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Biomedical subjects

C Roux

Publications and source records attributed to C Roux.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Randomized, double-masked, 2-year comparison of tibolone with 17beta-estradiol and norethindrone acetate in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.

In this 2-year, randomized study, we compared the efficacy and tolerability of tibolone 2.5 mg (n = 75), tibolone 1.25 mg (n = 76) and estradiol 2 mg plus norethindrone acetate 1 mg (E2/NETA: n = 74) for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD), measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and bone remodeling markers were assessed every 6 months. Side-effects were assessed quarterly. After 24 months, the mean increase (+/- SD) in lumbar spine BMD from baseline was 3.6% +/- 2.9%, 1.9% +/- 3.5% and 6.8% +/- 4.5% in the tibolone 2.5 mg, tibolone 1.25 mg and E2/NETA groups, respectively. All pairwise differences were significant. The proportion of responders (women with a change from baseline in lumbar spine BMD of > or = -2% after 2 years) was 95.7%, 89.0% and 98.5% with tibolone 2.5 mg, tibolone 1.25 mg and E2/NETA, respectively. Similar results were obtained for femoral BMD, although the difference between tibolone 2.5 mg and E2/NETA was not significant at 24 months. Decreases in bone remodeling markers were similar in the three groups. Vaginal bleeding was more common in the E2/ NETA group (33.8%) than with tibolone 2.5 mg (12.0%) or tibolone 1.25 mg (9.2%), as was breast pain (23.0%, 2.7% and 2.6%, respectively). Each treatment effectively prevented bone loss. Overall, tolerability of tibolone was better than with E2/NETA, because of less frequent vaginal bleeding and breast pain. This may promote long-term adherence.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2002

Prevention of early postmenopausal bone loss by strontium ranelate: the randomized, two-year, double-masked, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled PREVOS trial.

Early postmenopausal women ( n = 160) were randomised to receive placebo or strontium ranelate (SR) 125 mg/day, 500 mg/day or 1 g/day for 2 years (40 participants per group). All participants received calcium 500 mg/day. The primary efficacy parameter was the percent variation in lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Secondary efficacy criteria included hip BMD and biochemical markers of bone turnover. At month 24, SR 1 g/day significantly increased lumbar BMD compared with placebo [mean (SD) +5.53% (5.12); p<0.001] for measured values and [mean (SD) +1.41% (5.33%); p<0.05] for values adjusted for bone strontium content. The annual increase for adjusted values was +0.66% compared with -0.5% with placebo, with an overall beneficial effect after 2 years of about 2.4% with SR 1 g/day relative to placebo. There were no other significant between-group differences in adjusted lumbar BMD. Femoral neck and total hip BMD were also significantly increased at month 24 with SR 1 g/day compared with placebo [mean (SD): +2.46% (4.78) and +3.21% (4.68), respectively; both p<0.001)]. SR 1 g/day significantly increased bone alkaline phosphatase at all time points ( p<0.05) compared with baseline and between-group analysis showed a significant increase, compared with placebo, at month 18 ( p = 0.048). No effect on markers of bone resorption was observed. SR was as well tolerated as placebo. The minimum does at which SR is effective in preventing bone loss in early postmenopausal non-osteoporotic women is therefore 1 g/day.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

[Evaluation of practices in surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in the Franche-Comté before and after implementation of an information program].

OBJECTIVES: To assess the practices of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in the Franche-Comté region of France before and after the implementation of information program. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective multicenter transversal study type before/after. The information program included a feedback on the observed results during the period before and a meeting with opinion leaders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected by 28 pairs of surgeons/anaesthetists. Prescriptions were analysed to answer five questions about antibiotic prophylaxis practices in surgery: did the surgical procedure require antibiotic prophylaxis and was this carried out? Was the appropriate antibiotic used? Was the timing of the first injection optimal? Was the total duration of the treatment correct? Was the dose correct? Our data were compared to national recommendations (updated in 1999). RESULTS: The overall frequency of conformity was about 40% both before and after the implementation of an information/awareness campaign. Only the conformity of the total duration of the prophylaxis was significantly higher after the action, but only for interventions that lasted less than two hours. [RR = 2.09 (1.32-3.31), p = 0.001]. This improvement in the total duration of regulation seemed to be related to the more frequent use of written protocols in the surgical units. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that information campaign have little effect within the framework of the good use of antibiotics. We agree with the experts who claim that only an overall strategy including organization, education and restriction will really improve the frequency of conformity of the practices of surgical prophylaxis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

Osteoporosis in inflammatory bowel disease: effect of calcium and vitamin D with or without fluoride.

