PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J F Besancenot

Publications and source records attributed to J F Besancenot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Heart and freezer: about one case of hypereosinophilia and coronary spasm].

We report the case of a 41-year-old woman, non-smoker, without cardiovascular risk, hospitalised for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. The coronarography showed no significant coronary stenosis and a methylergometrine test performed was positive. After the discovery of a moderate chronic hypereosinophilia, a review of the literature about eosinophile and coronary pathology was realised in order to make a link between hypereosinophilia and coronary spasm.

Adult↗

[Treatment of cancer and hematological malignancy in elderly people: oncogeriatrics as a discipline for the future (Part I): geriatric evaluation and management of solid tumors].

PURPOSE: Fifty percent of cancer arise in people older than 65 year-old. Most clinical trials in cancer treatment are limited in patients younger than 65 year-old. We review literature describing particularity of cancer treatment in elderly patients. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Therapeutic decisions should be based on an estimation of the patient's life expectancy, and risks and benefits should be weighted up accordingly. Geriatric oncology is made of a geriatric evaluation of patient and of knowledge of clinical trial about elderly patients. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: We present in this issue the principle of geriatric evaluation and the results of recent clinical trial on elderly cancer patients.

Age Factors↗

[Treatment of cancer and hematological malignancy in elderly people (Part II)].

PURPOSE: Fifty percents of cancer arise in people older than 65-year-old. Most clinical trials in cancer treatment are limited in patients younger than 65-year-old. We review literature-describing particularity of cancer treatment in elderly patients. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Therapeutic decisions should be based on an estimation of the patient's life expectancy, and risks and benefits should be weighted up accordingly. Geriatric oncology is made of a geriatric evaluation of patient and of knowledge of clinical trial about elderly patients. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: We present in this issue the principle of geriatric evaluation and the results of recent clinical trial on elderly cancer patients.

Acute Disease↗

[Elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase. Diagnostic, prognostic and evolutive values].

OBJECTIVE: Determination of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels is an usual practice. However, its place in the diagnosis process is not clear. We have collected serum LDH levels superior to 2-fold the normal rate and we tried to determine their diagnostics interest and, predictive and progressive values. METHODS: Retrospective study during 3 months in hospitalized adults. LDH levels were measured by spectrophotometry (Normal rate: 313-618 UI/L). RESULTS: 196 cases with LDH level elevations higher than 1236 UI/L were analyzed. The etiology of LDH level elevations were was benign in 60% of cases, malignant in 36% and, undetermined in 5%. There was no difference in between average values of LDH level average values of benign and malignant etiology (2708 vs 2842 UI/l). LDH rates and high LDH level elevations were not helpful for in the diagnosis process (a variety of 43 etiology was able to elevate increased LDH rates). In 45% cases, LDH level was 2 to 3-fold the normal rate; in 47.5% cases, 3 to 10-fold normal rate, and in 7.5% cases, superior to 10-fold normal rate. LDH elevations superior to 10-fold the normal rate were caused by benign etiology in 11 cases and malignant disease in 4 cases. A level superior to 10-fold the normal rate was not helpful in determining to determine the benign or malignant characteristics of the initial disease. However, LDH rate superior to 10 normal rate was a pejorative predictive criteria (hospitalization in intensive careunity in 73% of cases and mortality rate of 53%). During follow up of a neoplasia or malignant hemopathy follow up, several LDH measurements LDH level determinations were determined in for a small number of patients. LDH level normalizations is are attributable to efficientan effective treatment; LDH level elevations are associated with a therapeutic failure echappment. Evolution in LDH levels evolution was influenced by progression in neoplasia and malignant hemopathy evolution and also by various several treatments such as like blood transfusions, growth factors, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: LDH level elevation, however whatever its rate, don't seem to do not help in differentiating have interest to differentiate benign from malignant diseases. However, an elevation LDH elevation higher than 10-fold the normal rate is a pejorative predictive criteria, since because the mortality rate is superior toupper than 50%. During follow-up of in the neoplasia and malignant hemopathy follow up, so long as they are measured at distance from treatment, variations in LDH levels are a good marker of evolution, rate variations represent an evolutive marker conditionally the level determination would be realize remote several treatment.

