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Biomedical subjects

P Verger

Publications and source records attributed to P Verger.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Correlation between dioxin levels in adipose tissue and estimated exposure to Agent Orange in south Vietnamese residents.

To permit new epidemiologic studies of the effects of dioxin on humans in Vietnam, we evaluated a model for quantifying exposure to Agent Orange (exposure index) based on the residential histories of 27 Vietnamese subjects and on information about spraying from the U.S. Army records (Herbs Tape) and compared this index to the dioxin levels measured in the subjects' adipose tissue. The mean dioxin level was 7.8 ppt, and dioxin and furan isomer profiles were similar to those already reported in industrialized countries. In addition, there was a highly significant correlation between the levels of almost all the isomers, whatever their degree of chlorination. For the group of 27 subjects, we found a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.36 (P = 0.07) between the dioxin levels and the exposure index after log-transformation of both variables. When the analysis was restricted to the 22 subjects with a positive exposure index, the Pearson correlation coefficient rose to 0.50 (P = 0.02). We conclude that despite the limitations and power conditions of the study, this result is encouraging because it will be useful for future epidemiologic studies in Vietnam.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Effects of administration of branched-chain amino acids vs. glucose during acute exercise in the rat.

Several studies of the relationship of food intake to physical exercise strongly suggest that the two are closely linked. Serotonin transmission seems to be particularly important in the regulation of both appetite and central fatigue. Thus, the ingestion of branched-chain amino acids has been reported to decrease serotonin production and to improve physical performance. In the present study, the effects of three treatments (water, glucose, and branched-chain amino acids) were compared in 34 male Wistar rats. Maximal exercise duration, blood insulin, and glucose levels were measured. Results showed that following the ingestion of branched-chain amino acids, physical performance is lower and blood insulin level is higher than after glucose administration.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1993

Viral infections and chemical exposures as risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in Vietnam.

A case-control study investigating risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was conducted in Hanoi, in the north of Vietnam, between 1989 and 1992. Male cases of HCC (152) diagnosed in 2 hospitals were included. Hospital controls (241) admitted mainly to abdominal surgery departments were frequency-matched to cases for sex, age, hospital and place of residence (Hanoi, province). Odds ratios adjusted for matching variables and other potential confounders were estimated using unconditional logistic regression, or exact non-parametric statistical inference when numbers were small. Positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was the main risk factor for HCC in this sample. Five subjects (3 cases, 2 controls) had been infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV), and none of them were carriers of HBsAg, giving an OR of 38 associated with HCV infection among HBsAG-negative subjects. Alcohol drinking was associated with HCC and interacted with HBsAg positivity. Agricultural use of organophosphorous pesticides (30 liters/year or more) and military service in the south of Vietnam for 10 years or more were also associated with an increased risk of HCC. This study confirms the major role played by HBV infection and its association with HCC in south-east Asia. It also suggests how other factors such as alcohol consumption or exposure to chemicals may interact with HBV infection.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1993

Effects of acute treadmill exercise and delayed access to food on food selection in rats.

Total energy intake and macronutrient self-selection were examined in rats following forced exercise (2 h treadmill, 15 m/min) or after a similar period of food deprivation without exercise. Acute exercise was realized at the end of the daytime. Return to the home cage for food access after exercise or after the same period of fasting was delayed for 0, 30, and 90 min. It has been shown that rats decreased body weight after all exercise situations. Food intake after deprivation was decreased in the first 3 h but was not modified over 24 h. The 24-h energy intake after exercise was identically reduced in the three situations. Carbohydrate and protein intakes were significantly reduced just after exercise. Protein decrease persisted all through the night and, to a lesser extent, during the following nycthemere. Fat decrease appeared later and was significant in the last part of the night. Increasing the delay to food access after exercise did not modify the total energy intake, but it significantly reduced carbohydrate intake. Those results show that exercise has a longer influence on food intake and, specifically, on macronutrient selection, than just food deprivation. Various hypotheses regarding central (cerebral neurotransmitters) and peripheral factors could be evoked in order to explain these modifications in the self-selected diet after an acute exercise.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Dietary self-selection vs. complete diet: body weight gain and meal pattern in rats.

