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Biomedical subjects

A Legrand

Publications and source records attributed to A Legrand.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Assay of cystine aminopeptidase activity on a centrifuge analyser].

The assay of the serum cystine-aminopeptidase activity, of placental origin, is a useful test for monitoring pregnancy. The authors present an adaptation of Van Oudheusen's method on a centrifuge analyser which allows a rapid kinetic measurement of this activity and they justify their choice of procedure. The values obtained in non-pregnant women and in pregnancies of between 8 and 40 weeks of amenorrhoea are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Assay of serum selenium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Value in the biological diagnosis of nonobstructive cardiomyopathies].

The authors present a technique of direct assay of serum selenium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, using electrothermal atomization in a graphite oven. The initial results of the assays performed in patients with non-obstructive cardiomyopathies (NOCM) reveal a decrease in the serum selenium level. This element could therefore represent a laboratory marker for these diseases.

Cardiomyopathies↗
PubMed1982

[Serum lipoproteins in chronic alcoholics. Changes in HDL, VLDL and LDL as a function of the degree of hepatic involvement].

Changes in lipoprotein fractions HDL and LDL-VLDL were investigated in 84 chronic alcoholic patients and attempts were made to correlate these changes with the severity of liver damage. In 40 patients with undetectable hepatic lesions the lipoprotein fractions were not reduced but a rapidly reversible increase in HDL was noted in 15%. The 14 patients with steatosis and alcoholic hepatitis showed a fall in HDL, often associated with an increase in plasma triglycerides; these changes regressed during weaning. The 30 patients with cirrhosis of the liver had irreversibly low HDL and LDL levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Circulatory transport of oxygen in patients with chronic airflow obstruction exercising maximally.

Twenty patients with chronic bronchitis were exercised maximally on a bicycle ergometer. At exhaustion, arterial partial pressure of O2 (Pao2) decreased and that of CO2 (Paco2) increased in 8 patients (Subgroup 1). Arterial PO2 increased and Paco2 did not change in the remaining 12 patients (Subgroup 2). Forced expiratory volume in one second was lower in Subgroup 1 than in Subgroup 2. The decrease in arterial pH and the response of cardiac output were the same in both subgroups. Mixed venous PO2 decreased to 23 mm Hg or less in all patients in Subgroup 1 and in 3 patients in Subgroup 2; it stayed above 25 mm Hg in the remaining 9 patients. Our data imply that the ventilatory response to exercise is insufficient not only in Subgroup 1 but also in Subgroup 2 where the patients failed to hyperventilate in response to exercise-induced acidosis and that an unused oxygen reserve is still present at exhaustion in some patients with chronic airflow obstruction.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Immediate effects of captopril in acute left ventricular failure secondary to myocardial infarction.

In eight patients with acute left ventricular failure secondary to myocardial infarction the haemodynamic effects of captopril (25 mg), an orally active converting enzyme inhibitor, were measured. Haemodynamic modifications were maximal at 60 min and lasted for 2-3 h. Pulmonary wedge pressure fell from 23.5 +/- 4.9 (mean +/- SD) to 16.8 +/- 4.7 mmHg (P less than 0.01), cardiac output rose from 3.24 +/- 1 to 4.05 +/- 0.91 1/min (P less than 0.01). Systemic vascular resistance decreased from 27.34 +/- 3.81 to 17.52 +/- 1.65 mmHg min l-1 (P less than 0.01). Mean arterial pressure fell from 89.6 +/- 13.9 to 75.7 +/- 16.3 mmHg (P less than 0.001) while heart rate was not significantly modified. Six patients who had high pretreatment plasma renin activity values responded by a decrease in ventricular filling pressure and/or an increase in cardiac output. One patient with normal initial plasma renin activity value showed similar haemodynamic effects. THese data suggest that in the short term captopril is a vasodilator with both arterial and venous effects and improves cardiac function in acute left ventricular failure secondary to myocardial infarction.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

[Determination of the serum concentration of lipoproptein x (author's transl)].

