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Biomedical subjects

P Devos

Publications and source records attributed to P Devos.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

The alpha particulate liver glycogen. A morphometric approach to the kinetics of its synthesis and degradation.

Electron micrographs of rat hepatocytes with a glycogen content between 0.36 and 2.55% (w/w) were submitted to morphometrical analysis. From the number and size of glycogen profiles, the distribution of radius and volume of glycogen alpha particles were computed. The 7-fold difference in glycogen content was accompanied by an only 1.8-fold increase in the mean volume of the particles while their number increased by a factor of 4. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that the population of glycogen particles can be divided in two groups. The first one is made of growing particles, still associated with glycogen synthase; they are the only particles present at low glycogen concentration and their number is limited. Application of a simple mathematical model allows to estimate their number in hepatocytes as 49 X 10(12) particles . ml-1. The second group is made of glycogen particles which have reached their maximal size and the number of which is in principle unlimited. The maximal particle size is estimated to be 0.36 X 10(-15) ml, corresponding to an average molecular weight of 178 X 10(6). The average molecular weight of glycogen, as measured from the actual size of the particles, varied from 89 X 10(6) to 161 X 10(6).

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of scrotal scintigraphy and thermography for the diagnosis of varicocele.

Varicocele is the most frequent cause of male subfertility. Several invasive and noninvasive techniques can be used to visualize scrotal phlebectasies. In this study sequential scintigraphy after intravenous injection of 99mTc-albumin was compared with tele-thermography. The normal and pathological images are described. The more obvious the clinical condition, the more lesions were revealed by scintigraphy (29.6% in subfertile men suspected of having variococele; 76.9% in patients with first degree varicocele; and 100% in Grades II and III cases). In 55 cases (of a total of 76 cases explored by radioisotopic techniques), the comparison of the thermographic results with the scintigraphy results suggests that scrotal scintigraphy is less sensitive. However, there are more false positive thermographies expressed as a discordance with clinical examination, which indicates higher specificity of scintigraphy. In conclusion scrotal scintigraphy cannot be considered as the screening procedure of first choice for varicocele, but it can give complementary information, especially when thermographic results are at variance with the clinical examination.

Diagnostic Errors↗
PubMed1983

[Deafness, mutism and behavior problems caused by bitemporal cerebral lesions].

The case of a 29 years old woman with bilateral ischemic lesions in superior temporal and temporo-parietal areas is presented. An important speech reduction evolving toward muteness is associated to cortical deafness and behavior perturbations. The study of symbolic functions shows the partial respect of occipital activities and connexions between visual system and areas supporting graphism and manual praxia. The mechanisms of cortical deafness and secondary muteness is discussed, with reference to the previous descriptions.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Urinary carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis and follow-up of bladder carcinoma.

The level of urinary carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) was evaluated in the diagnosis and follow-up of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Urinary CEA concentration, cystoscopic findings and the histopathology of an eventually resected bladder tumour were correlated in 177 cases. The sensitivity proved to be 34%, the specificity 82%. Possible correlations with sex, infection, primary tumour or recurrence, differentiation and invasion of an eventually resected tumour and influence of adjuvant therapy were also evaluated. A comparison was made with the results of other authors and different factors which may influence urinary CEA levels are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Comparative study of the sensitivity of CT and quantitative angioscintigraphy in cerebrovascular disease.

A method for multiparametric quantitative cerebral angioscintigraphy is described. For the evaluation of the symmetry of hemispherical bolus transit the following parameters were used: the cumulative L/R hemispheric ratios expressed in arctangent values and the sequential hemispheric activity difference. Both the sensitivity and specificity of this technique for detection of proven stenosis of carotid or cerebral arteries (25 cases) were 80%, in comparison with 60% for computerized axial tomography. A few clinical examples illustrate the diagnostic utility of quantitative cerebral angioscintigraphy. The value of the different quantitative parameters is discussed and compared with other similar studies. With regard to the complementary role of computerized axial tomography and serial cerebral scintigraphy the results of other authors were confirmed. Considering the broad field of application for dynamic brain scintigraphy and the fact that both sensitivity and specificity of this exploration are comparable to, or even better than, CT, it is our opinion that isotopic exploration remains a reliable detection method for cerebrovascular disease.

Cerebral Infarction↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of bedside myocardial scintigraphy with 201Tl in acute myocardial infarction.

