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Biomedical subjects

F Paris

Publications and source records attributed to F Paris.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Results of surgical therapy for lung carcinoma.

A series of 300 pulmonary resections in patients with lung carcinoma is presented. Total survival rate of the series since the operation, including surgical mortality, was 33% at 3 years and 24% at 5 years. The survival rate and surgical criteria were correlated, having better results when standard surgery was performed. The authors emphasize that the surgical figures of the series are of great value as the surgical indications were large and nonselective, with 85% of resectability in the thoracotomies.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aquatic modules for bioregenerative life support systems based on the C.E.B.A.S. biotechnology [correction of biotechnilogy].

Most concepts for bioregenerative life support systems are based on edible higher land plants which create some problems with growth and seed generation under space conditions. Animal protein production is mostly neglected because of the tremendous waste management problems with tetrapods under reduced weightlessness. Therefore, the "Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System" (C.E.B.A.S.) was developed which represents an artificial aquatic ecosystem containing aquatic organisms which are adapted at all to "near weightlessness conditions" (fishes Xiphophorus helleri, water snails Biomphalaria glabrata, ammonia oxidizing bacteria and the rootless non-gravitropic edible water plant Ceratophyllum demersum). Basically the C.E.B.A.S. consists of 4 subsystems: a ZOOLOGICAL (correction of ZOOLOGICASL) COMPONENT (animal aquarium), a BOTANICAL COMPONENT (aquatic plant bioreactor), a MICROBIAL COMPONENT (bacteria filter) and an ELECTRONICAL COMPONENT (data acquisition and control unit). Superficially, the function principle appears simple: the plants convert light energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis thus producing biomass and oxygen. The animals and microorganisms use the oxygen for respiration and produce the carbon dioxide which is essential for plant photosynthesis. The ammonia ions excreted by the animals are converted by the bacteria to nitrite and then to nitrate ions which serve as a nitrogen source for the plants. Other essential ions derive from biological degradation of animal waste products and dead organic matter. The C.E.B.A.S. exists in 2 basic versions: the original C.E.B.A.S. with a volume of 150 liters and a self-sustaining standing time of more than 13 month and the so-called C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE with a volume of about 8.5 liters. In the latter there is no closed food loop by reasons of available space so that animal food has to be provided via an automated feeder. This device was flown already successfully on the STS-89 and STS-90 spaceshuttle missions and the working hypothesis was verified that aquatic organisms are nearly not affected at all by space conditions, i.e. that the plants exhibited biomass production rates identical to the sound controls and that as well the reproductive, and the immune system as the embryonic and ontogenic development of the animals remained undisturbed. Currently the C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODLULE is prepared for a third spaceshuttle flight (STS-107) in spring 2001. Based on the results of the space experiments a series of prototypes of aquatic food production modules for the implementation into BLSS were developed. This paper describes the scientific disposition of the STS-107 experiment and of open and closed aquaculture systems based on another aquatic plant species, the Lemnacean Wolffia arrhiza which is cultured as a vegetable in Southeastern Asia. This plant can be grown in suspension culture and several special bioreactors were developed for this purpose. W. arrhiza reproduces mainly vegetatively by buds but also sexually from time to time and is therefore especially suitable for genetic engineering, too. Therefore it was used, in addition, to optimize the C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE to allow experiments with a duration of 4 month in the International Space Station the basic principle of which will be explained. In the context of aquaculture systems for BLSS the continuous replacement of removed fish biomass is an essential demand. Although fish reproduction seems not to be affected in the shortterm space experiments with the C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE a functional and reliable hatchery for the production of siblings under reduced weightlessness is connected with some serious problems. Therefore an automated "reproduction module" for the herbivorous fish Tilapia rendalli was developed as a laboratory prototype. It is concluded that aquatic modules of different degrees of complexity can optimize the productivity of BLSS based on higher land plants and that they offer an unique opportunity for the production of animal protein in lunar or planetary bases.

Ammonia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Individualized prognosis in non-small-cell carcinoma. A multivariate approach].

With the aim of providing a system to give individualized initial prognosis for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSLC), we performed a multivariate discriminant analysis with combinations of various prognostic factors, studying 93 patients with diagnoses of stage II NSLC and complete followup information. All had undergone surgery at our hospital. Survival longer than or less than one year was defined as the dependent variable: independent variables more clinical, analytical, lung function, histological, anatomical and surgical data. Among the 31.2% of patients who died within one year, tumor size was noticeably greater (6.0 +/- 2.1 cm versus 4.8 +/- 2.0 cm; p = 0.11) and serum albumin was lower (3.7 +/- 0.7 g/dl versus 3.9 +/- 0.6 g/dl; p = 0.039); we found no significant differences among the remaining independent variables in the preliminary univariate analysis. The linear function obtained with discriminant analysis allowed us to classify the patients correctly in 87.1% of cases, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 79.3%, specificity of 90.6%, positive predictive value of 79.3% and negative predictive value of 90.6% for patients who died during the first year. The independent variables that were associated with poor prognosis were large tumor size, long duration of symptoms, low albumin level, high alkaline phosphate level, presence of 2 or more N1 affected nodes, pneumonectomy and presence of perioperative complications. Our findings allow us to conclude that the simultaneous analysis of a variety of prognostic factors can help to give an accurate prognosis for individual patients with the same anatomical stage classification.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disorders linked to insufficient androgen action in male children.

Virilization of the external genitalia in the male fetus requires testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is formed from testosterone by the action of the enzyme, 5alpha-reductase type 2 (5alphaR-2). Mediation of the effects of both testosterone and DHT requires a functional androgen receptor (AR) located in the cytoplasmic compartment of target cells. DHT (or testosterone) binding induces a conformational change which facilitates AR nuclear transport, phosphorylation and dimerization, ultimately regulating of the rate of transcription of androgen-dependent genes. Any event which impairs DHT formation (mutation within the 5alphaR-2 gene or 5alphaR-2 inhibitors) or normal function of the AR (mutation in the AR gene, antiandrogens) may result in insufficient androgen action in the male fetus and in subsequent undervirilization in the newborn. Hypospadias may be due to a defect in androgen action due to mutation of the 5alphaR-2 or of the AR gene. Mutation of unidentified genes is likely to underlie this displacement of the urethral meatus from the tip to the ventral side of the phallus. An aetiological role for environmental chemical products has been postulated, since ethnic as well as geographical differences in the incidence of hypospadias have been noted. Increasing evidence has been gathered indicating that widely used industrial and agricultural chemicals have deleterious effects on normal male sexual differentiation. Cryptorchidism and micropenis may represent an intersex phenotype, even if they are isolated. Aetiological factors include 5alphaR-2 gene mutation, AR gene mutation or environmental hormonal disruptors. In conclusion, several phenotypes have been attributed to insufficient androgen action during fetal life. Whereas mutations in the 5alphaR-2 gene and AR gene are natural, attention should be focused on environmental endocrine disruptors that are able to mimic steroid 5alpha-reductase deficiency or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