PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Rezvani

Publications and source records attributed to A Rezvani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Five-year survival of Ile-de-France cancer patients diagnosed in 1994].

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate survival at 5 years by localization, sex and stage of the patients who presented a new cancer in 1994 in the Ile-de-France area. METHODS: A cohort study began in 1994 by an exhaustive collection of the incidental cancers notified in the Ile-de-France area at the health insurance (27,080 patients). A stratified random sample based on tumor localization was followed at 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The analysis of the observed survival was carried out according to Kaplan-Meier method. Relative survival was calculated according to Ederer II method. RESULTS: The follow-up sample concerned 4,166 patients. For all cancers, relative survival at 5 years was 65% for the women and 51% for the men. Relative survival rate at 5 years was 82% for the women with a breast cancer (98% for the patients in stage I) and 66% for those with a cancer of the cervix. Relative survival at 5 years for colonic cancer was 67% for men and 54% for women. For lung cancer, the relative survival rate fell from 47% for patients in stage I to 5% for those in stage IV. CONCLUSION: Our study produces population-based survival data for a entire geographical area covering 20% of the French population. Survival improves with earlier diagnosis but depends also on quality of care and availability of care: access to medical care can be a favouring factor. While in terms of incidence the situation in the Ile-de-France area is close to the national situation, survival at 5 years for a set of tumors appears to be better in this area than the nationwide figures. Besides providing information useful to determine mortality and incidence, the health insurance data offer additional insight to cancer epidemiology and contribute to better knowledge of this disease.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Oxytocin promotes spermiation and sperm transfer in the mouse.

Spermatogenesis is a complex process during which developing germ cells move from the base of the seminiferous tubule towards the lumen where they are shed. Studies in the rat suggest that seminiferous tubule contraction, induced by exogenous oxytocin, promotes spermiation. This study examines the role of testicular oxytocin in development of the testes, spermatogenesis and spermiation in the mouse. Groups of wild-type (WT) mice, oxytocin knockout mice (OTKO) deficient in testicular oxytocin and mice containing an oxytocin transgene (bOT4.2) that over express testicular oxytocin were killed between days 5 and 45 post partum. The testes and epididymides were removed weighed and prepared either for histological and morphometric study by light microscopy, for sperm counts (epididymis), or extracted for determination of oxytocin content (testis - day 45 only). Testicular oxytocin concentrations were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in bOT4.2 mice than in WT or OTKO mice. No differences in testicular and epididymal weight, or in diameter and area of seminiferous tubules between the mice genotypes were found at any given time. Germ cell development was similar in all genotypes and was comparable with previous studies. The timing of spermiation between the groups was significantly different (p < 0.001) with bOT4.2 < WT < OTKO and the appearance of epididymal sperm was significantly different (p < 0.05) with bOT4.2 < WT < OTKO. There were significant correlations between the percentage of tubules containing residual bodies and epididymal sperm count (p < 0.05) and between the percentage of animals containing residual bodies and the percentage of animals containing epididymal sperm (p < 0.01). These data suggest that in the mouse oxytocin, whilst not involved in germ cell development, is important in the process of spermiation and sperm transfer in the mouse.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The development of the DEGR(R): A scale to assess pain in young children with cancer.

