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Biomedical subjects

M Laroche

Publications and source records attributed to M Laroche.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Is camptocormia a primary muscular disease?

STUDY DESIGN: This study analyzed computed tomographic scans, magnetic resonance images, and biopsies of the paravertebral muscles of patients with camptocormia and age-matched patients with lumbar interapophyseal osteoarthritis or lumbar vertebral stenosis. OBJECTIVES: To define the muscular lesions and clarify their nature in this particular disorder. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Progressive lumbar kyphosis or camptocormia, a rare disease of the elderly characterized by inability to immobilize the lumbar spine in relation to the pelvis appears to be a result of weakness of the paraspinal muscles. The features presented by these patients do not correspond to any myopathy previously described. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (5 men and 22 women) mean age 69 years, with camptocormia were compared to fifteen age-matched patients without camptocormia but with posterior interapophyseal osteoarthritis and to nine elderly patients operated for narrowing of lumbar canal. Computed tomographic scans, magnetic resonance images, light microscopy, histochemistry, and electron microscopy of paraspinal muscles were obtained in both groups. RESULTS: In patients with camptocormia, computed tomographic scans and magnetic resonance imaging showed heterogeneous appearance of the spinal muscles with areas of low density. These features were distinct from those of patients with interapophyseal osteoarthritis and were similar to the features described in primary muscular dystrophies. The main microscopic change in camptocormia was the increase of fibrous tissue, frequently with a lobular pattern, not seen in osteoarthritic patients. Familial history of the disorder was frequent (20 out of the 27 patients). CONCLUSION: Camptocormia, disappearing in the recumbent position, is thus very probably linked to muscle involvement. That there is often a family history of such disorder is in favor of a genetically transmitted condition. Magnetic resonance images and computed tomographic scan appearance seems to be in favor of primary muscular disease, restricted to the spinal muscles.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Study of the intraosseous vessels of the femoral head in patients with fractures of the femoral neck or osteoarthritis of the hip.

Bearing in mind earlier studies which established a link between arteriosclerosis and mineral loss, or fragility of the bones, and also our recent study showing that patients with arterial disorders of the lower limbs also suffered from osteoporosis, we carried out a histological study of the number and appearance of the intraosseous vessels and trabecular bone volume in the femoral heads of patients undergoing surgery for either fracture of the femoral neck or osteoarthritis of the hip. The number of thick-walled vessels, arterioles or arterial capillaries was significantly diminished in the femoral heads of patients with fractures of the femoral neck (p = 0.007). In addition, in the latter patients, arteriosclerotic vascular lesions (rupture of the internal elastic lamina, medial thickening and fibrosis) were more frequent than in patients with osteoarthritis of hip. The possibility that, through chronic ischemia, arteriosclerosis may lead to disturbance of bone remodelling and loss of the mechanical properties of bone has not been contradicted by these findings.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Affect and memory in advertising: an empirical study of the compensatory processes.

The influence of the affect dimensions (a) source identification, (b) attractiveness, and (c) fear appeal on memorization of a message by advanced Canadian students was investigated. Professionally designed commercials were used for the experiment. The results indicate a strong relationship between the three affective variables of the communication and the number of items in the respondents' memory. Two-way interactions between (a) attractiveness and identification and (b) attractiveness and fear were significant, as was the three-way interaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Symptomatic osteonecrosis in recipients of nonautologous bone marrow transplants.

A retrospective study of 36 allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients was conducted to determine the rate of occurrence of and risk factors for avascular osteonecrosis. Eight patients developed osteonecrosis, after a mean time interval of 18 months. Multiple sites were often involved (mean 2.37 per patient). Advanced roentgenologic lesions were present at diagnosis in most instances. The occurrence of osteonecrosis was not significantly correlated with the initial hematologic diagnosis, the preparative regimen, serum lipid abnormalities, presence of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease, or corticosteroid therapy characteristics. Intraosseous blood vessels exhibited histologic lesions consistent with a role of graft-versus-host-disease vasculitis in the occurrence of osteonecrosis in nonautologous bone marrow transplant recipients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Isokinetic strength testing for evaluating the efficacy of intravenous immune globulin therapy for inclusion body myositis.

Inclusion body myositis is a disease of striated skeletal muscle of unclear etiopathogenesis. Its diagnosis is difficult. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are of limited efficacy. Positive responses to intravenous immune globulins have recently been reported in a few patients. We used a CYBEX 6000 isokinetic dynamometer to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immune globulin therapy in a patient with inclusion body myositis. Measurements were done at the flexors and extensors of the knee, at baseline and four and eight months after treatment initiation. A course of intravenous immune globulins (2 g per course) was given every month for five months then every two months. Isokinetic muscle strength measured at an angular speed of 180 degrees/second increased by more than 41% at both knees. As compared with muscle imaging studies (computed tomography, X-ray absorptiometry, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging), isokinetic strength testing has the advantage of providing data on functional improvements under treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Lactose intolerance and osteoporosis in men.

