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Biomedical subjects

D Leger

Publications and source records attributed to D Leger.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Forensic sleep medicine: nocturnal wandering and violence.

Forty-one subjects between 12 and 63 years of age with a complaint of nocturnal wandering were reviewed retrospectively, and a prospective investigation of their compliance to treatment was performed. Twenty-nine of 41 subjects committed violence against themselves or others ("violent group"). Clinical investigation of their problem involved polysomnography, wake and sleep EEGs and ambulatory EEG recording in the home environment. The nocturnal wandering may have started from NREM sleep or REM sleep, and violence was observed in both of these sleep states. Arousal from sleep may have been triggered by sleep-disordered breathing or may have been related to temporal lobe abnormalities, and, in some cases, no abnormal polygraphic features were noted. Violence was always preceded by many instances of nocturnal wandering that had received little clinical attention. Temporal lobe abnormalities, a rare cause of nocturnal wandering, were present only in the "violent" group. This group also had a higher percentage of men than the "nonviolent" group. In both groups, the frequency of nocturnal wandering increased with an increase in daytime stressors. Pharmacological and psychiatric treatment approaches were beneficial in both groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The cost of sleep-related accidents: a report for the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research.

This report, prepared for the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, explores the economic implications of sleepiness in relation to accidents. In Part One, I describe the frequency of accidents in the United States and explain a method for estimating the economic cost of these of accidents. Accidents are the fourth leading cause of mortality in the United States, and motor-vehicle accidents represent 51% of total deaths caused by accidents. The method used for calculating the cost of accidents is called "the human capital approach". It is based on the principle that "one person produces a sum of output during his/her life-time, which can be approximated by his/her earnings". It is necessary to understand that this estimate of human value is not intended to reduce human beings to a sum of earnings during his/her lifetime. It does, however, serve as a useful indicator in making decisions regarding public health policy for the country. The results of the total cost of accidents and the relative costs for work-related, home-based and public accidents in 1988 are discussed. In Part Two, I explore the role sleepiness plays in contributing to the total number of accidents. The difficulty of researching this subject is compounded by the fact that reports of rates of accidents related to sleepiness differ significantly from author to author. This is true both for drivers with sleep disorders and those without. We have calculated two different rates for estimating the number of motor-vehicle accidents caused by sleepiness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accidents↗
PubMed1989

Identification of plasma proteins contained in bronchoalveolar fluid from Macacus cynomolgus.

1. Serial bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were performed on a subhuman primate (Macacus cynomolgus) in order to give an experimental model for silicosis. 2. We have identified and quantified some plasma proteins of monkey BAL fluid. 3. The results were compared to those previously obtained in humans. 4. Two proteins previously detected in human BAL fluid (alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, alpha 1 antichymotrypsin) were not detected in monkey control BAL fluid. 5. Two kinds of transferrins were detected in monkey BAL fluids while only one is described in human. 6. The present results will now permit sequential follow up studies during the course of experimental silicosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Activation of platelets by microfibrils and collagen. A comparative study.

Previous works demonstrated that microfibrils stimulate blood platelets to aggregate. The present study compares the activation of platelets by human placental and bovine aortic microfibrils and by type III collagen. We studied the morphological changes occurring in in platelets during their activation and aggregation, as well as the kinetics of the release reaction and thromboxane B2 formation. As for collagen, the microfibrils-induced platelet aggregation followed a lag phase, during which progressive emission of pseudopodes and centralization of organelles occurred. Aggregation was associated with secretion of beta-thromboglobulin and adenylic adenylic nucleotides, and with formation of thromboxane B2; it was established that the kinetics of secretion and the aggregation curve were parallel. Microfibrils-induced aggregation was also inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, creatine phosphate-creatine phosphokinase, and aspirin, showing that it was calcium-dependent and required a secretion of ADP and formation of endoperoxide and thromboxane. The response to microfibrils was much more rapid than to collagen; placental microfibrils reacted faster than aortic microfibrils. The requirement of plasma in the microfibrils platelets interaction was confirmed: 10 microliters is the minimal amount of plasma necessary for an aggregation of platelets in 400 microliters of buffer. This fact supports the idea of the existence of two different pathways in the interaction between platelet and the subendothelium, depending on the vascular structure (microfibrils or collagen) involved, even though the sequence of events leading to the formation of an aggregate is similar.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Aortic endothelial cells in culture secrete glycoproteins reacting with blood platelets.

The culture medium of bovine aortic endothelial cells contains proteins which inhibit the aggregation of platelets induced by aortic microfibrils but not by type III collagen. From this medium, fibronectin, thrombospondin and a glycoprotein with MW of 128 Kd (GP 128), similar to a glycoprotein described in a microfibrillar extract from bovine aorta were separated by affinity and ion exchange chromatography. GP 128 was further purified by molecular sieve chromatography on SW 3000 column. GP 128 inhibited the aggregation of platelets by microfibrils. This suggests a role of GP 128 in the platelet/subendothelium interaction.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

[Comparison of the effects of orally or percutaneously administered estradiol on carbohydrates and lipids after the menopause].

The metabolic changes in carbohydrate (fasting blood sugar and blood sugar levels two hours after taking 70 g of glucose orally as well as insulin and glycosylated A1c haemoglobin) and also lipid metabolism as total and fractional HDL, triglycerides and alphaprotein B, were compared in 43 patients of a mean age of 48.6 years who had hysterectomy with castration. These patients were divided into two random groups: the first group (23 women) received hormone replacement treatment in a dose of 1.5 mg of oestradiol percutaneously, the second group of 20 women received 2 mg of oestradiol specially prepared for oral administration. Biological control was carried out immediately after the treatment and 3 and 6 months later. It consisted of levels of carbohydrates and of lipids and of oestriol, oestradiol and FSH. Both treatments, whether percutaneous or oral, were similar in their beneficial action on the changes brought about by castration. When 17 Beta oestradiol was administered percutaneously a better control over the carbohydrate and lipid (triglyceride) metabolism was obtained. This confirms that when oestradiol is administered orally the same respect has to be given to the contrary indications to its administration and to controlling the metabolic effects as when any other form of oestrogen therapy is administered orally.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between alertness and sleep in a population of 769 elderly insomniacs with and without treatment with zolpidem.

The sleep and life rhythms of 769 insomniacs aged more than 65 years were recorded during a period of 3 months before and after a treatment with 5 mg or 10 mg zolpidem per day during 27 days. The patients were selected by general practitioners throughout France: all had been suffering from insomnia for more than 3 weeks and were included in the study whether they had or had not been treated for these sleep disturbances. The evaluation of sleep and life rhythms was made by both the practitioners and the patients during 3 months. A single course of 5 or 10 mg per day of zolpidem during 27 days seemed sufficient to improve sleep parameters and increase alertness in a large percentage of insomniacs, thus establishing a clear relationship between sleep and alertness in the elderly.

Journal Article↗