Biomedical subjects

C Molines

Publications and source records attributed to C Molines.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Influence of highly active antiretroviral therapy on micronutrient profiles in HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess micronutrient variations in HIV/AIDS patients before and after HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). METHODS: We evaluated the nutritional status and micronutrients in 44 patients over 3 years. The first nutritional evaluation was conducted in 1995 before HAART, the second was conducted in 1998 when most patients received HAART. RESULTS: Thirty-four (77%) of the patients were intravenous drug users. In 1995, 35 (80%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy, but none had a protease inhibitor. A comparison made between patients in the group with CD4 <250/mm(3) (group A) and patients in the group with CD4 >250/mm(3)(group B) revealed significantly lower levels of plasma selenium concentrations (p < 0.05). In group A women, zinc was significantly lower than in men of the same group (p < 0.05). On the contrary, selenium plasma concentrations were significantly lower in group A men than in group A women (p < 0.05). No significant differences were noted for other micronutrients. In 1998, when most patients were treated with HAART, differences between the two groups were no more significant, neither for selenium nor for zinc matched with sex. Micronutrient values did not significantly differ between patients with viral load below 5,000 copies/ml and patients with viral load above 5,000 copies/ml. Patients treated with HAART had practically no weight loss. Although patients who did not receive HAART had a good immune status, the mean weight loss was up to 4.6 kg. CONCLUSIONS: Selenium and zinc deficiencies are dependent on immune status and sex in HIV/AIDS patients. Other micronutrients do not seem to be influenced by the immune status in these patients. HAART reduces selenium and zinc deficiencies and may help avoid weight loss independently of the CD4 cell count.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Perceived health and migration: a new sanitary approach?].

BACKGROUND: Six percent of the French population is foreign. Paradoxically, there are in France few recent data about the health of these communities. Because a lot of different foreign communities are living in Marseille, it seemed important for us to examine the health of one of these populations. The difficulties encountered in studying the health status in the general population allow us to propose a measure based on perceived health opinion. Our first objective was to state that perceived health status of one community differs between its original country and its emigration country, taking into account the level of morbidity. Our second objective was to show that the perceived health status in the emigration population was close to the one observed in France. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies were performed in the Comoro Islands and in Marseille, a French south eastern city. The perceived health was assessed with the Duke Health Profile (DHP); the objective health was assessed by a specific questionnaire developed in the USA: the Ridit. The comparisons were conducted, taking into account the major confounding factors. RESULTS: Emigrated people relate higher perceived health status, than those living in the Comoro Islands, for the main dimensions assessed by DHP: physical (71.0 +/- 23.8 vs. 55.9 +/- 23.0), mental (74.6 +/- 19.3 vs. 50.0 +/- 18.5), general health (68.3 +/- 16.3 vs. 61.4 +/- 12.7) and perceived health (62.7 +/- 32.9 vs. 57.1 +/- 48.2). Social health score is the only one which is lower (59.2 +/- 21.8 vs. 77.6 +/- 18.3). The health status levels of the emigrated people are close to those reported in France. The variations of perceived health scores are coherent with those of the objective health indicators. CONCLUSIONS: If these results were confirmed, then this approach, based on self perceived health assessment, could be recommended to study health needs, and the management care, prevention and health promotion impact among these specific communities.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

AIDS talks for adolescents.

The authors discuss how to conduct information sessions on AIDS prevention for adolescents on the basis of experience gained in Marseilles secondary schools. Precautionary messages have to be conveyed without encouraging irrational fear and intolerance.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1997

[AIDS and HIV infection in the Federal Islamic Republic of Comores (1988-1995)].

Since 1991 AIDS and HIV infection in the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros have been monitored through a network of sentinel sites including predetermined target populations. In all cases seropositivity for HIV was confirmed by western blotting after two ELISA screening tests. AIDS was diagnosed on Bangui clinical criteria and positive western blotting results. As of June 30, 1996, the cumulative number of AIDS cases reported to the World Health Organization was 7 for a prevalence of 1.4 per 100000 inhabitants. The prevalence of HIV antibodies has remained at less than 1% in target populations, i.e. women undergoing prenatal examinations, patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis, blood donors, and patients presenting sexually transmitted diseases (STD). This low stable prevalence rate which is similar to those reported in other Indian Ocean countries is in sharp contrast with the high incidence of syphilis and STD in the region.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1997

[Risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Review of the literature 1990-1995].

The steady increase in the prevalence of post-menopausal osteoporosis and the associated rise in mortality make this disease a serious threat to public health. Further research and a consequently greater understanding of the risk factors of this disease should make it possible for preventative strategies to be put into operation. Although the literature relating to these risk factors is particularly abundant, the conclusions are often inconsistent if not contradictory. The present survey aims to review all the data published on the subject over the past five years. When the main classically suspected risk factors are examined separately--age, weight, ethnic factors, family antecedents, physical activity, nutritional factors (e.g. calcium, vitamin D), tobacco smoking, consumption of alcohol or coffee--the results are generally inconclusive and inconsistent from one study to another. Several major multi-risk studies have been attempted to investigate in greater depth the factors associated with fractures, to identify the most important among them and to determine whether their effects are cumulative. Certain authors have examined the predictive value of the detection of these risk factors and the possible use of such signs for the prevention of osteoporosis, since this is the ultimate objective.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed1996

[Tuberculosis in the Federal Islamic Republic of Comores in 1995].

Tuberculosis is still a major health concern in the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros. An effective nationally organized program has been set up to fight against the disease. It is based on bacteriologic screening (105 new cases of BK+ disease since 1995) and quadruple chemotherapy in patients identified (2RZHE 4RH) with in-hospital starter treatment for 2 months and supervised outpatient treatment for 4 months. Patients are followed up monthly. Because of these measures and given the fact that access to health care is excellent (small island nation), compliance has been over 90% for several years and the overall rate of cure was around 92% in 1995. From an epidemiologic standpoint the endemic status of tuberculosis in the Comoros has been stable with an overall incidence of about 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 5 years. Extrapulmonary forms and relapses are uncommon (5.4% and 6.2% respectively in 1995). The incidence of positive HIV1 serology in the general population of the Comoros is low and has not been a complicating factor since no seropositive BK+ patient has been identified since the beginning of systematic surveillance in 1988.

Adolescent↗