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Biomedical subjects

L Perlemuter

Publications and source records attributed to L Perlemuter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of obesity on respiratory resistance.

To assess the effects of obesity on pulmonary function, 46 healthy subjects exhibiting various degrees of obesity underwent lung function tests. Subjects were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): 13 had minimal obesity (BMI, 25 to 29 kg/m2, group 1); 24 had a BMI in the 30 to 40 range (group 2); and 9 displayed to morbid obesity (BMI > 40, group 3). Respiratory resistance was estimated by the forced random noise oscillation technique and airway resistance was determined by body plethysmography. Lung volumes and expiratory flows were also determined and significant negative correlations with BMI were found. Expiratory flows diminished in proportion to lung volumes, and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity was within normal limits. Although expiratory flows did not suggest bronchial obstruction, both respiratory resistance and airway resistance rose significantly with the level of obesity (p < 0.005 and p < 0.025, respectively), from 3.2 (+/- 0.02) and 3.2 (+/- 0.02) cm H2O.s.L-1, respectively, in group 1, to 5.5 (+/- 0.06) and 5.0 (+/- 0.05), respectively, in group 3. Evaluation of the factors responsible for this increased resistance disclosed a significant linear correlation between airway conductance and functional residual capacity (r = 0.70, p < 10(-4)), but specific airway conductance was found to be independent of the degree of obesity. The difference between respiratory resistance and airway resistance did not widen significantly according to the level of obesity, suggesting that chest wall resistance was not a factor enhancing these resistances. Taken together, these findings suggest that in addition to the elastic load, obese subjects have to overcome increased respiratory resistance resulting from the reduction in lung volumes related to being overweight.

Adolescent↗

Smell dysfunction and related factors in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze smell function in diabetic patients and healthy control subjects, with reference to individual characteristics and major complications of the disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of smell recognition in 68 diabetic patients and 30 control subjects without known cause of smell impairment was conducted. Smell was studied using a kit of flavors that patients were asked to recognize, leading to a smell recognition score ranging from 0 (no recognition) to 20 (perfect recognition). Demographic and clinical data, and the electrogustometric threshold were recorded in both groups. Metabolic control and degenerative complications were studied in diabetic patients. RESULTS: The SRS was significantly lower in diabetic patients than in control subjects (12.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 15.1 +/- 0.5, P < 0.001). By use of univariate and multivariate analyses, this difference could not be explained by individual factors such as age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, or tobacco or alcohol consumption but was related to diabetes. SRS correlated with EGT (r = 0.70, P < 0.001). In the diabetic group, SRS was associated with age (r = 0.29, P < 0.05), duration of diabetes (r = 0.27, P < 0.05), microalbuminuria (12.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 14.4 +/- 0.9, P < 0.05), peripheral neuropathy (10.3 +/- 1.0 vs. 14.1 +/- 0.9, P < 0.01), and EGT (r = 0.39; P < 0.001). By use of multivariate analysis, the strongest association was found with EGT (R2 = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that smell recognition is impaired in patients with diabetes mellitus. Smell dysfunction is associated with age and degenerative complications of diabetes, suggesting a degenerative mechanism related to diabetes.

Adult↗

[Glycemic index of foods].

The glycaemic index of foods describes the hyperglycaemic effect of isolated foods. It is measured by the ratio of the area under the glycaemic curve observed after ingestion of a 50 gram carbohydrate dose of the tested food to the area observed after ingestion of the same amount of a reference food (white bread). The glycaemic index classification provides an approach of the diabetic diet based on the glucose response to foods. Widely accepted when applied to isolated foods, its clinical utility during mixed meals remains discussed. The improvement of the average metabolic control which can be expected from its use is modest. However, its major interest could be observed during snacks and meals in order to control precisely post-prandial glucose variations, in association with blood glucose self-monitoring. As it allows high sweet taste-low-glycaemic index-carbohydrate foods to be consumed, it could significantly improve the quality of life of diabetic patients.

