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F Biron

Publications and source records attributed to F Biron.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Actinomyces meyeri disseminated actinomycosis disclosing pulmonary carcinoma].

The diagnosis of severe actinomycosis parallel to that of neoplasia leads to speculation of a possible fortuitous association. Because underlying conditions such as immuno-suppression are suspected in such disease, and to strengthen this hypothesis, we report one more case of disseminated actinomycosis associated with a malignant disease, namely an epidermoid pulmonary carcinoma. The diagnosis was made by thoracotomy a few months after the infectious episode. Two years later the patient recovered. The analysis of the literature data is in favor of a fortuitous association between both diagnoses.

Actinomycosis↗
PubMed1995

Anti-HIV activity of the combination of didanosine and hydroxyurea in HIV-1-infected individuals.

HIV is known to be present in massive amounts in both resting and actively replicating cells in infected individuals. We tested the combination of didanosine and hydroxyurea, known to suppress viral production in vitro in both of these cell types, in a small number of asymptomatic patients. After 3 months of well tolerated treatment, we observed a large reduction of viral load in the peripheral blood of all 12 patients, down to nonquantifiable levels in 7 of 12 as measured by infectious virus titer, and 6 of 12 as measured by plasma HIV-RNA. In this subgroup of 6 patients, whose baseline HIV-RNA was below 14,000 copies/ml, the median increase in CD4+ count after 90 days of treatment was 244 cells/mm3.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Measurement by the polymerase chain reaction of the Epstein-Barr virus load in infectious mononucleosis and AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sequences in various clinical samples, especially peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and serum, was carried out and the results obtained were compared with specific EBV serology. One hundred seventy patients were enrolled in the study: 89 healthy blood donors, 22 asymptomatic patients, 36 individuals with primary EBV infection (including 19 patients with infectious mononucleosis [IM]), 22 HIV-infected subjects (including 4 with hairy oral leukoplakia, 3 with central nervous disorders, and 15 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). All the serum samples from the healthy blood donors were negative. In patients with IM and in AIDS-non Hodgkin's lymphoma (ARNHL), PCR was strongly positive in leukocytes (> 2,000 genome equivalents/10(4) cells), which was correlated with detectable amounts of EBV DNA in serum. The overall positivity rate of PCR in serum was 58.8%, 68%, and 73% of cases for non-IM primary EBV infections, IM, and ARNHL, respectively. In two cases of EBV primary infection, the viral DNA was detected in serum, respectively 1 month and 2 months before IgM positivity and IgG rise. In one case of ARNHL followed up for several months, PCR (viral load of 2,000 genome equivalents/10(4) cells) became positive concurrently with appearance of lymphoma. In immunocompromised individuals, PCR EBV, if carried out in larger prospective studies, could be considered as a tumor marker, useful for predicting EBV-driven lymphoma and follow-up therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Secretory IgA antibodies to Cryptosporidium parvum in AIDS patients with chronic cryptosporidiosis.

Immune mechanisms that may control Cryptosporidium parvum infection remain unknown. The role of T cell-mediated immunity is suggested by the chronic disease observed in AIDS patients and in athymic or CD4+ T cell-depleted mice. The role of specific antibodies is also unclear. This study sought to determine serum and secretory antibodies to C. parvum in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with or without chronic cryptosporidiosis. C. parvum-specific antibodies and specific secretory antibodies were determined by ELISA in saliva and sera from 50 HIV-1-infected patients, 27 healthy adults, and 21 healthy children. Despite lower CD4+ lymphocyte counts, patients with chronic cryptosporidiosis had increased levels of C. parvum-specific antibodies in saliva and serum and higher specific secretory antibody levels in saliva than did controls. Persistence of protracted diarrhea despite high levels of both serum and secretory antibodies suggests that specific secretory antibodies are not sufficient to control this protozoan parasite infection of intestinal mucosa.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

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Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Diagnosis of acute infectious epidural inflammation. Role of magnetic resonance imaging].

External pachymeningitis, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, is a rare pathological entity which is difficult to diagnose at an early stage, has a poor functional prognosis and often requires an emergency surgical treatment. We report three cases in which magnetic resonance imaging provided an early diagnosis of the epidural space infection before severe neurological deficits, such as paraparesis and/or paraplegia, set in. Following an anti-staphylococcal treatment with fluoroquinolone and beta-lactamase-resistant beta-lactam antibiotics with good bone penetration administered intravenously during 4 to 6 weeks, then orally for 5 to 6 months cure without functional sequelae was obtained in all three patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Polymerase chain reaction detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes as a predictor of cytomegalovirus disease in HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for early diagnosis and prompt management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: A total of 110 HIV-infected patients (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stages II to IV) were sampled sequentially for isolation of CMV from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL; n = 560) and for amplification of CMV DNA in PBL. Semiquantitative analysis of the PCR product was performed and each PCR-positive specimen was assigned a score between 1+ and 4+ (corresponding to four points on a standard curve of dilutions: 80, 800, 8000 and 80,000 CMV genome copies). RESULTS: Levels of CMV DNA in blood increased with HIV infection stage. We focused on eight patients who developed one or more episodes of retinitis during longitudinal follow-up, in whom we found a strong correlation between viraemia, high PCR signal (3+ or 4+) (P < 0.0001) and clinical symptoms. Relapse was preceded by an increase in CMV DNA and resolution correlated with clearance of CMV DNA from blood. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent high PCR levels always preceded virus isolation and may be the first indication of organ involvement and thus early treatment. PCR scores were consistently useful as indicators of drug efficacy and for monitoring of treatment.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite staining by propidium iodide.

Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) acid-fast stain is the usual method for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in feces. Propidium iodide permitted us to stain free or intra-oocyst sporozoites. With the ZN method only 3-5% of the oocysts purified from three human and one experimentally infected lamb dichromate-preserved feces were stained by carbol fuchsin. These fuchsin-stained oocysts were free of intact sporozoites as identified by propidium iodide staining. Treatment with 10% formalin or 0.5% sodium hypochlorite increased the percentage of acid-fast stained oocysts and thus the sensitivity of acid-fast staining. Treatment with sodium hypochlorite induced intra-oocyst sporozoite alterations as demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis of the oocysts' DNA content. Propidium iodide staining of fixed oocysts is a simple and rapid method to visualize sporozoites and to assess oocyst preservation after different treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Chemotherapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Current status and perspectives].

The role of drugs inhibiting viral replication in patients infected with HIV has been confirmed. Until now only dideoxynucleosides, which are reverse transcriptase inhibitors, have demonstrated antiviral activity in humans. A number of compounds acting on other steps of the viral cycle are currently being evaluated and clinical trials are being performed. Some investigators are attempting to inhibit the binding of viral particles to target cells and their penetration into these by acting on the interaction between HIV ant the CD4 molecule. Another approach consists in the characterization of enzymatic activities which are specific of HIV, other than reverse transcriptase, such as ribonuclease H, integrase or protease, in order to prepare specific inhibitors. Attempts are made to inhibit retroviral gene expression and production of viral particles in infected cells. The development of new nucleoside analogues and drugs with mechanisms of action and toxicities different from those of zidovudine should allow in the near future combination chemotherapy of HIV infection.

Dideoxynucleosides↗