PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Franch

Publications and source records attributed to J Franch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Beta-tricalcium phosphate as a synthetic cancellous bone graft in veterinary orthopaedics: a retrospective study of 13 clinical cases.

The clinical use of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) as a synthetic cancellous bone graft in veterinary orthopaedics is herein reported. The retrospective study was based on 13 clinical cases belonging to 11 dogs and one cat. The weights of the dogs ranged from 3.4 to 48 kg. One female cat weighing 3.5 kg completed the study. The clinical cases were six arthrodeses (four carpal, two tarsal), one hypertrophic non-union (femur), one atrophic non-union (metacarpal bones) and five long-bone fractures (two femurs, one tibia, two radii) possessing subcritical-sized bone defects. The beta-TCP used in this study was presented as irregular interconnected- porous granules and was placed in the bone defects after mixing it with fresh blood. Bone healing was achieved at between eight and 12 weeks in all clinical cases except for the case of the chronic atrophic nonunion in which only one of the four metacarpal bones healed. In the 12 successful cases, the bone defect grafted with beta-TCP showed a radiological bone ingrowth of 100% (10 cases), 90% (one case) and 75% (one case). The complete lack of tissue adverse effects in our series, and the good defect healing, allows us to hypothesise that beta-TCP can be successfully used as a synthetic bone graft in bone defects with good local biological conditions and where osteoconduction is especially needed for assuring a structural scaffold for new-bone ingrowth. When, in addition to osteoconduction, osteoinduction and osteogenesis are necessary for defect healing, the fresh cancellous bone graft remains the gold standard in veterinary orthopaedics.

Animals↗

Myocarditis and generalised vasculitis associated with leishmaniosis in a dog.

A three-year-old, female bulldog was presented with bilateral uveitis, apathy, listlessness, generalised lymphadenopathy and perivulvar haematoma. The initial laboratory studies showed non-regenerative anaemia, polyclonal gammopathy and a high urine protein:creatinine ratio. Serology for leishmaniosis was positive and treatment with allopurinol and meglumine antimoniate was started. Despite treatment, the dog's clinical condition deteriorated. Signs included cutaneous ecchymosis, respiratory distress and finally cardiorespiratory arrest. Histopathological studies of postmortem tissue samples revealed a generalised vasculitis of several internal organs and severe myocarditis. Leishmania species organisms were identified in affected tissues using immunoperoxidase labelling and PCR techniques.

Animals↗

Interlocking nail treatment of long-bone fractures in cats: 33 cases (1995-2004).

A retrospective study between 1995 and 2004 of fracture repair in cats (n = 46) using interlocking nails (ILN) was made. Only the cases in which clinical and radiographic examination of bone healing were available are included. Five humeral and twenty eight femoral fractures were reviewed. Multiple-hole interlocking nails (MH-ILN) were used in 22 fractures, with the four-hole model (FH-ILN) in the remaining cases. In three of the cases, the FH-ILN was transformed to a three-hole model by cutting the nail between the two most distal holes. The average length of humeral ILN was 78.8 mm, and the femoral ILN was 97.2 mm. Static fixation was performed in 27 cases, with dynamic fixation in the remaining. The medullary canal filling was 100% in both radiographic views in 16 cases. Intra-operative complications were encountered in two cases. A total number of 76 screws were inserted, with 5.26% of them being malpositioned. Malunion, in a deformed femur, and partial unscrewing of one screw were the only radiographic complications observed at the time of follow-up. The clinical outcome, as well as fracture healing, were excellent in all of the cases. The results of this study indicate that the 4.0 and 5.0 mm MH-ILN and FH-ILN can be used to repair simple or comminuted humeral and femoral fractures in cats.

Animals↗

Multiple cartilaginous exostosis in a Golden Retriever cross-bred puppy. Clinical, radiographic and backscattered scanning microscopy findings.

