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Biomedical subjects

K Van Camp

Publications and source records attributed to K Van Camp.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Parent information binder: individualizing education for parents of preterm infants.

To assist the parents of preterm infants at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada, we have developed a unique and creative method of individualizing parent information: The parent information binder (PIB). This method has supported a shift from nurse-directed education to parents as partners in their own education. Parents and health care professionals utilize the PIB collaboratively to facilitate organization and collection of information, which is individualized according to the infant's level of wellness and the parents' readiness to receive the information. This approach empowers parents to be active and integral participants in decisions regarding their infants' hospital care.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy in the treatment of chronic abacterial prostatitis: a 2 years follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment, applied as a single session of 1-hour duration. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A group of 11 patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis, who failed to respond to a variety of conventional treatments, underwent this therapy in our centre. RESULTS: The results after two years of follow-up are encouraging: 88% remain free of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Thermotherapy seems to add a new alternative for this hard to manage disease.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Sterilization and the mentally handicapped: who decides?].

At the moment sterilization of mentally handicapped persons is carried out in a medical and a legal vacuum in Belgium as well as abroad. To give an adequate answer to the problem of sterilization of mentally handicapped adolescents in medical practice, Dr. J. Denekens undertook an extensive literature review and an empirical investigation comprising case-studies of 52 adolescents, their parents and family doctors. The adolescents, between the ages of 16 and 21, were selected at random from students attending schools for mentally handicapped persons in the province of Antwerp during the school year 1989-1990. This study and investigation resulted in the formulation of medical and ethical criteria to assist decision makers confronted with a request for sterilization from or on the behalf of a mentally handicapped person who may be unable to decide this issue alone. These criteria have been ordered in a useful and practical algorithm that enables a motivated, logical and ethically responsible decision to be taken. A proposal of procedure for such a sterilization request has been elaborated. The medical-ethical criteria, the algorithm and the procedure proposal come out right in time as the European Parliament is discussing a motion that deals with the legal part of the subject.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Role of penile nocturnal tumescence and rigidity measurement in the diagnosis of erectile impotence.

Reviewing a group of 100 patients undergoing nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity measurement (NPTR), we tried to define normal values and compared these results with those of other authors. We also tried to answer two important questions: Is an abnormal NPTR registration always a proof of biogenic impotence? Is a normal NPTR always a proof of psychogenic impotence?

Erectile Dysfunction↗
PubMed1990

Potency and selectivity of the aromatase inhibitor R 76,713. A study in human ovarian, adipose stromal, testicular and adrenal cells.

The effects of R 76,713 on steroidogenesis were studied in primary cultures of four different human cell types, i.e. ovarian granulosa cells, adipose stromal cells, testicular cells and adrenal cells. In human granulosa cells aromatization of [1 beta, 2 beta-3H]androstenedione (as measured by the release of tritiated water) showed a Km (Michaelis constant) of 78 nM. R 76,713 competitively inhibited aromatization with a Ki (dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex) of 1.6 nM. In human adipose stromal cells aromatization was measured by following the conversion of androstenedione to estrone and 17 beta-estradiol. In this system a Km for aromatization of androstenedione of 10.8 nM was found. R 76,713 again showed competitive kinetics with a Ki-value of 0.14 nM. In human testicular cells the synthesis of the androgens testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone was only inhibited by drug concentrations exceeding 10(-6) M. At 10(-5) M of R 76,713, steroid concentrations were lowered to 56, 64 and 81% of the control for testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone respectively. Concomitantly, a slight increase in the levels of pregnenolone (138% of the control) and progesterone (133% of the control) was seen. In human adrenal cells the synthesis of cortisol and aldosterone was slightly affected by R 76,713 also at concentrations exceeding 10(-6) M. At 10(-5) M of R 76,713 the concentrations of cortisol and aldosterone were lowered to respectively 59 and 51% of the control. At the same drug concentration the precursors 11-deoxycortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone rose to 189 and 147% of the control. These results show that in primary cultures of human cells, R 76,713 is a very potent aromatase inhibitor with a selectivity of at least 1000-fold compared to other steps in steroidogenesis.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1989

Blood viscosity parameters in coronary heart disease: effect of fish oil supplementation.

We have evaluated blood viscosity parameters in 20 men suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) and in 15 control subjects. Whole blood viscosity at a standardized haematocrit of 45% was significantly increased in the CHD-patients, both at low (p less than 0.001) and high (p less than 0.05) shear rate. The increased whole blood viscosity in these patients was explained by an increased plasma viscosity (p less than 0.01), while the erythrocyte suspension viscosity values at a standardized haematocrit of 70%, reflecting erythrocyte deformability, were within the normal range. We have studied the effects of a daily supplementation of 1.5 g omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on blood viscosity in the CHD patients. After 6 weeks of treatment whole blood viscosity, at low and high shear rate, and plasma viscosity were significantly improved (all p less than 0.05), although not normalized. There was no effect of the fish oil on erythrocyte deformability.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Comparative effects of ketoconazole on rat, dog and human testicular steroidogenesis.

