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Biomedical subjects

L Bernard

Publications and source records attributed to L Bernard.

107 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Use of rare earth elements as external markers for mean retention time measurements in ruminants.

The present review deals with the utilisation of rare earth (RE) elements as particulate markers for ruminant nutrition studies. RE elements have similar chemical properties. They are attractive for use as a multiple marker system because they bind tightly to plant materials. RE binding of plant cell walls is cyclic throughout the RE series, which can be explained by the filling of the 4 f electron shell. RE markers may migrate from labelled feedstuffs under gastrointestinal conditions and particularly under acidic conditions, and they may decrease the digestibility of labelled feedstuffs. The various binding techniques used for labelling particulate matter with RE elements are evaluated in order to increase the stability of bound RE in different gastrointestinal conditions. The soaking procedure of plant cell walls to be labelled in an RE chelate solution, followed by washing to remove loosely bound RE, is recommended.

Animal Feed↗

A Canadian physician survey of dyspepsia management.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the management of patients with new onset dyspepsia by Canadian family physicians. METHODS: A survey was mailed to 195 family physicians in August 1995 to identify how they manage dyspepsia in patients according to four scenarios: based on presenting symptoms alone; assuming Helicobacter pylori-positive; known to be H pylori-negative; and endoscopically confirmed nonulcer dyspepsia. RESULTS: A total of 170 of 195 physicians (87.2%) completed the survey. Physicians reported that 7.3% of their practice is devoted to dyspepsia and 23% of these dyspeptic patients present for the first time. Ninety-three per cent of family physicians find a symptom classification of ulcer-, reflux- and dysmotility-like dyspepsia helpful. The majority of patients are advised to make life-style changes and are treated with antacids or empiric drug therapy. A H2 receptor antagonist was the drug of choice for ulcer and reflux-like dyspepsia, while prokinetics were often used for reflux and dysmotility-like dyspepsia. After failure of initial treatment, patients were given another course of empiric treatment, commonly with cisapride or omeprazole. Family physicians estimated that the mean time to obtain a gastrointestinal consult was five weeks, and 70% indicated that this time to consult adversely influenced their decision to refer. If this time was reduced to less than two weeks, responding physicians would consider referring all eligible patients. On average, two to 2.5 courses of empiric therapy were given before referral. If H pylori status was known, fewer empiric treatments (mean 1.8) were given before gastroenterological referral compared with the other scenarios. If the patient had nonulcer dyspepsia, 30% of family physicians provided reassurance only and did not prescribe empiric drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Most newly dyspeptic patients in Canada are treated with empiric therapy according to symptom classification and referred for endoscopy after an average two to 2.5 treatment courses.

Adult↗

Clinical and familial correlates of tardive dyskinesia in India and Israel.

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotic drugs are widely used for the treatment of psychosis, especially schizophrenia. Their long-term use can result at times in serious side-effects such as Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). Since over 80% of schizophrenia sufferers (lifetime prevalence 1%) receive long-term antipsychotic drug treatment, the extent of the problem is potentially large. Increasing age is the most consistently demonstrated risk factor for TD. AIMS: To assess effect of different clinical factors and demographic variables in India and Israel and sib pair concordance of Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) in India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was conducted simultaneously among Indian and Israeli subjects: ascertainment was family-based in India and hospital-based in Israel. METHODS AND MATERIAL: In India the instruments used were: Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), and Simpson Angus Scale (SAS). The last three instruments were also used in Israel. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Regression analysis and Pearson's correlation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: TD symptoms were present in 40.4% of 151 Israeli subjects and 28.7% of 334 Indian subjects. While age at onset and total scores on PANSS were significant predictors of TD in both the samples, lower scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), diagnostic sub-group and male gender were significant predictors among Indians. There was no concordance of TD symptoms among 33 affected sib-pairs from India.

Adult↗