Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Bonnet.
The diagnosis of aortic injury after blunt chest trauma is of utmost importance to emergency physicians. We present a case in which transesophageal echocardiography was successful in diagnosing a transectional intimal tear on the posterior wall of the ascending aorta. Potential usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography is discussed.
In order to assess the quality of sleep in surgical patients the amount of self-rated postoperative insomnia and its predisposing factors, we conducted a three-fold questionnaire * survey in 176 consecutive patients undergoing elective orthopaedic, vascular or abdominal surgery. The first questionnaire was completed the day preceding surgery, the second at the day of discharge and the third two weeks later. This survey concerned the patient's general status, his usual sleep profile and factors which could interfere with sleep (hypnotics, pain, environmental factors) throughout the study period. It allowed quantification of these parameters and the assessment of their time-course. Perioperative insomnia appeared to be a long-lasting phenomenon which persisted after discharge. Factor analysis and multiple regression models showed that postoperative, self-rated insomnia was multifactorial and mainly explained by the amount of postoperative pain (p = 0.035).
Alpha 2 adrenergic agonists stimulate specific receptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord leading to blockade of potassium and calcium channels. Presynaptic alpha 2 receptors inhibit the release of substance P and other neuropeptides which stimulate transmission of nociceptive stimulations. Post-synaptic alpha 2 receptors hyperpolarize neurons membranes and decrease the activity of nociceptive neurons. In addition, alpha 2 adrenergic agonists have a synergistic action with opioid and cholinergic agonists.
Pain is a major factor of respiratory decompensation after chest trauma. General and/or regional analgesia improve alveolar ventilation, make physiotherapy easier and often avoid mechanical ventilation. Concerning regional techniques, epidural, intercostal and interpleural routes have their respective indications and contraindications, benefits and risks. When suitable, epidural analgesia appears to be the preferable technique.
Mechanisms of the analgesic actions of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists are likely related to various modulating systems of nociceptive neurotransmission, especially those dependent on opiate receptors. Analgesic action of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists implies alpha 2-adrenergic receptors, strategically located on the dorsal horn neurones of the spinal cord to inhibit the release of substance P in response to peripheral stimuli. However, these receptors are included in the control that supraspinal sites exert via the descending medullospinal noradrenergic pathway. Because of its high lipophilic structure, alpha 2-adrenergic agonist can easily penetrate into the central nervous system, reproducing the effects of activation of medullospinal noradrenergic pathway. Alpha 2-adrenergic agonists have been found to be efficient in human pain treatment after systemic, spinal or troncular administration, but there were few randomized clinical studies comparing analgesia potency and adverse effects of either systemic or regional administrations. Clonidine added to local anaesthetic agents increases the analgesic effects in a greater extent than systemic administration of similar dose, probably because this effect depends on the local clonidine concentration. Extradural administration of clonidine is also more efficient than systemic administration, at least when high doses are injected. This superiority is questionable when low-dose clonidine is used. Adverse effects are quite similar in both systemic and spinal routes. Invasiveness of extradural route may be considered in regard to the gain which may be expected in analgesia efficiency.
The temporal fasciocutaneous scalp flap (TFSF) is used as mucosal reconstruction in 22 oropharyngeal and oral carcinomas. The anatomical basis of the flap and the clinical observations are described. The qualities of such a flap clearly appear: high liability and plasticity, perfectly adapted with oropharyngeal and oral mucosal loss. However attention must be payed to reconstruction of the anterior floor of the mouth which seems to be the limit of the rotation arc. Within these limits the TFSH has an inconspicuous donor site scar and low morbidity quite resumed by the hair regrowth on the intral-oral skin paddle.
The use of opioids for postoperative pain relief is associated with the occurrence of side effects whatever the technique of administration. One may consider different solutions to reduce these side effects, while maintaining an adequate analgesia level. Combination of different pharmacological types of analgesic agents is defined as "balanced analgesia". In this setting, non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs have been demonstrated to reduce opioids requirements during patient-controlled analgesia and to improve the quality of epidural analgesia. Alpha 2 adrenergic agonists, acting at the level of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, also strengthen and prolong analgesia induced by epidural or spinal opioids. Finally, local anaesthetic solutions in low concentration may potentiate the analgesic effect of opioids, also improving the quality of analgesia. These different combinations have to be considered in view of the surgical procedure performed, the patient condition and the possibilities of monitoring in any given care unit.
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Two cases are reported of patients with phantom limb pain after lower limb amputation and requiring surgery of their stump. The stumps were revised and the remaining femoral shaft shortened. Both had spinal anaesthesia for this procedure, with an association of bupivacaine and 150 micrograms of clonidine. In one patient, the phantom pain did not resume for one month, and in the other for three days. The return of pain was preceded by the sensation of a phantom limb. These cases suggest that alpha 2 adrenergic agonists could play a major part in the treatment of phantom limb pain.
