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Biomedical subjects

R Gandar

Publications and source records attributed to R Gandar.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Exfoliatin in neonatal staphylococcal infections].

An outbreak of staphylococcal skin infection in neonates was investigated clinically, bacteriologically and epidemiologically with the following findings: (1) In 8 out of 13 cases, exfoliatin-producing staphylococci were present in the bullae, which is unusual with bullous lesions occurring at other ages; (2) exfoliatin producing staphylococci were present in all children with bullous lesions, as well as in carriers; (3) 39% of the phage II group staphylococci studied produced exfoliatin; (4) purulent lesions due to phage II staphylococci which did not produce exfoliatin were observed. The contaminating agent could be identified in most cases.

Animals↗

[Treatment of menopausal hot flushes with a nonhormonal medication, veralipride].

The value of veralipride in menopausal disorders is no longer questionable and has been documented by a number of studies. The purpose of this paper is to study the clinical effectiveness and to look for the biological consequences of three months therapy with veralipride. To achieve this, a thorough biological study (hematology, glucids, lipids, hepatic and renal function) was done in 21 patients with a menopausal syndrome before and after taking veralipride for three months. Clinical effectiveness was excellent with 80% satisfactory results. No signs of intolerance or adverse side-effects were seen. We recorded no significant changes in biological parameters. No disturbances of renal or hepatic function were detected, either in individual assessments or in the overall statistical analysis of the study group. Because it is well tolerated, effective, and devoid of adverse metabolic side-effects, we conclude that veralipride is the best non-hormonal treatment for menopausal disorders presently available.

Climacteric↗

[Maternal glucose tolerance along pregnancy (author's transl)].

The development of the foetal and placental unit induces large changes in maternal glucose tolerance along pregnancy. Oestrogen-induced hyperinsulinism is responsible for facilitated anabolism which take place during the first part of pregnancy. Accelerated catabolism occurring during the second part is due to the direct action of placental hormones, mainly of human placental lactogen. The latter is responsible for diminution of peripheral insulin activity. Hyperinsulinism, which is very important at this stage, facilitates an intense and rapid anabolism, mainly in the liver from where nutriments can be easily removed. Glucose and amino-acid uptake by placental and foetus are greatly increased by all these changes.

Blood Glucose↗

[Infertility and carbohydrate metabolism. A study of 93 cases (author's transl)].

An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 93 women with unexplained infertility (sterility or repeated abortions). An abnormal carbohydrate metabolism was found in 1/3 of the cases (32 patients). Advice on diet control, provided to all of these patients, was followed only by 13.9 of these, who conceived less than 6 months after initiation of the low carbohydrate diet, achieved full-term pregnancy. These results suggest a relationship between infertility and glucose intolerance. A glucose tolerance test should be performed in all women presenting unexplained infertility.

Abortion, Habitual↗

[Maternal glucose tolerance along pregnancy (author's transl)].

The development of the foetal and placental unit induces large changes in maternal glucose tolerance along pregnancy. Oestrogen-induced hyperinsulinism is responsible for facilitated anabolism which take place during the first part of pregnancy. Accelerated catabolism occurring during the second part is due to the direct action of placental hormones, mainly of human placental lactogen. The latter is responsible for diminution of peripheral insulin activity. Hyperinsulinism, which is very important at this stage, facilitates from where nutrients can be easily removed. Glucose and amino-acide uptake by placental and foetus are greatly increased by all these changes.

Amino Acids↗

[Epidural morphine for obstetrical pain relief (author's transl)].

Twenty five healthy pregnant women received an epidural injection (at levels varying from T11-T12 to L3-L4) of morphine (2 or 3 mg in 10 ml of saline solution 9 p. thousand) in order to achieve pain relief for delivery. The degree of dilation never exceeded 5 cm at time of injection. Pain level decreased in 22 cases (88 p. cent) but only 16 women (64 p. cent) were fully satisfied. Hypoalgesia begun after 25 minutes and disappeared after 19 hours. No respiratory or haemodynamic changes were noted. On the other hand, the duration of the first stage of labour decreased. The best results are seen when injection is achieved at highest levels, facing spinal cord segments supplying the cervix and the perineum. No newborn showed any sign of respiratory or neurologic depression.

Adult↗

Serum level of ritodrine in man.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay has been developed for the determination of ritodrine in serum and plasma. Interference by ritodrine metabolites, viz. the sulphate and glucuronide conjugates, was negligible. The sensitivity was 0.3 ng/ml in 0.1 ml plasma or serum. The method was used to determine the serum level of ritodrine in man after oral or parenteral administration. In healthy volunteers intravenous infusion of 9 mg in 1 h resulted in a peak serum level of about 45 ng/ml. In every subject the heart rate varied with time in approximately the same way as the serum level. Intramuscular injection of 10 mg gave a peak level of 20 ng/ml, and after oral administration of 10 mg the maximum peak concentration was 10 ng/ml. In all instances there was a detectable level in serum for up to 25 h after dosing. The bioavailability of the oral formulation was 30% of the parenteral preparations. The effective half-life was 1.3--2 h. Women in pre-term labour were treated by intravenous infusion of ritodrine hydrochloride, and after parturition, ritodrine was determined in serum from the mother and from umbilical cord blood. The results showed that ritodrine crossed the placental barrier and entered the fetal circulation.

