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Biomedical subjects

J Fermanian

Publications and source records attributed to J Fermanian.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effect of tricyclic antidepressant drugs in the isolation-induced social behavioural deficit test.

1. Mice were isolated for 7-9 days. An isolated mouse and a mouse reared in group show a difference in their behaviour when observed together under an inverted beaker. The isolated mouse makes one half escape attempts in regard to the grouped mouse. This is considered as a social behavioural deficit. 2. The effect of four tricyclic antidepressant drugs was tested on this social behavioural deficit. None of the following drugs acutely given: imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline impaired the social behavioural deficit. Clomipramine reduced the deficit at the only dose of 2 mg/kg. The four antidepressants tended to increase the deficit at the high dose of 32 mg/kg but this may reflect a sedative effect. Chronic amitriptyline did not impair the social behavioural deficit. 3. It is concluded that acute and probably also chronic antidepressant treatments are without effect on the isolation induced social behavioural deficit test.

Amitriptyline↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of the childhood haemolytic uraemic syndrome with plasma. A multicentre randomized controlled trial. The French Society of Paediatric Nephrology.

Seventy-nine children with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (mean age 28 months) were randomly assigned either to a group receiving plasma infusions (plasma group, n = 39) or to a group treated conservatively (control group, n = 40). The duration of haemolysis, thrombocytopenia and anuria was similar in the two groups. Serum creatinine levels were similar in the two groups at the 1-month follow-up but were higher in the control group at 3 months (plasma group 49 +/- 14, control group 66 +/- 28 mumol/l; P less than 0.02) and at 6 months (plasma group 48 +/- 13, control group 63 +/- 21 mumol/l; P less than 0.005). The prevalence of proteinuria was also higher in the control group at the 6-month follow-up (plasma group 17%, control group 46%; P less than 0.02). However, differences were no longer significant after 1 year. Renal tissue was examined in 54 cases (plasma group, n = 27; control group, n = 27). Diffuse cortical necrosis was present in 7 cases in the control group but was absent in the plasma group (P less than 0.02). Taking into consideration the higher serum creatinine levels, the higher prevalence of proteinuria during the first 6 months of follow-up in the control group and the presence of diffuse cortical necrosis in this group compared with the plasma group, we conclude that plasma infusions should be regarded as beneficial. Further study is needed to determine which plasma fraction is involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Do skin tags constitute a marker for colonic polyps? A prospective study of 100 asymptomatic patients and metaanalysis of the literature.

Several reports have suggested that skin tags may be a marker for the presence of colonic polyps in symptomatic patients referred for colonoscopy. In a prospective study of 100 asymptomatic patients, we found no association between skin tags and colonic polyps. A review of the literature and results of a metaanalysis show a significant association between skin tags and colonic polyps in 777 symptomatic patients, but no association in 268 asymptomatic patients. To explain this discrepancy, several possible biases are analyzed. As skin tags constitute a marker for colonic polyps only in symptomatic patients for whom a colonoscopy is already indicated, their detection is of no diagnostic value in asymptomatic patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Maternal-fetal transfer of fluoride in pregnant women.

Gas chromatography was used to measure the maternal and fetal plasma inorganic fluoride values at term in 91 women. They were assigned to one of four groups: group A were untreated controls; group B received a single daily dose of 1.5 mg of fluoride (as calcium fluoride) during the final trimester of pregnancy; group C was given a single dose of 1.5 mg of fluoride (as sodium fluoride) and group D was given 2 daily doses of fluoride (as sodium fluoride) totaling 1.5 mg. There was a significant difference between the cord plasma fluoride levels of the newborns in the untreated group (mean: 27.8 micrograms/l) and that of the combined supplemented groups B, C and D (mean: 58.3 micrograms/l). There was no difference between the average fluoride levels in the three supplemented groups. There was no significant effect of maternal age, infant birth weight, gestation or diet during pregnancy on the cord plasma fluoride level. These results indicate that fluoride supplementation during the final trimester of pregnancy will significantly elevate cord plasma fluoride concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Catecholamines metabolism in infantile autism: a controlled study of 22 autistic children.

