Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Gerard

Publications and source records attributed to P Gerard.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Exteroceptive suppression of temporalis muscle activity in chronic headache.

Early (ES1) and late (ES2) exteroceptive suppression periods elicited by electrical stimulation of the labial commissure during teeth-clenching were recorded over the temporalis muscle in 45 headache patients (25 tension headaches and 20 migraines) and 22 controls. Mean duration of ES2 for single shocks was significantly reduced in tension headache when compared with migraine or controls. At a stimulation rate of 2 Hz, ES2 was abolished in 40% of tension headache sufferers, but in none of the migraineurs. EMG analysis of temporalis late exteroceptive suppression might be a helpful diagnostic tool in functional headaches. Reduction of ES2 suggests that there is deficient activation or excessive inhibition of pontobulbar inhibitory interneurons which receive a strong input from limbic structures. ES2 might thus represent an interface between psychogenic and myogenic factors putatively involved in the pathogenesis of tension headache.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1987

Indexes of severity for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Validation--value in comparison with other assessment tests.

The index for hip disease (ISH) was established, validated and appraised as a new assessment test for the trial of new drugs as well as for long-term follow-up of patients, and to help with future indications for surgery. The ISH deals with pain, maximum walking distance, and some activities of daily living. Inter-observer reproducibility is good (mean deviation 0.55 points; p less than 0.05). In a short-term, double-blind crossover trial, the ISH, judged according to its power to distinguish between the active drug period and the placebo period, appears as one of the best assessment tests. In the long term, total hip prosthesis is most often justified when the ISH score reaches 10-12 points. The index of severity for knee disease (ISK) was validated and appraised by the same statistical methods. Its value in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or analgesic trials is lower than the value of the ISH. However, its use is still justified for that purpose, and for long-term follow-up of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Hip Joint↗
PubMed1986

The optical push device: an aid to the angiographer.

The frequent use of heavy eyeglasses by the angiographer has resulted in significant discomfort due to "sliding glasses." Described is the optical push device, which allows the angiographer to adjust eyeglasses comfortably while maintaining sterility.

Angiography↗
PubMed1986

Brain growth in sick newborn infants: a clinical and real-time ultrasound analysis.

This study concerns 152 neonates admitted between June 1981 and December 1983 in a neonatal intensive care unit. It aims to evaluate brain growth and to analyse the influence of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) and ventricular dilatation (VD) in pre-term infants. The babies were first analysed at birth. The sample comprised 127 normal infants and 25 IUGR neonates. An ultrasonic index of cerebral growth was devised: the height of the frontal lobes (HFL), measured in a standardised coronal slice of the brain. According to gestational age (GA), HFL and head circumference (HC) gave a similar assessment of brain growth. A regression line of normal intrauterine values of HFL has been produced according to GA and might be added to the other ways of following the intrauterine growth of the brain after 26 weeks. Brain growth was slower in IUGR, when assessed both by HFL and HC. The infants were also assessed during the postnatal period for a mean period of 27.6 days (S.E.M.: 3.5). They were divided into 5 groups: 45 preterm infants without IUGR, ICH or VD; 45 preterm neonates with ICH alone; 12 preterm babies with ICH and VD alone, 10 preterm infants with isolated FGR, and 8 preterm neonates with IUGR and ICH. A calculation of the global anthropometric (body weight, body length, HC and HFL) weekly increment was made for all infants according to their respective group. No statistical difference in any of these parameters between these 5 groups emerged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Body Height↗
PubMed1984

Severe allergic reaction: an unusual complication of barium enema.

This article describes a severe allergic reaction to a barium sulfate compound used during double-contrast colon examination. This unusual complication is probably induced by chemical agents used as additives in the commercially available barium preparations. The pertinent literature is briefly reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Elongation of the anterior tubercle of a cervical vertebral transverse process: an unusual variant.

Elongation of the anterior tubercle of a transverse process of a cervical vertebra is a congenital anomaly that should be considered in a patient demonstrating a bony mass projecting anterior to the vertebral body on a lateral radiograph of the cervical spine. Reported is a case of elongation of the tubercles of the transverse processes of both C5 and C6 with the formation of an articulation. Computed tomography was used to definitively differentiate this variant from a fracture fragment, bone tumor, or osteophyte. This anomaly is probably a form of supernumerary cervical rib developing at a level above the lowest cervical vertebra.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Clinical significance of serum transcobalamins in protein-energy malnutrition.

The serum concentrations of Unsaturated Vitamin B(12) binding (UBBC) capacity and the three individual transcobalamins were measured in 34 malnourished children aged 9 months-5 y. Levels of serum vitamin B12, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin and total proteins were also estimated. The serum UBBC, Transcobalamin I (TC I), Transcobalamin III (TC III), vitamin B12 and the enzyme activities were significantly higher in the kwashiorkor children when compared with both the marasmic and control children. There was also a marked reduction of serum Transcobalamin II (TC II), albumin and total proteins in the kwashiorkor children. In contrast with kwashiorkor, there was a slight increase of serum TC II in the marasmic children. Their serum UBBC, TC I, TC III and B12 were also raised but not as high as in kwashiorkor. These results are discussed in the light of the hepatic dysfunction in kwashiorkor affecting the production of TC II in the liver, while the elevated serum B12 in Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) may be due to both hepatic damage and intensified release of TC I as a result of infection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Abnormalities of serum transcobalamins in sickle cell disease (HbSS) in Black Africa.

The unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity (UBBC) of serum, the three transcobalamins (TC I, TC II, TC III), and the total leucocyte and neutrophil counts have been studied in paediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Increase in the level of the binding capacities of TC I and TC II with concomitant increase of UBBC was observed in these children who also had increased total white blood and neutrophil counts. There was a significant reduction in the level of endogenous B12. These abnormalities are discussed in relation to the deficiency of the splenic reticuloendothelial function, immunologic defect, hepatic degenerative changes and aplastic crisis observed in SCD. These results lend support to the view that transcobalamins are involved in the defence mechanism of the body. The significant reduction in serum cobalamin in SCD suggests a higher demand on this vitamin for metabolic functions, especially for the sparing of folate.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed1982

Serum transcobalamins in healthy Nigerian children.

The unsaturated vitamin B12-binding capacity (UB12BC) and the three transcobalamins (TC I, TC II, TC III) have been studied in the serum of normal healthy Nigerian children. The serum UB12BC level was very high in the children: TC I accounted for 39.5% of UB12BC, TC II accounted for 49.5% and TC III accounted for 11%. The results are discussed in the light of the variations in the distribution of transcobalamins in children from what has been previously reported among the African adults. The high percentage of TC I in the children is discussed in the light of a possible immunological role of this transcobalamin. There was an inverse relationship between TC I and TC II levels. A sex difference in UB12BC and TC I levels was observed. The girls had higher UB12BC and this was due to higher TC I, but the advantage of this is not clear.

Black People↗
PubMed1980

A derivative of R-type cyanocobalamin binding proteins in the human intestine. A candidate antibacterial molecule.

Human jejunal fluid contains a protein which has a molecular radius of 3.37 nm, an Mr or 60600 and a mean pI of 3.35 and binds cobalamin with a K of 0.1 . 10(9) l/mol. This protein also couples cobalamin analogues lacking the nucleotide moiety, cross-reacts with R-type protein and is resistant to proteolysis in the intestine. These findings refute the hypothesis that cobalamin-analogue binders are present and effectively inhibit the bacterial uptake of analogues in the intestine.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