PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Marc

Publications and source records attributed to B Marc.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Early brain changes in HIV infection: neuropathological study of 11 HIV seropositive, non-AIDS cases.

We examined 11 brains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive cases who died from unnatural causes (10 intravenous drug abusers who died from heroin overdose and 1 homosexual dead from a gunshot injury); 10 brains of HIV seronegative heroin addicts who died from overdose and 1 seronegative drug abuser who died from gunshot injury served as controls. Complete postmortem examination did not show evidence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS related complex. Terminal changes including nerve cell ischemia, edema and diffuse vascular congestion were observed in all cases. Perivascular pigment deposition with macrophages was a constant finding in drug addicts and was probably related to chronic intravenous injection. In contrast, cerebral vasculitis was significantly more frequent and marked in HIV seropositive cases and was often associated with lymphocytic meningitis. Granular ependymitis, myelin pallor with reactive astrocytosis and microglial proliferation were also more frequent and more severe in HIV seropositive cases. Immunocytochemistry was negative for HIV antigens. Our study further supports the view that early central nervous system changes occur in HIV infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Cardiac monitoring during medical management of cocaine body packers.

The cardiac risk of cocaine body packing was studied by means of continuous ECG monitoring in 13 cocaine body-packers during spontaneous elimination. The packages were all well manufactured bundles (McCarron type 2) not susceptible to spontaneous breakage. At the beginning of the Holter study, packages were still present in the bowel of twelve patients (range: 2 to 196). The mean time of Holter recording was 46 h (range 16 h to 75 h). Ten patients eliminated all their packages during the time of Holter recording. No ECG modifications were recorded for all of the patients in regard to usually admitted standard requirements of the American Heart Association. While initial cardiac frequencies were within the normal range, a significant decrease of pulse rates was associated with the elimination of bundles. We conclude that the McCarron type 2 cocaine body-packers are not in impending danger of cardiac acute events allowing a non-surgical management of these individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mistreatment of the aged in the home environment in northern France: a year survey (1990).

As the percentage of the population which is aged increases in the developed countries, public health problems arise from the limited autonomy and physical or mental infirmity of the elderly. Cohabitation arrangements, often used to permit the elderly to stay at home, can give rise to conflict and the mistreatment of the aged. We analysed questionnaires distributed in 1990 to 25 home nursing units and two hospitals in a part of the northern region of France. Fifty-five observations of mistreatment were collected, 22 from hospital and 33 from home-based inquiries. The types of mistreatment and the characteristics of the victims and perpetrators are detailed and discussed. Penal and legal aspects of mistreatment of the aged in France are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Postmortem interval estimation by creatinine levels in human psoas muscle.

A new method was tested for estimating time after death in the middle range of postmortem interval (weeks). Creatinine muscular concentration in human cadaver is positively correlated to postmortem estimation. Temperature should be mainly related to the creatinine transformation rate. A stronger correlation was found at 11 degrees C up to 30 days and at 20 degrees Celsius up to 15 days.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Suicidal stab wounds of the throat.

Suicide by stabbing one's throat remains very rare and very few cases have been reported in the forensic literature. In such cases, the important distinction is between suicide and homicide. The direction of stab wounds, their depth, site and number have particular importance in helping to recognize suicide. Suicide when attempted by transfixion of the neck in middle aged and elderly adults often reveals a definite resolution to kill oneself.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Fatal air embolism during female autoerotic practice.

Air embolism has been described in pregnant women and is a classic cause of death during attempted abortion by syringing. Death was caused by the introduction of an amount of air sufficient to cause a substantial air lock in the heart, pulmonary trunk or arteries. If the surface of the placenta has been stripped by the syringe, venous spaces are opened and air can pass into the circulation. Orogenital sex with vaginal insufflation can also cause air embolism during pregnancy. We report a case of air embolism in a 40-year-old non-pregnant woman subsequent to vaginal insertion of a foreign body (carrot) for an autoerotic purpose. The mechanism is roughly similar to syringing, the foreign body acting like a piston to displace a sufficient amount of air. In the present case, the endometrium stripping was probably due to the presence of an intrauterine device. As such risks may often be encountered and as, to our knowledge, no similar case has previously been reported, we may speculate if such air embolisms are underdiagnosed or dissimulated by the partners when questioned by the medical rescue teams.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A cocaine body packer with normal abdominal plain radiograms. Value of drug detection in urine and contrast study of the bowel.

Drug packets are usually detected by ordinary abdominal radiographs, which is of major importance in the apprehension and prosecution of drug body packers, but false negatives may occur. We report the case of a cocaine body packer who had used the prograde route and in whom the initial abdominal plain films were normal. The diagnosis of cocaine body packing was assessed by seldom-described complementary methods of detection, including drug detection in the urine and contrast study of the bowel.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[leiomyoma of the bladder. Apropos of a case].

Leiomyomas are the most common form of benign mesenchymal bladder tumour. While the diagnosis may be suggested on radiological investigations, it can only be confirmed by histology. The prognosis is good, the treatment being exclusively surgical.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The cocaine body-packer syndrome: evaluation of a method of contrast study of the bowel.

The questionable reliability of the conventional procedures for detection of ingested drug packages triggered us to evaluate the accuracy of a method of contrast study of the bowel in 23 nonsurgically managed cocaine body-packers. A single dose (60 mL) of a water-soluble contrast compound (amidotrizoate + meglumine) was given orally after initial clinical examination and drug detection in urine. Thereafter, roentgenograms were performed daily after spontaneous passage until obtaining two packet-free stools and negative views. Roentgenograms showed packages when performed at least 3 h after the ingestion of the contrast compound. Sensitivity and specificity of the method with respect to the detection of residual packets in the body, assessed by subsequent examination of stools, was good and did not diminish as the number of packages decreased during the time spent in ward. No side-effects were observed. We conclude that oral administration of a water-soluble contrast compound is an easily performed, efficient, and safe method for the nonsurgical management of cocaine body-packers.

Cocaine↗
PubMed1989

Suicide by nitrous oxide poisoning.

Fatal nitrous oxide poisoning usually occurs accidentally during the administration of general anesthesia. It seldom occurs during autoerotic behavior or in acute drug abuse. We report an unusual case of a health professional who committed suicide by inhaling nitrous oxide.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Detection of drugs in the urine of body-packers.

The presence of opiates and benzoylecgonine, the major metabolite of cocaine, in the urine was detected by means of enzyme immunoassay in a series of 120 smugglers who had either ingested or inserted into their rectum cocaine or heroin packaged for transportation. There was a striking relation between the presence of drugs in the urine and swallowing of drug-filled bundles (cocaine 49 of 50 cases, heroin 9 of 10). The proportion of positive results was also high in cases of rectal insertion (cocaine 2 of 2, heroin 35 of 58). In 30 cases of cocaine-packet ingestion, serial measurements showed that the accuracy of the test progressively decreased with respect to the detection of residual packets in the body. Drug detection in the urine of suspected body-packers seems to be a useful test, positive results justifying subsequent radiological investigations.

Cocaine↗