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Biomedical subjects

A Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to A Wagner.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of overweight in young French adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight in adults and in children is increasing in most industrialised countries. Our purpose is to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a population of 12-year-old French adolescents and to analyse its association with different sociodemographic factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2001 on a representative sample of sixth-grade adolescents (mean age 12.1 +/- 0.6 years) living in the Department of the Bas-Rhin (Eastern part of France). Height and weight were measured in 4326 adolescents. Overweight and obesity were defined as recommended by the International Obesity Task Force. Sociodemographic data were obtained for 3436 adolescents. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 22.7% (17.5% of moderate overweight and 5.2% of obesity) and it was not different by gender or by size of the commune of residence. Overweight was more frequent in low economic zones (p < 10(-4) in girls, p < 10(-2) in boys) and in public schools than in private schools (p < 10(-3) in girls). The prevalence of overweight was inversely associated with family income tax (p < 10(-3) in girls, p = 0.012 in boys), mother's (p = 10(-4) in girls, p = 10(-3) in boys) and father's (p = 0.001 in girls, p = 0.004 in boys) educational level. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated an independent association of being overweight with low family income tax (p = 0.2195) and poor mother's educational level (p = 0.0193). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that, as in other industrialised countries, much overweight and obesity are present in 12-year-old French adolescents. It suggests the existence of an influence of socio-economic factors with a predominant effect of the mother's educational level rather than the financial resources.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Minimally invasive catheter implantation for regional chemotherapy of the liver: a new percutaneous transsubclavian approach.

PURPOSE: Development of a percutaneously implantable catheter system for regional chemotherapy of liver metastases and its application in patients with surgically implanted but dislocated catheters. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with liver metastases of colorectal tumors were submitted to percutaneous puncture of the subclavian artery and insertion of a catheter whose tip was placed in the proper hepatic artery and whose end was subcutaneously connected with an infusion pump. RESULTS: The mean duration of therapy via the percutaneously inserted catheter was 27 weeks (+/-14 weeks). The most frequent complication was disconnection of the therapy catheter from the tube of the infusion pump. Eighty percent of all complications were corrected by reintervention. The therapy drop-out rate due to catheter-associated complications was 9%. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous insertion of a catheter for regional chemotherapy of the liver is a relatively uncomplicated method with high patient acceptance and simple access for reintervention.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An efficient procedure for traceless solid-phase synthesis of N,N'-substituted thioureas by thermolytic cleavage of resin-bound dithiocarbamates.

A novel and efficient procedure which is compatible with high-throughput process for the traceless solid-phase synthesis of thioureas is described. In the presence of carbon disulfide, Merrifield resin reacts with an amine to give a resin-bound dithiocarbamate moiety. Heating this supported dithiocarbamate in the presence of a second amine at 60 degrees C for 12 h led to the formation of the thiourea with the release of benzylthiol bound to the resin. This process allows the preparation of N,N'-di- and trisubstituted thioureas in good yields and with satisfactory purity. Furthermore, the mild reaction conditions involved are compatible with many functional groups.

Free Radicals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

FISH studies in 45 patients with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: deletions associated with polysplenia, hypoplastic left heart and death in infancy.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a dominant Mendelian disorder characterised by mental retardation, a typical facies, broad thumbs and short stature. Previous reports indicated that 4-25% of RTS patients have a submicroscopic 16p13.3 deletion of the CBP gene. Using FISH and cosmid probes RT100, RT191 and RT203 we studied 45 RTS patients from Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Turkey and found four deletions (8.9%, pooled data including other studies: 11%). All deletions were interstitial; three spanned the CBP gene (RT100-RT203) and one was smaller (RT100 only). Previous studies reported no phenotype-genotype correlation between RTS patients with or without a deletion. Our findings suggest a more severe phenotype. The mean age at presentation was 0.96 years in patients with a deletion as against 11.12 years in those without. Patients A and B with a deletion died in infancy which is rare in RTS and was not observed among the other patients. Patients A and D had accessory spleens, Patient A with hypoplastic left heart, abnormal pulmonary lobulation and renal agenesis. This is the second report of hypoplastic left heart and the first report of polysplenia with RTS. The signs suggest a developmental field defect (disturbance of laterality) either as a newly recognised pattern of RTS, or alternatively a novel contiguous gene syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of a validated quality of life questionnaire to assess sexual function following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Wide variations exist in the methods for evaluating potency following radical prostatectomy. We describe our technique of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), present our methods for assessing the return of potency following LRP, and discuss the relevant literature. Sexual function was assessed pre- and postoperatively using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire (EPIC). Sexual function subscale scores (SFSS) were reported as a percentage of preoperative baseline sexual function. The EPIC was also used for single-question assessment of successful intercourse. We also reviewed the literature on prospective health-related quality of life results following LRP and open radical retropubic prostatectomy. Only patients reporting preoperative intercourse were analyzed. Of these, 72 and 35% undergoing bilateral and unilateral nerve sparing (NS) reported postoperative intercourse at 12 months (P=0.01). Mean SFSS at 12 months was 61 and 57% of baseline after bilateral and unilateral NS, respectively (P=0.71). Following NS procedures, 74% of patients < or =58 years of age and 41% of patients >58 years of age reported successful intercourse at 12 months (P=0.015). Mean SFSS was 64 and 52% of baseline function (P=0.249) at 12 months for patients < or =58 and >58 years of age, respectively. In patients <58 years of age who underwent bilateral NS surgery, 82% reported intercourse at 12 months. In conclusion, return of sexual function following NS LRP in our experience is comparable to reports from centers of excellence in open prostatectomy. Standardizing data collection using validated quality of life instruments can provide both surgeon and patient with a realistic forecast of relative return to normal sexual function following prostatectomy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pharmacokinetic aspects of oral administration of etoposide].

