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Biomedical subjects

J Raymond

Publications and source records attributed to J Raymond.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Immunity to and incidence of measles in a population of Parisian children].

BACKGROUND: Measles remains prevalent in France despite the development of nationwide vaccination program. This study evaluates measles immunity and correlates it with active immunization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 250 (131 boys and 119 girls) French children, aged 2 to 15 years, seen as outpatients in our hospital, were studied from 1.01.90 to 1.06.91; 133 had received live measles vaccine during the 2nd year of life, the 117 others were not vaccine-protected. Evaluation included medical records, specially those concerning past-history of measles or measles-like diseases and immunizations. Measles IgG and IgM antibodies (ELISA) were looked for in all 250 children. RESULTS: 102 of the 117 children who were not vaccine-protected had a detectable antibody titer. 42 of these 102 had a history of measles, before the age of 5 years in 30, between 5 and 10 years in 9 and after the age of 10 years in 3. Only 4 of the 70 children aged over 10 years and not vaccine-protected had no detectable antibodies. 131 of the 133 actively immunized children had detectable antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Measles is probably more frequently subclinical than was believed until now. Its relative frequency in France in children who had not received the live vaccine explains the high percentage of those aged over 10 years who had detectable antibodies and the relatively low incidence of the disease in teenagers and young adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Improved food intake and reduced nausea and vomiting in patients given a restricted diet while receiving cisplatin chemotherapy.

Administration of cisplatin alone or in combination with other cytotoxic agents commonly produces intractable nausea and vomiting, which is currently controlled through high-dose antiemetic drugs. However, patients often refuse continued therapy because of suboptimal control of nausea and vomiting and substantial decline in nutritional status. In this pilot study, 19 patients receiving cisplatin were evaluated for nausea and vomiting, amount of food intake, and subjective assessment of well-being. The study group received a colorless, odorless, predetermined meal three times daily; the meal included cottage cheese, apple sauce, vanilla ice cream, and other selected foods. Control-group patients selected their own meal. Study-group patients exhibited higher overall food intake, decreased nausea and vomiting, and a higher scored estimation of well-being. The findings of this preliminary study indicate that the study diet helps provide nutrition care to cancer patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy and helps create an atmosphere where the patient believes he or she has some control in the treatment outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Plasticity mechanisms in vestibular compensation in the cat are improved by an extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761).

The effects of administration of an extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) on vestibular compensation was studied in unilateral vestibular neurectomized cats. This experimental model of CNS plasticity was investigated by using behavioral tests (postural disorders compensation, locomotor balance recovery), electrophysiological (spontaneous and evoked neck muscle activity) and neurophysiological (spontaneous firing rate recovery of deafferented vestibular cells) recordings, and immunocytochemical methods (synaptic loss and synaptic reoccupation within the deafferented vestibular nuclei). In all experiments, EGb 761 was administered over 30 days at daily doses of 50 mg/kg IP. The results showed a faster recovery in the EGb-treated group of cats as compared to an untreated control group. EGb administration strongly accelerated postural and locomotor balance recovery. Concomitantly, spontaneous neck muscle activity, vestibulo-collic reflexes and spontaneous firing rate of vestibular units located on the lesioned side were restored earlier. Morphological correlates characterized by a more rapid synaptic reoccupation were found in the deafferented medial vestibular nucleus by means of immunoreactive labelling using an antibody against a synaptic vesicle-associated protein (synaptophysin), but they displayed a longer time-constant in comparison with the behavioral and neurophysiological data. These results clearly demonstrate that EGb 761 acts on recovery mechanisms considered as key processes in vestibular compensation. They suggest that this substance would possess neurotrophic and/or neuritogenic properties improving functional recovery after CNS injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Immunoturbidimetric assay for estimating free light chains of immunoglobulins in urine and serum.

An immunoturbidimetric assay for the assessment of free kappa and lambda light chains of immunoglobulins was developed using a commercial polyclonal antiserum with reactivity towards epitopes on the light chains, which are not expressed when they are bound to heavy chains. The assay, on a centrifugal analyser, is simple and rapid. The limit of detection is 5 mg/l of free light chain, with an assay range of 5-120 mg/l, intrabatch precisions from 1.5-6.4%, and interbatch precisions from 6.5-8.9%. The assay was only slightly less sensitive than colloidal gold staining of cellulose acetate electrophoreses for the detection of Bence-Jones protein in urine. For the serial monitoring of response to chemotherapy in patients with myeloma, the assay correlated well with serum paraprotein estimates obtained by densitometric scanning of Ponceau stained cellulose acetate electrophoreses, but not with serum beta-2 microglobulin measurements, even after correction for the effects of creatinine. These assays may prove to be of use for the monitoring of tumour response in the treatment of Bence-Jones myeloma.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1991

[A rapid bacteriologic method for the diagnosis and surveillance of nosocomial pneumopathies].

