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Biomedical subjects

A Gautier

Publications and source records attributed to A Gautier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Comparison of two national food surveys (INCA 1 1998-99 and Health Nutrition Barometer 2002) with regard to five food recommendations of the National Nutrition and Health Program].

BACKGROUND: Monitoring the dietary intake of the French population requires the implementation and regular renewal of representative national survey. As these surveys can use different methodologies (food frequency questionnaire, 24 hour recall, 3 or 7-day dietary record...), it seems useful to check whether they supply similar results. The aim of this study is to determine whether two representative national surveys with different methodologies can be used alternately to monitor changes in food consumption of the French population. METHOD: Percentages of consumers aged 15-75 were compared between two national food surveys (Health Nutrition Barometer 2002 and INCA 1 1998-99) with respect to five food frequency recommendations of the French National Nutrition and Health Program. RESULTS: The same public health priorities were found in both surveys: the food groups were graded according to the same hierarchy of adequate food intake prevalences (ascending: fruits and vegetables, dairy products, fish, starchy foods and meat-fish-egg products). On the other hand, significant statistical different elements were pointed out in a few food groups which may be explained by methodological patterns. Definitions of portions and food groups, survey duration and seasons are indeed important parameters to be considered when comparing surveys. CONCLUSION: The results show the need to elaborate standardized methods for comparison of food consumption surveys, which can be useful for the evaluation of the national nutritional recommendations. The methodological limitations described in this study also indicate that the quantitative description of food intake trends should improve when established by the results of the same regularly repeated survey.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Long-term efficacy and cost-effectiveness of polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes in chronic constipation: a retrospective study in a disabled population.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy and safety of treatments for constipation in severely intellectually disabled patients and their associated cost-effectiveness are an under-investigated area of clinical practice. Aiming to address this, the objectives of the study were to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (Movicol; PEG+E) by comparing clinical data collected before and after its introduction to a stable population of residents of a mental health care, long-stay institution. The study also attempted an economic evaluation of the use of PEG+E in this setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 54/66 severely intellectually and physically disabled residents of a specialist unit at La Milétrie University Hospital, Poitiers, France, who suffered regularly from constipation. A total of 54 residents were treated with PEG+E (1-3 sachets a day) for 24 months. The number of stools, episodes of diarrhoea (defined as frequent stools, not necessarily watery), body weights and blood biochemistry were recorded. Data were compared with those recorded during the 21 months preceding the introduction of PEG+E for 16/54 residents who had been treated regularly with a range of other interventions for the relief of constipation. The monthly use and costs of laxatives, enemas and suppositories was obtained from hospital pharmacy records, and the total hospital costs before and after the introduction of PEG+E treatment was calculated. RESULTS: The mean (+/- standard deviation) number of stools per patient per month was significantly greater following the introduction of PEG+E (24.9 +/- 6.3) compared to before its use (12.4 +/- 3.4) (p < 0.001). The mean (+/- standard deviation) monthly number of episodes of diarrhoea per patient before and after the introduction of PEG+E was 0.1 +/- 0.1 and 6.3 +/- 2.9, respectively (p < 0.001). Treatment with PEG+E was not associated with adverse effects on body weight or blood biochemistry values. Introduction of PEG+E and its increasing use reduced the total hospital medical ward expenditure on laxatives from 3788 to 1767 Euros per month. CONCLUSIONS: PEG+E is effective in the clinical management of constipation in an institutional setting. Furthermore, long-term intensive therapy with PEG+E was not associated with adverse effects on body weight or blood biochemistry values. Although the time periods over which the economic data and the efficacy and safety data were collected did not directly correspond, this study indicates that use of PEG+E in the management of constipation in people with severe intellectual disability may be cost-effective, reducing hospital laxative costs.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The purification performance of infiltration basins fitted with pretreatment facilities: a case study.

In the south-east of France, the evacuation of stormwater by infiltration into the ground is being developed for large aquifer systems such as the ground water in the Rhône valley and in the eastern part of Lyons. A study proposal has been presented to the water management department of the conurbation of Lyons, aimed at quantifying, within a reasonably short space of time, the effects, in terms of transport of pollutants, of the stormwater infiltration system in the underground water in eastern Lyons. To this end, a one year duration experiment was carried out on the Vénissieux infiltration basin which drains stormwater from a 380 hectares industrial catchment area. Its peculiar configuration also made it possible to acquire new knowledge on the qualitative operation of a few pretreatment facilities. After describing the operation of the basin and the experimental protocol, we shall present a body of data that we monitored and our conclusions about the behaviour of the pollution throughout the facilities. Then, we present methods used to assess the pollution removal performance of the infiltration basin and its pretreatment devices, the results obtained, and our conclusions about the impact of the infiltration basin on groundwater and soil.

