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Biomedical subjects

J M Vergnon

Publications and source records attributed to J M Vergnon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Humoral immune response within the lung in HIV-1 infection.

In order to study the humoral immune defences in the respiratory tract during HIV-1 infection, we measured the levels, local productions and anti-HIV and antibacterial activities of IgG and IgA in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum of 61 adult patients with severe HIV infection and of 56 HIV- controls. Albumin was used as the serum transudation factor. The increase of immunoglobulin levels in the serum of HIV-infected patients was confirmed. The IgG level was also increased in epithelial lining fluid (ELF), whereas the total IgA level was unchanged and secretory IgA (SIgA) level was decreased. The ELF/serum immunoglobulin ratios suggested that the IgG present in ELF resulted mainly from transudation, in contrast to SIgA, which was synthesized locally in controls but greatly diminished in HIV-infected patients. IgG to HIV-1 could be detected in BALF of all the patients, but IgA to HIV-1 only in 30% of patients. BAL IgG reacted more consistently and with a broader array of HIV-1 antigens than did IgA. BAL IgA, when present in samples, reacted primarily with viral envelope antigens. Because IgA specificities to some HIV-1 antigens were detected more intensively by BAL than by serum immunoglobulins, we conclude that the mucosal immune response is distinct from that in serum. IgG antibody activity to Streptococcus pneumoniae was decreased in HIV-infected patients' sera, and IgA antibody activities to S. pneumoniae and to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were decreased in ELF in HIV-infected patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

[Spontaneous chylothorax. Apropos of a further case].

The authors describe a case of spontaneous chylothorax occurring in a 50-year-old woman after stretching exercises of the upper limbs. A positive diagnosis was made based on pleural aspirate and a biochemical study of the pleural liquid (triglycerides > 3 gm/l). The chylothorax is said to be spontaneous when detailed investigations are negative. The outcome was satisfactory with complete regression of the symptoms after pleural aspirate and a low diet in long chain triglycerides but the authors recall that treatment may be surgical in cases of multiple recurrence.

Chylothorax↗
PubMed1995

Efficacy of tracheal and bronchial stent placement on respiratory functional tests.

Stent placement is the only available treatment in patients presenting either a localized external compression or a malacia of the tracheobronchial tree. To assess the functional benefit of prosthesis insertion in these indications, we compared functional respiratory values before, immediately after (48 h), and at sometime after (mean, 10.1 months) operation in 24 patients presenting with a bronchial lesion (B group, n = 5) or a lesion of the intrathoracic part (ITT group, n = 9) or of the extrathoracic part of the trachea (ETT group, n = 10). Before treatment, airflow was severely impaired in most patients without significant differences among the groups. After prosthesis insertion, airflow parameters increased [change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (delta FEV1 = 440 mL; delta peak expiratory flow (PEF) = 0.92 L.s-1; delta maximum expiratory flow 25/75 (delta MEF25/75) = 0.47 L.s-1; and delta forced inspiratory volume in 1 s (delta FIV1 = 310 mL)] and airway resistances (Raws) decreased (delta Raw = -0.43 kPa.s-1.s-1) without any significant variation in either forced vital capacity (FVC) or total lung capacity. Airflow improvement was more apparent in ITT and ETT groups than in the B group. Moreover, inspiratory flow increase and decrease of FEV1/PEF ratio were only observed in the ETT group. This airflow improvement was maintained for a long time after and was associated with a good clinical tolerance. This study supports the clinical and functional benefits of prosthesis placement both in benign and malignant airway compressions for palliative treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Study of chemosensitivity in patients believed to have sleep apnea syndrome].

We performed polysomnography and measured hypoxic ventilatory (HVR), hypercapnic ventilatory responses (HCVR) in 42 patients (60 +/- 11 years) with obesity and a clinical suspicion of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in order to determine whether an altered chemosensitivity was associated with SAS. The apnea/hypopnea index was 38 +/- 20 events per hour of sleep in 28 patients (SAS+ group) and less than 10 in the 14 others (SAS- group). The 2 groups differed only by a lower waking PaO2 in SAS+ as compared to SAS- (71.0 +/- 9 vs 77.4 +/- 8 mmHg, p < 0.05). HVR and HCVR were not significantly different in the 2 groups (0.82 +/- 0.58 vs 0.86 +/- 0.37 l.min-1.%-1; 1.41 +/- 0.81 vs 1.40 +/- 0.67 l.min-1.mmHg-1, respectively). In SAS+ group, HVR or HCVR did not change 3 or 12 months after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy while both polysomnography and PaO2 returned to normal. We conclude that in patients with mild obesity and SAS there is no difference in chemosensitivity due to the presence of sleep apnea and that CPAP therapy does not alter these measurements. These results suggest no direct effect of SAS on chemosensitivity in the population studied.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Two complications of bullous emphysema. Apropos of a case].

