PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Noé

Publications and source records attributed to E Noé.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Verbal fluency tasks in a Spanish sample of young adults (20-49 years of age): normative data of clustering and switching strategies].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to establish normative data on phonological and semantic verbal fluency tests, measuring total production of words, clusters and switching of words in a healthy young adult Spanish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed 53 healthy adults between 20-49 years old (32.8 +/- 9.5) with 8-18 years of formal education (9 +/- 3.3 years). The semantic fluency category included: animals, fruits, clothes and the initial letters F, A, S in 1 minute of time. Clustering and switching strategies were examined and scored according to a protocol elaborated ad hoc by the authors. Pearson correlations between number of "clusters", "switching" and total number of words was used and we evaluated the possible influence of age, years of schooling and gender in each one of the categories in 1 minute and in intervals of 15 seconds. RESULTS: The variable years of formal education was the only demographical factor that significantly influenced semantic verbal fluency (r = 0.43; p = 0.04). Switching and clustering were positively correlated with the number of words generated. Clustering was highly correlated with total number of words generated on semantic fluency (r = 0.846; p < 0.01). In contrast, switching was more highly correlated than clustering with total number of words generated on phonemic fluency (r = 0.864; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Rules for scoring switching and clustering in our population are provided. Optimal fluency performance requires some type of balance between clustering and switching strategies and should be taken into account in studies regarding verbal fluency.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Self-awareness after acquired brain injury--predictors and rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors contributing to deficit in self-awareness following acquired brain injury and to study change in self-awareness during a group support program. METHODS: Sixty-two patients (mean age: 35.4 +/- 15.3 years) attending our Service (295 +/- 525 days after injury) were included in the study (41 of them had sustained a head injury). Thirty-six patients were admitted to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program including a group support program designed to improve self-awareness deficits. All patients were assessed with the Patient Competency Rating Scale as a measure of self-awareness and with a broad range of neuropsychological tests, checklists of psychopathological symptoms, and several functional scales. RESULTS: Thirty patients showed high levels of self-awareness while 32 showed impaired self-awareness. Patients with appropriate perception of their deficits showed less psychopathological symptoms, better neuropsychological function and higher functional independence than those with impaired SA (Student's t test, p < 0.05). Both groups improved, but with different patterns, after rehabilitation (MANOVA, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that cognitive status was predictive of level of self-awareness. CONCLUSION: The level of self-awareness after acquired brain injury is a useful prognostic index of the neuropsychological, psychopathological and functional status of the patient. We recommend the evaluation of this symptom after acquired brain injury due to its clinical relevance.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1: a protective haplotype against multiple sclerosis.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its receptors are adhesion molecules that play a key role in the transmigration of inflammatory cells through the blood-brain barrier, one of the earliest events in multiple sclerosis (MS), which leads to demyelination in the central nervous system. To investigate the role of genes encoding ICAM-1 and its receptors, we used a strategy of genetic linkage and association in 439 case-parent MS families of French origin, well characterized according to HLA status and severity. We demonstrate that the genes encoding ICAM-1 receptors do not influence MS susceptibility or severity. ICAM-1 had a modest, but significant effect on MS genetic susceptibility, independent of HLA and disease severity. We observed a rare, and an as yet unreported, ICAM-1 gene haplotype defined by amino acids K469 and R241 that was never transmitted to patients suggesting a protective effect against MS in our population.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2000

Release of neuropeptide Y and hemodynamic changes during surgical removal of human pheochromocytomas.

This study investigates the release of Neuropeptide Y from eight human pheochromocytomas. Profil immunoreactive Neuropeptide Y (Ir-NPY) levels during the management of surgery were compared with these of norepinephrine (NE) while hemodynamics were monitored. Plasma IrNPY and NE levels increased during tumor manipulation and returned to near normal one hour after operation. However, Ir-NPY levels remained high just after tumor resection while NE levels were significantly decreased. At tumor manipulation and just after tumor resection, plasma Ir-NPY levels were correlated with the systemic vascular resistances (SVR) (r = 0.74; P<0.04 and r = 0.86; P<0.006 respectively). No correlation was found either between plasma Ir-NPY and NE levels or between plasma NE levels and SVR. The release of Ir-NPY from tumor tissue, studied by a superfusion method, exhibited a significant correlation with the plasma Ir-NPY concentrations at the time of corresponding tumor resection (r = 0.95; P<0.007). Chromatographic analysis showed that Ir-NPY in plasma and outflow migrate as human NPY (1-36). These results confirmed that in pheochromocytoma, plasma NPY mainly originates from the tumor and argue for an important role of NPY in pheochromocytoma hypertension as indicated by the correlation between the Ir-NPY levels and the SVR.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

[Supranuclear gaze palsy following extracorporeal surgery with induced hypothermia. Report of two cases].

Although up to 5-20% of the patients who underwent surgery with hypothermia and cardiac arrest may present neurological complications, just a few cases of ocularmotor disorders have been described. Acquired supranuclear ocular motor paresis (ASOMP) is a rare disorder characterized by impairment in volitional and reflex saccades and smooth pursuit in one or more directions of gaze with intact extraocular movements in response to vestibular estimulation. We present two cases of acquired supranuclear ocular motor paresis associated with a peculiar gait disorder. Although a partial improvement was observed, both patients continue with ocular motor paresis in vertical direction after one year of evolution. A selective vulnerability of certain brainstem neuronal groups would explain the pathophysiology of these symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Mechanisms of isoproterenol-induced atrial natriuretic peptide release from superfused rabbit atria.

