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Biomedical subjects

C Gay

Publications and source records attributed to C Gay.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Patient education of the depressed patient and his family].

The information available to the patient and to his family today pose new conditions for the care of the depressed; it facilitates the acceptance of the illness and of its effects, it is indispensable for the therapeutic relationship as well as for the effective observance by the patient of his treatment, and thus contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of the depressed. Certain rules must be observed in the transmission of this information: it must be accessible and understandable to everyone, it must be concise, it must be repeated and revised according to circumstances, it must discourage self-diagnosis and self-prescription by the patient. This information is to be transmitted chiefly by the doctor and the pharmacist. The depressed may also appeal to complementary sources of informations: books, journals and more rarely scientific publications. Patients' associations provide another potential source for the dissemination of information. Their chief objective is to provide this information not only to the patients and their immediate entourage, but also to the population at large.

Bipolar Disorder

Computerized videokeratographic analysis of corneal topographic changes induced by sutured and unsutured 4 mm scleral pocket incisions.

We used computerized videokeratography to analyze corneal topographical changes in 39 eyes of 39 patients who had phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation through 4 mm incisions. In one group of patients, the incisions were closed with a single vertical mattress suture; in the other group, no sutures were used. Computerized videokeratography was performed preoperatively and at one and five to six weeks postoperatively; corneal curvatures were assessed at radial distances of 0.75, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 mm along the 0-, 90-, 180-, and 270-degree semimeridians. At one week postoperatively, there was slightly more steepening along the 90- and 270-degree semimeridians (up to 0.9 diopters [D]) and slightly more flattening along the 0- and 180-degree semimeridians (up to 0.6 D) in the sutured group. At six weeks postoperatively, all mean semimeridional changes were less than 0.5 D. Computerized videokeratography demonstrated that sutured and unsutured 4 mm incisions induced clinically small corneal topographic changes and detected local variations in corneal curvature that may be due to sutures, cautery, and other operative factors.

Aged

[Citrullinemia: management and clinical course. Apropos of a familial case].

The authors report two cases of citrullinemia in siblings which add to 68 observations from the literature. They overview the clinical presentation, diagnosis and therapeutic management of the disease. The prognosis of severe neonatal form remains poor but an early adequate management may contribute to an acceptable outcome.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors

[Choice of antidepressant treatment after a major depressive episode].

The choice of an antidepressant is not necessary during the initial phase of only treatment (acute treatment), it can be reviewed after one or two months (continuation treatment) and a prophylactic treatment may be discussed after a 6 months period (long-term maintenance treatment). Many reasons explain the need to readjust the dosage of antidepressant treatment or to change it: the nature and the gravity of the depression, the family and personal history of affective disorders, the level of side effects and above all the quality of the recovery. Thus the modification of a treatment can be considered according to 4 methods: modification of the psychotropes associated to antidepressant treatment, association of a second antidepressant medication, change of antidepressant medication, institution of a prophylactic treatment. A special aspect concerns the decision and the choice of the antidepressant treatment after recovery by E.C.T. Two types of treatment can be considered: most often a maintenance treatment of antidepressant medication is suggested. Prolongation of ECT may be justified for consolidation: 6 or 8 sessions after recovery, or for prevention of relapse: session every 3-4 weeks after recovery, and for a period of 2-3 years.

Antidepressive Agents

Population pharmacokinetic parameters for Bayesian monitoring of amikacin therapy in intensive care unit patients.

The pharmacokinetics of amikacin has been studied in 40 intensive care unit patients using the bayesian estimation method implemented in the USC PC PACK program of Jelliffe. The volume of the central compartment was significantly higher in these patients than in the reference population, while other pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly from the reference values. The population values may be employed, in addition to those supplied with the software, to adapt dosage regimens of amikacin in ICU patients.

Adolescent

Effects of different rates of drying cassava root on its toxicity to broiler chicks.

