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Biomedical subjects

C F Roques

Publications and source records attributed to C F Roques.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Modulation of the transmission in group II heteronymous pathways by tizanidine in spastic hemiplegic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of tizanidine (an alpha(2) noradrenergic agonist) on transmission in the interneuronal pathway coactivated by group I and group II afferents in post-stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia. METHODS: Early and late facilitation of the quadriceps H reflex elicited in the common peroneal nerve--attributed to non-monosynaptic group I and group II excitation, respectively--was investigated in 14 spastic hemiplegic patients. All received a single dose of tizanidine (150 microg/kg) or placebo in randomised order at 10 day intervals. Repeated measurements were made at baseline (T0), 45-90 min, and 120 min after drug intake. Spasticity was assessed by modified Ashworth score in the quadriceps muscle and by a leg tone score calculated by the sum of the modified Ashworth score in five muscle groups. RESULTS: On the spastic side a decrease in late group II and, to a lesser extent, early group I common peroneal nerve induced quadriceps H reflex facilitation occurred with tizanidine (group II, mean (SEM) difference T0-T90: 34.3 (10.2)%, p<0.001; group I, T0-T120: 19.8 (9)%, p<0.05), but not with placebo (group II, difference T0-T90: 12.5 (8)%, NS; group I, T0-T120: 3.2 (7)%, NS). Tizanidine but not placebo decreased the quadriceps muscle and global lower limb Ashworth scores (2.9 (0.2) to 1.9 (0.3), p<0.001; and 12 (0.7) to 9.5 (0.8), p<0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Enhancement of group II-group I facilitation of the quadriceps motor neurones on the spastic side of hemiplegic patients is modulated by alpha(2) noradrenergic agonists. This strengthens the view that late facilitation of quadriceps motor neurones is mediated by group II afferents and suggests that group II pathways may be involved in lower limb spasticity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

[Feasability of a back school assessment programme].

OBJECTIVES: Testing the feasability of a back school assessment programme in two populations of people suffering with chronic low back pain. MATERIAL: Twenty-nine patients were randomly included in a chronic low back pain assessment programme (15 patients waiting for back school and 14 patients after back school). METHODS: The programme was made of the measure of the age, the sex, the body mass index, the pain (VAS, St Antoine Hospitals Pain Questionnaire - SAPQ), the anxiety, the depression, the RIII nociceptive reflex, the fingertip-floor distance, the strength of the flexors and of the extensors of the lumbar spine (CybexR 6000 isocinetic dynamometer), the lumbar function (EIFEL, Dougados), the Dallas self-questionnaire. The Back School Education programme was made of five sessions (information, ergonomics, extension exercises). RESULTS: Comparing the two populations we did not observe significant differences concerning the age, the body mass index, the anxiety and depression levels, the pain (VAS, SAPA, RIII nociceptive reflex), the lumbar stiffness, the lumbar disability, the quality of life; the patients who had achieved back school had a peak torque of the flexors and a ratio flexors/extensors significantly lower. Comparing men and women we observed significant differences in the SAPQ and the muscles strength. The SAPQ was correlated with the depression and anxiety levels, the lumbar disability, the peak torque of the flexors. The VAS was correlated with the age, the lumbar stiffness, the depression level, the peak torque of the flexors. The RIII nociceptive reflex was correlated with the ratio flexors/extensors. CONCLUSION: This study present some biases but this objective assessment of chronic low back pain appeared as feasible. The pain must be investigated in term of intensity, expression, alleviation. The impairment of the flexors muscles in women and after back school has to be confirmed. The different tests are relevant to determinate the efficiency of the back school programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Facilitation of transmission in heteronymous group II pathways in spastic hemiplegic patients.

