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Biomedical subjects

G Michiels

Publications and source records attributed to G Michiels.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Persistent müllerian duct syndrome with torsion of an intra-abdominal seminoma.

Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) is a particular form of male pseudohermaphroditism. Due to the absence or inactivity of Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS), no regression is observed of the Müllerian ducts in a genotypical and phenotypical male individual. This leads to the development of fallopian tubes, uterus and proximal vagina. The testes often lie intra-abdominally and are exposed to malignant degeneration. A case is described in which the diagnosis of PMDS was made by laparotomy for an acute abdomen, caused by torsion of a seminoma.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1994

Determinants of facial attractiveness in a sample of white women.

Esthetic evaluation of a photographic profile slide of a random sample of 130 adult white women was made by six judges. The esthetic evaluation included vertical and anteroposterior evaluation and an attractiveness score on a visual analog scale. Additionally, the judges were asked to give specific reasons for their scores. Profiles with increased vertical features or convex or Class II tendency profiles were judged as being the most unattractive. Judgment of facial appearance was consistently related to certain regions of the face: the chin, upper lip, and nose having the greatest effect on the overall judgment of appearance. Orthodontic and surgical treatment planning should focus primarily on these regions to obtain the best esthetic result.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Validity and reliability of facial profile evaluation in vertical and horizontal dimensions from lateral cephalograms and lateral photographs.

Esthetic profile evaluation was performed by six judges on a random sample of 130 white women. Vertical and horizontal profile evaluations of the subjects' cephalograms were compared with vertical and horizontal profile evaluations of the same subjects' photographic slides. Statistically significant differences were found: Judges sometimes favored the photographic profile and sometimes favored the cephalographic profile. Esthetic treatment goals should be based on facial shortcomings as they are observed clinically or seen on a patient's photograph.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Lipoprotein(a) profiles and evolution in newborns.

Plasma Lp(a) concentrations in newborns were quantified by a specific and sensitive ELISA assay and their evolution was followed between birth and 6 months. The influence of the diet on Lp(a) levels was also investigated. Moreover, the high sensitivity of the assay enabled the localisation of the Lp(a) fraction in the lipoprotein profile obtained after plasma separation by gel chromatography. Lp(a) levels are low at birth and rise significantly between 0 and 7 days post partum; in this newborn population, a continuous rise of the mean Lp(a) levels was observed until 180 days, in contrast with the apo B concentration that plateaus after 7 days. An early screening enabled the detection of newborns with elevated Lp(a) levels compared to the mean value of their age group. A further follow-up of some cases at 16 months confirmed the high Lp(a) levels measured in the infants and at least one of the parents. The investigation of the lipoprotein profiles as a function of the age of the newborn enabled an estimation of the size and distribution of the Lp(a) lipoprotein in four infants. At birth, Lp(a) particles were larger than LDL and tend to become more heterogeneous with increasing age of the newborn. We could not observe any statistically significant influence of the nutritional factors on the plasma Lp(a) concentrations at any age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Quantification of lipoprotein(a) in dried blood spots and screening for above-normal lipoprotein(a) concentrations in newborns.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is considered an additional, independent, and largely genetically determined risk factor for the development of premature coronary heart disease. Analogous with increased Lp(a) concentrations that represent an additional risk factor in adults, above-normal concentrations of Lp(a) can be detected in five- to seven-day-old newborns. We describe a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring Lp(a) in dried blood spots collected by heel-prick in five- to seven-day-old infants. Lp(a) could be quantitatively recovered from blood spots. We chose a cutoff value of 100 mg/L for identifying the newborns at risk, based on the Lp(a) distribution in 180 such infants.

Apolipoproteins A↗
PubMed1989

Lipoprotein(a) quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies.