1. The effects of drying cassava root at different rates on its composition and toxicity to broiler chicks were examined. Unpeeled roots from a high-cyanide cultivar of cassava were chipped and dried at 25 degrees C to a moisture content of below 100 g/kg over 24 h for fast-dried meal (FD) or 72 h for slow-dried meal (SD). The meals were incorporated at 250 and 500 g/kg into semi-synthetic diets which were fed to day-old broiler chicks as mash or pellets in separate experiments. 2. The two drying rates produced meals with similar concentrations of polyphenols, but different concentrations of cyanogens, the latter being 38 and 482 mg total cyanide/kg for SD and FD, respectively. The linamarin, acetonecyanohydrin or total cyanide content measurements of pelleted diets were highly correlated. 3. Growth rates of chicks fed on SD-based diets were significantly higher than those of chicks fed on FD-based diets. Compared with a control diet, weight gain of chicks fed on the 500 g FD/kg diet (containing 258 mg total cyanide/kg) was 77% lower, although performance also appeared to be reduced at 142 mg total cyanide/kg. 4. The ratio of water:food intake of chicks was higher in FD than in SD groups, and this was reflected in the high water content of excreta. There was increased bile excretion, the chloretic effect increasing with the cyanogen content of diet. Pancreas weights were lower in FD than in SD groups in experiment 1 (mash diets), but not in experiment 2 (pelleted diets), while there was a significant interaction between drying method and cassava inclusion rate on liver weight in experiment 2, but not in experiment 1. There were no effects on the mortality rate. 5. Pelleting of diets generated high temperatures, but did not significantly alter the cyanogen concentration or the growth of the chicks. 6. Thus, slower rates of drying cassava roots produce meals with lower cyanogen concentration that are, consequently, less toxic to broiler chicks. Cassava root meal of less than 40 mg total cyanide/kg can be fed to broiler chicks at 500 g/kg without any adverse effects.

Animal Feed

[Neonatal mortality and morbidity of low birth weight premature infants (less than or equal to 1500 g)].

Neonatal mortality and morbidity were reported over a 4-yr period from 1986-1989 in premature infants weighing less than 1,500 g, 278 of whom were born in the same obstetrico-neonatal unit. Total mortality was 15%, and was higher in premature infants weighing less than 1,000 g (38%) and lower if the gestational age was greater than 27 wk. Mortality was lower in small for gestational age (SGA) infants than in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants (5% vs 19%, P less than 0.001), and lower in inborn babies than in outborn (12% vs 19%, P less than 0.02) but only in neonates weighing less than 1,000 g. Neonatal morbidity was mainly due to hyaline membrane disease and cerebral haemorrhage. The incidence of broncho-pulmonary dysplasia was low (4%). These results indicate that gestational age, birth weight and place of delivery play a role in mortality and morbidity in very low birth weight premature infants.

France

[Prediction of the efficacy of thymoregulators].

Among clinical factors, the compliance amounts to 47 to 82% of the patients. Recent data contradict the classical poor response of unipolar patients to lithium. Most studies realized on bipolar patients concern bipolars type I. Bipolar patients type II often show comorbidity factors which predict poor response to lithium or carbamazepine. The clarity of mood disorders and the frequency of cyclers have a bearing on the treatment response. But hypothyroidisms described in rapid cyclers do not predict response to L. thyroxine. We should also take into account the sequence of episodes and the type of index episode. The data concerning other possible mood stabilizers are scarce. Among biological parameters, the results are very upsetting. The calcium levels, serotonin levels, the red blood cell/plasma lithium ratio essentially predict tolerance or compliance. The various psychological tests do not enable us to identify a sub-group of patients responding to lithium. The remaining difficulties in the predictive capacity enhance the importance of establishing for each patient the precise history of the illness and previous treatments.

Antidepressive Agents

[Tocokinetics of infected newborn infants].

The diagnosis of fetal infection, other than in association with premature rupture of the membranes, requires the evaluation of various parameters. Children suspected are four to five times greater in number than those truly threatened. A new and important parameter has emerged as a result of tocokinetic investigation: in one case out of two 48 hours before birth and in three cases out of four during the day before birth, fetal motility, together with cardiac reactivity or not, appear to be very markedly decreased when the newborn will in fact be found to be infected. Tocokinetic study is thus a new source of help in the obstetric/pediatric decisions which must be taken in this context.

Fetal Diseases

Quantitative morphometric analysis of brain growth using magnetic resonance imaging.

