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Biomedical subjects

M Bertrand

Publications and source records attributed to M Bertrand.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Apolipoprotein A-I containing lipoproteins in coronary artery disease.

At least 2 main types of lipoprotein particles are identified within HDL. Those which contain apo A-I and apo A-II (LpA-I:A-II) and those which contain apo A-I but not apo A-II (LpA-I). This study was designed to elucidate to what degree the HDL cholesterol decrease observed in coronary artery disease affects these 2 types of lipoprotein particles. Concentrations of LpA-I:A-II and LpA-I were measured in plasma from 100 normolipidemic male subjects with angiographically defined coronary artery disease (CAD(+)) or without CAD (CAD(-)) and from 50 control subjects, matched for age. CAD(+) subjects had significantly lower levels of HDL cholesterol, total apo A-I, and LpA-I than controls. When compared to CAD(-) subjects, only their levels of HDL cholesterol and LpA-I were found lower. In both cases (CAD(+) vs CAD(-) and CAD(+) vs controls), LpA-I levels were decreased while LpA-I:A-II levels were unchanged. Even, when the levels of their total plasma lipids and lipoproteins are normal, atherosclerotic patients are characterized by a different distribution of apo A-I between LpA-I and LpA-I:A-II. These data support the view that LpA-I might represent the "antiatherogenic" fraction of HDL.

Angiocardiography↗

The anatomic distribution of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ: implications for treatment.

The anatomic distribution of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ was ascertained in 23 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ, 10 of which also had "early" invasive adenocarcinoma. The adenocarcinoma in situ involved both surface and gland epithelia in all cases, involved a variable number of quadrants, involved glands beneath the transformation zone in about two thirds of cases, was multifocal only occasionally, extended up the endocervical canal for a variable distance (up to 30 mm), and was associated with squamous dysplasia in about half of cases. From this topographic outline of adenocarcinoma in situ, it is recommended that if cervical conization is chosen as conservative therapy for adenocarcinoma in situ the "cone" be cylindrical in shape, to include the transformation zone and deep glands, and extend at least 25 mm up the endocervical canal.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Effects of overall food restriction on embryo-fetal development in the rat].

The effects of different levels of food restriction on the fetal-embryo development have been tested in rats (Sprague Dawley) weighing 250 g. Experimental groups received 100 (control), 75, 50 or 25% of mean daily consumed food containing 17% of proteins, either from the coupling (Day 1) or from the nestling (Day 6) and till the sacrifice (Day 21). The weight of the mothers and the fetus is diminished in function of the degree and the duration of the food restriction. The study of the maternal growth shows an adaptation to the food restriction as well as the pregnancy anabolism. The last one is not observed in the females presenting an early embryonic mortality. The nestling is not affected in any of the groups and the embryonic mortality is only observed at the highest restricted level in 1/10 female restricted from Day 6 on and in 5/10 of the rats restricted from Day 1 on. In these last ones, the emaciation between Day 1 and Day 21 after hysterectomy is 37% and the growth of the surviving fetuses is only 40% of the controls. Embryonic mortality most often precocious (before the 10th Day) shows a phenomenon of "all or none" and touches the entire litter of the females concerned; the others maintain a normal pregnancy. The fetal growth seems privileged as compared with the maternal growth. These restrictions have neither influenced the sex ratio, nor induced any specific teratogenic effect: the delayed ossification seems to be expressed precociously on the 5th sternebra.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Preliminary analysis of a randomized comparison of 5-fluorouracil versus 5-fluorouracil and high-dose continuous-infusion folinic acid in disseminated colorectal cancer.

In this study, 50 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 5-fluorouracil (FUra) or FUra plus high-dose continuous-infusion folinic acid. Five of 27 evaluable patients in the FUra group versus 10 of 21 patients in the FUra plus folinic acid arm of the study had objective partial remissions, P = 0.02. Time to progression was 3.9 months for FUra and 8.0 months for FUra and folinic acid, P = 0.006; however, median survivals (11.9 versus 14.5 months) were not different in this crossover study. Toxicity in both treatment arms was mild, although patients receiving FUra plus folinic acid experienced significantly more stomatitis than patients treated with FUra alone. This study suggests that high-dose, continuous-infusion folinic acid, which produces a steady-state level of biologically active folates of 10 microM, significantly increases the therapeutic activity of FUra.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Placental-like alkaline phosphatase. Re-evaluation of the tumor marker with exclusion of smokers.

This report demonstrates that smoking is a major factor of nonspecific elevation of the tumor marker placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). In 98 healthy nonsmokers the mean of the enzyme activity was determined as 0.068 U/L (range, +/- 2 SD 0-0.144 U/L) compared to a mean of 0.378 U/L (range, +/- 2 SD 0-1.02 U/L) in 65 smokers. In view of this finding the usefulness of PLAP as a tumor marker was re-evaluated in 286 patients with various neoplasms and a negative smoking history. Of these patients, 23% and 50% had elevated values for PLAP and carcinoembryonic antigen, respectively. When compared to the range of PLAP in normal smokers only 4.1% of the patients showed elevated values. An increased incidence of elevated PLAP was found in patients with tumors of the lung, pancreas, stomach, colon/rectum, ovaries, and in 2 of 3 seminomas. It was concluded from the data that PLAP is a useful tumor marker for selected neoplasms provided its use is confined to nonsmokers.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Computer analysis of echographic textures in Hashimoto disease of the thyroid.

