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Biomedical subjects

C Gras

Publications and source records attributed to C Gras.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Orthotopic liver transplantation following heart transplantation].

Heart transplantation was performed in a 24-year-old man suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy who was also infected with hepatitis B virus and had not yet seroconverted. Most likely due to the immunosuppression, the hepatitis exacerbated and soon led to hepatic dystrophy and precoma. In this phase of congruent rejection of the heart transplant, liver transplantation was performed. During the procedure the patient had stable circulatory parameters and a reduced cardiac output. The heart rate and cardiac output stabilized after release of the anastomosis of the hepatic vessels. The patient survived for 6 months and died at home with signs of a myocardial infarction.

Adult

[Positioning the central venous catheter using intra-atrial ECG].

In a small study (n = 9) central venous catheters were positioned in front of the right atrium using ECG. ECG was registered using a soft J-wire inside of the catheter. Big vessels were cannulated and in all cases cannulation was successful. ECG and x-ray control showed good agreement.

Catheterization, Central Venous

[Immunological profile of Whipple's disease evolving over a period of 17 years].

This report describes an immunological study made on a 58 years old patient with a Whipple disease diagnosed in 1969 and treated with different antibiotics. All attempts to stop the antibiotherapy resulted in reappearance of clinical symptoms. Further, this patient suffered anguillulosis infection in 1954 and this persists despite thiabendazole therapy, as shown by periodical creeping lunear dermatitis (larva currens). Laboratory investigations displayed low IgM levels and lack of cutaneous reactivity to conventional antigenic challenge. In vitro studies on granulocyte and monocyte phagocytic activity did not display any clearcut deficiency. Finally, this patient displayed peripheral lymphopenia and decrease of the T4+ (CD4) lymphocyte subpopulation. The proliferative response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin stimulation (a cellular T-cell function) was drastically decreased in assays performed during the 16 month duration of patient's exploration. This proliferative defect seems to be due to increased PGE2 release (a 3-5 fold increase was demonstrated), resulting in inhibition of interleukin 2 (IL2) synthesis and activity. Further, patient's lymphocyte normally expressed IL2 receptor. When the B lymphocyte dependent humoral response was assayed, normal B lymphocyte differentiation into plasmocytes was found. However the pokeweed mitogen induced proliferative response of B lymphocyte displayed major decrease in four sequential tests. This might be due to a lack of B cell growth factor (BCGF) activity, since this interleukin involved in T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte cooperation was not found in supernatants of patient's cell. Further, interleukin 1 (involved in macrophage lymphocyte cooperation) was normally produced. In conclusion, no deficiency of in vitro phagocytose was demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Differentiation

[Doppler ultrasonic evaluation of the embolism-causing potential of carotid artery plaques. Apropos of 113 macroscopic findings].

Comparison was made between precise descriptions of gross pathology of 113 carotid artery atheromatous plaques (69 symptomatic, 44 asymptomatic) operated upon by thromboendarterectomy and results of ultrasound-Doppler examinations, to determine possible specific ultrasound criteria for precise anatomical lesions. Echographic criteria studied were: ultrasonic structure of plaques; relation of plaque to wall; existence or absence of a solution of continuity; regular or irregular nature of endoluminal border of plaque; and finally the notion of discordance between degree of stenosis as shown by Doppler (D) and ultrasound (E) imaging (E much less than D). Principal results were as follows. Images of the regular, homogeneous highly echogenic plaques (36 cases) corresponded in 69.4% of cases to simple fibrous or calcified plaques with regular endoluminal borders. Irregular heterogeneous plaques (31 cases) were suggestive of irregular, friable and/or ulcerated material in 64.4% of cases. Weakly echogenic plaques (9 cases) suggested mainly thrombus (44.4%) or soft, friable plaques (33.3%). Plaques with solution of continuity do not correspond to a precise lesion but, in contrast, are specific (with weakly echogenic plaques) of the emboligenic character of the plaques (100%). The criterion ultrasound "Doppler was specific for thrombus in 75% of cases. In contrast, the thrombus can also demonstrate very different ultrasound images. Finally, in this study ultrasound-Doppler findings produced 3 false negatives (2.6%). Combined ultrasound-Doppler imaging allows quantitative evaluation and particularly qualitative assessment of carotid artery atheromatous lesions, with sufficiently reliable criteria to detect lesions of high emboligenic potential.

Arteriosclerosis

[An outbreak of Schistosoma mansoni bilharziasis. 113 cases in a military unit returning from Central Africa].

The authors report on an outbreak of Schistosoma mansoni infestation involving 113 military men who had been contaminated together in a tributary of the Chari river in the Central African Republic. The patients were examined on their return to France 50 days after being contaminated and were compared with a control group of 25 subjects who had lived in Africa under the same conditions but were exempt of bilharziasis. All were subjected to a retrospective questionnaire, physical examination, examination of the faeces and serological test for bilharziasis by indirect haemoagglutination. All received two courses of praziquantel. Follow-up serology was performed after 1 year in 86 cases. The results of this study in both groups are presented and commented upon. With intestinal bilharziasis, prophylaxis against contamination is extremely difficult to carry out in endemic areas among people who visit and work "on the spot". Detection by routine serology must be performed upon return.

Adult

[Epidemiological surveillance of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in French Polynesia in 1991].

