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Biomedical subjects

Charles André

Publications and source records attributed to Charles André.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Progressive decline in stroke mortality in Brazil from 1980 to 1982, 1990 to 1992, and 2000 to 2002.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We describe the trends in stroke mortality in Brazil during 3 decades and investigate their differences according to regional disparities, sex, and age distributions. METHODS: Official data on mortality and population estimates were retrieved to calculate standardized mortality rates (with the 1980 Brazilian population as a reference) in 6 age strata and in the 5 political regions for the initial period (3 first years) of the 1980, 1990, and 2000 decades. Data were corrected for undefined causes of death. The Poisson model was used to estimate risk reduction during the 3 decades and to study the interaction between those rates and sex, age strata, and regions. RESULTS: The stroke standardized mortality rate decreased consistently in the last 20 years, from 68.2 to 40.9 per 100,000 habitants. This reduction paralleled a decrease in total cardiovascular mortality rates in the same period, from 208.2 to 126.1 per 100,000 habitants. The reduction in stroke standardized mortality rate was detected in men and women and in all age strata. The reduction was evident in all geopolitical regions of the country, with the wealthiest regions' exhibiting higher initial rates and more marked standardized mortality rate reductions. The risk of dying of stroke in the period 2000 to 2002 was 0.45 (95% CI, 0.44 to 0.45) of that found in the period 1980 to 1982. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of dying of stroke in Brazil declined dramatically between the initial period in the early 1980s and the early 2000s. The decline was especially marked in the most developed regions and may reflect an improvement in general health conditions during the study period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Safety of intra-arterial autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation for acute ischemic stroke].

Stroke is the third cause of death and the leading cause of disability in adult subjects. Although stroke mortality has been declining in some countries, stroke morbidity has been increasing due to the aging of population and patients improved survival. Treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is successful provided it is administered within 3 hours of symptoms onset, but its use is limited to about 5% of the patients with acute ischemic stroke. Furthermore, no neuroprotective agent has yet been proven effective in human clinical trials. The development of other therapeutic strategies is, therefore, warranted. The use of stem cells in animal models has led to functional improvement following stroke. Recent publications have shown that bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) therapy through intracoronary injection is a safe procedure in patients with acute or chronic ischemic heart disease. Based on these preliminary data, there has been growing interest in the study of BM-MNC transplantation for acute ischemic stroke. We report the first case of intra-arterial autologous BM-MNC transplantation for acute ischemic stroke.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Delirium following ingestion of marijuana present in chocolate cookies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of marijuana-induced delirium and the techniques used to detect psychoactive agents and metabolites in urine. METHODS: A case of delirium following involuntary ingestion of cannabis is described. A urine sample was analyzed applying various chemical procedures, using high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry technique. 11-Nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid was quantified by the methodology for steroids and cannabis. RESULTS: A 26-year-old man was hospitalized with severe agitation and psychotic behavior 36 hours after suspected involuntary ingestion of cannabis contained in a brigadeiro, a typical Brazilian cookie, consumed during a party. Treatment with neuroleptics resulted in complete regression of the symptoms over 2 weeks. The urine sample revealed marijuana ingestion, demonstrated by the presence of its metabolite, 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in high concentration. No other investigated substance was found in the patient's urine. CONCLUSION: Severe delirium can follow oral ingestion of cannabis integrated into homemade cookies.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Role of serum S100B as a predictive marker of fatal outcome following isolated severe head injury or multitrauma in males.

BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a 30%-70% mortality rate. S100B has been proposed as a biomarker for indicating outcome after TBI. Nevertheless, controversy has arisen concerning the predictive value of S100B for severe TBI in the context of multitrauma. Therefore, our aim was to determine whether S100B serum levels correlate with primary outcome following isolated severe TBI or multitrauma in males. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive male patients (age 18-65 years), victims of severe TBI [Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3-8] (10 isolated TBI and 13 multitrauma with TBI) and a control group consisting of eight healthy volunteers were enrolled in this prospective study. Clinical outcome variables of severe TBI comprised: survival, time to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, and neurological assessment [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at ICU discharge]. Venous blood samples were taken at admission in the ICU (study entry), 24 h later, and 7 days later. Serum S100B concentration was measured by an immunoluminometric assay. RESULTS: At study entry (mean time 10.9 h after injury), mean S100B concentrations were significantly increased in the patient with TBI (1.448 microg/L) compared with the control group (0.037 microg/L) and patients with fatal outcome had higher mean S100B (2.10 microg/L) concentrations when compared with survivors (0.85 microg/L). In fact, there was a significant correlation between higher initial S100B concentrations and fatal outcome (Spearman's =0.485, p=0.019). However, there was no correlation between higher S100B concentrations and the presence of multitrauma. The specificity of S100B in predicting mortality according to the cut-off of 0.79 microg/L was 73% at study entry. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum S100B levels constitute a valid predictor of unfavourable outcome in severe TBI, regardless of the presence of associated multitrauma.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Complex paraclinoidal and giant cavernous aneurysms: importance of preoperative evaluation with temporary balloon occlusion test and SPECT.

In the treatment of complex paraclinoidal and giant cavernous aneurysms, preservation of the patency of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is not always possible, and therapeutic occlusion of the carotid is still an important option for their management. A complete preoperative evaluation of the carotid reserve circulation, including the use of temporary balloon occlusion test and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) should be included in the current paradigms of paraclinoidal and intracavernous aneurysms management. We present a series of fifteen patients with sixteen giant or complex carotid cavernous or ophthalmic aneurysms that were treated following a protocol for our preoperative decision-making analysis. Extracranial to intracranial saphenous vein bypass was reserved to the cases where carotid occlusion would be associated with high risk of ischemic complications and was performed in three patients. Besides the difficulties in dealing with those complex aneurysms, good clinical outcome was possible in our experience with the designed paradigm.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Management of carotid disease in acute phase of stroke: national opinion].

The Brazilian Stroke Society constituted a committee composed by specialists from different areas of Brazil that emitted a viewpoint called "National Opinion", in a consensus pattern. The study purpose is to guide and offer subsidies for diagnosis and therapeutical plans for different situations in cerebrovascular disease The present article analyzes "carotid disease in the acute phase of stroke", approaching separately the following topics: methods for detection of carotid stenosis in acute phase; when and how intervene on the carotid during the acute phase; clinical treatment and inflammatory markers. Comments based on literature and participants personal opinion are described, and conclusion are the group opinion.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Serum Hsp70 as an early predictor of fatal outcome after severe traumatic brain injury in males.

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a 35-70% mortality rate. Biochemical markers of cellular stress/injury have been proposed to indicate outcome after head injury. Therefore, our aim was to determine whether Hsp70 could be detected in the serum of patients after severe TBI and whether serum levels of Hsp70 correlate with primary outcome in severe TBI. Twenty consecutive male patients, victims of severe TBI (GCS 3-8), were enrolled in this prospective study. Clinical outcome variables of severe TBI comprised: survival, time for ICU discharge, and neurological assessment using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at the ICU discharge. Venous blood samples were taken at admission in the ICU (study entry), 24 h later, and 7 days later. A control group consisting of eight healthy male volunteers was also included. Serum Hsp70 levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean serum Hsp70 concentrations were significantly increased in the TBI (97.6, 48.1, and 39.2 ng/mL, at study entry, 24 h later, and 7 days later, respectively) compared with the control group (12.2 ng/mL). Severe TBI was associated with a 50% mortality rate. On study entry (mean time 10.8 h after injury), a higher proportion of patients with fatal outcome had elevated serum Hsp70 (mean 143.5 ng/mL) concentrations when compared with survivors (mean 51.6 ng/mL). There was a significant correlation between higher initial serum Hsp70 concentrations and fatal outcome. The sensitivity of serum Hsp70 predicting mortality according to the cutoff of 62 ng/mL is 70% within 20 h after injury. Increased serum Hsp70 levels may constitute an early predictor of unfavorable outcome in severe TBI in males.

