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Biomedical subjects

F Pierre

Publications and source records attributed to F Pierre.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Perfusion of prostaglandins in the cervix uteri. A new method of cervical maturation after premature rupture of the membranes].

Many authors consider that using prostaglandins is the best way of obtaining adequate maturation of the cervix uteri before induction of labour; however, in case of premature rupture of the membranes the conventional methods can seldom be used. An original technique for this relatively rare situation is presented, consisting of an intracervical infusion of prostaglandin F2-alpha at the initial rate of 0.3 mg/hour. Details are given of the technique as well as of the results obtained in a preliminary study of 10 patients. With a mean 7.5 mg total dose of prostaglandin F2-alpha, the mean durations of maturation and delivery were 15 and 20 hours respectively. No infection developed and the procedure was well tolerated by the patients. Nevertheless, this technique should be reserved to those cases where conventional methods cannot be used.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1989

Respiratory hazards in hard metal workers: a cross sectional study.

A cross sectional study was conducted on 513 employees at three hard metal plants: 425 exposed workers (351 men, 74 women) and 88 controls (69 men, 19 women). Cough and sputum were more frequent in workers engaged in "soft powder" and presintering workshops compared with controls (12.5% and 16.5% v 3.5%). Spirometric abnormalities were more frequent among women in sintering and finishing workshops compared with control women (56.8% v 23.8%) and abnormalities of carbon monoxide test were more frequent in exposed groups than in controls; this difference was more pronounced in women (31.4% v 5.6%) than in men (18.5% v 13%). No significant correlation was observed between duration of exposure and age adjusted lung function tests. Slight abnormalities of chest radiographs (0/1, 1/1 according to ILO classification) were more frequent in exposed men than controls (12.8% v 1.9%) and mostly in soft powder workers. In subjects with abnormal chest radiographs FVC, FEV1 and carbon monoxide indices (fractional uptake of CO or CO transfer index or both) were lower compared with those with normal chest radiographs. Although relatively mild, the clinical, radiological, and functional abnormalities uncovered call for a regular supervision of workers exposed to hard metal dust.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Risks of medical complications inherent in technics of assisted procreation (excluding legal incidences)].

Although in France the law is still relatively poor in matters concerning complaints against medical people for accidents and incidents in connection with assisted reproduction, it appeared to the authors that it would be interesting to examine the subjects. There is some French and Anglo-saxon literature about the matter so that the circumstances that can be dangerous for the patients as well as well as for the doctors carrying out the processes can be listed in connection with the medico-legal field. When the legal cases in connection with the manipulation of gametes and of embryos have been excluded, there only remain the risks linked to the complications of the various techniques of assisted reproduction. These include those in connection with induction of ovulation and ovarian hyperstimulation. After having made a list of the risks in connection with In-Vitro Fertilization, with G.I.F.T. and with the various technique similar to it, such as artificial insemination donor, the authors suggest the steps that can be taken to prevent these medical complications and their eventual medico-legal repercussions. These consist of good organisation and improving the facilities dealing with assisted reproduction. The personnel should be well trained, as much information as possible should be given to the patients so that they give informed consent, whether exploratory procedures are being carried out or they are being treated with hormones, or having such manipulations as are necessary to obtain the desired pregnancy for them.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of welders and characterization of their exposure by biological samples analysis.

Chromosomal aberrations in cultured lymphocytes obtained from 55 welders and 55 matched controls were analyzed. Depending on the welding techniques and the nature of the consumables and metals welded, three separate groups of welders were examined. Chromium, nickel, and manganese levels in serum and urine were measured to assess the exposure to welding fumes. A statistically significant increase of chromosomal aberrations was found in one of the three analyzed groups of welders. This group used the semi-automatic metal active gas welding process with cored wire containing nickel for welding mild steel. These welders had significantly higher concentrations of serum and urine manganese and, unlike the other welders, significantly elevated concentrations of nickel, both in serum and urine. However, no significant correlations between nickel or manganese levels and the frequency of chromosomal aberrations were found. There was a significant correlation between the length of welding employment of these welders and the frequency of chromosomal breaks, although there was no significant correlation between age and the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. The other two groups of welders, for which the analyses of biologic fluids proved chromium and manganese exposure, had no statistically significant higher frequency of chromosomal aberrations. One of these groups used the manual metal arc welding process with coated electrodes for welding mainly mild steel and the other group used the tungsten inert gas welding process for welding stainless steel. A significant correlation between the daily amount of cigarettes smoked and the frequency of chromosomal breakages, in controls as in welders, was observed. The present data indicate that certain welding processes may generate fumes that seem to have a clastogenic activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Maternal behavior toward her newborn infant. Potential modification by peridural analgesia or childbirth preparation].