BACKGROUND: Etoposide is a cytotoxic agent which is frequently employed in paediatric oncology and which is available for intravenous as well as oral application. Many advantages of the formulation for oral use have been opposed by concerns about its interindividually varying bioavailability. The influence of the dosage of etoposide on its activity and toxicity ("schedule dependency") has also been discussed. The present paper deals with the pharmacokinetics of oral etoposide focusing on the interindividual variability. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients aged between 3 and 73 years received oral etoposide at a dosage of 28 mg/m2 to 149 mg/m2 in combination with oral trofosfamide for palliation. METHOD: HPLC was used to measure total and free serum etoposide in 16 patients, and the etoposide concentration in several urine samples from 8 patients. Pharmacokinetic parameters were normalized to a dosage of 100 mg/m2. RESULTS: The peak serum concentration, the time to peak concentration, the area under the concentration-time curve, the terminal half-life and the apparent clearance after oral application were calculated to be 6.7 micrograms/ml, 2.1 h, 51.8 (microgram.h/ml)/(100 mg/m2), 5.6 h, and 40.3 ml/min for total etoposide, and 0.23 microgram/ml, 1.9 h, 1.76 (microgram.h/ml)/ (100 mg/m2), 5.9 h, and 1172 ml/min for free serum etoposide, respectively. On an average, urinary recovery of etoposide was 21% of the oral dose. The fraction of free etoposide was calculated to be close to 4%. Regarding the systemic exposure to etoposide, a variation coefficient of 40% was determined. Additional studies showed that the interindividual variability mainly concerned the peak levels, while the duration for which intermediate etoposide levels were maintained varied less between individuals. On simulating different dosage schedules, it was seen that the duration of intermediate concentrations (0.5-2 micrograms/ml) may be extended significantly by dividing the daily dose of etoposide into two oral applications. CONCLUSION: The total systemic exposure under oral etoposide treatment varies considerably between individuals. Extended intervals of intermediate etoposide concentration and less variation are, however, possible with oral therapy. Dividing the daily dose into two applications seems advisable. Future studies are warranted to test hypotheses on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic aspects by pharmacological drug monitoring.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pelage mutant allele frequencies in domestic cat populations of Poland.

To determine mutant allele frequencies, surveys of coat phenotypes of the domestic cat (Felis catus L.) were conducted from October 1982 to June 1985 in 23 urban and rural populations of Poland (N = 67-278). The seven gene loci studied included: sex-linked orange (O), agouti (A), tabby (T), full-color expression (D), long hair (L), piebald spotting (S), and dominant white (W). The mutant allele frequencies at these loci are: p(O) = 0-0.139, q(a) = 0.487-0.774, p(Ta) = 0, q(tb) = 0.132-0.451, q(d) = 0-0.332, q(l) = 0-0.220, p(S) = 0.242-0.620, and p(W) = 0. The coefficients of darkness estimated ranged from 0.51 to 0.75, showing no statistically significant differences between urban and rural populations. Of the gene loci studied, only A and S show such differences, with the incidence of alleles a and S being, respectively, significantly higher and lower for urban areas. The relatively great amount of genetic heterogeneity in the cat populations of Poland seems to reflect historical determinants. The Polish data are compared to those from Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, and geographic patterns in distribution for all of the mutant alleles studied are described.

Alleles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of 5 cm of water positive end-expiratory pressure on arterial oxygen tension in dogs during and after thoracotomy.

Thoracotomy in dogs often is associated with lower than expected arterial oxygen tensions (PaO2). Pulmonary collapse from opening the thoracic cavity is likely to be responsible for decreased PaO2 during thoracotomy. To examine whether positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is beneficial to dogs undergoing thoracotomy, PaO2 and hemoglobin saturation (SaO2) were measured in dogs randomly assigned to receive 5 cm of H2O PEEP (n = 7) or no PEEP (n = 9). During surgery in both groups of dogs, PaO2 progressively decreased (P < .001), but the decrease in PaO2 was significantly less in the PEEP group (P = .027). In both groups, PaO2 did not decrease enough to have a substantial effect on SaO2. Furthermore, application of PEEP during thoracotomy did not prevent moderate hypoxemia after surgery and discontinuation of PEEP. Application of 5 cm of H2O PEEP seems to attenuate the decrease in PaO2 observed in dogs undergoing thoracotomy, but routine application of PEEP does not seem justified.

Analysis of Variance↗