Blood Glucose↗

Reproducibility of glucose and insulin responses to mixed meal in type II diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The reproducibility of glucose and insulin responses to a mixed meal were studied in 24 consecutive non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetic patients, the diet of which matched the tested diet. Patients received their usual treatment throughout the study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A standardized diet was followed for 3 days, and responses were measured on the 2nd and 3rd days. Glucose and insulin responses were studied after lunches with the 180-min positive area under the curve, and were analyzed with paired t test and Pearson's linear regression. RESULTS: Glucose responses did not vary (217 +/- 50 vs. 217 +/- 38 min x mM, NS) and were significantly correlated (r = 0.64, P less than 0.01). Insulin responses did not vary (35,224 +/- 5768 vs. 35,305 +/- 7779 min x pM, NS) and were strongly correlated (r = 0.83, P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that glucose and insulin responses to a test meal are reproducible in type II diabetic patients.

Blood Glucose↗

Factors related to the electric taste threshold in type 1 diabetic patients.

To specify the factors related to taste function in Type 1 diabetes mellitus, 50 diabetic out-patients and 50 control subjects paired for age and sex were screened for taste disorders. None of them consumed significant amounts of alcohol, smoked, or had disease or took drugs capable of altering taste. Taste was studied with electrogustometry, retinopathy was detected by fluorescein angiography, nephropathy by measurement of albuminuria and microalbuminuria, peripheral neuropathy by electroneurography and electromyography, and autonomic neuropathy by cardiovascular function tests. The electrogustometric threshold was, on average, significantly higher in the diabetic group (133 +/- 30 microA) than in the control group (29 +/- 9 microA; p less than 0.001). Electric hypogeusia (electrogustometric threshold greater than 100 microA) was found among 54% of the diabetic patients vs 2% of the control subjects (p less than 0.001). In the diabetic group, the electrogustometric threshold was associated with complications of diabetes, especially with peripheral neuropathy (210 +/- 24 vs 90 +/- 22 microA; p less than 0.001) and microalbuminuria (185 +/- 25 vs 86 +/- 21 microA; p less than 0.01). It was correlated with age (r = 0.37; p less than 0.01) and duration of diabetes (r = 0.52; p less than 0.001) but not with HbA1c (r = -0.04). Using multivariate analysis, duration of diabetes and peripheral neuropathy had the strongest association with taste impairment. These results support previous findings, suggesting that taste impairment is a degenerative complication of diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

Blood glucose area under the curve. Methodological aspects.

To specify the influence of methods used in estimating area under the curve (AUC) and the meaning of total and incremental AUC, 75 glycemic responses to a mixed meal were studied in 75 diabetic patients, 39 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 36 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. AUC was integrated with five computerized methods: polynomial interpolation of third and fourth degree, trapezoidal rule, Simpson's integration, and cubic interpolatory splines. Although these methods gave significantly different results (P less than 0.001), a strong correlation was found between estimations of AUC with different methods (r greater than 0.99, P less than 0.001). In addition, variation between methods was less than or equal to 2%, whereas the coefficient of variation between subjects was 38%. Total AUC was strongly correlated with basal blood glucose value (r = 0.90, P less than 0.001), whereas incremental and positive AUC were not (r = 0.12 and 0.07, respectively, NS). Incremental and positive AUC were strongly correlated with glycemic rise (r = 0.89 and 0.93, respectively, P less than 0.001), whereas total AUC was only slightly so (r = 0.31, P less than 0.01). Incremental and positive AUC gave slightly but significantly different information on glucose response. These results suggest that variations related to the method used in estimating AUC are not clinically relevant and that a simple method such as trapezoidal rule can be used. Total AUC is a descriptive factor related to basal blood glucose value, whereas incremental and positive AUC more accurately describe glycemic response to foods.

Analysis of Variance↗

Taste impairment and related factors in type I diabetes mellitus.

