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Biomedical subjects

M Martinot

Publications and source records attributed to M Martinot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

A case of Aspergillus mediastinitis after heart transplantation successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B, caspofungin and voriconazole.

Reported here is a case of mediastinitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and Staphylococcus epidermidis following a heart transplantation that was successfully treated with amphotericin B in combination with new antifungal drugs (caspofungin and voriconazole), antibiotics and superficial wound drainage. A review of the literature revealed that Aspergillus as a cause of mediastinitis has been rarely described. In the few existing reports, evolution was generally fatal, especially in immunocompromised patients, despite treatment with antifungal drugs and surgery.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed2005

Safety and efficacy of peginterferon plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C and bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis.

The combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the most effective therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We evaluated this combination in unselected patients with bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis. Eighty patients were treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin. Hepatitis C virus serum RNA was monitored. Tolerance and safety were evaluated by the rate of treatment's discontinuation for any reason, and occurrence of serious clinical adverse events, respectively. Sustained virologic response (SVR) rate was 36.3% overall, and was observed in every group of patients except those who had previously failed to respond to the combination of interferon and ribavirin. No serious clinical adverse event occurred. Treatment was withdrawn in 18.7% of patients. Variables associated with discontinuation of treatment were low prothrombin index [OR: 1.16 (1.05;1.27)] and low body mass index [OR: 1.47 (1.12;1.92)]. Initial blood count abnormalities were not associated with cessation of treatment. Furthermore, early virologic response at week 8 and week 12 of treatment had similar predictive value for SVR. Combination therapy with peginterferon plus ribavirin seems effective in this group of patients, except in those who had previously failed to respond to the combination of interferon and ribavirin. This therapy is safe with appropriate monitoring, but tolerance seems worse in patients with the most advanced liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Interferon-alpha suppresses liver cell proliferation in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

SUMMARY: Interferon (IFN) therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C, including virological nonresponders (NR). Whether IFN suppresses liver cell proliferation, i.e. the relevant risk factor for HCC, is unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of IFN therapy on liver cell proliferation in chronic hepatitis C. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labelling index (PCNA-LI) was assessed prior to and at the end of therapy in the liver of 29 patients with chronic hepatitis C who received 3 MU IFN-alpha2b thrice weekly for 24-48 weeks. Overall, the median value of PCNA-LI was significantly reduced from 2.6% to 1.1% at the end of therapy (P < 0.0001). At baseline, PCNA-LI median values were similar in the 15 virological responders compared with the 14 NRs (2.3%vs 3.4%, P = 0.121) and at the end of therapy, median changes of PCNA-LI (-1.4%vs-1.1%, P = 0.089) were also similar although there was a higher decline of the proliferation index in responders with respect to NRs at the end of therapy (0.7%vs 1.6%, P = 0.004). In the two groups, the rate of fibrosis score reduction was also similar (7%vs 20%, P = 0.326). In contrast, the histological activity index was more often reduced in responders than in NRs both at the >or=2 and >or=4 points reduction level (80%vs 36%, P = 0.02 and 53%vs 14%, P = 0.03, respectively). The study showed a significant suppression of liver cell proliferation in IFN-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C. Although the strongest IFN effect was observed in virological responders, a reduction of proliferative activity was also seen in virological NRs.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Positive surveillance blood culture is a predictive factor for secondary metastatic infection in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

PURPOSE: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) may be complicated by secondary metastatic infection such as endocarditis, osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. This cohort study aimed to assess the prognostic value of sustained bacteraemia for outcomes related to Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study took place in three tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospitals. Patients were prospectively included if they agreed to participate and if the following data were available: (a). surveillance blood culture taken between 24 and 48 h after commencement of effective antibiotic therapy; (b). appropriate investigations (at least a TTE) performed as suggested by the infectious diseases consult service. Patients with sustained bacteraemia defined as persistent positive blood cultures more than 24 h after commencement of effective antibiotic therapy were compared to patients for whom the surveillance blood culture was negative. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients were enrolled, including 51 patients diagnosed with sustained bacteraemia. Sustained bacteraemia was significantly associated with a higher frequency of secondary metastatic infection (p<0.001) and with a higher frequency of CRP>100 mg/l. Frequency of acute complications due to infection, septic shock and death due to bacteraemia was higher for patients with sustained bacteraemia but this difference was not statistically significant. Using a Cox model, the risk for death associated with sustained SAB, controlling for Index of comorbidity and age (categorised as or=70 years), was 1.2 (95% CI: (0.5, 3); p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, surveillance blood cultures, especially performed on effective antibiotic therapy, may be a simple and cost-effective way to select a population at risk for secondary metastatic infection from SAB.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Risk factors for nosocomial Clostridium difficile diarrhoea in an infectious and tropical diseases department].

