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Biomedical subjects

L Roy

Publications and source records attributed to L Roy.

121 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Effects of a modified dance-based exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness, psychological state and health status of persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

Cardiorespiratory function and exercise tolerance appear very limited in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Many studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise training is beneficial to prevent physical deconditioning without inducing adverse effects on an individual's joints and general health. The present study was conducted to demonstrate that a dance-based exercise program is a safe and efficient activity to improve physical fitness and psychological state in persons with RA. A group of 19 persons (mean age, 49.3 +/- 13 yr) participated in a 12-wk exercise program (twice weekly), whereas 10 persons (mean age, 49.4 +/- 12 yr) served as controls. Health status, use of medication, joint pain and swelling, physical fitness, activity of daily living and psychological state were assessed at baseline, after the 12-wk training program and 6 mo after the end of the program. Exercise training induced a mean improvement of 13% in aerobic power, with the highest values reaching 40%. No significant changes were observed in joint status, even though the count of painful joints tended to decrease in the exercise group. Positive changes in depression, anxiety, fatigue and tension were observed after the 12-wk exercise program. These findings provide some evidences in favor of aerobic exercise in individuals with RA. Furthermore, it is of primary interest to note that a weight-bearing activity with limited ground impacts do not provoke short-term adverse effects on joint status. Further studies, however, are required to determine the long-term effect of weight-bearing exercise on the health status of individuals with RA.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Blount's disease: a review of 8 cases (author's transl)].

The authors have reviewed eight cases of infantile tibia vara. All were treated operatively. Five patients were young children (less than 5 years old); they were treated by a single osteotomy into valgus and lateral rotation. Three children were older at the time of surgery. The deformity recurred in all of them and a second operation was required of elevation of the lateral tibial plateau and lateral epiplysiodesis. The authors emphasise the need for early correction of deformity to produce better mechanical function of the knee and balanced epiphyseal growth.

Age Factors↗

Effects of a fish oil supplement on blood pressure and serum lipids in patients treated for coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a concentrate of fish oil on blood pressure and serum lipids in patients treated for coronary artery disease. DESIGN: One hundred and twenty-five patients were randomly assigned to receive 15 g/day MaxEPA (4.5 g eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids) or olive oil. Blood pressure and serum lipids were measured at enrollment and six months thereafter. MAIN RESULTS: As an important proportion of antihypertensive or antianginal drug users stopped their usual medication during the trial, blood pressure increased in both groups. The increase in systolic blood pressure was less in the fish oil group than in the control group (P = 0.002). Serum triglyceride levels decreased markedly in the fish oil group while they remained constant in the control group (P = 0.0001). Fish oil supplementation had no effect on total cholesterol and only marginal independent influence on high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, fish oil supplementation has a beneficial effect on blood pressure and serum triglycerides in patients treated for coronary artery disease.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

[A retrospective study on the use of preoperative percutaneous drainage in uncomplicated obstructive jaundice].

This study concerns a retrospective analysis of the use of preoperative percutaneous biliary drainage in the treatment of obstructive jaundice complicated or not by cholangitis. From 1980 to 1987, 87 patients were selected; among these, only those with bilirubin greater than 5 mg% and an overt indication to surgery were included in the study. It was so possible to match two relatively homogeneous populations, e.g. patients submitted to preoperative drainage vs patients not drained. According to our experience, a preoperative percutaneous biliary drainage does not affect postoperative mortality, incidence of immediate postoperative complications and length of hospitalisation. These results are probably linked to a predominant use of the drainage in absence of infectious complications.

Cholestasis↗

Untreated scoliosis in the adult.

Untreated scoliosis affects the quality of life and is a disabling disease in the adult. Most patients can expect back pain, particularly after the age of 30, and one in 4 may be disabled by it. The majority of adults are embarassed by their deformity. Women, in particular, are less likely to marry. Surgical treatment of the adult is difficult and hazardous, and is associated with socioeconomic problems not encountered in the adolescent. Scoliosis should be treated definitively before the end of the period of growth.

Adolescent↗

[Advances in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux. Intraoperative calibration of posterior fundoplication].

Posterior partial fundoplication can be as effective as total fundoplication in the long-term control of gastroesophageal reflux if the gastric fundus valve is encircled around the distal esophagus for no less than 270 degrees to obtain effective pressures in the newly built sphincter. In order to minimize the adverse effects, to reach constant results and to guarantee the reproducibility of the technique we have modified the 270 degrees posterior fundoplicatio (formerly described by Lind) according to the following principles: 1) the length of the gastric valve must be limited to 3 cm for each side of the esophagus; 2) the gastric valve must be fixed to the right and left side of the hiatal orifice by a single stitch; 3) the gastric valve must be calibrated with an intraoperative manometry, this allowing the standardization of the valve pressure to an average value of 35 mmHg by varying its wrapping angle; 4) the hiatal orifice must not be closed unless it is large enough for thoracic migration of the gastroplasty. Since 1984 to 1991 43 patients with proven gastroesophageal reflux not controlled by medical treatment were submitted to surgery. Twelve Nissen procedures (NP) and 31 posterior calibrated fundoplications (PCF) were performed; PCF seemed to be superior to NP in terms of postoperative mobility. After two years 20 patients treated with PCF were evaluated clinically, manometrically and by 24-hour pH monitoring. No dysphagia was reported; in two patients a pH-metric, asymptomatic relapse was observed, while one patient complained mild and occasional heartburn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calibration↗