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Biomedical subjects

J Mai

Publications and source records attributed to J Mai.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Depression of spasticity by alpha-adrenergic blockade.

In spastic patients the alpha-adrenergic blocking drug thymoxamine (Opilon Forte) was found capable of depressing most propioceptive reflex parameters within 1 min after intravenous administration. The action seems to be of CNS origin, probably exerted as a depression of spindle stretch sensitivity through descending alpha-adrenergic bulbospinal pathways, but an additional action on the mechanism of presynaptic inhibition is likely. With oral administration, the drug is also capable of depressing distressing clonus, and it is concluded that it deserves further testing as a spasmolytic.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1976

Clonus depression by propranolol.

Propranolol administered i.v. to spastic patients was found to be capable of depressing clonus. The drug exerts its action on the spinal cord but does not influence dynamic spindle activity or alpha-motoneurone activity as tested by the T (Achilles tendon) and H reflexes. It may disinhibit the tonic stretch reflex. Thus, clonus is dependent not only on dynamic spindle activity but also on another, probably inhibitory, mechanism.

Humans↗
PubMed1976

Central effect of bladder filling and voiding.

In normal subjects and in patients with spasticity and/or urological complaints changes in somatic muscle reflexes associated with filling of the urinary bladder were observed. Two different patterns of reflex changes occurred. One pattern was associated with easy initiation of voiding: it consisted of increasing H and T reflexes and decreasing flexor reflexes with concomitant decreasing sphincter muscle activity. The other pattern was associated with difficulty in initiation of voiding: it consisted of increasing flexor relfexes including sphincter muscle activity and decreasing H and T reflexes. The importance of these reflex patterns in disturbances of micturition is discussed. During voiding, decreasing flexor relfexes with increasing H and T reflexes occur as the general pattern.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lymphocyte glutathione peroxidase activity during exacerbations in multiple sclerosis.

Glutathione peroxidase, one of the major antioxidants in the human brain, has been found to have decreased activity in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). This study compares the activity of lymphocyte glutathione peroxidase (L-GSH-px) in MS patients suffering from acute relapses with clinically stable MS patients and with control patients referred with nondemyelinating neurological diseases. All three groups showed an increase of mean enzymatic activity (MEA) during the observation period. The highest MEA in this study was observed in the MS groups. However, there were no significant differences in the L-GSH-px activity in the three groups. These results are not in accordance with previous investigations, and the need for further research in this field is emphasized.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastroesophageal reflux after intact vertical banded gastroplasty: correction by conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease is common in our experience after vertical banded gastroplasty. Our aim was to determine the safety and efficacy of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease complicating vertical banded gastroplasty. We evaluated prospectively collected data on 25 patients who underwent revisional bariatric surgery because of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease after vertical banded gastroplasty. Only 4 of 25 patients had gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms prior to vertical banded gastroplasty. Endoscopic findings in 24 patients included esophagitis (58%), Barrett's esophagus (28%), pouchitis (29%), and gastritis (21%);7 (28%) of 25 patients had evidence of stenosis at the pouch outlet. Mean follow-up (complete in all 25) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was 37 +/- 7 months (range 3 to 102 months). There were no deaths. Postoperative complications occurred in six patients: pneumonia in two, wound infection in two, prolonged drainage of the defunctionalized stomach via gastrostomy in one, and fever in one. Median hospitalization was 7 days (range 5 to 43 days). At follow-up (37 +/- 7 months), 24 (96%) of 25 are completely or almost completely symptom free. Body mass index was 33 +/- 2 kg/m(2) before and 28 +/- 2 kg/m(2) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (P = 0. 001). Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease are common after vertical banded gastroplasty. Conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is safe, relieves gastroesophageal reflux disease, and promotes further weight loss. Moreover, maladaptive eating (vomiting, and so forth) induced by vertical banded gastroplasty is relieved.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ten and more years after vertical banded gastroplasty as primary operation for morbid obesity.

Long-term follow-up (>10 years) after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is almost nonexistent. The aim of this study was to determine long-term outcome after VBG in a group of 71 patients studied prospectively. Seventy-one consecutive patients with morbid obesity (54 women and 17 men; mean age 40 years [range 22 to 71 years]) underwent VBG from 1985 to 1989 and were followed prospectively. Follow-up was obtained in 70 (99%) of the 71 patients. Weight (mean +/- standard error of the mean) preoperatively was 138 +/- 3 kg and decreased to 108 +/- 2 kg 10 or more years postoperatively. Body mass index decreased from 49 +/-1 to 39 +/- 1. Only 14 (20%) of 70 patients lost and maintained the loss of at least half of their excess body weight with the VBG anatomy. Vomiting one or more times per week continues to occur in 21% and heartburn in 16%. Fourteen patients have undergone conversion from VBG to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (11 patients) or other procedures (3 patients) because of a combination of inadequate weight loss in 13 patients, gastroesophageal reflux in five, and frequent vomiting in four. Only 26% of patients after VBG have maintained a weight loss of at least 50% of their excess body weight; 17% underwent bariatric reoperation with good results. Thus VBG is not an effective, durable bariatric operation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The prevalence of dementia in Down syndrome.

The prevalence of clinical dementia was assessed in three age groups of patients with Down syndrome in the county of Aarhus, Denmark: Group I: 14-16 years (n = 13), group 2: 23-29 years (n = 34), group 3: 50-60 years (n = 25). Seventy-two (85%) of 85 patients participated. Caregivers were interviewed and a neurological examination was performed. An EEG was recorded in 50 patients. Definite clinical dementia was defined as an acquired and progressive decline in 4 or more out of 17 items that are considered to indicate dementia in Down syndrome. Possible dementia was considered when 1-3 items were affected. Six (24%) in group 3 had definite clinical dementia. A further 6 patients in group 3 and 2 (6%) in group 2 had possible dementia. This is the first population-based study with a clinical assessment of the prevalence of dementia in Down syndrome.

Adolescent↗