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B Maes

Publications and source records attributed to B Maes.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The 13C-octanoic acid breath test: a noninvasive technique to assess gastric emptying in preterm infants.

Gastric emptying (GE) is difficult to evaluate properly in preterm infants because of the lack of safe and reliable noninvasive methods. The 13C-octanoic acid breath test, a noninvasive method to assess GE, was validated in adults. The aim of this study was to adapt the methodology of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test regarding test meal and sampling methods and to define normal values for healthy preterm infants. We tested 11 clinically stable preterm infants who demonstrated normal fetal growth. The infants mean gestational age at birth was 33 weeks, mean birth weight was 1754 g, mean postnatal age at the day of study was 26 days, and mean weight was 2296 g. After a fasting period of 3 h, the subject was fed a test meal with low and stable 13C background activity mixed with 50 microliters of 13C-labeled octanoic acid and 1 g polyethylene glycol 3350. Breath samples were collected using a nasal prong in basal conditions and after the test meal. CO2 production according to weight and age was used in the calculations for 13CO2 enrichment of exhaled air. Results were expressed as percentage of 13C dose excretion per hour and percentage of cumulative 13C after 4h. gastric emptying coefficient (GEC), and gastric half-emptying time (t1/2b). The values for percent of cumulative 13C after 4 h ranged from 30.7 to 52.6% (mean, 40.2%), GEC ranged from 2.7 to 3.4 (mean, 3.0), and the values for t1/2b ranged from 17 to 100 min (mean, 57 min). We conclude that the 13C-octanoic acid breath test can be adapted to preterm infants to allow the study of GE in various conditions.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1996

[Cancers of the thyroid. Value of a regional registry on 627 patients diagnosed, treated and followed by a multidisciplinary team].

Since 1966, data from 1536 patients with a thyroid carcinoma, living in the French region Champagne-Ardenne, a geographical area with 1,350,000 inhabitants were registered. The creation of a multidisciplinary group and the involvement of the general practitioners, allowed us to reach an exhaustive and continued registration process for the French administrative area of Marne and Ardennes (855,000 inhibitants, 627 patients). The sex-ratio F/M was 3.8 and the median ages were respectively equal to 46 [10-93] and 52 [13-82] in females and males. In the age groups 10-14 and 15-19, 3 cases and 13 cases were respectively registered. An history of external irradiation was noted in 2.9% of the patients. The study of the incidence around the Chooz nuclear plant (Ardennes) did not show an increase of the risk. For the French administrative area Marne and Ardennes, for the period 1975-1979, the incidence rates, standardized on the European population, were equal to 1.75/100,000 in males (SD = 0.15) and 6.38/100,000 (SD = 0.29) in females. These values among the highest from the data published by the other European registries should be explained by a more intensive diagnosis procedure and an improvement in the accuracy of histological diagnosis. An increase of the incidence rate was observed between the periods 1975-1983 and 1984-1992 from 1.04 to 2.05/100,000 and 4.99 to 6.39/100,000 in males and females respectively. This was associated with changes in clinical and histological features and an improvement in survival curves. For patients under the age of 19, we have compared both periods before and after the accident of Chernobyl. The incidence rates increased from 0.13 to 0.45/100,000 and 0.49 to 1.81/100,000 in the age groups 10-14 and 15-19 respectively. This change was at the order of magnitude to this observed in our adults population. We did not found the histological aggressiveness which characterized the Chernobyl-induced thyroid cancer in children. The knowledge of the significant prognostic factors determined by multifactorial analyses is a major foundation of our therapeutic strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The influence of isolated doses of drugs, feeding and colonic bacterial ureolysis on urea breath test results.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this work was to improve standardization of the 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) by evaluating the effect of drug administration, feeding and colonic ureolysis on the UBT results. METHODS: Three different studies were performed. First, a 13C-UBT was performed in 41 Helicobacter pylori infected subjects before and after 1 day of therapy with sucralfate (5 g), colloidal bismuth (600 mg), amoxycillin (2.5 g) or omeprazole (40 mg). Second, a 13C-UBT was performed in 10 H. pylori-positive patients after an overnight fast and repeated 2 h after lunch. Finally, a 13C-UBT was carried out in seven healthy volunteers, with breath sampling prolonged to 6 h to investigate colonic bacterial ureolysis. RESULTS: Even a short course of drugs specific for H. pylori may result in a falsely negative 13C-UBT. Feeding does not interfere with the 13C-UBT in infected subjects. No significant 13C-urea breakdown by colonic bacteria is observed during the 13C-UBT when it is prolonged to 6 h. CONCLUSION: The 13C-urea breath test is a sensitive clinical tool for the non-invasive diagnosis of H. pylori infection. It is unaffected by feeding or colonic ureolysis. However, false negative results are likely even after 1 day of therapy with bactericidal, 'cytoprotective' or antisecretory drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Screening method for the determination of volatiles in biomedical samples by means of an off-line closed-loop trapping system and high-resolution gas chromatography-ion trap detection.