Infection and cancer are two classical complications of bullous emphysema. We report the case of a 47-year-old patient who presented a tuberculous infection then cancer within less than one year interval. The questions concerning diagnosis of infection are discussed. Pyogenic germs are usually involved and tuberculosis much less often. Exceptionally atypical mycobacteria, notably xenopi, are rarely the cause. The diagnosis can be particularly difficult in case of haemorrhage or cancer on bullae. The diagnosis of cancer in bullous emphysema is also studied. The relationships between tuberculosis and cancer in bullous emphysema are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

[Acquired hypogammaglobulinemia and multifocal granulomatosis].

In adult acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia multi focal granulomas have often been described and have regularly led to the hypothesis of an association with sarcoidosis. We present a case of this type in a man aged 29 who was a smoker with a hypoglobulinaemia involving IgG, IgA and IgM and which was discovered following pneumococcal pneumonias. He presented with a significant hepatosplenomegaly and absent cutaneous reactions to T dependent antigens with an elevated ACE activity. Histological examination of the splenectomy specimen and of the liver biopsy showed an infiltration by epithelioid follicles and confluent giant cells without necrosis. The pulmonary studies showed a normal chest radiograph but the bronchial biopsy again found a granulomatous infiltration. The broncho-alveolar lavage was cytologically normal and a very slight and paradoxical reduction of the alveolar immunoglobulins was noted implying either an active intra-alveolar concentration of immunoglobulins or a local synthesis. In the light of the few reported cases it seems that the diagnosis of sarcoidosis should be dismissed here in favour of multi focal granulomatosis with hypogammaglobulinaemia. In hypogammaglobulinaemia there is no clinical or biological method (IDR tuberculin, ACE, Kveim, histology) to confirm a superadded diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Raynaud's phenomenon of the lung. A reality both in primary and secondary Raynaud syndrome.

Vasospasm of RP is thought to occur in the lungs. To assess pulmonary vasospasm, we analyzed the early and late Dsb variations after a digital CPT. Sixteen normal volunteers and 20 patients (7 with primary, 13 with secondary RP) were included. A clinical RP was conducted on ten patients, nine with secondary and one with primary RP. The Dsb analysis showed: no significant variations in control subjects, a quick and short fall in primary RP significant after 15 min and a delayed fall in secondary RP significant after 45 min. A Dsb decrease was noticed even if no clinical RP occurred. The pallor phase of RP was associated with a concomitant decrease in the DCO and the hyperemic phase, with a Dsb increase. These results agree with those of previous studies with a few differences.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Initial combined cryotherapy and irradiation for unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Preliminary results.

In unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a patent mainstem bronchus, some studies of obstructive tumors, showed (1) a poor role for irradiation in obtaining efficient debulking and (2) an interest in preliminary laser treatment in these patients. Cryotherapy is another method to obtain debulking. Moreover, several studies showed that cryotherapy would increase the radiosensitivity of a tumor. We performed a preliminary protocol combining successively initial cryotherapy followed by irradiation in inoperable NSCLC (either for local or functional contraindications). Thirty-eight patients were included and treated first by cryotherapy performed under general anesthesia and then with external irradiation in a curative intent. The efficiency of cryotherapy assessed on bronchoscopy was found to be volume-efficient (VE) in 26 of the 38 patients and non-volume-efficient (NVE) in the other 12 patients. After irradiation in the VE group, 17 of the 26 patients had no bronchial residual tumor (NRT). In contrast, all of the patients in the NVE group had a bronchial residual tumor (RT). Survival in the VE group (median, 397 days) was significantly higher than the survival of the NVE group (median, 144 days). Survival was found to be independent of the surgical contraindication (local or functional). The best survival was associated both with the efficiency of the initial debulking (VE) by cryotherapy and with the local control (NRT) induced by the irradiation (median, 560 days). Local control was obtained in 65 percent (17/26) of the cases in the VE group and was never observed in the NVE group. In our study the VE group's local control is better than the 35 percent usually reported after irradiation alone. These results argue for the efficient potentiation of irradiation by cryotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[A case of congenital pulmonary varices].

Pulmonary varices are rare disorders (only 72 published cases), and are most often congenital in origin, asymptomatic and have a benign outcome. In some cases the appearance of varices is favoured by pulmonary venous hypertension which is most often related to mitral valve disease, or it is associated with other vascular or bronchial malformations. We present a new case of isolated pulmonary varices occurring in an asymptomatic young woman aged 20. The pulmonary radiological abnormality was confirmed using computed tomography which showed that the abnormality was both of vascular origin and of venous composition. Digital subtraction angiography during the venous phased confirmed the diagnosis. There was no associated cardiomyopathy, nor any bronchial or vascular malformation. No surgical intervention was taken, nor was there any clinical or radiological change observed during follow-up over one year. The diagnosis of pulmonary varices is an important one to make, particularly to avoid an unnecessary thoracotomy, but there should always be a systemic search for associated anomalies.

Adult↗