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Biomedical subjects

J L Bernard

Publications and source records attributed to J L Bernard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Surgical treatment of pneumothorax by video-thoracoscopy].

Between May and December 1991, 12 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were treated surgically, using video-thoracoscopy. With this technique bullous lesions could be excised in 10 cases and pleurodesis could be performed in all patients. Morbidity and mortality were nil. The cosmetic and functional advantages of video-thoracoscopy were obvious. Long-term results remain to be evaluated. This technique has shown that it is possible in all cases to create pleurodesis (pleural poudrage or pleurectomy) and to treat parenchymatous lesions (excision of bullous systems). This suggests that the long-term results will be the same as those obtained with conventional surgery.

Adolescent

M4 protocol for cerebellar medulloblastoma: supratentorial radiotherapy may not be avoided.

The main goal of the M4 protocol was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment excluding supratentorial radiation in patients with newly diagnosed medulloblastoma. All patients underwent surgical resection and received postoperative chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was adapted to the initial staging and prognostic factors (Group A: good-risk; Group B: poor-risk). Chemotherapy was started early after surgery, and consisted of two courses of the "eight drug in one day" regimen and two courses of high dose methotrexate. Radiotherapy was delayed until 5 (Group B) to 7 (Group A) weeks after the first course of chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was administered only to the posterior fossa and the spinal axis. Only 3/16 patients (18%) are alive and disease-free with a mean follow up of 6 years. The site of progression was supratentorial in 9 out of 13 patients and three patients had spinal and/or cerebrospinal fluid relapses. Only one patient had isolated posterior fossa relapse. The mean time to relapse was 484 days. We conclude that the chemotherapy regimens used in the M4 protocol do not allow the reduction of irradiation fields in patients with cerebellar medulloblastoma. In spite of long-term side effects on neurocognitive functions, supratentorial radiotherapy should remain a major component of medulloblastoma treatment.

Adolescent

[Ewing's tumor: current knowledge and ignorance].

The diagnosis of Ewing's malignant tumor in the young still raises major problems, either from a clinical point of view because of its rarity, its pluri-potentiality and various symptoms, or on imaging because of its numerous pitfalls. Accordingly the disease is often misdiagnosed as osteomyelitis. Only a high quality biopsy can determine histological diagnosis of undifferentiated small round cell tumor. The chromosomic study shows a specific (11;22)(q24;q12) translocation, and immunocytochemistry and molecular biology show the tumor's neuroectodermal origin. For 20 years, therapy tended toward first line tumor chemoreduction, followed, when appropriate, by complete resection and orthopedic reconstruction of the bone. Radiotherapy, which is responsible for long-term sequelae is now increasingly restricted to inaccessible or incompletely excised tumors. More intensive chemotherapy is being examined in patients with poor prognosis factors such as a negative response to induction chemotherapy, a significant mass or metastases. As a result of new strategies, disease-free survival rate is now between 60-70%. The management of this disease is highly multidisciplinary and patients will now be included in multicentric controlled therapeutic trials. Long term follow-up has to be carried out following completion of treatment.

Adolescent

Alcohol: an underscored risk factor for diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the link between alcohol consumption and glycoregulation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study during the annual occupational health check-up at the work site, concerning 7402 workers, excluding known diabetic persons and pregnant women. Alcohol consumption was recorded as the number of glasses of alcoholic beverage per day as stated by the subjects. A proxy for the glycoregulation was the level of capillary blood glucose measured with a reflectance meter (Reflolux) at the time of the visit. The association of alcohol consumption with impaired glycoregulation was assessed by multivariate analysis including potential confounders. RESULTS: Mean capillary blood glucose increased with increasing alcohol consumption, in both men and women. This association remained significant (p < 0.001) after adjustment for risk factors (multiple linear regression). Among 366 subjects with a fasting glycaemia or an oral glucose tolerance test, 26 were diabetic. Alcohol consumption was found independently associated by logistic regression with diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption might be a target for primary and secondary prevention of impaired glycoregulation and diabetes mellitus.

Adult

[Periodic disease of the child].

Familial mediterranean fever is a childhood disease which usually starts around the age of 4 years. Its onset is insidious with common and misleading symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain. Accordingly, this disease is often recognized belatedly from evocative data from previous history such as the recurrence of attacks, familial descent from certain ethnic groups and the lack of other obvious etiology. The clinical picture within this age group is similar to that observed in adults and does not present any clinical or biological originality. Colchicine remains the only efficient treatment to prevent both acute manifestations and amyloidosis. The former is geared toward its current use among children (growth retardation and gonadic disturbances) and is not really relevant, at least in this particular disease.

