Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Pujol

Publications and source records attributed to J Pujol.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Cerebral single-photon emission-computed tomography. A semiquantitative analysis of vascular areas in patients with cerebrovascular pathology].

BACKGROUND: Brain SPECT perfusion studies in patients with cerebral stroke may be useful to evaluate distant perfusion abnormalities. METHODS: 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT studies were performed in 17 patients with ischemic lesions in the basal ganglia and/or internal capsule demonstrated by NMR. Regions of interest were adjusted in representative transverse slices to the vascular territories of the anterior, middle, posterior and communicating cerebral arteries. RESULTS: Patients with ischemic lesions in the right basal ganglia showed increased cerebral perfusion in the left middle artery territory (0.95 +/- 0.13 versus 0.80 +/- 0.06; p = 0.0365). Patients with ischemic lesions in the left basal ganglia showed increased perfusion in the right anterior artery territory (0.93 +/- 0.09 versus 0.82 +/- 0.09; p = 0.0464), in the left anterior artery territory (0.93 +/- 0.09 versus 0.83 +/- 0.14; p = 0.0464), in the left middle artery territory (0.92 +/- 0.09 versus 0.78 +/- 0.05; p = 0.0079) and in the left posterior artery territory (1.05 +/- 0.14 versus 0.90 +/- 0.09; p = 0.036). Patients with ischemic lesions in the right internal capsule showed increased perfusion in the right posterior artery territory (0.95 +/- 0.11 versus 1.10 +/- 0.18; p = 0.0431). CONCLUSIONS: These results show the presence of delayed luxury perfusion phenomena in regions distant from the ischemic site.

Aged↗

Biological significance of iron-related magnetic resonance imaging changes in the brain.

Iron, an essential element for basic cellular metabolism, regularly accumulates in certain brain areas in normal subjects and in patients with certain diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging can depict iron deposition, offering a singular opportunity to correlate the regional iron content with the functional status of the human brain in vivo. We studied the relationship between age and the iron-related signal loss on T2-weighted images in basal ganglia, and observed a strongly significant signal decrease in the globus pallidus at the age of brain development (first two decades of life), but we found no such decrease in later years. Moreover, in healthy adults, subject-to-subject variability was relevant in changes due to iron deposition in magnetic resonance imaging. We found increased signal loss to be associated with poor performance on motor and specific cognitive tasks, suggesting that these image changes can provide functional information with respect to the brain in normal subjects.

Aged↗

Reduction of the substantia nigra width and motor decline in aging and Parkinson's disease.

We studied the functional significance of the involutional and degenerative changes in the substantia nigra as seen on magnetic resonance imaging. The width of the pars compacta correlated with motor performance in both healthy elderly subjects and idiopathic Parkinson's disease groups. Patients exhibited significant reduction of the width of the pars compacta and the level of this reduction correlated strongly with the clinical status evaluated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. These results suggest that pars compacta shrinkage may account for a substantial part of the structural substratum of motor decline in the elderly. Moreover, an analysis of the relationship of the midbrain damage with specific symptoms in Parkinson's disease could contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this degenerative process.

Aged↗

Pallidal hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging in cirrhotic patients: clinical correlations.

Patients with cirrhosis show increased signal intensity in the globus pallidus on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This abnormal appearance of the basal ganglia has been related to the severity of liver failure and to the presence of portal-systemic shunting, although its cause and clinical significance remain unknown. We prospectively assessed the metabolic, neurological and neuropsychological statuses of 30 stable cirrhotic patients and correlated these clinical variables with computed measurements of globus pallidus signals. Some metabolic variables denoting disease severity appeared to be significantly related to image changes, although the strongest association was found with plasma ammonia levels. After adjustment for ammonia level, on multiple regression analysis, the other variables were not significant. Furthermore, pallidal changes were associated with specific neurological symptoms and neurological functions, symptoms and functions that also had a significant correlation with ammonia levels. Our findings suggest that globus pallidus signal abnormality could arise as a marker of brain impairment related to hyperammonemia.