This new, sensitive, specific "sandwich"-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantifying lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in human serum and in ultracentrifugal lipoprotein fractions is based on use of a monoclonal antibody raised against apolipoprotein(a) as coating protein and a polyclonal antibody, raised against either apo B or against Lp(a) and conjugated with peroxidase, for detection of bound Lp(a). Mean intra- and interassay CVs for assay of 16 samples were 3.0% and 5.6%, respectively. Sample pretreatment with urea did not enhance Lp(a) immunoreactivity, and treatment with nonionic detergents decreased binding to the monoclonal antibody. Results correlated well (r = 0.99, n = 38) with those by radial immunodiffusion (RID). The ELISA assay, however, detects amounts corresponding to Lp(a) contents of 10 to 1000 mg/L in plasma samples diluted 1000-fold, compared with 100-500 mg/L for RID. For 92 normolipidemic subjects, the mean Lp(a) concentration was 120 (SD 130) mg/L. In patients undergoing coronary angiography, Lp(a) concentrations increased with the severity of the disease but were not correlated with either HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apo A-I, or apo B, and only weakly with plasma cholesterol and apo A-II. These two correlations were even weaker in normal subjects, and only the correlation with total cholesterol was valid. Lp(a), measured at birth and at seven days and six months, steadily increased with age. This assay is well suited for measuring Lp(a) in plasma and in lipoprotein fractions and also for screening programs evaluating this significant genetic risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Principles of a competitive binding assay for the study of the interactions of poorly water-soluble ligands with their soluble binding partners. Application to bilirubin with the use of Sephadex G-10 as a competitive adsorbent.

1. A generally applicable method is described for obtaining experimental data on the interactions between a poorly water-soluble ligand and soluble binding factors, with the use of chemically inert solid adsorbent. The equilibrium distribution of the ligand between the liquid phase containing the soluble binders and the adsorbent must be measured and knowledge of the binding isotherm of the adsorbent is required. Procedures are given for the calculation of the binding parameters. 2. The method has been applied to quantify the interactions of bilirubin with serum and liver cytosol from the rat, Sephadex G-10 serving as the competing adsorbent. Reversible adsorption keeps the concentration of the free ligand low, thereby preventing formation of colloidal bilirubin. The sensitivity of the procedure accommodates the rather high binding affinities by which bilirubin generally interacts with its specific binding proteins. 3. The binding activities of serum and liver cytosol are of comparable magnitude. Binding of bilirubin by rat serum can be described by two independent binding sites, the affinities of which differ by two orders of magnitude. Only the site with the higher affinity appears to be of physiological importance. The major bilirubin-binding sites of rat liver cytosol seem to contribute equally to the overall binding activity of this preparation, provided that GSH is present.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1988

Quantification of human apolipoprotein A-IV by "sandwich"-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A specific and sensitive "sandwich"-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for quantifying human apo A-IV. Using apo A-IV immunosorbent columns, we isolated monospecific anti-apo A-IV antibodies for coating the ELISA plates and for preparing peroxidase-antibody conjugate. The assay can detect as little as 0.20 ng of apo A-IV, with mean intra- and interassay CVs of 3.6% and 8.2%, respectively. The apoA-IV concentrations in normolipemic and hyperlipemic plasma were unaffected by either delipidation or treatment with detergents or urea. To validate the ELISA assay we compared it with an immunoelectrophoretic technique. ApoA-IV concentrations in plasma from normo- and dyslipemic subjects compared well by the two assays (r = 0.89). The mean apo A-IV concentration, measured by ELISA in plasma from 50 normolipemic subjects, was 143 (SD 52) mg/L; values for dyslipemic subjects were not significantly different. We also used this new assay to monitor apo A-IV profiles of normolipemic and hypertriglyceridemic plasma after chromatographic fractionation.

Apolipoproteins A↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of postoperative gastrointestinal atony.

One hundred and eighteen patients in whom postoperative gastrointestinal atony had lasted for 48-72 hours, were given one or two intravenous injections of different doses of cisapride (2, 4 or 8 mg), or vehicle. The first occurrence of flatus was taken to mark the cessation of ileus. There was no significant difference in remission of ileus between the groups in the first hour following injection. All patients not responding to treatment in the first hour were given a repeat dosage and observed for the following 3 hours. Among this group, there was a significant remission of ileus in patients who had received 2 X 8 mg, which was particularly marked in those who had undergone intraperitoneal surgery. This study suggests that cisapride in repeated dosage may be of value in inducing remission in prolonged surgical ileus, particularly in patients who have undergone intraperitoneal operations.