A method is described for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in biological matrices (faeces and urine). The technique is based on off-line preconcentration by means of a closed-loop trapping system followed by high-resolution gas chromatography-ion trap detection (HRGC-ITD) for separation and identification of the compounds. The technique has been validated for pattern recognition in faecal and urine samples from healthy volunteers. It is considered a very promising tool in metabolic research.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1994

Cognitive functioning and information processing of adult mentally retarded men with fragile-X syndrome.

The present study describes cognitive skills and information processing strategies of mentally retarded fra(X) men. Fifty-eight fra(X) positive and 58 fra(X) negative adults, matched on sex, chronological age, length of institutionalisation, general cognitive level, and living conditions, were evaluated with the Bayley or McCarthy Scales of Mental Abilities. Mental ages were mostly situated in the severe mental handicap category and were found to be negatively influenced by chronological age. A relative strength in perceptual performance and non-verbal reasoning and a deficit in sequential information processing turned out to be typical of all mentally retarded subjects, irrespective of fra(X) or control status. Fra(X) adults could be significantly differentiated from control persons on the ground of a higher level of acquired knowledge because of better vocabulary and verbal-expressive skills. On the other hand, they were less able to imitate non-verbal patterns, had more difficulty with visual-motor integration and co-ordination, and applied less efficient general mental processing skills in solving new problems. The memory profile of fra(X) adults was strongly determined by the meaning and the complexity of the information that has to be reproduced. In this article the profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses in the fra(X) group will be discussed and some general advice for training is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Increased permeability of macroscopically normal small bowel in Crohn's disease.

To investigate permeability alterations of the macroscopically normal jejunum in Crohn's disease, the permeation of two probes was measured during perfusion of an isolated jejunal segment. The data were compared with the results obtained by the standard per oral test in the same patients. Test probes were PEG-400 and [51Cr]EDTA. Ten normal individuals, 12 patients with Crohn's ileitis or ileocolitis, and seven patients with isolated Crohn's colitis all with normal jejunum on x-ray series were studied. Upon perfusion of the proximal small bowel, the 3-hr [51Cr]EDTA excretion was significantly increased in ileitis patients (P = 0.023) as compared to normals. The excretion exceeded the highest value of normals in eight of 12 ileitis patients. The excretion in Crohn's colitis patients was not significantly increased (P = 0.24) and abnormal excretion was found only in one of the Crohn's colitis patients. PEG-400 permeation during perfusion did not differentiate between the groups, but five of the seven patients with isolated Crohn's colitis had PEG-400 excretion exceeding the highest value in normals. Overall, 13 of the 19 patients had increased permeation of one of the two probes through jejunal mucosa during perfusion. These data suggest that the permeability is increased in the majority of patients even in segments that seem normal on x-ray.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Personal independence of adult mentally retarded men with fragile-X syndrome.

In a large study of the psychosocial functioning of mentally retarded adults with fra(X) syndrome we also evaluated their personal independence. 58 mentally retarded adult men with a cytogenetically confirmed diagnosis of fra(X) syndrome and 58 fra(X) negative control persons with a comparable age, level of cognitive development, actual living conditions and length of institutionalization were evaluated with three Dutch standardized behavioral scales. In spite of comparable social competency scores in both research groups, two significant different aspects were found: 1) Fra(X) men obtained a higher level of elementary knowledge and skillfulness in rudimentary dealing with personal needs and household tasks in daily life in comparison with the control group; 2) moderately mentally retarded fra(X) adults were practising more preacademic reading, calculating and writing skills in daily life than control persons.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

[Prevalence of ophthalmopathy in Basedow disease. Follow-up of patients one year following diagnosis of hyperthyroidism].