Cities↗
PubMed2001

[Disturbed eating behavior and suicide thoughts among adolescents: results of a national telephone survey ].

The objective of this paper is to study the relation between the disturbed eating behaviours and the suicidal thoughts. In the Young People Health Barometer 97/98, 13.3% of the adolescents interviewed stated that they have "quite often" or "very often" overeaten and experienced difficulty in stopping themselves in the last 12 months. 1.0% have voluntarily vomited, 4.8% are afraid of starting to eat for fear of not being able to stop themselves, 5.6% eat in secret. Moreover, 10.3% say that they have had thoughts about suicide in the last 12 months. Percentage of suicidal thoughts increases notably with the number of declared disturbed eating behaviours. The adjusted odd ratio on sex and age for having had thoughts about suicide, comparing those declaring at least one of these eating behaviours to those declaring none of these behaviours, is 2.9.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Cerium(IV)-Catalyzed Deprotection of Acetals and Ketals under Mildly Basic Conditions.

Smooth and quantitative deprotection of a wide range of acetals and ketals [Eq. (a); R, R(1)=alkyl, aryl, H] under neutral to mildly basic conditions was achieved with catalytic quantities of cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN). The reaction conditions are compatible with a variety of sensitive functional groups, and aldehydes can be liberated from acetals without being oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

[The wild boar of Egypt].

The wild boar, Sus scrofa, is not a typical member of the Egyptian wild fauna, although it appears to have lived in the Nile Delta and other suitable regions in the north of the country. However, historic populations were probably of mixed origin, including feral domestic pigs. It is incorrect, as is sometimes still done, to include the wild boar in the iconographic bestiary of Ancient Egypt and assume that the domestic pigs of Ancient Egypt derive from local wild boars.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Benign infantile convulsions. French collaborative study].

BACKGROUND: Benign infantile non febrile seizures are not well known, leading us to study their clinical and EEG characteristics. METHODS: Between 1981 and 1994, we assembled 34 patients with the following inclusion criteria: non febrile seizures between 1 month and 2 years of age, normal personal history, no abnormality on clinical, biological and radiological investigations, normal developmental outcome with at least 1 year follow-up. RESULTS: These 34 patients were recognized as 14 familial cases (identical seizures affecting parents) and 11 non familial cases. The other nine cases had different or undefined epilepsy in the family. The clinical and EEG characteristics were the same: at the mean age of 6 months, brief partial seizures (often secondarily or apparently generalized) occurring in a cluster of two to 12 episodes a day for a mean duration of 2.5 days, with ictal EEG showing focal discharge, often slow waves or focal spikes on post-ictal tracing and normal interictal EEG. CONCLUSION: The clinical and EEG characteristics are important in order to recognize this type of infantile convulsions (familial or not familial), which have a good prognosis and need no aggressive treatment.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1996

Investigation of the association of major histocompatibility complex genes, including HLA class I, class II and TAP genes, with clinical forms of Crohn's disease.

The aim of this study was to determine immunogenetic markers of susceptibility in Crohn's disease (CD), taking the different features of the clinical course of the disease into account. HLA class I, HLA class II and TAP transporter gene polymorphisms were studied using DNA typing methods. Gene and antigen frequencies were analysed and compared in a group of 102 CD patients and 200 unrelated healthy controls from the same area. Analysis of the whole CD patient population revealed no definite association with either HLA or TAP gene alleles, with the exception of an association with DRB1*1302 (Pc < 0.05). However, when clinical subgroups of patients were considered, specific associations with some genetic markers were found. The most definitive results involved a genetic association in the group of patients who did not respond to glucocorticoid therapy. This group was characterized by a high frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 (P < 0.05). Conversely, a positive association with the TAP2-A allele was found in cortico-responder patients (Pc < 0.03). Furthermore, analysis of the distribution of HLA class II alleles in relation to the presence of extra-intestinal manifestations revealed an association with the DQB1*0501 or *0503 suballele of DQ5 (P < 0.05). Finally, patients with lesions in the small bowel were more frequently HLA DRB1*07 (P < 0.05). The present study supports the concept of clinical heterogeneity in Crohn's disease associated with a background of genetic heterogeneity.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1993

[Biotinidase deficiency. Progressive encephalopathy curable with biotin].

