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Biomedical subjects

J Clavier

Publications and source records attributed to J Clavier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Carboplatin as radiosensitizer in non-small cell lung cancer after cisplatin containing chemotherapy. A phase I study of a groupe francais de pneumo-cancerologie (G.F.P.C.).

A Phase I trial of carboplatin therapy was performed on patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer who had been previously treated with cisplatin, mitomycin and a vinca aklaloïd. This was administered as a daily bolus infusion or as a continuous infusion for 6 weeks with concurrent daily thoracic radiation. All patients had to be objective responders or to show no change after chemotherapy. The carboplatin was started at 10 mg/m2 per day, and increased to 15 mg/m2 per day and 20 mg/m2 per day, if treatment was feasible in successive cohorts of at least six patients. The radiation therapy consisted of 62-66 Gray on the tumor and the ipsilateral mediastinal nodes, 50 Gray on the mediastinum and 40-45 Gray on the supraclavicular lymph nodes. Twenty-nine patients took part in this study. Thrombocytopenia was the principal dose-limiting toxicity, with 15 mg/m2 per day of bolus or continuous infusion. Other toxicities included a fall in haemoglobin level, a fall in white-blood cell count, nausea and vomiting. The median survival time was 12 months, but the response rate cannot be determined among patients selected on the basis of response to chemotherapy. The recommended Phase II dose for patients previously treated with cisplatin containing chemotherapy, is 10 mg/m2 per day of either a bolus or continuous infusion.

Adult

[Chronic hyperventilation syndrome].

Hyperventilation syndrome is a frequent, but poorly understood clinical entity. The clinical expression is a rich combination of respiratory, cardiac and neurological signs which can simulate various organic diseases. Hypocapnia remains the primum movens for most authors although the relationship with psychiatric situations, in particular in anxious patients, is increasingly emphasized. The diagnosis is currently based on the elimination of diseases associated with hyperventilation, then on Nijmegen's questionnaire and is confirmed by the reproduction of the same clinical picture in a voluntary hyperventilation test. Respiratory function tests offer little information. Treatment is based on combining rehabilitation therapy focused on the diaphragm and on relaxation. Specialized care may be needed in psychiatric patients.

Chronic Disease

Frequency of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome detected by means of a questionnaire in patients with coronary heart disease.

As previous studies have suggested an association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and ischaemic heart disease, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of clinically relevant OSA in this selected population. From September 1992 to April 1993, 136 patients referred to the Cardiology Unit for suspected angina pectoris were asked to participate in the study. The main inclusion criterion was a stable coronary heart disease, diagnosed by angiography. A sleep questionnaire was administered by a trained physician. Patients who experienced one of the following symptoms: association of body mass index (-weight/height2) above 27.5 and heavy snoring, breathing stops, or daytime hypersomnolence, were selected for a nocturnal oxygen saturation recording. The occurrence of at least one desaturation, defined as a 4% fall from baseline, led to a full night-time polysomnography. One hundred and eight patients (78 males), satisfied the entry criteria. A pulse oximetry was performed in 15, and three patients experienced a significant desaturation. Finally, one patient satisfied the criteria of OSA. The estimated proportion of OSA amounted to 0.92%, in accordance with the prevalence of OSA described in the general population. Clinically relevant OSA does not appear to be more frequent in patients suffering from stable coronary heart disease. Systematic sleep investigations in such patients do not appear to be useful in daily clinical practice.

Aged

[Pulmonary embolism and the level of thrombosis. A prospective study of 155 patients].

This study was designed to assess the risk of associated pulmonary embolism according to the level of deep venous thrombosis. From March 1992 to March 1994, 328 patients were referred to medical units for suspected deep venous thrombosis, with recent clinical signs, less than a week. Each patient underwent contrast venography and/or duplex ultrasounds of lower extremities, ventilation and perfusion lung scan within 48 hours and angiography in case of low or intermediate pulmonary embolism probability. Diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis was confirmed in 155 patients; location was distal in 41, proximal in 114; an associated pulmonary embolism was found in 66 patients (10 with distal, 56 with proximal deep venous thrombosis); odds ratio was 2.99 (95% Cl: 1.2-3.13). Significantly higher risk of associated pulmonary embolism when deep venous thrombosis involves proximal veins is confirmed, but as many as 10 out of 41 patients with distal thrombosis also had an associated embolism. Management of both distal and proximal deep venous thromboses appears identical.

Aged

[Plastic bronchitis].

We report a case of plastic bronchitis occurring in a 58 year-old man free from underlying pulmonary disease. Relief of symptoms was observed under steroid therapy (1 mg/kg), but relapse occurred as treatment being tapered. Such evolution is in accordance with recent published data.

Bronchitis

Vinorelbine versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess the possible benefit of the combination vinorelbine (NVB)-cisplatin (DDP) in comparison with NVB alone in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), not treated previously. It also involved confirmation of the efficacy of vinorelbine as monotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase III trial, 231 eligible patients were stratified by centre and randomized to receive either NVB alone, 30 mg/m2/week or the combination of NVB 30 mg/m2/week and DDP 80 mg/m2/3 weeks. Patients were to be treated for a minimum of 6 weeks, with the first response assessment performed 9 weeks after the beginning of treatment. RESULTS: The two groups differed in terms of objective response rates (16% and 43%, respectively, p = 0.0001) and median time to progression (10 weeks and 20 weeks, p = 0.0001). However, the difference was not significant for median survival time (32 weeks, 33 weeks, p = 0.48). The addition of DDP resulted in an increase in toxicity, in particular renal, hematologic, neurologic and emetic. This toxicity led to treatment discontinuation in 8% and 21% of patients, respectively. Respectively 3% and 13% of patients stopped treatment early during objective response (toxicity or refusal). CONCLUSIONS: The NVB-DDP combination increased objective response rates and time to progression in comparison with NVB alone, but did not influence the survival of patients. The activity of NVB in the treatment of advanced NSCLC was confirmed.

