[Acute paranoia following a sudden alprazolam withdrawal].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Aubert.
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Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare and sometimes hereditary disease. The tumour can be diagnosed and followed up by measuring the amounts of calcitonin it secretes. The prognosis of this cancer largely depends on an early diagnosis and treatment. From the clinical and laboratory (calcitonin assays) data recorded in our department, we have endeavoured to determine the influence of a national multidisciplinary co-operative group (GETC: French medullary study group) on the diagnosis and prognosis of this malignancy. We are able to show that the number of medullary thyroid carcinomas detected (principally in their familial forms) has increased by 141 per cent after the GETC was created. Calcitonin levels at the time of diagnosis are significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in familial cases, which reflects an early detection. The same applies to post-operative calcitonin levels (P less than 0.005), so that in the long run a better prognosis can be expected. It seems therefore that together with a better knowledge of this cancer and its detection, the setting up of a national multidisciplinary co-operative group results in a better clinical and therapeutic approach of these patients, and particularly of the familial cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
In the E.N.T. area, gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is manifested as atypical pharyngitis or laryngitis. E.N.T. examination is frequently negative. The diagnosis rests on demonstration of the reflux which is clinically obvious in most cases. It must be confirmed by exploratory methods, the main one being oesophageal pH measurement. Fibroscopy is useful to exclude an associated oesophagitis. GOR is very frequent in children and indeed unavoidable during the first weeks of life. It may produce inflammatory E.N.T. symptoms, but also obstructive apnoea and nocturnal cough. Management essentially consists of hygienic and dietetic measures. It is highly effective as regards both GOR and its atypical E.N.T. manifestations.
"Sensitive" thyrotropin (TSH), thyroglobulin (TG) and even thyrotropin binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII) assays are now widely available. The objective of the present study was to determine the most accurate of these three parameters to predict the relapse of Graves' disease during the year following treatment discontinuation and to evaluate whether the assay of three markers is able to improve the prediction. TSH, TG and TBII were measured in the sera of 67 Graves' disease patients after at least 12 months of medical treatment. In 52 patients, TBII had also been determined before the beginning of the medical treatment. Under treatment, all the patients were clinically and biologically euthyroid, but in 9 goitrous patients it was impossible to lower the doses of carbimazole without an immediate relapse. The TSH levels of these 9 patients were still low in all cases but one; TG and TBII levels were abnormal in all. In the other 58 patients, the treatment was discontinued; 22 relapsed within one year, more frequently when a goiter was present. The most reliable parameter for the prediction of relapse was found to be TBII, as its specificity was high (94.5%), although its sensitivity was poor (45%); TG was more sensitive (64%) but far less specific (57%); TSH and "initial" TBII appeared to be of a little interest. When TBII was elevated prior to the withdrawal of treatment, the determination of TG was useful: abnormal values of both TBII and TG were always associated with a relapse. When TBII testing was negative, the relapse risk fell to 0.26, and to 0.08 when three criteria were matched: no goiter, negative TBII, normal TG.
The serum concentrations of the different forms of circulating testosterone, total testosterone, free testosterone and non-sex-hormone binding globulin bound testosterone (albumin bound + free fractions) which is considered as the bioavailable hormone, were measured in 15 hyperthyroid women before and after anti-thyroid drug therapy and in 15 age-matched healthy women. Sex-hormone binding globulin and albumin were quantified. Total testosterone was significantly higher in hyperthyroid women before treatment, whereas free testosterone and non sex-hormone binding globulin bound testosterone were significantly decreased. After recovery, all the parameters returned to the normal range. In hyperthyroid patients, the variations in the different fractions of testosterone can be related to the rise of sex-hormone binding globulin. These variations could be explained by the displacement of the equilibrium defined by the binding equation.
Nasal obstruction is frequently related to hypertrophy of the bony inferior nasal conchae. Medical management and/or isolated correction of deviation of the nasal septum are often inadequate. Surgical management, although it has raised controversy, becomes the only therapeutical course. Submucosal resection of the conchae was performed in 104 patients between 1986 and 1988. Subjective analysis of postoperative data shows 82% of successful surgery cases yielding good nasal repermeabilization with some minor unpleasant effects, such as nasal crusts or discharge in 46% of cases. The authors describe the surgical technique as well as its indications, and its advantages as compared to medical treatment, cauterization or subtotal resection of the conchae in incapacitating nasal obstruction cases.