Adult↗

[Clinical and biological studies of an hybrid S/Stanleyville II hemoglobin (alpha 2 78 Asn replaced by Lys beta 2 6 Glu replaced by Val) (author's transl)].

A report of a doubly heterozygous case for both haemoglobins: Hb Stanleyville II (alpha 78 replaced by Lys) and Hb S (beta 6 Glu replaced by Val) with Hb hybrid S/St II. A 29-year-old woman from Zaïre was found to have four haemoglobins: Hb A, Hb Stanleyville II, Hb S and Hb hybrid S/St II. The clinical and hematological effects of this combination were similar to those of heterozygous sickle cell anaemia. Substitution of Lysin for Asparagin at residue alpha 78 reduced the tendency to polymerization and increased mechanical stability. These findings demonstrated involvement of this site in intermolecular interactions and explained the moderate severity of the sickle cell anaemia syndrome.

Adult↗

[Variations of the coefficient of glucose assimilation in normal pregnancy].

Three hundred eleven intravenous glucose tolerance tests were performed in normal pregnant women between the 8th and the 40th week, and compared with similar tests performed in two groups of non-pregnant women, one group on oral contraceptives, the other not. There was a relative improvement in glucose tolerance at the beginning of pregnancy followed by marked loss of tolerance after the 24th week. This evolution is due to the physiologic adaptation of the maternal pancreas to fetal and placental metabolism. The range of normality for the glucose disappearance rate differs before and after the 24th week of pregnancy, and this must be recognised in setting diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes. Consideration of simultaneous studies of glucose tolerance and insulin secretion at various periods of pregnancy suggests that changes in K value are more closely correlated with variations in peripheral insulin effects than with changes in insulin secretory function of the maternal pancreas.

Female↗

[The oral glucose tolerance test during normal pregnancy (author's transl)].

Physiological changes in carbohydrate tolerance were studied between the beginning and end of pregnancy. Amongst 145 oral glucose tolerance tests performed between the 9th and 40th weeks, results indicated that carbohydrate tolerance evolved throughout pregnancy. The first 24 weeks were characterised by a change in the shape of the glucose tolerance curve, in the form of horizontalisation of the terminal part, but with no increase in early blood glucose figures. It was only after the 24th week that mean blood glucose levels were seen to be increased. The interpretation of glucose tolerance tests during pregnancy should take these physiological changes into account. Critical values, above which diabetes must be suspected, are different at the beginning and end of pregnancy. The critical point would appear to be around the 24th week.

Adult↗

[Screening for diabetes during pregnancy (author's transl)].

Screening for diabetes, or more commonly the study of maternal glucose tolerance, a routine procedure during pregnancy. The first step consists of assessing the diabetic risk for the patient. Screening tests should be applied early if risk factors for diabetes are present, and/or at a later stage in all pregnant women. The initial test should always be provoked hyperglycemia by the intravenous route. According to the value of the glucose assimilation coefficient K, the test will be repeated using the oral route. Screening can only be effective if applied to all pregnant women.

Administration, Oral↗

[Fetal maternal anti-HLA sensitization. Its relationship with the pathology of pregnancy and/or the neonate (author's transl)].

The frequency of maternal anti HLA sensitization was studied in 1401 normal and pathological pregnancies. The analysis of the obstetrical history showed in patients with sensitization, a stabilical highs indications of preceding abortion and premature labors and of actual anemies and premature labors. The signification of such, an association remains to be found.

Blood Group Incompatibility↗

[Study of fetal respiration by ultrasound. Correlation with gestational age and diagnosis of fetal distress].

The authors, following the work of Boddy and Robinson, studied the value of recording fetal breathing activity in the antenatal diagnosis of fetal distress. Fetal respiratory movements are detected with unidimensional echography, thanks to an electronic grille which is able to isolate a thoracic echo which is then reproduced on a rapid recorder after amplification. In normal pregnancies there is a highly significant correlation between fetal respiratory activity and the length of amenorrhoea. In a series of twelve cases with fetal distress that were recorded during labour and were defined after delivery by an Apgar score of less than or equal to 6 and an umbilical arterial pH less than or equal to 7.17, prenatal recordings showed a pathological reduction in fetal breathing movement in 9 cases. In this series only 5 cardiotocograms were shown to be abnormal.

Female↗

Free and sulfoconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone, cyclic adenosime-3',5'-monophosphate, and free estriol in maternal and cord blood.

When free DHEA, its sulfatide, and sulfate were assayed in maternal plasma as well as in umbilical cord arterial and venous plasma, rather high concentrations were found in either fraction from cord arterial plasma, reflecting the fetal contribution not only of free DHEA and DHEA sulfate, but also of the lipophile steroid sulfatide. Since high DHEA levels were associated with elevated c-AMP concentrations, a certain interrelationship of both parameters is indicated. In the course of delivery, a rapid decrease of free estriol in maternal plasma was observed. Higher concentration of free estriol in umbilical venous plasma pointed at its placental biosynthesis from fetal precursors.

Cyclic AMP↗