Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Barres.
Fatal nitrous oxide poisoning usually occurs accidentally during the administration of general anesthesia. It seldom occurs during autoerotic behavior or in acute drug abuse. We report an unusual case of a health professional who committed suicide by inhaling nitrous oxide.
A light microscopic study performed on 760 human fetuses allows us to define several stages in their visceral development and to relate these to gestational age. The histological examination of most viscera, such as the central nervous system, is useless when the tissue preservation is poor. Nevertheless, three organs may still be studied in macerated fetuses: the lungs (where different glandular, canalar, and alveolar stages of development are evident), the kidneys (where the respective numbers of rows of primitive glomeruli and of generations of mature glomeruli vary after week 22), and the adrenal glands (where neuroblastic nests are normally found between weeks 7 and 26 of gestation). It is important to compare the degree of histological maturation with the clinical, macroscopic, and radiologic data in order to define the profile of maturation proper to each human fetus.
An artificial erection was induced in nine patients consulting for erectile dysfunction. Changes in the intracavernous pressure (ICP) and in the integrated EMG of the ischiocavernosus muscle were recorded during voluntary muscular contractions. During such contractions elevations in ICP, varying between 100 and 525 mm. Hg, were recorded. Changes in ICP were always in phase with changes in the integrated electromyogram (EMG) of the ischiocavernosus muscle, and correlations between the duration of changes showed an almost perfect linear relationship between both physiological events. Correlations between maximum changes in ICP and integrated EMG generally showed a positive relationship between both measures. Results are interpreted to suggest involvement of the ischiocavernosus muscle in the process of penile rigidity.
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A new image analyser, the NS 2000, explores the image using 256 photodiodes and, according to an adjustable threshold, converts it into a set of digital points of logical level 0 or 1. The method of fitting squares of increasing size consists of checking the presence of a square of a given size and of a given logical value throughout the image studied and gives the areas of successive erosions of the image. Using the parameters provided by the device one can obtain the total boundary BA per unit area for the phase studied, which is proportional to the number of squares having points of the two logical levels. Errors in length measurement as a function of orientation and for isotropic structures are compared to other automatic perimeter algorithms and to manual square grid measurement. Using the parameters provided by the device for the quantitative evaluation of lesions of elastase induced emphysema in hamster lungs, the values obtained for internal surface area (ISA) of alveoli, are lower by about 40% in elastase treated hamsters when compared to normal controls. This difference is highly significant (P less than 0.001) and the results obtained by the described method are in good agreement with those obtained by the classical manual procedure. Efficiency, defined as the precision of the estimate per unit measurement time on a given set of sample units (pictures in this paper), is given for both NS 2000 and manual procedures. The results obtained show comparable values but the automatic procedure includes a statistical treatment and it is significantly faster on histological sections than on micrographs, which was not the case with the manual method.
Trichomonas vaginalis has been recognized by cytologists in Papanicolaou-stained smears of cervical and vaginal secretions for some years. The highest percentage of positive Trichomonas vaginalis detection was obtained with this technique. Classical cytologic aspects of Trichomonas vaginalis infection on Papanicolaou-stained smears have been commonly reported: cytoplasmic alterations with amphophilia, eosinophilia, perinuclear halo, vacuolisation; nuclear abnormalities with pycnosis, dysplasia-like atypia. These cytologic changes represented the indirect cytologic signs of Trichomonas vaginalis infection. But for some authors, they might constitute a possible relationship between the incidence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and epithelial cell atypia or carcinoma.
The authors report the case of a 20 year old man with a primary cardiac tumour. The relative usefulness of invasive (catheterisation and angiography), and non-invasive investigations (echocardiography, computerised axial tomography, myocardial scintigraphy and digitalised angiography) in determining operability and the benign or malignant nature of the tumour was evaluated. The patient was admitted to hospital for severe incapacitating effort dyspnoea. Cardiac auscultation was suggestive of pulmonary stenosis associated with tricuspid regurgitation. M mode and 2D echocardiography demonstrated a large mass within the right ventricular cavity and also its size shape, mobility and its relationship to the interventricular septum, tricuspid valve and the main pulmonary artery. Echo contrast studies confirmed tricuspid regurgitation and also demonstrated a patent foramen ovale. The cardiac CAT scan confirmed the preceding data. Myocardial scintigraphy demonstrated the vascular character of the tumour. Digitalised angiography showed the presence of a tumour in the right ventricle and the rest of the morphological information was identical to that obtained by conventional angiography. Cardiac catheterisation demonstrated an obstruction to right ventricular ejection and abnormal filling of both ventricles. It was the association of 2D echocardiography and Technetium 99 myocardial scintigraphy which provided the most information. The results of the other investigations were not essential in deciding the operative indications. A 230 g tumour was excised at surgery and the tricuspid valve replaced by a Hancock n 33 bioprosthesis. Anatomopathological examination showed the tumour to be a fibroma. The finding of a tricuspid diastolic rumble led to control catheter and angiographic studies 13 days after surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
In pseudo-polyarthritis of the extremities as well as in temporal arteritis we have noted a very marked correlation between sedimentation rate (ESR) and inflammatory proteins at the beginning of the disease. By contrast there is a dissociation during the course of the illness and sometimes at the time of onset in those rare forms with a normal ESR. It was therefore concluded that the ESR was not sufficiently accurate as an index of surveillance in such diseases. Study of inflammation proteins is in rare circumstances of diagnostic value at the time of onset of the disorder, in forms with a normal ESR. Comparative study of their variations with that in ESR would appear to provide an accurate factor in surveillance during the course for peripheral pseudo-polyarthritis and temporal arteritis. At that time, even though a return to a satisfactory clinical state and a normal ESR may be accompanied by a persistent increase in such proteins, it is not felt to be desirable to attempt to obtain their normalization. Finally, it would appear that their return to normal at the end of the course of the disease provides a reliable test of cure.
