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Biomedical subjects

I Hau

Publications and source records attributed to I Hau.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Impact of CRP rapid test in management of febrile children in paediatric emergency units of Ile-de-France].

OBJECTIVE: Fever is a common cause of children visits to emergency units. Clinical evaluation does not always eliminate a bacterial infection. Among blood markers, several publications showed the interest of CRP. This study was undertaken to evaluate correlation between two techniques of CRP, one by usual technique at the laboratory and the other by a rapid test, and to evaluate the impact of this rapid test for febrile children at the emergency room, when a hospitalization was not immediately decided. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was undertaken in 2004-2005 in eight emergency paediatric units in Ile-de-France concerning febrile children during two periods. In period A, children had at the same time a CRP dosage through two methods, whereas in period B, only a rapid CRP test was first managed. The test used was NycoCard CRP Single test (Progen Biotechnique). RESULTS: Between September 2004 and June 2005, 572 children were included, 268 in period A and 304 in period B. Comparison of CRP results by the two methods showed for 247 children (93%) a fairly good linear correlation (r: 0.929). Blood cell count was the most often prescribed test (99.4 vs 10.5%). Conversely to chest radiography, blood culture, fibrinogen and urinary test were significantly most frequent in period A. The average cost of the additional examinations was 2.6 times more important during the first period. Duration of children management in the units was approximately two times shorter when rapid CRP test was used (199.7+/-92.8 vs 103.5+/-98.6 min). CONCLUSION: This study shows the interest of rapid CRP test for febrile children in the emergency units, and has to be confirmed in ambulatory paediatric practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Prospective X-ray densitometry and ultrasonography study of the hand bones of patients with rheumatoid arthritis of recent onset.

OBJECTIVE: Bone demineralization observed in early rheumatoid arthritis is not easily measured. To measure bone loss and to discriminate between rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, we used two methods: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ultrasonography. METHODS: From a population-based recruitment, 32 patients with early peripheral polyarthritis (median disease duration: 4 months) were studied. Clinical, laboratory, functional, hand-bone assessments were made at the entry an at months 6 and 12. Bone X-ray densitometry measurements were made on 16 areas of the hand. Speed of sound was measured across the proximal phalanges of the four fingers. X-rays of both hands were scored according to the modified Sharp's score. At 12 months, patients were classified as rheumatoid arthritis (N = 15; 9 F) or as other rheumatic diseases. RESULTS: We found: 1) significantly decreased bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole hand, in the rheumatoid arthritis group versus the other rheumatic diseases group, at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05); 2) no significant decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) in other areas in the rheumatoid arthritis group; 3) no significant change of ultrasounds in either group; and 4) no significant correlation between the decrease of BMD in the rheumatoid arthritis group and clinical, biological or radiologic parameters, except for IFNgamma, whose production in whole blood cell culture was lower at entry in the rheumatoid arthritis group. CONCLUSION: DEXA bone assessment in rheumatoid arthritis was able t detect bone loss in the whole hand at 6 months.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1999

Negative feedback between prostaglandin and alpha- and beta-chemokine synthesis in human microglial cells and astrocytes.

The understanding of immune surveillance and inflammation regulation in cerebral tissue is essential in the therapy of neuroimmunological disorders. We demonstrate here that primary human glial cells were able to produce alpha- and beta-chemokines (IL-8 > growth related protein alpha (GROalpha) >> RANTES > microphage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and MIP-1beta) in parallel to PGs (PGE2 and PGF2alpha) after proinflammatory cytokine stimulation: TNF-alpha + IL-1beta induced all except RANTES, which was induced by TNF-alpha + IFN-gamma. Purified cultures of astrocytes and microglia were also induced by the same combination of cytokines, to produce all these mediators except MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta, which were produced predominantly by astrocytes. The inhibition of PG production by indomethacin led to a 37-60% increase in RANTES, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta but not in GROalpha and IL-8 secretion. In contrast, inhibition of IL-8 and GRO activities using neutralizing Abs resulted in a specific 6-fold increase in PGE2 but not in PGF2alpha production by stimulated microglial cells and astrocytes, whereas Abs to beta-chemokines had no effect. Thus, the production of PGs in human glial cells down-regulates their beta-chemokine secretion, whereas alpha-chemokine production in these cells controls PG secretion level. These data suggest that under inflammatory conditions, the intraparenchymal production of PGs could control chemotactic gradient of beta-chemokines for an appropriate effector cell recruitment or activation. Conversely, the elevated intracerebral alpha-chemokine levels could reduce PG secretion, preventing the exacerbation of inflammation and neurotoxicity.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed1994

The effect of process and formulation variables on the properties of spray-dried beta-galactosidase.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the joint effects of various processing and formulation variables on the properties of spray-dried beta-galactosidase using statistically designed experiments. The key response variables evaluated were product yield, residual enzymatic activity, moisture content and particle size and appearance. The residual enzymatic activity and product yield were significantly affected by the processing variables. The highest product yields were obtained when the drier outlet temperature was relatively high, resulting in extensive protein denaturation. Subsequent experiments, therefore, compared the relative effectiveness of four stabilizers (mannitol, sucrose, arginine hydrochloride and trehalose) in terms of their ability to preserve enzymatic activity during the spray-drying process and during long-term storage. Trehalose was the most suitable stabilizer. The effect of a number of other formulation variables (total solids level, ratio of stabilizer to protein, presence of surfactant and presence of buffer) was also investigated. A final formulation consisting of 6% beta-galactosidase and 10% trehalose in deionized water was selected. Spray-drying at inlet and outlet temperatures of 140 and 95 degrees C, respectively, results in greater than 70% yields of a fully active product with a moisture content of 2-5% and a mean particle size of 2-4 microns.

Arginine↗