BACKGROUND: Previous data have indicated low bone formation as a mechanism of osteoporosis in inflammatory bowel disease. Fluoride can stimulate bone formation. AIM: To assess the effect of fluoride supplementation on lumbar spine bone mineral density in osteoporotic patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated in parallel with calcium and vitamin D. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel and placebo-controlled study, 94 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (lumbar spine T score below - 2 standard deviations, normal serum 25OH vitamin D), with a median age of 35 years, were included. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Patients were randomized to receive daily either sodium monofluorophosphate (150 mg, n=45) or placebo (n=49) for 1 year, and all received calcium (1 g) and vitamin D (800 IU). The relative change in bone mineral density from 0 to 12 months was tested in each group (fluoride or placebo) and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Lumbar spine bone mineral density increased significantly in both groups after 1 year: 4.8 +/- 5.6% (n=29) and 3.2 +/- 3.8% (n=31) in the calcium-vitamin D-fluoride and calcium-vitamin D-placebo groups, respectively (P < 0.001 for each group). There was no difference between the groups (P=0.403). Similar results were observed according to corticosteroid intake or disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium and vitamin D seem to increase lumbar spine density in osteoporotic patients with inflammatory bowel disease; fluoride does not provide further benefit.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2002

Absence of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and M2A immunoreactivities in Sertoli cell-only syndrome and maturation arrest with and without AZF microdeletions.

BACKGROUND: Some genes identified in the AZF locus are expressed only in germinal cells; others are ubiquitous. AZF microdeletions seem to occur at the earliest stages of ontogenetic development, and one might therefore assume that Sertoli cells preserve some immature characteristics and that their immunophenotype may be modified by the existence of a molecular defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two immunohistological markers of Sertoli cell immaturity [anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and M2A] were tested in two histopathological groups (maturation arrest at spermatocyte I stage and Sertoli cell-only syndrome). We analysed 68 testicular samples obtained from 39 patients with non-obstructive azoospermia associated or not with AZF microdeletions. RESULTS: The absence of M2A and AMH immunoreactivity in adult gonads was observed without any correlation to spermatogenetic impairment or molecular deficit in the AZF region. In the samples of these two series, Sertoli cells showed a mature phenotype for AMH and M2A markers. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AZF microdeletions, the genotype-phenotype correlations seem to be more complex than has been suggested previously; more detailed characterization of the immunohistochemical phenotype associated with the molecular defect may be useful in understanding the spermatogenic failure mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Two-year results of once-weekly administration of alendronate 70 mg for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The aim of this study was to provide confirmation that once-weekly dosing with 70 mg of alendronate (seven times the daily oral dose) and twice-weekly dosing with 35 mg is equivalent to the 10-mg once-daily regimen and to gain more extensive safety experience with this new dosing regimen. Twelve hundred fifty-eight postmenopausal women (aged 42-95 years) with osteoporosis (bone mineral density [BMD] of either lumbar spine or femoral neck at least 2.5 SDs below peak young adult mean or prior vertebral or hip fracture) were assigned to receive oral once-weekly alendronate, 70 mg (n = 519); twice-weekly alendronate, 35 mg (n = 369); or daily alendronate 10 mg (n = 370) for a total of 2 years of double-blind experience. Mean BMD increases from baseline (95% CI) at 24 months in the once-weekly, twice-weekly, and daily treatment groups, respectively, were 6.8% (6.4, 7.3), 7.0% (6.6,7.5), and 7.4% (6.9,7.8) at the lumbar spine and 4.1% (3.8,4.5), 4.3% (3.9,4.7), and 4.3% (3.9,4.7) at the total hip. These increases in BMD as well as the BMD increases at the femoral neck, trochanter, and total body and the reductions of biochemical markers of bone resorption (urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen [NTx]) and bone formation (serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase [BSAP]) were similar for the three dosing regimens. All treatment regimens were well tolerated with a similar incidence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) adverse experiences. The incidence rates of clinical fractures, captured as adverse experiences, were similar among the groups. The 2-year results confirm the conclusion reached after 1 year that once-weekly alendronate is therapeutically equivalent to daily dosing, providing patients with a more convenient dosing option that may potentially enhance adherence to therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Tremorgenic neuromycotoxicosis in 2 dogs ascribed to the ingestion of penitrem A and possibly roquefortine in rice contaminated with Penicillium crustosum.

