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C Paradis

Publications and source records attributed to C Paradis.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Stability of sufentanil in human plasma samples.

The stability of sufentanil in human plasma kept under various storage conditions was investigated. Extraction was performed using solid phase extraction with new mixed-mode cation exchange Oasis MCX columns; quantification was carried out using gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry detector. When plasma was left at 4 degrees C in nonsilanized tubes, concentrations of sufentanil decreased significantly during the first hour. In plasma samples kept at -25 degrees C for 8 hours in nonsilanized glass tubes, a significant decrease of sufentanil concentrations was found, with an average loss of 10.1% of the initial concentration. A significant decrease occurred when plasma was kept in silanized glass tubes for 12 hours at -25 degrees C. The current study emphasizes the importance of sampling and storage conditions for an accurate determination of sufentanil concentration in plasma.

Alfentanil↗
PubMed1998

Cleavage of atrial natriuretic peptide by a kidney membrane-bound carboxypeptidase A.

An enzymatic activity that cleaved the C-terminal Tyr of ANP (1-28) was characterized in human kidney microvillar membranes by using 125I-labeled rat ANP as substrate. This activity was inhibited by potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI) and 1.10 phenanthroline, suggesting that it corresponded to a metallo-carboxypeptidase. Solubilization experiments indicated that the carboxypeptidase activity could be recovered in the supernatant after 1% Triton X-100 extraction. As separation by ion exchange chromatography revealed several peaks of enzyme activity, PCI coupled to Sepharose was used for purification. This step resulted in a single protein band at 30 kDa, as analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
PubMed1996

Changes in perceived health status of depressed elderly patients treated until remission.

OBJECTIVE: The authors predicted that depressed elderly patients who responded to treatment would rate their baseline health more positively than nonresponders, that responders would again rate their health more positively once they were in remission, and that lower baseline self-ratings of health would predict lack of response to protocol treatment. METHOD: The Perception of Illness Scale was administered to 61 depressed elderly patients at baseline and again upon completion of the acute phase of a depression treatment protocol. A logistic regression was performed to ascertain whether Perception of Illness Scale scores predicted response to protocol treatment. RESULTS: Baseline Perception of Illness Scale scores were poorer among the nonresponders, accurately predicted response or lack of response in 75% of the subjects, and showed before-to after-treatment improvement among the responders. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who initially rated their health as fair to poor were less likely to recover from depression in a standardized treatment protocol. Self-ratings of health improved with resolution of depression.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Trivial or terrible? The psychosocial impact of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis remains a chronic disease with lesions that are often extensive and disfiguring. While the potential for psychosocial morbidity and impairment are recognized, the literature remains equivocal with regard to the prevalence and degree of this impairment. METHODS: The present study utilized a new questionnaire designed to assess the type and degree of psychosocial impairment present among psoriasis patients. The questionnaire was designed to assess major areas of psychosocial functioning and was completed by 64 patients undergoing outpatient treatment. RESULTS: Approximately half the patients were found to have moderate to extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and anger. Patients reported experiencing these negative emotional sequelae both during their disease flares and during periods of remission. Patients were also found to have moderate to extreme levels of pruritus associated with their flares. Psychologic morbidity was positively associated with length of disease flare. Significant levels of social embarrassment, life disruption, and social withdrawal were found as well. CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis does appear to cause significant psychosocial morbidity. Greater awareness by physicians and more comprehensive treatment addressing these psychosocial components may avert, or at least minimize, some of these negative sequelae.

Anger↗
PubMed1994

[The use of diagnostic and surgical procedures in elderly persons in Quebec].

The rapid aging of the population constitutes a new challenge for the health care delivery system. This paper presents the progression of use of several diagnostic and surgical procedures in the elderly in Quebec from 1981 to 1989. Data were obtained from claims to the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec for the years 1981, 1985 and 1989. The rate of coronary artery bypass surgery increased by more than 700% in people 65 years and over between 1981 and 1989. This increase was especially high in the oldest age group (q 75 years). There was also a significant increase in surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm, while the rate of carotid endarterectomy remained stable for people 65 years and over during this period. The rates of all abdominal surgical procedures examined (appendicectomy, repair of hiatal and inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy and colectomy) were relatively stable in elderly during the study period. Total hip replacement more than doubled in people 65 years and over, while other types of hip arthroplasty significantly decreased over this period. All types of diagnostic procedures examined (coronary angiography, bronchoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy and retrograd cholangio-pancreatography) increased significantly, especially in very old people. This study suggests that surgical care is increasing in the elderly in Quebec. This progression is expected to continue in the coming years so that surgical care of the elderly will become a significant part of our health care delivery system.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Pretreatment systolic orthostatic blood pressure and treatment response in geriatric depression: a revisit.

Three previous studies have found significant positive correlations between pretreatment systolic orthostatic blood pressure (PSOP) and tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) response in geriatric depression (i.e., the greater the pretreatment orthostatic drop, the greater the treatment response). The purposes of this study were to revisit the question of whether PSOP predicts TCA response and also to examine whether large systolic orthostatic pressure (SOP) is a state or trait variable in late-life depression. We retrospectively examined PSOP data collected from 48 elderly patients with recurrent unipolar depression treated with nortriptyline (mean level in plasma, 85.3) in the open, acute-treatment phase of an ongoing double-blind, placebo-controlled study of maintenance therapies in late-life depression. PSOP was not significantly correlated with treatment response as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression at weeks 7 to 9 (r = -0.12, not significant). Likewise, a 10-mm PSOP cutoff did not significantly differentiate patients by responder status. We did find that all five of our placebo-randomized, maintenance therapy patients with PSOPs greater than 10 mm had marked decreases in their SOPs in the nortriptyline-free, well state. Thus, our findings fail to replicate earlier reports of PSOP predicting TCA response in geriatric depression. However, our results do preliminary suggest that large SOP may be state dependent. We discuss plans to study prospectively whether large SOP is state dependent and whether SOP is a clinically useful predictor of recurrence in late-life depression.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with chronic pruritic conditions: case studies and discussion.

BACKGROUND: Relatively few persons with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) come to psychiatric clinics for treatment. Our hypothesis was that patients with a form of OCD that involves compulsive hand and body washing might initially seek treatment from a dermatologist. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to screen patients attending a dermatology clinic to determine the frequency of OCD cases and to help dermatologists recognize this disorder. METHODS: Randomly selected patients who presented with one of several chronic pruritic conditions were interviewed to determine the presence of anxiety disorders. RESULTS: A significantly high percentage of the patients (14%) were found to have previously undiagnosed OCD. Case studies of five of these patients are presented. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients with undiagnosed OCD appear to present to dermatology clinics. Identification and referral for psychiatric consultation may aid in the treatment of both OCD and concomitant dermatologic conditions.

Adult↗