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Biomedical subjects

P Franck

Publications and source records attributed to P Franck.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Testicular relapse after 13 years of complete remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Girls with acute lymphoblastic leukemia appear to have a higher cure rate than boys. This is in part attributable to the reoccurrence of testicular disease in boys. Although the frequency of testicular relapse is less than 5% with current intensive therapy regimens, testicular disease remains of apparent clinical importance. Here we report an unusually late testicular relapse in an 18-year-old male after 12.7 years of continuous complete remission, and review the literature regarding this late failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Applications of infrared spectroscopy to medical biology.

This short review presents the great power of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in the field of medicinal biology. New spectrometers as well as new accessories for sampling have significantly contributed to extend the application fields of the infrared techniques. During the past few years, it has been pointed out that FT-IR spectroscopy can be used to identify bacteria, to characterize neoplasic changes from biopsies, to recognize the various forms of arthritis by analysis of synovial fluid. This paper intends also to illustrate two clinical chemistry applications: the determination of the fecal lipids by FT-IR spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflectance accessory (ATR) and the measurement of the carbone monoxide in blood.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1996

Measurement of intracellular pH in cultured cells by flow cytometry with BCECF-AM.

This study evaluates the suitability of flow cytometry with the fluorochrome BCECF for measuring the intracellular pH (pHi) of cultured cells, and monitors the changes in pHi in murine hybridoma in batch culture and chick embryo fibroblast in monolayer culture (5th passage). The technique produced highly reproducible, repeatable results. The theoretical sensitivity from the calibration curve was 0.0004 pH units. But analysis of the standard deviation of the histogram of the green/red fluorescence ratios indicated a mean sensitivity of 0.08 (0.07-0.09) pH units. Interference due to cell size, fluorochrome incorporation and esterases were minimized by establishing a calibration curve with the cells whose pHi was to be measured using the 525/610 nm fluorescence ratio after excitation at 488 nm. The pHi of exponentially growing, batch cultured hybridomas was 7.50 at the start of culture. pHi increased during the exponential growth phase and dropped towards cell death. The pHi of the chick fibroblasts in monolayer culture was 7.30.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Low-dose polyethylene glycol 4000: digestive effects. Randomized double-blind study in healthy subjects].

OBJECTIVES: It was recently demonstrated that low-dose polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG) electrolyte lavage solution, a colonic lavage solution used for cleaning the gut before colonic procedures, is effective in the treatment of chronic constipation. The aim of our study was to determine the digestive effects of low-dose PEG 4000 without electrolyte addition in healthy subjects. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male subjects with normal transit were included in a randomized controlled cross-over study. Study design included 4 successive periods: pre-inclusion (12 days), treatment (7 days), wash out (7 days), treatment (7 days). Colorectal transit time measurement and stool collection for physical and chemical investigations were performed during each period. During treatment period, either 20 g/d of PEG without electrolyte addition or placebo was given to each subject. RESULTS: With PEG, stool frequency increased significantly (1.26 +/- 0.09 with PEG versus 1.07 +/- 0.09 with placebo; P < 0.05) but no significant change in consistency was observed (P = 0.07). Total and segmental colonic transit time were comparable with PEG and placebo. Mean stool weight increased from 74 g/d, by increase of stool water output (54 g/d) and dry stool weight (20 g/d). Increase of stool water output was not associated with improvement in stool hydration: stool water content was comparable with PEG (75.4%) and with placebo (75.6%). No change was observed for the following parameters: stool electrolytes output, pH, organic acids, fecal output of fat, alpha-1-antitrypsin clearance, presence of red and white blood cells. Fecal output of protein increased significantly from 3.2 +/- 0.4 g/d to 6.0 +/- 0.7 g/d (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: No effect on colonic transit and on stool hydration was observed with low dose of PEG 4000. With 20 g/d of PEG 4000, electrolytes addition is not necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Rapid determination of fecal fat by Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) with partial least-squares regression and an attenuated total reflectance accessory.

Fecal lipid content is usually determined by titrimetric or gravimetric methods, but these methods are time consuming and involve dangerous solvents. We have developed a new method of measuring fecal lipids by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) with an attenuated total reflectance accessory that is fast and requires no solvents. The spectra of stools from 4000 to 750 cm-1 were analyzed, and the lipid concentrations were measured by using a calibration curve prepared by partial least-squares analysis of data from 34 stools. The linearity of the method was tested by mixing low-lipid stools with lipid-overloaded stools to give a range of 0.5-15% lipid. The prediction residual values were -0.49-0.78% for calibrators, and -2.55-2.34% for unknown samples. There was good agreement between the fecal lipids measured by gravimetric (x) and FTIR(y) methods: y = 0.87x + 5.5. The standard error of prediction was 1.07%.

Calibration↗
PubMed1995

Use of cryomicrotomy to study gastric diffusion of amoxicillin in guinea pigs.

