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Biomedical subjects

J L Richard

Publications and source records attributed to J L Richard.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Fumonisin B1 concentrations in feeds from 45 confirmed equine leukoencephalomalacia cases.

During the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) occurred from many regions of the United States. Typically, horses were consuming feed partially or entirely composed of corn and/or corn screenings. From October 1989 through May 1990, samples from 55 confirmed or suspected ELEM cases were received at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, Iowa, for fumonisin B1 analysis. Samples from 9 cases in 1984-1985 were also obtained. Fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme, causes ELEM, but little is known of naturally occurring toxic or safe levels in feeds. To determine what levels of fumonisin B1 in feeds are associated with ELEM, 45 selected cases were studied. The fumonisin B1 concentrations ranged from less than 1 ppm to 126 ppm, with the majority of the samples above 10 ppm. All types of feeds were included: corn, screenings, sweet feeds, and commercially pelleted rations. The length of exposure varied from 7 to greater than 35 days. Horse feed samples not associated with ELEM were also collected and analyzed. None of the nonproblem feed samples contained fumonisin B1 levels greater than 8 ppm.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1991

Novel occurrence of cyclopiazonic acid in sunflower seeds.

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), a secondary metabolite produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium, was detected in moldy sunflower seed screenings fed to sows who experienced conception problems and feed refusal. Tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the CPA which was estimated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to be present at 10 ppm. A Penicillium species was isolated from the moldy seeds, but in culture it did not produce CPA.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Primary results of the MONICA project].

The MONICA project is an international study coordinated by the WHO, designed to explain the important variations of coronary mortality observed in the industrialised countries over the last 20 years. Thirty-nine centres in 27 countries are participating in the project which, over a 10 year period will, in geographically determined zones; a) record the numbers of acute myocardial infarcts and coronary deaths, b) analyse the treatment of acute cardiac events, and c) evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors and preventive measures in the general population. The MONICA-France project comprises three registers (Bas-Rhin, Haute-Garonne and the urban community of Lille), and a coordinating centre. The preliminary results confirm the wide geographic variability of coronary mortality with a prevalence slightly higher in Alsace and the North than in the South-West of France. The approximative frequency of coronary events in France is estimated at 112,000 infarcts and over 175,000 acute coronary episodes and deaths. Information is provided about the severity of the principal coronary risk factors and the conditions of their treatment in the register zones. A study of the accessibility of emergency treatment of acute infarction in the Bas-Rhin area, has demonstrated the key role of the general practitioner as the first contact but confirmed the long delay to hospital admission which nullified the potential benefits of thrombolysis in a high proportion of cases. However, the significant decrease in hospital mortality of acute infarction observed over a 3 year period in the three register zones, is probably related to the number of patients thrombolysed in that time.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Influence of abnormal weight and imbalanced diet on female fertility].

The cult of a slim body without the slightest bit of adipose tissue and the food restriction or selection habits it creates are extremely common in our society. Their influence on menstrual cycle and female infertility is not negligible. A vegetarian low calorie diet may induce cycle disorders and a short luteal phase. Disturbances in the pulsatility of gonadotropic hormones are responsible for anovulation, and they occur when slimness with excessive reduction of the body fat mass is associated with psycho-socio-professional stress factors or with intensive sporting activities. The greater frequency of dysovulation in obese women, notably those who put on weight rapidly, is accompanied by numerous hormonal changes, including reduced sex hormone-binding globulin, increased ovarian and adrenal androgen production, increased peripheral aromatization of androgens to oestrogens, and altered gonadotropin pulsatile secretion. The hyperinsulinism consecutive to insulin resistance in obese subjects might act as co-factor of the luteinizing hormone and as such participate in abnormalities of follicular maturation by stimulating the insulin-like growth factor and the ovarian androgens. However, the relative importance of these various factors in the physiopathology of abnormal ovulation remains to be determined. Overweight reduces the effectiveness of clomiphene citrate, menopausal gonadotropins and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in stimulating the follicles. Weight loss reduces hormonal disturbances and facilitates follicular maturation and ovulation in spontaneous or induced cycles.

Androgens↗
PubMed1990

[Validity of death certificates in the study of ischemic heart diseases].

Mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease, as estimated from death certificates, show highly significant differences between countries. In order to study the validity of mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease, the authors, involved in the MONICA project, have compared the results obtained from the conventional death certificate code with the data collected in a complementary enquiry conducted for all deaths possibly due to ischaemic heart disease. Three hundred and thirty patients, aged from 25 to 64 years, belonging to the urban community of Lille, and who died between October 1 and December 31, 1984, were included in this study. The sensitivity of the death certificate for the diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease was 77.9 percent and its specificity was 95.9 percent. The concordance rate between death certificate and complementary enquiry was not modified by age, sex, socio-professional category, family situation, place of death and doctor who signed the certificate. The complementary study proved impossible in 31.8 percent of the cases, usually because the doctor who signed the death certificate was not fully conversant with the patient's condition. Our results therefore confirm that death certificates are valid to study mortality from ischaemic heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Production of fumonisins by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum isolates associated with equine leukoencephalomalacia and a pulmonary edema syndrome in swine.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and FB2 were isolated from corn cultures of both Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum. Respective concentrations in culture materials of FB1 and FB2 ranged from 960 to 2,350 and 120 to 320 micrograms/g for F. moniliforme and from 1,670 to 2,790 and 150 to 320 micrograms/g for F. proliferatum. Thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid secondary ion mass spectroscopy were used for detection. Fumonisins from F. proliferatum have not previously been reported.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1990

Between-register and within-register variability in event-finding and rates in the MONICA-France Project.

