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Biomedical subjects

F Meyer

Publications and source records attributed to F Meyer.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

A single administration of peritoneal dialysis fluid in the rat induces an acute inflammatory exudate.

Peritoneal macrophages from uninfected continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in general show two different, endogenous peroxidatic activity (PA) patterns: exudate and negative. This suggests, in accordance with the animal model, that a chronic inflammatory state is present in CAPD patients, which may be caused by mechanical stimulation or the dialysis fluid. Therefore we studied in the rat model the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of peritoneal dialysis fluid and physiological saline. Our results on the number of neutrophilic granulocytes, the number of macrophages and the PA pattern indicate that a single i.p. administration of commercial dialysis fluid induced an acute exudate, especially when compared with the minor saline effect. These results are confirmed by the lower percentage of macrophages positive for the differentiation antigen ED2 and in addition the higher number of Fc-receptor positive peritoneal cells, when compared with the saline effect. These findings strongly suggest that the continuous administration of the dialysis fluid, as used in CAPD patients, is the inducer of the chronic inflammatory exudate in these patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Leisure physical activity and age at menarche.

Early menarche has been associated with higher risk of breast cancer. A prospective study of 2487 girls, has been conducted in Quebec City, Canada, to evaluate the relationship of exercise to menarche, taking personal and family characteristics into account. Weight, height, body mass index, and abdominal and supra-iliac skinfolds were inversely associated with age of menstruation. Mother's age at menarche was positively associated with age of menstruation. Age, mother's age at menarche, and weight-adjusted incidence density ratios (IDR) showed no association between energy expenditure and onset of menstruation. Girls who participated in dance, gymnastic figure skating, synchronized swimming, or diving competitions had a lower risk of reaching menarche at an early age (IDR = 0.71 (0.51-0.97)).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Unilateral paralysis of the abdominal wall musculature caused by thoracic intervertebral disk displacement].

Herniated thoracic discs are rare. Many cases present with local radicular or cord symptoms. We describe a case which became symptomatic by a unilateral paresis of the muscles of the abdominal wall. This radicular syndrome has only been described for lumbar disc herniations before. The differential diagnosis is discussed as well as the importance of myelography and the value of Myelo-CT.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1990

Different pathways mediate virus inducibility of the human IFN-alpha 1 and IFN-beta genes.

Multimerization of GAAANN generates sequences frequent in virus-inducible promoters. We distinguished different types of (GAAANN)4 sequences mediating virus inducibility. Type I (NN = GT, GC, CT, or CC) responds to IFNs and to IRF-1 and causes silencing. Type II (NN = TG) and type III (NN = CG) neither silence nor respond to IRF-1 or IFN. Type III mediates constitutive transcription and binds the constitutive IEFga factor, whereas type II binds the novel "TG protein". IFN-beta and IFN-alpha 1 promoters contain different response elements: The former has a type I-like sequence (PRDI) and an NF-kappa B-binding sequence (PRDII); the latter has a type II-like "TG sequence" and possibly additional elements but does not bind NF-kappa B. Type I, type II, and NF-kappa B elements represent three distinct terminal pathways mediating virus induction.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Diet and age at menarche.

Early menarche has been associated with higher risk of breast cancer. A prospective study has been conducted in Quebec City, Canada, to evaluate the relationship of dietary intake to age at menarche. On three occasions during the schoolyear 1986-87, 2,299 pre-menarche. Incidence density ratios (IDRs) adjusted for age at entry and mothers' age at menarche were computed using proportional hazards models. IDRs for quartiles of energy, nutrient and food-group intakes were not different from the null value. In this population of well-nourished girls, diet did not influence the age at onset of menarche.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The gel test: a new way to detect red cell antigen-antibody reactions.

A new process for the detection of red cell (RBC) antigen antibody reactions is described. It is applicable to most of the tests performed in blood group serology. The procedures are standardized and easy, and they provide clear and stable reactions that improve the interpretation of results. The process uses special microtubes filled with a mixture of gel, buffer, and reagent. Depending on the test to be carried out, the test uses a neutral gel containing no reagents (reagents are added to top of gel) or a specific gel containing reagents (e.g., antiglobulin serum or anti-A, -B, -D, etc.). A suspension of RBCs (for typing or the direct antiglobulin test) or a mixture of RBCs and serum (for reverse ABO typing or antibody characterization) is centrifuged through the gel under precise conditions. In negative reactions, the RBCs pass through the gel and pellet in the bottom of the tube, whereas, in positive reactions, they are trapped in the gel and the reaction may be read for hours afterwards. The test is easy to perform, sensitive, and reproducible. The antiglobulin tests can be performed without washing of the RBCs. There should be a reduction of risk from biohazardous materials.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1990

A nested case-control study of the correlates of early menarche.

