[Quinquina and man]. / Du quinquina et des hommes.

Many great discoveries have been made by chance but some have been the result of human perseverance and ingenuity. A sterling example of the second case is quinquina that was discovered in Peru and is now produced in Java. Quinquina has gone through centuries without losing its medical efficacy that efficacy allowed the exploration and colonization of Africa and played a key role in the ability to conduct overseas military campaigns. Because of its strategic importance, it was a coveted resource. It led to the discovery of homeopathy and dyes, allowed the development of organic chemistry, and has been used to make alcoholic bitters and soft drinks.

[Urinary tract infection in an urban population: etiology and antibiotic sensitivity as a function of patient history]. / Infections urinaires en pratique de ville: étiologies et sensibilité aux antibiotiques en fonction des antécédents. l'AFORCOPI-BIO. Association pour la Formation Continue en Pathologie Infectieuse des Biologistes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between etiological factors, bacterial isolates and Escherichia coli susceptibility to antibiotics in ambulatory patients with urinary tract infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 13 private medical laboratories in France in March 1998. Data were collected on 658 cases involving 679 strains in ambulatory patients with urinary tract infections. Data on age, gender, catheter insertion within the 7 preceding days, and history of hospitalization, urinary infection and antibiotic treatment during the 6 preceding months were recorded. The distribution of the bacterial isolates and Eschericha coli sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, and gentamycin were studied. RESULTS: E. coli was most frequently isolated in women, in patients with no catheter or without a history of antibiotic treatment, hospitalization or urinary infection. There was no difference in E. coli sensitivity according to sex and age in women. In patients with prior antibiotic treatment, all the tested antibiotics except gentamycin were significantly less active. In case of prior hospitalization, the E. coli isolates were more resistant to amoxicillin, quinolones, cotrimoxazole and gentamycin. The level of E. coli suceptibility rose as the delay since hospitalization or urinary infection increased. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory patients comprise a heterogeneous population requiring particular attention to correctly adapt therapeutic strategies.

[Importance of the "Personal Serologic Immunization Card" among travelers]. / Intérêt d'une carte personnelle sérologique d'immunisation chez le voyageur.

The "Personal Immunization Card" is entering more and more in practice, even though its existence is not yet acknowledged. One of his advantages is to consider the travel medicine counsellor on one hand and the travelling adult on the other hand, being able to take a licit decision in account to informative data. That means to give the two actors-guarantors of the compliance--the responsibility in Public Health, in a domain considered until now in the same way as that of vaccinations in Infancy. The obligations and recommendations may not be sufficient, it is necessary to be convincing at the adult age. Without a doubt, we should get ride of the a priori with the progress in biology. We shall update our behaviour.

Antibodies directed against a variable and neutralizable region of the HTLV-I envelope surface glycoprotein.

The majority of neutralizing antibodies of HTLV-I are directed against linear epitopes of the envelope surface glycoprotein (gp46) in the immunodominant region 175-199. Although gp46 presents a remarkable degree of conservation, the substitution of the proline at position 192 by a serine is described for 10 isolates among the 54 sequenced ones. This amino acid substitution is known to induce an important change in the orientation of the exposed residues of this region and has drastic consequences on the immunogenicity of the neutralizable epitopes located in this region. We developed monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes located in this region containing a proline or a serine at position 192. The six monoclonal antibodies obtained recognize the gp46 at the surface of living HTLV-I producing cells, two of them are specific of a 190-197 epitope with a serine at position 192. This demonstrates that the antigenicity of this epitope differs depending on the presence of a proline or a serine at position 192. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the immunodominant neutralizable region 175-199 is antigenically variable.

[Information communication to travelers, the French and Belgian experiences]. / Communication de l'information aux voyageurs, les expériences française et belge.

