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Biomedical subjects

S Fontaine

Publications and source records attributed to S Fontaine.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Panic disorder: vascular evaluation with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography.

Several recent studies have shown neurophysiologic and neuroanatomic abnormalities in panic disorder. This study aimed to assess by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography the magnitude of the changes in blood flow during panic attacks induced by intravenous sodium lactate infusion. The subjects consisted of 30 patients with panic disorder (DSM-III-R) and 25 controls; all were between the ages of 18 and 40 years and were right-handed. The flow in the middle cerebral artery was recorded bilaterally before the infusion began (to provide baseline readings) and at 3-minute intervals during the infusion. The patients showed a more rapid acceleration of flow (p less than 0.05) than the controls. Higher maximal velocity and higher variations in velocity (p less than 0.05) were observed in the patients sensitive to lactate but only in the right middle cerebral artery. These results suggest that abnormalities of local cerebrovascular autoregulation occurred in the patients with panic disorder during attacks induced by sodium lactate.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Temporal lobe abnormalities in panic disorder: an MRI study.

Brain mapping studies have shown abnormal changes in cerebral blood volume and oxygen consumption, or other neurophysiological abnormalities, in panic disorder (PD) patients. Because of these intriguing reports, we decided to assess the neuroanatomical aspects of patients with PD using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We included 31 consecutive cases with a diagnosis of PD according to the DSM-III criteria, and 20 controls. All subjects had to be right-handed and between 20 and 40 years of age. The usual exclusion criteria were applied. We carried out the MRI tests with a General Electric Signa Machine operating at 1.5 Tesla. Over 100 images were obtained per patient with an emphasis on assessing temporal lobe. There were no significant differences in age, gender, or weight between the patients and controls. We found a statistically significant higher number of abnormalities in PD patients (40%), as compared with the controls (10%). The most striking findings were focal abnormalities in the temporal lobes: areas of abnormal signal activity, and asymmetric atrophy of the temporal lobe occurred mostly on the right side. These results implicated the limbic system and may prove to be of particular relevance in panic and phobic disorders. However, the significance of our findings remains unknown and challenging. Further MRI studies in PD will be required for a better understanding of the illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of high-resolution computed tomography with discography in the evaluation of lumbar disc herniations.

After failure of conservative treatment, 100 patients with symptoms suggestive of lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) but without objective deficits were investigated both by high-resolution CT (without intravenous or intrathecal contrast) and by discography. The L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs were investigated by both techniques in all patients. In addition, the L3-L4 disc was investigated in 20 patients. The 220 investigated discs were sorted out into 6 CT categories according to morphologic and technical criteria. They were also classified into 3 discographic groups according to morphologic and clinical criteria. Based on morphologic considerations alone, the false-negative CT rates varied from 0 to 64% and the false-positive rates varied from 0 to 19%, depending on the category under consideration. Based on both morphologic and clinical consideration, the false-negative CT rates varied from 34 to 57% and the false-positive CT rates varied from 23 to 50%. Thus, high-resolution CT does not constitute an adequate means of investigation for this category of patients and discography appears justified before considering any form of radical therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Correlation of severity of panic disorder and neuroanatomical changes on magnetic resonance imaging.

Thirty consecutive lactate-sensitive panic disorder patients were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the relationship between temporal lobe abnormalities and panic disorder. Neuroanatomical abnormalities, most involving the right temporal lobe, were found in 43% of patients, compared with 10% of the control subjects. Patients with temporal lobe abnormalities were significantly younger at the onset of panic disorder and had more panic attacks compared with patients with normal MRI scans (p less than .05). These results suggest that panic disorder could be secondary to temporal lobe dysfunctions and that panic disorder patients with abnormal MRIs could have a worse prognosis than those with normal MRIs and would require long-term pharmacological treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Outpatient myelography with fine-needle technique: an appraisal.

Postmyelography headaches are produced mostly by CSF leakage at the dural puncture site and are therefore largely dependent on the size of the needle used. Our study of 300 consecutive outpatients who had lumbar myelograms performed with 25- and 26-gauge spinal needles shows that the procedure has become virtually innocuous. We recommend that 26-gauge spinal needles be widely adopted as the standard for fluoroscopically controlled intrathecal injections of contrast material.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Monoclonal antibodies to human interleukin-1 beta and their use in a sensitive two-site enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Five Monoclonal Antibodies (MAbs) coded respectively #111, 122, 206, 209 and 609 were produced against human recombinant Interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta, amino acids 117-269). Four of these MAbs (#111, 122, 206 and 609) have been identified able to inhibit the biological activity of recombinant and natural Interleukin-1 beta. Competition studies suggested that three non-overlapping epitopes of the molecule were recognized by the MAbs. MAbs #609 and 206 have been selected on the basis of high affinity and used together in a two-site ELISA to detect IL-1 beta. The sensitivity of this ELISA was 1 pg/well (10-20 pg/ml). The assay did not detect rHuIL-1 alpha, rHuIL-2, rHuTNF-alpha, rHuIFN-gamma, rHuIL-6, and natural a- and b-FGF. The immunoassay was then compared to current assay such as co-mitogenic effect on murine thymocytes for detection of IL-1 beta in the intra- and extracellular compartments of IFN-gamma and/or LPS-stimulated human blood monocytes. We confirm that IFN-gamma potentiates IL-1 beta secretion in response to LPS (even with high dose 1 microgram/ml) but not the intracellular precursor of IL-1 beta. This immunoassay could be used also to detect IL-1 beta in plasma, sera and synovial fluids.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Cavernous hemangiomas of the spinal cord: MR imaging.

