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Biomedical subjects

E Pham

Publications and source records attributed to E Pham.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Acute poisonings with ethyle loflazepate, flunitrazepam, prazepam and triazolam in children.

Even though acute poisonings with benzodiazepines are extremely common, less is known of the clinical toxicity of recent derivatives, particularly in children. 1,989 cases involving ethyle loflazepate, flunitrazepam, prazepam or triazolam recorded at the Lyons Poison Center and due to 1 compound and associated with clinical symptoms were selected for study. Children less than 16-y of age accounted for 482 cases. Sleepiness, agitation and ataxia were significantly more frequent in the children. Hypotonia was seldom observed but was indicative of severe poisoning. The dangerous toxic dose of these compounds in children is suggested to be 0.78-0.90 mg ethyle loflazepate/kg, 0.26-0.29 mg flunitrazepam/kg, 7.80-9.00 mg prazepam/kg and 0.06-0.07 mg triazolam/kg. These results are in keeping with the relatively low acute toxicity of the older benzodiazepines.

Adolescent↗

[Hypoglycemia induced by oral hypoglycemic agents. Records of the French Regional Pharmacovigilance Centers 1985-1990].

All 98 cases of sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia reported by the 30 regional drug-monitoring centers between 1985 and 1990 were analyzed: 46 with gliclazide, 40 with glibenclamide, 5 with glipizide, 1 with glibornuride and 6 with first-generation sulfonylureas. These cases of hypoglycemia were often serious. The patients were 61% female and their mean age was 78.9 years. The average number of medications being taken was 3.4, but ranged up to 14. The risk factors were: reduced food intake (4.2%), renal failure (4.2%), prescription error (3.2%), voluntary or accidental overdose (5.2%), alcohol (1.1%), suspected drug interactions (50%), unknown (32.6%). The most frequent drug interactions involved miconazole (8 cases), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (9 cases), lipid-regulating agents (fibrates) (7 cases), co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; 5 cases), metformin (4 cases), histamine H2-receptor antagonists (4 cases). The mechanisms of these interactions are discussed.

Administration, Oral↗

Cefaclor-associated serum sickness-like disease: eight cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of serum sickness-like diseases (SSLD) in cefaclor-treated patients. DESIGN: Analysis of a case series spontaneously reported to Lyons Pharmacovigilance Center. SETTING: General and hospital practitioners and the French Network of Regional Pharmacovigilance Centers (FNRPC). PATIENTS: All reported cases with a possible causative relationship between cefaclor treatment and SSLD. MAIN RESULTS: Eight cases of SSLD following cefaclor treatment are described. The clinical features included cutaneous reactions, arthralgias, and moderate hyperthermia. In 50 percent of the patients, hospitalization was required because of incapacitating symptoms. The outcome was benign in all cases following discontinuation of the offending drug. All eight cases were reported in children under five years of age. Among 137 cefaclor-associated drug reactions collected by FNRPC, 27 cases of SSLD have been reported; 23 of these patients were younger than five years of age. A literature survey confirmed the higher reporting of SSLD in children with cefaclor compared with other antibiotics and suggested an incidence of 0.024-0.2 percent of SSLD per drug course of cefaclor. CONCLUSIONS: The case reports and epidemiologic studies confirmed the presumed role of age (patients under five years of age) in cefaclor-induced SSLD and the benign outcome despite severe clinical presentations in some reports.

Cefaclor↗

[Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteitis of the spinal process after peridural anesthesia].

BACKGROUND: Osteitis of the posterior wall of the spinal canal is an exceptional complication after peridural anesthesia. Prognosis depends on early diagnosis based on clinical signs and imaging data. CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old man was hospitalized for lower back pain and fever of 3 weeks duration after a total hip arthroplasty performed under general anesthesia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine disclosed osteitis of the spinal processes. Local bacteriology sample evidenced Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Outcome was favorable after a 6-month treatment. DISCUSSION: Data in the French and English literature (since 1948) on bone infections following epidural anesthesia have included 5 cases of spondylodiscitis and 1 case of posterior wall osteitis. The diagnosis is suggested by the clinical presentation. Standard x-rays contribute little. Early diagnosis in the infraradiological phase can be obtained with bone scintigraphy. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are currently highly contributive to diagnosis and follow-up after treatment. Contamination may be direct or via the blood stream or result from an extension of a neighboring infectious focus. Antibiotic therapy and immobilization are indicated. Rigorous application of strict aseptic procedures during lumbar puncture and use of the epidural catheter are crucial for prevention.