FOREWORD: Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) accounts for 25% of all cases of diarrhea occurring in hospital. Infectious diseases departments are considered as presenting with an important risk of CDAD because of the large quantity of antibiotics used. OBJECTIVES AND METHOD: The authors made a prospective study in the first 6 months of 2001, in order to identify the risk factors of CDAD in their department. One hundred and fifty-two patients hospitalized for at least 6 days were included in this study. The studied factors were: age, mean number of days of hospitalization (MDH), antibiotic therapy, WHO scale of reduced mobility of patients, recent hospitalization (less than 3 months before). RESULTS: MDH was 36 (IC95%: 23-48). Beta-lactam antibiotics were found as significant risk factors, as reported in the literature. However, age and a recent hospitalization were not related to the CDAD as described in the literature. A reduced mobility of patients was identified as a significant risk factor for developing a CDAD in our department.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Clinical relevance of total HCV core antigen testing for hepatitis C monitoring and for predicting patients' response to therapy.

To study the correlation between total Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Core antigen (Ag) and HCV-RNA, and to assess the proficiency of HCV Core Ag testing in monitoring and predicting virologic response during and after pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy. A total of 307 samples from treated and untreated patients were used to assess the correlation between the total HCV Core Ag test and quantitative HCV-RNA assays (Superquant, and Quantiplex branched DNA 2.0 assay). Twenty-four patients received combination therapy for 48 weeks. Blood samples were collected at day 0, and week 2, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 for virologic evaluation. A linear relation exists between total HCV Core Ag and HCV-RNA levels. At 3 months the positive predictive value (PPV) of response to therapy was 100% with either HCV Core Ag or HCV-RNA. For HCV Core Ag the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100% whereas for HCV-RNA the NPV was 80% (P > 0.05). At month 1, the PPV was 95% and 100% when determined by HCV Core Ag and HCV-RNA, respectively. The NPV value was 100% for HCV Core Ag and 33% for HCV-RNA (P = 0.005). HCV Core Ag quantification could be useful in clinical practice to predict a sustained virological response early during therapy (4 weeks), reaching an optimal performance at month 3. The determination of total HCV Core Ag levels in serum, constitutes an accurate and reliable alternative to HCV-RNA for monitoring and predicting treatment outcome in patients receiving PEG-IFN/Ribavirin combination therapy.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed2003

Haematogenous brain abscess complicating a case of Austrian syndrome.

Austrian syndrome includes pneumococcal endocarditis, meningitis and rupture of the aortic valve. This study reports a case with a haematogenous brain abscess. Physicians should be aware of the risk factors and dramatic evolution of this rare disease, to avoid delays in diagnosis, and to prevent embolic complications and rupture of the aortic valve.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed2003

Liver fibrosis is not associated with steatosis but with necroinflammation in French patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: In chronic hepatitis C, it has been suggested that steatosis could accelerate progression of fibrosis. However, results of the few published studies are controversial. AIM: To determine the characteristics (epidemiological, biological, and histological) associated with steatosis and its relationship with liver lesions (grade of necroinflammation and stage of fibrosis) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: From November 2000 to July 2001, untreated consecutive adults with chronic hepatitis C admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. On the day of liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 290 patients (143 men, 147 women). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 24 (3.8) kg/m(2). Proportions of patients with genotypes 1 and 3 were, respectively, 48% and 18%. A total of 135 patients (46.6%) had steatosis. Liver steatosis, in multivariate analysis, was associated with hepatitis C virus genotype 3, higher grade of necroinflammation, and higher BMI. There was no significant association between stage of fibrosis and liver steatosis. In multivariate analysis, high stage of fibrosis was associated with male sex, age over 50 years, high BMI, and high grade of necroinflammation. CONCLUSION: In our population of patients with chronic hepatitis C, steatosis does not seem to be an important determinant of liver fibrosis. High grade of necroinflammation is associated with a high stage of fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Second infection with a different hepatitis C virus genotype in a intravenous drug user during interferon therapy.