The Gustave Roussy Child Pain Scale (Douleur Enfant Gustave Roussy, DEGR(R)Scale) is a scale for grading prolonged pain in children aged 2-6 years with cancer. The scale comprised six behaviours specific to pain items, five psychomotor inertia items, and four anxiety items, with a total score ranging from 0 to 60. This work was designed to confirm the scale structure and to study its construct validity and convergent validity.Our work was composed of two parts. In the first part of the study, 152 children with progressive cancer were scored by two nurses using the DEGR(R)scale, in a cross-sectional design. And in the second part, 53 of these 152 children were video-recorded. The tapes were assessed both by a panel of four pain specialists using a 0 to 7 Likert scale and by a nurse using DEGR(R)scale.As for the 152 children, the mean of the total scores derived from the DEGR(R)is 20.2 (SD = 6.2). Both the degree of agreement between the nurses (the weighted kappa coefficient) and the internal consistency of the scale (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.90) were high, providing evidence of good reliability. Multivariate factor analyses showed a first factor of intensity of pain (51% of the total variance) and a second factor (14% of the total variance) which distinguishes the psychomotor inertia items from the items concerning voluntary expression of pain. Also, the results showed that psychomotor inertia items contribute to both factors and that it is an important sign of prolonged pain. Construct validity was strengthened by the absence of correlation between DEGR(R)scores and variables not related to pain, including fever, neutropenia and anaemia (indicative of poor medical condition) and the absence of parents' visits (indicative of psychological distress).Concerning the 53 video-recorded children, the nurses' DEGR(R)ratings were strongly correlated with the specialists panel scores indicating a fairly good case for convergent validity. Copyright 1999 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Distribution of opioid peptide gene expression in the limbic system of Fawn-Hooded (alcohol-preferring) and Wistar-Kyoto (alcohol-non-preferring) rats.

Preprodynorphin and preproenkephalin mRNA expression was examined in the CNS of two rat strains, the alcohol-preferring Fawn-Hooded (FH) and the alcohol-non-preferring Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), using in situ hybridisation histochemistry. Relative to the WKY, the FH showed significantly lower levels of preproenkephalin mRNA in the striatum and nucleus accumbens (-24% and -17% respectively), but a higher level of preprodynorphin mRNA in the hippocampus (+33%). The depressed level of preproenkephalin mRNA in the nucleus accumbens may be implicated in alcohol-seeking behaviour.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1998

Distribution of GABAA receptors in the limbic system of alcohol-preferring and non-preferring rats: in situ hybridisation histochemistry and receptor autoradiography.

The present study has employed quantitative receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridisation histochemistry to compare the expression of the mRNA encoding the alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits of the GABAA receptor and the binding density of mature GABAA receptors in the limbic system of alcohol-preferring Fawn-Hooded rats (FH) with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Quantifiable levels of mRNA encoding the alpha 1 subunit were found in cortical regions, ventral pallidum, substantia nigra, horizontal limb of the diagonal band and the hippocampus of both rat strains. Interestingly, expression of the alpha 1 subunit mRNA was decreased by approximately 30% in the hippocampus of FH compared to WKY rats. Following a 28-day period with free access to 10% ethanol, expression of the alpha 1 subunit transcript, was significantly increased in the piriform cortex and horizontal limb of the diagonal band, unaltered in the hippocampus but decreased in the substantia nigra of FH rats. Quantifiable levels of mRNA encoding the alpha 2 subunit were found in nucleus accumbens, amygdala, cortical regions, lateral septal nucleus, hippocampus, medial habenula and ventral pallidum of both strains. Expression of the alpha 2 subunit mRNA was decreased by approximately 35% in both the hippocampus and occipital cortex of FH compared to WKY rats. However, consumption of 10% ethanol in FH rats had no impact upon expression of the mRNA encoding the alpha 2 subunit in any region examined. Mature GABAA receptors were studied by autoradiography utilising the antagonist radioligand [3H]SR95531 and the agonist radioligand [3H]muscimol. Topographic binding throughout the limbic system of both strains was observed for both radioligands. Specifically, [3H]SR95531 binding was higher in the occipital cortex, hippocampus, lateral septal nucleus, superior colliculus and ventral pallidum of the FH rats compared to WKY rats; however, in the nucleus accumbens [3H]SR95531 binding was lower in FH compared to WKY. Ethanol consumption had no measurable effect on the binding of [3H]SR95531 in FH rats. In the case of [3H]muscimol, binding was higher in the cortex, lateral septum and ventral pallidum of FH compared to WKY. Furthermore, ethanol consumption resulted in a 25-30% increase in [3H]muscimol binding in the lateral septum and striatum of FH rats. These data provide evidence for differential expression of GABAA receptor subunits in FH and WKY rats, and additionally indicate anatomically defined variations in GABAA receptor binding between the two rat strains.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1997

[3H]zolpidem binding in alcohol-preferring and non-preferring rat brain.

