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Biomedical subjects

A Rahal

Publications and source records attributed to A Rahal.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Comparison of morning and afternoon exercise training for asthmatic children.

Fitness improvement was used to compare morning with afternoon exercise periods for asthmatic children. Children with persistent moderate asthma (according to GINA criteria), 8 to 11 years old, were divided into 3 groups: morning training group (N = 23), afternoon training group (N = 23), and non-training group (N = 23). The program was based on twice a week 90-min sessions for 4 months. We measured the 9-min running distance, resting heart rate and abdominal muscle strength (sit-up number) before and after the training. All children took budesonide, 400 microg/day, and an on demand inhaled ss-agonist. The distance covered in 9 min increased (mean +/- SEM) from 1344 +/- 30 m by 248 +/- 30 m for the morning group, from 1327 +/- 30 m by 162 +/- 20 m for the afternoon group, and from 1310 +/- 20 m by 2 +/- 20 m for the control group (P < 0.05 for the comparison of morning and afternoon groups with the control group by ANOVA and P > 0.05 for morning with afternoon comparison). The reduction of resting heart rate from 83 +/- 1, 85 +/- 2 and 86 +/- 1 bpm was 5.1 +/- 0.8 bpm in the morning group, 4.4 +/- 0.8 bpm in the afternoon group, and -0.2 +/- 0.7 bpm in the control group (P > 0.05 for morning with afternoon comparison and P < 0.05 versus control). The number of sit-ups in the morning, afternoon and control groups increased from 22.0 +/- 1.7, 24.3 +/- 1.4 and 23 +/- 1.1 sit-ups by 9.8 +/- 0.9, 7.7 +/- 1.4, and 1.9 +/- 0.7 sit-ups, respectively (P > 0.05 for morning with afternoon comparison and P < 0.05 versus control). No statistically significant differences were detected between the morning and afternoon groups in terms of physical training of asthmatic children.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2001

Nontuberculous mycobacterial adenitis of the head and neck in children: experience from a tertiary care pediatric center.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and outcome of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) adenitis of the head and neck in children, and to present a preliminary report about the use of NTM skin tests in our institution. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: The medical records of all children diagnosed with cervicofacial NTM adenitis were retrospectively reviewed for the period from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2000. We also examined the use of intradermal skin tests for the diagnosis of NTM infection. RESULTS: Fifty patients were diagnosed with NTM cervicofacial adenitis. Pertinent demographic information, clinical presentation, investigation, and type of diagnostic procedures were documented. Surgical procedures, complications, and relapses were also noted. One unusual case of retropharyngeal adenitis is illustrated. All patients were treated with complete excision of their lesion at the first operation. No major complications were noted. Only one patient relapsed and required a second operation. Forty-one children were skin-tested with NTM antigens. Of these, 30 patients were dual-tested with Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) also. No adverse reactions were noted with the use of skin tests. Sensitivity of NTM antigens alone is 87%. Sensitivity of dual testing is 78%. No patient had a PPD-dominant reaction. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision is the treatment of choice of NTM adenitis because of the high cure rate with a single procedure, the excellent cosmetic result, and the low complication rate. NTM skin tests are safe and could be useful in early diagnosis of the infection but further investigation is needed.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2001

Mitomycin C in sinus surgery: preliminary results in a rabbit model.

Mitomycin C (MMC) is an antineoplastic agent with an antiproliferative effect on fibroblasts. It is routinely used topically in ophthalmology. The goal of this research project is to evaluate if topically applied MMC at the site of a maxillary antrostomy will inhibit the healing process of the mucosa and reduce the risk of postoperative stenosis. Antrostomies were carried out in both maxillary sinuses of 10 rabbits. For each rabbit, MMC is applied at the site of the antrostomy on one side while the other side serves as control. Antrostomies are re-evaluated 3 weeks later and their areas measured precisely. Seven of 10 control antrostomies were closed compared to only 1 of the 10 treated with MMC (p = .014). Comparison of the areas of the control and treated sides also proved to be statistically significant (p = .0039). Topical application of MMC was not associated with any systemic side effects and did not cause any permanent microscopic changes since the mucosa re-epithelialized normally. These results suggest that MMC slows the postoperative healing process of the nasal mucosa of the rabbit without affecting re-epithelialization. This could allow antrostomies to heal with a wider diameter, decreasing the risk of postoperative stenosis. Our next step will be to reproduce these results following functional endoscopic surgery on humans.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1992

[Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, 1911 naturally infected by promastigotes in the region of Nice (France)].

The authors report the results of investigations in Nice from July, 16 to August, 3, 1991. The 2,098 phlebotomes captured represent three species: Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus ariasi and Sergentomyia minuta. Two species: P. perniciosus and P. ariasi are infected with promastigotes. About 4% of dissected females are parasited. This is the first description in France of P. perniciosus infected.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[EEG value for the prediction of the evolution of Alzheimer's type dementia].

Twenty patients selected as probable dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) have been examined two times during a mean follow-up period of 14.5 months. Two groups have been distinguished at the end of this period: a cognitively impaired one and a stable one. EEG features at T1, at T2 or the difference T1-T2 does not allow an accurate and predictive discrimination between the two groups. But we cannot conclude that EEG is useless for prediction of the rate of progression of the disease in DAT because most of the cognitively stable patients are also stable for mean frequency. So mean frequency could be an interesting marker of evolutivity but this to be tested with more patients including more subjects reaching the severe stage of dementia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the leishmanin skin test and western blot analysis for epidemiological studies in visceral leishmaniasis areas: experience in a highly endemic focus in Alpes-Maritimes (France).

Fifty unselected subjects living in Alpes-Maritimes, France, a high risk area for visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum, were examined simultaneously by the leishmanin skin test and the Western blot technique in 1993; 32% and 38%, respectively, gave a positive reaction. The concordance of the 2 methods was 82%. Thus, in this high risk area, a large proportion of inhabitants had been exposed to the parasite. The use of these 2 tests should permit the detection of potential cases of reactivated leishmaniasis in prospective follow-up investigations.

Adolescent↗