Providing relevant and up-to-date information to professionals and the general public is possible through many existing as well as developing means of communication including telephone and faxing, databases, answering machines and internet. Professionals may use information networks in order to harmonize advice given to their patients or clients. An exchange may also be established among all types of travel medicine professionals for keeping up with the latest relevant news and information or for sharing new ideas. Because travellers are now more proactive on their health than ever before, basic information designed for the general public is also becoming necessary. Examples of the various uses of communications in France and in Belgium are considered below.

[Recent evolution of travel medicine in France and in the world]. / Evolution récente de la médecine des voyages en France et dans le monde.

The purpose of this study is to show the different steps which have to led to the individualization of this discipline. The necessity of Travel Medicine is a result of the rapid expansion in international and intercontinental travel, in the development of means of prevention of risks linked to this increased travel, in modification made in the doctor-traveler relationship, and in the updating of everchanging epidemiological data. A strategy was developed in France, taking into account all components involved, leading to the creation of the French Travel Medicine Society in 1993. This society can be as an example abroad. The International Society of Travel Medicine was founded in 1992, Atlanta. Travel Medicine has always existed, but the organisation of its structures and especially the training of specialists has to be reconsidered. The main goal of Travel Medicine is the prevention, through information, of medical risks while travelling. This discipline is first and foremost a matter of Public Health. Investigation of this domain is far from complete.

Arguments against Chemoprophylaxis in Areas at Low Risk for Chloroquine-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum.

Chemoprophylaxis of malaria prevents the disease not the infection (suppressive chemoprophylaxis) with "high levels of confusion and low levels of compliance." The magnitude of danger of contracting malaria for travelers varies in several endemic zones. In West Africa, without prophylaxis, malaria is estimated to have an incidence of 1.4% per person per month. In South and Central America, the incidence is 0.05 and 0.01% per month, respectively. In Asia, the transmission and percentage of infection due to Plasmodium falciparum is much lower. The dangers of chemoprophylaxis in an area at low risk for chloroquine resistant P. falciparum are a reality. Incompletely active drugs change clinical manifestations, and changes in clinical manifestations delay the establishment of a correct diagnosis. The rate of adverse events is 15-20%, and hospitalization due to side effects of prophylaxis occurs in one in 10,000 travelers. Neuropsychiatric side effects have been reported with both mefloquine and chloroquine. A false sense of security can hinder a physician practicing in a nonendemic area from thinking of malaria when a traveler returns with fever. To complicate the picture, in many countries, there is an emerging drug resistance in P. falciparum as well as an emerging chloroquine resistance in P. vivax strains (20% in New Guinea and Irian Jaya). In short, no available chemoprophylaxis is free from toxicity, and its efficacy is never 100%. Alternatives to conventional chemoprophylaxis are encouraged in areas of low morbidity of malaria. In areas where P. vivax occurs primarily, and when the risk of serious side effects from chemoprophylaxis outweighs the risk of life threatening P. falciparum infection, there are four alternative strategies.2,3 The first strategy is that the traveler avoid mosquito bites. With a compulsive attitude, a high degree of protection can be realized with the proper use of pyrethrum-impregnated mosquito netting, topical DEET-containing insect repellents and impregnated protective clothing. Secondly, when the stay in malaria-endemic areas is less than 1 week, the disease will appear after returning home. No chemoprophylaxis is needed during the journey. With the onset of fever, diagnosis and therapy are performed without delay at home. This strategy assumes the participation of an informed physician. A third strategy is standby treatment, which is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the use of antimalarial drugs carried for self administration when fever occurs and prompt medical attention is not available. Standby treatment is a safe option for an informed tourist traveling to areas at low risk of malaria or in areas where chemoprophylaxis may not be effective. Likewise, self therapy might be preferred for travelers who make frequent journeys characterized by brief and successive visits to malarious and nonmalarious areas, and for long-term travelers, and expatriots. Standby treatment minimizes drug overuse, demands early investigation of any febrile illness, and insists that effective treatment is given rapidly for P. falciparum malaria that occurs in nonimmune persons. This strategy is the responsibility assumed by teaching physicians and appears to be more advantageous than classic long-term chemoprophylaxis. A fourth strategy is systematic curative treatment carried out under supervision upon a traveler's return home. The administration of halofantrine after departure from endemic areas was studied for the prevention of P. falciparum malaria after short-term exposure,4 but the adverse cardiac effects of this drug obviates the usefulness of this "radical cure". Possibly the administration of doxycycline or azithromycin after departure from malarious areas could prevent P. falciparum malaria after short-term exposure and with less deleterious side effects. This approach requires more research, and again this will be the responsibility of physicians.