Multiple cartilaginous exostosis was diagnosed in a six-month-old Golden Retriever cross-bred male with a history of forelimb lameness and isolated, but very painful, acute episodes. Physical examination revealed a right forelimb lameness with a firm, painful palpable mass on the cranial aspect of the forearm. The radiological examination showed the presence of bony masses at the humerus and radius as well as several masses in the ribs and spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae. Based on the history and radiographic findings, multiple cartilaginous exostosis was diagnosed. Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was commenced for two weeks without any effect. Due to the lack of a response to the treatment as well as to the progressive physical deterioration of the animal, the owners requested euthanasia of the dog. Histology of the different exostoses demonstrated the presence of a hyaline cartilage cup surrounding a central area, formed mainly by bone and cartilage trabecullae. Signs of malignancy were not observed. Back-scattered scanning electron microscopy (BEI-SEM) study revealed well ordered and progressively calcified cartilage trabecullae present underneath the non-calcified cartilage cap. At a greater depth, those cartilage trabecullae became osteochondral trabecullae, and the innermost were formed exclusively by woven and lamellar bone. The histological and back-scattered electron scanning microscopy results conclude that it was a well-arranged normal endochondral ossification process that followed a centripetal pattern inside the bony mass, confirming the diagnoses of multiple cartilaginous exostoses.

Animals↗

Management of leishmanial osteolytic lesions in a hypothyroid dog by partial tarsal arthrodesis.

A five-year-old male boxer, previously diagnosed with leishmaniasis and hypothyroidism, had gradually become unable to bear weight on its left hindlimb. Physical examination revealed a left popliteal lymphadenopathy, mild crepitus, and severe swelling of the left tarsal joint, a radiographic examination of which revealed severe bone destruction of the talus and a periosteal reaction of the calcaneus. Laboratory findings and serological tests suggested an active leishmanial infection, and a Leishmania species was identified by direct cytology of a sample from the osteolytic area and by indirect immunohistochemistry of a bone biopsy. The dog's condition improved when it was treated with meglumine antimonate and allopurinol. Because of the large osteolytic area and the increased use of the affected leg, a partial tarsal arthrodesis was performed to prevent a fracture. Five months after the surgery, the osteolytic area had healed completely and the calcaneus periosteal reaction had disappeared.

Allopurinol↗

[Cardiovascular risk and glucose metabolism: agreements and discrepancies between the WHO-85 and ADA-97 classifications].

UNLABELLED: AIM. To identify the differences between coronary heart disease risk in patients with altered basal glucemia (ABG), oral glucose intolerance (OGI) and type II diabetes mellitus according to the WHO-85 and ADA-97 diagnostic classifications, in an adult population at high risk for diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study.Setting. Seven primary health care centers in Spain.Patient. 970 persons considered the population at risk for type II diabetes mellitus. MEASURES: Participants were classified according to the criteria of the WHO-85 (normal, OGI, diabetes) and the ADA-97 system (normal, ABG, diabetes). The following variables were recorded: age, sex, smoking habit, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, basal glucemia, glucemia 2 h after an oral glucose tolerance test, HbA1c, microalbmuniuria, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides. Coronary heart disease risk was calculated with the 1998 table developed by Wilson et al. on the basis of the Framingham study. RESULTS: A total of 970 participants were studied. Mean age was 58.6 #+ 12.4 years; 453 were men (46.7%) and 517 were women (53.3%). Our analysis showed that cardiovascular disease risk factors were less frequent in normal subjects, and that their prevalence was higher in persons with diabetes (according to both WHO and ADA classifications). There were no significant differences in coronary heart disease risk or different risk factors between analogous groups in the two classification systems (normal, OGI/ABG or diabetes). Coronary heart disease risk in persons with different types of alterations in glucose metabolism was 11.3% in normal subjects, 14% in persons with OGI and 27.3% in persons with diabetes according to the WHO-85 system, and 11.4% in normal subjects, 15.7% in persons with ABG and 29.5% in persons with diabetes according to the ADA-97 system. CONCLUSIONS: The greater the alteration in carbohydrate metabolism, the greater the coexistence of risk factors and the estimated risk of coronary heart disease. There were no significant differences in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, or in the relationship between carbohydrate metabolism and coronary heart disease risk, between analogous stages identified with one classification system or the other.

Blood Glucose↗

The GLUT4 density in slow fibres is not increased in athletes. How does training increase the GLUT4 pool originating from slow fibres?