The benefits of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) were assessed prospectively in intensive care patients. The doctors carrying out TOE were not the same as those who ordered it. TOE was performed in 32 patients, all of whom but one were intubated and artificially ventilated, to elucidate the cause of circulatory shock, or to search for valvular vegetations or an intracardiac mass. TOE confirmed the diagnosis previously obtained with pulmonary arterial catheterization (10 patients), transthoracic echocardiography (3 patients) or ventriculography (1 patient) in 54% of cases. In 28% of cases, TOE invalidated the suspected diagnosis, and, in the remaining 28% of patients, TOE invalidated provided a previously unsuspected diagnosis. TOE was particularly useful in confirming the presence of valvular vegetations, endocarditis, or intracardiac thrombi, and to assess left ventricular function and preload in patients in shock. Like others, this study confirms the benefits of TOE in the intensive care setting.
Conflicting reports of MDR1 gene expression in human tumours are observed according to whether studies are performed at the mRNA or P-glycoprotein level. We have investigated this expression in 22 clinically drug-resistant sarcomas at the mRNA level by Northern blot (NB), Dot blot (DB), in situ hybridisation (ISH), and at the protein level by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using three monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs): C219, JSB1, MRK16. Increased MDR1 mRNA expression was detected by NB, DB, and ISH in 1/22 sarcoma (an Ewing's sarcoma). ISH was perfectly correlated with DB hybridisation and confirmed the expression of tumoral cells alone. Specific staining of 100% of tumoral cells was obtained with the three MoAbs in the same sarcoma. Expression in tumoral cells of 12 other sarcomas was detected with MRK16, and positive staining of stromal cells with both C219 (1/22) and MRK16 (8/22) was observed. This study confirms that MDR1 overexpression occurs in human sarcomas but is not the principal mechanism of drug-resistance. Furthermore, positivity with one antibody does not necessarily imply the presence of P glycoprotein (P-gp) and a disparity may exist between the levels of P-gp and its mRNA in the same sample. So care must be taken in interpreting results and more sensitive techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could prove useful.
Extradural clonidine produces analgesia, with sedation, hypotension and bradycardia, in postoperative patients. This study assessed if oral yohimbine would reverse these side effects. We studied 30 ASA I-II patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. After operation they were allocated randomly to three groups to receive placebo, extradural clonidine 450 micrograms or extradural clonidine 450 micrograms plus oral yohimbine 16 mg. Pain score was measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS); sedation was assessed on a simple scale graded from 0 (awake and alert) to 3 (deeply sedated, awakening after tactile stimulations) and heart rate and arterial pressure were monitored for 5 h. Yohimbine reversed the sedation induced by extradural clonidine, but also shortened the duration of analgesia (31 (SD 15) min, 186 (72) min and 126 (52) min in the placebo, extradural clonidine and extradural clonidine+yohimbine groups, respectively) (P < 0.05), and did not reduce the hypotension and bradycardia related to clonidine administration. These results suggest that alpha 2 adrenoceptors are mediators of the sedation induced by clonidine and that the haemodynamic effects are not related to stimulation of supraspinal alpha 2 receptors.
BACKGROUND: Clonidine stops postoperative shivering, but its underlying mechanism of action is unknown. Clonidine may impair central control of thermoregulation or act on peripheral receptors. Accordingly, the authors tested the hypothesis that clonidine reduces both the vasoconstriction and shivering thresholds, a pattern consistent with central thermoregulatory impairment. METHODS: Seven healthy volunteers participated in the study. Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction was evaluated using forearm minus fingertip, skin-temperature gradients; values exceeding 4 degrees C were considered to be significant vasoconstriction. Systemic oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured with a canopy system. In addition, shivering was qualitatively evaluated using a simple scale, graduated from 0 (no shivering) to 2 (intense shivering). The tympanic membrane temperatures triggering significant vasoconstriction and grade 1 shivering were considered to be the thresholds for the two thermoregulatory responses. Measurements were performed after a 10-min steady state period and during cooling by central venous infusion of Ringer's lactate solution at 4 degrees C. Each subject was evaluated at two sessions, separated by at least 48 h. They were randomly and blindly assigned to received either an intravenous bolus of 75 micrograms clonidine or a placebo before cooling. When the shivering score equaled 2, 75 micrograms clonidine was injected intravenously, and repeated if necessary, to completely stop shivering.