OBJECTIVE: A potent heteronymous group II excitation of quadriceps motor neurons has been recently demonstrated in normal subjects. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether this heteronymous group II excitation also contributes to spasticity in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: The early and late facilitations of the quadriceps H reflex elicited by a conditioning volley to the common peroneal nerve at three times motor threshold, attributed to non-monosynaptic group I and group II excitations respectively, were investigated. The comparison was drawn between results obtained in 20 patients after stroke, with hemiplegia due to a vascular lesion in the territory of the middle cerebral artery, and 20 age and sex matched normal subjects. RESULTS: A significant increase in the group I as well as in the group II common peroneal nerve induced facilitation of the quadriceps H reflex was seen on the spastic side of the patients (group I: 159 (SEM 10)% of control H reflex; group II: 165 (SEM 8)%) compared with their unaffected side (group I: 126 (SEM 4)%; group II: 128 (SEM 5)%) (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p<0. 01), or to the right (group I: 132 (SEM 4)%; group II: 131 (SEM 5)%) or left (group I: 130 (SEM 3)%; group II: 135 (SEM 6)%) side of controls (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.01). No significant correlation (Spearman rank test) was found between the degree of group I and group II induced facilitations on the spastic side of the patients and the degree of clinically assessed spasticity (Ashworth scale). CONCLUSION: These results reflect a facilitation of the transmission in the interneuronal pathway coactivated by group I and group II afferents, probably resulting from a change in their descending control in spastic hemiplegic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Impairment and recovery of left motor function in patients with right hemiplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the motor function of the left, supposedly unaffected, limbs of patients with an acute right vascular hemiplegia. METHODS: Fifteen patients with an acute vascular right hemiplegia and 16 matched healthy controls were studied. Motor function of the left limbs of each patient was evaluated on days 20 and 90 after their stroke using four validated tools (hand dynamometer, isokinetic dynamometer, finger tapping, and nine hole peg test). RESULTS: There was a significant impairment of motor function of the left limbs of patients at day 20 compared with controls. The impairment had recovered almost completely at day 90 after the stroke. CONCLUSION: These results show the bilateral cerebral representation of the human motor system and suggest the participation of ipsilateral motor pathways in recovery after a stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Isokinetic strength testing for evaluating the efficacy of intravenous immune globulin therapy for inclusion body myositis.

Inclusion body myositis is a disease of striated skeletal muscle of unclear etiopathogenesis. Its diagnosis is difficult. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are of limited efficacy. Positive responses to intravenous immune globulins have recently been reported in a few patients. We used a CYBEX 6000 isokinetic dynamometer to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immune globulin therapy in a patient with inclusion body myositis. Measurements were done at the flexors and extensors of the knee, at baseline and four and eight months after treatment initiation. A course of intravenous immune globulins (2 g per course) was given every month for five months then every two months. Isokinetic muscle strength measured at an angular speed of 180 degrees/second increased by more than 41% at both knees. As compared with muscle imaging studies (computed tomography, X-ray absorptiometry, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging), isokinetic strength testing has the advantage of providing data on functional improvements under treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed1986

Utility of caudal view in pelvic bone imaging.

Bone imaging of the lower pelvis often is impaired by the radioactivity of the bladder. The caudal view produces an image that clearly distinguishes the bladder from the bones. Thus, it is helpful in patients with bony lesions of the lower and anterior pelvis. The caudal view examination is completed by a backward tilting of the camera head that clarifies this distinction.

False Negative Reactions↗
PubMed1978

[Critical study of techniques for the detection of "light" rheumatoid factors (author's transl)].

In a number of cases of true rheumatoid arthritis, it is not possible to demonstrate the presence of 19 S "heavy" rheumatoid factors by the Waaler-Rose and globulin latex techniques. However, in some of them, 7 S rheumatoid factors are suspected. Three techniques for the detection of these "light" rheumatoid factors are described and critically evaluated. The authors report their own experience of the immuno-absorption and indirect immunofluorescence technique performed on 156 sera from RA patients. Immuno-absorption is not felt to be a reliable technique on several grounds. Indirect immunofluorescence is of value only in the diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis where it provides information in addition to that offered by classical techniques. It is positive in 53.3% of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis sera.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1978

[Biorheologic study of pathological synovial fluids].

Rheometric studies of 34 synovial fluids done using a rheometer with a cone and stage (Shirley-Ferranti type) showed that arthrotic synovial fluids had pseudoplastic characteristics (non-Newtonian) but in inflammatory rheumatisms, the characteristics index rises, the consistency decreases and the fluid tends to loose its pseudoplastic properties and to become Newtonian. Radioisotope synoviorthosis seems capable of restoring to a certain extent and in certain cases the rheometric characteristics of the pseudoplastic properties.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[Demonstration of Australia antigen in a rheumatologic population].

The authors looked for Australia antigen in a population of 578 rheumatic patients, 300 of whom were polyarthritic, by electrosyneresis and complement fixation methods. Australia antigen was found in 26 patients, and anti-Australia antibodies in 33 patients. Most of these patients were suffering from rheumatoid polyarthritis--22 presented hepatic disturbance, and 28 had undergone surgical operations, blood transfusions, and repeated hospitalization. The presence of Australia antigen did not in any case appear to play a role in the development of the lesions, apart from the occurrence of signs of hepatic lesions, but appeared to be an indicator of a form of hospitalization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[Chromatographic analysis of urinary amino acids in Paget's disease. II : clinical study].

The authors demonstrated in the urine of certain patients a peptide form of hydroxyproline and of glutamic acid. This peptide was found in patients with Paget's disease who presented clinical and laboratory signs of an evolutive episode and in other patients who presented restructuration of bone of a radiologicaly type. This peptide was one of the factors determining the increase in the total hydroxyprolinuria. The demonstration of the peptide provokes discussion as to its origin, and also of the possibility of using it as a biochemical parameter.

Adolescent↗