Ketoconazole is an antifungal azole derivative which also inhibits the cytochrome P-450(17)alpha, catalyzing the conversion of progestins into androgens. The effects of ketoconazole on human, dog and rat testosterone biosynthesis were compared using short term incubations of dispersed testicular cells. The results showed that ketoconazole inhibited androgen biosynthesis at lower concentrations in dispersed human testicular cells (IC50: 0.08 mumol/l) than in canine (IC50: 0.1 mumol/l) and rat cells (IC50 greater than or equal to 0.2 mumol/l). Furthermore, they demonstrated that ketoconazole first inhibited the 17,20-lyase activity and then the 17-hydroxylation in rat and dog cells whereas only the 17-hydroxylation was affected in human cells.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in prostate and testis of wild animals and some histological remarks.

The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme pattern of prostate and of testis of 27 wild animals showed that in several species more than 5 isoenzymes are detected, with electrophoretic mobilities different to those found in humans. The LDH-X band, found in testis from mature humans is also observed in the testis of wild animals. However, in several species more than one LDH-X is found. The results obtained demonstrate their usefulness in phylogeny. The prostate gland and testis of the chimpanzee show the greatest resemblance to man. Histological examination of the prostate glands seems to correlate with the phylogenetical classification of the mammals studied.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Clinical aspects in the surgical treatment of varicocele in subfertile men. I. Comparison of observed and expected pregnancy rates.

Ninety-six couples, consulting for primary (n = 73) or secondary (n = 23) infertility, and thought to be infertile due to a varicocele in the husband associated with sperm abnormalities, were subjected to a follow-up study. Of these, 57 were surgically corrected and 39 were not, depending only on the patient's choice. All women were intensively treated where necessary. From our data we conclude that (1) fertility prognosis is significantly better in couples with secondary subfertility than in couples with primary subfertility, (2) surgical correction of varicocele in cases of secondary subfertility does not increase subsequent pregnancy rates, and (3) surgical correction of varicocele in cases of primary subfertility significantly increases subsequent pregnancy rates, since cumulative observed pregnancy rates are more than double the cumulative theoretically expected treatment-independent pregnancy rates.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Clinical aspects in the surgical treatment of varicocele in subfertile men. II. The role of the epididymal factor.

Ninety-six couples, consulting for primary (n = 73) or secondary (n = 23) infertility, and thought to be infertile due to a varicocele in the husband associated with sperm abnormalities, were subjected to a follow-up study. Of these, 57 were surgically corrected and 39 were not, depending only on the patient's choice. All women were intensively treated where necessary. All patients who were corrected were subjected to scrotal exploration in a search for epididymal anomalies. From our data we conclude that (1) on a statistical basis, comparing observed with expected pregnancy rates, varicocelectomy is useful in primary infertility and unnecessary in secondary infertility and (2) on an individual basis, patients with primary infertility and 'pure' varicoceles have a better prognosis than patients with concomitant epididymal dysfunction.

Epididymis↗
PubMed1988

Assay of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in serum by fluorometry of 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamine.

A new fluorometric assay for determining dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV; EC 3.4.14.5) was developed. The synthetic substrate glycyl-L-proline-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide (20 mmol/L), Tris buffer (50 mmol/L, pH 8.3), and serum (20 microL) are mixed and incubated. The reaction is stopped with citrate (100 mmol/L, pH 4.0) and the released 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamine is measured fluorometrically. The mean value of DPP IV activity in serum for 64 healthy subjects was 58 (SD 16) mumol of 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamine released per liter of serum per minute. The proposed procedure is sensitive, rapid, and accurate and can easily be automated.

2-Naphthylamine↗
PubMed1987

Kininase I activity in human fluids and tissues of the urogenital tract.

Kininase I (EC 3.4.17.3) activity has been determined in human fluids and tissues of the urogenital tract. Benzoyl-glycyl-L-arginine and benzoyl-glycyl-L-lysine were used as substrates. The cleaved benzoyl-glycine was measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Results obtained showed a high enzymatic activity for kidney cortex. Normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic adenocarcinoma showed similar enzymic values. The activity of kininase I was higher in normal serum than in the tissues studied.

Carboxypeptidases↗
PubMed1985

Tripeptidyl carboxypeptidase activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme in human tissues of the urogenital tract.

The tripeptidyl carboxypeptidase activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) has been determined in several human tissues of the urogenital tract. Benzoyl-glycyl-L-seryl-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanine was used as substrate. The cleaved benzoyl-glycine was measured by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. Results obtained showed a high enzymatic activity for seminal plasma, vesicula seminalis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Normal prostate and in particular prostatic adenocarcinoma have low enzymatic activity. The activity of the enzyme is sensitive to inhibition by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and complement C4 in human benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The concentrations of the globulins alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and complement C4 have been determined in tissue samples of benign prostatic hyperplasia, from patients with and without prior treatment before open surgery. Globulins have been determined by means of radial immunodiffusion. Results obtained show that alpha 1-antitrypsin is present in high concentrations in human prostate. Treatment with anti-androgens influences the alpha 2-macroglobulin concentration in the different prostatic lobes. Complement C4 concentration is not influenced by the treatment.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1983

Polyamine profiles in human pathological prostate tissue.

Polyamine concentrations were determined in homogenized specimens of human prostatic tissue obtained at open surgery from patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy, some of whom had been treated with oestrogens or anti-androgens, and from patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma in whom the tissues were removed by transurethral resection. The results show that in treated benign prostatic hyperplasia there is a lower polyamine concentration. Homogenates of tissues from patients with prostatic cancer show no specific polyamine profile.

Adenocarcinoma↗