difficult to obtain in current practice. The cost of the programme depends largely on the proportion of non-immune women of childbearing age. Since the modes of contamination are known and are linked to living habits, it should be possible to reduce the risk of infection during pregnancy by adequate health education. This approach is still to be evaluated.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Prospective multicenter study of vascular-catheter-related complications and risk factors for positive central-catheter cultures in intensive care unit patients.

To determine the incidence rate of complications associated with vascular catheters in intensive care unit patients and to analyze risk factors for a positive vascular culture, we performed a multicenter study of intensive care unit patients at eight French hospitals. During the study period, 865 intravenous catheters were inserted in 566 patients; 362 (41.8%) were peripheral catheters, and 503 (58.2%) were central catheters. Local complications (i.e., infiltration) occurred significantly more often with peripheral than with central catheters (P less than 0.001); in contrast, fever and bacteremia were significantly more often associated with central than with peripheral catheters (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively). The culture of the vascular-catheter tip was positive for 24% of central catheters (32 of 1,000 catheters days) and for 9% of peripheral catheters (21 of 1,000 catheters days). Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common microorganism isolated from both peripheral and central catheters, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. No significant risk factor associated with positive cultures for peripheral catheters was found by univariate analysis. In contrast, the purpose of the cannula (nutrition and monitoring of central venous pressure), the insertion site (jugular), the dressing type (semipermeable transparent dressing), the antiseptic used to prepare the insertion site (povidone iodine), and routine changing of the intravenous administration set were significantly associated with positive cultures of central catheters. Three factors, duration of catheterization, use of a semipermeable transparent dressing, and the jugular insertion site, were found to be independently associated with positive cultures of central catheters by multivariate analysis.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1990

[Epidemiology of meningococcal infections and principles for the prevention of secondary cases].

The incidence of meningococcal infections undergoes secular variations with modifications in the distribution of identified serotypes. Rhinopharyngeal carriage of meningococci, common in the community, is the natural means of immunization. Prevalence of this carriage varies across age groups and communities, as well as according to whether or not cases are present in the community under study. Identified factors that promote transmission of the bacteria include crowded living conditions, poor socioeconomic conditions, and, more controversially, respiratory tract viral infections. Development of meningococcal infection usually occurs within seven days of onset of carriage. Secondary cases account for approximately 3% of meningococcal infections in France. The risk of development of secondary cases is increased in subjects sharing the patient's home or exposed to his or her rhinopharyngeal secretions. Prevention of these secondary cases rests on chemoprophylaxis and immunization. The qualities of antimicrobial agents proposed for chemoprophylaxis are discussed, with special emphasis on spiramycin and rifampin which are the most widely used. This study, which rests on French epidemiologic surveillance findings and data from a review of the literature, forms the basis for new French guidelines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Epidemiology of human anisakiasis: incidence and sources in France.

A retrospective study on anisakiasis was carried out in France with 32 laboratories specializing in parasitology. During January 1985-September 1987, 21 cases of anisakiasis were diagnosed and confirmed by parasitological identification or serology. Various fish species were involved. Although anisakiasis is not a major public health problem, there is a need for regulation in the fish industry and for consumer information.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Spontaneous familial systemic lupus erythematosus in a canine breeding colony.

A colony of German shepherd dogs was studied in which a high proportion of antinuclear antibody (ANAb) carriers and dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like signs were found. The titre of serum thymulin and the percentage of circulating T lymphocytes were both low. The incidence of disease decreased down the generations through the introduction of outside sires, thus suggesting a genetic origin for the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The use of OKT3 in cadaveric renal transplantation for rejection that is unresponsive to conventional anti-rejection therapy.

