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Biomedical subjects

A Nicole

Publications and source records attributed to A Nicole.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Acute complications caused by a mucilaginous laxative].

Prescription of so inoffensive-seeming and common a treatment as mucilaginous laxative may have major (if rare) side effects, such as sudden esophageal obstruction. This usually occurs in old people who do not take enough water with the laxative and who may have minor esophageal pathology such as motility disorders or epibronchic diverticulum. The usually typical symptoms are sudden onset, with retrosternal pain, dysphagia or total aphagia, alimentary vomiting and pseudohypersialorrhea. Diagnosis is always by radiography and endoscopy. Radiography must be performed with gastrografin, due to the risk of bronchoaspiration or esophageal fissure. Endoscopy may demonstrate the mucilagenous mass responsible for the obstruction and in most cases restore patency of the esophagus. This technique should always be attempted, if necessary several times, before resorting to surgery. The authors stress that in patients with a risk of esophageal obstruction, such as old people with esophageal disorders, it is essential to explain clearly to the patient that the laxative must be taken with a sufficient quantity of liquid.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1983

Selenium, zinc and copper in Down's syndrome (trisomy 21): blood levels and relations with glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase.

Increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities have been reported in erythrocytes of subjects with Down's syndrome. Since these enzymes contain specific trace-elements as essential components, we have determined copper, zinc and selenium levels in plasma and erythrocytes of 29 trisomy 21 patients compared with 32 age-matched controls and examined the relations with the enzymes' activities. In plasma, mean zinc and copper levels were normal, but selenium was found to be significantly decreased (p less than 0.001). In red cells, the increase of activity of the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase (p less than 0.001) was not accompanied by an increase of erythrocyte selenium, but a significant correlation was found between these two values (r = 0.67, p less than 0.001). Zinc and copper levels in red cells were significantly higher than normal (p less than 0.001) and this increase could be partly explained by the increased activity of the copper and zinc containing enzyme superoxide dismutase (p less than 0.001). Low plasma selenium and the strong relation between erythrocyte selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity we found in Down's syndrome should stimulate interest in a more detailed investigation of selenium status and metabolism of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Absence of modifications of the enzyme defense system against oxygen toxicity in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has recently been linked to the group of human diseases in which cultured fibroblasts express premature aging. As the deleterious effect of oxygen derivatives in the cell is one of the numerous pathways associated with cell aging, the activity of the enzymatic defense system, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GR), was examined in the erythrocytes of 12 CF children and was compared to age-matched normal controls. No significant differences were found in CF children when compared to the controls. Glutathione-S-transferase was also assayed, but the significant difference found between CF children and normal controls is probably not specific of CF as it is found in other pathologic situations such as hyperbilirubinemia or renal insufficiency.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immune response to purified non-A, non-B hepatitis-related antigen demonstrated by leukocyte migration inhibition in patients recovering from the infection.

Eight patients, convalescent from acute hepatitis, all negative for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HA-IgM, anti-CMV and anti-EB, and all positive for non-A, non-B related antigen and/or antibody in at least one sample during the course of disease, were investigated. Their specific cell-mediated immunity was tested using the leukocyte migration inhibition test in presence of a previously described non-A, non-B related antigen. A control group consisted of ten individuals (two normal subjects, six patients recovering from acute hepatitis B and two with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis). Leukocyte migration was inhibited by the antigen in seven of the eight patients. The test was negative in all control subjects. It is thus demonstrated that after recovery, patients with non-A, non-B viral hepatitis develop a cellular immune response specific for purified non-A, non-B related antigen. The association between the described antigen and viral hepatitis non-A, non-B can now be established not only by immunoprecipitation, but also by a cellular test.

Adult↗