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Biomedical subjects

M Gagnon

Publications and source records attributed to M Gagnon.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Indium-111 leukocyte scanning of the abdomen. Analysis of its value for diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Indium-111 leukocyte scanning of the abdomen (IAS) was performed in 10 patients with ulcerative colitis and in 39 patients with Crohn's disease involving the small intestine (in 25 occasions) and/or the colon (17 cases). Radionuclide uptake by the gut was seen in 84% of the patients with active inflammation. We compared the extent of the disease displayed by IAS with the findings obtained by either radiological or endoscopic studies or at surgery. In two-thirds of the patients, the IAS gave an accurate evaluation of the extent of the disease (sensitivity 68%). False-positive IASs were not seen in small bowel disease (specificity 100%), but were observed on 4 occasions on the colon (specificity 86%). The intensity of the radionuclide uptake could not be correlated with the clinical activity of the disease as evaluated by the Crohn's disease activity index. These results suggest that IAS is not superior to the standard procedures used to detect and localize inflammatory bowel disease and that IAS cannot replace these techniques. However, the simplicity of IAS and the complete lack of complications associated with its use render it useful in the evaluation of the extent and distribution of inflammation in some patients, mainly those with severe disease in whom standard diagnostic procedures would be contraindicated.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1985

Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure interacts with strain in affecting brain development in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.

The development of two forebrain fiber tracts, the corpus callosum and anterior commissure was examined in BALB/cCF and C57BL/6J mice in relation to moderate maternal consumption of ethanol during gestation. Pregnant animals were fed ethanol 10% v/v in the drinking water from days 5 to 19 of gestation, when fetal brain development was assessed. Control animals received an isocaloric sucrose solution and were pair-fed to the experimental animals. An additional ad libitum control group was included. The alcohol treatment did not increase the incidence of the CC being absent in a midsagittal section. In BALB/c animals which had been exposed to ethanol the area of both the corpus callosum and anterior commissure was smaller than in the two control groups, and this effect was independent of the lower brain weight resulting from the treatment. The area of the corpus callosum, adjusted for brain weight, was smaller in both the alcohol-treated and sucrose control C57 animals than in the ad libitum control group; this suggests a nutritional effect. There was no evidence of an effect of ethanol on anterior commissure area or brain weight in C57 animals.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗
PubMed1985

Quantitative determination of catalase activity produced by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Neisseria meningitidis and other bacterial strains using the Catalasemeter.

The conventional catalase test only gives qualitative or semi-quantitative information of the amount of catalase activity produced. Using such a method, we have selected two strong catalase activity producers (Neisseria gonorrhoeae G-10, Staphylococcus epidermidis 66) and a weak producer (Neisseria meningitidis 34702). Quantitative determination of the catalase activity produced by these strains was done by the disk-flotation method using the Catalasemeter. The production of catalase activity in liquid culture by N. gonorrhoeae, S. epidermidis and N. meningitidis occurred mainly during the logarithmic growth phase. The maximum concentration of catalase activity found in these cultures was, for both strong producers, 160 units (U)/ml while it was around 20 U/ml for the weak producer. Some of the other bacteria tested showed high concentrations of catalase activity (130-162 U/ml) and these were: N. gonorrhoeae strain PR 77112 (penicillin resistant), Staphylococcus strain 7 (coagulase negative), Micrococcus sp. strains 2 and 42.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1985

Analysis of neuroblastoma cell proteins using two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Polypeptide patterns of nine neuroblastoma and thirteen other cell lines were analyzed by 2-D PAGE. Of 600 polypeptide spots scored one was present in all neuroblastoma cell lines and none of the other cell types analyzed. Three were markedly increased in intensity in neuroblastoma relative to other cell lines, and one was markedly decreased in neuroblastoma and melanoma. These data provide a basis for a more detailed analysis of the polypeptide pattern of neuroblastoma cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1984

Effects of fasting during gestation on brain development in BALB/c mice.

The development of the corpus callosum (CC) was examined in BALB/cCF mice in relation to the effects of a 32-h period of maternal fasting. The treatment was imposed on days 15 and 16 during gestation, which immediately precedes the time when the initial callosal axons cross the midline. The BALB/c strain was used because it is prone to developing a corpus callosum which is either small in size or absent at the midline. A split-litter design was used where fetal brain development was assessed on days 22 and 50 postconception (birth and weaning). The treatment did not increase the incidence of absent CC. On day 22 the midsagittal cross-sectional area of the CC, as well as brain and body weight, were smaller in the experimental group. Covariance analysis showed the effect on brain weight to be related to the overall growth retardation seen in the low body weight. In the control group, CC area and the brain weight were positively correlated, but in the experimental group this was not the case, suggesting the effect on the CC was independent of growth retardation. By day 50 there were no significant differences between the groups on any measure, although the data did show a trend toward a smaller CC in the fasted animals.