The authors report a rapid quantitative culture of endotracheal aspiration samples in mechanically ventilated children. There was a good correlation (94.7%) between clinical and radiographic features of pneumonia and a cutoff point of 10(5) cfu.ml-1. The sensitivity of this rapid quantitative culture was 85% when compared with usual quantitative culture.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1990

Health risk behaviours and ethnicity in Hawaii.

This study has examined the relationships of health-related behaviours to sociodemographic factors with special emphasis on ethnicity in Hawaii. Behavioural variables investigated were non-use of car seat belts, overweight, physical inactivity, smoking, heavier alcohol use, and driving while intoxicated. Sociodemographic factors considered were ethnicity, island, sex, age, education, employment status, marital status, and household income. Major ethnic groups studied were Caucasians, Hawaiians including part-Hawaiians, Chinese, Filipinos, and Japanese. The relationships of ethnic factors with the behavioural characteristics were studied by logistic regression after fitting significant non-ethnic sociodemographic variables. Multiple risk behaviour was investigated by canonical correlation analysis. Different behavioural factors were found to be associated with different sets of non-ethnic socioeconomic variables. There were significant ethnic differences in individual at-risk behaviours except for driving while intoxicated. Overweight was most prevalent among Hawaiians followed by Caucasians. Caucasians and Hawaiians were at higher risk for non-use of seat belts, cigarette smoking, and heavier alcohol use compared to Chinese, Filipinos, and Japanese. Orientals were physically less active than Caucasians and Hawaiians. Implications of the observed ethnic differences are discussed.

Demography↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of high-resolution computed tomography with discography in the evaluation of lumbar disc herniations.

After failure of conservative treatment, 100 patients with symptoms suggestive of lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) but without objective deficits were investigated both by high-resolution CT (without intravenous or intrathecal contrast) and by discography. The L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs were investigated by both techniques in all patients. In addition, the L3-L4 disc was investigated in 20 patients. The 220 investigated discs were sorted out into 6 CT categories according to morphologic and technical criteria. They were also classified into 3 discographic groups according to morphologic and clinical criteria. Based on morphologic considerations alone, the false-negative CT rates varied from 0 to 64% and the false-positive rates varied from 0 to 19%, depending on the category under consideration. Based on both morphologic and clinical consideration, the false-negative CT rates varied from 34 to 57% and the false-positive CT rates varied from 23 to 50%. Thus, high-resolution CT does not constitute an adequate means of investigation for this category of patients and discography appears justified before considering any form of radical therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Presence of gamma interferon in human acute and congenital toxoplasmosis.

The production of gamma interferon in acute acquired and congenital toxoplasmosis was studied. Gamma interferon was produced at significant titers (P less than 0.001) in the course of both congenital toxoplasmosis and acquired toxoplasmosis at an early stage of infection, when Toxoplasma gondii was multiplying. Its presence in fetal blood was correlated with the positive inoculation of fetal blood or amniotic fluid into mice (95%). The data suggest that the fetus is able to synthesize gamma interferon as early as week 21 of pregnancy. This test, easily and rapidly performed, could be included among those useful for diagnosing fetal toxoplasmic disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Stimulation of radiation-impaired plasminogen activator release by phorbol ester in aortic endothelial cells.

Ionizing radiation has been reported to affect the fibrinolytic activity of exposed tissue. With cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, radiation suppresses the release of plasminogen activator to the conditioned media, with a concomitant increase in intracellular plasminogen activator. Thus study was undertaken to determine whether radiation-impaired plasminogen activator release can be modified by phorbol ester. We exposed cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells to a sterilizing dose of 10 Gy of gamma-rays and found the treatment led to cell injury, as evidenced by an increased release of prelabeled chromium, and to a reduction of plasminogen activator in the conditioned media with elevated intracellular plasminogen activator in irradiated cells. Phorbol ester enhanced plasminogen activator activity in both sham-irradiated and irradiated endothelial cells. It was interesting to note that the increased plasminogen activator in phorbol ester-stimulated sham-irradiated cells was largely retained inside the cell, while it was released to the conditioned media in irradiated cells. Apparently, altered plasminogen activator activity of radiation-sterilized endothelial cells can be modified by exogenous stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

State and federal reimbursement for home nutrition support.