Two dogs developed alarming tremorgenic nervous stimulation shortly after ingesting discarded rice that had been forgotten in a refrigerator for an undetermined period and that was covered with a grey-green mould. Both dogs exhibited vomition followed by slight salivation, tremors and ataxia and 1 showed such severe agitation and seizures that it necessitated anaesthesia with thiopentone followed, on recovery, by xylazine. The other dog was only sedated with xylazine. They made an uneventful recovery. The rice vomitus yielded a pure culture of Penicillium crustosum. On chemical analysis it was negative for organochlorine, organophosphor and carbamate insecticides, as well as for strychnine, but contained 2.6 microg/g of the mycotoxins penitrem A as well as 34 microg/g of roquefortine as determined by LC-MS and confirmed by MS-MS. This is the 1st South African case of naturally occurring penitrem A toxicosis and also the 1st case where quantification of the levels of mycotoxins in dog vomitus is reported. The tremorgenicity of roquefortine and its contribution towards this syndrome, is questioned.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A protocol for the forensic analysis of condom and personal lubricants found in sexual assault cases.

In sexual assault cases, lubricant trace evidence may supplement biological evidence, or may be the primary physical evidence where biological evidence is unavailable. This study considered a total of 50 lubricants from condoms and personal lubricant products available in Australia. Differentiation of the samples was attempted using fluorescence examination, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eleven of the samples were uniquely identified by the analysis scheme, while the remainder of the samples were separated into nine groups. As a result of this study, a recommended protocol for the detection and analysis of an "unknown" biological swab was produced.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

The influence of polymer type, print donor and age on the quality of fingerprints developed on plastic substrates using vacuum metal deposition.

This study investigated fingerprint development on five different polymer substrates using vacuum metal deposition (VMD). The conditions required for optimum development are shown to depend on a number of factors. No one set of conditions will result in good development in all situations. Polymer type has been confirmed as a major factor in determining the types of development that will occur and the optimum VMD conditions required. For more consistently successful VMD development, polymer type should be determined before selecting conditions. While polymer type is a key factor in determining optimum development conditions, there may be variation of the optimum conditions within a polymer type, most likely due to the presence of additives in the plastic. The heaviness of a latent print, i.e. amount of residue that constitutes the print, also affects the VMD conditions required. The donor, manner of deposition, and age of a print affect the heaviness of the deposit. The heavier the print, the higher the gold count necessary for successful VMD development. The occurrence of 'empty prints' (i.e. zinc deposition on the general background but not on or between the print ridges) was found to be related to polymer type and print heaviness. Heavy prints on PVC and PET are the most likely to be 'empty' after VMD treatment. The development of empty prints may be due to the diffusion of print residue into the print valleys. Pre-treatment with cyanoacrylate fuming was also found to affect VMD development. In particular, it was shown that cyanoacrylate pre-treatment was beneficial for print development on PET and PVC. The results of this study were used to formulate guidelines for use as an aid by laboratories using VMD in casework.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed2001

Vacuum metal deposition: developing latent fingerprints on polyethylene substrates after the deposition of excess gold.

A previously identified difficulty with the development of latent fingerprints on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by vacuum metal deposition (VMD) is that excess gold deposition prevents effective zinc deposition and so inhibits latent print development [1]. The investigation of a means to correct for excess gold deposition was the basis for this study. Exposure to zinc and the readmission of air into the vacuum chamber followed by VMD development results in the deactivation of the initial gold clusters due to the formation of zinc oxide and the adsorption of air and water molecules. As a result, the majority of the gold deposited during the second treatment creates new gold clusters rather than adding to the gold clusters previously formed. After excess gold deposition on LDPE, the deposition of 1.5 times the optimum gold amount will result in good-quality normal development. The results also indicate that, on all surfaces, at least twice the initial gold count should be used for re-treatment when further development is required after air has been readmitted to the chamber.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed2001

A textile fibre survey as an aid to the interpretation of fibre evidence in the Sydney region.

Frequency figures of the fibre population on textile cinema seats were measured in Sydney, Australia, in winter. Sixteen seats were analysed from a very popular cinema complex, with 3025 fibres classified according to colour, generic class and fluorescence properties (100 grey-black cotton fibres only). The recovered fibres were mostly natural fibres (84%) with cotton the most common generic type (70%). On the contrary, man made fibres were relatively rare (15%) with rayon constituting the majority of these (51%). The most common colour/generic class combinations were grey-black cotton (33%) and blue cotton (30%) accounting for 63% of the total population. All other frequencies were below 5%, most below 1% using only the two properties of colour and generic class. Fluorescence properties were found to be very discriminating as far as grey-black cotton fibres were concerned. These features are considered and discussed and in particular, to emphasise the significance of fibres as evidence of contact.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