The influence of training on GLUT4 expression in slow- and fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibres was studied in male endurance-trained athletes and control subjects. The trained state was ensured by elevated maximal oxygen uptake (29%), as well as citrate synthase (60%) and 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (38%) activities in muscle biopsy samples of the vastus lateralis. GLUT4 densities in slow- and fast-twitch fibres were measured by the use of a newly developed, sensitive method combining immunohistochemistry with morphometry, and no effect of training was found. GLUT4 density was higher in slow-twitch fibres compared to fast-twitch fibres (P<0.05) when biopsy samples from untrained subjects were examined. In athletes GLUT4 density was identical in slow- and fast-twitch fibres. Slow-twitch fibre diameters were 10% larger in the athletes (P<0.01), and slow-twitch fibre fractions were 140% of the fraction in the control group. Thus, GLUT4 originating from slow-twitch fibres was increased by 30% (P<0.02) in athletes. We conclude that long-lasting endurance training increases slow-twitch fibre GLUT4 expression by means of an elevated slow-twitch fibre mass in human skeletal muscle.

Adult↗

Glucose uptake and metabolic stress in rat muscles stimulated electrically with different protocols.

In the present study, the relationship between the pattern of electrical stimulation and glucose uptake was investigated in slow-twitch muscles (soleus) and fast-twitch muscles (epitrochlearis) from Wistar rats. Muscles were stimulated electrically for 30 min in vitro with either single pulses (frequencies varied between 0.8 and 15 Hz) or with 200-ms trains (0.1-2 Hz). Glucose uptake (measured with tracer amount of 2-[(3)H]deoxyglucose) increased with increasing number of impulses whether delivered as single pulses or as short trains. The highest glucose uptake achieved with short tetanic contractions was similar in soleus and epitrochlearis (10.9 +/- 0.7 and 12.0 +/- 0.8 mmol x kg dry wt(-1) x 30 min(-1), respectively). Single pulses, on the other hand, increased contraction-stimulated glucose uptake less in soleus than in epitrochlearis (7.5 +/- 1.1 and 11.7 +/- 0.5 mmol x kg dry wt(-1) x 30 min(-1), respectively; P < 0.02). Glucose uptake correlated with glycogen breakdown in soleus (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) and (epitrochlearis: r = 0.91, P < 0.0001). Contraction-stimulated glucose uptake also correlated with breakdown of ATP and PCr and with reduction in force. Our data suggest that metabolic stress mediates contraction-stimulated glucose uptake.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Back-scattered electron imaging of a non-vertebral case of hypervitaminosis A in a cat.

We describe a clinical case of hypervitaminosis A in a cat. The main lesions were bony fusions of both the hip and stifle joints, without spinal involvement. A post-mortem study using back-scattered scanning electron microscopy (BEI-SEM) revealed that exostoses had formed around the joints without articular surface involvement. The more recently formed areas of bony proliferation were composed mainly of chondroid tissue surrounded by different degrees of woven bone. As the bony reaction occurred, remodelling of the trabeculae was observed which lead to progressive substitution of chondroid tissue by woven bone surrounded by apposition of lamellar bone. No traces of calcified cartilage were observed in any of the bone sections evaluated.

Animals↗

Induction of GLUT-1 protein in adult human skeletal muscle fibers.

Prompted by our recent observations that GLUT-1 is expressed in fetal muscles, but not in adult muscle fibers, we decided to investigate whether GLUT-1 expression could be reactivated. We studied different stimuli concerning their ability to induce GLUT-1 expression in mature human skeletal muscle fibers. Metabolic stress (obesity, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), contractile activity (training), and conditions of de- and reinnervation (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) could not induce GLUT-1 expression in human muscle fibers. However, regenerating muscle fibers in polymyositis expressed GLUT-1. In contrast to GLUT-1, GLUT-4 was expressed in all investigated muscle fibers. Although the significance of GLUT-1 in adult human muscle fibers appears limited, GLUT-1 may be of importance for the glucose supplies in immature and regenerating muscle.

Adult↗

Regulation of glycogen synthesis in rat skeletal muscle after glycogen-depleting contractile activity: effects of adrenaline on glycogen synthesis and activation of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase.

