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Biomedical subjects

C Belin

Publications and source records attributed to C Belin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Anti-galectin-1 autoantibodies in serum of patients with neurological diseases.

The presence of autoantibodies to human brain galectin-1 was investigated in serum from patients with multiple sclerosis, patients with or without evidence of other neurological disorders, and healthy controls, using an ELISA on purified brain galectin-1. Levels of autoantibodies to galectin-1 were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls. Comparison of levels of anti-galectin-1 and anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking human brain galectin-1 (L-IgG) showed that the highest levels of autoantibodies were present in patients with low levels of L-IgG. This finding can be explained by hypothesizing that the concentration of autoantibodies to galectin-1 is possibly associated with impairment of the regulation of the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Parenchymal neurocysticercosis: follow-up and staging by MRI.

We describe the evolution of parenchymal cerebral cysticerci on MRI, to assess signs of early cyst degeneration. We studied 15 lesions in four treated and one untreated patient. MRI was performed before therapy and repeated in the 1st month after each course of anticysticercus drugs, every 4 months during the 1st year and then annually; the follow-up period was 8-48 months. Lesions were classified according to changes in four features: cyst content and capsule signal, gadolinium enhancement and oedema signal. We were able to recognise each of the pathological phases; five MRI stages were identified. Stage 1 showed oedema and/or nodular gadolinium enhancement in the tissue invasion phase; stage 2 was cerebrospinal fluid-like signal within a cyst in the vesicular phase; stage 3 showed a thick capsule with an impure liquid content signal and surrounding oedema, in the cystic phase; stage 4 showed the disappearance of the cyst fluid content signal in the degenerative phase; stage 5 showed a calcified lesion in the residual phase. Stage 1 lesions disappeared after therapy; the other progressed from one stage to another. Stage 4 indicated the end of viability of the parasite and determined the point after which treatment was useless. On T2-weighted images changes in the cyst content differed according to the history of the lesion; nodular low intensity followed the natural degeneration of the parasite and a mixed fluid signal with punctate low signal seemed to represent the specific result of therapy. MRI staging can help in the evaluation of indications for treatment and facilitate clinical therapeutic trials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Influence of changes in climate and the calendar on the onset of a migraine crisis].

Several factors have been demonstrated to play a role in triggering acute episode of migraine headache. On the basis of observation, others have been suggested but not confirmed. Variations in climate are among the latter. Over a one-year period, we observed a population of 304 patients with migraine residing in a precise climatic zone. The frequency of acute episodes could be analyzed for 148 among them. There were 4,421 acute episodes recorded during the year. The periodicity during the year was compared with climate parameters: temperature (maximal, minimal, average), wind (force and direction), atmospheric pressure, rain, sunshine, relative humidity, and icy, foggy and stormy weather. Moon cycles were also assessed. No correlations were found between climate parameters or variations there of and onset of migraine. Variations in climate would thus appear to have no effect on migraine. Inversely, the results of this study demonstrated a day effect with a higher number of episodes on Saturday and less on Monday and Tuesday. The triggering effect of catamenia on many acute episodes was also confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Postvaccination myelitis. Aspect and course followed by MRI].

We report the assessment by MRI of a case of radiculomyelitis after vaccination against tetanus-poliomyelitis. In the acute stage the appearance was an isolated myelitis of the conus medullaris with contrast enhancement. The upper thoracic cord presented central areas of high signal intensity on T2 weighted images. Rapid clinical recovery was correlated with resolution of abnormal enhancement. Follow-up MR at 5 months showed persistence of slight T2 prolongation in the conus medullaris and syringohydromyela of the thoracic cord. A single lesion of the spinal cord is a rare presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, the course of such lesions, to date not previously displayed by MR, is unknown. Proper diagnosis should help prevent administration of further vaccine doses.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Visual illusions of obliquity].

Three cases of visual illusion of obliquity were observed. This rare disorder is due to impaired of panorama/vertical orientation. When present, special care must be given during visual correction to spatial orientation of the perceived image in the vertical axis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[How do we read? Study of eye movement in reading].