BACKGROUND: Although meperidine is an effective treatment of postanesthetic shivering, its mechanism of action remains unknown. Investigation of other drugs might help clarify the mechanisms by which shivering can be controlled. Accordingly, we investigated the efficacy of clonidine, an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, and ketanserin, a 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist, in treating postanesthetic shivering. METHODS: First, 54 patients shivering after general anesthesia were allocated randomly to receive an intravenous bolus of saline, 150 micrograms clonidine, or 10 mg ketanserin. A second study explored the dose-dependence of clonidine. Forty shivering patients were given saline or clonidine, 37.5, 75, or 150 micrograms. RESULTS: The duration of shivering was significantly shorter in those given clonidine (2.1 +/- 0.9 min) than in the other two groups and shorter in the ketanserin group (4.3 +/- 0.9 min) than in the saline group (12.0 +/- 1.6 min). Clonidine and ketanserin significantly decreased systolic arterial blood pressure when compared to saline. Core rewarming was significantly slower in the clonidine group. In the second study, 37.5 micrograms clonidine was no more effective than saline. Two minutes after treatment, 150 micrograms obliterated shivering in all patients. Five minutes after treatment, all patients given 75 micrograms had stopped shivering. Systolic arterial pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in patients given 75 and 150 micrograms clonidine. CONCLUSIONS: Clonidine (150 micrograms) and ketanserin (10 mg) both are effective treatment for postanesthetic shivering. The effect of clonidine on shivering is dose-dependent: whereas 37.5 micrograms had no effect, 75 micrograms clonidine stopped shivering within 5 min.
Macrophagic infiltration and necrosis of rejected kidney transplants represent two pejorative patterns. It has been assumed that the macrophagic toxicity is mediated partly by secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha. On the other hand, TNF is also involved in many inflammatory and immunological phenomena. We thus evaluated the expression of TNF mRNA by in situ hybridization in 6 rejected kidney transplants using a radiolabeled TNF-c DNA probe. Then the synthesis of TNF alpha protein was studied by immunohistochemistry using an anti-TNF alpha antibody. In severely rejected kidney grafts, TNF mRNA is expressed in some monomorphic infiltrating cells, mostly located in the deepest part of the cortex and around the tubes. These cells do not bind other probes, such as dopa-decarboxylase DNA or preproenkephalin RNA. They are also recognized by a monoclonal antibody directed against TNF alpha. What is more, this antibody binds with some glomerular endothelial and tubular epithelial cells that do not express TNF mRNA. These cells are likely target cells for TNF. In the normal kidney, there are no cells expressing TNF-alpha mRNA.
DNA-DNA hybridization experiments were carried out in order to clarify the taxonomic relationships between the F38 group of caprine mycoplasmas, the established etiologic agents of classical contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, and Mycoplasma capricolum, an organism associated with septicemia, arthritis, and mastitis in goats and sheep. The taxonomic status of the F38 group has been uncertain, principally because of the serological, genomic, and other properties which it shares with M. capricolum. Tritium-labeled DNAs from the M. capricolum type strain (California kid) and from prototype strain F38 were hybridized with unlabeled DNAs from these two strains and from four other isolates belonging to each group. The results showed consistent DNA relatedness values of about 70% between the F38 and M. capricolum groups, compared with levels of relatedness of about 90 and 85%, respectively, for the strains within each group. In addition, the results of comparisons of these 10 strains in which growth inhibition and immunofluorescence tests were used confirmed the previously reported serological relationships between the two groups and reinforced other observations concerning their shared genomic and cell membrane characteristics, indicating that there is a close taxonomic relationship. However, as the 70% DNA relatedness values between the M. capricolum and F38 groups also indicate a degree of genomic difference inconsistent with a relationship at the species level, we conclude that our findings support previous proposals for classification of the F38 group as a subspecies of M. capricolum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Epidural opioids provide a potent analgesia not devoided of side effects. In addition, epidural administration of lipid soluble opioids has no clear advantage over the IV route. Combination of epidural opioids with other analgesics may strengthen analgesia and may decrease the incidence of side effects because of a reduction in the amount of opioid administered. Improvement in analgesia quality is documented when local anaesthetics are associated to opioids. Low concentrations of local anaesthetics may potentiate the effect of opioids on ions membrane channels at the level of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Alpha adrenergic agonists provide an alternative to local anaesthetics, allowing to improve pain control achieved with opioids. Epinephrine decreases plasma absorption of opioids and is especially useful to prolong the effect of short acting lipid soluble opioids. Alpha adrenergic agonists atc on alpha-2-adrenergic receptors of the spinal cord dorsal horn to depress pain nociceptive transmission. This effect potentiates the one of opioids at this level. Clonidine, which is a selective alpha-2-adrenergic agonist has been demonstrated to improve and to prolong analgesia produced by opioids in postoperative patients. Clonidine administration induces side effects, like sedation, bradycardia and hypotension, but allows to highly reduce the opioid dose. None of the combined techniques of analgesia implies that monitoring of the side effects of opioids has to be reduced.
The effects of the use of biological glue in the crater that is left after CO2 laser conisation was studied in a series of 32 cases and compared with a previous study carried out using the same technical methods by the same surgeons. The use of biological glue has as its aim to improve capillary haemostasis after conisation; and so increasing the security of leaving these conisation craters in order to improve the chance of normal morphology later. Biological glue has furthermore never given a febrile reaction, nor has it ever increased the likelihood of scar stenosis. Biological glue however is just an extra method of helping normal morphological healing with a good transformation zone and retaining fertility. When conisation is carried most extensively (in particular as far as depth is concerned) and with the use of powerful laser beams, the application of biological glue seem to guarantee most forms of postoperative haemostasis and good healing.