In three patients with histologically proved cavernous hemangiomas of the spinal cord, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was superior to myelography, delayed computed tomography (CT) myelography, and contrast-enhanced CT in depicting the lesion. The presence of mixed subacute and chronic hemorrhage, suggested by mixed high- and low-signal-intensity components of these lesions on MR images, may be characteristic of this rare, intramedullary vascular malformation.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Cavernous angiomas of the spinal cord.

Five cases of histologically verified cavernous angiomas of the spinal cord are reported. Acute lower-extremity sensory disturbance was the initial symptom in four patients, and one presented with weakness of the hand. Progressive neurological deficit occurred in all patients, but the clinical course and outcome were extremely variable. Myelography revealed an intramedullary lesion in two cases but was completely normal in three; magnetic resonance imaging was diagnostic in these patients. Subtotal removal was accomplished in two cases, and myelotomy and biopsy were carried out in three. Four of the cavernous angiomas were located in the cervicothoracic region, whereas one was found in the thoracolumbar cord. All of the patients exhibited characteristic gross and microscopic features as well as hemosiderin-laden macrophages indicating remote hemorrhage. The diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications of this rare condition are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Superselective cerebral arterial infusion of BCNU in high-grade glioma: the radiologist's point of view.

Thirty-two patients suffering from high-grade glioma were candidates for superselective cerebral arterial infusion of 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) after surgery and radiation therapy. There were 74 catheterizations using an 8-French guiding catheter through which a 2.5-French balloon catheter was placed into the main arterial trunk feeding the tumor. Eleven procedures were abandoned because of arterial spasm with a transient neurological deficit or because of prolonged catheterization time. Sixty-three infusions of BCNU were done, each lasting three hours. Eighty-one percent of patients showed stabilization or improvement on computed tomographic (CT) scans five weeks after treatment. We thus demonstrate the safety of supraophthalmic catheterization, the feasibility of prolonged catheterization, and the relative effectiveness of low doses of BCNU infused over a long period of time in the treatment of cerebral gliomas.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Syringomyelia as a complication of Paget's disease. Case report.

Cranial settling and basilar invagination with medullospinal compression is believed to have resulted in the production of a syrinx in a case of Paget's disease of the cranium. This mechanism of compression at the craniovertebral junction resembles the development of syringomyelia in Chiari malformations presenting in adult life.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis without disc space collapse.

An unusual patient with pyogenic spondylodiscitis and preservation of the disc space anteriorly is reported. The diagnosis of pyogenic spondylodiscitis may be difficult when there is underlying spinal disease. We emphasize the need for early systematic imaging studies and intervention in such patients, including careful evaluation of vertebral endplates on plain films, early use of radionuclide studies, and prompt needle aspiration.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

CT, MRI, and angiography of venous angiomas: a comparative study.

Seventeen venous angiomas in 16 patients were evaluated radiologically at the Montreal Neurological Hospital. Radiologic investigations included contrast-enhanced computed tomograms (CECT) in 15 patients, cerebral angiograms with a long venous phase study in 15, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a spin-echo pulse sequence technique in six. CECT revealed abnormalities including six nodular nonspecific enhancing lesions and nine enhanced draining veins, whereas plain CT revealed intracerebral hemorrhages in four patients and calcification in one. All the angiograms showed the characteristic pattern of venous angiomas consisting of medullary veins converging to a large draining vein during the late venous phase. All six patients examined by MR showed abnormal vascular structures; parenchymal hemorrhages were present in two patients. In five patients with venous angiomas, medullary veins converging to a large draining vein were demonstrated as echo-void curvilinear structures. In two patients, the increased signal from medullary veins in long echo delay sequences was suggestive of a slow venous flow rate. Demonstration of the venous nature of the malformation may, in the future, obviate the need for angiography.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Inflammatory aneurysm of the aorta. Value of x-ray computed tomography and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of a case and review of the literature].

Until recently inflammatory aneurysm of the aorta was discovered only at the time of surgery and confirmed by the pathologist. New imaging modalities, such as ultrasound and CT-scan now enable the radiologist to diagnose this entity before surgery, thus leading to a better surgical planning and reducing the operative morbidity. The authors report a case of inflammatory aneurysm of the aorta and review the literature on this entity.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Influence of cultural and environmental factors on breast-feeding.

A study was undertaken at hôpital Sainte-Justine, Montreal, to determine the factors that influence the choice of feeding method for infants and the duration of breast-feeding. The factors that most clearly distinguished the mothers who breast-fed were lifestyle, education and conditioning to the parental role; those who nursed successfully for a long time were well motivated, well educated, supported by their family, especially the husband, and the La Leche League, and were of an economic status such that it was not necessary for them to return to work soon after delivery. Although the breast-fed babies were more fussy, they were healthier and received fewer drugs.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMed1980

Marketing concepts.

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Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