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Biomedical subjects

U Gaspard

Publications and source records attributed to U Gaspard.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Exteroceptive silent period of temporalis muscle in menstrual headaches.

The second exteroceptive silent period (ES2) of temporalis muscle was recorded on days 1 and 15 of the menstrual cycle in 17 women, 9 of whom suffered regularly from tension-type headaches during menstruation. Mean duration of temporalis ES2 was significantly shorter on day 1 of the cycle than on day 15. This difference was due to a marked menstrual reduction of ES2 in the headache subgroup. A positive correlation was found between ES2 durations and oestradiol/progesterone ratios. We hypothesize that the variations of ES2 during the ovarian cycle result from the modulatory effects of oestrogens on descending aminergic pathways that control excitability of inhibitory brainstem interneurons mediating exteroceptive suppression of jaw-closing motoneurons.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Metabolic impact of current estrogen-progestins and cardiovascular consequences].

In recent years, reduction of estrogen and progestogen dosages and use of new progestogens with less androgenic activity (desogestrel-gestodene-norgestimate) have apparently allowed combined oral contraceptives (OCs) to be associated with less frequent undesirable vascular effects. From an epidemiologic viewpoint, the atherogenic impact of new low-dose OCs is less marked, including in users over 40 years of age, but thromboembolic effects still persist--though at a lower level than with standard-dose products. From a metabolic viewpoint, the adverse effects of the progestogens contained in current OCs on the lipoprotein profile and their atherogenic effect on the vessel wall seem effectively counterbalanced by the estrogen content of these new OCs. However, the progestin content seems still responsible for a low level of chronic insulin resistance, which might be related to vascular alterations potentially linked to syndrome-X. In conclusion, reduced metabolic effects of new low-dose OCs appear to decrease their atherogenic risk. However, thrombotic effects dose-related to the estrogen component of OCs are still persisting and seem less easily suppressible.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1988

Changes in lipoprotein composition in women receiving two low-dose oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol and gonane progestins.

In a prospective double-blind study of the effects of two low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, two groups of eighteen young healthy women selected at random were submitted to a six months' use of either monophasic ethinylestradiol (EE) + desogestrel (DG) or triphasic EE + levonorgestrel (LNG). Total cholesterol (C), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (PL), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) together with apoproteins A-I, A-II, B and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity (LCAT) were determined in serial plasma samples collected before, at three and six months during, and one month after OC use. Cholesterol and apoproteins (A-I, A-II, B) composition of lipoproteins (HDL-2, HDL-3, LDL) isolated by ultracentrifugation were additionally determined. On Mono-EE + DG, plasma TG (+39.3%, +45.6%), PL (+21.9%, +16.8%) and apo A-I (+35.5%, +23.3%) levels were significantly increased at 3 and 6 months of use; plasma HDL-C (+24%) and Apo A-II (+21.4%) were transiently increased at 3 months. Lipid and apoprotein composition of HDL-2, HDL-3 and LDL were unchanged. On Tri-EE + LNG, a slight but not significant decrease in HDL-C was observed throughout the study while other plasma lipids and apoproteins were unchanged. Ultracentrifugation revealed a lower content of C (-44.2%) and apo A-I (-44.6%) in HDL-2. LCAT activity expressed as molar esterification rate (MER) rose in a more sustained way during EE + DG use than during EE + LNG treatment. Covariance analysis shows a further significant difference between results of both treated groups for the Apo AI/Apo B ratio that was increased by Mono-EE + DG.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A simple, direct radioimmunoassay for salivary progesterone determination during the menstrual cycle.

We describe a direct radioimmunoassay for progesterone in saliva. Results for extracted and unextracted samples agree well, showing that extraction with petroleum ether is unnecessary. The direct assay is specific and accurate, and detects as little as 2 pg of progesterone per tube (12 pmol/L). Intra- and inter-assay CVs are less than 10%. The correlation between concentrations of progesterone in saliva and plasma is good during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (r = 0.78, p less than 0.001, n = 76) but not during the follicular phase. We present mean concentrations of progesterone in saliva and plasma for the whole cycle in 14 normal women. Although citric acid is an effective salivary-flow stimulant, its deleterious effect on the direct radioimmunoassay precludes its use with this assay for monitoring ovulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Dysfunctional uterine bleeding in the adolescent].

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is a frequent gynecological problem in adolescent girls. Seventy five percent of cases of abnormal uterine bleeding in teenagers are of a functional nature and are frequently related to inappropriate peripheral and central feedback mechanisms involved in the regulation of the ovulation process. A precise diagnosis is mandatory in order to exclude systemic and local causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. Acute and profuse dysfunctional uterine bleeding requires emergency treatment including hormonal hemostasis (intravenous estrogens and an oral estrogen-progestin combination pill in high dosage) as the first step. If bleeding persists and blood coagulation is normal, careful examination under anesthesia followed by gentle dilatation and curettage of the uterus is performed. Cyclic regulation of the menstrual cycle is then achieved by prescribing an estrogen-progestin pill for the next three months. In 5% of the patients, dysfunctional bleeding will persist, often denoting a chronic anovulatory pattern of the cycle. In these cases, long term administration of a progestin in the second part of the cycle is indicated in order to avoid prolonged exposure to unopposed estrogens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Reflexions on a new generation of oral contraceptives].

Recent epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the risk of vascular disease in those who have ever used oral contraceptives is lower if their oestrogen and progestogen content is reduced. They have also spelled out the importance of additional risk factors (age, smoking...) which act synergistically with the contraceptive risk. New generation low-dose combined oral contraceptives (OCs) are not only characterized by the low content of their steroid components, but also by an adaptation of the chemical nature of the progestogen used and a carefully chosen oestrogen/progestogen ratio. These new OCs effectively inhibit gonadal function and ovulation, and exhibit much fewer untoward metabolic effects than higher dose contraceptive preparations. Pertinent recent data on the lessened metabolic effects of new combined OCs are reviewed, with an emphasis on the effects of low-dose combinations currently available in France and Belgium.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Human chorionic gonadotropin and its subunits in normal and pathologic pregnancies].

Improved sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoassays (RIAs) for hCG, hCG alpha and hCG beta have allowed measurements of these substances to become a powerful diagnostic aid applicable to several clinical disorders of pregnancy. In threatened abortion of the 1st trimester, the doubling time of hCG concentrations is significantly slower than in early normal pregnancies. Low levels of hCG are uniformly encountered in case of impending abortion. The overall predictive value of hCG determinations is 75-97%, whereas the predictive value of hCG alpha and hCG beta levels 88%. In patients progressing slowly to inevitable abortion, an increase in hCG alpha and/or the ratio hCG alpha: hCG is frequently observed. In ectopic pregnancies, sensitive new-generation tube tests and RIAs can detect urine or serum hCG in almost 100% of the cases. Abnormally low levels of hCG are encountered in about 85% of the patients. A significant increase in the ratio hCG alpha: hCG is observed. Toxemia of pregnancy is abided by significantly higher maternal levels of serum hCG, hCG alpha and hCG beta and by a lower ratio hPL: hCG than in normal pregnancies, or pregnancies complicated by isolated or chronic hypertension. It is concluded that in the above-mentioned pathological conditions of pregnancy, hCG is a reliable trophoblastic marker and that, additionally, hCG alpha could prove to be an index of chronic placental hypoxia.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