To study taste in type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, 57 consecutive diabetic outpatients (mean +/- SE duration of diabetes 11.4 +/- 0.4 yr) and 38 control subjects were screened for taste disorders with electrogustometry and chemical gustometry. Both groups were comparable for all subject characteristics except body mass index, which was higher in the diabetic group (P less than .05). A taste impairment was found in the diabetic group relative to the control group with electrogustometry (mean threshold 184.3 +/- 15.8 vs. 58.7 +/- 9.2 microA; P less than .001) and chemical gustometry (mean score 13.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 17.1 +/- 0.8; P less than .001). Hypogeusia was found among 73% of the diabetic patients versus 16% of the control subjects (P less than .001). The four primary tastes were involved in taste impairment. With multivariate analysis, taste disorders were related to diabetic status and tobacco and alcohol consumption. In the diabetic group, taste impairment was significantly associated with complications and duration of disease. With multivariate analysis, peripheral neuropathy had the strongest association with taste disorders. These results suggest that taste is impaired during the course of type I diabetes mellitus and that taste impairment could be a complication of the disease. A mechanism of the neuropathic type could be involved.

Adult↗

[Taste disorders and associated factors in type 1 diabetes].

In order to study taste in type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent), 57 consecutive diabetic patients (mean duration of diabetes +/- SEM = 11.4 +/- 0.4 years) and 38 control subjects underwent electrogustometry and chemical gustometry. The diabetic and control group were comparable with the exception of the ponderal index which was significantly higher in diabetics (p less than 0.05). A deterioration in taste appreciation was confirmed in the diabetic group compared to the control group on electrogustometry (mean threshold: 184.3 +/- 15.8 vs 58.7 +/- 9.2 mu A; p less than 0.001) and chemical gustometry (mean score: 13.2 +/- 0.7 vs 17.1 +/- 0.8; p less than 0.001). Electrical hypogueusia was found in 73% of the diabetics compared to 16% of controls (p less than 0.001). The 4 primary tastes were involved in the deterioration. Multivariate analysis associated the taste disorder with the diabetic status of the subjects, their alcohol and tobacco consumption. In the diabetic group the deterioration in taste was associated with the complications and duration of diabetes. On multivariate analysis peripheral neuropathy had the strongest association with taste disorders. These results suggest that deterioration in taste occurs during the progression of type 1 diabetes and that the taste disorder could be a degenerative complication of the disease. A neuropathic type mechanism could be involved.

Adult↗

[Taste in healthy subjects. Influence of alcohol and tobacco consumption].

To define the factors which may affect gustatory function, 42 healthy subjects, without any apparent taste disorder were randomly selected and investigated by electro-gustometry and chemical gustometry. A deterioration in taste discrimination was noted in drinkers in comparison with non-drinkers, both on electro-gustometry, mean threshold (SEM: 88.0 +/- 26.5 versus 47.4 +/- 7.3 microA; p less than 0.05), and also on chemical gustometry (15.1 +/- 2.1 versus 17.4 +/- 0.7; p = 0.05) and also in smokers compared with non smokers (mean of electrical thresholds SEM 104.2 +/- 22.8 versus 38.3 +/- 5.2 microA; p less than 0.01, mean of chemical scores SEM 14.3 +/- 1.1 versus 17.9 +/- 0.9; p less than 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated the influence of the two factors alcohol and tobacco on taste, evaluated by electrogustometry (R2 = 0.36) or chemical gustometry (R2 = 0.28). These results suggest that alcohol and tobacco are liable to influence gustatory function in healthy subjects thereby suggesting that this influence should be taken into account using a corrective factor.

Adult↗

[Changes in the level of anti-insulin antibodies and circulating immune complexes in diabetics treated with human insulin or monocomposed porcine insulin for a year. A multicenter study].

A double-blind multicentre study was performed during 1 year in 54 insulin-dependent diabetics, comparing human hemi-synthetic insulin and porcine MC-insulin. Anti-insulin antibodies and circulating immune-complexes significantly decreased in the human insulin group and were stable in the porcine insulin group. The level of antibodies was higher in patients with insulinic lipodystrophies. HbA1c, C-peptide, glucagon-stimulated levels and the number of hypoglycemias, were not significantly different in the two groups. These results confirm that human insulin is less antigenic than porcine insulin.

Adult↗

Gonadotropin responses to low dose pulsatile administration of GnRH in a case of anosmia with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with gonadal dysgenesis 47 XXY.

