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Biomedical subjects

J Bourgeois

Publications and source records attributed to J Bourgeois.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Short-term retention of temporal information.

The main purpose was to determine the short-term retention characteristics of temporal information when subjects experienced time under a conscious cognitive strategy for time estimation, i.e., subjects were instructed to refrain from employing the time-aiding techniques. Visual time lengths of 4, 8, 16, and 32 sec. were estimated by 12 subjects under the method of reproduction. Three levels of retention interval were used, viz., immediate reproduction, 20 sec. of rest, and 20 sec. of interpolated activity, i.e., counting backwards by threes. The variable error was used to evaluate effects of forgetting. When subjects hold time lengths of 4, 8, 16, and 32 sec. in memory for a period of 20 sec. of rest or 20 sec. of interpolated activity, they become more variable than if they recall the item immediately. The variability between the 20 sec. of rest and the 20 sec. of interpolated activity retention intervals was similar. Two explanations for the lack of an interaction between time lengths and retention interval under the variable error were suggested. The constant error was used as an index of bias. Immediate reproduction of the retention interval had less mean constant error than 20 sec. of rest retention under the 32-sec. time length. The particular result was explained in perceptual terms.

Adult↗

Disseminated intravascular coagulation in pregnancy. The role of heparin therapy.

Treatment of the underlying cause and supportive care constitute the basic principles of management of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The role of anticoagulation with heparin is controversial in the absence of any controlled studies. This case report describes two patients with acute obstetric disseminated intravascular coagulation in whom the use of heparin resulted in marked clinical improvement. Treatment with heparin may be of help in situations where there is a delay in elimination of the underlying cause.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

Serum copper and zinc concentration in premature and small-for-date infants.

Serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations were measured in neonates with an appropriate birth weight for gestational age (AGA) and in small-for-gestational age infants. At 7 days of age, there was a positive correlation between serum Cu concentration and gestational age (GA) (r = 0.63; P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between Zn concentration and GA (r = 0.62; P < 0.01). At 7 days of age, the mean (+/- S.E.) concentrations in AGA full-term infants (Cu, 79 +/- 8 microgram/dl; Zn, 84 +/- 4) were similar to those in small-for-gestational age, full-term infants (Cu, 78 +/- 6 microgram/dl; Zn, 85 +/- 12). In preterm infants, there was also no difference between AGA and small-for-gestational age infants. In 23 AGA infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g, serum Cu concentration increased from 51 +/- 7 microgram/dl at the age of 7 days to 86 +/- 7 microgram/dl at the age of 60 days (paired t-test: P < 0.05) whereas serum Zn concentration decreased from 149 +/- 9 to 91 +/- 5 microgram/dl (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between serum Zn concentration and daily intake of Zn (n = 39; r = 0.3458; P < 0.05), but no correlation was found for serum Cu concentration. The evolution of serum Cu and Zn concentration with total age (GA + postnatal age) in the infants with a low birth weight (i.e., < 1500 g) was similar to the evolution with GA.

Animals↗

[Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans developing for 25 years with 27 recurrences. Histological and ultrastructural study].

The authors report the results of a histological and ultrastructure study of a case of a protuberant dermatofibrosarcoma evolving for the last 25 years with 27 relapses. Histologically the tumour is dermic, non-encapsulated, invading the hypodermis right from the beginning and mainly made up of fusiform cells which often have a storiform appearance and proliferate in a varying degree of collagenous stroma which includes an oedematous or myxoid component. During the course of the evolution of this tumour, there were zones of cystic degeneration, but in the last 10 relapses in 1978 and 1979, we noted the predominance of cellular and compact zones with an increase in the number of mitoses. The ultrastructure study showed tumour cells containing a fairly well developed endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm, a prominent Golgi apparatus and some pinocytic vesicles. Some of the cells also contained lysosomes and phagolysosomes, whereas others contained cytoplasmic filaments and contractile elements. The nuclei were in general elongated and irregular. Sometimes the cytoplasmic membrane was covered by an amorphous substance with a membranoid appearance. Between the cells sometimes there were junctions of the tight kind. In conclusion, the authors consider that this tumour has the histological characteristics of a protuberant dermatofibrosarcoma and at the ultrastructure level, it is made up of cells which put it in the group of myofibroblastic and histiocytic proliferating lesions.

Fibroma↗

[Septo-optic dysplasia with antidiuretic hormone deficiency and central adrenocortical insufficiency. Three cases report in infants (author's transl)].

Three cases of septo-optic dysplasia are related in infants. A neurogenic diabetes insipidus and an central adrenocortical insufficiency is proved. An growth hormone deficiency is founded in one case. The other anterior pituitary functions are normal. The pneumo-encephalography with congenital absence of septum lucidum and the ophtalmologic anomalies are typical. The treatment is envisaged. In one case an autopsy sustains the radiologic aspect.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

[Gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the cirrhotic. The value of injectable posterior pituitary extract (author's transl)].

The authors report the experience which the have acquired since 1970 in the use of posterior pituitary extract as part of the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotics. 100 cases have been collected, in 73 patients. These may be divided into two groups: one of 32 patients, who did not receive posterior pituitary extract, with 31 deaths, and one of 41 patients who did receive the extract, with 6 deaths. These figures should be viewed in parallel with the results obtained by other techniques, and it would seem that comparison with other statistics is feasible. In addition, emphasis must be placed upon the simplicity of the administration and surveillance of treatment. Attention is also drawn to the absence of any inherent complication associated with the use of the drug, despite the administration, in certain cases, of high doses.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage↗

Effect of intravenous L-alanine administration on plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon, blood pyruvate, lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in newborn infants. Study in term and preterm newborn infants.

Ten term and eleven preterm newborn infants with appropriate weights for their gestational age were infused for one minute with L-alanine (150 mg/kg) at the age of 29 to 76 hours (mean 48 hours) and circulating levels of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, D-betahydroxybutyrate (D-BOHB), insulin and glucagon were monitored. Plasma glucose concentrations increased from 2.7 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 3.7 +/- 0.2 mmol/l after 50 min (p less than 0.01) in term infants. In preterm infants, after an initial decrease of the glucose level from 3.1 +/- 0.16 to 2.6 +/- 0.16 mmol/l (p less than 0.05), it returned to the baseline level at 50 min: 3.0 +/- 0.2 mmol/l. The blood concentration of D-BOHB decreased in term infants from 192 +/- 37 to 112 + 6 micrometer/l (p less than 0.01) after 40 min. In preterms, its decrease was not significant (p greater than 0.05). Plasma glucagon level rose from 53 +/- 5 to 70 +/- 8 pmol/l after ten minutes (p less than 0.01) in terms infants and from 61 +/- 6 to 75 +/- 9 after 20 min (p less than 0.01) in preterm infants. There were no significant changes in plasma insulin concentrations in either group. Forty minutes after L-alanine infusion, I/G ratios were lower in preterm infants (1.26 +/- 0.14) than in term infants (1.71 +/- 0.25) (p less than 0.01). There was no relationship between the glycemic responses to L-alanine and the basal levels of D-BOHB. The data suggest that the glycemic effect of L-alanine infusion and circulating glucagon depends upon a specific stage in maturation. The antiketogenic effect of L-alanine infusion is observed in term infants as in adults.

Alanine↗