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T Constans

Publications and source records attributed to T Constans.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Age-related insulin resistance: a review.

Impaired glucose tolerance occurs with age. This impairment is multifactorial including a decrease in insulin-mediated glucose uptake by peripheral tissues and a delay in insulin-induced suppression of hepatic glucose output. A post-binding defect in insulin action such as a reduced capacity to transcribe more glucose transporter mRNA and/or a reduced translocation of preformed glucose transporters to plasma membrane is incriminated. However, insulin resistance with age is not a constant finding and other mechanism(s) has (have) to be involved in old individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and normal tissue insulin sensitivity.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Insulin sensitivity and liver insulin receptor structure in ducks from two genera.

Insulin sensitivity and liver insulin receptor structure were studied in 5-wk-old ducks from two genera (Muscovy and Pekin). In the fasting state, both duck types were equally resistant to exogenous insulin compared with chicken. Despite the low potency of duck insulin, the number of insulin receptors was lower in Muscovy duck and similar in Pekin duck and chicken liver membranes. After 125I-insulin cross-linking, the size of the alpha-subunit of the receptors from the three species was 135,000. Wheat germ agglutinin-purified receptors from the three species were contaminated by an active and unusual adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) contaminant (highest activity in Muscovy duck). Sequential purification of solubilized receptor from both duck types on lentil and then wheat germ agglutinin lectins led to a fraction of receptors very poor in ATPase activity that exhibited a beta-subunit size (95,000) and tyrosine kinase activity similar to those of ATPase-free chicken insulin receptors. Therefore the ducks from the two genera exhibit an alpha-beta-structure for liver insulin receptors and a clear difference in the number of liver insulin receptors. Their sensitivity to insulin is, however, similarly decreased compared with chicken.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Hypodermoclysis in dehydrated elderly patients: local effects with and without hyaluronidase.

Dehydration is frequently encountered in elderly patients and hypodermoclysis is an alternative method of parenteral rehydration. Hyaluronidase is classically added to the solution infused subcutaneously. The local effects of hypodermoclysis with or without hyaluronidase were investigated by using a randomized double-blind study in 12 dehydrated elderly patients. Five hundred millilitres of a 5% glucose saline solution was infused subcutaneously in 2 hours in each thigh, (A) with and (B) without 250 U of hyaluronidase. Circumference and temperature of each thigh were assessed before and after the infusion. Color was evaluated after the infusion. The gain in thigh circumference was less in the presence of hyaluronidase, but the other variables did not differ. The patients were thoroughly questioned about pain: no difference was noted between solutions A and B. We conclude that hyaluronidase adds no comfort that justifies its systematic use in the hypodermoclysis of glucose saline solutions.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Validity of a short self-administered dietary questionnaire compared with a dietetic interview].

The dietary intakes of 250 men and women aged from 17 to 60 years were evaluated by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to develop and optimise a self-administered questionnaire deliberately reduced to 20 questions. The results were compared with those of a dietetic interview using the diet history method. The correlation coefficients for the main nutrients were determined by multivariate regression analysis and were found to fall in the 0.44-0.80 range (P less than 0.001). It is concluded that the self-administered questionnaire is satisfactory and valid as compared with the diet history method. The degree of validity reached is such that efficient epidemiological studies can be conducted at small cost, and the subjects at risk due to the main dietary errors listed in the contemporary French population can be detected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The American anthropometric norms are not suitable to assess the nutritional status of a French population.

Weight: height2 ratio (W/H2), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), and mid-upper arm circumference (MAC) were recorded in 254 blood donors aged 20 to 59 yrs (123 men and 131 women), to establish anthropometric data in a healthy sample of the French population. When compared with the American anthropometric norms (HANES I & II), we noted that: (1) the percentiles distribution values of W/H2 were nearly identical; (2) the age and sex-related values of TSF were lower in our study (p < 0.003); (3) our percentiles distribution values of MAC were lower in our study (p < 0.03), except in women 20-39 yrs of age. The variations of TSF and MAC with age and sex were identical in both the French and the American populations: i.e. the MAC values increased with age in both men and women, and the TSF values increased with age only in women. We conclude that the differences noted between the American norms and our anthropometric data plead in favour of the determination of French national anthropometric norms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Skin acceptance of transcutaneous nitroglycerin patches: a prospective study of 33 patients.

Transdermal nitroglycerin is commonly used and may induce contact dermatitis. The frequency of adverse skin reactions is controversial and may vary from 10% to 75%, according to various authors. 33 patients using transdermal nitroglycerin for more than 7 days were examined and patch tested (nitroglycerin 0.5% aq., 2% pet. and TTS in toto). 5 patients (15%) had adverse reactions. The patch tests were all negative in the 33 patients. Contact dermatitis occurs in many cases, about 15% of the cases with the newly available TTS, and even if patients respect the conditions for using TTS. These contact dermatitides are mainly irritant reactions and do not require transdermal nitroglycerin treatment to be stopped. Nevertheless, since some cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been reported, a contact dermatitis from transdermal nitroglycerin should lead to patch testing.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1990

[Increase of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in diabetic patients is not linked to diabetes itself].