The mechanisms for isoproterenol-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release were studied in superfused rabbit sliced right atria. Addition of 1 microM norepinephrine to this preparation induced a significant monophasic twofold rise in ANP release. This effect was abolished by 1 microM propranolol and mimicked by 1 microM isoproterenol. Furthermore, addition of 200 microM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) to the superfusing medium potentiated isoproterenol effect 31%. In addition, superfusion of slices with 0.5 mM N6,2-O-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate [(Bu)-2cAMP] enhanced ANP release in the same manner as the beta-agonist. After isoproterenol stimulation, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) concentration in effluents increased significantly. ANP secretory response to isoproterenol was unaffected by extracellular calcium concentration or 1 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Finally, 10 microM indomethacin significantly reduced isoproterenol-stimulated ANP release. It is concluded that 1) norepinephrine-induced ANP release is mediated by its beta-agonist activity, 2) isoproterenol-stimulated release appears to be mediated by cAMP, 3) isoproterenol effect does not require extracellular calcium, and 4) prostaglandins may be involved in this beta-adrenergic effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effects of arginine vasopressin and extracellular osmolarity on atrial natriuretic peptide release by superfused rat atria.

This study investigated the characteristics of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release from superfused sliced atria and ventricles of rats. Right atria spontaneously released more immunoreactive ANP (Ir-ANP: pg/min per mg tissue) (32 +/- 3) than did left atria (11 +/- 2) or right ventricles (1.5 +/- 0.5). Addition of 10(-9) to 10(-5) M of arginine vasopressin (AVP) to the superfusing fluid or increasing its osmolarity (290 to 490 mOsM) resulted in a significant increase of the Ir-ANP outflow from right atria. The effect of AVP was prevented by a specific V1 receptor antagonist, ([d(ch2)5Tyr(Me)]AVP). Superfusion with indomethacin (10(-5) M) did not alter spontaneous release but inhibited the peak levels of Ir-ANP induced by AVP (10(-5) M). Moreover, DDAVP, a specific V2 receptor agonist, did not induce Ir-ANP release. Ca(2+)-free medium alone or plus 1 mM EGTA induced a significant increase in basal Ir-ANP outflow. The Ir-ANP released chromatographed similarly to the standard alpha-rANP. These results suggest a specific stimulatory effect of AVP and osmolarity and a negative influence of extracellular Ca2+ on atrial spontaneous Ir-ANP release. It appears that the effect of AVP could be mediated by prostaglandin synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Usefulness of FDG-PET in the diagnosis of patients with chronic severe brain injury].

INTRODUCTION: To describe the changes in cerebral glucose metabolism after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), at the beginning of the rehabilitation, to analyze its diagnostic agreement with morphologic neuroimaging technologies (MR/CT) and to correlate the neuroimaging findings with the intensity of the TBI and the functional ability for daily activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of 55 patients who had sustained a severe TBI (GCS < or = 8) by means of 18F-FDG PET and MR/CT. The agreement between anatomical and functional neuroimagen studies was measured. Correlation between cerebral injury severity in neuroimaging, clinical functional evaluation assessed with Barthel-M Index and GCS were tested. RESULTS: 100 % of patients showed changes in cerebral metabolism, being the thalamus the area more frequently affected. 60 % of patients showed injuries in MR/CT, more frequently in frontal areas. The agreement for the diagnosis of pathology between morphologic and functional neuroimagen was very low. The TBI severity showed significant statistical correlation with the degree of cerebral metabolism and the level of disability. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET allows to know the cerebral glucose metabolism at the beginning of the rehabilitation, being correlated with the TBI severity and the level of patient's disability for daily activities. 18F-FDG PET diagnoses major number of injuries that traditional neuroimaging and demonstrates a high thalamic vulnerability, with injuries in up to 76 % of patients with severe TBI.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intelligence and prognosis in severe traumatic brain injury: a neuropsychological study with the Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS-III)].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of the Wechsler adult intelligence scale III (WAIS-III) as a measure of intelligence after severe brain injury, and to elucidate prognostic factors associated with intelligence coefficients (IQs). METHODS: Forty-six patients (age: 27.4 +/- 12.8 years) attending our service after a severe head injury were included in our study (chronicity: 315.3 +/- 330 days after injury). All patients were assessed with the WAIS-III. WAIS-III IQs were correlated (Pearson and Spearman) with clinical and demographic data. A significance level of p < 0.05 was used in all comparisons. IQs between 1 and 2 standard deviation (SD) below normative data were considered "mild abnormal" while indexes below 2 SD were considered "abnormal". RESULTS: Only eleven patients (25 %) showed normal total IQ with predominance of manipulative (77.7 %) compared to verbal (64.5 %) impairment. Thirty-eight patients (95 %) had difficulties in speed processing, thirty-six (85.6 %) had problems with working-memory, twenty-five (62.5 %) showed impairments in perceptual organization, and twenty-six (62 %) had verbal comprehension deficits. WAIS-III IQs showed significant correlations with length of coma and posttraumatic amnesia duration (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The WAIS-III is a valid and sensible tool to detect cognitive deficits associated with brain injury. Almost all patients with severe brain injury show abnormal IQs with a slow processing speed as predominant symptom. Length of coma and posttraumatic amnesia seems to be the most relevant parameter related to intelligence in severe brain-injured patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial entity with a complex pathogeny. Recent findings on this subject are discussed in this article, centering mainly on genetic factors, cerebral ischemia and their association with the most typical histologic lesions in AD. Finally, a hypothetical model is proposed, in which beta-amyloid represents the key element.

Alzheimer Disease↗