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Biomedical subjects

Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet

Publications and source records attributed to Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

NODs in defence: from vulnerable antimicrobial peptides to chronic inflammation.

Defensins and cathelicidins are prevalent and essential gastrointestinal cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs). However, these defensive peptides are not infallible because certain enteropathogens can overcome their protective function. Furthermore, impaired defensin synthesis has been linked to the occurrence of Crohn's disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Recently, defective bacterial sensing through NOD1 and NOD2 has been related to reduced defensin production, CD predisposition and susceptibility to enteric infection. Hence, we propose that microbial sensors at the gut interface monitor the levels of these effector peptides, which might function as "danger" signals to confer tolerance and alert immunocytes. Further work is required to clarify how gastrointestinal CAPs are regulated and to assess their role in maintaining epithelial homeostasis and triggering adaptive immunity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Intestinal permeability and cirrhosis].

Patients with cirrhosis are at increased risk of developing infections due to bacterial translocation. This process depends on three principal factors: bacterial overgrowth, immunodepression, and altered intestinal permeability. Intestinal barrier functions may be disturbed in cirrhosis, related to the toxic effects of alcohol (on mucosa and biological membranes) and portal hypertensive enteropathy. Few studies on the assessment of intestinal permeability in cirrhotic patients are available, and contradictory results may be explained by methodological differences. However, four studies using a differential sugar absorption test (lactulose-mannitol test, a combination of an oligosaccharide and a monosaccharide) showed an increased intestinal permeability in cirrhotic patients. The recurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis can be appreciated only by one similar case history, a low rate of protides in ascites (<10 g/L), bilirubinemia > 55 micromol/L, and thrombocytopenia<98.000/mm3. These results suggest that primary antibiotherapy prophylaxis should be recommended, but this recommendation is limited by the risk of bacterial resistant selection and by the fact that no patient survival benefits was shown. Intestinal permeability could be another predictive factor to justify preventive antibiotherapy; but more studies are needed and methods should be standardized (technique used to measure permeability, patient groups involved).

Humans↗

[Hepatitis A acquired from an asymptomatic adopted child].

We report the case of acute hepatitis in a 36-year-old woman that was acquired from an adopted African child with asymptomatic active infection. At present, most experts do not screen for hepatitis A. However, adoptive parents should be vaccinated against hepatitis A because of the risk of unrecognized active infection in adopted children from countries in which infection is endemic.

Acute Disease↗

[Epigenetic changes and liver carcinogenesis].

The molecular mechanisms involved in liver carcinogenesis are poorly understood. Over the past decade, epigenetic changes (DNA methylation) have received increasing attention for their potential involvement in the development of hepatocarcinoma. The DNA methylation level is influenced by environmental factors (folate and methionine diet), as well as by genetic factors (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase/MTHFR polymorphisms). These findings provide new insight into the understanding of liver carcinogenesis. Interventional studies are now required to determine the role of folate supplementation in the development of liver tumors in targeted patients.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

[Circumstances of the diagnosis and clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease].

The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is sometimes difficult. The cardinal symptom of ulcerative colitis is bloody diarrhoea. The clinical characteristics of Crohn's disease are more heterogeneous, but typically include abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant, diarrhoea, weight loss and/or perianal disease. Extra intestinal (joint, cutaneaous and eye) manifestations can precede digestive symptoms and lead to the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. The clinical course of these two diseases is unpredictable. The risk of colorectal cancer is significantly increased 8 years after diagnosis of pancolitis. Thus, regular surveillance by colonoscopy with random biopsies is recommended.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

[Epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis C].

The estimated prevalence of hepatitis C infection in France is of 0.86%. The use of intravenous drugs is currently the main cause of hepatitis C infection and it may be responsible for 4400 new infections per year in France. The acute HCV infection is commonly asymptomatic and the progression from acute to chronic hepatitis range from 55 to 85%. Age at infection, alcohol consumption and gender have a significant impact on the progression of fibrosis. The fibrosis seems to progress linearly with an acceleration after 50 years of age. HCV is the second cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in France.

Acute Disease↗

Contribution of computed tomography with oral media contrast to the diagnosis of esophago-pericardial fistula.

The esophago-pericardial fistula is a very rare and usually fatal complication of esophageal cancers. We report a case of a 56-year-old man who presented with chest pain 1 month after concurrent radiochemotherapy for squamous cell esophageal carcinoma. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) with oral iodinated media contrast revealed esophago-pericardial fistula visualizing the fistulous tract. We conclude that CT with oral contrast media may be the first imaging technique of choice to confirm the diagnosis of esophago-pleural fistula.

Administration, Oral↗

[Pancreatic pseudocysts of the right hepatic lobe during acute biliary pancreatitis].

The occurrence of pancreatic pseudocysts of the right hepatic lobe during acute biliary pancreatitis is a rare event. We report the unusual case of a 69-year-old woman who was hospitalised for biliary pancreatitis. The patient suffered from right hypochondrial pain. A CT-scan performed at day 12 showed pancreatic pseudocysts in the right hepatic lobe. A favorable outcome was obtained after percutaneous drainage. Most hepatic pseudocysts are described in the left hepatic lobe after alcoholic pancreatitis. Different hypotheses have been suggested to explain the extension of pancreatic pseudocysts in the liver, due to proteolytic effect of pancreatic enzymes that reach the lesser sac and then the liver either directly through the liver capsule, or indirectly through the hepatic hilum vessels, or the hepatic ligament. We suggest another reason for hepatic invasion: pancreatic enzymes could also cause liver damage, through the para - renal anterior space, often infiltrated during acute pancreatitis, reaching right hepatic lobe through area nuda.

Acute Disease↗