A 25 year old man presented hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with complete anosmia (Kallman's syndrome). His chromosomic type was 47 XXY (Klinefelter's syndrome). Clinical findings were: height 183 cm, weight 62 kg, increased length of lower limbs, P2-A2 pilosity and micropenis. Only a left testis was present (1.5-1.5 cm). Bone age was 15. Testicular biopsy showed that the signs were more related to the gonadotropic deficit than to the gonadal dysgenesis; tubular hyalinization was not observed. Plasma levels of testosterone and oestradiol were very low. Plasma gonadotropin levels were below normal ranges and did not respond to an infusion test of GnRH. GnRH was administered iv every 90 min for 3 weeks by an auto syringe infusion pump and induced a pulsatile response of FSH and LH. Plasma levels of testosterone and oestradiol were unaffected. It may be concluded that the results of pulsatile injection of GnRH confirmed in this patient a unique association of Kallmann's syndrome with complete 47 XXY Klinefelter's syndrome.

Adult↗

[Insulinoma: diagnostic elements. 13 cases].

The mean age of the 13 patients studied (9 women, 7 men) was 50.5 +/- 15.7 years. The disease was discovered on account of malaise (3 cases), behavioural disorders (4 cases), coma (3 cases), syncope (1 case) or right hemiparesis (1 case) or in the course of systematic examination (1 case). Eleven patients consulted for evaluation of hypoglycaemia and 2 for behavioural disorders. The history was characteristic, with malaise, loss of consciousness, severe neurological disorders (seizures, hemiparesis, hemiplegia or coma) and psychiatric disorders. These symptoms typically occurred in the morning before breakfast or between meals in 9 patients, and atypically at any point of time or after meals in 4 patients. Their hypoglycaemic nature was demonstrated by blood glucose determination in 11/13 cases and by response to ingestion of sugar in 12/13 cases. The mean period elapsed between the initial symptoms and the final diagnosis was 20.3 +/- 17.3 months. Inappropriate insulin secretion was elicited a.m. before breakfast, during Conn's diet or fasting test, or by calculating the blood insulin/glucose ratio or Turner's coefficient. Prior to surgery, the insulinoma was located by ultrasonography in 3/8 cases, by computerized tomography in 2/6 cases, by selective arteriography in 6/11 cases, and by phlebography with spleno-portal catheterization and staged sampling for insulin and C-peptide assays in 8/9 cases. Histological examination after surgery (11 cases) or necropsy (1 case) showed an adenoma without evidence of malignancy.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

[Current aspect of Sheehan's syndrome. 20 cases].

The 20 women investigated were 22 to 59 years old (average 35.9 +/- 2.3 years) when the diagnosis of Sheehan's syndrome was confirmed. Fourteen had had previous pregnancies, 6 were primiparas; average parity was 4. The patients were delivered in hospital, in France, in 14 cases, and abroad (Algeria, Portugal) at home in 6 cases. A history of severe haemorrhage during delivery was recorded in all but 2 cases. This was serious enough to warrant hysterectomy in 2 cases. Agalactia and amenorrhea were observed in all but 1 case in the immediate post-partum period. Transient polyuria and polydipsia occurred in 3 patients. In the months following birth, most women lead restricted lives; they were apathetic, asthenic and indifferent. The diagnosis was established under three different circumstances: in the majority (15/20) on clinical grounds, in 3 cases after acute adrenal failure, in 2 cases, fortuitously. Clinical examination showed signs of global anterior hypophyseal insufficiency involving thyroid, adrenal and gonad stimulating hormones in 14 cases; in 6 cases, the pituitary failure was dissociated. Corticotrophin, somatotropin and prolactin deficiencies were observed in all patients; gonadotrophin (17/20) and thyrotrophin (16/20) deficiencies were common. The diagnosis was confirmed less than 1 month (2 cases) to over 12 years (7 cases) after obstetric haemorrhage (average 6.9 +/- 1.9 years). No correlation was observed between the severity of the syndrome and this time interval. The short term outcome was favourable with return of menstruation and even pregnancy in one patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