Using a simple image analysis system, we have established normative data obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for the relative size and growth of the major structural domains of the brain. Midsagittal scans of the head were analyzed in 95 subjects aged 0 to 20 years. Only scans with no demonstrable structural abnormalities of the brain were utilized. Age-related changes in the relative growth of specific structures were calculated by dividing patients into 5-year age increments. No age-related changes were found in the size of the posterior fossa, supratentorial intracranial space, or cisterna magna relative to the total intracranial vault space. A significant (P less than .01) increase in the size of the corpus callosum relative to that of the supratentorial structures and relative to the total intracranial vault space was noted to occur between the 6- to 10-year-old and 11- to 15-year-old age groups. This may reflect an increase in myelination of the corpus callosum that occurs during this period. A small reduction in the ratio of the posterior fossa to the supratentorial space was found between the 0- to 5-year-old and the 6- to 10-year-old age groups, but the biological significance of this difference is uncertain. It appears from these data that quantitative analysis of MRI scans can be used to draw objective conclusions about the relative sizes and growth of the major brain structures. The development of normative data for these structures and the simplicity of the methodology should have many clinical applications in the assessment of aberrant brain development.

Adolescent

[Neonatal idiopathic pericardial effusion].

The authors describe a case of hydropericardium occurring in a fullterm neonate presenting with a respiratory distress syndrome due to persistent fetal circulation. The baby was treated by surgery. No etiology could be found to explain this hydropericardium.

Female

[Premature infants weighing less than 1000 grams: mortality, morbidity and short-term neurologic outcome].

The outcome of 60 premature infants weighing less than 1,000 g at birth and consecutively born during the years 1986 to 1988 is reported. Forty-two (70%) of them were inborn. The overall mortality rate was 42%, but only 26% in the inborn group instead of 78% in the outborn group (P less than 0.001). The mortality rate was higher for the appropriate for gestational age infants (56%) than for the growth retarded infants (14%, P less than 0.01). The main neonatal problems were the following: hyaline membrane disease (63%), patent ductus arteriosus (7%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (8%), necrotizing enterocolitis (15%), intraventricular hemorrhages (45%) and periventricular leukomalacia (12%). Twenty percent (7/35) of the surviving infants showed abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome, with only one (3%) having major handicap. No correlation was found between gestational age and neuro-developmental outcome.

Child Development

The E5 oncoprotein of bovine papillomavirus is oriented asymmetrically in Golgi and plasma membranes.

The E5 oncoprotein of BPV-1 is a 44 amino acid, hydrophobic polypeptide which is present in membrane fractions of transformed cell homogenates. To define the specific cellular membrane compartments with which E5 associates, immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were performed using an affinity-purified antibody specific for the E5 carboxyl-terminus. Two cell systems which overexpressed the E5 protein were analyzed: (1) Balb/c 3T3 mouse cells transformed by a BPV-1 cDNA expressing the E2-E5 ORFs, and (2) Sf9 insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus expressing the E5 ORF. In both cell types, E5 protein was found in the membranes of the Golgi apparatus with its carboxyl-terminus oriented intraluminally. In the Sf9 cells, which synthesize much greater quantities of viral protein, E5 protein was observed additionally in plasma membranes with the carboxyl-terminus facing extracellularly. The concentration of E5 protein within the Golgi and plasma membranes suggests several potential mechanisms for inducing cellular transformation.

Amino Acid Sequence

X-linked olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

We present a kindred with a relatively pure cerebellar degeneration that demonstrates X-linked recessive inheritance. The unique clinical picture of affected patients in our kindred is characterized by an infantile onset of ataxia; very slow rate of progression; normal strength, reflexes, and sensation; and cerebellar degeneration with involvement of the olive and pons demonstrated by neuroimaging techniques. The distinction between this and other reported olivopontocerebellar degenerations is made on the basis of the clinical features and mode of inheritance. It is not clear if the distinct clinical pattern in this kindred represents variable expression of a previously reported condition, allelic variance of previously reported kindreds, or a separate clinical entity. Molecular analysis, currently underway, may help settle the issue.

Adult