Cisapride↗
PubMed1986

Human apolipoprotein C-II quantitation by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A specific, sensitive and accurate, non competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the quantitation of human apolipoprotein C-II. Using apolipoprotein C-II and apolipoprotein C-III immunosorbent columns, monospecific anti-apolipoprotein C-II antibodies were prepared for coating and for the preparation of a peroxidase-antibody conjugate. The assay is sensitive down to 0.25 ng apolipoprotein C-II per assay and precise, with mean intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 3.1% and 7.9% respectively. The apolipoprotein C-II concentrations in normolipaemic and hyperlipaemic plasma were not affected by delipidation, and increased only slightly after treatment with detergents or urea. The mean plasma apolipoprotein C-II concentration in a group of 30 normolipaemic subjects, was 33.1 +/- 7.5 mg/l. All hypertriglyceridaemic subjects had significantly elevated apolipoprotein C-II plasma concentrations, which were most pronounced in Fredrickson type III and type V patients. The apolipoprotein C-II profiles, obtained by column fractionation of 6 normolipaemic and 11 hypertriglyceridaemic plasmas, demonstrated a shift of apolipoprotein C-II towards the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridaemic subjects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Survival of rectal cancer patients in Belgium 1997-98 and the potential benefit of a national project.

BACKGROUND: PROCARE, a Belgian multidisciplinary project on rectal cancer (RC), will be launched in 2006. Guidelines have been developed, but remain to be implemented. AIM: A population-based study on RC treatment and outcome in Belgium and comparison with recent international benchmarks in order to better define targets that should be reached. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Anonymous data of 3079 patients with rectal cancer registered in the National Cancer Registry in 1997 and 1998 were analysed. Observed (OS) and relative survival (RS) were compared with figures from nationwide projects and multi-centre studies. RESULTS: The 5-yr OS and RS were 46.6% and 58.5%, respectively. For patients with stage I-III tumours 5-yr OS was 57.1% and 5-yr RS 70.1%. Adjuvant or neo-adjuvant treatment was given in 54.8% stage II-III patients who were < 70 years old. There were marked differences between the provinces in the use of radiotherapy for stage II-III patients and in 5-yr RS for all stages. In stage IV, the median OS was 13 months and the 2-yr OS was 28%. Comparison with recent multi-centre trials indicates significant potential benefits from the PROCARE project: an absolute increase of the 5-yr OS by 10 to 20% after chemoradiotherapy and TME in stage II-III patients 75 years old or less, a 7-month increase of the median OS and an absolute 15% increase of the 2-yr OS in unresectable stage IV patients with combined chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Significant improvement seems to be achievable. Implementation of the PROCARE guidelines with quality assurance through prospective registration in a specific database, however, is a crucial prerequisite for credible audit of performance and feedback to individual teams.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Minimal gastrostomy: an alternative for postoperative stomach drainage].

Gastrostomy à minima. The postoperative course of a group of patients who had undergone major abdominal surgery was evaluated to show that a postoperative gastrostomy à minima can be performed in an adequate and safe manner. The patients are divided into two groups. The first group, which could be expected to need gastric decompression for only a short time, was treated by means of a classic nasogastric tube. The second group, which is composed of mostly more severe surgical procedures, received postoperative gastric decompression using a suprapubic bladder drainage catheter: Cystofix. There were no serious complications in neither group. Nevertheless patients treated by means of a nasogastric tube met with a notable subjective trouble. Therefore the gastrostomy à minima is advised after each surgical procedure which is expected to require a lasting gastric decompression.

Digestive System Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fournier's syndrome].

Fournier's syndrome, a necrotizing subcutaneous infection of the male genitalia, is characterized by an explosive onset and a rapid evolution. It is caused by a synergistic interaction of several aerobe and anaerobe bacteria. The immediate institution of an aggressive therapy with extensive drainage and supporting broad spectrum antibiotics gives the best results. Hyperbaric oxygen can be used as complementary therapy. Reconstructive surgery can be considered for very large tissue and skin defects.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Paraduodenal hernia (author's transl)].

The internal paraduodenal hernia is a most unusual disorder of the alimentary tract, due to a failure of the process of intestinal rotation. There exists a right and left variety, each of them presenting specific features. Often there are no symptoms or perhaps a vague abdominal malaise. Occasionnally one finds the clinical picture of obstruction, even of strangulation. The preoperative diagnosis is seldom made; however, it could be done if one keeps the possibility in mind. A successful surgical treatment necessitates an understanding of the mode of origin and a throughout knowledge of the anatomic variations.

Adult↗