Cryomicrotomy has been used as a new technique for removing gastric mucosae from adult guinea pigs for the study of amoxicillin secretion across gastric mucosae. This method allowed a very regular thickness of the removed surface layer of mucosa to be obtained with good reproducibility. Gastric superficial mucosa concentrations and gastric juice concentrations of amoxicillin were determined 1, 2, and 4 h after intramuscular administration (50 mg/kg) in 21 guinea pigs by a microbiological method. No antibiotic was detected in gastric samples at 4 h, except for a low-level mucosal concentration in one animal, thus indicating the short time that amoxicillin is present in gastric samples.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of methylnaltrexone for the reduction of postoperative vomiting and nausea incidences.

We examined the effect of methylnaltrexone on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in a prospective double-blind placebo controlled study. One hundred and twenty female patients undergoing laparoscopic major gynecological surgery were allocated randomly to receive either 20 mg methylnaltrexone or placebo IV at the end of surgery. Postoperative nausea and vomiting was evaluated for 6 h after admission to the PACU and assessed by number of episodes and degree of severity. The incidences of nausea and vomiting for the placebo group were 27 and 18 percent, respectively. The corresponding values for the methylnaltrexone group were 20 and 10 percent. We conclude that methylnaltrexone did not prevent nor significantly reduced the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting following a balanced anesthetic technique in gynecological procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Myeloma with two monoclonal IgG and IgD in serum: a case report.

We report the case of a woman, who initially presented with an IgG kappa-type monoclonal gammopathy. An IgD-secreting myeloma was diagnosed 2 years later. The patient died of severe renal failure and infection. The discrepancy between the immunoglobulin concentration estimated from the electrophoresis pattern and the immunonephelometric measurement of IgG, IgA and IgM led us to investigate the existence of an IgD myeloma. It was of the IgD kappa type and had electrophoretic characteristics identical to the initial monoclonal IgG. A common clonal origin for these two immunoglobulins is discussed.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1994

Open infarct artery, late potentials, and other prognostic factors in patients after acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era. A prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Successful reperfusion of the infarct-related artery in patients with acute myocardial infarction has been shown to reduce in-hospital as well as 1-year mortality. Besides the thrombolysis-induced myocardial salvage, there is increasing evidence that an open infarct-related artery results in increased electrical stability of the heart and that this effect is at least in part responsible for the favorable long-term outcome of these patients. The exact incidence of arrhythmic events during the first year after myocardial infarction and the predictive value of different risk factors for these complications, however, have not been determined in patients in the thrombolytic era. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 173 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 51% treated with thrombolysis, were prospectively entered into the study. At the time of hospital discharge, signal-averaged ECG, Holter monitoring, radionuclide angiography, coronary angiography, and levocardiography were performed in all patients. An open infarct-related artery was documented in 136 patients. The overall incidence of late potentials was 24% (41 patients). By multivariate analysis, an occluded infarct-related artery (P = .04) and the presence of regional wall motion abnormalities (P = .02) were the strongest independent predictors for the development of a late potential. Residual ischemia was treated by either percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or surgery in 86 of 173 patients (50%). Seventy percent of the patients received beta-blocker therapy. During a mean follow-up of 12 +/- 5 months, 7 patients died suddenly or had ventricular fibrillation documented, while only 2 developed sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. Overall 1-year mortality was 4.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed only an occluded infarct-related artery as an independent predictor of arrhythmic complications (P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute myocardial infarction treated according to contemporary therapeutic guidelines, with a large proportion of individuals undergoing coronary artery revascularization, a low incidence of arrhythmic events, particularly of ventricular tachycardia, was observed in the first year after the index infarction. The presence or absence of an open infarct-related artery was the strongest independent predictor of these events, whereas other traditional risk factors, such as late potentials, were less helpful in identifying patients prone to sudden death. These findings emphasize the importance of the open artery hypothesis in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle in chronic gastritis.

Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis was recorded in gastric biopsy specimens from patients with normal gastric mucosa (GM), superficial gastritis (SG) and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Cell-cycle analysis showed significantly higher percentages of cells in S- and S+G2/M-phase in CAG than in SG and normal GM (P < 0.0001). Moreover, CAG with severe or moderate atrophy showed significantly higher percentages of cells in S-phase (P < 0.05) and S+G2/M-phase (P < 0.02) than CAG with mild atrophy in antrum. In fundus, even if this increase was observed, it did not reach statistical significance. Consideration of concomitant pathologic findings such as oesophagite, gastric or duodenal ulcer, duodenite or benign polyp allowed a better differentiation of CAG both in antrum and in fundus. Significantly higher S-phase was observed in CAG with severe or moderate atrophy than in CAG with mild atrophy (P < 0.05). No statistically significant results were observed in patients with normal gastric mucosa or chronic gastritis and a concomitant pathologic finding.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1991

Gentamicin pharmacokinetics in patients with malignancies.