The present study has employed in vitro autoradiography to study the distribution and density of [3H]zolpidem binding sites, which are regarded as an index of ethanol-sensitive gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors, in the brains of alcohol-preferring Fawn-Hooded (FH) rats compared to non-alcohol preferring Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Binding of [3H]zolpidem showed a similar distribution profile in both rat strains examined and included cerebellum, globus pallidus, nucleus of the solitary tract and a number of midbrain/hindbrain nuclei. Densitometric quantitation of binding revealed that FH rats possessed a significantly higher density of [3H]zolpidem binding compared to WKY rats in cortical regions, substantia nigra pars reticulata and the ventral pallidum. These data indicate that FH rats may have an increased number of ethanol-sensitive GABA(A) receptors in regions intimately involved in reward processes, and may partially explain the alcohol-seeking nature of the FH rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Current trends in lung cancer mortality in France].

Lung cancer is the first cause of death from cancer in males in France. This cancer is responsible for 19,000 deaths in males and 3,000 deaths in females. We studied the geographical and temporal variations in lung cancer mortality in France. The average increase in mortality clearly decreased in males, changing from 2.4% between 1971 and 1985 to 0.7% between 1985 and 1992. In females, this tendency is reversed. Even though the rates were stable and very low before 1971, we have since observed a progressive increase which has intensified during the past years. Thus the average annual increase changed from 1.5% between 1971 and 1985 to 3% between 1985 and 1992. The geographic comparisons between the two studied periods (1971-78 and 1987-92) showed important differences between males and females. The geographic disparities among males were stable between these two periods. The excess observed mortality rate was maintained in the north-east. Among females, few geographic variations were observed during the first period. The second period however, showed distinct excess mortality rates in urban areas and large conglomerations as compared to the rest of France. In summary, the increase in the mortality rates for lung cancer is more pronounced in females and seems to have diminished in males, particularly in urban areas. This tendency started in the 1980s.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Should patients over 80 years old be operated on for colorectal or gastric cancer?

One hundred and three patients aged 80 years or more were operated on for colorectal cancer (n = 80) or gastric cancer (n = 23). The postoperative mortality rate was 8%. Hospital mortality (12%) was not influenced by the factors age or emergency procedure, but by the factors ASA score (P = 0.06), palliative procedure (p = 0.08), and gastric surgery (P = 0.05). The overall 5-year survival rate was 23% after colorectal surgery, and 10% after gastric surgery (P = 0.001). After colorectal surgery, long-term survivals were observed, even in presence of serosal and/or lymph nodes involvement. Thirteen patients were alive more than five years after surgery. In contrast, after gastric surgery, all patients, except those with early carcinoma, died within one year. Indications for operation must be wide in colorectal cancers, and more restrictive in gastric cancers. Long-term survivals were observed after colorectal surgery in the elderly, even in the presence of lymph node involvement. In contrast, after gastric surgery, all patients, except those with early carcinoma, died within one year.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

[Pattern of mortality from ovarian cancer in France 1968-1991].

In a recent meta-analysis of three American case-control studies, Whittermore et al found an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women treated for infertility. We have studied the mortality due to ovarian cancer in France between 1968 and 1991 in order to verify whether the use of these treatments could have modified mortality rates during the 24 years period studied. First, we have noted that among the 3175 deaths from ovarian cancer registered in France in 1991, only 136 occurred in women under 45 years of age, and 943 occurred in women between 45 and 59 years of age. We then observed an important geographical diversity with a higher frequency of ovarian cancer in the North of France as compared to the South. Finally, we observed a 72% increase in mortality during the study period. This increase can be entirely explained by the increase in the mortality rates among women over 60 years of age. Among women under 45, the ovarian cancer rate decreased by 24% between 1968 and 1991. Among women between 45 and 59 years of age, these rates increased by only 8% (or about 0.3% per year). These results imply that a possible effect--in terms of public health--of treatment for infertility does not necessarily translate into a significant increase in mortality from ovarian cancer among women under 60 years of age. This result in no way nullifies the role that epidemiological studies have in verifying the accuracy of risks associated with treatments for infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Radiotherapy alone in breast cancer. Analysis of tumor and lymph node radiation doses and treatment-related complications. The experience of the Gustave-Roussy Institute and the Princess Margaret Hospital.