BACKGROUND: Multiple carboxylase deficiency is a rare cause of progressive encephalopathy. There are 2 forms: the neonatal-onset form of holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency and the late-onset form of biotinidase deficiency. This report describes a case of biotinidase deficiency. CASE REPORT: A boy began to have repeated convulsions at the age of 3 months. The brain CT-scan and MRI were normal and the patient was given valproic acid and carbamazepine. Progressive neurological degradation was noted from the 4th month of life and myoclonic seizures began 2 months later. At admission, the patient had seizures, myoclonic fits and hypotonia. He had a skin rash but no alopecia. Biochemical investigation showed lactic acidosis, mainly in the CSF, moderate hyperammonemia and hyperalaninemia. Chromatography of organic acids showed several abnormal peaks suggesting biotinidase deficiency. The patient was given biotin (20 mg/day) orally. This treatment produced a pronounced, rapid, clinical and biochemical improvement and antiepileptic drugs were discontinued. There was no developmental delay at the age of 18 months. CONCLUSION: The clinical findings of neurologic abnormalities and dermatological signs led to the diagnosis of a metabolic disease that, fortunately, can be treated. This disease could benefit from a mass neonatal screening program.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1986

[The place of apatite in rheumatic diseases. Study of 25 cases by x-ray microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy].

The importance of "apatite deposition disease" among the arthropathies has been recognized for some years: it is well known that X-ray microanalysis (XRMA) is an efficient method of determining the elemental constitution of microcrystalline deposits obtained from synovial fluids or from tendon washing solutions during examination in scanning electron microscopy. In all 25 patients studied (11 intraarticular and 14 extraarticular samples), alizarine red S staining was positive and XRMA confirmed the diagnosis of apatite deposition by determination of the phosphorus/calcium (P/Ca) ratio in the deposits. In the 25 patients the mean values obtained for the P/Ca ratios were situated between 0.362 and 0.450, with a general mean value of 0.411, i.e. a ratio clearly lower than the P/Ca ratio of pure hydroxyapatite specimens (0.438) measured in identical conditions. This apparent discrepancy seems to be related to the probable presence of carbonated apatites. The study confirmed the presence of apatite microcrystals in intra- and extraarticular location; in the first condition, these were generally found in patients with severe destructive arthrosis, whereas in the second condition the calcifications derived from supraspinatus tendons.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Abnormal iodoprotein distribution and resistance to proteolysis in Gunn rat black thyroid. An ultrastructural and biochemical study.

Gunn rats have a marked deficiency in hepatic UDP-glucuronosyl transferase activity which results in hyperthyroxinemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Their thyroids show a brownish-black discoloration associated ultrastructurally with intracellular dense granules and intraluminal dense masses. In order to determine whether colloid composition and colloid proteolysis are altered in the thyroid of the Gunn rat compared with the Wistar rat, we studied the in situ resistance of thyroid proteins to in vitro proteolysis, the pattern of in vivo (125I) labeled thyroid iodoproteins and the proteolysis of isolated iodoprotein fractions in both strains of rats. For the cytochemical study, thin sections of aldehyde-fixed and plastic-embedded thyroid tissue were treated with 0.3 or 1% pronase in aqueous solution. With the low concentration of pronase, the secretory granules in C-cells and the apical vesicles in follicular cells were extensively digested in both strains of rats, whereas the colloid in the follicular lumen and the colloid droplets were only partially digested. With the high concentration of pronase, the colloid in the lumen and the colloid droplets were more markedly digested in both strains. In the presence of both concentrations of pronase, the dense granules and intraluminal dense masses were unchanged in the Gunn rats. The (125I) iodoprotein pattern was investigated 24 h after a single injection of (125I) iodide and by labeling at the isotopic equilibrium. It was found that the (125I) thyroglobulin fraction was reduced, whereas the (125I) 3-8 S fraction was increased in Gunn rats compared to Wistar rats. Pronase hydrolysis of the soluble (125I) iodine fraction showed similar pronase-resistant fractions in both strains with the single labeling procedure. At the isotopic equilibrium, the pronase resistant fraction was significantly increased in Gunn rats (Gunn 24.0 +/- 5.3%; Wistar: 13.7 +/- 3.1% of the soluble 125I) and a linear correlation was observed between the (125I) 3-8 S fraction of the soluble extract and the pronase-resistant fraction. These data suggest that iodocompounds of small molecular size and low turnover accumulate in the thyroid of the Gunn rat due to their strong resistance to in vivo hydrolysis. A local accumulation of 3-8 S iodocompounds may occur within the intracellular dense granules and intraluminal dense masses in the thyroid of Gunn rat.

Animals↗