Biomedical subjects

A Kemeny

Publications and source records attributed to A Kemeny.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Factors associated with alcohol use in university students.

A survey was conducted of drinking, drug use attitudes, beliefs, personality and demographic characteristics of students on a university campus. Gender, ethnic and social group differences were also examined. It was concluded that a biopsychosocial matrix of determinants influenced alcohol consumption and its excessive consumption. Two general factors emerged from analyses of the results. They may be interpreted as entering into a complex approach-avoidance conflict where the net approach tendency determines overall alcohol consumption. Personality characteristics and presumably their biological correlates, as well as set and setting, or attitudes, beliefs and environmental influences contribute to the approach-avoidance conflict that determines abstinence or varying amounts of alcohol consumption.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Variation of surface density and other parameters in remodeling of trabecular bone in various conditions.

To appreciate the remodeling of the trabecular bone, the static morphometric parameters of surface density (SV(TRAB/BONE] and volumetric fraction (VV(TRAB/BONE] of cancellous bone were measured and compared to remodeling parameters, i.e., the surface extents of active/inactive resorption, active bone formation and nonmineralized bone. Iliac bone biopsies from 28 subjects with spasmophilia, osteoporosis and primary hyperparathyroidism were studied by means of a Nachet-France NS 2000 automatic image analyzer and a Zeiss ocular integrator; the results obtained in each group showed comparable values for the two methods (r = .8 for each group, with P less than .01). The remodeling parameters measured by means of the ocular integrator were compared with the variation measurements of the trabecular surface density, SV(TRAB/BONE). The correlation between the inactive osteoid surface and the coefficient of variation of the mean (CVM of SV(TRAB/BONE] on sections was significant for the three pathologic groups. The average mean values and standard errors of the mean of this latter parameter for the spasmophilia and hyperparathyroidic groups were, respectively, 0.063 +/- 0.008 and 0.092 +/- 0.012. Analysis of the experimental data shows that the simple global measurement of CVM (SV(TRAB/BONE] by means of an automatic image analyzer supplies information on the skeletal state during tissue remodeling.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Study on static morphometric parameters for a diagnostic approach of osteoporosis.

The diagnostic value of the morphometric parameters Vv,Sv, dtrab of cancellous bone and relations between them were examined. Iliac bone biopsies of osteoporotic and spasmophilic subjects were studied by means of a Mop 1 semi automatic digitizer tablet joint to a C B M 3032 microprocessor. Both the average Sv and Vv values were significantly different between the two groups. Concordance of Sv values with the radiological diagnosis was closer than Vv ones. The global estimation of mean trabecular thickness is discussed. In conclusion the confrontation of experimental data shows that simple global measure of Sv completes and precise the knowledge of skeleton state.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

A perimeter algorithm applied to lung pathology.

A new image analyser, the NS 2000, explores the image using 256 photodiodes and, according to an adjustable threshold, converts it into a set of digital points of logical level 0 or 1. The method of fitting squares of increasing size consists of checking the presence of a square of a given size and of a given logical value throughout the image studied and gives the areas of successive erosions of the image. Using the parameters provided by the device one can obtain the total boundary BA per unit area for the phase studied, which is proportional to the number of squares having points of the two logical levels. Errors in length measurement as a function of orientation and for isotropic structures are compared to other automatic perimeter algorithms and to manual square grid measurement. Using the parameters provided by the device for the quantitative evaluation of lesions of elastase induced emphysema in hamster lungs, the values obtained for internal surface area (ISA) of alveoli, are lower by about 40% in elastase treated hamsters when compared to normal controls. This difference is highly significant (P less than 0.001) and the results obtained by the described method are in good agreement with those obtained by the classical manual procedure. Efficiency, defined as the precision of the estimate per unit measurement time on a given set of sample units (pictures in this paper), is given for both NS 2000 and manual procedures. The results obtained show comparable values but the automatic procedure includes a statistical treatment and it is significantly faster on histological sections than on micrographs, which was not the case with the manual method.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Pharmacological activation of gamma-aminobutyric acid-system blunts prolactin response to mechanical breast stimulation in puerperal women.

To evaluate whether the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system participates in the control of PRL secretion during the puerperium, different doses of sodium valproate (DPA), a drug that increases endogenous GABA activity, were administered orally to puerperal women who did not wish to breast feed their infants. Two groups of five women were each given DPA in doses of 400 and 800 mg, respectively. PRL levels were measured in plasma samples collected before and after drug administration. Another group of five puerperal women was treated with 800 mg DPA 60 min before mechanical breast stimulation using an electric breast pump for 15 min. Circulating PRL levels were measured in samples obtained before, during, and after breast stimulation. No drug-associated side effects were observed. After placebo administration, no significant variations in plasma PRL levels occurred in any subject. The lower dose of DPA (400 mg) induced a slight decrease in plasma PRL levels, but 800 mg of the drug induced a significant fall (P less than 0.05 vs. baseline values) in PRL, with a maximum percent decrease (68.2 +/- 4%) 180 min after DPA treatment. Mechanical breast stimulation performed after placebo treatment induced a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in plasma PRL levels, with peak values (37 +/- 10% above baseline values) 10 min after the onset of stimulation. When DPA was administered to the same women, a significant decrease (23 +/- 3%) in plasma PRL occurred during breast stimulation. Thereafter, PRL values continued to fall in spite of breast stimulation. PRL levels were significantly decreased after DPA treatment compared to both basal values (P less than 0.01) and the levels found in the same patients during control tests (P less than 0.05). These results demonstrate that enhancement of endogenous GABAergic tone induced by DPA significantly decreases basal PRL levels and blunts PRL release after mechanical breast stimulation. In agreement with animal data, a possible physiological role of GABA in the control of PRL release during puerperium may be suggested.

Adult↗