Diaphragmatic function in severely malnourished patients with anorexia nervosa. Effects of renutrition.

The effects of malnutrition and refeeding on nutritional indices, pulmonary function, and diaphragmatic contractile properties were studied in severely malnourished patients with anorexia nervosa. Fifteen patients were evaluated upon hospital admission (Day 0) and on Days 7, 30, and 45 after starting feeding. Spirometry, lung volumes, and arterial blood gases were measured at each time interval, as were contractile properties of the diaphragm as assessed by transdiaphragmatic pressure generated during electrical phrenic nerve stimulation (Pdistim) and a maximal sniff maneuver (Pdisniff). Anthropomorphic and biochemical measurements were performed at each time interval. Patients were severely malnourished upon admission; mean body weight was 37.1 +/- 4.7 kg (63% ideal body weight). During nutritional support, body weight increased significantly to 42.9 +/- 4.6 kg on Day 45 (p < 0.01), as did muscle mass: 11.2 +/- 4.1 kg on Day 0, to 16.6 +/- 4.9 kg on Day 45 (p < 0.01). Vital capacity and FEV1 increased significantly by Day 30 (p < 0.05). Lung volumes were unchanged. Mean arterial blood gas values were also within the normal range at Day 0; PaO2, 92.6 +/- 2.4 mm Hg and PacO2, 41.0 +/- 1.5 mm Hg. Four patients, however, had an increased PacO2 (> 42 mm Hg) at Day 0, which returned to normal by Day 30. Diaphragmatic contractility was severely depressed initially; Pdistim, 15.9 +/- 1.4 cm H2O; Pdisniff, 65.4 +/- 5 cm H2O; but it significantly increased with nutritional support by Day 30 to 22.5 +/- 1.9 and 84.6 +/- 4.7 cm H2O, respectively. We conclude that diaphragmatic function is severely impaired in malnuorished patients free of other coexisting

Three-week hepatitis B vaccination provides protective immunity.

To determine whether a 3-week hepatitis B (HB) vaccination could achieve protective immunity, 89 healthy non-immunized young adults received three doses of 20 micrograms each of HBs antigen (GenHevac B, Pasteur) and were randomly assigned to schedule A (n = 44): two doses at day 0, one dose at day 21; or schedule B (n = 45): one dose at days 0, 10 and 21. Seroprotection rates (anti-HBs > or = 10 mIU ml-1) for groups A and B respectively were: 23 and 40% at day 21; and 77 and 91% at day 82 (not significant). Anti-HBs geometric mean titres were higher in group B than in group A (p < 0.05) at days 21 (6.4 versus 3.8) and 82 (77.6 versus 33.5). One year after primary vaccination, the seroprotection rate remained as high as 90% in the vaccinees of group B; after boosting all vaccinees had protective levels of anti-HBs antibodies. Thus 3-week HB vaccination with GenHevac B allowed early and durable protective immunity.

Acute effects of zolpidem, triazolam and flunitrazepam on arterial blood gases and control of breathing in severe COPD.

Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly complain of insomnia, but hypnotic drugs are generally not recommended due to their depressant effect on the respiratory centres. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare the effects of a single dose of the benzodiazepine hypnotics, triazolam 0.25 mg and flunitrazepam 1 mg, and a new imidazopyridine compound, zolpidem 10 mg, in hypercapnic COPD patients. Twelve stable COPD patients (mean +/- SD arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) 9.3 +/- 0.8 kPa and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) 5.9 +/- 1.9 kPa) were included in the study. The following measurements were performed before and 2 h after drug administration: PaO2 and PaCO2, minute ventilation (VE), mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1), rebreathing CO2 tests with ventilatory response to carbon dioxide stimulation (delta VE/delta PACO2) and mouth occlusion pressure response to carbon dioxide stimulation (delta P0.1/delta PACO2). The measurements were performed in a randomized, double-blind fashion, each patient receiving a single dose of each drug on three different days, separated by a one week interval. No difference was noted between control measurements and those taken 2 h after administration of zolpidem in the following parameters: PaCO2, PaCO2, VE, P0.1, delta VE/delta PACO2 and delta P0.1/PACO2. Two hours after administration of triazolam and flunitrazepam, a significant difference was noted in VE for triazolam and for flunitrazepam. After flunitrazepam administration, a significant decrease in PaCO2 (6 +/- 1.8 at baseline versus 7 +/- 0.4 kPa), and delta VE/PACO2 (0.44 +/- 0.20 at baseline versus 0.31 +/- 0.21 l.min-1 x kPa) were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Travel medicine]. / La médecine des voyages.

Travel Medicine was inherited from Tropical Medicine and was organised around the development of intercontinental travels. It concerns all types of travellers, especially tourists, migrants and expatriates. It must be universal, scientific, but first of all preventive. Its aims to the information of all professionals concerned by health and tourism. Its goal is also the training of physicians and the education of travellers regarding their own responsibilities.

[Infectious disease observed upon travel return. Retrospective and prospective investigation conducted in 1992 with 15 hospitals]. / Pathologie infectieuse observée au retour des voyages. Enquête rétrospective et prospective menée en 1992 auprès de 15 hôpitaux.

We report 1,302 cases of patients observed in the Department of Infectious Diseases in 15 French hospitals: 1,036 in a retrospective study in 1991; 266 in a prospective study in 1992. 48% of patients suffered from malaria, diarrhoea or hepatitis; 50% were admitted in the hospital. We have numbered 191 cases of non tropical diseases, 14 cases of HIV seropositivity and 14 cases of adverse events due to antimalarial chemoprophylaxis.

[Real information needs of the traveller before his departure. Results of a survey by questionnaire]. / Les besoins réels en information du voyageur avant son départ. Résultats d'une enquête par questionnaire. Société française de la Médecine des Voyages.

This study is based upon 727 questionnaires completed by French travellers 10 days after intercontinental travel. The response rate was 40%. Two out of 5 travellers had generally mild health problems: fever (12%), diarrhoea (36%). Forty-six of them took drugs, which they had brought with them during their travel. Ten per cent had a satisfactory visit to a local physician. Medical informations given before departure appears to be sufficient, useful and relevant in more than 90% of cases. The traveller would like to receive them from his own physician or from vaccination centers. Other informations as insurance, assistance, administration, finances, appeared to have been incorrectly perceived by 20% of the travellers. The travel agent is the one who should provide adequate information. The traveller, in general, plans to do more travelling for his own well being if not for his work. Would not the bigger risk for him be "not to travel at all".

[Development and trends from 1986 to 1993 of the attitude of intercontinental travellers on departure from France, with respect to malaria prophylaxis]. / Evolution et tendances de 1986 a 1993 de l'attitude des voyageurs intercontinentaux au départ de France, vis-a-vis de la prophylaxie du paludisme.

Simultaneously to information campaigns on malaria prevention in France, 5 successive surveys were performed from 1986 to 1993 on the knowledge and attitudes of travellers regarding malaria prevention. French travellers (principally towards Sub Saharan Africa) know the risk of malaria and the measures of prevention (96%). Chimioprophylaxis using chloroquine has been progressively replaced by mefloquine and then by the association mefloquine-proguanil; 25% of travellers know mosquito prevention measures (repellents and impregnated bed nets) and 27% know the stand-by treatment. Passive attitude of travellers has been modified (in part due to their education) and tend to emphasize today their own responsibility.