In a group of 22 autistic children aged 5 to 16 years and a group of normal controls matched for age and sex, catecholamines metabolism was investigated in plasma, platelets, and urine. This investigation was part of a research project in which several biological parameters (including serotonin) were explored simultaneously in the same children. In the autistic group, epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly elevated in plasma, while epinephrin, norepinephrine, and dopamine were significantly lower in isolated platelets. No significant difference was found between the two groups for the urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC, and MHPG. Other differences between the two groups in the statistical correlations of several biochemical parameters also suggest abnormalities of bioamine metabolism in the platelets of autistic children.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of allograft perfusion by radionuclide first-pass study in renal failure following renal transplantation.

To assess the diagnostic value of indices measured on a first-pass curve, we performed 72 radionuclide renal first-pass studies (RFP) in 21 patients during the early weeks following renal allograft transplantation. The diagnosis was based on standard clinical and biochemical data and on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the transplant. Aortic and renal first-pass curves were filtered using a true low-pass filter and five different indices of renal perfusion were computed, using formulae from the literature. Statistical analysis performed on the aortic and renal indices indicated excellent reproducibility of the isotopic study. Although renal indices presented a rather large scatter, they all discriminated well between normal and rejection. Three indices have a particularly good diagnostic value. In the discrimination between rejection and Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN), only one index gave satisfying results. The indices, however, indicate that there are probably ATN with an alternation of renal perfusion and rejection episodes where perfusion is almost intact. We conclude that radionuclide first-pass study allows accurate and reproducible quantitation of renal allograft perfusion. The measured parameters are helpful to followup the course of a post-transplantation renal failure episode and to gain more insight into renal ischemia following transplantation.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1986

A randomized trial for the study of the elective surgical treatment of portal hypertension in mansonic schistosomiasis.

From 1977 to 1983, 94 patients with esophageal varices and gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to mansonic schistosomiasis were entered into a prospective randomized trial comparing the three operations mainly used in Brazil: esophagogastric devascularization associated with splenectomy (EGDS, 32 patients), classical splenorenal shunt (SRS, 32 patients), and distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS, 30 patients). The randomization was interrupted because of a significant incidence of portosystemic encephalopathy (PSE) in the SRS group (26%), as compared to the DSRS (7%) and EGDS (0%) groups. The rate of rebleeding was the same in the three groups, but the rate of failure, as defined by the presence of technical problems, postoperative complications, or death, was significantly higher in the SRS group. This 2-year follow-up shows that SRS should be abandoned in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and that a comparison between DSRS and EGDS with a longer follow-up is urgently needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Salt or no salt in the treatment of cirrhotic ascites: a randomised study.

To compare the effect of diet, cirrhotic patients with ascites were randomised into two treatment groups: (1) a low sodium diet (21 mmol) per day or (2) an unrestricted sodium intake. Both groups received effective doses of diuretics (spironolactone or, if necessary, spironolactone and furosemide. One hundred and forty patients from 12 liver units were included according to well defined criteria (group 1: 76; group 2: 64). After an initial four to seven day period of bed rest and salt restriction (21 mmol sodium pd), randomisation was done in each centre. We saw no significant difference between the two groups with respect to clinical and biochemical data; mortality or withdrawal (definitive or temporary) because of biochemical disturbances (group 1: 34%, group 2: 22%); the time for complete disappearance of ascites was significantly shorter (p = 0.014) for the salt restricted patients actuarial survival (curves plotted up to the 120th day) was not statistically different (p = 0.18), but division into subgroups using various prognostic factors showed that survival was significantly better for salt restricted patients without previous gastrointestinal bleeding (p = 0.02); hospitalisation time and costs were identical in both groups. We conclude that the advantage of a normal salt diet was not shown in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Preliminary study on transplacental transfer of fluoride. Apropos of 41 mother-infant couples].