We investigated the effects of insulin and adrenaline on the rate of glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscles after electrical stimulation in vitro. The contractile activity decreased the glycogen concentration by 62%. After contractile activity, the glycogen stores were fully replenished at a constant and high rate for 3 h when 10 m-i.u./ml insulin was present. In the absence of insulin, only 65% of the initial glycogen stores was replenished. Adrenaline decreased insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. Surprisingly, adrenaline did not inhibit glycogen synthesis stimulated by glycogen-depleting contractile activity. In agreement with this, the fractional activity of glycogen synthase was high when adrenaline was present after exercise, whereas adrenaline decreased the fractional activity of glycogen synthase to a low level during stimulation with insulin. Furthermore, adrenaline activated glycogen phosphorylase almost completely during stimulation with insulin, whereas a much lower activation of glycogen phosphorylase was observed after contractile activity. Thus adrenaline does not inhibit contraction-stimulated glycogen synthesis.

Animals↗

Impact of the American Diabetes Association diagnosis criteria on high-risk Spanish population. IGT Research Group. Impaired glucose tolerance.

To research into the impact of the new American Diabetes Association (ADA) diagnostic criteria on high risk Spanish population, two cross-sectional studies involving seven primary health care centers in Catalonia (Spain) were revised. Individuals aged > 40 years with any major risk factor for diabetes were screened according to the World Health Organization (WHO) rules using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test to measure fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2 h plasma glucose. The changes on diabetes prevalence and on epidemiological characteristics were evaluated applying the ADA criteria on the basis of FPG alone. A total of 970 individuals, 453 males (46.7%), mean age 59 years and mean body mass index (BMI) 30.6 kg/m2 were screened. Among the 459 diabetic subjects according to either the WHO or the ADA criteria, 314 (68.4%) were classified as having diabetes with respect to both sets of criteria (WHO and ADA). The overlap between impaired glucose tolerance (WHO) and impaired fasting glucose (ADA) diagnoses was 20.7%. Using the ADA criteria results in a decrease of the prevalence of diabetes by 1.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = -2.2 to -0.8%). No changes in the diabetic phenotype (age, sex and BMI) were found. Impaired fasting glucose prevalence was 18.4% (95% CI = 16-21%). Overall concordance in terms of crude and weighted kappa-value was only acceptable (kappa = 0.51 and kappa = 0.61, respectively). To apply the new ADA diagnostic criteria on high risk Spanish population evidenced a decrease on diabetes prevalence. Nevertheless, the change of criteria undervalued the risk of postprandial hyperglycaemia related to impaired glucose tolerance.

Adult↗

Craniomandibular osteopathy in two Pyrenean mountain dogs.

Craniomandibular osteopathy was diagnosed in two Pyrenean mountain dogs with a history of mandibular swelling, pain, fever and, in dog 1, lameness. Radiographs demonstrated extensive, active new bone formation on the ventral aspect of the mandibular bodies of both dogs. Dog 2 responded well to treatment but dog 1 was euthanased owing to severe pain, dysphagia and unsuccessful treatment. The mandibles were examined by means of back-scattered scanning electron microscopy and a well arranged mineralised trabecular network of chondroid tissue and woven bone was observed. The mandibular cortical bone under the areas of periosteal proliferation was also affected, showing a looseness of the characteristic compact appearance of lamellar bone. This is the first report of craniomandibular osteopathy in this breed.

Animals↗

Improved running economy following intensified training correlates with reduced ventilatory demands.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of three types of intensive run training on running economy (RE) during exhaustive running and to establish possible relationships with changes in ventilatory function and/or muscle fiber type distribution. METHODS: Thirty-six male recreational runners were divided into three groups and assigned to either exhaustive distance training (DT), long-interval training (LIT), or short-interval training (SIT) three times 20-30 minxwk(-1) for 6 wk. VO(2 max) and RE were measured during treadmill running before and after training. Muscle fiber type distribution of the vastus lateralis muscle was established from biopsy material. RESULTS: VO(2max) (Lxmin(-1) increased by 5.9% (P < 0.0001), 6.0% (P < 0.0001), and 3.6% (P < 0.01) in DT, LIT, and SIT, respectively, and running speed at VO(2max) by 9% (P < 0.0001), 10% (P < 0.0001), and 4% (P < 0.05), respectively. Time-to-exhaustion at 87% of pretraining VO(2max) (mean 3.83) mxs(-1) increased by 94% in DT (P < 0.0001), 67% in LIT (P < 0.0001). Running economy improved by 3.1% in DT (P < 0.05), 3.0% in LIT (P < 0.01), and 0.9% SIT (NS): pulmonary ventilation (VE) was on average 11 Lxmin(-1) lower following training (P < 0.0001). The individual decrements in VE correlated with improvements in RE (r = 0.77; P < 0.0001) and may account for 25-70% of the decrease in aerobic demand. Muscle fiber composition, and respiratory exchange ratio, stride length, and stride frequency during running were unaltered with training. CONCLUSIONS: Recreational runners can improve RE and aerobic run performance by exchanging parts of their conventional aerobic distance training with intensive distance or long-interval running, whereas short-interval running is less efficient. The improvement in RE may relate to reduced ventilatory demands. Muscle fiber type distribution was unaltered with training and showed no associations with RE.