Age at menarche, an early determinant of breast cancer risk, shows both a downward secular trend and marked differences by socioeconomic status, both presumably the reflection of dietary variations. A cohort study is being conducted in the Quebec City, Canada, area to assess the relation between diet, physical activities, and menarche. In the fall of 1986, 3,022 fifth-grade girls (mean age, 10.7 years) agreed to participate in the study. All of the girls' parents provided information on health, familial, and socioeconomic variables. A 3-day dietary record and a 7-day physical activity recall were provided by 95.8% of the girls. All dietary information was verified with each girl by a dietician. Body weight and height and two skinfold thickness measurements were also recorded for 98% of the subjects. At the beginning of the study, 107 girls had already experienced menarche. In the fall of 1987, letters were sent to the mothers of the remaining 2,915 girls; 2,854 (97.9%) responded. In the preceding year, 352 girls had reached menarche. Of these, 333 (94.6%) had provided baseline dietary data. A case-control analysis was conducted in which these 333 girls were compared with 333 age-matched premenarcheal girls. There was a weak association between energy intake, energy expenditure, and early menarche. Weight, height, skinfold thickness, mother's age at menarche, and participation in a dance, ballet, gymnastics, or figure skating club were also associated with the early onset of menstruation.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1990

Dietary and physical determinants of menarche.

Age at menarche shows a downward secular trend and differs according to socioeconomic conditions, presumably the result of dietary variations. We report two studies conducted in Quebec City in which the relation between diet and menarche was evaluated. In 1978-1980, baseline information for these studies was obtained on girls aged 9 through 15 and included body weight, height, fatfold thickness at six sites, percent of body fat (derived from underwater weighing), and a 3-day dietary record. In a cross-sectional study of 207 girls aged 11 through 15, we compared dietary patterns between premenarcheal and menarcheal girls using logistic regression. In a 6-year follow-up study of 109 girls who had not experienced menarche at the baseline data collection, the relation between time of occurrence of menarche and dietary patterns was assessed using proportional hazards models. The results confirm the association between body weight and age at menarche. Body fat, however, was not strongly related to the onset of menstruation. In both studies, a higher dietary energy intake was associated with an earlier age at menarche. Dietary composition, and dietary fat in particular, was not related to menarche.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Important variations of maternal anti-Rhesus (D) antibody level during two consecutive pregnancies without antigenic stimulus.

In many cases, during pregnancies of anti-D alloimmunized women, without antigenic stimulus, the anti-D concentration remains stable. We report here a case of a woman anti-D and anti-C alloimmunized which has presented high variation of anti-D concentration in her serum during two successive pregnancies with a Rh-negative fetus. Thus, the Liley Index only has confirmed the absence of fetal damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Aneuralgic root paralyses caused by lumbar intervertebral disk displacement. Follow-up of surgical therapy].

It is a controversial issue whether or not a painless paralysis caused by a lumbar disc herniation should be managed surgically because of the possible fatal destruction of the nerve root. In a retrospective study we examined 46 patients concerning the reversibility of their neurological deficits. Our results show that the so called "aneuralgic state" of the lumbar root compression syndrome and the death of the nerve root are not identical. More than half of the patients with the symptoms of nerve root death gained significant improvement above their preoperatively existing paralysis sometimes even up to several years later. The appearance of the compressed root at the time of surgery is of special importance because it allows conclusions concerning the remission of preexisting paresis. Defects of sensibility or the reflex status never improved without simultaneous improvement of paresis. The damage of the nerve root due to disc herniation is discussed with the help of literature sources with special consideration as to the time of reinnervation. Our results demonstrate that patients with an "aneuralgic state" can benefit from disc surgery and thus surgery could be recommended for these patients. Two cases are described.

Female↗
PubMed1990

[Compound acetabulum fracture caused by overstimulation with a PISCES system].

A 56-year-old patient suffered intractable radicular pain from spondylolisthesis L5/S1. There was no help from PLIT-fusion but pain decreased substantially by spinal cord stimulation with a PISCES-system. On Nov 8th 1987 the battery exhausted gradually whereas the patient increased the output up to maximum. When changing to a new battery he suffered an electric shock. Acute opistonus with a jump from his wheelchair occurred with maximal innervation of the muscles of his left leg resulting in a comminuted fracture of his left acetabulum. There seems to be a need for more information and precautions on involuntary overstimulation in the use of neurostimulators.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed1990

First coronary heart disease event rates in relation to major risk factors: Quebec cardiovascular study.

