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Biomedical subjects

C Roberge

Publications and source records attributed to C Roberge.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Quality of life and home enteral tube feeding: a French prospective study in patients with head and neck or oesophageal cancer.

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the impact of home enteral tube feeding on quality of life in 39 consecutive patients treated for head and neck or oesophageal cancer at the Centre François Baclesse in Caen, France. Patients were taken as their own controls. Quality of life was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire, and the EORTC H&N35 and OES24 specific questionnaires. The feeding technique tolerance was evaluated using a questionnaire specifically developed for this study. Two evaluations were made, the first a week after hospital discharge (n = 39) and the second 3 weeks later (n = 30). Overall, the global health status/quality of life scale score slightly improved; among symptoms, scale scores that significantly improved (P < 0.05) concerned constipation, coughing, social functioning and body image/sexuality. The physical feeding technique tolerance was acceptable while the technique was psychologically less tolerated with two-thirds of the patients longing to have the tube removed. One third of the patients was also uncomfortable about their body image. Home enteral tube feeding was responsible for not visiting family or close relations in 15% of patients, and not going out in public in 23%. We conclude that home enteral tube feeding is a physically well accepted technique although a substantial proportion of patients may experience psychosocial distress.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Metabolic engineering.

Metabolic engineering is the science that combines systematic analysis of metabolic and other pathways with molecular biological techniques to improve cellular properties by designing and implementing rational genetic modifications. As such, metabolic engineering deals with the measurement of metabolic fluxes and elucidation of their control as determinants of metabolic function and cell physiology. A novel aspect of metabolic engineering is that it departs from the traditional reductionist paradigm of cellular metabolism, taking instead a holistic view. In this sense, metabolic engineering is well suited as a framework for the analysis of genome-wide differential gene expression data, in combination with data on protein content and in vivo metabolic fluxes. The insights of the integrated view of metabolism generated by metabolic engineering will have profound implications in biotechnological applications, as well as in devising rational strategies for target selection for screening candidate drugs or designing gene therapies. In this article we review basic concepts of metabolic engineering and provide examples of applications in the production of primary and secondary metabolites, improving cellular properties, and biomedical engineering.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1991

The differential effects of biofeedback in the treatment of menstrual and nonmenstrual migraine.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of biofeedback training in the treatment of menstrual and nonmenstrual migraine. Accordingly, 39 female patients suffering from both migraine associated, and migraine not associated, with menstrual periods were drawn from a pool of research volunteers enrolled in a biofeedback treatment program for migraine headaches. All patients were required to complete 5 weeks of daily self-monitoring of headache and menstruation activity immediately before and after treatment, and again at 6-month follow-up. Within-subjects comparisons of the effects of biofeedback on menstrual and nonmenstrual migraine, and between-subjects comparisons of the effects of biofeedback on patients suffering predominantly from either menstrual or nonmenstrual migraine showed that biofeedback is just as effective in reducing menstrual migraine as it is in reducing nonmenstrual migraine. Questions as to whether or not these conclusions can apply to patients who experience migraine headaches only during, or shortly before or after, menstruation, are raised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: consequences of a positive family history.

To assess the prevalence of coexisting abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) within certain families, a retrospective review was carried out of patients who had undergone AAA repair over a 5-year period. Contact was made with 305 families (52%) and a positive history of an affected, first-degree relative was obtained in 34 (11%). A known AAA was reported to affect approximately 20% of siblings at risk when the proband had an affected parent or sibling. Siblings of patients with an affected first-degree relative represent a high-risk group that may benefit from a screening program for earlier detection and elective management of AAA.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1988

Site-directed mutagenesis of the polyomavirus genome: replication-defective large T mutants with increased immortalization potential.

We used the deletion loop mutagenesis procedure to direct point mutations into a small region of the polyomavirus genome, at 0.97 map units, affecting the structure of both the middle and large T antigens. We describe the construction of six middle T mutants which have retained the ability to transform rat cells in culture and four large T mutants, three of which are deficient in viral DNA replication and capable of immortalizing primary rat embryo fibroblasts very efficiently.

Antigens, Viral, Tumor↗
PubMed1986

Death, dying, and the brain.

These cases have been cited and these issues presented to make the point that principles are often out of phase with perceptions. The argument is not that principles should cede to perceptions. This would imply resignation to the unlikelihood of moral development. Neither do we claim that perceptions should simply and generally capitulate to principles. This could mean an intolerable dictatorship of one philosophy over experience. Clinical ethics is the challenge to integrate principles and perceptions continuously and critically in resolving value conflicts about the best care of individual patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Familial periodic ataxia responsive to acetazolamide.

Two cases, a father and son, of recurrent cerebellar ataxia in the same family are reported, suggesting a familial trait for the dysfunction. In the older male the onset of each episode (30-90 min.) was signalled by dysarthria which then progressed towards gait ataxia; the son presented closely similar clinical symptoms. Physical examination and blood chemistry revealed no obvious neurological deficit or biochemical abnormalities, with the exception of I-III and III-IV evoked auditory wave interpeak latencies, which were found markedly abnormal on the left side in the father but not in the son; the EEG of both individuals showed some diffuse, slow wave abnormalities. A low dose of acetazolamide, 250 mg daily, has successfully repressed recurrence of the attacks over the past six months. Temporary withdrawal for 14 days of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor in the father coincided with two observed ataxic episodes.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1984

Biochemical properties and kinetic parameters of monoamine oxydase in human seminal plasma.

The present study demonstrates that monoamine oxydase (MAO) is present in the human seminal plasma and that its activity was higher in infertile than in fertile men. The Km and Vmax of the enzyme were, respectively, 3.0 X 10(-3) M and 625 eta mol of deaminated 5-HT mg of prot-1 min-1. The enzyme was activated by pyridoxal-5' phosphate but inhibited by usual MAO inhibitors such as pargyline-HCl, iproniazid-PO4 and clorgyline. These findings suggest a relationship between the synthesis and degradation of biogenic amines and testicular function.

Enzyme Activation↗
PubMed1976

Stimulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity by cyclic AMP in synaptosomes and in soluble striatal enzyme preparations.

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dB-cAMP) elicits a concentration-dependent stimulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the striatal and mesolimbic synaptosomes. The per cent of stimulation is significantly higher in the mesolimbic synaptosomes than in the striatal synaptosomes. dB-cAMP and depolarizing agents (ouabain or veratridine) have an additive effect on synaptosomal tyrosine hydroxylase activity, indicating that they stimulate tyrosine hydroxylase activity by different mechanisms. cAMP does not stimulate soluble striatal tyrosine hydroxylase activity unless it is added in combination with ATP and Mg2+, compounds required for the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The cAMP elicited per cent stimulation of soluble tyrosine hydroxylase activity is dependent upon the concentration of added protein kinase and upon the pH of the reaction. dB-cAMP has the same effect on the kinetic state of tyrosine hydroxylase in synaptosomes as cAMP on the soluble tyrosine hydroxylase. The nucleotide does not alter the apparent Km for tyrosine, reduces the Km for the pteridine cofactor and increases the Ki for dopamine. Thus, cAMP increases the affinity of tyrosine hydroxylase for the pteridine cofactor and concomitantly decreases the affinity for the end-product inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Migraine].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