Food intake and body weight gain of male adult Wistar rats were examined in two groups of animals. One group (n = 14) was allowed to select its diet from separate sources of protein (casein, 3.1 kcal/g), fat (lard and sunflower oil, 7.9 kcal/g) and carbohydrate (CHO, starch and sucrose, 3.3 kcal/g). Another group (n = 10) received a nutritionally complete diet (3.3 kcal/g). After 2 weeks of adaptation to the diets, body weights and meal patterns were recorded for at least 4 days. The total caloric intake was nearly identical for the two groups of rats. Rats given dietary choice gained less weight over 4 days than rats fed chow and showed reduced feed efficiency. During the 24-h period, self-selecting rats consumed 20.8% of calories as proteins, 21% as fats and 58.2% as CHO. Self-selecting rats ate significantly less calories during the day than did rats given chow. The chow diet consisting of 17.3% calories as protein, 7.6% as fat and 75.1% as CHO. When comparing the self-selecting group nutrient intakes to those of chow-fed group it was observed that 24-h protein calorie intakes were identical in both groups. Fat intake was significantly higher and CHO reduced as compared to chow-fed rats. During the day, CHO intake was higher in self-selecting rats, and fat intake was not significantly reduced. During the night, protein and fat intakes were significantly higher in self-selecting rats, while CHO intake was significantly decreased, particularly in the last periods of the night.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Human intake and choice of foods at intervals after exercise.

Thirteen college-age men and women were submitted weekly to submaximal exercise for 2 h. After each exercise session, they were presented with the same meal composed of two high-protein, one high-lipid and two high-carbohydrate foods. The meal was offered at random 0, 30, 60, or 120 min after the 2-h exercise or 60 min after a session without exercise. As compared to a situation without exercise, both the pre-meal hunger rating and caloric intake were substantially increased 60 min after an exercise session. Also, after such exercise, hunger ratings increased with time and the later the meal, the larger was the amount consumed, both in total energy and as intake from carbohydrates but not lipids or proteins.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Malignant melanoma of the hepatic and common bile ducts. A case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of malignant melanotic melanoma involving the extrahepatic biliary tract in a 34-year-old white woman. The diagnosis was established using conventional light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical stains. The clinical absence of any primary cutaneous or visceral melanoma suggests that the tumor arose primarily from the biliary tract. To our knowledge, only two previous cases of malignant melanoma of the common bile duct have been reported in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Learned caloric adjustment of human intake.

The time course of caloric compensation of food intake was studied in human subjects presented with a new calorically dilute snack food under naturalistic conditions. In a preliminary test, two versions of the snack food, normal in calories (NC) or low in calories (LC), were found equally palatable by the subjects (15 to 17-year-old boys). In the first part of the experiment two groups were presented with a 125g serving of either NC or LC version as an afternoon snack. Intakes during the subsequent dinner (1 h later) were measured. In the second part of the experiment, the same subjects were allowed to habituate to NC or LC, i.e. on five consecutive days, subjects were served NC or LC food ad libitum at afternoon snack-time; servings and left-overs were weighed. On the sixth day, the snack was a 125 g serving of the habitual food and dinner intakes were measured. It was shown that in these adolescent males a 200 kcal difference in the afternoon snack was not immediately compensated for by dinner intake. However, precise caloric adjustment occurred after habituation. This casts in question the value for weight control of such a use of food products having lower caloric content than conventional products.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Mosaic 45,x/47,xy,+18.

A poorly developed female infant with buphthalmia, Turner phenotype, and mental retardation is described. Blood culture revealed a 45,X/47,XY,+18 chromosomal mosaicism; fibroblast culture showed only 45,X cells. The baby was dead at 11 months. Post mortem examination exhibited an ovarian agenesis and a calcified aortic stenosis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