The relationship between functional capillary perfusion patterns and sarcolemmal membrane permeability in localized acute myocardial ischemia was investigated in the rat model. The macromolecule dextran (MW 150,000) labeled with fluorescein (FITC) was intravenously injected. In histological sections, the label fluorescence showed those capillaries which had been perfused by the stained plasma; the blood-tissue barrier could be explored by detection of fluorescein in interstitial spaces and/or within the myocardial cells. Morphological parameters were calculated by semiautomatic image analysis. The data obtained indicate that (1) there is a great heterogeneity in the pattern of capillary perfusion within the reperfused ischemic myocardium; (2) as early as 20 min after coronary artery clamping followed by short reperfusion, the macromolecular tracer can be seen in the cytoplasm of muscle cells randomly distributed in subendocardial areas; (3) only the underperfused areas display permeated myocardial cells. It is suggested that capillary perfusion varies from site to site depending on the difference in cellular membrane permeability changes. The ischemia-induced cell changes can lead to capillary filling defects and an increase in coronary flow resistance. Whether the inadequate blood flow upon reperfusion contributes to further myocyte damage remains a matter of debate.
The distribution of renin was investigated by immunofluorescence in human kidney biopsy specimens (27 patients with lipoid nephrosis, 39 with Berger disease, 17 with membranous glomerulonephritis, 5 with thrombotic microangiopathy, and 7 with malignant nephroangiosclerosis). A semiquantitative assessment was carried out. Two ratios were found significatively increased in the study groups as compared with the control group: JGA + and JGA ++ which expressed, respectively, the number of fluorescent JGA in relation to the number of glomerular sections and the number of fluorescent JGA with more than six renin-containing cells (RCC) in relation to the number of immunoreactive JGA. Highest values were observed in patients with thrombotic microangiopathy and malignant nephroangiosclerosis (P less than 0.001). The above immunomorphological parameters were correlated with clinical and laboratory data. A positive dependency was found between JGA + and JGA ++ ratios and a low sodium diet, diuretic therapy and serum creatinine. A negative dependency was seen in the albumin and hemoglobin serum levels. No correlation was found with blood pressure values. These observations suggested that decreased plasma volume and impaired renal function could be factors leading to an increased renin production in the kidney.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Histological morphometric methods can be divided into three groups depending on their automation degree: manual methods, semi-automatic methods, fully automatic methods. Among fully automated image analysers, one can separate devices into three main subgroups: 1 - general purpose systems controlled by software can be programmed to undertake an infinite variety of tasks. 2 - general purpose systems with limited repertoire of analysis, controlled by hardware programs. 3 - simple task instruments controlled by hardware programs (e.g. Hematrak, Leitz). Whichever instrument is used, three steps take place in an automated image analysis procedure: 1 - image numeration. 2 - parameters extraction. 3 - parameters interpretation. The NS 2000 image analyser belonged to the 2nd subgroup of the above mentioned systems. Its built-in hardware algorithm works just like successive erosions on images. An example (breast carcinoma tissue section) is given in order to illustrate performances of this peculiar image analyser.
In pseudo-polyarthritis of the extremities as well as in temporal arteritis we have noted a very marked correlation between sedimentation rate (ESR) and inflammatory proteins at the beginning of the disease. By contrast there is a dissociation during the course of the illness and sometimes at the time of onset in those rare forms with a normal ESR. It was therefore concluded that the ESR was not sufficiently accurate as an index of surveillance in such diseases. Study of inflammation proteins is in rare circumstances of diagnostic value at the time of onset of the disorder, in forms with a normal ESR. Comparative study of their variations with that in ESR would appear to provide an accurate factor in surveillance during the course of peripheral pseudo-polyarthritis and temporal arteritis. At that time, even though a return to a satisfactory clinical state and a normal ESR may be accompanied by a persistent increase in such proteins, it is not felt to be desirable to attempt to obtain their normalization. Finally, it would appear that their return to normal at the end of the course of the disease provides a reliable test of cure.
The identification of metabolic and drug interventions able to reduce myocardial injury after coronary artery occlusion requires experimental models. The rat model of ischemic injury is technically simple, unexpensive, informative and accessible to quantitative studies. In this present study, 41 rats underwent temporary myocardial ischemia of variable duration using left coronary artery ligation. They were sacrificed at 48 hours, and the heart was immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Serial 8 micrometer sections of known intervals were tested for succinodehydrogenase (NBT stain). Gross sectional areas measured planimetrically were utilized to calculate total myocardial volume (Vmyocardium) and infarcted myocardial volume (Vinfarct) with the aid of a programmable calculator. The data showed a linear regression for Vinfarct/Vmyocardium according to the time of ischemia (p 0,001). We suggest to test the efficiency of metabolic and drug interventions on the regression curve of the necrotic tissue using a multiple linear analysis. Since ischemic changes evolve more rapidly in this model, the intervention under study should be set up at the time of coronary artery occlusion.
The degree of lymphocyte infiltration in subtotal thyroidectomy specimens from patients with treated Graves' disease varies greatly from one case to another. A morphometric study, employing standard and immunofluorescent slides was conducted to evaluate possible statistical correlations between clinical and morphological findings. Quantitative lymphoplasmocytic cellularity differences appeared to be related to the course of the disease. Lymphocyte infiltration was greater in patients with long-standing disease and/or relapses.