This retrospective analysis was conducted on breast cancer patients treated by radiotherapy alone at The Princess Margaret Hospital and at the Institut Gustave-Roussy. These patients had either operable tumors, but were unfit for general anesthesia, or had inoperable tumors due to local contraindications to surgery. Previous results showed that a radiation dose increase of 15 Gy can decrease the relative risk of tumor or lymph node recurrence twofold. In this third report, the same data were analyzed to determine the treatment-related complication rates and to correlate these to the radiation dose levels. Overall results were analyzed on 453 patients, but detailed analyses on complications were conducted on 372 patients not developing local recurrence in the first 6 months of follow-up. Each complication was graded on a 3-level previously defined scale. Most frequent complications were skin changes of different degrees, which were usually asymptomatic. More disabling complications were arm edema, impaired shoulder mobility, rib fractures and brachial plexopathy. The incidence of disabling complications was low. The only factor significantly increasing the risk of complications was the radiation dose level to the tumor and axilla. Technical factors such as overlapping fields should also be taken into account. As the more effective control of tumor and lymph nodes obtained in patients treated with higher radiation doses is counterbalanced by an increase in the complication rate, the dose to be delivered for each patient should be carefully chosen according to individual risk factors.

Arm↗
PubMed1992

[Statcan: a telematic system for checking mortality and incidence of cancer in France].

Statcan is an interactive system for consulting cancer mortality and incidence data in France. This system is accessible through the Minitel network and provides information concerning cancer mortality: number of deaths, basic rates, standardized rates for the French, European and world population, cumulative rates up to the age of 74 years as well as specific rates by age, sex and cancer site for France as a whole from 1968 to 1988 and by region for 1968, 1975 and for 1979-1988. National incidence data are available for 5 regions between 1978 and 1982. several complementary chapters provide information explaining the methodology used and help in formulating the questions.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1992

[Urologic cancer mortality in France].

In 1989, 14,150 men died from urological cancer in France: 64% of these deaths were due to prostatic cancer, which represents the second highest cause of male cancer mortality in France. Deaths from urological cancer are mainly observed after 50 years of age, with a frequency which increases very rapidly with age, except for testicular cancer for which one out of every two deaths occurs between 20 and 45 years of age. Between 1968 and 1989, increased mortality was observed in males due to prostate cancer and kidney cancers, whereas a decreased mortality was observed for testicular cancer, especially in males between 20 and 45 years of age. Mortality was stable for bladder cancer and cancer of the penis. In females during the same period, mortality was stable for cancer of the kidney and bladder. During the period 1979 to 1984, a significant increase in mortality due to bladder cancer was observed in certain Northern departments and those surrounding the Mediterranean basin, although the mortality for other cancer sites is generally lower in this latter region. A significant increase in mortality was also observed for cancer of the kidney in Auvergne and in Alsace-Lorraine. Regarding prostatic cancer, geographical variations are minor and no particular region with an increased or decreased mortality could be identified.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Supersensitivity to electrical stimulation for assessing physical dependence on opioids in isolated tissues.

The use of the guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) to quantify opiate tolerance and physical dependence in the same preparation was examined. In the GPI, tolerance to and physical dependence on various opiates were induced by direct incubation with an agonist and tolerance and abstinence were assessed after its rapid removal by extensive washing. Dependence, as evidenced by an increase in twitch height and after removal of the agonist as compared to that before incubation, provided an index of the degree of physical dependence. The extent of the supersensitive response after agonist removal was noted to be related directly to the agonist concentration and the degree of tolerance development. Furthermore, the supersensitive response was found to be stereospecific, naloxone reversible and preferentially mu receptor-mediated. Likewise, tolerance to opiates could be demonstrated in the MVD by direct incubation with an agonist. Unlike the GPI, rapid removal of the agonist by washing did not produce a supersensitive response to electrical stimulation. However, a supersensitive response was demonstrable in the presence of naloxone. Thus, after a tolerant/dependent state was induced by incubation of the vas with a predetermined dose of [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin that completely abolished the twitch response, the subsequent addition of naloxone resulted in a supersensitive response to electrical stimulation that was concentration-dependent. The maximum twitch response in the presence of naloxone, compared to that obtained before incubation with the agonist, provided an index of the extent of dependence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Assessment of opiate tolerance and dependence in vitro.