Reading associates a perceptive time, a motor time and a cognitive time, all three phenomena being extremely interdependent. After a review of the physiological mechanisms of reading, the authors discuss, on the basis of experimentation in the normal subject, the results of a study involving electro-oculographic recording of reading.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of brain SPECT using 99mTc-bicisate (L,L-ECD) and [123I]IMP in cortical and subcortical strokes.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using 99mTc-bicisate and N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine ([123I]IMP) was compared in 25 patients suffering cerebral ischemia during the subacute phase (7-14 days) of stroke. Patients were classified as cortical strokes (15) and subcortical strokes (10) according to clinical and CT data. Images were analyzed by five independent blinded observers. Then, using a cross-matching method between normal and abnormal brain areas, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity for 99mTc-bicisate and [123I]IMP and inter- and intraobserver reproducibility. A semiquantitative analysis was performed to compare abnormal hypoactive areas versus the corresponding contralateral areas for 99mTc-bicisate and [123I]IMP in the two patient groups. There was no significant difference for sensitivity and specificity between 99mTc-bicisate and [123I]IMP. Matching was approximately 90% in the two groups. The kappa-concordance index was satisfactory and slightly better for 99mTc-bicisate (0.485) than for [123I]IMP (0.435). Level of hypoactivity in the abnormal areas was significantly higher for 99mTc-bicisate (p < 0.03, n = 25) than for [123I]IMP, especially for cortical strokes. This comparative study demonstrates that 99mTc-bicisate is a very useful tracer for the detection of focal cerebral ischemia by SPECT during the subacute phase of stroke.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Visual perseveration and palinopsia: a visual memory disorder?].

Visual perseveration and palinopsia are defined as the persistence or the reappearance of the visual image. These infrequent symptoms are thought to be linked to the right hemisphere posterior areas. We report a case of this syndrome in which the initial fixation was foveal. The palinoptic image was sometimes moving. This suggests that palinopsia is due to a dysfunction of the visual memory, rather than of the visual system: this dysfunction may be related to hyperactivity of the visual buffer.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

[Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease. Pathologal and genetic study].

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker's disease is a familial spongiform encephalopathy whose pathological hallmark is the existence--especially in the cerebellum--of numerous amyloid plaques. We report here the third clinicopathological case in a French family. Brain tissue from one of its members--initially described as familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease--has been reported as successfully inoculated to monkeys. We present the currently accumulating data favouring the hypothesis of a common etiology for familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker's disease. The familial characteristics, resulting in different durations of incubation and evolution, could lead to different clinical and histological expressions.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1990

[Tachistoscopic reading of arabic words].

The authors study the tachistoscopic recognition of Arabic words in Arabic speakers. This study shows that Arabic words are read by Arabic speakers in the same way as French words by French speaking readers. Under such circumstances, the direction of reading appears to be less important than hemispheric specialisation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Effect of pathologic gaze deviation caused by brain stem lesion on interhemispheric equilibrium. Study using a non-verbal dichotic listening test].

Three cases of patients with lateral gaze palsy due to brainstem lesion were studied. They underwent a non-verbal dichotic listening test which evidenced a significant decrease of performance in the ear located on the same side as the lesion. This result can be interpreted as an inter-hemispheric imbalance linked to the pathological gaze deviation.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMed1988

[Difficulty in reading braille caused by a right-sided lesion in a blind patient].

A right-handed woman who became blind at 25 was a good braille reader. After a right parieto-occipital brain damage, she developed a braille reading disorder which contrasted with a completely normal language. This reading disability cannot be analysed in terms of left hemineglect syndrome; rather, it is explained in the broader context of the patient's haptic disorders in many others fields. This hypothesis is connected to others works which suggest a right hemispheric specialization for tactile information processing.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[Cerebral x-ray computed tomography and scintigraphy. Value of the combination of these investigative methods in ischemic pathology].

In 15 patients with a recent ischaemic cerebral vascular accident computerized tomography (CT) of the brain was normal whereas scintigraphy, performed at the same time, clearly showed the ischaemic area. These discordant findings may be interpreted as false-negative CT results. Factors such as the time elapsed between the cerebral accident and the CT examination, and the use or non-use of an intravenous contrast injection are discussed. It seems that the key factor is the proximity of the ischaemic lesion to the surface of the brain: cortical necrosis is undetectable at CT but distinctly visible at scintigraphy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Slow, periodic alternating ping-pong gaze and Cheyne-Stokes respiration].

Periodic alternating ping pong gaze (PAPPG) represent a particular entity among abnormal ocular movements sometimes observed during coma. They usually result from a widespread bilateral hemispheric ischemia. A case of PAPPG is reported that presents a twofold particularity: the lesion responsible for the abnormal movement, although eventually bilateral, was initially unilateral, and the PAPPG were intermittent and associated with a Cheyne-Stokes respiration. This latter finding requires reconsideration of the nature of the stimulus responsible for this curious abnormal ocular movement.

Aged↗