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Biomedical subjects

B Girard

Publications and source records attributed to B Girard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Comparison of a non-preserved 0.1% T-Gel eye gel (single dose unit) with a preserved 0.1% T-Gel eye gel (multidose) in ocular hypertension and glaucomatous patients.

AIM: This comparative, open design, phase III study was to assess the non-inferiority of the non-preserved T-Gel 0.1% single dose unit (SDU) versus its preserved multidose (MD) reference. METHODS: 175 patients with bilateral POAG or OHT were randomised: 87 patients were to receive one drop daily of T-Gel 0.1% MD and 88 patients were to receive one drop daily of T-Gel 0.1% SDU, for a treatment period of 12 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) in the worse eye between the baseline and the last assessment. Subjective and objective ocular signs as well as adverse events were recorded for safety. Global tolerance was assessed by the investigator and by the patient. RESULTS: The mean percentage reduction from baseline IOP was 24% for both treatments groups, which was consistent with previous studies. The safety results were comparable in both treatment groups. Because of gel formulation, mild short lasting episodes of blurred vision occurred for about 20% of patients. The global tolerance assessment reported that both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The overall study results demonstrated that T-Gel 0.1% SDU is not inferior to T-Gel 0.1% MD.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

From brainstem to cortex: computational models of saccade generation circuitry.

The brain circuitry of saccadic eye movements, from brainstem to cortex, has been extensively studied during the last 30 years. The wealth of data gathered allowed the conception of numerous computational models. These models proposed descriptions of the putative mechanisms generating this data, and, in turn, made predictions and helped to plan new experiments. In this article, we review the computational models of the five main brain regions involved in saccade generation: reticular formation saccadic burst generators, superior colliculus, cerebellum, basal ganglia and premotor cortical areas. We present the various topics these models are concerned with: location of the feedback loop, multimodal saccades, long-term adaptation, on the fly trajectory correction, strategy and metrics selection, short-term spatial memory, transformations between retinocentric and craniocentric reference frames, sequence learning, to name the principle ones. Our objective is to provide a global view of the whole system. Indeed, narrowing too much the modelled areas while trying to explain too much data is a recurrent problem that should be avoided. Moreover, beyond the multiple research topics remaining to be solved locally, questions regarding the operation of the whole structure can now be addressed by building on the existing models.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Magnesium sulphate and severe preeclampsia: its use in current practice].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate indications, mode of administration and safety of magnesium sulphate in severe preeclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study from January 2000 to December 2002, including patients with severe preeclampsia which was defined as elevated blood pressure >or=140 and/or 90 mmHg with proteinuria >or=0.3g per day, associated with one or more of the following: elevated blood pressure >or=170 and/or 110 mmHg, proteinuria>3g per day, functional symptoms such as headache, hyperreflexia, oliguria<500 ml per day, thrombocytopenia, creatinine level>100 micromol/l, HELLP syndrome. We studied a group of 57 women treated by magnesium sulphate (intravenous bolus of 4.5g during 20 minutes followed by a perfusion of 1.5g/h) associated or not with an antihypertensive treatment. RESULTS: Treatment by magnesium sulphate was started antenatally in 53 women or during immediate postpartum in 4, associated (n=25) or not (n=32) with an antihypertensive treatment. Hyperreflexia was the main indication to start magnesium sulphate treatment (75%). About half (47%) of the cases occurred before 33 weeks of gestation No eclampsia occurred in this group. There was one overdosage which regressed when perfusion was stopped. One patient presented minor side effects attributed to magnesium sulphate. CONCLUSION: Providing a rigorous protocol, indications of magnesium sulfate therapy in severe preeclampsia are well defined. It seems that this treatment could be easily used without severe complications and major side effects.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Interferences of ultrashort free electron wave packets.

Interferences of free electron wave packets generated by a pair of identical, time-delayed, femtosecond laser pulses which ionize excited atomic potassium have been observed. Two different schemes are investigated: threshold electrons produced by one-photon ionization with parallel laser polarization and above threshold ionization electrons produced by a two-photon transition with crossed laser polarization. Our results show that the temporal coherence of light pulses is transferred to free electron wave packets, thus opening the door to a whole variety of exciting experiments.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

[Silent sinus syndrome: a rare case of enophthalmia].