Adult↗

Report of a case of pyogenic arthritis associated with Actinomyces pyogenes in a chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica).

A case of pyogenic arthritis associated to an Actinomyces pyogenes infection in a chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) is described. The animal was a 5-year-old female that had been seen alone in a wooded area close to a small town in November 1995, and was lame on one front limb. One month later, it was seen again in a nearby area. Its lameness had worsened and it knuckled on both front limbs while eating. Its nutrition status had worsened considerably. On 8 January 1996 the animal was found dead. It was cachectic, its metatarsal/metacarpal-digital joints were all swollen and its hoofs were longer than normal. The microbiological study of the samples obtained showed a large number of beta-haemolytic colonies subsequently identified as Actinomyces pyogenes. Obligate anaerobic bacteria were not isolated from the samples.

Actinomyces↗

Examination of the thoracic cavity and lung lobectomy by means of thoracoscopy in dogs.

The feasibility of thoracoscopy for viewing the chest cavity and performing pulmonary lobectomy was assessed in 8 mongrel dogs. Previously, selective intubation had been performed in another group of dogs (n = 8) in order to monitor respiratory physiology and assess its safety. Each hemithorax was intubated using a double-barrelled endotracheal tube with one barrel placed in the left main bronchus and the other in the bifurcation of the trachea. The thoracoscope was introduced through a cannula inserted through a 2-cm incision at the ventral third of the left 5th intercostal space. The cranial, dorsal, and caudal surfaces of the pleura, lobes of the left lung, and the mediastinum were examined. A 2nd cannula was located in the dorsal 3rd of the 5th intercostal space with a prior incision and used for the introduction of forceps to separate the viscera. To biopsy, a 3rd cannula was inserted at the dorsal third of the 8th intercostal space with a prior incision, through which a 12-mm diameter stapler was introduced. Should a lobectomy be necessary, a 4th cannula is located in the middle third of the 4th intercostal space. Excision of the left caudal pulmonary lobe was performed through the incision made for the 12-mm diameter cannula (8th intercostal space); a twisting movement facilitated removal. Thoracoscopy is a procedure that can be used in dogs and is particularly suitable for examination, collection of biopsy specimens, and even lung lobectomies.

Anesthesia, General↗

Effects of intensified endurance training on the concentration of Na,K-ATPase and Ca-ATPase in human skeletal muscle.

Thirty-nine moderately endurance trained males increased their normal training programme of 2.2 h week-1 with an average training intensity of 65% of maximum heart rate (HRmax) to 2.7 h week-1 and a mean intensity of 78% of HRmax. Performance tests and measurements of the total concentrations of Na,K-ATPase (3H-ouabain binding) and Ca-ATPase, fibre type distribution and fibre area were performed in biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle before and after increased training. The 6 weeks of training elevated VO2max from 54.9 +/- 3.1 to 58.3 +/- 3.0 ml O2 min-1 kg-1 (P < 0.0001). Exercise time to exhaustion at 86% of VO2max (pre-training) increased from 35 +/- 8 to 61 +/- 17 min (P < 0.0001). The concentration of Ca-ATPase was unaffected by the intensified training (6.74 +/- 1.03 vs. 6.68 +/- 1.07 nmol g wet wt-1), but the concentration of Na,K-ATPase increased from 307 +/- 43 to 354 +/- 59 pmol g wet wt-1 (P < 0.0001). The relative distribution of FT-fibres was correlated with the concentration of Ca-ATPase (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001). The data support the view that intensive training induces an upregulation of the concentration of skeletal muscle Na,K-ATPase, but no change in the total capacity for reaccumulation of Ca2+ into the SR. There was no correlation between the concentrations of Na,K-ATPase, Ca-ATPase and indices of endurance performance.

Adult↗