The authors make out a statement about HIV infection in French Polynesia at the date of 1991 December 31. 96 cases all together of seropositive and AIDS infected people were recorded. These patients are young generally (78 p.c. between 21 and 40 years old) sexually contaminated (72 out of 96) and live in Tahiti island (94 p.c.). Sex-ratio is 2.8 male/1 female. Among them, we noted 55 p.c. of Europeans, 38 p.c. of Polynesians and 7 p.c. of Asiatic people. Epidemiological monitoring of the infection was made easy because of a set of laws and possibilities of detection highly favourable. Progress of the infection is constant, with 20 new cases detected each year with a prevalence of 150 cases of AIDS per 1 million of inhabitants, French Polynesia could be classified as the 5th or 6th region of France as far as the importance of the disease. Clinical, biological and epidemiological taking of charge of patients is detailed as well as the prevention campaign.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Hodgkin's disease in French Polynesia. 7 cases observed at the Territorial Hospital Center from 1985 to 1990].

Seven Polynesians suffered from Hodgkin's disease were admitted in the territorial Hospital Center in 6 years. They came from different Polynesian archipelagos. Three of them are 30 years old and 3 are 40 years old. Diagnosis is based on an histological test, but has to be confirmed by a center specialized in lymphomae investigations since a scanner has been installed at the Territorial Hospital Center of Papeete (March 1987) results are satisfactory: echography and abdominal scanner lymphography and thoracic scanner osteoma medullare biopsy and liver biopsy puncture. Six patients presented a diffuse lesion (III B or IV) and one an intermediary phase (II B2). Treatment started by chemotherapy MOPP and ABVD alternatively. Four patients out of seven did not continue their treatment up to the end; one patient aged 34, after six treatments by MOPP and a recovering treatment by MIME got an autograft of bone marrow in Paris in October 1989, and he is actually in a good shape. Most of the patients are out of control. Application of complex therapeutic protocols during several months and inducing side effects, demands a large agreement of both patients and relatives. That is very rarely got nowadays.

Adult

[Thyroid epitheliomas in French Polynesia].

The authors reviewed 34 cases of thyroid epithelioma registered in French Polynesia from 1985 to 1990. Annual incidence classifies French Polynesia as a region with low endemicity. The patients were 31 females and 3 males. In 18 cases, carcinoma was discovered within a multiheteronodular goitre (MHNG) and in 16 cases within an isolated nodule. In each of these sub-groups, 4 micropapilliform cancers discovered at the occasion of a histopathological test. The mean age of the patients carrying a noduliferous cancer is 36.5 years and the one of multiheteronodular goitre is 50. No particular risk factor was discovered. Mean age of the disease is 2.8 years as far as noduliferous cancers are concerned, and 8.5 years for multiheteronodular goitre. The anatomical and echographic characters are discussed. What demanded a surgery intervention is reviewed. Mortality during intervention is zero. Morbidity recorded 17% of unilateral recurrent paralysis and 50% of transitory parathyroid insufficiency. Extemporaneous anatomopathological test was contributing in 25% of the cases; definitive test revealed 25 (74%) papilliform cancers (of which 8 micropapilliforms) and 9 vesicular cancers (26%). No canceration anaplasia was discovered. Evolutive stage is precised: 7 local invasions (isthm and/or capsule), 4 bifocal localizations, 8 cancers with adenoid metastasis, 4 with osseous and/or pulmonary metastasis. The way to select a therapy is reported and discussed. Cost evaluation is suggested in order to discuss the possibility to acquire for the Territory an equipment for isotopic exams.

Adult

[Leptospirosis in French Polynesia: 120 case reports].

Because of its clinical polymorphism and the difficulties to made a bacteriological and/or serological diagnosis, leptospirosis is an affection always non-detected. Nevertheless it is daily met affection in French Polynesia. Based on a homogenous series of 120 observations gathered from 1984 to 1990, all of them bacteriologically and/or serologically confirmed, we studied the different clinical and evolutive features of that disease. Fever is present in 91.6 p.c., cephalgia in 79.16 p.c. and myalgia in 70.83 p.c. Admission was necessary once out of four times. The four syndromes we observed in Tahiti are: infections syndrome, meningeal syndrome (30 p.c.) associated to an hyperproteinic grade in the C.S.F. (40 p.c.) and a lymphocytic reaction (60 p.c.). Liver syndrome, with hepatalgia (58.33 p.c.) and pain at the mass motion of liver (65 p.c.), that is an important sign in the local context; jaundice (28.33 p.c.) on the presence of which we must not based a diagnosis of leptospirosis: Biological renal syndrome displayed by transitory renal insufficiency with proteinuria, hematuria and leucocyturia. Neurological complications are mainly of encephalitic manifestations (5.8 p.c.). Hemorrhagic syndrome is expressed in digestive hemorrhage (8.33 p.c.) epistaxis (6.66 p.c.) and hemoptysis (6.66 p.c.). Cardiovascular manifestations are expressed in collapsus in 5.83 of the cases. Pulmonary abnormalities are frequent: cough (26.66 p.c.) and non specific X Ray image (19.16 p.c.). All patients are treated by Penicillin G (10 to 20 millions per day) by parenteral route with enteral alternative for an average of 10 days. Recovery was fast (7 to 10 days). In 65.8 p.c., slower in 15 p.c. (15 to 20 days); failure at first stage was observed in 10 p.c. of the cases, and relapse at medium or long term occurred under treatment in 8 cases (6.66 p.c.). Three dead were deplored (mortality 2.5 p.c.).

Adult