APACHE↗
PubMed2004

Prothrombin 20210A and oral contraceptive use as risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the association between cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) and the mutations FV 1691A (factor V Leiden), PT 20210A and MTHFR 677TT and acquired factors including oral contraceptive (OC) use. METHODS: 26 patients (21 females) and 217 healthy controls (134 females) were studied. Multiple regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The frequency of the three mutations in cases and controls were: PT 20210A, 23 versus 1%, odds ratio (OR) 21.40 (95% CI 4.29-118.75), p < 0.001; FV 1691A, 8 versus 1%, OR 5.94 (95% CI 0.66-46.9); MTHFR 677TT, 4 versus 7%, OR 0.54 (95% CI 0.03-4.08). OC use was more frequent in female patients over 14 years old than in controls (84 vs. 40%, OR 8.15, 95% CI 2.09-37.13, p < 0.001). The model that best explained the thrombotic risk included PT 20210A and OC use. CONCLUSIONS: PT 20210A and OC use are the main thrombophilic risk factors predisposing to CVT and should be routinely investigated in patients with this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Temporal muscle haematoma as a cause of suboptimal haemicraniectomy: case report.

OBJECTIVE: To call attention to an unusual complication of decompressive haemicraniectomy in the treatment of malignant haemispheric infarction. METHOD: We describe a case in which partial decompression occurred despite large craniectomy. Complete decompression followed resection of the temporal muscle. Pertinent literature is briefly reviewed. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 55-year old woman developed massive right middle cerebral artery infarction evolving to cerebral haerniation in 40 hours. Decompressive haemicraniectomy without cortical excision was unable to revert coma and decerebrate posturing because of a massive temporal muscle haemorrhage with persistent contralateral deviation of midline structures. Muscle resection was followed by adequate external haerniation of the affected haemisphere and fast recovery. Cranioplasty was succesfully performed 22 days later, following gradual regression of cerebral oedema. CONCLUSION: There is an increasing perception of the need to operate patients with massive middle cerebral or internal carotid artery territory infarctions before the development of coma and cerebral haerniation. The most common factor leading to inadequate surgical decompression is small size craniectomy. The case reported calls attention to temporal muscle bleeding as an additional complication of craniectomy.

Brain Edema↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of recovery following involuntary hospitalization of violent substance abuse patients.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the results and predictors of good recovery following involuntary hospitalization of violent substance abuse patients. Twenty patients (16 male, aged 13 to 53 years [mean+/-s.d.=32.9+/-10.2]) were admitted in 1997 with a median hospital time of 73.5 days (20 to 455) for exhibiting violent behavior following drug abuse and a loss of self-control. They were treated with psychiatric medication, a 12-step program (Minnesota), psychotherapy and family therapy, and, following hospitalization, counselling, psychotherapy, and participation in self-help groups. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 24 months (17.8+/-4.9). We studied the probability of maintenance of complete abstinence and social adaptation (professional-educational, family and legal parameters) using T and Fisher tests (significance level p< or =0.05). Of the twenty, thirteen patients (65%) achieved excellent social reintegration, and twelve maintained total abstinence. Two patients died (AIDS, hepatic cirrhosis). The chances of complete abstinence and social reintegration were increased by lower age at admission (p=0.02), some form of treatment following hospitalization (p=0.007), adherence to the entire period of treatment (p=0.05), and regular attendance at self-help groups (p=0.05). No significant differences were found in terms of other demographic parameters, drugs used (number or class), previous hospital admissions, length of hospitalization, or follow-up. Sixty percent of patients can expect an excellent outcome over a period of 18 months, according to strict clinical and social criteria. Early intervention and factors increasing adherence to prolonged treatment increase abstinence and social reintegration and thus should be further explored.

Adolescent↗