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Biomedical subjects

O Michel

Publications and source records attributed to O Michel.

188 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of a ruptured anastomotic esophageal stricture following bougienage with a Dacron-covered nitinol stent.

A patient suffering from esophagorespiratory fistula after bougienage of a benign stricture at the site of the anastomosis between a jejunal interposition and the esophagus was referred for interventional treatment. A prototype nitinol stent centrally covered with Dacron was implanted under regional anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance. The self-expanding prosthesis dilated the stenosis completely and closed the fistula, with consequent improvement in respiratory and nutritional status and thus the general quality of life. The patient was able to eat and drink normally until death 3 months later due to progression of his underlying malignant disease.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of prostacyclin on hearing recovery after repetitive noise and on histomorphology of the inner ear in the guinea pig.

A probable relation between prostaglandin formation and the pathophysiology of hearing loss led to the application of the potent vasodilator prostacyclin in the treatment of inner ear disorders. Two drugs may be administered to humans: (1) unstable natural prostacyclin (epoprostenol) with a strong biological potency but with a high first-pass effect, or (2) a prostacyclin analogue (taprostene) with less biological activity, but a longer biological half-life and intravenous application. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate potential differences of both drugs in their effect on the inner ear. The therapeutic potency of both drugs was evaluated in a recently developed animal model consisting in the recovery of hearing after a temporary threshold shift obtained by two noise exposures at 100 dB. In addition, the ultrastructure of the stria vascularis was examined by electron microscopy after the application of the drugs. After administering epoprostenol (12 ng/kg body weight/min) and taprostene (25 ng/kg body weight/min) histomorphological alterations in the stria vascularis did not differ from the controls. In the repetitive low-level noise model, neither drug showed a significant difference in its effect on the recovery of the hearing threshold. The results indicate that in the guinea pig epoprostenol has the same effect on the hearing threshold as the stable analogue taprostene, as shown by auditory brain stem response.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Screening in asthma].

One of the most important characteristics of asthma is its association with non specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This is diagnosed by histamine bronchial challenge tests. This latter is an easy procedure but requires a precise and standardized methodology. We have analysed, in a large group of bronchial challenge tests (n = 162) the clinical correlations with bronchial response to histamine. Our conclusions are in agreement with several recent literature, and may be summarised as follows: 1. more than 10% of patients, clinically considered as asthmatics do not show bronchial hyperresponsiveness and probably will not benefit from bronchodilators; 2. several aspecific respiratory symptoms (cough, chest tightness, blocked nose and sneezing, recurrent bronchitis, etc...) are frequently associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and should be considered as asthmatic manifestations. To conclude, we recommend to realise a histamine non specific challenge test in all cases of clinical suspicion of asthma (with normal lung function at basal state) and in all subjects presenting chest symptoms of uncertain etiology.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bacterial endotoxins: a pathogenic factor in asthma?].

Though the house dust mite allergen is considered as one of the most important factors in perennial asthma, several observations suggest that it could be but one of several factors leading to asthma. Exposure to bacterial endotoxins has been associated with some occupational chronic obstructive bronchial diseases. In the present work, endotoxins were measured in the house dust, and observations of the skin and bronchial challenge tests as well epidemiological studies suggest that they play a role in asthma.

Acari↗