INTRODUCTION: The causes of spontaneous enophthalmos, without trauma, surgical factors, or systemic illness, which can be found are rare. A particular entity called silent sinus syndrome in the Anglo-Saxon literature, which concerns the long-term effect of hypoventilation of the maxillary sinus responsible for an attraction of the sinus walls, resulting in sagging of the orbital floor, itself responsible for the enophthalmos. CASE REPORT: We report the case about a 29-year-old woman, presenting a left-side spontaneous enophthalmos, with sinus-type pains for 2 months. The clinical examination revealed a horizontal diplopia when looking leftwards. Computed tomography showed a maxillary homolateral sinusitis with characteristic attraction of the sinus walls. The draining of the sinus collection by inferior endoscopic enlargement of the maxillary ostium led to pain resolution. The enophthalmos and diplopia were stabilized. CONCLUSION: After eradicating the orbital causes of enophthalmos, the sinus causes were sought more precisely, the pauci-symptomatic causes such as the silent sinus syndrome. The recognition of this syndrome stopped the progression of enophthalmos by making the maxillary sinus permeable again. A surgical reconstruction of the orbital floor can be proposed in order to correct the motility of the eyes and esthetic considerations.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Activity and epidemiology in an ophthalmological emergency center].

PURPOSE: To investigate the numbers and characteristics of patients with ophthalmological emergencies presenting at a general hospital. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of ophthalmological emergencies over 11 years included comparison with demographic changes and, over the last 2 years, analysis of the patients treated (age, sex, and pathology, according to 23 preselected pathologies). Ophthalmological examinations were done by a senior ophthalmologist. RESULTS: The activity rose from 396 patients in 1989 to 2,793 in 2000. The prevalence of ophthalmological emergencies in the area was 5.1 per 1,000 residents. The ophthalmological emergency rate compared with all emergencies in a general hospital classified as an Emergency Department Hospital was 5%. The male to female ratio was 1.88, the excess being explained by the higher risk of injury in men (professional and domestic). Of these patients, 28% were under 18 years of age, 43% were between 18 and 40, and 29% were over 40 years old. Most patients were self-referred. Fifty-three percent of the patients were from the hospital's influence sector. Of all ophthalmic patients, 3%-5% were hospitalized, 65% for medical reasons and 35% for surgical and trauma reasons. We pre-listed 23 pathologies to screen our patients, which covered 95% of all the patients examined in the emergency department. These ophthalmological medical emergencies were classified as follows: 20% infections disease, 12.6% ocular inflammation, 0.8% neurophthalmology. Traumatology can be classified as follows: 6.4% ocular burns, 2% electrical arc injuries, 35.3% corneal lesion, 10% injuries of conjunctiva, sclera, corneosclera, lacrimal duct, and 1% perforation of the eyeball. CONCLUSION: There is a real need for ophthalmic emergency services in general hospitals. Benign pathologies not needing diagnosis and adapted treatment were not noted in our study. The cheapest and most efficient way to diagnose these ophthalmic emergencies appeared to be the ophthalmological emergency center with a senior ophthalmologist, according to the regional health organization.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Observation of coherent transients in ultrashort chirped excitation of an undamped two-level system.

The effects of coherent excitation of a two-level system with a linearly chirped pulse are studied theoretically and experimentally [in Rb (5s-5p)] in the low field regime. The coherent transients are measured directly on the excited state population on an ultrashort time scale. A sharp step corresponds to the passage through resonance. It is followed by oscillations resulting from interferences between off-resonant and resonant contributions. We finally show the equivalence between this experiment and Fresnel diffraction by a sharp edge.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

[Traumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome: report of 4 cases and review of literature].