Ipriflavone in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Data on the efficacy and safety of ipriflavone for prevention of postmenopausal bone loss are conflicting. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of oral ipriflavone on prevention of postmenopausal bone loss and to assess the safety profile of long-term treatment with ipriflavone in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-year study conducted in 4 centers in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy from August 1994 to July 1998. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred seventy-four postmenopausal white women, aged 45 to 75 years, with bone mineral densities (BMDs) of less than 0.86 g/cm(2). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive ipriflavone, 200 mg 3 times per day (n = 234), or placebo (n = 240); all received 500 mg/d of calcium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Efficacy measures included spine, hip, and forearm BMD and biochemical markers of bone resorption (urinary hydroxyproline corrected for creatinine and urinary CrossLaps [Osteometer Biotech, Herlev, Denmark] corrected for creatinine), assessed every 6 months. Laboratory safety measures and adverse events were recorded every 3 months. RESULTS: Based on intent-to-treat analysis, after 36 months of treatment, the annual percentage change from baseline in BMD of the lumbar spine for ipriflavone vs placebo (0.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), -7.9% to 8.1%] vs 0.8% [95% CI, -9.1% to 10.7%]; P =.14), or in any of the other sites measured, did not differ significantly between groups. The response in biochemical markers was also similar between groups (eg, for hydroxyproline corrected for creatinine, 20.13 mg/g [95% CI, 18.85-21.41 mg/g] vs 20.67 mg/g [95% CI, 19.41-21.92 mg/g]; P =.96); urinary CrossLaps corrected for creatinine, 268 mg/mol (95% CI, 249-288 mg/mol) vs 268 mg/mol (95% CI, 254-282 mg/mol); P =.81. The number of women with new vertebral fracture was identical or nearly so in the 2 groups at all time points. Lymphocyte concentrations decreased significantly (500/microL (0.5 x 10(9)/L]) in women treated with ipriflavone. Thirty-one women (13.2%) in the ipriflavone group developed subclinical lymphocytopenia, of whom 29 developed it during ipriflavone treatment. Of these, 15 (52%) of 29 had recovered spontaneously by 1 year and 22 (81%) of 29 by 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that ipriflavone does not prevent bone loss or affect biochemical markers of bone metabolism. Additionally, ipriflavone induces lymphocytopenia in a significant number of women.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Glass particles in footwear of members of the public in south-eastern Australia--a survey.

A total of 776 pairs of shoes collected from random members of the public in south-eastern Australia were examined for the presence of glass fragments. From the samples collected a total of 110 fragments were recovered from 57 pairs of shoes (7.3% of the pairs examined). This study shows that the prevalence of glass fragments in footwear is dependent upon the area of the shoe from which the fragments were recovered. A much higher percentage of shoes were found to have fragments embedded in the sole (5.9%) than in the upper area of the shoe (1.9%). These shoes were also more likely to have multiple fragments from multiple sources of glass. Only a very small percentage of shoes contained fragments in both the upper and the sole (0.3%). These findings and their significance for the interpretation of glass evidence involving footwear are discussed in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The effect of metal salt treatment on the photoluminescence of DFO-treated fingerprints.

Ninhydrin developed fingerprints can be enhanced by treatment with a zinc or cadmium salt. The resulting fingerprint luminescence has been attributed to the induced coplanarity of the bicyclic indanedione rings of Ruhemann's purple due to complexation with the metal ions. This paper explores whether this effect also occurs in the 1,8-diaza-9-fluorenone (DFO)-amino acid adduct (1), formed from the reaction of DFO with amino acids. Molecular modeling studies of (1) indicate a relatively small out-of-plane angle of 24 degrees. 1H NMR studies indicate (1) is asymmetric about the C2 axis in contrast to what has been previously reported. Little, if any, enhancement of luminescence was observed with Zn, Cd, Ru or Eu treated DFO developed latent fingerprints. This lack of enhancement was also borne out by solution luminescence studies. Given this lack of enhancement of luminescence, solutions of (1) and the four metal ions above were analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS). This indicated the formation of predominantly 1:1 complexes of (1) with both Zn and Cd, and the 2:1 complex with ruthenium. No evidence of a Eu complex was found by ESMS.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2001

