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Biomedical subjects

B Legras

Publications and source records attributed to B Legras.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Method of file sorting for mini- and microcomputers].

The authors describe a new sorting method of files which belongs to the class of direct-addressing sorting methods. It makes use of a variant of the classical technique of 'virtual memory'. It is particularly well suited to mini- and micro-computers which have a small core memory (32 K words, for example) and are fitted with a direct-access peripheral device, such as a disc unit. When the file to be sorted is medium-sized (some thousand records), the running of the program essentially occurs inside the core memory and consequently, the method becomes very fast. This is very important because most medical files handled in our laboratory are in this category. However, the method is also suitable for big computers and large files; its implementation is easy. It does not require any magnetic tape unit, and it seems to us to be one of the fastest methods available.

Computers↗
PubMed1983

[Changes in blood levels of haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin in vitamin A deficiency in Sprague-Dawley rats].

The aim of the present study was to find out whether the elevation of the serum ceruloplasmin level, previously described in vitamin-A-deficient rats, is a specific phenomenon. Quantitative variations of serum ceruloplasmin, albumin and haptoglobin (whose concentration increased during inflammation) were determined in normal and vitamin-A-deficient rats. Concentrations of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and the value of the haptoglobin to albumin ratio are increased in the serum of vitamin-A-deficient rats compared to normal rats. The results suggested that the increased serum level of ceruloplasmin in vitamin-A-deficient rats was due to the presence of inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Software for linear and non-linear optimization in external radiotherapy.

The study presents a set of programs designed to determine optimum dose distribution either by calculation of beam intensities and field width (in linear programming) or, in addition, by calculation of beam geometry (non-linear optimization). Various optimization criteria can be selected: homogeneity, concentration on target, entire dose in a sensitive area. The optimization method used is the gradient projection method, and doses are calculated by Cunningham formulae. The article describes the program operating modes, the main subroutines and their functions and specifications, and outlines an example.

Computers↗
PubMed1982

[A chronological linkage technic of records and use of the obtained information. Application to the functional control of cardiac stimulators].

The application of information processing to the study of the evolution of the patient's state requires the constituting of a file which contains the values of different items as functions of time. There are many methods for doing this and most of them appeal to the construction of a complex database. The technique presented in the paper paper tries at first to constitute, for each patient, some records, of which every one corresponds to a determined "operation' (the term "operation' is taken in the wide sense; example: consultation, surgical intervention,...) then to link them according to the chronological order. It has the advantage of being easy so that it may be used even on minicomputers. Furthermore, the exploitation of the resultant data file is very easy. This method is well suited to problems such as the examination of the longitudinal investigations, the treatment of records of the patients who went through several operations, etc. The application presented here is the checking of the functioning of pacemakers. We wrote on a minicomputer MITRA 15/125 transferable general program (using FORTRAN IV exclusively), which allows one to carry out the linking and to exploit the resultant file. It is so designed that the addition of new procedures involved in new applications may be very easy.

Computers↗
PubMed1982

[Effect of cimetidine on human granulopoietic stem cells. In vitro study in 31 patients].

We studied the action of cimetidine at various concentrations on human hematopoeitic colony and cluster forming cells "in vitro" (CFUc). Bone marrow samples obtained from 31 patients with various hematological and neoplastic diseases were cultured in semisolid agar. When cimetidine was added to cultures there was a reduction of colony and macrocluster formation. At the concentration used in our study (20 micrograms/ml, 30 micrograms/ml, 40 micrograms/ml) these effects were not dose-related. We did not find any significant reduction of microcluster formation. These results are relevant with the hypothesis that histamine H2 receptors antagonists may have an inhibiting action on bone marrow CFUc proliferation. They point out the need for hematological surveillance during long-term cimetidine therapy.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1982

[Radiological and echotomographic findings in 98 children with isolated atrial septal defects].

Chest roentgenograms were carried out in 98 children with atrial septal defects and showed in 71 of them an increase of the pulmonary vascular markings, an increased heart index and right ventricular enlargement. In other children, abnormalities were either incomplete (18 cases) misleading (7 cases) or normal (2 cases). Echocardiogram was characteristic in 34 of 35 children showing an increased telediastolic ratio in virtually all cases and paradoxical septal motion in 79%. Postoperatively, chest roentgenographic findings include a return to normal of pulmonary markings and heart index while right ventricular enlargement regresses only partially. Echocardiograms show a decrease of the telediastolic ratio in all patients and a normal septal motion in 78%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Frequency and semeiological evolution of epileptic seizures occurring between 40 and 65 years of age (author's transl)].

458 patients who had their first epileptic fit between the ages of 40 and 65 are classified into 5 groups according to the seizure symptomatology: when the symptomatology remains unchanged, the frequency of fits is less than 1 per month in 84% of generalized fits and more than 1 per month in 52% of focal fits. When the symptomatology changes, the frequency of fits is less than 1 per month when the inaugural fit is generalized (23 out of 27) and more than 1 per month when the inaugural fit is focal (15 out of 21). Modifications of the symptomatology correlate positively with a prevalence of tumor aetiology. Primary generalized epilepsies are rare (4.4%). Non-specific secondary generalized epilepsies (including vascular, metabolic or toxic encephalopathies) account for 24.4% of the cases. Focal epilepsies are the most common form (40.7%), elementary fits being four times more frequent than complex fits.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[The human basophils degranulation test (HBDT). Leucoconcentration and statistical calculation applied to the degranulation rate (author's transl)].