Experiments were performed to induce opiate tolerance and physical dependence in vitro and assess the applicability of the procedures for studying the basic mechanisms in tolerance and dependence development. It was established that tolerance and physical dependence could be demonstrated in the excised guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens by direct incubation with an opiate agonist. The selectivity of the response to opiates was determined by experiments demonstrating stereospecificity, naloxone reversibility and cross-tolerance. The magnitude of tolerance and physical dependence was found to be dose, time, and agonist type-dependent. A standardized degree of tolerance and dependence were induced by using a dose of agonist sufficient to inhibit electrically stimulated contractions by 50% (IC50). In the isolated guinea pig myenteric plexus of the longitudinal muscle, incubation of the IC50 of an agonist at 37 degrees C for one hour produced a 2 to 5-fold tolerance as evidenced by the increase in its IC50. The rank order of decreasing potency in developing tolerance was morphine, normorphine and methadone. Physical dependence on the opiate was established by a contractual response to naloxone or a supersensitive response to electrical stimulus after removal of the agonist by washing. The degree of dependence developed was found to be proportional to that of tolerance. Similar incubation experiments on the mouse vas deferens with opioids also resulted in the development of tolerance and dependence. Although naloxone failed to evoke a contractual response, it enhanced dose-dependently the sensitivity of the preparation to electrical stimulus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Prognostic factors in rhabdomyosarcomas in childhood. Study carried out with 253 children registered by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology].

Two hundred and fifty three children with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, from 30 European centers, were registered by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) between 1975 and 1982, and received a VAC-VAD chemotherapy. Multivariate statistical methods were used to study prognosis. The most important predictors for survival time were as follows: primary site (P less than 0.001), clinical stage (P = 0.02), and sex (P = 0.03). Three primary sites had a favourable prognosis (vagina, paratestis, orbit) as opposed to the most unfavorable ones (parameningeal head and neck sites). Clinical state I had better survival curves than stages II and III. Males had a better prognosis than females, regardless of stage and primary site. The analysis of the evolutive modes of the tumour showed that the lack of local control (no complete remission, local recurrence) was the first reason of failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Proglumide exhibits delta opioid agonist properties.

Recently, it was reported that proglumide, a cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist, potentiates the analgetic effects of morphine and endogenous opioid peptides and reverses morphine tolerance by antagonizing the CCK system in the central nervous system of the rat. In order to provide additional insight into the mode of action of this agent, we assessed the effect of proglumide in the isolated guinea pig ileum and the mouse, rat and rabbit vas deferens. Furthermore, we studied the in vitro binding affinity of this substance to mouse brain synaptosomes. Our results show that proglumide inhibits, dose dependently, the electrically stimulated twitches in the mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum, but not in the rat or rabbit vas deferens. The inhibitory action of proglumide on the mouse vas deferens, but not on the guinea pig ileum, is antagonized by naloxone and by the selective delta-antagonist, ICI 174,864, in a competitive fashion. Other CCK antagonists were found to be devoid of such activity on the mouse vas deferens. In vitro binding studies showed that proglumide displaces D-ala-D-[leucine]5-enkephalin (DADLE), a delta agonist, but not ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), a preferentially selective kappa agonist. The effect of proglumide appeared to be elicited presynaptically since it did not alter the norepinephrine-induced contractions of the mouse vas deferens. Our results suggest that proglumide might exert its opiate-like effects by activation of delta-opioid receptors.

Animals↗