In 264 patients operated at Hôpital Boucicault for neoplasma of the parotid gland, 9 presented mucoepidermoid carcinoma and 4 had acinic cell adenocarcinoma. These latter 13 cases of intermediate malignancy tumors were assessed, although the retrospective follow-up period was insufficient to formulate an estimate on the survival rate of these patients. The authors further review the bibliographical data useful in evaluating the prognosis for such neoplasia. They stress the controversy existing around opinions concerning histology-based prognosis and recent advance on nuclear DNA. Indications for postoperative radiotherapy is discussed.
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Our propose is to present a case of peripheral ameloblastoma revealed by a glue-ear. This lesion is rare: thirty-one peripheral ameloblastoma have been reported whereas this case seems to be the first case described in the infratemporal fossa. Microscopic examination is necessary for the diagnosis. The resection was realized through the soft palate.
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Renal haemodynamics and natriuresis were studied before and 6 h after oral intake of perindopril (8 mg) in eight hypertensive patients without renal failure. The patients were then treated with perindopril (8 mg per day) and renal haemodynamics were measured on the fifth day, 6 h after the morning intake. Sodium intake was controlled during the study (100 mmol sodium per day). Renal blood flow and the glomerular filtration rate were measured by the clearance method using 131I-hippuran and 125I-iothalamate, respectively. Mean blood pressure decreased from 135 to 110 after 6 h, and was 118 mmHg on the fifth day (P less than 0.001, respectively). Renal vascular resistance decreased significantly after acute drug intake from 0.19 to 0.15 arbitrary units (P less than 0.001) and on the fifth day to 0.16 arbitrary units (P less than 0.001). Renal blood flow rose from 708 to 723 after 6 h, and to 750 ml/min per 1.73 m2 on the fifth day but the change was no significant. There was no alteration in the glomerular filtration rate so that the filtration fraction decreased from 0.27 to 0.26 (after 6 h), and to 0.25 on the fifth day (P less than 0.02). Natriuresis increased after the first intake between the first and tenth hours. On the fifth day, maximum natriuresis was observed between the fourth and sixth hours. Perindopril caused strong renal vasodilation after the first intake and during the following days, with no change in the glomerular filtration rate. There was a significant decrease in the filtration fraction, indicating efferent, as well as afferent, arteriolar vasodilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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We compared the diagnostic value of information given by total testosterone (I), free testosterone (II), the free androgen index (III), and testosterone not bound by sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (IV) as measured by a new differential ammonium sulfate precipitation technique, each step of which is conducted at 37 degrees C. SHBG and albuminemia were also measured. To examine the clinical value of IV, we analyzed single blood samples from 15 hirsute women and 15 age-matched healthy control volunteers. Values for I, II, III, and IV testosterone were all significantly higher in the hirsute group (P less than 0.01), whereas SHBG was decreased (P less than 0.01) and albumin concentrations were similar for the two groups. Overlap between values for normal and for hirsute women was 33.3% for I, 13.3% for II, and 0% for III and IV. The presented data suggest that IV measured by ammonium sulfate precipitation is the preferred discriminator for detecting hyperandrogenism, because this assay is technically simpler and less expensive than the II assay for routine investigation. It closely reflects the pool of bioavailable testosterone; thus, its main use might be as a screening test for androgen excess in women.
More than 500 sera were assayed for TBII under routine conditions using "Trak" assay in order to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and prognostic interest of this determination in hyperthyroidism. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of Graves' disease was 83.5%, better in ophthalmopathic patients (93%) than in non ophthalmopathic patients (75%). The specificity was 99.4% with only one false positive in a hypothyroid patient. TBII level significantly decreases with carbimazole treatment except in patients who remain hyperthyroid. Determination of TBII before stopping carbimazole treatment or after surgery has a prognostic significance as a positive value indicates a relapse in almost all cases. Conversely, a fall of TBII to normal levels with treatment is insufficient to assess recovery. High levels are frequently observed after radioiodine therapy but do not indicate a poor prognosis.
Between 1977 and 1984, a total of 23 patients with post-anastomotic stenosis after surgery for esophageal atresia were treated conjointly by the ORL and digestive surgery departments of Hôpital Trousseau, France. Most cases were type III atresias treated by direct anastomosis, favoring factors for stenosis being gastro-esophageal reflux, post-anastomotic fistula and the surgical act. Stenosis usually develops early, provokes only moderately severe symptomatology and requires treatment by dilatation mainly, in association with anti-reflux medication. Prognosis was usually good in the 23 cases reported, 21 being able to take food normally. Surgery should be reserved for cases with severe reflux and for those with persistent stenosis.
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