Adolescent↗

[Adult cutaneous periarteritis nodosa and dental infections. Role of streptococci].

INTRODUCTION: Periarteritis nodosa can be associated with streptococcal infections in children. We report two cases of adult cutaneous periarteritis nodosa that disappeared after the treatment of dental infection. EXEGESIS: A 23-year-old woman presented with necrotic ulceration on the legs for 6 months, with a histology of necrotizing vasculitis. Many sites of dental infections could be noted. Immunological data were negative and so were serologies of hepatitis. Corticosteroid therapy failed. The teeth removal with antibiotic therapy allowed the disappearance of cutaneous lesions in a month. A 26-year-old woman was hospitalized for growing thin, fever, diffuse arthralgia and myalgia and cutaneous nodules on the legs with necrotizing vasculitis on dermal vessels at histological analysis. The biology showed no pecularity. Radiography of the teeth showed many dental infection sites. The removal of six teeth with antibiotic therapy led to the disappearance of vasculitis in 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: The search for an infectious problem is important when vasculitis is diagnosed, in particular periarteritis nodosa. The treatment of dental infection could occasionally mean avoiding immunosuppressive therapy in certain cases.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Sarcoidosis during the treatment of hepatitis C by interferon-alpha and ribavirin: 2 cases].

INTRODUCTION: Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) used to treat chronic hepatitis C can be responsible for some side effects. We report two cases of sarcoidosis which appeared in patients treated with IFN alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. EXEGESIS: A first patient, treated for 5 months with IFN alpha and ribavirin because of chronic hepatitis C, after the failure of a first treatment with IFN alpha alone, was hospitalized for dyspnea. The chest X-ray and scanner revealed an interstitial syndrome and mediastinal adenopathies. Biopsies of bronchial spurs revealed epithelioid and giganto-cellular granuloma. After discontinuation of antiviral treatment and starting corticosteroid therapy, the evolution was favourable but viremia reappeared. A second patient with IFN alpha and ribavirin for 4 months because of chronic hepatitis C (after the failure of a first treatment with IFN alpha alone) was hospitalized for fever, arthralgias, erythema nodosa and modification of previous skin scars. The biopsy of a scar showed an epithelioid and giganto-cellular granuloma. After discontinuation of antiviral therapy and starting corticosteroid treatment, the evolution was favourable. CONCLUSION: Some publications mention occurrence of sarcoidosis during IFN alpha therapy, occasionally associated with ribavirin, disappearing after discontinuation of the treatment, though sometimes corticotherapy is necessary. The roles of IFN alpha and ribavirin are discussed.

Antiviral Agents↗

Bilateral loss of vision and macular ischemia related to Behçet disease.

PURPOSE: To report a 61-year-old man with sudden onset of visual loss in both eyes related to bilateral macular ischemia. METHODS: The patient underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including slit-lamp and fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and visual field testing as well as biologic screening. RESULTS: Bilateral macular ischemia associated with peripheral retinal vasculitis was confirmed by angiography. We diagnosed Behçet disease by association of ocular, oral, and cutaneous involvement according to the criteria of the international study group for Behçet disease. The patient was treated with corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: In Behçet disease, sudden onset of bilateral vision loss may be associated with bilateral retinal vascular disease and macular ischemia. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with systemic corticosteroids may be beneficial.

Behcet Syndrome↗

[Yersinia bacteremia and iron overload].