Antineoplastic Agents

[Small-cell carcinoma of the trachea in a 27-year-old patient].

A rare small-cell carcinoma of the trachea was observed in a 27 year-old man. Treatment included chemotherapy and radiotherapy as for bronchogenic small cell carcinomas. This treatment regimen led to complete but temporary remission. The patient died 4 months after the end of the treatment due to multiple cerebral metastases.

Adult

[Small cell bronchial cancer in a 17-year-old young man].

We report a case of small cell lung cancer in a 17 year-old man. He was admitted to our unit suffering from a two month history of pain left shoulder. Chest X-rays showed a large round mass in the left upper lobe. The chest CT scan revealed a tumor with evidence of first left rib involvement. Histological examination, after surgical biopsy revealed small cell carcinoma, confirmed by two independent pathological physicians. Small cell lung carcinoma is very rare in the under 20 year age group and we compare this case with other types of lung cancer in young patients described in the literature.

Adolescent

[Rhabdomyosarcoma of the thoracic wall in an adult. Apropos of a case].

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumour generally observed in children or adolescents; thoracic localization is rare. The authors report a case of embryonary rhabdomyosarcoma of the thoracic wall in a 36-year-old subject. Pathology examination of surgical specimens confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment included surgical exeresis together with pre- and post-operative chemotherapy combining doxorubicine (40 mg/m2/cycle), ifosfamide (6 g/m2/cycle) and dacarbazine (900 mg/m2/cycle). Local recurrence, requiring radiotherapy, was observed a few months later and led to the patient's death after a 9-month clinical course.

Adult

Mesenchymal cystic hamartoma of the lung.

We report the case of an asymptomatic 51-year-old man, presenting with chest X-ray abnormalities consisting in multiple pulmonary nodules; the diagnosis of mesenchymal cystic hamartoma of the lung was made by an open lung biopsy, revealing both nodules of mesenchymal cells and cysts with a lining of normal or metaplastic epithelium. Clinical and pathological characteristics of this rare entity are reviewed.

Cysts

[Long-term tolerability of formoterol in chronic obstructive bronchopathies].

Formoterol aerosol, a long-acting new beta 2-mimetic was administered over a year at a dose of 12 micrograms twice daily, to 62 chronic obstructive bronchitics of mean age 66 +/- 6 years and of whom the basal VEMS was at 12,801 +/- 0.59. Clinical tolerance of the product was good with undesirable effects in 13 patients, the most frequent being shaking. No untoward effect was seen on systolic or diastolic arterial pressure, or the heart rate over successive visits at 1, 3, 6, 9 months and one year. Electrocardiographic surveillance found in only four patients electrical abnormalities that may be due to Formoterol, these were patients without previous cardiac problems but of advanced mean age. Functionally, a significant improvement of basal VEMS was noticed from the 6th month. The VEMS improved significantly after administration of 12 micrograms on successive visits, without tachyphylactic signs. Well tolerated, with functional benefits, Formoterol is a promising product amongst the long-acting beta 2-mimetics. Its usefulness and limitations in the basic treatment of these chronic bronchopathies remains to be defined.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists

[Inoperable brain metastases from bronchogenic cancers. Value of combined chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5 fluorouracil].

We report the results of a combined of chemotherapy with CDDP and 5 FU repeated every 3 weeks in sixteen men (age range 31-73 years) with brain metastases. CT was performed after 2, 4 and 6 cycles to assess efficiency. Response was considered complete when no lesion was found on the CT scan and partial when the lesion shrunk to least half its the total volume. After two cycles, the response rate was 8/16 (50%). Treatment toxicity was mild with only one case of severe but reversible myelotoxicity (grade III). CDDP and 5 FU combined chemotherapy can be a useful treatment for brain metastasis of lung carcinoma.

Adult

[Chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in inoperable brain metastases of bronchopulmonary cancers].

Chemotherapy is not a common treatment for cerebral metastases. The authors report results of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) and fluorouracil (5-FU). Sixteen men (age range 31-73 years) with brain metastases were treated with CDDP 20 mg/m2/day in continuous infusion for 5 days (d 1-5) and 5-FU 1 g/m2/day in continuous infusion for 4 days (d 1-4), and the treatment schedule repeated every 3 weeks. A brain computerized tomography after 2, 4 and 6 cycles was performed to assess efficacy. It was considered that complete response was achieved if no lesion was found on the CT scan, and partial response if at least half of the total volume had decreased. After 2 cycles, the response rate was therefore 8/16 (50%). Treatment toxicity was very mild with only 1 case of severe but reversible myelotoxicity (grade III). It is concluded that chemotherapy combination with CDDP and 5-FU is a useful treatment for brain metastasis of lung carcinoma.

Adult