Aged↗

[Histological typing of the breast by multifocal biopsies].

The current concept of high risk mastopathy was revolutionised by the work of Dupont and Page (1985), who demonstrated the importance of proliferative mastopathies in the assessment of the risk, particularly when they are associated with epidemiological factors. Based on these data, the Montpellier breast pathology study and research group (GERPAMM) developed on original method designed to define the precise histological profile of women considered to be at risk of breast cancer, despite the absence of any focal mammographic signs. This typing, consisting of a rigorous surgical protocol strictly complying with Page's histological definitions, was performed in women presenting a certain risk defined by clinical, cytological and radiological criteria (density and disseminated microcalcifications). This paper presents a preliminary review of 6 years' experience in 162 cases. The preliminary results confirm than many cases of atypical hyperplasia are not associated with a focal mammographic abnormality. However, in the absence of focal signs, certain types of disseminated microcalcifications with a morphological appearance suggestive of an intraductal origin, are significantly associated with high-risk histological signs. Histological typing is therefore useful to predict the cancer risk, to dedramatise cases without significant hyperplasia and to propose an adapted and justified approach to cases with a high histological risk.

Adult↗

[Mass screening for breast cancer in Herault county. First results in women between 40 and 70 years old].

A large scale mammography breast cancer screening has begun in Herault county on the first of july 1990. The aim of the project was to determine the impact of two-view mammography upon the size of the tumor and later upon mortality from breast cancer. The women aged 40-70 at entry were invited by mail to the first round of mobile breast screening. Between the start and the 8th of march 1991, 5098 (64%) attended the first round. The cancer detection rate was 5.9/1000, the positive detection rate was 7.75%, the benign malignant surgical biopsy ratio was 1:0.7 and the percentage of surgical biopsies positives for malignancy was 42.6%. Two months after this study, the screening specificity was 96.7% and the sensibility was 92.7%. The rate of tumor size less or equal to 1 cm was 72% (for 30 malignancies) and the rate of mastectomies was 43.3%. These friendly results were compared to those of others breast cancers screenings.

Adult↗

Left-ear extinction in patients with MRI periventricular lesions.

A dichotic listening test was administered to 22 elderly vascular patients with periventricular white matter changes on magnetic resonance imaging. We found four patients with a moderate-to-severe extent of these changes who showed a pattern of left-ear extinction. These findings suggest that periventricular lesions in patients with vascular risk factors may be associated with a functional disconnection of the interhemispheric auditory pathways.

Aged↗

Cognitive correlates of ventricular enlargement in vascular patients with leuko-araiosis.

We studied the cognitive significance of ventricular enlargement in 40 vascular patients with leuko-araiosis on MRI. We obtained significant differences between patients and normal controls without vascular risk-factors regarding ventricular measures. Ventricular size of the patients correlated with several neuropsychological tests measuring abstract reasoning, comprehension of language, constructional skills, speed and attention. These results suggest that ventricular enlargement in vascular patients reflects global deterioration of complex cognitive functions. Information proceeding from ventricular size is complementary to that coming from the degree of leuko-araiosis and probably has more clinical significance. Both leuko-araiosis and ventricular size may be neuroimaging parameters capable of reflecting the cognitive deterioration in vascular patients without large lesions.

Aged↗

Leuko-araiosis on magnetic resonance imaging and speed of mental processing.

The clinical significance of white matter abnormalities seen in brain imaging studies, termed leuko-araiosis (LA), still remains uncertain. Leuko-araiosis has been associated with a global decline in cognitive performance, although little is known about the cognitive functions that LA may account for. We present the correlates between LA severity on magnetic resonance imaging and mental deterioration in a selected sample of 41 elderly patients with vascular risk factors. We found that LA was related to performance on tasks measuring the speed of information processing and, in particular, on those that involve complex processes. This impairment can be important in producing reduction in daily living activities as it is in the support to the relationship found with some commonly used behavioral rating scales. Leuko-araiosis is also related to the presence of some primitive reflexes, suggesting that their disinhibition may be due to diffuse corticofugal fibers damage.

Aged↗