The effects of sophrology and epidural analgesia on early relationship between the mother and her child were studied on a simple of 190 deliveries. The mothers were observed during and just after delivery. Mothers who had been separated from their child before the end of the observation were excluded from the study. The patients had the choice between epidural analgesia or prenatal care with sophrology. Participation to prenatal courses has statistically a positive effect on the relation between the mother and her child (p less than 0.01). Instead, epidural analgesia and posture have very limited effect on this factor. However, a trend to more interaction is found in multipari and patients who didn't choose epidural analgesia.

Analgesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1988

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in 871 miners according to Pi phenotype: a longitudinal study.

Pi phenotype was determined and alpha 1 protease inhibitor (alpha 1 Pi) was measured in 871 iron-ore miners examined twice at five years interval. A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was administered and lung function tests: spirometry (VC, FEV1.0), measurements of the residual volume (RV/TLC) and of the CO diffusion (FuCO), were carried out by the same medical and technical team, using the same apparatus. There were no differences in age, length of employment or smoking habits among the three Pi Phenotype groups: M (90.03%), MS (7.1%), MZ (2.8%). The prevalence of clinical symptoms at the initial survey and the incidence of symptoms between the 2 surveys were not related to Pi Phenotype groups. However a significantly steeper decline of FEV1.0/VC was observed in the alpha 1 Pi partially deficient groups MS and MZ (-3.9%) compared with the non-deficient group (-1.8%). No significant difference was observed for VC, RV/TLC and FuCO. This finding suggests that an intermediate deficiency of alpha 1 Pi may be related to a slight but statistically significant impairment of a lung function in occupational conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Decreased serum ceruloplasmin concentration in aluminum welders exposed to ozone.

During an epidemiological survey on arc welders, serum copper and ceruloplasmin were determined in two groups of workers. One group consisted of aluminum welders who were divided into two groups: 13 welders working inside aluminum tanks (confined atmosphere) and 8 welders engaged in the production of vans for dump trucks (nonconfined atmosphere). The reference group consisted of 26 workers of the same plant who were not exposed to welding fumes. Ozone, the major pollutant in aluminum arc welding, was thought to be the principal factor in the significant decrease (P less than 0.01) of mean ceruloplasmin in confined welders. This decrease in the level of ceruloplasmin was still within the reference values and was not linked to age or to tobacco consumption. We found a linear relationship between ceruloplasmin concentration and the cumulated worktime along the week. This effect could be a sign in the serum of a lung reaction against oxidant activity in this type occupational exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Medicolegal risks of celioscopy. Analysis of 32 cases of complications].

An analysis of 200 case records of complications or undesired incidents that happened in the practice of gynaecological surgery and which often gave rise to legal actions either in the criminal or the civil courts, made it possible to extract from these case notes 32 cases where there were medico-legal consequences from laparoscopies that had become complicated. Above all, the relative seriousness of each case had to be considered. More than a third of these cases led to death directly linked to the gynaecological laparoscopy. This furthermore could be responsible for intestinal or vascular complications that had to be treated by intensive resuscitation and by further operative interference carried out as emergencies and by prolonged hospitalisation. After having reported these 32 case histories in detail, the authors analyse the medical consequences of these complications before going on the legal repercussions arising from them. The medico-legal practices that are so important are the ability of the laparoscopist, the standards of his technical equipment and of the anaesthetist, and his taking note of previous operations that have been carried out on the patient. It should not be forgotten, too, that there is a statistically demonstrated risk when laparoscopy sterilization is carried out, because this itself gives rise to claims. Finally, the preventive measures that can be undertaken in order to protect surgeons are outlined. These follow the discovery of an important series of complications which may help them to avoid trouble in their daily practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Active management of labor in Dublin: what is it 15 years later?].