Ultrasound B-scan images of the thyroid obtained from 10 patients with Hashimoto disease were digitized and processed by a computer method of image analysis that segments complex B-scan images into regions of homogeneous texture. The method was first applied to B-scan images of the normal thyroid and it consistently classified the normal tissue into a unique region. When applied to Hashimoto disease B-scan images, the same method segmented the thyroid into two regions. Detailed analysis of these regions revealed that their gray-level histograms were very different from that of the normal thyroid in eight cases. In two cases the histogram of one of the regions was similar to that of the previous eight cases, whereas the histogram and the tissue of the other region were similar to those of the normal tissue. This paper shows how these results can be interpreted according to the natural history of the Hashimoto disease.

Humans↗

[Hemodynamic effect of the clamping of the carotid in the surgically treated coronary patient].

To determine both the incidence of myocardial ischaemia and haemodynamic response to carotid cross-clamping in coronary artery disease, 30 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were studied with a clear history of effort related disabling angina pectoris. Myocardial ischaemia was detected by a recording of lead CM5 of the electrocardiogram. A radial arterial and a thermodilution pulmonary catheter were inserted to obtain haemodynamic measurements before and after carotid cross-clamping and unclamping. Anaesthesia was induced with increments of thiopental, fentanyl 6 micrograms X kg-1 and pancuronium. Additional fentanyl (2 micrograms X kg-1) was injected before skin incision and before carotid cross-clamping. Carotid cross-clamping results in a significant increase in both mean arterial blood pressure and capillary wedge pressure. Two patients experienced myocardial ischaemia with ST segment depression during carotid cross-clamping. Nitroglycerin infusion led to the improvement of ST segment depression. When halothane was additionally administered to patients who developed hypertension in response to carotid cross-clamping, arterial blood pressure returned to normal value. These results indicate that carotid cross-clamping increases determinants of myocardial oxygen demand and may cause myocardial ischaemia in patients suffering from angina pectoris.

Aged↗

[Prevention of hypertensive attacks after carotid surgery. The value of nifedipine and diltiazem].

A randomized study was carried out to determine whether postoperative administration of either intranasal nifedipine or intravenous diltiazem was effective in preventing hypertensive episodes after carotid endarterectomy. Sixty-three consecutive patients undergoing this surgery were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 21): control (C), nifedipine (N) and diltiazem (D). Anaesthesia was induced with flunitrazepam (0.02 mg X kg-1), fentanyl 6 micrograms X kg-1 and pancuronium (0.1 mg X kg-1), and maintained by N2O/O2 (50%), additional fentanyl and halothane or enflurane when warranted. Postoperatively, patients were warned whilst under mechanical ventilation in a recovery room. Upon arrival in the recovery room, intranasal nifedipine (10 mg) was given to patients included in group N, while patients from group D received an intravenous dose of 0.3 mg X kg-1 of diltiazem, followed by a continuous infusion of 3 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 until 15 min after extubation. No preventive treatment was given to patients in group C. If postoperative systolic blood pressure rose to more than 180 mmHg, 10 mg of nifedipine were administered intranasally. During the postoperative period, 13 patients from group C, 5 from group N and 4 from group D exhibited hypertensive episodes (systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mmHg). Intranasal administration of 10 mg nifedipine led to the normalization of blood pressure in 20 out of these 22 patients. This study confirmed the high incidence of hypertensive attacks after carotid endarterectomy, and showed that prophylactic administration of nifedipine or intravenous diltiazem was highly effective in preventing such hypertensive episodes.

Aged↗

High-dose continuous infusion folinic acid and bolus 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a phase II study.

Encouraging results have recently been reported for studies using folinic acid in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Thirty-six patients with advanced colorectal cancer with unequivocal evidence of progression while treated with fluoropyrimidines were treated with a six-day continuous infusion of 500 mg/m2/d of folinic acid initiated 24 hours before a five-day course of 5-FU administered as an intravenous (IV) bolus of 370 mg/m2/d. An initial dose of 250 mg/m2/d of 5-FU was used in patients previously treated with ionizing radiation and/or a nitrosourea. Three objective partial responses were observed. The overall median duration of survival was 8.1 months. Toxicity was acceptable and not in excess of that expected for 5-FU alone.

Adult↗

Roles of fentanyl and nitroglycerin in prevention of myocardial ischemia associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in patients undergoing operations of short duration.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate intravenous nitroglycerin given during induction of anesthesia as a means for prevention of myocardial ischemia and hemodynamic changes associated with induction, laryngoscopy, and intubation, in patients with stable angina scheduled for vascular operations of moderate duration. Forty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive either fentanyl, 3 micrograms/kg (group 1, n = 6), fentanyl, 8 micrograms/kg (group 2, n = 20), or fentanyl 3 micrograms/kg plus a continuous intravenous nitroglycerin infusion, 0.9 microgram X kg-1 X min-1 (group 3, n = 20), in addition to thiopental-pancuronium anesthetic induction, prior to laryngoscopy and intubation. The criteria for recognizing myocardial ischemia were the following: horizontal or downsloping ST segment depression equal to or greater than 1 mV, and/or ventricular arrhythmia, on CM5 recording. In group 1, myocardial ischemia occurred during laryngoscopy and intubation in four patients, and mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate, and mean pulmonary wedge pressure (PCWP) increased significantly (P less than 0.05). Despite greater stability in MBP and heart rate in group 2, myocardial ischemia still occurred in four patients (not significantly different from group 1). Nitroglycerin added to low-dose fentanyl (group 3) produced significant reduction in myocardial ischemia (1/20) when compared with group 1 (P less than 0.01), and significantly greater stability in PCWP during laryngoscopy and intubation in comparison to groups 1 and 2. In patients with stable angina undergoing operations of short duration, the use of nitroglycerin infusion and low-dose fentanyl significantly decreases the incidence of myocardial ischemia associated with induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation.

Aged↗