A retrospective multicentric study was conducted to determine the real prevalence of underlying iron overloads during Yersinia bacteremias. Ninety-seven cases of bacteremias (84 Yersinia enterocolitica, 13 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis) were registered between 1990 and 1996 in eastern France. Available data were collected in 70 cases (72.2%). Laboratory investigations of iron status were done in 53% (37/70). Three patients had a past record of known hemochromatosis, meanwhile in nine other cases an iron overload was discovered during the Yersinia bacteremia. Two cases of hemochromatosis were confirmed by liver histology. In all of these 12 cases, Yersinia enterocolitica was the causal agent. The effective prevalence of underlying iron overload in Yersinia bacteremias is 40% when researched, greater than data commonly published (1.8-14%), showing both epidemiological and clinical under estimation of iron's importance in Yersinia infection pathogenesis. A Yersinia bacteremia must be considered as an indicator of possible iron overload. Yersinia infection must be suspected in febrile hemochromatosic patients. A multicentric study must be conducted to evaluate incidence and characteristics of bacteremias in hemochromatosic patients.

Aged↗

[Systemic scleroderma and cancers: 21 cases and review of the literature].

Twenty one cases of the association systemic scleroderma and cancer are reported. Neoplasic localisations were the following: pulmonary five cases; breast two cases; esophageal cancer one case; stomach one case; colon one case; uterus four cases; ovarian cancer one case; prostatic cancer one case; renal cancer one case; malignant hemopathies six cases. In the literature, more than three hundred cases of such an association have been reported since 1886, essentially lung cancers (more than 100). Recent epidemiological studies allow to conclude to a higher frequency of lung and breast cancers. We suggest that systemic scleroderma patients should be examined attentively and carefully for these risks.

Adolescent↗

Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Capnocytophaga species in immunocompetent patients: report of two cases and review.

Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Capnocytophaga species was diagnosed in two adults. One of these infections was due to C. ochracea and the other was due to C. sputigena. Both patients were immunocompetent and presented with concomitant periodontitis and gingivitis. The infections were eradicated by means of prolonged antibiotic therapy, combined in one case with surgical treatment. Capnocytophaga species should be considered a potential cause of vertebral osteomyelitis in immunocompetent patients, especially in the presence of oral pathology.

Aged↗

[Secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly. Apropos of 200 assays of intact parathormone].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of high levels of intact parathormone in an elderly population of hospitalized patients and to determine whether there are any correlations with different factors involved in phosphocalcium metabolism, nutritional status and renal function. METHODS: Intact parathormone was assayed in all patients admitted to a geriatric ward (n = 200). Other laboratory tests included serum phosphorus, calcium, total albumin, prealbumin, ionized calcium, creatinine with calculation of the clearance and in 50 patients radioimmunoassay for 25 hydroxyvitamin D. RESULTS: Intact parathormone was abnormally high (> 65 pg/ml) in 40 patients. Mean levels increased significantly with age and reached 70.5 pg/ml in patients 90 years of age and over. No correlation was found between intact parathormone and total serum calcium, corrected serum calcium, albumin or prealbumin. Inversely there was a significant correlation with serum phosphorus and creatinine and creatinine clearance. Serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D were abnormally low in 82% of the patients. There was a constant and significant decrease in intact parathormone level 15 days after calcium and calcifediol substitution therapy in 13 patients. CONCLUSION: The frequency of hyperparathyroidism increases with age to affect nearly 1 out of 2 subjects over 90. It would be useful to determine a threshold level for elderly subjects with a major risk of bone fracture.

Aged↗

[Monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance in the elderly: apropos of 80 cases].

The authors reviewed the medical records of 80 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance who were examined at the hospital of Dijon between July 1990 and December 1992. The study included 43 males and 37 females with a mean age of 81.0 +/- 5.5 years. Type of M-component was IgG in 65% of the cases, IgA in 19% and IgM in 13.5%. A biclonal gammopathy was found in 2.5% of the cases. The follow-up duration was 24.6 +/- 10.8 months (range: 1-42 months). The survival probability of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance was 66.6% at 36 months compared with 75.6% in a control population. Lymphoplasmacytic disease developed in four patients (5%). There is a dramatic increase in monoclonal gammopathy with increasing age and the risk of malignant transformation must be continued whatever the age of patients. Further studies are required to determine routine follow-up in the elderly patient with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance until the long term utility and cost/benefit ratio of screening techniques are known.

Aged↗