Effect of risedronate on the risk of hip fracture in elderly women. Hip Intervention Program Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Risedronate increases bone mineral density in elderly women, but whether it prevents hip fracture is not known. METHODS: We studied 5445 women 70 to 79 years old who had osteoporosis (indicated by a T score for bone mineral density at the femoral neck that was more than 4 SD below the mean peak value in young adults [-4] or lower than -3 plus a nonskeletal risk factor for hip fracture, such as poor gait or a propensity to fall) and 3886 women at least 80 years old who had at least one nonskeletal risk factor for hip fracture or low bone mineral density at the femoral neck (T score, lower than -4 or lower than -3 plus a hip-axis length of 11.1 cm or greater). The women were randomly assigned to receive treatment with oral risedronate (2.5 or 5.0 mg daily) or placebo for three years. The primary end point was the occurrence of hip fracture. RESULTS: Overall, the incidence of hip fracture among all the women assigned to risedronate was 2.8 percent, as compared with 3.9 percent among those assigned to placebo (relative risk, 0.7; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.6 to 0.9; P=0.02). In the group of women with osteoporosis (those 70 to 79 years old), the incidence of hip fracture among those assigned to risedronate was 1.9 percent, as compared with 3.2 percent among those assigned to placebo (relative risk, 0.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9; P=0.009). In the group of women selected primarily on the basis of nonskeletal risk factors (those at least 80 years of age), the incidence of hip fracture was 4.2 percent among those assigned to risedronate and 5.1 percent among those assigned to placebo (P=0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Risedronate significantly reduces the risk of hip fracture among elderly women with confirmed osteoporosis but not among elderly women selected primarily on the basis of risk factors other than low bone mineral density.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Vacuum metal deposition: factors affecting normal and reverse development of latent fingerprints on polyethylene substrates.

Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) is an established technique for the development of latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces. VMD has advantages over cyanoacrylate fuming, especially in circumstances where prints are old, have been exposed to adverse environmental conditions, or are present on semi-porous surfaces. Under normal circumstances, VMD produces 'negative' prints as zinc deposits onto the background substrate and not the print ridges themselves. A phenomenon of 'reverse' development, when zinc deposits onto the print ridges and not the background, has been reported by many authors but its causes have not been conclusively identified. Four plastic substrates were used in this study and these could be easily divided into two groups based on the types of development observed as the amount of deposited gold was increased. On group I plastics, identified as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), normal development then reverse development and finally no development resulted with increasing gold. On group II plastics, identified as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), normal development then over-development and finally poor-quality normal development resulted with increasing gold. Our results suggest that the difference between these plastic types causes variations in the gold film structure which in turn dictates the nature of the zinc deposition. On group I plastics, the structure and thickness of the gold film has been identified as the critical factor in the occurrence of normal or reverse development. Thin gold films on plastic substrates form small 'clusters' (or agglomerates) rather than the atoms being uniformly spread over the surface. The size and shape of these clusters is critical. Once the clusters reach a certain morphology, they no longer act as nucleation sites for zinc, and hence, zinc will not deposit onto the substrate. On group II plastics, results suggest that the gold clusters are smaller and more densely packed. Hence, even though the same amount of gold has been deposited, the gold clusters in this case do not reach the critical morphology and so continue to act as nucleation sites for zinc.Typically, zinc will not deposit onto the fingerprint ridges as the gold nucleation sites are buried within the print residue. However, when more gold is deposited, gold emerges at the surface of the latent print allowing zinc deposition onto the ridges. The rate of gold evaporation was found not to affect the structure of the gold film, although a slower rate of evaporation resulted in more effective deposition.

Dermatoglyphics↗
PubMed2001

Expression of Sonic Hedgehog downstream genes is modified in rat embryos exposed in utero to a distal inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis.

Holoprosencephaly is a common developmental anomaly of the forebrain and midface, that has been associated with mutations in the Sonic Hedgehog gene, and with perturbations of cholesterol synthesis and metabolism in mammalian embryos. The study presented here was aimed to evaluate the functional relationship between these two causal agents in the genesis of the phenotype. Therefore, we used rat embryos exposed in utero to a distal inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis (AY9944) in which we analyzed different Shh-dependent processes, as evaluated by the expression of eight target genes. In addition, to delineate between the impact of cholesterol shortage and/or sterol precursors accumulation on the Shh signaling cascade we exposed rat embryos to AY9944 and we provided complementary diets rich in cholesterol and 7-DHC. At the early-somite stage we observed a reduction of Shh signaling in AY9944 treated embryos, resulting in the definition of a narrower ventral domain. Later in development this reduction of Shh signaling led to a complete interruption of the pathway in the rostral hindbrain and caudal midbrain. Other regions such as the forebrain and the spinal cord appeared less sensitive to the reduction of Shh signaling and interruption of the pathway was only observed in a subset of embryos. Finally, we did provide evidence that 7-DHC accumulation is compatible with normal activity of Shh, as long as cholesterol levels in embryonic tissue is sufficient.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