Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Berry

Publications and source records attributed to P Berry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Characteristics of the venous hemodynamics of the leg under simulated weightlessness: effects of physical exercise as countermeasure.

In order to test the hypothesis that increases in calf venous distensibility in microgravity are partly due to the changes affecting the surrounding skeletal muscles (muscular atrophy), 12 healthy volunteers were exposed for 28 d to microgravity simulated by -6 degrees head-down bed rest. Half these subjects were exposed to countermeasures during bed rest: a) repeated LBNP (Lower Body Negative Pressure) sequences starting on the 15th d with one 15 min sequence at -35 mb, every other day from the 15th until the 21st d, and then every day until the end of bed rest; b) physical training including isotonic type exercise and isometric or isokinetic work by all muscle mass of upper and lower limbs (from the 8th until the 28th d). The other six subjects forming the control group were not subjected to any countermeasure. Calf venous hemodynamics were determined by mercury strain gauge plethysmography with venous occlusion. Distensibility (delta Vmax) and venous emptying (venous outflow at the 6th s of emptying: VO6, half-emptying time: T1/2, maximum venous outflow (MVO) could also be measured. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to study changes in volume of calf muscles. Plethysmographic measurements made for each subject prior to, during (once a week), and after bed rest show a parallel increase in calf venous distensibility in both groups of subjects until the 20th d of bed rest. Filling and emptying times then tended to stabilize in the group treated with countermeasures (group CM) whereas high venous distensibility was observed until the end of bed rest and 5 d thereafter in the control group (group C).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Second polar body incorporation into a blastomere results in 46,XX/69,XXX mixoploidy.

A case of 46,XX/69,XXX mixoploidy is described. The patient had a normal 46,XX diploid karyotype in lymphocytes but a triploid 69,XXX cell line in most of her fibroblasts. In order to learn more about the underlying mechanism resulting in mixoploidy, we studied short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs) in lymphocyte DNA of the patient's parents and in both lymphocyte and fibroblast DNA of the proband. The findings showed maternal origin of the supernumerary chromosome complement and are best explained by second polar body incorporation into a blastomere.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1993

Learning to save our skin.

With serious depletion occurring in the stratospheric ozone layer, we face a public health problem that poses an educational challenge as well. How do we teach our children about the hazard and how to respond to it? Although we have the science to demonstrate the problem, changing young people's behavior on a large scale is at best a slow and uncertain process, especially when the behavior involves something most of them perceive as a familiar pleasure and a reward: The Hawaii sun.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of lower limb muscles during bed rest--a microgravity simulation model.

Head-down (-6 degrees) bed rest, a microgravity simulation model in humans, leads to muscular atrophy of the lower limbs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 0.5 tesla was performed at 1 year intervals on the same six volunteers (except one) before and after 1 month bed rest. Three of the six subjects were daily exposed in a lying position to LBNP (lower body negative pressure), a countermeasure to cardiovascular deconditioning (LBNP group). The groups were exchanged the second year. After bed rest, the quadriceps of the thigh lost uniformly 11% of its cross section area (CSA) and the triceps of the leg 10.5%, with 12.8% lost from the deeper soleus versus 8.5% from the gastrocnemius (p < 0.05). LBNP produced no effect on these changes. The MRI signal intensity of muscles exhibited a trend toward higher values after bed rest although without statistical significance. MRI allowing for noninvasive and reliable quantification of muscle fibers of the lower limbs is an excellent procedure for the assessment of muscle disuse and countermeasures.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Differences between jejunal myoelectric activity after a meal and during phase 2 of migrating motor complexes in healthy humans.

Using an intraluminal probe with six pairs of annular electrodes, the myoelectric activity of the proximal jejunum was recorded during 48-hr sessions in 16 healthy volunteers receiving evening and noon meals (1000 kcal) and breakfast (400 kcal). In 10 subjects receiving no drug, the characteristics of the migrating motor complexes (period, duration of each phase, velocity of propagation of phase 3, duration of the postprandial disruption) varied markedly between subjects but were relatively constant from the first to the second day of recording. Single spike bursts propagated at a rate of 2-5 cm/sec, clusters of 3-10 spike bursts propagated at a rate of 0.5-1 cm/sec, and similar clusters recurring repetitively each 1.5-2 min were observed after the meals and very rarely in the fasted state during phase 2 of nocturnal migrating motor complexes. In six subjects, oral administration of codeine (50 mg) 1 hr before a meal induced migrating motor complexes in the postprandial state, with characteristics similar to that observed in the fasted state except a longer duration of phase 2. Single spike bursts and isolated and repetitive clusters of spike bursts were observed during phase 2 of the codeine-induced migrating motor complexes and after meals preceded by placebo, but very rarely during the phase 2 of nocturnal (fasted state) migrating motor complexes. It is concluded that the patterns of jejunal contractions consisting of propagated single spike bursts and isolated or repetitive spike bursts characterize the postprandial state in healthy humans and are dependent upon digesta flow.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Cholecystokinin and gastrin induce cell contraction in pig ileum by interacting with different receptor subtypes.

