Sargassum Inundations and the Risk of Hypertension Disorders Among Pregnant Women Living in the French Caribbean Island of Martinique.

Since 2011, Caribbean territories have experienced massive and repeated sargassum seaweed inundations. Once on shore, sargassum degradation through anaerobic metabolism elicits the release of many noxious molecules, including hydrogen sulfide (HS) and ammonia (NH). HS has been long recognized as a malodorous and highly toxic gas, while chronic exposure has not been extensively explored.

Case Report: Acute myocarditis and cerebral infarction following envenomation in Martinique: a case series.

(Bl), a snake endemic to Martinique, is responsible for numerous envenomations annually, leading to severe complications such as thrombosis, necrosis, and hemorrhage. This case series investigates the link between envenomation and acute myocarditis, utilizing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to enhance management strategies. In both cases, cardiac MRI confirmed myocarditis with edema, and subsequent cerebral MRI revealed bilateral infarcts.

The Contrasting Effects of and Venom on Procoagulant Activity and Thrombus Stability under Blood Flow Conditions.

Background: Consumption coagulopathy and hemorrhagic syndrome are the typical features of sp. snake envenoming. In contrast, envenoming can induce thrombotic complications.

[Sargassum seaweed assaults the French West Indies].

SARGASSUM SEAWEED AS SAULTS THE FRENCH WEST INDIES. Since 2011, Martinique and the islands of Guadeloupe have been affected by repeated groundings, culminating in an exceptional wave in 2018. While the sargassum ( Sargassum natans and S.

The chain of survival and rehabilitation for sepsis: concepts and proposals for healthcare trajectory optimization.

This article describes the structures and processes involved in healthcare delivery for sepsis, from the prehospital setting until rehabilitation. Quality improvement initiatives in sepsis may reduce both morbidity and mortality. Positive outcomes are more likely when the following steps are optimized: early recognition, severity assessment, prehospital emergency medical system activation when available, early therapy (antimicrobials and hemodynamic optimization), early orientation to an adequate facility (emergency room, operating theater or intensive care unit), in-hospital organ failure resuscitation associated with source control, and finally a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

Envenoming in Martinique: A Historical Perspective of the Clinical Effectiveness of Bothrofav Antivenom Treatment.

Bothrofav, a monospecific antivenom, was introduced in June 1991 and has shown excellent effectiveness against life-threatening and thrombotic complications of envenoming. Because of the reoccurrence of cerebral stroke events despite the timely administration of antivenom, new batches of Bothrofav were produced and introduced into clinical use in January 2011. This study's aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bothrofav generations at treating envenoming.

Central sleep apnea and exposure to ambient hydrogen sulfide emissions from massive strandings of decomposing sargassum in the Caribbean.

Background: Sargassum invasion of Caribbean and American shorelines is a recurring environmental hazard. Potential health effects of long-term chronic exposure to sargassum gaseous emissions, notably hydrogen sulfide (HS), are overlooked. HS plays an important role in neurotransmission and is involved in generating and transmitting respiratory rhythm.

Increased Binding of von Willebrand Factor to Sub-Endothelial Collagen May Facilitate Thrombotic Events Complicating Envenomation in Humans.

Consumption coagulopathy and hemorrhagic syndrome exacerbated by blood anticoagulability remain the most important causes of lethality associated with snake envenomation. venom also engages platelet aggregation on the injured endothelium via von Willebrand factor (vWF) interactions. Besides platelet aggregation, some venom toxins may induce qualitative thrombopathy, which has been in part related to the inhibition of vWF activation.

Risk Stratification in Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: The Added Value of Lung Spirometry.

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is an increasingly recognized disease that often results in heart failure and death. Traditionally, biological staging systems are used to stratify disease severity. Reduced aerobic capacity has recently been described as useful in identifying higher risk of cardiovascular events and death.

The ventilatory component of the muscle metaboreflex is overstimulated in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis patients with poor aerobic capacity.

The exercise pressor reflex, i.e., metabo- and mechano-reflex, partially regulates the control of ventilation and cardiovascular function during exercise.

Antioxidant Activities of Natural Compounds from Caribbean Plants to Enhance Diabetic Wound Healing.

Diabetic wound healing is a global medical challenge. Several studies showed that delayed healing in diabetic patients is multifactorial. Nevertheless, there is evidence that excessive production of ROS and impaired ROS detoxification in diabetes are the main cause of chronic wounds.

Polyphenolic compounds of Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn. (1827) and diabetes-related activity of an aqueous extract as affected by in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Extracts of the aerial part of Phyllanthus amarus have been extensively used in several countries to cure diabetes. No data is available on the impact of gastrointestinal digestion of such crude extracts on their antidiabetic activity.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to identify active fractions and compounds of fresh aerial parts of P.

Bothrops (Fer-de-lance) snakebites in the French departments of the Americas (Martinique and Guyana): Clinical and experimental studies and treatment by immunotherapy.

Snakebite envenomation is a relevant medical hazard in French Guiana and Martinique, two French territories in the Americas. All snakebite envenomations in Martinique are inflicted by the endemic viperid species Bothrops lanceolatus, whereas Bothrops atrox is responsible for the majority of snakebites in French Guiana, although other venomous snake species also occur in this South American territory. This review summarizes some of the key aspects of the natural history of these species, as well as of their venom composition, the main clinical manifestations of envenomations, and their treatment by antivenoms.

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Snakebite Envenomation: A Brief Descriptive Review and Clinical Implications.

Snakebite envenoming is a pathological condition which may occur in response to the injection of venom. Snake venoms contain a complex mixture of biologically active molecules which are responsible for a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from local tissue injuries to fatal complications. Snake venom administration commonly provokes local tissue injury often associated with systemic effects, including neurotoxic and cardiotoxic manifestations, bleeding, acute kidney injury, and rhabdomyolysis.

Determinants of ventilatory inefficiency in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: The role of excessive ventilatory drive.

Along with impaired aerobic capacity, increased slope of the relationship between ventilation (V) and pulmonary CO output (VCO), i.e., V-VCO slope is a common finding in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA), which suggests ventilatory inefficiency.

Clinical Characteristics of Ciguatera Poisoning in Martinique, French West Indies-A Case Series.

Ciguatera poisoning (CP) is one of the most common causes worldwide of marine poisoning associated with fish consumption from tropical areas. Its incidence is underreported. CP cases seem to increase with grouped cases reported during summer.

Acute Rubigine Poisoning in Martinique a French Overseas Department of America: Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors.

Rubigine® is an anti-rust stain remover containing fluorides which is believed to have been the cause of many deaths in Martinique. However, after the modification of its composition in 2006, serious poisoning from old formulas containing fluorides persisted. Our main objective was to determine the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of these intoxications.

Early air transport after thoracic surgery might be safe: A retrospective observational study in the French Caribbean.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of early air transport (EAT) morbidity after transpleural surgery. We compared our cohort with our patients not requiring air transport.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study, in the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the University Hospital of Martinique over 40 months.

Identification of von Willebrand factor D4 domain mutations in patients of Afro-Caribbean descent: In vitro characterization.

Background: Von Willebrand disease was diagnosed in two Afro-Caribbean patients and sequencing of the VWF gene () revealed the presence of multiple variants located throughout the gene, including variants located in the D4 domain of VWF: p.(Pro2145Thrfs*5) in one patient and p.(Cys2216Phefs*9) in the other patient.