Adolescent

[Excision of bronchogenic cyst by video-thoracoscopy].

We report what is probably the first case of para-oesophageal bronchogenic cyst treated by video-thoracoscopy. The patient was a 26-years old woman who presented with dysphagia to solid foods. Preoperative investigations showed that the lesion was a cyst and that it was located in the superior and posterior mediastinum; they also enabled us to determine its relations with nearby structures, notably the oesophagus, and to make the diagnosis of para-oesophageal bronchogenic cyst. Treatment consisted of excision of the cyst by video-thoracoscopy. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the fourth day.

Adult

Improved survival at 2 and 5 years in the LMCE1 unselected group of 72 children with stage IV neuroblastoma older than 1 year of age at diagnosis: is cure possible in a small subgroup?

The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the role of selection before bone marrow transplantation (BMT), (2) the role of vincristine, melphalan, and total body irradiation (TBI) as consolidation of induction therapy for stage IV over 12 months at diagnosis, and (3) the role of immunomagnetic purging in metastatic neuroblastoma. Among 72 consecutive unselected patients, 10 were not grafted (four died at induction: two in complete remission [CR], two in partial remission [PR]); three had bone marrow progression before harvest; one had uncontrolled progression; and two had parental refusal). Sixty-two patients were grafted (23 in CR/very good PR [VGPR] and 39 in PR). Among the 62, 33 were consolidated with at least 90% excision of their initial tumor excised (53.2%), 15 with catecholamine secretions (24.2%), 22 with minor bone marrow involvement (35.5%), and 31 with positive bone scan (50%). Median observation time is 59 months. Progression-free survival (PFS) for the 10 excluded patients was 20% at 2 years and 0% at 4 years. PFS for the grafted population (n = 62) is 40% at 2 years, 20% at 4 years, and 13% at 7 years. No difference was observed between patients grafted in CR/VGPR or in PR. However, a group of 19 children was grafted resulting in complete normalization of metastasis (regardless of primary-site tumor status). In this group, PFS at 59 months was 38% with no relapses up to 7 years post-BMT. A group of 31 patients with no bone involvement at BMT was also identified. PFS at 5 years is 30% compared with 12% for bone-positive patients at BMT. Moreover, the 11 children presenting at diagnosis with no bone involvement (Evans stage IVS or stage C Memphis) and consolidated with BMT had PFS at 5 years of 50% with no late relapses. A subgroup of stage IV neuroblastoma patients older than 1 year of age at diagnosis may be curable with this therapeutic approach, and the use of multivariate analyses to search for prognostic factors is warranted in currently existing international registries.

Age Factors

[Stage III bronchial cancers. Results of a series in surgery].

The aim of this study was to determine immediate and long term prognostic factors after resection of stage III lung cancer. From 1981 to 1987, 188 consecutive patients (136 stage III A and 52 stage III B) underwent resection of a primary lung cancer. Mortality (5.8 per cent) and morbidity were not influenced by age of the patient, the type of procedure (lobectomy or pneumonectomy) or the stage A or B of the cancer. But mortality was significantly increased by alteration of four ventilatory parameters. Actuarial survival was significantly better for stage III A (56%, 34 or 7 at 1, 2 and 5 years) than for stage III B (35, 18, 0 respectively). Survival was also influenced by: the quality of the resection: 15 months median survival if curative, 5 months if palliative; the tumour volume: 65%, 47, 18 at 1, 2 and 5 years if the diameter of the tumour was less than 5 cm, and 49, 31, 0 respectively if the diameter was greater than 5 cm. The authors conclude that identification of these factors is determinant to discuss prognosis and to plan treatment.

Actuarial Analysis

[Bronchogenic cysts of the esophagus. Classical surgery or video-surgery?].

Two cases of bronchogenic cysts involving esophagus are reported. The first case concerns a 30 year-old man, who admitted for dysphagia, regurgitation and abdominal pain. Barium esophagography, esophagoscopy and CT scan showed a cystic mass involving the lower third of the esophageal wall. Treatment consisted in the resection of the cyst by left thoracic approach. The second case concerns a 26 year-old woman, admitted for dysphagia. MRI and endoscopic ultrasonography had contributed to define the exact nature, internal composition and location of the cyst: upper and posterior mediastinum, close to the esophagus but respecting all the esophageal layers. Treatment consisted in the resection by video-thoracoscopy. Histologically, these two cysts were typical bronchogenic cysts. These two cases allowed us to discuss the benefits of new imaging methods (CT scan, MRI, endoscopic US) in the diagnosis of cystic masses of the mediastinum, and to emphasize video-surgery in their treatment.

Adult