Aged↗

[Chromobacterium violaceum peritonitis: case report and literature review].

We report a case of Chromobacterium violaceum infection and we review the literature for all published cases. C. violaceum grew from a peritoneal fluid of a 47-year-old woman operated on for peritonitis following perforative gastroduodenal ulcer. She was just coming back from a 1-month-holyday in French Guyana, where she might have been in contact with this micro-organism. The patient fully recovered after surgical management associated with antibiotic therapy consisting of ofloxacin plus piperacillin-tazobactam. Among the more than a hundred of published cases of human infections with C. violaceum that we retrieved, there was not any other case of peritonitis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[The monitoring of teratogens. The methodology of a follow-up study].

The assessment of risks following drug exposure during pregnancy is of major concern to Drug-Information Centers. A computer-based management is helpful. The authors describe a computerized system to follow pregnancy outcomes and discuss their first results, stressing the merits of automatized recalls.

Decision Making, Computer-Assisted↗

[Acute drug-induced agranulocytosis: experience of the Regional Center of Pharmacovigilance of Lyon over 7 years].

Sixty-two cases of drug-induced agranulocytosis, spontaneously reported to the regional drug monitoring centre in Lyon from 1988 to 1994, have been analysed. The mean age of patients was 58.6 years, and sex ratio was 1:1. The mean delay of onset was 46.2 days and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) dropped below 0.1 x 10(9)/l in 73 per cent of patients. Bone marrow aspirates disclosed absence of myeloid series in 28 per cent of investigated cases. Neutrophil recovery occurred after a mean of 9.3 days, and the overall fatality rate was 6.5 per cent. Haematopoietic growth factors (HGF) were used in 11 patients with an ANC below 0.1 x 10(9)/l and/or a hypoplastic bone marrow. We have found no clear indication for a potential benefit of HGF treatment, but HGF were usually administered late during the course of neutropenia, i.e., after a mean of 6 days. The incidence rate estimated for people living in the Rhône administrative division was 3.3 per million per year, similar to that found in epidemiological studies. Drugs most frequently involved were anti-infective agents and psychotropic drugs.

Acute Disease↗

[Validation of French translation of the "Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire", Wilson et al. 1991].

The present study proposes a validation of a french translation of the TRQ initially published by Wilson et al., for evaluating the psychological distress of tinnitus sufferers. The 26 items translated into french were used on a sample of 173 tinnitus sufferers, who also filled out the Mini-Mult, a short version of the MMPI proposed by Kincannon. Internal validity was demonstrated by strong correlations (i) between each item (except items 5 and 20) and total TRQ score (0.33 < or = r < or = 0.87, p < or = 0.0001), (ii) between each internal TRQ factor (0.58 < r < 0.81, p < 0.0001) and the others. Cronbach's alpha test also showed the questionnaire to have a good internal validity (alpha = 0.94). The external factors used for testing concurrent validity were the scores on depression, psychaesthenia and anxiety Mini-Mult scales. The strong correlations (one factor ANOVA and simple linear regression tests) between scores on depression and psychaesthenia scales and (1) each TRQ item, (2) each TRQ factor, (3) total TRQ scores, confirmed concurrent validity. Scores obtained on anxiety index showed high correlations only with TRQ score, factor 3 score and some TRQ items (most of them included in factor 3). The internal and concurrent validities of the French version of the TRQ justify the use of this questionnaire, with the reserve that items 5 and 20 appeared irrelevant for the measuring of tinnitus distress in French-speaking countries. Such a questionnaire should improve our knowledge of tinnitus' life-impact and enable detection of patients whose psychological distress necessitates rapid intervention.

Adaptation, Psychological↗