The pharmacokinetics of gentamicin were investigated in 880 patients with leukemia (24 patients), other malignancies (211 patients), or no malignancies (645 patients) by using data collected by our Clinical Pharmacy Service. A significant difference was seen in the initial calculated creatinine clearance between the patients with leukemia and the other two groups. No differences in gentamicin pharmacokinetics were seen in patients with other malignancies versus those with no malignancies. Patients with leukemia had significantly faster drug clearance compared with those in the other two groups. A poor predictive value was found for total body clearance of gentamicin versus the initial calculated creatinine clearance in all groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only the initial calculated creatinine clearance differed in the leukemic group compared with those in the other patients. Our data suggest that no pharmacokinetic difference exists for gentamicin in patients with malignancies.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Cerebellar cavernous angioma, cervical dystonia and crossed cortical diaschisis].

On four occasions since 1978, this 53 year-old woman presented with a right hemicorporal hypotonia, symptomatic of a hemispheric cerebellar syndrome. In 1981, she experienced the progressive development of a cervical dystonia. CT scan and RM scan showed a cavernous angioma in the right cerebellar hemisphere. The 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose PET scan revealed a right cerebellar and a contralateral cortical and striatal hypometabolism. This crossed cerebello-cortical diaschisis can be interpreted as a functional interruption of the cerebello-cerebral pathways. This case raises the question of the role played by a cerebellar lesion in the development of a focal dystonia.

Cerebellar Neoplasms↗
PubMed1975

Teaching nursing management by programmed instruction.

Student and faculty dissatisfaction with lectures prompted several revisions of teaching methods for nursing management. Revisions centered around a programmed text for business plus various methods of application to nursing. One part of management (control) was also programmed in nursing terms. Data collected revealed that students who used the programmed business text and participated in small group discussions achieved significantly higher scores than either students who attended lectures or used the programmed business text in conjunction with a tutorial system. Data also demonstrated that students who used the unit programmed specifically for nursing management achieved significantly higher scores than students who used the programmed text for business management. This data suggest students level of achievement is increased when the transfer step from business to nursing is eliminated. For this reason, two faculty members completed the writing of a programmed text for nursing management. This text has been tested over the past two years and will be published in the near future. We were unable to collect objective data regarding the actual application of management principles to nursing practice. Subjectively, we felt the students had a stronger framework of principles unique to nursing management and were able to transfer this knowledge to leading a team with greater ease than previously. Without student dissatisfaction originally, and student acceptance and participation throughout the changes, this study would not have evolved. It was student encouragement which prompted the program specific to nursing.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development and validation of a methodology for intracellular pH measurements of hybridoma cells under bioreactor culture conditions.

The intracellular pH (pH(i)) is an important factor in the regulation of different cellular processes. It might therefore be used as a marker of the physiological state of cells cultivated in a bioreactor environment. We developed and validated therefore a methodology that permits a reproducible and reliable pH(i) measurement under such bioreactor culture conditions, contrary to earlier reported measurements, carried out on cells resuspended in buffers under nongrowth conditions. The hybridoma cells were sampled from the culture, stained with the pH-sensitive dye BCECF-AM (BCECF = 2',7'-bis-carboxyethyl-5,6-carboxyfluorescein), and analyzed by flow cytometry. Such a measurement is perfectible to changes of the cells between the moment of sampling and of final analysis on the flow cytometer. All intermittent steps were for this reason studied in detail, either to determine the optimal conditions to be used or to characterize their influence on the final pH(i) value measured. Additional experiments were carried out, showing the representativeness of the measured pH(i) value for the pH(i) the cells possess really in the culture at the moment of sampling.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Results of hemograms of a series of top-level cyclists: an example of a factor of biological variability].

We report data about 50 caucasian top-level cyclists (45 males, 5 women, aged between 16 and 36 years, mean 25 +/- 4.5). Recruitment was by controlling top-level athletes in order to follow their blood cell counts to detect variation in haemoglobin concentration and hematocrit level (prevention of erythropoietin abuse). All samples were drawn in the morning, when the cyclists were at rest, according to a standardized protocol. Erythroblastic serie was abnormal in several cases (4 anaemias, 3 macrocytosis, 6 low haematocrit level, 10 mean cell haemoglobin higher than 32 pg, low reticulocyte count). White blood cells showed a trend toward low counts for neutrophils and lymphocytes. Two cyclists had platelets counts below 150.109/l. Our data indicated that top-level cyclism had some effects on the blood cell counts, which is likely to indicate an effect of intense aerobic training on physiological status.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Congenital methemoglobinemia: a rare case of cyanosis in the newborn].

We report the case of a newborn presenting a cyanosis after the birth with a good general state. Congenital methemoglobinemia is a rare disease which is characterized by a brutal appearance, in early infancy, of a bluish skin color not regressing with oxygen inspiration, and by a good general state. It is due to the recessive autosomal NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (EC. 1.6.2.2) deficiency. This enzyme normally allows the reduction of the physiologically formed methemoglobinemia. Two forms of congenital methemoglobinemia have to be distinguished: the benign form (type I) and the severe form (type II).

Cyanosis↗