The incidence of first coronary heart disease (CHD) events was evaluated prospectively in relation to the baseline measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, smoking status and education in a cohort of 4576 Quebec men aged 35 to 64 and free from CHD at entry in 1974. From 1974 to 1986, 603 first CHD events were documented. The most frequent first manifestation was angina (6.7/1000 person-years) followed by nonfatal myocardial infarction (4.7/1000) and CHD death 2.2/1000). There was a positive relationship between the first CHD event and systolic (Z = 4.67) and diastolic (Z = 6.50) blood pressure. This relation was observed for angina, nonfatal myocardial infarction and CHD death. Serum cholesterol was also related to all events (Z = 4.99) but more specifically to angina and nonfatal myocardial infarction. Cigarette smoking was significantly related to first CHD manifestations. This relationship for specific CHD events was observed in men who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day. Men who discontinued smoking one year before the study had a risk not different from those who never smoked. No relationship was observed between years of schooling and CHD events. Blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking constituted nearly two-thirds of the attributable risk of first CHD events.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Total and coronary heart disease mortality in relation to major risk factors--Quebec cardiovascular study.

The relationships of blood pressure, smoking, serum cholesterol and education levels on total and coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality were evaluated in 4576 Quebec men aged 35 to 64 years, free from overt CAD at entry and followed for 12 years. From January 1974 to January 1986, there were 417 deaths, 131 due to CAD. A progressive increase in total and CAD mortality was observed from quintile 3 to 5 for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In comparison to quintile 1, the adjusted relative risks of quintiles 4 and 5 for systolic blood pressure were significantly elevated (2 P less than 0.01), being 1.5 and 2.0 for total mortality, and 2.6 and 3.5 for CAD mortality, respectively. The relative risks of quintiles 4 and 5 for diastolic blood pressure were also significantly elevated (2 P less than 0.04), being 1.5 and 1.6 for total mortality and 1.9 and 2.7 for CAD mortality, respectively. In comparison to those who never smoked, the relative risks of smoking one to 20, and 21 and more cigarettes per day, were 2.1 (2 P less than 0.003) and 3.1 (2 P less than 0.0001) for overall mortality, and 2.2 (2 P less than 0.08) and 3.5 (2 P less than 0.002) for CAD mortality. Men who had discontinued smoking at least one year before the study, had a relative risk not different from those who had never smoked. Serum cholesterol and education levels were not significantly associated with total or CAD mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Peritoneal dialysis fluid induces change of mononuclear phagocyte proportions.

Peritoneal macrophages from uninfected continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in general show two different, endogenous peroxidase activity (PA) patterns: exudate and negative. This suggests, in accordance with the animal model, that these macrophages are changed proportionately in CAPD patients. This chronic change may be caused by mechanical stimulation alone (massage) or the composition of the dialysis fluid used. Therefore in the rat model both physiological saline and commercial dialysis fluid were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administrated. Our results on the PA-pattern of peritoneal macrophages do indicate that a single i.p. administration of commercial dialysis fluid induced an acute exudate, especially when compared with the minor saline effect. These results are confirmed by the percentage of macrophages positive for a differentiation antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody ED2. In addition the percentage of Fc-receptor positive peritoneal cells is more enhanced after i.p. injection of dialysis fluid when compared with the saline effect. These findings strongly suggest that the dialysis fluid used in peritoneal dialysis patients is the inducer of exudate peritoneal macrophages in these patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Diet, mammographic features of breast tissue, and breast cancer risk.

This case-control study was designed to reevaluate the association of the morphology of breast tissue seen on mammograms with breast cancer risk and to assess the relation of diet, especially intake of fat and vitamin A, to the high-risk mammographic images. The cases included 290 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were first treated in Quebec in 1982-1984. The controls included 645 women who participated in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study. Risk of breast cancer was higher among women with the P2 or DY parenchymal pattern (relative risk (RR) = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 2.0-7.0) than it was among those with the N1 pattern. Moreover, risk increased regularly with the extent of nodular and homogeneous densities on the mammogram. Relative risk was 5.5 (95% Cl 2.3-13.2) for women in whom 60% or more of the volume of the breast showed either nodular or homogeneous densities compared with women without such densities. Among controls, increase in energy-adjusted saturated fat intake was associated with an increase in extent of high-risk mammographic features. Energy-adjusted polyunsaturated fat or cholesterol intake did not, however, appear to influence the morphology of breast tissue seen on the mammogram. Increasing carotenoid and fiber intakes were associated with a reduction of the extent of densities on the mammogram, but retinol intake seemed to have little or no effect on mammographic features. These data suggest that elevation in saturated fat intake and reduction in carotenoid and fiber intakes may be related to an increase in breast cancer risk through effects of these nutrients on breast tissue morphology.

Adult↗