The 1985 and 1986 coronary event data from the three French MONICA Registers in Haute-Garonne (Toulouse), Bas-Rhin (Strasbourg) and the Urban Community of Lille (UCL) are used to compare the sources of information, the distribution of events in different diagnostic categories, and their possible effects on event rates. All three registers follow the MONICA protocol, and use the "cold pursuit" method, with data abstracted retrospectively from medical files or from the doctors establishing the causes of death. The health system and medical background are similar in the three centers. The distribution of the sources of information (in-hospital and out-of-hospital) and the distribution of events by diagnostic categories are different among centres. The possible effects of these differences on rates of definite myocardial infarction or possible coronary death are estimated between registers and within registers during a 2-year period. Cross-sectional comparisons are questionable, and possible false trends in event rates require special attention.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Blood pressure and dietary intake in a French population sample from three regions.

In order to determine the possible relationship between nutritional factors and blood pressure (BP), a sample of 1128 men of the population living in the three French MONICA centres, Bas-Rhin (BR), Haute-Garonne (HG) and the Urban Community of Lille (UCL), was included in a nutritional survey. Of the sample, 16.2% were taking antihypertensive drugs and 34.1% of the remainder had high BP. Prevalence of high BP was greater in BR and UCL than in HG, the differences persisting after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and age. BMI and geographic location were the best predictors of high systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). Age was positively correlated with SBP, but not with DBP. Alcohol intake was the dietary component which had the most consistent relationship with SBP and DBP. However, greater intakes of total fat and of cholesterol were also associated with higher DBP and SBP respectively. A small but significant contribution of sodium chloride to SBP and DBP was also found, whereas no influence of the intake of calcium or of any diary product was observed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

[EPIM. Survey of myocardial infarction in Picardie].

The aim of this prospective study carried out in picardy (Aisne, Oise and Somme Departments) between October 1st 1985 and September 30th 1986, was to determine the incidence and outcome of recent myocardial infarction (less than 1 month) hospitalised in the region, to assess the time delay before hospital admission, the mode of management, treatment in the acute phase and at discharge, and the attitudes to exercise stress testing and coronary angiography. All public and private hospitals of the 3 departments who admitted patients with acute myocardial infarction accepted to fill out the questionnaire. A total of 1260 infarcts in patients with an average age of 66.7 +/- 12.6 years were collected. Nearly 3 out of 4 patients were male, and the men generally 10 years younger (64 +/- 12.6 years) than the women (73.4 +/- 10 years). The time delay to hospital admission was very long: 16.6 +/- 47.5 hours. Two thirds of patients were transferred by non medicalised transport; 82 per cent of patients were directed to the casualty department which redirected 71 per cent to the cardiology department. Myocardial infarction was inaugural in 46.5 per cent of cases. The incidence of anterior and inferior infarction was almost identical (44 ans 45.5 per cent respectively). Treatment in the acute phase included Heparin (94 per cent), nitrate derivatives (93.7 per cent) and calcium inhibitors (78 per cent). Thrombolytic and betablocker therapy was only prescribed in 8.3 and 23.5 per cent of cases respectively. During the hospital period, average 17 +/- 9 days, the mortality rate was 22.3 per cent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Evaluation of mortality caused by ischemic heart disease in Haute-Garonne].

The mortality due to ischemic heart disease may be assessed in the department of the Haute Garonne from a Register of cardiovascular disease. In this study the medical causes of death codified using the normal criteria of international classification of disease were compared with the causes of death classified according to the criteria of the Register determined in the same subjects after a complementary enquiry. Between July 1st 1984 and December 31st 1986, 800 consecutive cases of patients dying of cardiovascular disease aged 25 to 64 years at death were examined. A complementary enquiry into the cases of these patients was undertaken involving the treating physician and hospital establishments in order to determine the mode of death and to obtain clinical, ECG, biological and when possible autopsy results for each case. The sensitivity and specificity of the causes of death coded 410-414 according to the criteria of international classification of disease was 74 and 71 p. 100 respectively. The positive predictive value was 75 p. 100 and the value of the kappa index was 0.44. Therefore, the concordance between the causes of death codified by the usual classification and those codified after a thorough complementary enquiry was not very close. On the other hand, taken as a whole, the number of deaths due to ischemic heart disease by the international coding system (428 cases) was 2.1 p. 100 less than that observed after the complementary enquiry (437 cases). These results should, however, be interpreted with caution because of the high proportion (34%) of cases in which the cause of death could not be determined with precision even after the complementary enquiry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Methods of analysis of hormonal pulsatility].