During a study performed to estimate the prevalence and evolution of ophthalmologic symptoms in Graves' disease, we examined 85 patients suffering from diffuse hyperfunctional goiter, which was recently discovered. Forty-seven of these patients came back to the one year ophthalmologic control examination. The patients classed 1 in the Nospecs at first examination rarely remained in the same class either worsening or ameliorating. The worsening or amelioration were independent from the treatment employed for hyperthyroidism and from the results of this treatment. The patients classed 0 in the Nospecs mostly remained in the same class. The patients in which first examination discovered more severe signs and especially inflammatory signs (eyelid oedema for example) should be carefully followed up.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Fragile-X syndrome and autism: a prevalent association or a misinterpreted connection?

The present study surveys autistic behavioral characteristics of 58 mentally retarded male adults with fragile-X syndrome. Results were compared with a control group of 58 fragile-X negative mentally retarded men, matched on age, cognitive level, living conditions and length of institutionalisation. We demonstrate that this and other controlled studies have not given much evidence for a specific association between fra(X) syndrome and the global diagnosis of autism. A high proportion of fra(X) adults display a limited number of specific behavioral characteristics that belong to the spectrum of pervasive developmental disorders. Non-functional body movements, unacceptable vocal and speech habits, social avoidance reactions and eccentric peculiarities are significantly different between the two groups. We further propose that the core features of autism, namely social indifference and severely disturbed social relations, are in general not found in the fra(X) group. On the contrary, they had a more positive general mood, were more sensitive to social contact and attention from others and approached not only new physical environments but also other people with great openness and interest. Moreover, we found that fra(X) adults had average interpersonal and communicative skills. This peculiar combination of "autistic-like" behavior and social sensitivity or openness could probably be accounted for by feelings of social anxiety. Finally implications of this "social anxiety" hypothesis for research and treatment are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

[Prevalence of eye diseases in Basedow disease. Apropos of a prospective study with 85 cases].

The authors report the results of a prospective study, conducted between March 1990 and March 1991, on 85 patients suffering from Graves' disease, who were systematically examined to evaluate the prevalence of ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease. They were graded according to the Nospecs classification: 32 patients had no ophthalmopathy; 21 had only eyelid retraction (grade I in the Nospecs); 32 had a real ophthalmopathy (Grade II) or more in the Nospecs: 27 patients had signs of inflammation (grade II), that were often minor, 14 patients a moderate or intermediate exophtalmos (grade III), 4 patients had corneal injuries (grade V). The authors discuss the problems caused by this classification.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms associated with celiac axis stenosis: report of two cases and review of the literature.

We have endeavored to define the incidence of pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm associated with stenosis of the celiac axis and to address modalities in this setting. This association was found in 23 of 34 cases. Aneurysmal dilation of the pancreatic arteries associated with celiac axis stenosis is not accidental and seems to be due to increased flow through the peripancreatic arteries. Hemorrhagic complications, i.e., peripancreatic hematoma, hemoperitoneum, ductal hemorrhage, were the initial manifestation in 16 of 34 cases. Isolated aneurysms were treated by resection, exclusion or embolization without any complications. For associated aneurysms, resection and exclusion were employed. Pancreatoduodenectomy was required in three cases in which bleeding was uncontrollable. In six cases, the celiac axis was restored either by arterial reconstruction, aortohepatic bypass, or division of the arcuate ligament. Four patients died. All had been operated on for ruptured aneurysm. None of the deaths was directly due to ischemic compromise of the celiac artery bed. Because of the risk of rupture, all pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms should be treated surgically after appropriate investigation to detect associated celiac axis stenosis. Revascularization of the celiac axis is indicated whenever blood flow is reduced or, routinely, to reduce high peripancreatic collateral flow, particularly when collaterality is due to arcuate ligament-related stenosis.

Adult↗