Three men with osteoporotic fractures were found to have lactase deficiency and low dietary calcium intakes, decreased urinary calcium, and moderately increased serum osteocalcin and parathyroid hormone levels. Histomorphometric studies demonstrated increases in osteoid parameters and resorption surfaces. The few studies of the links between osteoporosis and lactase deficiency have yielded discordant results. A low calcium intake due to aversion to dairy products caused by the lactase deficiency may promote the development of osteoporosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Renal tubular disorders and arteriopathy of the lower limbs: risk factors for osteoporosis in men?

In order to clarify the risk-factors for men with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis, we carried out a study of 51 cases. Twenty-five percent of patients had an endocrine disorder (hyperparathyroidism, hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism) or had received corticosteroids. These patients were compared with 26 age-matched controls. Eleven patients compared with 2 of the 26 control subjects had arteriopathy of the lower limbs; 11 patients had hypercalciuria or hyperphosphaturia compared with 3 of the control subjects. Arteriopathy appears to be associated with osteoporosis in older patients (mean age 71 years), whereas renal tubular disorders were found in younger patients (mean age 45 years).

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Breast granuloma and C.R.S.T. syndrome.

One case of CRST syndrome with breast granuloma is presented. The presumed diagnosis were infectious or neoplastic diseases. High doses of corticosteroids led to improvement in breast nodules.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of the bone mineral content of the lower limbs in men with ischaemic atherosclerotic disease.

In a previous study, the authors demonstrated that in 17 men with ischaemic atherosclerotic disease the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck was lower than in matched control subjects. The patients with arterial disease were thinner and were heavier smokers than the controls. Osteoporosis and arterial disease of the lower limbs were perhaps due to common risk factors: tobacco consumption and a low body build index. In order to demonstrate the direct effect of atherosclerosis on bone mineral content (BMC), the authors studied by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry the BMC of both legs in 18 men presenting symptomatic arterial disease of the lower limbs quantified by measurement of distal systolic indexes by doppler ultrasonography. The mean BMC of the leg more severely affected by arterial disease was significantly lower than the mean BMC of the leg less affected by arterial disease (512 +/- 76 g versus 495 +/- 80 g: p = 0.003). In 13 of the 18 patients, the BMC was lower in the leg more severely affected by arterial disease; in 4 of 18 the difference between the BMC of the left and right legs was less than 1%, and in a single patient the BMC was higher in the leg more affected by arterial disease. Arterial disease of the lower limbs could lead to bone mineral loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Osteocalcin and smoking].

Smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Nicotine and nonnicotine tobacco smoke components have been shown to depress osteoblast activity in a number of in vitro and animal studies. To determine whether smoking is associated with depressed osteoblast activity in humans, we measured serum osteocalcin levels (using a radioimmunological method based on an antibody to human osteocalcin) in 24 male or female smokers and 24 matched nonsmokers. Overall, osteocalcin levels were significantly lower in smokers (15 +/- 6.95 ng/ml) than in nonsmokers (21.27 +/- 8.34 ng/ml) (p = 0.007). The difference between smokers and nonsmokers was significant in males (15.3 +/- 4.5 vs 23.27 +/- 9.7; p = 0.02) but not in females (16.27 +/- 8.9 vs 19.45 +/- 6.7; p = 0.2). These data suggest that smoking may induce osteoblast depression, either directly or via hormonal changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Rheumatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C and response to the treatment with interferon alpha-2b].

Chronic hepatitis C can be responsible for a broad range of autoimmune manifestations, including cryoglobulinemia and Sjögren's syndrome. We report our experience with six patients (five women and one man; mean age 55.6 years) in whom hepatitis C was diagnosed during evaluation of joint symptoms. Polyarthralgia was the main symptom and was often accompanied with myalgia; a polyalgic syndrome was seen in some patients. Isolated cytolysis was consistently found, although, in some instances, liver enzyme elevations were moderate and postdated the onset of the clinical symptoms. The diagnosis of hepatitis C was confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) in every case. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected hepatitis C virus RNA in five of the six patients. Histological findings were characteristic of chronic hepatitis. All six patients had immunological test abnormalities, which included presence of rheumatoid factors (2 of 6), positive antinuclear antibodies without anti-DNA antibodies (3 of 6) and low serum complement levels (3 of 6). A cryoprecipitate was found in four of the six patients. Four patients reported symptoms of sicca syndrome and two had Chisholm grade III lesions upon examination of salivary gland biopsy specimens. Four patients were given a six-month course of interferon alpha. In three of these four patients, evaluation at the end of the treatment showed abatement or resolution of symptoms, normal liver function tests, unchanged or diminished antinuclear antibody titers, and normal serum complement levels. In the remaining patient, no changes in symptoms or transaminase levels occurred during interferon alpha treatment. In conclusion, rheumatic symptoms can be the most prominent manifestation of chronic hepatitis C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1994

[Increase of CA 19.9 in dysimmune inflammatory rheumatism. Apropos of 6 cases].

