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Biomedical subjects

R Roue

Publications and source records attributed to R Roue.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of hepatitis E virus in sporadic cases of acute and fulminant hepatitis in an endemic area (Chad).

Forty-one patients with acute or fulminant hepatitis and 86 control patients were entered into a study of sporadic, acute, and fulminant hepatitis in the N'Djamena area of Chad in 1993. Acute hepatitis B was diagnosed in nine (22%) patients and acute hepatitis E in 27 (66%) patients. No acute hepatitis A was observed and 10% of the patients had serologic markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Dual acute hepatitis B and E were observed in four patients (10%) and acute HEV infection was associated with chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carriage in 16 (39%). Epidemiologic findings concerning HBV from Chad suggest that these patients had undiagnosed chronic liver disease due to HBV, with acute deterioration caused by superimposed HEV replication. Moreover, it is obvious that in developing countries only the most severe cases of hepatitis are seen in hospital settings and a large proportion of them are related to superinfection with HBV and HEV. Antibody to HEV was observed in 22% of the control patients. This observation and the fact that epidemic and sporadic cases of HEV are observed in Chad indicates that HEV is highly endemic in this country.

Acute Disease↗

Short report: polymerase chain reaction detection of hepatitis E virus in north African fecal samples.

Epidemics of enterically-transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis were described in 1983-1984 involving French soldiers in Chad and in 1979-1980 in residents of Algeria. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was subsequently implicated by serology. In this study, the presence of HEV in patient stool specimens from both outbreaks and from sporadic cases in residents of Chad (1994) was documented. This virus was detected in fecal suspensions by antibody capture of the virus and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification of the viral RNA in the 3' end of open reading frame 2. Two of five epidemic cases from Chad (1983-1984) were positive, as well as one of five sporadic cases from Chad (1994), and two of three epidemic cases from Algeria (1979-1980). Of these 13 patients, 12 had detectable anti-HEV IgG in their serum. These results confirmed that HEV was the cause of hepatitis in at least five of these 13 patients.

Africa, Northern↗

[Severe infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 62 cases].

A French multicentre study was conducted in 15 Infectious Diseases departments; 347 cases of severe staphylococcal infections were collected during one year (October 1989 to October 1990): Two-hundred and fifty-eight strains were analysed with complementary bacteriological studies, including 62 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects were investigated. Nosocomial infection was responsible for 90 percent of the cases, and previous antibiotic therapy was reported in 74 percent. An invasive procedure was incriminated in 43 patients (69 percent); intravenous catheter (38 percent), mechanical ventilation (31 percent), surgery (22 percent), prosthetic device (20 percent). Thirty-nine patients were treated with glycopeptides either alone or in combination with beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fucidic acid, fosfomycin, rifampicin, quinolones or synergistines, showing the great diversity in the choice of antibiotics in methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections. More than 90 percent of these strains were resistant to gentamicin and quinolones, 80 percent of clindamycin and 70 percent to rifampicin. No resistance to glycopeptides (vancomycin or teicoplanin) was observed. Prognosis was severe, with a mortality rate of 35 percent, justifying educational and prophylactic measures in at risk medical departments.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Mapping of linear B cell epitopes on open reading frames 2- and 3-encoded proteins of hepatitis E virus using synthetic peptides.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis which is transmitted by the fecal-oral route and occurs principally in the form of large epidemics and outbreaks in developing countries. Two overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to overlapping DNA sequences of the ORF 3 of HEV genome were found to be immunoreactive with sera from patients involved in two epidemics of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. The results suggested the existence of two distinct epitopes. The four synthetic peptides representing these two epitopes from Burma and Mexico strains of hepatitis E virus, were used to investigate anti-HEV reactivities. HEV antibodies were detected in 84-88% of HEV-infected individuals according to the peptide used. The results suggest that a peptide-based ELISA can provide an accurate tool for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis type E.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Circadian variations in plasma levels of hypophyseal, adrenocortical and testicular hormones in men infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Alterations in the circadian time structure of the secretion of several hormones were investigated in 13 male patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Seven were asymptomatic (classified CDC II, according to the criteria of the Atlanta Centers for Disease Control), and 6 had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (CDC IV). Ten healthy males volunteered as controls. Plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S), cortisol, testosterone, ACTH, and beta-endorphin were determined by RIA in blood samples obtained every 4 h from 0830-0830 h the next morning. Data were analyzed both by two-way analysis of variance and the cosinor method. Circadian rhythms were statistically validated for each of the six hormones in each of the three groups of subjects. Compared with the control subjects, mesors (24-h adjusted means) were significantly higher for cortisol and lower for DHEA, DHEA-S, and ACTH (P less than 0.001 for all four hormones) in all HIV-infected patients. Plasma testosterone mesors were similar in controls and CDC II patients, but decreased significantly in the CDC IV patient group (P less than 0.05). Analysis of the circadian rhythms of plasma hormone levels clearly indicated an altered adrenal hormonal state in HIV-infected male patients, even during the asymptomatic period of the infection. For instance, plasma cortisol at 0430 h was more than twice as high in HIV-infected patients as it was in time-qualified controls. Although patients already had elevated plasma cortisol and lowered adrenal androgen levels at this stage, hypogonadism was not observed, as gauged by plasma testosterone concentrations. We speculate that the primary hormonal defect in HIV-infected patients is increased cortisol secretion resulting from circadian-varying stimulation of the adrenal cortex by a factor other than pituitary ACTH. This factor might be a stimulating substance secreted primarily by infected immune cells. Excess cortisol would lower adrenal androgen secretion by shifting adrenal steroid biosynthesis toward glucocorticoids and decreasing pituitary ACTH secretion via a negative feedback mechanism.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Pyomyositis in AIDS. Apropos of a case].