In order to assess the relationship between increase of gamma-glutamyl transferase and diabetes, we measured serum gamma-glutamyl transferase in 48 male and 43 female insulin-dependent diabetics aged 20-60 years, 49 male and 41 female non insulin dependent diabetics aged 30-60 years, and in 114 male and 124 female controls (blood donors) aged 20-60 years. A1C haemoglobin was assayed in 124 diabetics. There is no increase of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in insulin dependent diabetics of both sexes when compared with the controls. There is an increase of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in non insulin dependent diabetics when compared either with controls (men p less than 0.02, women p less than 0.02) or with insulin dependent diabetics (men p less than 0.05, women p less than 0.02). There is no correlation between serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity and fasting blood sugar (148 diabetics). In non insulin dependent diabetics of both sexes there is no correlation between A1C haemoglobin and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity. These results suggest that the increase observed in diabetics is not caused by diabetes itself, ie, by hyperglycemia, but by diabetes associated pathologies.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Acute fatty liver of pregnancy].

The authors analyse 115 cases of acute fatty liver of pregnancy, proven histologically. Characteristics of the condition is the finding of central nuclei in the hepatocytes containing microvesicular droplets. The disease occurs more frequently in primiparous women (54 per cent) and usually occurs in the third trimester of the pregnancy. A pre-icteric phase usually precedes the jaundice and during that time there is usually vomiting and/or nausa with abdominal pain or anarexia. In 92 per cent of case there is transient loss of consciousness with hepatic encephalopathy. Further tests show that there is more defective liver function than would be expected from the extent of cell lysis; and there is defective renal function. The worst complications are intestinal haemorrhages (48 per cent of cases)--genital bleeding (43 per cent of cases)--shock--diffuse intravascular coagulation and complications associated with coma. Maternal mortality at present runs at 25 per cent and fetal mortality at 60 per cent. The condition does not recur. Early evacuation of the uterus is recommended by most authors and does probably improve the outlook. The various hypotheses concerning the aetiology are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

[Anthropometric and biological evaluation of 44 patients with protein-calorie malnutrition].

In industrial countries protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is a frequent cause of hospital morbidity and mortality. In this study, 88 hospital patients were evaluated: 44 (25 men and 19 women) aged from 20 to 80 years) with PCM, and 44 without malnutrition; the two groups were matched with regard to sex, age and height. The following parameters were determined: arm muscle surface, whole-body muscle mass, proportion of body fat, serum albumin (Alb), prealbumin (PA), retinol-binding protein (RBP), transferrin, thyroxine-binding protein, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, reverse triiodothyronine and total complement. Anthropometric measurements were validated by planimetry of a computerized tomographic section of the arm in 60 patients. There were significant differences between the two sexes in anthropometric values. Alb, PA and RBP values were different in men and RBP only in women; all other biochemical parameters were the same in both sexes. Thus, the group with PCM could be distinguished from the control group by anthropometric values and RBP values. Anthropometric parameters have been reported as being more specific of PCM than biochemical parameters, but since the latter are considered more sensitive, both complement each other and must be taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Hypocaloric and high-protein diet in obese patients: changes in the lean mass].

We have followed for 40 days seven hospitalized, young (age, mean SD : 33 +/- 8 yrs), and moderately obese (W/H : 35 +/- 3.92) women. During the first 5 days (DO to D5) they received a diet similar to their customary home-diet; from D6 to D40, their daily caloric intake was adjusted to 3,41 +/- 0.13 MJ (816 +/- 30 kcal). This diet comprised 21 p. 100 of sugars, 35 p. 100 of lipids, 1.57 +/- 0.09 g proteins per kg ideal body weight. Five seven-day periods have been studied. On the first day of each period, we recorded body weight and measured plasma albumin, pre albumin, retinol binding protein, complement (CH50 and C3) C peptide (in the fasting state and after glucagon stimulation), and thyroid hormones (T3 and rT3). On each of the 35 days of this study, total nitrogen was measured (Kjeldahl's method) in food, urine and faeces. On D0 and D41 lean and fat body masses were evaluated through measurements of total water (dilution of tritiated water) and of skin fold thickness respectively. From D0 to D40, the average weight loss was 8.76 +/- 1.86 kg; the cumulated nitrogen balances were negative in 6 patients and positive in one, with variations from one period to another and from one patient to another. Plasma proteins and hormones did not vary significantly. Changes in lean mass were comprised between + 0,7 and -- 1,6 kg in spite of the fact that all patients received the same caloric and protein intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Peripheral vascular complications of beta-blocking agents].

Beta-blocking agents may induce vascular syndromes related to environmental temperature, accentuation of arterial diseases, gangrene of the extremities. Incidence and severity are variable with beta-blocking agent's properties: cardioselectivity, intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, cardiac depression, and with the patient's disease. The risk of complication is greater with hypertension disease because of the reduction of arterial compliance and quantitative and qualitative alterations of adrenergic receptors.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