Every obstetrician, in his readings, must have come across a report of article by K. O'Driscoll, and could not remain indifferent (surprise, incredulity, even anger...) in front of astonishing results: 5% of caesarean sections, 5 to 6% of forceps deliveries, combined with a recruiting worthy of any large university center and creditable neonatal results which are accurately analysed. In view of the difficulty and understanding of the basis of "active management of labor", advocated by this team and described as the main reason of its success, the author tried to understand, while staying in this department, the highlights of its daily obstetrical practice. In this detailed report of the activities of this irish obstetrical team, the author wanted to put the results back in their context and broadly outline the organization of this department and the management of labor, in order to evaluate the significance of the figures reported in numerous international publications and too often not easy to analyse for uninformed readers.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1988

[Levels of manganese in biological media: value, samplings, physiopathological variations. Bibliographic review].

The great diversity of methods for manganese analysis in biological materials (serum, plasma, whole blood, urine, spinal fluid and hair) reveals the difficulty in measuring extremely small quantities of this element. An examination of these methods demonstrate that the most used one is flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. This review offers a comparison of the different instrument settings. Authors' recommendations for the collecting of samples are reported in detail. A description of the preliminary steps, the handling of the specimen samples, the preparation of the standards, procedures used, analytical criteria and perturbations is also included. Normal values and their physiological and pathological variations are also described.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1988

[Pelvic and genital injuries in children. Sexual injuries of young girls. Management in a medico-legal context].

In the emergency care of a young girl presumed to be a victim of sexual assault and the treatment of the lesions discovered in the perineum and vulvo-vaginal tract, the paediatric surgeon must take into consideration the medico-legal aspects of the file right from the first approach to this young victim. It would actually be damaging to her if a paediatric surgeon reconstituted the perineal tissues, vulva and vagina "ad integrum" without carefully describing the lesions observed and without, whenever possible, taking good quality photographs to be kept in the case file to support the evidence of sexual assault, if a criminal procedure is filed. Similarly, as a complement to this assessment of the initial lesions, the surgeon must be able to establish an anatomical and functional assessment of the vulvo-vaginal tract after healing, to enable the experts appointed by the court to determine the basis for compensation of bodily damages related to the sexual assault and the expenses entailed by further plastic operations required by the sequelae of the genital lesions. The bases for a pretium doloris, future aesthetic, sexual and obstetric damages should also be indicated in any certificate given to the patient's family or to the court experts. Thus, if the surgeon participates indirectly in demonstrating evidence of the crime subject to penal sanction, he can help the victim in her parallel civil court action for compensation of her bodily damages before the repressive jurisdiction.

Child↗
PubMed1988

[The obstetrical future of the post-fractured pelvis of the child. Medico-legal evaluation of obstetrical damages].

When the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon is required to treat a fracture of the pelvis in a young girl, by an orthopaedic method or by appropriate open reduction and fixation, he should evaluate the future obstetric sequelae in order to be able to answer the specific questions raised by the injured child's family and also by legal experts appointed by the court. The authors have classified the various fractures of the pelvis in children by analysing the elements of functional prognosis of these lesions based on the types of fractures and on the particular factors of vitiation reported in the literature, consisting of series which are too short to be truly demonstrative. It is obviously impossible to precisely determine the obstetric prognosis, as only trial of labour following induction will confirm the intact patency of the pelvic osteo-articular passage. However, the collaboration of the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon immediately after the accident will allow a prudent evaluation of the obstetric prognosis, allowing the court expert to allocate funds and to define the bases for compensation of bodily damages in the light of this prognosis.

Child↗
PubMed1988

[Seasonal, weekly and lunar cycles of birth. Statistical study of 12,035,680 births].

The authors have studied the seasonal, weekly and lunar rhythms which could characterize deliveries, based on 12,035,680 french births, between January 1, 1968 and December 31, 1982. The seasonal rhythm is the most remarkable. It is characterized by a maximum of newborn in May and a minimum in November; there is an increased number of births during the month of September. The weekly rhythm is characterized by a drop in the number of births especially on Sundays, but also on Saturdays, with a maximum on Tuesday. The number of births also fluctuate according to the lunar cycle. Their amplitude is low. They are however significant. From that standpoint, these results confirm other studies already conducted in France and the USA, in a much smaller scale.

Circadian Rhythm↗