The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among intravenous drug users (IVDU) has consistently been very high. Cross challenge studies in chimpanzees provide evidence that reinfection with different HCV strains may occur. In humans, reinfection with different HCV strains has been reported in multitransfused haemophiliacs and recently in IVDU but no case has been reported while on interferon (IFN) therapy. We report on a 22 year old woman who was treated with IFN alpha for HCV genotype 3a chronic infection. At six months, HCV RNA was undetectable by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In October 1997, while still on IFN, she developed an acute hepatitis after an intravenous drug injection and HCV genotype 1a infection was identified using genotyping and sequencing methods. IFN therapy was continued until August 1998, and in January 1999 HCV-RNA was not detectable. Our case indicates that the previous HCV infection might have prevented development of chronicity. An alternative explanation is that IFN, while not preventing acute hepatitis C, may prevent chronicity. The risk of multiple infection in IVDU underlines the need for preventive strategies.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Hypervariable region 1 quasispecies in hepatitis C virus genotypes 1b and 3 infected patients with normal and abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels.

The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterogeneity in the severity of chronic hepatitis C infection remains unclear. Our aim was to study the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) heterogeneity in patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with genotype 1b or 3 and with normal or abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). HVR1 quasispecies were assessed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) in 67 patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 35 with persistently normal ALT and 32 with abnormal ALT. Sixty-two patients underwent a liver biopsy. Among the 67 patients, 40 were infected with genotype 1b and 27 with genotype 3. In univariate analysis, low heterogeneity (<or= 3 bands at SSCP) was significantly associated with normal ALT (P < 0.001), milder histological lesions (activity, P=0.02; fibrosis, P=0.04), and at the limit of significance for genotype 1b (P=0.07). In multivariate analysis, low heterogeneity was significantly and independently associated with normal ALT (P=0.09) and genotype 1b (P=0.03). In patients with chronic hepatitis C, a low viral heterogeneity is significantly and independently associated with normal ALT and genotype 1b. These results are consistent with the view that patients with normal ALT have a different immune response against HCV resulting in a low HCV heterogeneity.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Procalcitonin in pyelonephritis and acute community-acquired pneumonia in adults].