CA 19.9 is a marker for several cancers, including ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas. CA 19.9 elevation is rarely found in patients without benign or malignant digestive system disease. We studied serum CA 19.9 levels in patients with a variety of inflammatory joint diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (n = 20), lupus, Sjögren's syndrome or U1RNP-associated connective tissue syndrome (Sharp's syndrome) (n = 11), dermatopolymyositis (n = 8), and giant cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica (n = 8). The mean CA 19.9 level in each of these groups was not significantly different from the value seen in a group of patients with osteoporosis. Six patients had persistent marked elevation in serum CA 19.9 levels. Two had Sjögren's syndrome, two had Sharp's syndrome and two had dermatopolymyositis. None of these six patients had evidence of tumoral disease despite a follow-up of several years. Likely explanations for the CA 19.9 elevation were chronic pancreatitis in one case and lung disease in the other five. In patients with lung involvement due to inflammatory joint disease, CA 19.9 elevation may indicate severe disease and may be of use for monitoring the lung condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Histopathology of the vessels of the femoral heads in specimens of osteonecrosis, osteoarthritis and algodystrophy.

The authors studied by light microscopy the vessels of the femoral head and neck in 38 well preserved specimens from core biopsy. There were 17 cases of osteonecrosis (ON), 11 cases of osteoarthrosis (OA) and 10 cases of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, so called algodystrophy (AD). Mean age of the patients was respectively 44, 45 and 42 years. The sex ratio, M/F, was respectively 12/5, 6/5 and 9/1. Types of staining used were hematoxylin-eosin, Masson Trichrome, P.A.S. and Verhoeff. In counting, thick-walled and thin-walled vessels were distinguished. There was a significant reduction in the number of the thick- and thin-walled vessels, in the ON group, by comparison with the OA and AD groups. An increased number of thin-walled vessels in the AD group were also observed. Morphological study showed an abnormal frequency of fibrosis of the media in the arteries of the ON group, i.e. arteriosclerosis. These data were compared with the few other histopathological studies previously published. The authors recommend further studies in order to precise their frequency and their significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Skeletal manifestations of moderate phosphate diabetes.

Six patients, with vertebral osteoporosis and reflex sympathetic algodystrophy syndrome of the lower limbs, due to moderate diabetes, are presented. Osteoporosis was documented by low CT scan bone density and moderate decrease of bone trabecular volume. Histomorphometric studies found a mild increase of resorption areas. All patients had unremarkable serum phosphorus level (mean: 0.91 +/- 0.13) but increase of urinary phosphorus excretion was documented by phosphate clearance higher than 20ml/mm, phosphate tubular reabsorption lower than 80% and TmPo4/GFR lower than 0.8mmol/l. Phosphate clearance and phosphate tubular reabsorption are studied in two control groups. Mild phosphate diabetes, of unknown incidence and prevalence (need for prospective studies) may be the vector of osteoporosis, vertebral and peripheral. The diagnosis of PD requires determination of phosphate clearance, phosphate tubular reabsorption, TmPo4/GFR and these tests may be useful in the diagnostic work up of bone demineralization disorders. We thought that osteoporosis could be the result of progressive dissolution of bone apatite crystals necessary to maintain normal or sub-normal blood phosphate level in spite of the phosphate diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis, biological activity, conformational analysis by NMR and molecular modeling of N-formyl-L-Met-L-Pro-L-Phe-OMe, a proline analogue of the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe-OH.

The tripeptide N-formyl-Met-Pro-Phe-OMe (f-MPF-OMe), an analogue of the signal peptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe-OH (f-MLF-OH), was synthesized and its chemotactic activity evaluated; it showed no activity in either superoxide production or calcium mobility with human neutrophils. However, the corresponding acid f-MPF-OH retained about 25% activity in the production of superoxide. The conformation of the f-MPF-OMe analogue was evaluated by NMR spectroscopy and molecular simulation and shown to predominate in a gamma-turn with a hydrogen bond between Met CO and Phe NH. Since this analogue is not chemotactic, it is suggested that for recognition the receptor prefers a peptide with a flexible backbone, favoring an extended conformation in the binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