PURPOSE: The authors retrospectively analyzed four cases of posttraumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome and reviewed the literature. METHOD: Four patients (three male and one female) were followed for this complication in the department from october 1995 to december 1996. RESULTS: The mean age was 31 years, the median follow-up was 8 month. Computed tomography showed involvement of the superior orbital fissure but no in three patients, in the fourth. The treatment consisted of osteosynthesis of craniofacial fracture in three patients and corticosteroid therapy in the last one. All patients presented partial recuperation of external ophthalmoplegia and ptosis. Twelve months after the traumatism, one patient underwent surgery for persistant ptosis and diplopia. CONCLUSION: The superior orbital fissure syndrome is an exceptional complication of orbital traumas. Partial recuperation of the neuro-ophthalmologic function usually occurs within a period of several months.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

trans-1-[(2-Phenylcyclopropyl)methyl]-4-arylpiperazines: mixed dopamine D(2)/D(4) receptor antagonists as potential antipsychotic agents.

The dopaminergic receptor profile of a series of trans-1-[(2-phenylcyclopropyl)methyl]-4-arylpiperazines was examined. Aromatic substitution patterns were varied with the goal of identifying a compound having affinities for the D(2) and D(4) receptors in a ratio similar to that observed for the atypical neuroleptic clozapine. The compounds (1S, 2S)-trans-1-[(2-phenylcyclopropyl)methyl]-4-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine (5m) and (1S, 2S)-trans-1-[(2-phenylcyclopropyl)methyl]-4-(2, 4-dimethylphenyl)piperazine (5t) were selected for functional antagonists at D(2) and D(4) receptors and had a D(2)/D(4) ratio approximating that of clozapine; they proved inactive in behavioral tests of antipsychotic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Membrane processing of fruit juices and beverages: a review.

Membrane technology for the processing of fruit juices and beverages has been applied mainly for clarification using ultrafiltration and microfiltration, and for concentration using reverse osmosis. The effects of product preparation, membrane selection, and operating parameters are important factors influencing filtration rate and product quality. Technological advances related to the development of new membranes, improvement in process engineering, and better understanding of fruit beverage constituents have expanded the range of membrane separation processes. Developments in novel membrane processes, including electrodialysis and pervaporation, increased the array of applications in combination with other technologies for alternate uses in fruit juices and beverages.

Beverages↗
PubMed2000

Membrane processing of fruit juices and beverages: a review.

Membrane technology for the processing of fruit juices and beverages has been applied mainly for clarification using ultrafiltration and microfiltration, and for concentration using reverse osmosis. The effects of product preparation, membrane selection, and operating parameters are important factors influencing filtration rate and product quality. Technological advances related to the development of new membranes, improvement in process engineering, and better understanding of fruit beverage constituents have expanded the range of membrane separation processes. Developments in novel membrane processes, including electrodialysis and pervaporation, increased the array of applications in combination with other technologies for alternate uses in fruit juices and beverages.

