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Biomedical subjects

J Arsenault

Publications and source records attributed to J Arsenault.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Biochemical reference ranges for groups of ewes of different ages.

Reference biochemical ranges for young adult and adult ewes in mid-gestation were derived from 83 pooled serum samples taken from 30 flocks in the Province of Québec, Canada. In each flock the samples were pooled into three age categories and each category contained between six and 10 samples. The blood samples were taken by jugular venepuncture in December 1999. All the values were within the normal published ranges. As the age of the ewes increased there were slight increases in the concentrations of globulin and total protein and decreases in the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, glucose and albumin, and in the activities of alkaline phosphatase and glutathione peroxidase.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Consequences of capsaicin treatment on pulmonary vagal reflexes and chemoreceptor activity in lambs.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that capsaicin treatment in lambs selectively inhibits bronchopulmonary C-fiber function but does not alter other vagal pulmonary receptor functions or peripheral and central chemoreceptor functions. Eleven lambs were randomized to receive a subcutaneous injection of either 25 mg/kg capsaicin (6 lambs) or solvent (5 lambs) under general anesthesia. Capsaicin-treated lambs did not demonstrate the classical ventilatory response consistently observed in response to capsaicin bolus intravenous injection in control lambs. Moreover, the ventilatory responses to stimulation of the rapidly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (intratracheal water instillation) and slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (Hering-Breuer inflation reflex) were similar in both groups of lambs. Finally, the ventilatory responses to various stimuli and depressants of carotid body activity and to central chemoreceptor stimulation (CO(2) rebreathing) were identical in control and capsaicin-treated lambs. We conclude that 25 mg/kg capsaicin treatment in lambs selectively inhibits bronchopulmonary C-fiber function without significantly affecting the other vagal pulmonary receptor functions or that of peripheral and central chemoreceptors.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Dietary supplement use in U.S. Army Special Operations candidates.

We administered a dietary supplement survey to 2,215 males (mean age, 25 years; range, 18-47 years) entering U.S. Army Special Forces and Ranger training schools. The survey contained questions on demographics and health as well as the use of vitamin, mineral, protein, pro-performance, and other cofactor supplements; answers were made on a five-point frequency scale. Eighty-five percent of the men reported past or present use of a supplement, 64% reported current use, and 35% reported daily use. Individuals using a supplement at least occasionally were significantly less likely to smoke (p < 0.05) and more likely to exercise on a daily basis. Recent U.S. Department of Agriculture survey data (1994) reported that 39% of males 20 to 39 years old used a dietary supplement at least occasionally. Our data indicate that the rate of supplement use in this study group was much higher than in the general population of young men. This observation supports the need to study more extensively the use and benefits or potential harm of dietary supplementation by otherwise healthy individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery at a VA hospital. Analysis of the first 50 cases.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic techniques were utilized for all colon and rectal procedures undertaken by a single surgeon at the West Haven VA Hospital beginning in August of 1991. METHODS: All patients were entered into a registry, and data was gathered prospectively. This report comprises the first 50 patients. These patients were compared with 34 consecutive patients undergoing open operations during the same time period. RESULTS: Overall, 33 patients (66%) were completed laparoscopically. This increased to 87% after the first 20 patients. Patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures showed significant improvement over the open and converted patients in several areas. Operative blood loss was decreased. They ate sooner (3.7 days) and required less postoperative pain medication. Major complications were less common after laparoscopic operations. Average length of stay was 8.3 days, compared with 13.9 days and 14.5 days in the converted and open groups, respectively. There was no difference in the operative time between laparoscopic and open cases; time for converted cases was significantly longer. There was no difference in lymph node counts among the three groups in patients with resections for cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe and effective, although its efficacy in malignant disease is uncertain. Patients enjoy the same benefits derived from other laparoscopic procedures. Although there appears to be a longer learning curve associated with the procedure, minimally invasive techniques should become utilized more frequently for patients with colorectal disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Effect of mothers' familiarity with a formal task on cognitive monitoring during mother-child interactions.

This study examined the effect of mothers' familiarity with a permutation task on the performance and monitoring of mother-child dyads during the solution of a cognitive task. In addition, the effect of mothers' familiarity with the task on children's independent performance on a similar task during a posttest was investigated. Forty dyads participated in the study. Half of the mothers were familiarized with the task during a pretest. Results indicated that mothers familiarized with the permutation task elicited higher level strategies during dyadic interaction. Task-familiar mothers also let children participate more extensively in the task solution and were more likely to explain strategies than task-unfamiliar mothers. Finally, children of task-familiar mothers were more likely to use systematic strategies at post-test.

Adult↗