Bedside myocardial scintigraphy was performed on 149 patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), after IV injection of 74 MBq 201Tl, using a mobile gamma camera (Dynamo). The study was displayed on Polaroïd pictures, without any image treatment, and read by two independent readers. Clinical history, findings, and final diagnosis were assessed by an independent clinician. The following conclusions were reached: 1) The sensitivity of the study for the detection of a recent myocardial infarction (MI) was 0.84 with a specificity of 0.87. 2) There was a good correlation between scintigraphic and ECG localization. 3) No firm correlation was found between scintigraphic and enzymatic estimates of infarct size. 4) Abnormal visualization of the right ventricle was probably associated with more extensive infarction.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

[Primary neuromeningeal manifestation, isolated for a long period, of acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

The course of acute leukaemias, particularly of the lymphoblastic type, is very frequently complicated by the development of neuromeningeal localisations of the disease. They may, more rarely, be presenting initial lesions, their origin being confirmed clinically and/or biologically, but it is exceptional that they remain a strictly isolated expression of the affection. A case is reported of a 16-year-old adolescent with leukaemic meningitis, in whom haematological tests (blood counts, bone marrow smear, iliac medullary biopsy, lymph node biopsy) gave negative results over a period of at least two months. Based on the findings in this case, the significance of early neuromeningeal localisations of acute leukaemias is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Sub, retro- and supracerebellar arachnoid cysts and pseudocyts in adults. Six observations].

Four arachnoïd cysts and two arachnoïd communicating pouchs in sub, retro and supra cerebellar situation are presented. These formations are rarely encountered in adults and distinction is often difficult from other cystic lesions whose structure is different (neuroglial and ependymal cysts). Intellectual slowing, mild ataxia or urinary disturbances, related to chronic hydrocephalus may be the only clinical symptoms. After computed tomography, isotopic cysternography, rather than metrizamide cysternography, must precise the possible communication between the cystic pouch and the subarachnoïd spaces, and the possible ventricular reflux. These informations are mandatory before selecting the treatment. In case of a non communicating cyst, total or subtotal excision should be preferred.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Tc-99m-pertechnetate scanning in metastatic thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Radionuclide imaging with Tc-99m-pertechnetate in a patient with a mixed papillary-follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland showed evidence of increased radioactivity at sites of functioning metastases. The use of Tc-99m-pertechnetate as well as I-131 for imaging in search of functioning thyroid metastases is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1980

Random, presumably hydrolytic, and lysosomal glycogenolysis in the livers of rats treated with phlorizin and of newborn rats.

1. The glycogen formed in the livers of adult rats was labelled by injection of [1-14C] galactose soon after initiation of re-feeding after starvation. The rats were anaesthetized 4h later and glycogenolysis was induced by giving them a mixture of glucagon and insulin. In confirmation of previous work [Devos & Hers (1979) Eur J. Biochem. 99, 161-167],, there was a delay in degradation of the labelled glycogen by comparison with total glycogen. This pattern is considered as characteristic of an ordered glycogenolysis. Treatment of rats with phlorizin abolished the difference between the fate of labelled and total glycogen, causing, therefore, a random glycogenolysis. 2. Foetal liver glycogen was made radioactive by injecting [14C] glucose into the mother at the 19.5 day of gestation, i.e. at the time when this glycogen starts to be synthesized. During the postnatal degradation of this glycogen, radioactive and total glycogen were degraded at approximately the same rate, indicating that glycogenolysis occurred at random. In contrast, when puromycin was injected into the newborn rats, there was a delay in he degradation of the labelled glycogen as compared with that of total glycogen, as currently observed in the normal adult liver. 3. These data are discussed in relation with the fact that glycogen-filled vacuoles are currently seen in the livers of adult rats treated with phlorizin, and also in the neonatal livers, and that puromycin is known to cause the disappearance of these autophagic pictures in the liver of newborn rats. It is suggested that random glycogenolysis occurs through hydrolysis by the lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase, in the course of autophagy.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Reflections on the etiology of hot spots on liver scans.

Liver scintigraphy demonstrated areas of increased radiocolloid uptake in three cases with obstruction of the superior vena cava and extensive collateral circulation through the veins of the thoracic wall. The pattern of the hyperactive zones is indicative of predominant vascularization of the liver via the umbilical vein, with high colloid particle deposition in the quadrate lobe and adjacent part of the right lobe. These liver regions vascularized by the first intrahepatic branches of the umbilical vein as demonstrated by postmortem angiography, probably extract a great portion of the tracer dose, resulting in localized hyperactivity. An identical liver scan image was, however, found in a fourth case without evident superior vena cava syndrome. In this patient, presenting with a bronchus carcinoma with paratracheal metastatic lymph nodes, there is no explanation metastatic lymph nodes, there is no explanation (collateral circulation without vena cava obstruction?) for the abnormal tracer distribution within the liver.

Adult↗