Comparing the levels of ionised fluoride in the serum of maternal blood at the time of delivery and cord blood shows that there is a good correlation between the two levels (r = 0.66). This makes it possible to say that fluoride is transferred easily across the placenta. The transfer is not influenced by the parity of the age of the mother nor by epidural anaesthesia, nor by the Apgar score. It does, however, correlate with the duration of the pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Blood pressure from 0 to 18 months. Use of an automatic measurement method].

A prospective study of blood pressure in 251 neonates and infants aged 0 to 18 months was undertaken with an automatic measurement method. Children of black race (n = 33) were taller (p less than 0.05), heavier (p less than 0.025) and older (p less than 0.001) than the rest of the sample, but had lower systolic (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressures (DAP), especially between 9 and 18 months (p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference according to race [North Africans (n = 50), white (n = 143) and the others (n = 25)], or to sex. For the sample (n = 218) of non black children, SAP and DAP increased with age (p less than 0.001), weight (p less than 0.001) and height (p less than 0.001). Percentiles were determined in each age class for SAP and DAP. Mean pressure figures increased from 86.8 mmHg (0-1 month) to 108 mmHg (9-12 months) for SAP and from 52.5 mmHg (0-1 month) to 65.5 mmHg (9-12 months) for DAP.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

[Existence of asymptomatic changes in left ventricular function in the diabetic. Noninvasive study].

49 diabetics (D) (26 IDD and 23 NIDD) were compared to 32 controls (C). Absence of ischemic cardiopathy (IC) was confirmed by routine investigations and noninvasive cardiovascular techniques, including an exercise ECG using 12 leads and a thallium 201 scintigraphy. Our results show: a) a prolonged mean isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) as studied by the M mode echocardiography and phonomechanography: D = 0,10 sec +/- 0,04; C = 0,05 sec +/- 0,02; p less than 0,0001; b) a reduced mean EF slope: D = 97,48 +/- 37,08 mm / sec; C = 125,68 +/- 34,35; p less than 0,005; c) a high mean Weissler index (ratio of PEP to LVET): D = 40 +/- 0,08; C = 33 +/- 0,05; p less than 0,01. IVRT and EF slope abnormalities are related to increased myocardial stiffness and impaired LV compliance. In the absence of changes in preload and afterload, the high Weissler index reflects impaired contractility of the myocardium. These abnormalities are related neither to the duration of diabetes nor to the presence or severity of the complications. With the M mode echocardiography, mean diastolic and systolic thickness of the septum is greater in D with retinopathy than in C (p less than 0,005 and p less than 0,03 respectively); mean diastolic and systolic thickness of the posterior wall is greater in NIDD than in C (p less than 0,001 and p less than 0,025). We conclude that there is evidence of left ventricular functional abnormalities specific to diabetes and unrelated to IC and hypertension. Our findings support the hypothesis that they may be due to metabolic disorders and/or myocardial microangiopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

In vivo effects of progestins on prolactin secretion.

To assess a possible inhibitory effect of progestins on PRL secretion, serum PRL and estradiol levels were determined in 13 women with hyperprolactinemia due to a pituitary microadenoma before and after 3 months of treatment with a potent progestin, lynestrenol. PRL levels also were assessed during a TRH challenge test before and after treatment. Results were compared to those obtained in 10 normal women studied during the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle and at the end of 3 months of treatment. The PRL response to TRH was blunted in patients before lynestrenol therapy. After therapy, basal serum PRL levels were significantly decreased, and the response to TRH was almost abolished. No change occurred in the normal women. The estradiol level was 80.5 +/- 7.5 (+/- SEM) pg/ml in patients before treatment and decreased to 29.2 +/- 5.0 pg/ml after therapy. Therefore, lynestrenol, a potent 19-nortestosterone derivative, exhibits in vivo an anti-PRL effect that could be related to its antiestrogenic and/or androgenic activities.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Biological measurements of Crohn's disease activity--a reassessment.

