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Biomedical subjects

R Dubois

Publications and source records attributed to R Dubois.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Chronic pancreatitis beginning in childhood and adolescence.

We identified 10 patients with symptoms beginning before the age of 20 years in a group of 69 patients with proven chronic pancreatitis. Six of the 10 patients were women. There was a family history of pancreatitis in three patients and alcohol exposure in seven patients. Three patients were dependent on narcotics at the time of presentation. Six of the 10 patients had pancreatic duct dilatation to 10 mm or more in diameter during observation. These six patients underwent pancreaticojejunostomy, with clinical improvement in five patients. The median time of follow-up was 19 years from presentation. No patient developed diabetes and one developed malabsorption. Only three patients were free of pain, but four other patients had only mild episodes that rarely required hospital admission. One patient died of metastatic abdominal carcinoma of unknown origin 51 years after developing familial pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis beginning at a young age is sufficiently common to merit special awareness. It is compatible with prolonged survival, and pancreaticojejunostomy may help if the pancreatic duct reaches sufficient size. The disease does not seem to burn out with time.

Adolescent↗

Effect of nomegestrol acetate on spinability, ferning and mesh dimension of midcycle cervical mucus.

A study was carried out in order to determine the impact of Nomegestrol acetate on the human cervix and to evaluate the ability of changes induced in cervical mucus to render the cervical canal hostile to spermatozoa at midcycle. Under the influence of Nom Ac, loss of spinability, absence of ferning pattern and drastic tightening of the glycoprotein meshwork rendered midcycle mucus very similar to that elaborated during physiological states under total progesterone dominance. The results obtained in this study gave clear evidence that Nomegestrol acetate may provide cervical blocking thereby preventing sperm transport to the uterine cavity.

Adult↗

Doppler estimation of pressure gradient in pulmonary stenosis: maximal instantaneous vs peak-to-peak, vs mean catheter gradient.

We undertook a study to identify the hemodynamic significance of a Doppler-derived gradient across a stenotic pulmonary valve. Furthermore, we attempted to define the optimal plane for velocity data acquisition. A total of 17 children with valvar pulmonary stenosis were evaluated using Doppler echocardiography. Flow-velocity profiles were obtained from both the parasternal and subxiphoid windows. Ten of 17 patients were studied before and after balloon valvotomy. Therefore, 27 different transvalvar gradients were assessed by Doppler and these data were compared with the catheter-derived maximal instantaneous, peak-to-peak, and mean pressure gradients. The maximal Doppler gradient correlated well with the catheter-derived peak-to-peak pressure gradient (r = 0.95) and catheter maximal instantaneous pressure gradient (r = 0.95). Although these correlation coefficients were similar, the Doppler maximal gradient consistently overestimated the peak-to-peak catheter gradient by as much as 25%-40%. Such an overestimation was not observed when we compared the maximal Doppler gradient with the catheter-derived maximal instantaneous gradient. Moreover, the regression line of the latter comparison closely approximated the line of identity. The correlation coefficient between Doppler mean and catheter mean gradients was only 0.91. Doppler velocities were best derived when multiple transducer positions were employed to interrogate pulmonary artery velocity.

Blood Pressure↗

Trypanosoma musculi infection in the CBA/N mouse.

The infection of B-cell deficient CBA/N mice by Trypanosoma musculi resulted in a higher parasitaemia, delayed recovery, and a defective antibody response (IgM and IgG1). CBA/N mice were thus less efficient than CBA/J in controlling the infection. These results indicate that B-cells are involved in the immunological control of this parasite.

Animals↗

Modulation of ventricular parasystole by extraneous depolarizations.

The ectopic cycle length of a ventricular parasystole was influenced in a predictable fashion (modulated) by nonparasystolic beats. Although the interectopic intervals were not multiples of the ectopic cycle length (as in "classical" parasystole), the diagnosis could be established because: a) nonparasystolic beats falling during the first half of the cycle produced an 8-12% shortening of the ectopic cycle length; and b) nonparasystolic beats occurring during the second half of the cycle decreased the ectopic cycle length by 9-14%. The events occurring in this case are further proof that the classical criteria for the diagnosis of parasystole have to be reevaluated.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