The technique using hemolysis and vital coloration described by Benveniste permits the human basophils to be studied in immediate type allergies : HBDT. In almost 25% of the cases, the test cannot be carried out because the basophils are less than 20 per mm(3). In 700 but one case, the HBDT could be carried out using a leucoconcentration technique by means of a 100 to 200 g centrifugation of 10 mn duration, followed by tangential extraction, thus obtaining an increased number of basophils. The authors were lent to apply a statistical calculation to a significant degranulation rate due to the number of observable cells by means of an unilateral statistical test suggesting a distribution according to Poisson's law. Thus tests are interpreted more rapidly and are more reliable. On the other hand, comparison with the results obtained with or without leucoconcentration in different types of allergies due to reagins (drugs, hymenoptera, foods) do not show any cellular fragilization. It may be concluded to the reliability of the degranulation observed in presence of an antigen.

Basophils↗
PubMed1980

Concept and implementation of a program for treatments and statistical or logical interrogations of a file: LOGIST.

LOGIST is a general program which can be used for the usual statistical interrogations and also for other basic operations such as a validity check, the transcoding and the listing of data essential to biomedicine and the human sciences. The objectives laid down for this program have enabled almost total transferability (using FORTRAN IV exclusively), simplicity in the interrogation language, clear presentation of results, reduction to a minimum of computer running time and working storage required and the facility for modification of program or addition of new sub-programs. All the possible statistical procedures have not been included yet but any such additions are quite simple. This program, despite its considerable size, can be satisfactorily used on a mini-computer. At present, it is installed on a Mitra 15 computer with a total memory capacity of 32 K words of 16 bits. Use with larger more powerful machines will increase its potential. Routine application to diverse problems (quality control of a file, transcoding, linking of data, etc....) is very satisfactory.

Computers↗
PubMed1980

[Amniotic alpha 1-foetoprotein of the 17th week of pregnancies with amenorrhea (author's transl)].

The amniotic alpha 1-foetoprotein of the 17th week of pregnancies with amenorrhea was tested by electroimmunodiffusion and radioimmunology. The results show a very good correlation between both methods. We can see from this study the possibility for any laboratory to test alpha 1-foetoprotein in amniotic fluid of patients with high risk pregnancies, as the beginning of pregnancy when amniotic punction is necessary without using radioimmunology.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1980

[Isolation and physico-chemical properties of rat ceruloplasmin].

Ceruloplasmin was isolated from inflammatory rat serum after two chromatographies, employing column chromatography with D.E.A.E. cellulose and Sephadex G 200, and after electrophoresis. The determination of phys'co chemical constants allows to compare the human ceruloplasmin.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[148 epiphysiodeses in the management of leg length inequality].

The authors relate their experience in the treatment of unequal leg length, in children, by was of epiphysiodesis. They realized 54 Phemister's operations and 94 Blount's Among the latters, final sterilization of the epiphyseal cartilage has been noted after 1,5 year and the axis deviations (main complication of these operations) was clearly more frequent and graver. Besides, the estimates preliminary to the epiphysiodesis setted up for the treatment of small inequality proved to be little reliable and little accurate and this difficulty in making accurate prevision is an important snag to the method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Retinoic acid and steroidogenesis].

When Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats fed from weaning on a vitamin A and provitamin A deficient diet are supplemented with retinoic acid, they mature into adults whose general physical conditions and weight are comparable with those of retinol supplemented animals. However, the adrenal cortex, testes and ovaries delta 5-3 beta hydroxysteroid deshydrogenases-delta 5-delta 4-3-oxosteroide isomerases are in all cases strongly decreased compared with those of retinol supplemented animals. These results are reproducible only if the mothers' reserves in vitamin A are about 50 gamma/g of hepatic tissue and if the animals are weaned between the 19th and 21st day. These results obtained under these strictly defined conditions demonstrate the importance of the "biochemical lesion" which causes steroidogenesis perturbations induced by the vitamin A deficiency. The experimental data are discussed in the light of the recent findings concerning the direct role of the vitamin A in the transglycosylation reactions (Luigi M. de Luca, Vitamins and Hormones, 1977, 35, 1-57).

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1979

[Relation between ceruloplasmin and vitamin A in Sprague-Dawley rats].

The Moore's hypothesis concerning a relationship between the metabolism of copper and that of vitamin A led us to consider a possible relationship between this vitamin and ceruloplasmin, the carrier protein for copper. Experiments were carried out on Sprague-Dawley rats. The ceruloplasmin level of control animals and vitamin A - deficient rats was determined An average increase between 22 and 33% was observed in the animals with vitamin A deficiency, the highest levels being observed in the females. These results are in agreement with Peterson's previous work. A second type of experiment was carried out to confirm these results. The rats were raised in a copper-deficient diet and the vitamin A level was regularly determined. In these conditions serum and liver levels of vitamin A are normal and do not vary, ceruloplasmin level is zero; however apoceruloplasmin is still being synthetized : Nevertheless at the ultime state of the deficiency vitamin A level decreases while apoceruloplasmin increases. These results raise the following question. Could the relationship between ceruloplasmin and vitamin A be possibly due to an inflammatory state in vitamin A deficient rats. In this respect a third series of experiments were undertaken and are in progress; the vitamin A and ceruloplasmin levels are regularly determined.

Animals↗