Beverages↗
PubMed2000

A 27-year experience with surgical treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of surgical portal decompression in Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) on survival, quality of life, shunt patency, liver function, portal hemodynamics, and hepatic morphology during periods ranging from 3.5 to 27 years. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Experiments in the authors' laboratory showed that surgical portal decompression reversed the deleterious effects of BCS on the liver. This study was aimed at determining whether similar benefit could be obtained in patients with BCS. METHODS: From 1972 to 1999, the authors conducted prospective studies of the treatment of 60 patients with BCS who were divided into three groups: the first had occlusion confined to the hepatic veins treated by direct side-to-side portacaval shunt (SSPCS); the second had occlusion involving the inferior vena cava (IVC) treated by a portal decompressive procedure that bypassed the obstructed IVC; and the third group, who had advanced cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation and were referred too late for treatment by portal decompression, required orthotopic liver transplantation. RESULTS: In the 32 patients with BCS resulting from hepatic vein occlusion alone, SSPCS had a surgical death rate of 3%, and 94% of the patients were alive 3.5 to 27 years after surgery. All 31 survivors remained free of ascites and almost all had normal liver function. No patient with a patent shunt had encephalopathy. The SSPCS remained patent in all but one patient. Liver biopsies showed no evidence of congestion or necrosis, and 48% of the biopsies were diagnosed as normal. Mesoatrial shunt was performed in eight patients with BCS caused by IVC thrombosis. All patients survived surgery, but five subsequently developed thrombosis of the synthetic graft and died. Because of the poor results, mesoatrial shunt was abandoned. Instead, a high-flow combination shunt was introduced, consisting of SSPCS combined with a cavoatrial shunt (CAS) through a Gore-Tex graft. There were no surgical or long-term deaths among 10 patients who underwent combined SSPCS and CAS, and the shunts functioned effectively during 4 to 16 years of follow-up. Ten patients with advanced cirrhosis were referred too late to benefit from surgical portal decompression, and they were approved and listed for orthotopic liver transplantation. Three patients died of liver failure while awaiting a transplant, and four patients died after the transplant. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 40% and 30%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SSPCS in BCS with hepatic vein occlusion alone results in reversal of liver damage, correction of hemodynamic disturbances, prolonged survival, and good quality of life when performed early in the course of BCS. Similarly good results are obtained with combined SSPCS and CAS in patients with BCS resulting from IVC occlusion. In contrast, mesoatrial shunt has been discontinued in the authors' program because of an unacceptable incidence of graft thrombosis and death. In patients with advanced cirrhosis from long-standing, untreated BCS, orthotopic liver transplantation is the only hope of relief and results in the salvage of some patients. The key to long survival in BCS is prompt diagnosis and treatment by portal decompression.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Inhibition of dioxin effects on bone formation in vitro by a newly described aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, resveratrol.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands are environmental contaminants found in cigarette smoke and other sources of air pollution. The prototypical compound is TCDD (2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), also known as dioxin. There is an increasing body of knowledge linking cigarette smoking to osteoporosis and periodontal disease, but the direct effects of smoke-associated aryl hydrocarbons on bone are not well understood. Through the use of resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene), a plant antifungal compound that we have recently demonstrated to be a pure AhR antagonist, we have investigated the effects of TCDD on osteogenesis. It was postulated that TCDD would inhibit osteogenesis in bone-forming cultures and that this inhibition would be antagonized by resveratrol. We employed the chicken periosteal osteogenesis (CPO) model, which has been shown to form bone in vitro in a pattern morphologically and biochemically similar to that seen in vivo, as well as a rat stromal cell bone nodule formation model. In the CPO model, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was reduced by up to 50% (P<0.01 vs control) in the presence of 10(-9) M TCDD and these effects were reversed by 10(-6) M resveratrol (P<0.05 vs TCDD alone). TCDD-mediated inhibition of osteogenesis was restricted primarily to the osteoblastic differentiation phase (days 0-2) as later addition did not appear to have any effects. Message levels for important bone-associated proteins (in the CPO model) such as collagen type I, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and AP were inhibited by TCDD, an effect that was antagonized by resveratrol. Similar findings were obtained using the rat stromal bone cell line. TCDD (at concentrations as low as 10(-10)M) caused an approximately 33% reduction in AP activity, which was abrogated by 3. 5x10(-7) M resveratrol. TCDD also induced a marked reduction in mineralization ( approximately 75%) which was completely antagonized by resveratrol. These data suggest that AhR ligands inhibit osteogenesis probably through inhibition of osteodifferentiation and that this effect can be antagonized by resveratrol. Since high levels of AhR ligands are found in cigarette smoke, and further since smoking is an important risk factor in both osteoporosis and periodontal disease, it may be postulated that AhR ligands are the component of cigarette smoke linking smoking to osteoporosis and periodontal disease. If so, resveratrol could prove to be a promising preventive or therapeutic agent for smoking-related bone loss.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2000

Foreign body granuloma following placement of hard tissue replacement material: a case report.

The placement of grafting material in extraction sites for ridge preservation is an increasingly common practice among clinicians. This is a case report of a patient presenting with a symptomatic, foreign body granuloma following the placement of hard tissue replacement (HTR) in extraction sockets. The surgical specimen revealed numerous histiocytes and foreign body type giant cells. The grafting material was surgically removed and the patient's symptoms were alleviated. Although biocompatibility of HTR has previously been shown, specific applications may be contraindicated or some patients may exhibit sensitivity to this material.

