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Biomedical subjects

M de Backer

Publications and source records attributed to M de Backer.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Renal responsiveness to parathyroid hormone in a case of nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.

Plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone level, urinary excretion of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and the sensitivity of the renal tubule to calcium infusion and to parathyroid extract were investigated in a patient with nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. Plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentration was normal and basal urinary excretion of cyclic AMP was increased. Renal cortical adenylate cyclase, as measured by urinary cyclic AMP excretion, was certainly as sensitive to exogenous parathyroid extract as in normal subjects. After a previous calcium infusion, a greater parathyroid-hormone-sensitive component of phosphorus transport in the kidney was present than in two control subjects. Our results indicate that in nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia the renal tubule could be hyperresponsive to parathyroid hormone.

Calcium

[Adult respiratory distress syndrome and military tuberculosis (author's transl)].

A patient with miliary tuberculosis developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was not made especially because of several negative bacteriological examinations and of initial radiological aspects. Patient died of respiratory failure complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. This straightens the hypothesis of a physiopathological relationship between the two syndromes. The necessity of anti-tuberculous therapy should be evocated in every situation of adult respiratory distress syndrome of unknown origin.

Adult

Urinary cyclic AMP in hyperthyroidism.

Urinary cyclic AMP was studied in 22 female and in 6 male hyperthyroid normocalcemic patients and in 3 hyperthyroid hypercalcemic men. Cyclic AMP/creatinine ratios were elevated both in female (4.12 +/- 0.26 mumoles/gm creatinine) and male (3.92 +/- 0.41 mumoles/gm creatinine) hyperthyroid normocalcemic patients as compared with normal female and male controls (2.85 +/- 0.20 and 2.54 +/- 0.14 mumoles/gm creatinine, respectively). However, there was no difference in the 24-hour urinary cyclic AMP excretion of both hyperthyroid and normal subjects. The hyperthyroid hypercalcemic men excreted less (2.47 +/- 0.19) mumoles/24 hr) cyclic AMP/24 hr than the normal male controls. In the thirteen female patients, studied when euthyroid, the cyclic AMP/creatinine ratio was normalised.

Adult

Respiratory failure and cardiac disturbances in myotonic dystrophy.

Cardiopulmonary abnormalities are frequently encountered in myotonic dystrophy. We present five patients with myotonic dystrophy who entered the intensive care unit in acute respiratory failure. The possible etiologic factors of pulmonary complications are reviewed. The most important is probably aspiration pneumonia. The difficulties in the treatment of the respiratory failure are emphasezed. Myotonia of the chest muscles and diaphragm make artificial ventilation difficult. Recovery is delayed chiefly by swallowing disturbances. General anaesthesia is hazardous. Four patients presented cardiac arrhythmias and/or conduction abnormalities which were transient.

Adolescent