Thirty-one recipients of cadaver kidney transplants were given OKT3 monoclonal anti-T cell antibody for rejection treatment after conventional therapy had failed. Seventy-four percent of steroid or steroid and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) resistant rejections reversed with a standard course of OKT3. Rejections reversed in 85% of 26 patients treated within 90 days of transplantation. Late rejections treated more than 90 days after transplantation were poorly responsive to OKT3 and graft survival for this group of five patients was poor (20%). However, for those patients treated with OKT3 for early resistant rejection, actuarial 4-year graft survival was 66%. Actuarial 4-year patient survival was 97%, and the incidence of serious infection was low. Acute rejections in cadaver transplantation are common and a small percentage of rejections are resistant to steroids and ATG. OKT3 has proven to be useful for reversing these resistant rejections without causing significant morbidity from infection or death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Early use of OKT3 monoclonal antibody in renal transplantation to prevent rejection.

OKT3 monoclonal anti-T cell antibody was used during the first 2 weeks following cadaveric renal transplantation to prevent rejection. When compared with a control group receiving triple immunosuppression with cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone, the OKT3, azathioprine, and prednisone group had significantly fewer acute rejections during the first month (6% v 50%; P less than 0.01), and the mean time of onset of the first rejection was significantly delayed (day 47 v day 8; P less than 0.01) in the OKT3 prophylaxis group. OKT3 was administered intraoperatively safely and without complications on the day of transplantation. The well-reported first dose reaction to OKT3 was similar in these patients when compared with patients receiving OKT3 for treatment of rejection. Anti-OKT3 antibody development occurred in half of the patients receiving OKT3, and did not prevent the subsequent use of OKT3 in these patients, whose rejections following OKT3 prophylaxis were steroid reversible. There were no deaths among the patients receiving prophylactic OKT3, and during a 15-month follow-up, only three of 34 kidneys were lost for any reason. In addition to its use for primary and steroid-resistant rejection, OKT3 may be useful early after transplantation to prevent rejection.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed1988

Significance of delayed graft function in cyclosporine-treated recipients of cadaver kidney transplants.

Many transplant teams are reluctant to initiate cyclosporine immunosuppression in recipients of cadaver kidney grafts with delayed graft function (DGF). The renal function of cadaver kidney grafts in cyclosporine-treated recipients was compared in 47 recipients with DGF and 57 without DGF. Regardless of initial renal function, all recipients received prednisone, azathioprine, and oral cyclosporine 5 mg/kg/day or its intravenous equivalent. All kidneys were flushed with ice-cold intracellular electrolyte solution and cold-stored for 15-54 hr (mean of 31 hr) prior to transplantation at our hospital between April 10, 1985 and November 30, 1986. Rejection crises were treated with high-dose steroids or OKT3. Cyclosporine was discontinued during courses of OKT3. Recipients with DGF had significantly higher one-month serum creatinine nadirs (2.6 +/- 1.8 mg/dl vs. 1.5 +/- 0.5 mg/dl). Actuarial graft survivals were not significantly different at one year (82.2 +/- 5.5% vs. 82.6 +/- 6.4%, all graft losses included). Mean serum creatinine levels at six months and twelve months after grafting were not significantly different (1.7 +/- 0.4 mg/dl vs. 1.8 +/- 1.2 mg/dl and 2.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.7 mg/dl, respectively). Delayed graft function following cadaver kidney transplantation does not adversely affect intermediate term function of kidney grafts flushed with intracellular electrolyte solution and cold-stored until transplantation when a low-dose cyclosporine induction protocol is used and cyclosporine is discontinued during OKT3 administration.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1987

Contribution of specialists to antenatal care in France: impact on level of care during pregnancy and delivery.

This study was based on a survey of a national sample of births in France in 1981 which included 5508 women. Four pathways of antenatal care were defined according to the stage of pregnancy at first intervention of a specialist, as opposed to a general practitioner, in the care of the pregnancy. Taking into account the sociodemographic and medical characteristics of the women in a logistic regression, a large number of antenatal visits, an ultrasound examination, and hospitalisation during pregnancy were more frequent when the degree of specialisation of the pathway increased. But the influence of pathways was less significant for deliveries. Caesarean section rates, for example, did not vary according to pathway. However, induction of labour and intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring were less frequent among women cared for solely by a general practitioner than among those who had consulted a specialist at least once during pregnancy. The increase in medical care and the role of the specialist in antenatal care are discussed.

Delivery, Obstetric↗