The aim of this study was to determine the cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor subtype involved in the direct myogenic effect of CCK on pig ileum. Smooth muscle cells were dispersed from pig ileum circular muscle layer and incubated in the presence of various concentrations of CCK agonists and antagonists. Contraction was assessed by measuring the length of 50 cells and expressed as the percentage decrease in cell length from control. Maximal contraction varied between 19% +/- 3% (gastrin II, 10 nmol/L) and 26% +/- 3% [CCK octapeptide (CCK-8), 10 nmol/L]. EC50 for CCK tetrapeptide (CCK-4) was the same than for pentagastrin (30 pmol/L), which were more potent than CCK-8 (100 pmol/L) and unsulfated gastrin 17 (100 pmol/L), which in turn were more potent than unsulfated CCK heptapeptide (CCK-7; 300 pmol/L) and sulfated gastrin II (300 pmol/L). The maximal contraction induced by synthetic analogs of CCK was 22% +/- 1% for 1 nmol/L JMV 170 and 23% +/- 1% for 10 nmol/L JMV 180. EC50 was 10 pmol/L for JMV 170 and 800 pmol/L for JMV 180. Contraction induced by 10 nmol/L CCK was inhibited as follows: L 365,260 half maximal inhibition (IC50) = 1 nmol/L greater than L 364,718 (IC50 = 90 nmol/L) greater than proglumide (IC50 = 1 mumol/L). Contraction induced by 10 nmol/L unsulfated gastrin 17 was inhibited as follows: L 365,260 (IC50 = 1 pmol/L) greater than L 364,718 (IC50 = 60 nmol/L) greater than proglumide (IC50 = 4 mumol/L). Removal of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium did not alter the contraction induced by CCK-8 (10 nmol/L) but impaired the contraction induced by unsulfated gastrin 17 (10 nmol/L) -56% in Ca(2+)-free medium, -77% in Ca(2+)-free medium plus 2 mmol/L EGTA, and -70% in the presence of 1 mumol/L nifedipine. These results show that the CCK receptor of pig ileum smooth muscle cells is closely similar to the B receptor and is not dependent on an influx of extracellular Ca2+ to induce cell contraction. By contrast, gastrin could act through a specific receptor subtype, the "gastrin receptor," triggering a Ca2+ influx into the cell to induce cell contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Diaphragm of inferior vena cava associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Contribution of ultrasonography and color Doppler echocardiography].

We report the case of a young man presenting clinical features of portal hypertension of unknown origin. The ultrasonographic examination showed suprahepatic blockage signs leading to the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by incomplete diaphragm of the inferior vena cava. The color Doppler examination suggested caval obstruction, showing an abrupt shift from a laminar to a bosterous flux. Secondly cavograms and surgery later confirmed the diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Perceptions of mental handicap: a comparison of Australian and Irish school children.

Australian secondary school children (N = 955) were surveyed concerning their perceptions of persons with mental handicap. Data collected related to reactions to meeting a person with disability, helping the handicapped person, responses to specific statements about handicapping conditions, causes of disability and the need for further information about handicaps. Results showed some parallels between Australian and Irish school children with both groups reflecting the positive impact.

Attitude↗
PubMed1991

Physicochemical and bacteriological analysis of the contents of occluded biliary endoprostheses.

The deposits obstructing 12 biliary endoprostheses were examined by scanning electron microscopy and analyzed quantitatively by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Calcium palmitate and bilirubinate associated with proteins were found in all the deposits. Apart from the small amount of cholesterol, this composition closely resembled that of brown pigment gallstones and suggested an infectious cause. Facultative aero-anaerobic organisms were found on bacteriological investigation. beta-Glucuronidase activity was only detected in one sample, suggesting that the calcium bilirubinate may have been formed through tissue glucuronidases. In our study, deposit formation was thought to have been caused by the action of bacterial phospholipases (although not measured) rather than beta-glucuronidases.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Autologous transplantation as a treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy.

Autologous transplantation of the adrenal gland has been attempted as a treatment for severe Parkinson's disease with limited success. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a more aggressive neurological entity of similar pathology, is due to a loss of dopamine in the caudate nucleus and putamen. The autologous transplant procedure has been performed on three PSP patients in an effort to restore dopamine to the caudate nucleus and putamen. The rationale and preliminary results of the transplantation procedure are reviewed in this article.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

[Report of a case of post-radiation hepatopathy].

We report the case of a 65 year-old woman treated by radiation therapy alone for Hodgkin's disease. She developed febricule, nonicteric cholestasis, and inflammatory syndrome two months after irradiation. The clinical record, biological and histological results allowed us to dismiss another etiology especially an hepatic location of Hodgkin's disease. Out come after a twenty months predominance of pathohistological abnormalities in the centrilobular region were in favor of a radiation-induced hepatitis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Prospective assessment of acuity and stereopsis in amblyopic infantile esotropes following early surgery.

Sensory and motor status were evaluated prospectively in a group of 84 infantile esotropes with fixation preference. Treatment consisted of part-time occlusion therapy, spectacles for bilateral hyperopia of 3.0 diopters or more and bimedial rectus recession. Successful occlusion therapy was associated with both a decrease in fixation preference and a "trade-off" in grating acuities of preferred and nonpreferred eyes. Three patients responded to occlusion therapy and spectacles alone; the remaining patients were treated surgically before their first birthday. Adequate alignment was achieved in over 75% of patients. During a mean follow-up of 28 months, 31 patients required further surgery to maintain horizontal and/or vertical alignment. Following occlusion therapy and surgery, acuity development proceeded normally. Postoperatively, approximately 35% of patients had at least gross stereopsis with random dot stereograms.

Amblyopia↗