Alveolar Ridge Augmentation↗
PubMed1999

Alpha1-adrenergic regulation of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase gene expression in cultured rat cardiac myocytes: transcriptional studies and messenger ribonucleic acid stability.

Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM; EC 1.14.17.3) is a bifunctional protein containing two enzymes that act sequentially to catalyse the alpha-amidation of neuroendocrine peptides. Previous studies have demonstrated that alpha-adrenergic stimulation results in an increase in intracellular volume and protein content of cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells. The present study examined the regulated expression of PAM during alpha-adrenergic stimulation. Alpha1-adrenergic stimulation activates the expression and release of PAM from myocytes. Following phenylephrine treatment, myocardial cells displayed a several fold increase in PAM activity, and a 2-4-fold increase in the steady state levels of PAM mRNA. This effect of alpha-adrenergic stimulation was dependent on the concentration and duration of exposure to the agonist, and displayed alpha1-adrenergic receptor specificity. The transcription rate experiments indicated that these alpha-adrenergic effects were not due to increased PAM gene activity, suggesting that a post-transcriptional mechanism was involved. The most common mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation affects cytoplasmic mRNA stability. Cardiomyocytes cultures from atria and ventricles in the presence of 5,6 dichloro-1-beta ribofuranosyl benzamidazole (DRB) showed that phenylephrine treatment increased the half-life of PAM mRNA from 13 +/- 1 to 21 +/- 1 h in atrial cells and from 8 +/- 1 to 12 +/- 1 h in ventricle cells. Analysis of nuclear RNA with probes specific for PAM intron sequences shows that increased PAM expression after phenylephrine treatment was not due to intranuclear stabilisation of the primary transcript. Protein kinase C inhibitors H7 and GF109203x, completely blocked the phenylephrine stimulated PAM expression. These results suggest that alpha-adrenergic agonist induces PAM mRNA levels by increasing its stability in the cytoplasm. They indicate that PAM gene expression augments through a H7 and GF109203x sensitive pathway, involving the activation of protein kinase C.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1999

Characterization and regulation of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) expression in H9c2 cardiac myoblasts.

Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), which catalazyes the two-step formation of bioactive alpha-amidated peptides from their glycine-extended precursors, has been found in H9c2 myoblasts. The expression of PAM has been evaluated in H9c2 cells. Northern blot analysis and amplification of fragments derived from rat PAM by the reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction method has demonstrated the presence of rPAM-1, -2, -3, -3a and -3b mRNA transcripts. These forms of PAM mRNA may be generated by alternative splicing. PAM mRNA levels are increased to 160 +/- 12% of control values by treatment with dexamethasone but are unchanged during triiodothyronine incubation of the cells. PAM activity is very low, which is not comparable to the high levels found in adult atrium tissue. Western blot analysis has demonstrated 86-, 76-, and 46-kDa PAM proteins in the particulate fraction. The soluble fraction contains major PAM proteins of 110, 86, and 46 kDa. In situ hybridization studies with 35S-labeled full length RNA antisense transcripts of rat PAM-1 cDNA have localized autoradiographic grains around the nucleus. Our data clearly demonstrate PAM expression in H9c2 rat heart cells, suggesting the ability of these cardiac cells to make bioactive alpha-amidated hormones and/or neuropeptides.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1999

Anthocyanins, phenolics, and color of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir wines from British Columbia.

Changes in phenolics (anthocyanins, flavonols, tartaric esters, and total phenolics) during ripening of grapes and in phenolics and color during vinification and aging of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir wines were studied. Anthocyanins in grape skins showed variations in accumulation pattern, concentration, and distribution depending on variety and to a lesser extent on season. During vinification, colorless phenolics increased during alcoholic fermentation, reached maximum values at pressing, and remained stable during malolactic fermentation and subsequent storage. Anthocyanins and color density, on the other hand, increased during the early stages of alcoholic fermentation, reached maximum values 2-3 days after the start of fermentation, decreased during malolactic fermentation, and slowly declined during subsequent storage. Viticultural practices that increased cluster sun exposure generally led to higher phenolics and color density of wines, whereas changing yeasts used for fermentation had minimal effects.

Anthocyanins↗