OBJECTIVES: Procalcitonin (PCT) is an acute-phase protein involved in the specific inflammatory reaction to severe bacterial or fungal infections. This protein does however lack sensitivity in focal infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leukocytosis, and fibrinogen levels at admission among adult patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (n = 33) or pyelonephritis (n = 30) and in a control population (n = 27) of patients with viral infections and non-infectious inflammatory diseases. RESULTS: Median serum PCT in the control group (0.21 ng/ml) was significantly lower than in the pyelonephritis group (0.46 ng/ml, p < 0.0005) or the pneumonia group (0.88 ng/ml, p < 0.0005). In the control group, median CRP was 51.4 ng/l reaching 220 mg/l in the pyelonephritis and 198 mg/l in the pneumonia group (p < 0.0005 in both cases). The other markers of inflammation investigated (leukocytosis, ESR, fibrinogen) did not show such differences between the control group and the sepsis groups. The sensitivity of PCT (threshold 0.5 ng/ml) was 61% for the diagnosis of pneumonia and 44% for the diagnosis of pyelonephritis. Specificity was 92% in both cases. In comparison, the sensitivity of CRP (threshold 50 mg/l) was 94% and 91% for pyelonephritis and pneumonia respectively with a 33% specificity in both cases. CONCLUSION: PCT is a specific but poorly sensitive marker of community-acquired pneumonia and pyelonephritis among adults hospitalized in medical wards.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Quantitation of hepatic hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Relationship with severity of disease, viral genotype and response to treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the correlation between hepatic hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and histological lesions, viral genotype or response to alpha interferon therapy. METHODS: Forty-three patients with chronic hepatitis C (14 sustained responders (SR) and 29 non-sustained responders (NSR)) were studied. A liver tissue sample was obtained before and 1 year after treatment. Quantitation of hepatic HCV-RNA was performed by competitive PCR. RESULTS: Before treatment, HCV-RNA was detectable in all liver samples. There was no association between hepatic HCV-RNA and the severity of liver lesions. There was a significant association between old age and hepatic HCV-RNA (P = 0.03). There was an association, at the limit of significance, between genotype 1 and high hepatic HCV-RNA amounts (15 x 106 and 4.1 x 10(6) copies/g, P = 0.05). Pre-treatment hepatic HCV-RNA amounts were lower in SRs than in others (0.65 x 10(6) and 13.2 x 10(6) copies/g, P = 0.0002). After treatment, no liver HCV-RNA was detectable in the SRs while in the NSRs, the HCV-RNA amounts were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of hepatic HCV-RNA is correlated to genotype and response to interferon therapy but not to histologic lesions. Hepatic HCV-RNA clearance is observed in SRs, suggesting viral eradication.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Decreased presynaptic dopamine function in the left caudate of depressed patients with affective flattening and psychomotor retardation.

OBJECTIVE: The study assessed striatal presynaptic dopamine function in patients with different subtypes of depression. METHOD: Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fluorodopa ([(18)F]DOPA) were used to compare six depressed patients with marked affective flattening and psychomotor retardation, six depressed patients with marked impulsivity and anxiety, and 10 healthy comparison subjects. Depressed patient groups were matched for severity of depression. RESULTS: [(18)F]DOPA uptake K(i) values in the left caudate were significantly lower in patients with psychomotor retardation than in patients with high impulsivity and in comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that left caudate dopamine function differs between depressed patients with psychomotor retardation and those with impulsivity and provide direct evidence of a link between dopamine hypofunction and psychomotor retardation in depression.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Decrease in serum ALT and increase in serum HCV RNA during pregnancy in women with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The natural history of chronic hepatitis C infection during pregnancy has not been clearly established, and thus our aim was to assess serum alanine aminotransferase levels and serum HCV RNA levels during pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty-six pregnant women with chronic hepatitis C were studied. Serum alanine aminotransferase was assessed within the 3 months before, monthly during and within the 3 months after pregnancy. In 12 women, serum HCV RNA levels were quantified by the branched DNA assay. Twenty-six age-matched non-pregnant women with chronic hepatitis C were followed up for 1 year, and used as a comparison group. RESULTS: During pregnancy, serum alanine aminotransferase levels decreased in the second and third trimesters. The third trimester levels were significantly lower than serum alanine aminotransferase levels before pregnancy (p=0.0001). Seventy-seven percent of the pregnant women with increased pre-pregnancy levels had normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels. In the second or third trimesters, serum HCV RNA levels increased. The third trimester serum HCV RNA levels were significantly higher than levels before pregnancy (p=0.01). No significant change in serum alanine aminotransferase or HCV RNA levels was observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: In pregnant women with chronic hepatitis C, serum alanine aminotransferase levels decrease, and serum HCV RNA levels increase during the second and third trimesters.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Extra-ocular etiologic factors in retinal vein occlusion. Retrospective study of 24 patients].

PURPOSE: Retinal vein occlusion has several causes. Cardiovascular risk factors, particularly systemic hypertension; as well as thrombophilia appear to be involved in the development of retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: In a retrospective study we analyzed these factors in 24 patients, admitted for retinal vein occlusion and isovolaemic hemodilution in an internal medicine unit. RESULTS: In patients over 50 years of age, cardiovascular risk factors predominate; while in patients under 50, one patient out of two has biological features indicating a risk for thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Serological abnormalities could be involved in the physiopathology of retinal vein occlusion in young patients.

Adult↗