Fifty-eight patients with Crohn's disease were studied in order to compare disease activity as measured by a clinical scoring system, with nutritional status, the laboratory measurements reflecting nutritional status, and the serum levels of acute phase proteins, using principal component analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. We confirmed that orosomucoid is the laboratory measurement which correlates best with clinical assessment of disease activity, followed by ESR and C-reactive protein. Serum albumin correlated poorly with clinical disease activity, although body weight showed an inverse correlation. Serum fibronectin, a protein involved in the production of fibrous tissue, did not detect the presence of fibrous strictures in the intestine.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1985

[Results of treatment with human growth hormone in children with pituitary insufficiency under 7 years of age. Study of 26 cases].

Twenty-six children below age 7 years with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency have been treated with hGH for 2 years. Bone ages were inferior to 3 years and growth retardation averaged 3.9 +/- 0.9 standard deviation (SD) below the population mean. Results were compared to those obtained in a control group of 29 prepubertal patients, aged more than 7 years, and treated with hGH according to the same protocol. The mean height gains during the first and second year of treatment were respectively 8.4 +/- 1.8 cm and 6.6 +/- 1.5 cm. These values are significantly higher than those obtained in the group of older children. However within 2 years of treatment the initial catch-up in height of 0.9 +/- 0.6 DS was not different. In conclusion, we did not observe a better catch up growth in children before 7 years of age than in older prepubertal children, in spite of using higher doses of hGH.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Twenty-four hour variations of thyroid hormones and thyrotrophin concentrations in hypothyroid infants treated with L-thyroxine.

The 24 hour plasma profile of T4, FT4, T3 and TSH was measured in a group of infants treated for congenital hypothyroidism with an oral aqueous preparation of L-T4 (5-7.5 micrograms/kg) given as a single dose at 0800 h. Mean basal plasma T4 was 8.4 +/- 2.0 micrograms/dl (mean +/- SD) and remained constant during the study while mean serum FT4 increased significantly from 1.64 +/- 0.50 ng/dl to a maximum of 2.08 +/- 0.63 ng/dl 4 h after medication. Plasma T3 decreased significantly from 241 +/- 48 ng/dl to 202 +/- 36 ng/dl 6 h after drug administration. Finally, plasma TSH decreased significantly from a mean of 24.2 +/- 18.8 microU/ml to 14.8 +/- 10.5 microU/ml 6 h later. Therefore during treatment of congenital hypothyroidism with L-T4 no specific schedule for T4 sampling is required. However, TSH determination 4 to 8 h after medication could slightly underestimate mean levels. In addition, any attempt to monitor treatment by FT4 determination should take into consideration variations of plasma values in the hours following L-T4 absorption.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1984

[Survival of patients with triple-vessel stenosing coronary atheroma].

This study analysed the survival rate of 179 patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease, 168 men and 11 women (mean age 54 years). Seventeen cases of left main stem disease were excluded. The patients presented with unstable angina (64 cases), stable angina (66 cases), recent myocardial infarction (26 cases) or chronic invalidating angina (23 cases). Coronary bypass surgery was undertaken whenever possible (64 cases, 34% of patients). Medical therapy (115 cases) was based on betablockers (61%), amiodarone (22%) and perhexiline (17%). The study was carried out by a double questionnaire sent to the patient and treating physician, 6 months to 76 months after coronary angiography (average 30 months). The response to these questionnaires was 100%. Survival rates were calculated by actuarial methods. Comparisons of survival graphs was made using the Log Rang test. The overall survival rate was 89% at 1 year, 84% at 2 years, 82% at 5 years and 71% at 6 years. There seemed to be a lower mortality in the surgical group (p less than 0,28). The 2 year survival rate in the group with cardiac failure was 40% compared with 88% in the group without cardiac failure (p less than 0,001). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality except in patients with ejection fractions lower than 0,30. Analysis of survival with respect to mode of presentation did not show any significant difference between patients with unstable angina, stable angina or chronic invalidating angina. Mortality was higher when triple vessel disease was discovered during myocardial infarction, reaching 33% at 4 years, compared to 15% in the other subgroups (p less than 0,05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