Dietitians offer valuable services to home care agencies and their clients. In order to begin or continue providing such services agencies must be assured of adequate coverage. Since dietary and nutrition services are not covered, as such, under Medicare, agencies should consult with fiscal intermediaries, carriers, and home care accountants on billing and cost-allocation methods.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Quantitative autoradiographic characterization of L-[3H] glutamate binding sites in rat vestibular nuclei.

Quantitative autoradiography has been used to characterize L-[3H] glutamate binding sites and to describe their distribution in frozen sections of rat vestibular nuclei. Scatchard plots and Hill coefficients of glutamate binding suggest that glutamate interacts with a single population of sites having a KD of about 126 nM and a capacity of 2.5 pmol/mg of protein. Although the level of glutamate binding was not very high compared to the highest levels described for some other brain regions, it was nonetheless substantial. The sites were distributed unevenly in the four vestibular nuclei and their distribution correlated well with the projection areas of the vestibular nerve, which has been described as a glutamate-mediated pathway. The highest numbers of glutamate binding sites were observed in the medial vestibular nuclei. This technique provides a very sensitive assay for characterizing the pharmacological subtypes of glutamate binding in the vestibular nuclei and for analyzing changes in these sites during development or after deafferentation of the vestibular nuclei.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Stratification of patients with metastatic prostate cancer based on extent of disease on initial bone scan.

Most patients with metastatic prostate cancer will have metastasis to bone. Such patients are best monitored by serial radionuclide bone scans. One hundred sixty six men with bone metastasis from prostate cancer who received androgen deprivation therapy had their pretreatment bone scans reviewed using a semiquantitative grading system based upon the extent of disease (EOD) observed on the scan. The EOD on the scan correlated with survival. The 2-year survival rates for EOD I to IV were 94%, 74%, 68%, and 40%, respectively. The survival of patients in categories EOD I and IV significantly differed from the other categories. Men with metastatic prostate cancer entered into trials designed to evaluate the impact of treatment on survival should be stratified based upon the EOD on the bone scan. This analysis also indicates that patients in the EOD IV category have a particularly poor prognosis and may be candidates for alternative treatments.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Superselective cerebral arterial infusion of BCNU in high-grade glioma: the radiologist's point of view.

Thirty-two patients suffering from high-grade glioma were candidates for superselective cerebral arterial infusion of 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) after surgery and radiation therapy. There were 74 catheterizations using an 8-French guiding catheter through which a 2.5-French balloon catheter was placed into the main arterial trunk feeding the tumor. Eleven procedures were abandoned because of arterial spasm with a transient neurological deficit or because of prolonged catheterization time. Sixty-three infusions of BCNU were done, each lasting three hours. Eighty-one percent of patients showed stabilization or improvement on computed tomographic (CT) scans five weeks after treatment. We thus demonstrate the safety of supraophthalmic catheterization, the feasibility of prolonged catheterization, and the relative effectiveness of low doses of BCNU infused over a long period of time in the treatment of cerebral gliomas.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Appearance and development of neuron-specific enolase immunoreactivity in organotypic cultures of mouse embryo otocysts.

The appearance of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) immunoreactivity was studied in sensory and vestibular ganglion cells during the development of mouse embryo otocysts grown in vitro from the 13th gestation day. NSE appeared sequentially in the ganglion and sensory cell populations of the inner ear with a pattern that paralleled their successive maturation. Comparison with NSE immunoreactivity profile during in vivo development shows that NSE appears earlier during organotypic in vitro maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

In vitro differentiation of mouse embryo statoacoustic ganglion and sensory epithelium.

Interactions between the statoacoustic ganglion and sensory vestibular epithelia have been investigated using different methods of organ and tissue cultures taken from mouse embryos on gestation day 13. Ultrastructural and biochemical observations of the degree of maturation of vestibular sensory cells and ganglion neurons grown in co-culture showed that these structures are able to replicate their in vivo ontogenic maturation and form specific 'functional' links, although anomalies in development were noted. The completion of ultrastructural sensory hair cell development in isolated otocyst organotypic culture is in agreement with previous findings supporting the hypothesis that nerve fibers do not exert any direct trophic influences on the survival and maturation of sensory epithelia. Morphological and immunocytochemical observations of vestibular and cochlear ganglion neuron differentiation in isolated cultures showed that these neurons can differentiate without their peripheral and central target structure. Possible interactions at earlier stages cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to determine whether interactions between hair cells and ganglion cells can modulate their in vitro maturation under different experimental conditions.

Animals↗