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Biomedical subjects

F Le Gall

Publications and source records attributed to F Le Gall.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Biological maturity and injury in elite youth football.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate injury according to biological maturity in elite under-14 youth football players based at the National Football Institute, France. Over 10 seasons, injury incidence, severity and distribution were compared in 233 players classed according to individual biological maturity determined by skeletal age into three cohorts as early, normal and late maturers.A non-significant higher injury incidence was found in early and normal maturers compared with late maturers. In contrast, the latter group sustained a significantly higher incidence of major injuries compared with early maturers (0.3 vs 0.6 vs 0.9, P=0.039). A significantly higher incidence of osteochrondoses was reported in normal and late maturers (0.3 vs 0.7 vs 0.9, P=0.014), whereas tendinopathy incidence was greater in early and normal maturers (0.06 vs 0.08 vs 0.02, P=0.033). Early maturers incurred the highest incidence of groin strains and re-injuries (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between groups in the seasonal disposition of injury.Biological maturity status did not significantly affect overall injury incidence in elite French youth football players, although there were differences between maturity groups when patterns of injury location, type, severity and re-injury were analyzed.

Adolescent↗

Macrophage activation syndrome: an autopsy case of sudden death.

In a context of viral gastroenteritis, we report an unusual case of sudden death in an 8-year-old child. The only macroscopic abnormality observed in the autopsy was a diffuse mesenteric adenitis. Organ samples were taken for histopathological examination and a diffuse lymphocytic infiltration was observed. A sinusoidal histiocytic hyperplasia was found in the lymph nodes. Microscopic examination of the lungs and the lymph nodes revealed haemophagocytic lesions (lymphocytes within the cytoplasm of histiocytic macrophages). Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that the histiocytes were CD68+ PS100- CD1A-. Following this microscopic examination macrophage activation or haemophagocytic syndrome was diagnosed. The syndrome is a distinct clinical entity characterised by fever, pancytopaenia, splenomegaly, and haemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, liver and lymph nodes. It is a clinical entity that is very difficult to diagnose due to the lack of specific clinical signs. It is generally a complication of an infectious process, an aggravation of an auto-immune disease or a complication of a neoplastic process. The physiopathology involves a disregulation of T lymphocytes and particularly T helper lymphocytes. To make this diagnosis the anatomopathological examination must be performed by an experienced practitioner. The presence of a lymphocyte infiltrate of macrophagic histiocytes in myeloid organs and especially positive CD68+ immune markers are the anatomopathological proofs of diagnosis. The autopsy examination must be carefully performed and include systematic sample harvesting for anatomopathological examination. The results of all these examinations taken together allow the diagnosis of haemophagocytic syndrome to be finally made.

Autopsy↗

Telonemia, a new protist phylum with affinity to chromist lineages.

Recent molecular investigations of marine samples taken from different environments, including tropical, temperate and polar areas, as well as deep thermal vents, have revealed an unexpectedly high diversity of protists, some of them forming deep-branching clades within important lineages, such as the alveolates and heterokonts. Using the same approach on coastal samples, we have identified a novel group of protist small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences that do not correspond to any phylogenetic group previously identified. Comparison with other sequences obtained from cultures of heterotrophic protists showed that the environmental sequences grouped together with Telonema, a genus known since 1913 but of uncertain taxonomic affinity. Phylogenetic analyses using four genes (SSU, Hsp90, alpha-tubulin and beta-tubulin), and accounting for gamma- and covarion-distributed substitution rates, revealed Telonema as a distinct group of species branching off close to chromist lineages. Consistent with these gene trees, Telonema possesses ultrastructures revealing both the distinctness of the group and the evolutionary affinity to chromist groups. Altogether, the data suggest that Telonema constitutes a new eukaryotic phylum, here defined as Telonemia, possibly representing a key clade for the understanding of the early evolution of bikont protist groups, such as the proposed chromalveolate supergroup.

Cryptophyta↗

[Case of death occurred after an injection of aetoxisclerol. The responsibility of the product should be discussed].