Pyomyositis is a purulent infection of skeletal muscle, a rare entity in temperate climates. The disease has been rarely reported in patients with AIDS. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant organism. This article presents a case of pyomyositis following insertion of a central venous catheter. Imaging techniques (ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance) are useful for diagnosis. The ultrasound-guided aspiration allows isolation of the etiologic agent. The traditional management is medical and surgical.

Abscess↗

[Value of exchange transfusion in the treatment of severe malaria (apropos of 5 cases)].

Five imported falciparum malaria cases with severe evolution are reported. Treatment associated a blood exchange transfusion and an antimalaria chemotherapy (mefloquine in three patients and quinine in two patients). All patients were successfully cured despite of serious visceral complications occurring in two patients (pulmonary and cerebral oedema). Technical management of treatment is detailed. Exchange transfusion should be considered in falciparum malaria when parasitaemia overcomes 20% and when serious visceral impairment, hemolysis or consumption coagulopathy are occurring.

Adult↗

[Hepatic amebiasis: study of 152 cases].

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse retrospectively the clinical, serological, anatomical and evolutive features of 152 cases of hepatic amebiasis in young adults, treated and followed up in France from 1969 to 1983. The disease was revealed 3 times out of 4 by tender hepatomegaly with fever, but only in 6 cases by complications. Serological tests (immunofluorescence or hemagglutination) were always positive for amebiasis, whereas Entamoeba histolytica was absent from stools in 96.7 p. 100 of the cases. Hepatic amebiasis always caused a hepatic abscess: in these cases, the superiority of ultrasonography over all other diagnostic methods was confirmed, especially concerning the detection of multiple abscesses (47 p. 100). Complete recovery was obtained by medical treatment in 117 cases, either alone (98 cases), or combined with needle aspiration (19 cases). Nitro-imidazoles are the simplest treatment, but nevertheless in 5 cases they were not effective. These patients were then treated with dehydroemetine, associated in 2 cases with surgery. Four patients relapsed at mid or long-term after apparent recovery, in the absence of any obvious reinfection. A significant correlation between the course of the treated disease and the size and number of abscesses was demonstrated: it was possible to define a group characterized by a slow and/or complicated course (with single abscess of the right lobe whose diameter is equal to or greater than 10 cm, or multiple abscesses). The pathogenesis of hepatic amebiasis is not yet fully understood.

Adult↗

[The complementary reasonable explorations to consider about young hypertensive patient. (With regard to 389 selection bed-rests in view of national service) (author's transl)].

About a retrospective study turning on 600 bed-rests during 3 years, the writers study 433 confirmed high blood pressures including 389 without therapeutic among which 67 p. 100 labil or limit H.B.P. and 33 p. 100 permanent H.B.P. By light of current ideas and withdrawn informations from complementary explorations done, they try to define a reasonable attitude concerning twenty years old young hypertensive male patients in view of selection. This attitude can be extended to the general field of young H.B.P. people. They establish that a good number of systemically researched elements are without great interest; functional signs, which are more the neurotonia witness than the H.B.P. consequence, heart or renal repercussion, negligible in this age, the too shematic distinction between permanent, labil or limit H.B.P. On the other hand, some parameters deserve to be searched : family antecedents (greater than 60 p. 100), obesity (approximately 20 p. 100), ocular repercussion (approximately 15 p. 100), perturbation of lipidemia, above all hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia and urinary sediment abnomalies. As for I.V.U., in spite of an exact study of vascular times, and second reading by the same observer, it never allowed to display any renovascular H.B.P. Other pathologic uronephrologic established images are all almost associated to urinary sediment anomalies or to proteinuria. More, a few frequent incidents among young people and the price of the exam bring to purpose. I.V.U. only when H.B.P. context is hard or going with urinary signs. Other more specific exams (V.M.A., catecholamines) will be asked according to the context.

Adult↗