Methods for detection and characterization of episodic fluctuations in circulating hormone levels are frequently used for endocrine investigations, related to the physiological importance of the pulsatile nature of hormone secretion in modulating target-cells response. Several sophisticated methods of pulse analysis have been recently developed and validated, aiming to minimize the false-positive and false-negative error rates. The present report mainly devoted to the clinician aims to analyze and discuss the main features of the most widely used methods for pulse detection.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed1990

Acute coronary care and treatment of myocardial infarction in the three French MONICA registers.

The study evaluates and compares among the three French MONICA centres the access to emergency care, and the treatment administered to 1444 patients aged 25-64 years hospitalized for an acute coronary event. It was carried out in 1985 in Bas-Rhin (BR) on 596 subjects, in 1986 in Haute-Garonne (HG) on 450 subjects, and from October 1986 to July 1987 in the Urban Community of Lille (UCL) on 395 subjects. The time before receiving initial medical care could be analysed only in BR and HG: it is shorter in HG (p less than 0.001). Patients with a history of coronary disease are inclined to consult more quickly than patients with a first event (p less than 0.001). According to the three centres, 68.5 to 72.5% of the patients consult first a private practitioner, while 9 to 10.5% contact first a mobile team (mobile emergency care unit), and 6 to 15% go directly to hospital. Patients with a previous history tend more to call a mobile team directly, or to go to hospital directly than patients without a history (p less than 0.001). The analysis of the treatment was made only on patients classified in MONICA diagnostic category 1: the therapeutic schemes are similar in the three centres, although differences are noted in the frequency of prescription. The use of new medications and procedures seems to be best established in HG and in UCL than in BR, with the reservation that the three studies were not conducted at the same time.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effects of ACE-inhibition on glucose metabolism.

ACE inhibition is widely used for treatment of arterial hypertension or congestive heart failure. No change occurs in glucose metabolism either in diabetic or non diabetic subjects. No change occurs in glucose metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure. Glucose intolerance induced by diuretics is attenuated when ACE inhibitor is associated with thiazides. In some very rare circumstances (with high plasmatic levels of norepinephrine), insulin sensitivity seems to be enhanced by captopril. Then, in clinical use, no adverse effect occurs with ACE inhibition in non diabetic or diabetic subjects. Under thiazide treatment, ACE inhibitors protect against glucose intolerance.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1990

In vitro effects of cyclopiazonic acid mycotoxin on turkey papillary muscles.

An in vitro bioassay system was used to study the effects of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) mycotoxin on cardiac muscle. Acute exposure to 6 micrograms of CPA/ml of modified Krebs-Henseleit solution significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased 5 in vitro turkey cardiac muscle performance criteria: maximal weight a muscle could lift; maximal contraction velocity; relaxation velocity; time to peak contraction; and total time for muscle contraction and relaxation. The effect on these 5 criteria appeared to result from intracellular changes partially associated with calcium availability and were irreversible, suggesting that physiologic changes had developed after acute exposure to CPA.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[The link between cholesterol and coronary atherosclerosis: epidemiological evidence].

Epidemiology has shown close associations between the consumption of saturated fats, the level of serum cholesterol and the development of coronary atherosclerosis and coronary disease. Such associations are observed among populations as well as among individuals. The individual risk increases steadily from the lowest to the highest serum cholesterol values. In fact, this risk results from two conflicting effects: a positive association between the disease and LDL-cholesterol and a negative association with HLD-cholesterol. The risk is also influenced by other biological and environmental factors, and it is multifactorial. Primary prevention trials have provided evidence of a causal relationship between serum cholesterol (or its two components) and coronary disease. This set of epidemiological data is in good agreement with other available scientific knowledge, and its has important consequences on the organization of prevention and on medical practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Hypertriglyceridaemia as a risk factor of coronary heart disease mortality in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. Results from the 11-year follow-up of the Paris Prospective Study.

The Paris Prospective Study is a long-term investigation of the incidence of coronary heart disease in a large population of working men. The first follow-up examination involved 7,038 men, aged 43-54 years. Subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes (n = 943) were selected from the total population for a separate analysis of coronary heart disease mortality risk factors. During a mean follow-up of 11 years, 26 of these 943 subjects with abnormal glucose tolerance died from coronary heart disease. Univariate analysis showed that plasma triglyceride level (p less than 0.006), plasma cholesterol level (p less than 0.02), and plasma insulin level both fasting and 2-h post-glucose load (p less than 0.02), were significantly higher in subjects who died from coronary heart disease compared to those who did not. In multivariate regression analysis using the Cox model, plasma triglyceride level was the only factor positively and significantly associated with coronary death. The distribution of plasma triglyceride levels was clearly higher for the subjects who died from coronary heart disease compared to those who did not die from this cause or were alive at the end of the follow-up. This new epidemiological evidence that hypertriglyceridaemia is an important predictor of coronary heart disease mortality in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes suggests a possible role of dyslipidaemia in the excessive occurrence of atherosclerotic vascular disease in this category of subjects.

Blood Glucose↗