A 35-year-old woman has suffered from faintness with cardiovascular failure at the end of a sclerotherapy session for varix management. The injected product was Aeloxisclerol (DCI lauromacrogal 400). The death came up very quickly. The autopsy didn't reveal any traumatic lesion. The anaphylactic choc could be ruled out. Macroscopically, the heart showed a right ventricular dilatation. The toxicological analysis didn't reveal any medicinal substances. Histology showed the presence of lipid degeneration of all the right-ventricle wall The discussion is carried out on the role played by this previous health-state on the onset of death, and also on the incidence of sclerotherapy using this product. and the onset of death. We are carrying out this discussion by taking in mind the nature of the product injected and the information available in the literature concerning the lipid degeneration of cardiac muscle. Quickly after this case, the AFSSAPS (The French Agency for Sanitary Security of Health Products) has emitted an written alert which correlates with the requirements of principles of precaution although it is not founded on the totality of investigation results done for this medicolegal case.

Adult↗

Positive photobiological investigation in reticular erythematous mucinosis syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM) syndrome is a rare disorder. Its clinical course is cyclic with remissions and exacerbations. In this disease, photosensitivity has previously been noticed but rarely demonstrated. We report three new cases with positive photobiological investigation. CASE REPORTS: Three patients (two males, one female) with a mean age 47 years were seen with reticular erythematous papules on the upper chest and or back. After sun exposure, the lesions were exacerbated. Skin biopsies showed dermal lymphocytic perivascular infiltration with mucin deposition between collagen bundles. Direct immunofluorescence was negative. Antinuclear antibodies were absent. In cabin, ultraviolet (UV)A exposure reproduced clinically and histologically REM lesions in our cases. UVA and UVB provocating phototests were negative. In all patients treatment with oral antimalarials and external photoprotection was effective. CONCLUSIONS: In our patients, we confirm the photosensitive feature of REM syndrome by provocative irradiation in UVA cabin. The mechanism of triggering is actually unclear. It is supposed that UV radiation, heat, and perspiration are necessary to reveal this affection.

Adult↗

[Cutaneous metastatic Crohn's disease].

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous metastatic Crohn's disease is a granulomatous inflammation of the skin that is noncontiguous to the gastrointestinal tract. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old man with Crohn's disease is admitted for antibiotic resistant erysipela-like dermo-hypodermitis. The presence of granulomatous lesions on skin biopsy, the absence of any infectious agent identified despite extensive investigations and the dramatic improvement observed with corticosteroid eventually lead to the diagnosis of cutaneous metastatic Crohn's disease. CONCLUSION: During Crohn's disease, biopsy should be considered for every undiagnosed skin lesion as the characteristics of cutaneous metastatic Crohn's disease are not specific. The presence of a non caseous granulomatous dermal infiltration suggests the diagnosis and should make consider the initiation of corticosteroid and the discontinuation of others inappropriate therapeutics (i.e. surgical treatment, antibiotics).

Adult↗

[Sinus cavernous syndrome caused by isolated aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus].

Isolated aspergillosis of the sphenoid sinus is a rare condition that is frequently diagnosed at a late stage because of its nonspecific and varying symptomatology. We report the case of a 75-year-old diabetic woman with a long history of retroorbital pain before she developed a subacute cavernous sinus syndrome. Neuroimaging including CT scan and MRI suggested a malignant tumor involving the sphenoid sinus but the diagnosis of aspergillosis was made intraoperatively and by histopathological examination. Soon after surgical drainage of the sphenoid sinus and systemic anti-fungal drug therapy, both retroorbital pain and cavernous sinus syndrome had completely resolved. This case emphasizes the fact that invasive isolated sphenoid sinus aspergillosis must be considered in the list of lesions causing sinus cavernous syndrome.

Aged↗

[Myospherulosis of the maxillary sinus].

BACKGROUND: We present a case of a myospherulosis, describe the underlying cause and discuss ways of preventing its development. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old man presented myospherulosis of the maxillary sinus caused by an antibiotic ointment placed in the sinus three years earlier during a Caldwell Luc procedure. The patient underwent a second Calwell Luc procedure. Outcome was uneventful and no recurrence was noted. DISCUSSION: Histological examination should be ordered at reoperation and petroleum-based ointments and packings should be avoided in sinus surgery.

Adult↗

Nutritional intake of French soccer players at the clairefontaine training center.