Aging↗
PubMed1983

The evaluation of forearm density with axial tomography.

The purpose of the present investigation was to validate axial tomography technique for estimating forearm density. Twenty forearm specimens from six male and four female embalmed human cadavers were used. Segmental mass, volume and density criteria were obtained by weight in air, hydrostatic weight and mass/volume ratio, respectively. Densities of bones and muscles were similarly measured. Segmental density as measured by axial tomography was overestimated by an average of 2.1% and the errors ranged from 0.05 to 4.81%. Results from this study indicated the presence of three density regions in the segment. Moreover, density data were found to be very similar in all zones of the central region of the segment (2/3 of its length) to actual segment density. It is thus actually possible to estimate forearm density in living humans, by taking two scans in the central zone of the segment if data pertaining to tissue densities are available.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Short-term treatment with sucralfate or cimetidine in gastric ulcer: preliminary results of a controlled randomized trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the healing capacities of sucralfate and cimetidine in gastric ulcer. Twenty-nine patients were randomly assigned to active sucralfate (1 g qid) and cimetidine placebo, or to cimetidine (300 mg qid) and sucralfate placebo. The patients were endoscoped before entry into the study, after 4 wk, and after 8 wk if complete healing was not found at 4 wk. Twenty-five patients completed the study. After 4 wk, 50% (6/12) of the sucralfate patients had healed in comparison to 54% (7/13) of cimetidine patients. After 8 wk, the cumulative healing rates were 75% and 77%, respectively. The results indicate that sucralfate is as effective as cimetidine in the short-term treatment of gastric ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Development, evaluation and application of a dynamometric system of skates].

The present paper accounts for the elaboration validation and application of a dynamometric system device for ice skates that allows measurements of the forces and the point of application of their resultant on the blade during ice skating. The dynamometric system was built using strain gauges fixed to the frame of the blade and mounted in a Wheatstone bridge network which enabled after proper calibration to record force measurements. The type of frame chosen for the blade and the various modifications that were brought to it appear essential for the applicability of the system. In order to conduct a dynamic study of the "stop" during skating the system was coupled with a cinematographic technique enabling measurements of tridimensional angles of the skates. Two male subjects completed five "stops" at three different determined speeds. Results indicated that dynamometric systems build with frames of modified metal blades were of an adequate precision for measuring forces. Moreover coupling of the system with the cinematographic technique allowing measurements of tridimensional angles provides a powerful and innovative tool for the dynamic study of ice skating.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of the healing capacities of sucralfate and cimetidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer: a double-blind randomized trial.

Fifty-nine outpatients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer were evaluated for 4-8 wk in a randomized, double-blind trial comparing sucralfate, a sulfated disaccharide, (1 g, 0.5 h before each meal and at bedtime) with cimetidine (300 mg, 0.5 h before each meal and at bedtime). Ulcer symptoms and their relief were recorded by patients in a diary, along with data on cigarette, alcohol, coffee, and drug intake. Duodenoscopy was performed after 4 wk to assess healing, and was repeated after 8 wk if healing had not occurred by the 4-wk evaluation. Twenty-four of 30 patients taking sucralfate (80.0%) and 22 of 29 patients taking cimetidine (75.9%) had their ulcer completely healed after 4 wk. The overall healing rates after 8 wk for the sucralfate and cimetidine groups were 90.0% (27 of 30 patients) and 86.2% (25 of 29 patients), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in ulcer healing, symptom relief, and side effects. Symptoms were relieved equally with respect to time and efficacy. Minor adverse experiences were reported in each treatment group. None of these experiences were serious enough to warrant discontinuation of treatment. These results suggest tha sucralfate is as effective as cimetidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Alkaline reflux gastritis: Roux-en-Y diversion is effective.

Even though controversy persists over the physiopathology of alkaline reflux gastritis, Roux-en-Y diversion is a well-accepted surgical treatment and was used in 23 patients over a 6-year period at the Hôpital St-Luc in Montreal. Of the 23 patients, 21 had complete relief of symptoms. Objective criteria for the selection of patients who would benefit from operation are still to be defined. The authors discuss the physiopathology through an extensive review of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Evaluation of whole blood catalase estimation for diagnosis of malignancy.

Whole blood catalase levels were estimated using a disc flotation method in 209 random patients with a wide variety of malignancies. Fifty patients had received no treatment, and the remainder, although having undergone prior therapy, had recurrent or metastatic disease at the time of the study. No relationship was found between the presence of cancer and catalase levels. A direct relationship was found for catalase with hemoglobin levels in both normal and patients' samples. Whole blood catalase is of no value in diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. The decreased catalase values found here and reported previously by others are the result of low hemoglobin levels found in many patients with cancer.

Catalase↗