Lipoprotein X (LPX) is a cholestase marker. The authors wish to set forth a simple and quick method for the quantity determination of this abnormal--a method which could be combined with other biochemical tests permitting the demonstration and monitoring of a cholestatic syndrome. The phospholipid composition of lipoprotein X is thought to be constant; therefore, the proposed method of quantity determination consists in an enzymatic quantity determination of phospholipids, performed on the lipoprotein, isolated from the normal serum lipoproteins by means of a simple operative protocol: elimination of the LDL and VLDL by means of immuno-precipitation, followed by separation of the HDL by means of the action of phosphotungstate. In addition to its quantitative characteristic, the proposed method has been shown to be more selective than the traditional demonstration which uses electrophoresis on agar. This electrophoretic research can in effect, show itself to be negative if practised on biological samples which are rich in biliary acids or free fatty acids; conversely, the operative protocol described permits the demonstration of the quantification of lipoprotein X.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗
PubMed1976

[A simple method for evaluation of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in amniotic fluid. Variation in normal and abnormal pregnancies (138 cases) (author's transl)].

The determination of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in amniotic fluid is a useful index for assessing fetal pulmonary maturity. The authors propose a simple and specific method : the amniotic lipids are extracted and thin layer chromatography is carried out in an acetic acid containing medium. The L/S ratio was studied and discussed in 138 normal and pathological cases.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anhedonia and negative symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia.

The relationships between negative symptomatology and anhedonia have been studied on 61 subjects who had Research Diagnostic Criteria for chronic schizophrenia. Negative symptomatology was rated by the negative subscales of the Kay Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Anhedonia was rated by the Physical Anhedonia Scale of Chapman (PAS), the Fawcett-Clark Pleasure Capacity Scale-Physical Pleasure (FCPCS-PP), and the social interest subscale (SIS) of the Nurse Observation Scale for Inpatients (NOSIE-30). Pearson correlations were calculated between negative and anhedonia scales. Schizophrenics were dichotomized first into negatives and positives using the composite score of the PANSS, and second into low and high negatives using the negative subscale of the PANSS. For each dichotomy, the corresponding subgroups were compared on anhedonia scales using Student's test. The results have shown no significant correlations between negative and anhedonia scales (PAS and FCPCS-PP). There were no significant differences concerning the PAS and the FCPCS-PP between negative and positive subgroups of schizophrenics and between low- and high-negative subgroups. Anhedonia is not a negative symptom. Our results confirm the reported studies on subjective experiences in schizophrenia. A search for more restricted forms of schizophrenia characterized by severe anhedonia is needed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Combined lumbar and sacral plexus block compared with plain bupivacaine spinal anesthesia for hip fractures in the elderly.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This prospective randomized study was designed to determine the hemodynamic effects and quality of combined lumbar and sacral plexus block compared with plain bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in the elderly for repair of proximal femoral fractures. METHODS: Twenty-nine elderly patients ranging in age from 68 to 97 years were randomly assigned to 2 groups: a spinal anesthesia group with single-shot 3 mL 0.5% plain bupivacaine, and a combined block group with 30 mL lidocaine 1.33% with epinephrine for the posterior lumbar plexus block and 10 mL same mixture for the parasacral block and an iliac crest block with 5 mL lidocaine 1%. RESULTS: No need for general anesthesia was encountered in either group. Anesthesia was judged unsatisfactory in 1 of 15 patients in the combined block group. The initial decrease of mean arterial pressure was 38% in the spinal group and 27% in the block group and was not significantly different. A more prolonged hemodynamic effect was found in the spinal group, indicated by the more frequent use of ephedrine to stabilize blood pressure (P<.05). Patients over 85 years had a significantly larger decrease in blood pressure than younger patients (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Plain bupivacaine spinal anesthesia and combined lumbar/sacral plexus block provided adequate anesthesia for repair of hip fracture in the elderly. Hypotension was induced by both the combined peripheral nerve block and plain bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in aged patients; hypotension was found to be longer lasting after spinal anesthesia and of a larger magnitude in patients over 85 years of age.

Age Factors↗