Young, French male athletes undergoing intensive elite sports training at the National Training Centre in Clairefontaine served as the subjects (N = 180; age range: 13 to 16 years) in a 3-year dietary survey aimed at characterizing their nutritional intake in terms of energy, macronutrients, calcium, and iron. Each year, the subjects were grouped by level into 3 promotions so that 9 groups could be studied. Dietary intake data were collected each year for each subject in the 9 groups, using a 5-day food record. The results showed that their total energy intake (TEI) was insufficient for athletes (ranging from 2352 454 to 3395 396 kcal/d as opposed to the recommended range of between 3819 and 5185 kcal/d). Furthermore, their diet was unbalanced, with too great an emphasis upon fatty foods (29.1 2.8 to 34.1 3.1% TEI vs. the 20% recommended), to the detriment of carbohydrates (48.5 4.3 to 56.6 3.1% TEI vs. the 55 to 60% recommended). The calcium intake was too low in 5 of the 9 groups while, in contrast, the iron intake was satisfactory in all groups. Furthermore, during this 3-year period at the Clairefontaine Centre, the subjects significantly (p <.05) improved their calcium and iron intakes (1021 197 and 12 2 mg/d in 1996, 1299 155 and 16 2 mg/d in 1997, and 1252 184 and 17 2 mg/d in 1998). This rise in micronutrient intakes may have been due to a physiological adaptation to growth or to the positive effects of courses on nutrition given during their stay at the Centre.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[Positive photobiological investigation in Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration of the skin].

BACKGROUND: Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration of the skin is a rare and benign disorder. Its clinical course is cyclic with remissions and exacerbations. In this disease, photosensitivity was previously noticed by authors and recently demonstrated. We report four new cases with positive photobiological investigation. CASE REPORTS: Four patients (2 males, 2 females), with a mean age 36 years were seen with erythematous papules or discoid plaques on face, arms and upper trunk. The onset of disease occurred after sun exposure in summer. Skin biopsies showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in the dermis. All patients relapsed cyclically with incomplete healing during winter. Photobiological investigation elicited skin lesions in a broad spectrum of UV: UVB (2 cases), UVA (1 case), UVA and UVB (1 case). In all patients treatment with oral antimalarials and external photoprotection was effective. DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that photosensitivity history in patients with Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration of the skin should be searched for, and confirmed by provocative phototesting. This relevant event could guide the therapeutic strategy because antimalarials were effective for the Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration cases with photosensitivity.

Adult↗

A new omega-conotoxin that targets N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels with unusual specificity.

A new specific voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) blocker has been isolated from the venom of the fish-hunting cone snail Conus consors. This peptide, named omega-Ctx CNVIIA, consists of 27 amino acid residues folded by 3 disulfide bridges. Interestingly, loop 4, which is supposed to be crucial for selectivity, shows an unusual sequence (SSSKGR). The synthesis of the linear peptide was performed using the Fmoc strategy, and the correct folding was achieved in the presence of guanidinium chloride, potassium buffer, and reduced/oxidized glutathione at 4 degrees C for 3 days. Both synthetic and native toxin caused an intense shaking activity, characteristic of omega-conotoxins targeting N-type VSCC when injected intracerebroventricularly to mice. Binding studies on rat brain synaptosomes revealed that the radioiodinated omega-Ctx CNVIIA specifically and reversibly binds to high-affinity sites with a K(d) of 36.3 pM. Its binding is competitive with omega-Ctx MVIIA at low concentration (K(i) = 2 pM). Moreover, omega-Ctx CNVIIA exhibits a clear selectivity for N-type VSCCs versus P/Q-type VSCCs targeted respectively by radioiodinated omega-Ctx GVIA and omega-Ctx MVIIC. Although omega-Ctx CNVIIA clearly blocked N-type Ca(2+) current in chromaffin cells, this toxin did not inhibit acetylcholine release evoked by nerve stimuli at the frog neuromuscular junction, in marked contrast to omega-Ctx GVIA. omega-Ctx CNVIIA thus represents a new selective tool for blocking N-type VSCC that displays a unique pharmacological profile and highlights the diversity of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels in the animal kingdom.

Amino Acid Sequence↗