PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M A Roy

Publications and source records attributed to M A Roy.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Reliability of best-estimate diagnosis in genetic linkage studies of major psychoses: results from the Quebec pedigree studies.

OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic classification and reliability are critical in genetic linkage studies of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. To establish an optimal diagnostic procedure, the authors drew 13 methodological elements from 38 major linkage studies and workshop reports. They determined reliability for a consensus best-estimate diagnostic method based on these 13 features. METHOD: Each of 59 subjects from several large multiplex pedigrees, densely affected by either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, received a best-estimate diagnosis from unblind diagnosticians in the field and also from a panel of four research psychiatrists who were blind to the proband's and relatives' clinical status. The best estimate was based on personal diagnostic interviews, all available medical records, and family history data. RESULTS: The diagnostic concordance between the field team and the blind psychiatric board yielded 78% to 90% agreement for the whole sample (kappa = 0.83-0.88) and 71% to 87% agreement for the subjects given field diagnoses (kappa = 0.76-0.83). The diagnoses made by the unblind field diagnosticians were biased toward a greater severity (or certainty) level in the diagnostic hierarchy (schizophrenic or bipolar) and more consistency with the most prevalent diagnosis affecting the pedigree. CONCLUSION: Since several previous linkage studies used diagnoses made by diagnosticians who were not blind to the status of the probands and the relatives or did not use a consensus best-estimate diagnosis, further reliability studies of different aspects of the best-estimate method and of its effect on linkage studies are needed. Such research is imperative given the serious impact of diagnostic misclassifications on genetic linkage results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma: increasing cure rate in the 1990's.

This review focuses on the epidemiology, risk factors, early detection, and metastatic risk of thin primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. Primary prevention strategies and the results of screening programs and public education campaigns are discussed. Recent advances in the development of noninvasive diagnostic devices for primary cutaneous malignant melanoma are summarized.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Proprioceptive facilitation of muscle tension during unilateral and bilateral knee extension.

The effects of double neuromuscular facilitation (DNF) in unilateral movements and of quadruple neuromuscular facilitation (QNF) in bilateral movements were studied in 42 physically active college-age male subjects. Results showed a 10.4% significant increase of maximal knee extension torque output when unilateral extension was preceded by a knee flexion on an isokinetic exerciser and a 16.7% increase of maximal torque in the bilateral condition of simultaneous alternating flexion-extension when compared to the simultaneous extension movement. Consequently, the increased peak torque observed in the unilateral and bilateral experimental conditions in which knee extension was preceded by a knee flexion appears to be the result of a combination of neuromuscular influences and stored elastic energy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Glomerulonephritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Report of a patient with chronic ulcerative colitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and acute glomerulonephritis.

We report the case of an 18-yr-old man with quiescent ulcerative colitis complicated by concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Findings on immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy suggested that glomerular injury occurred secondary to the deposition of circulating immune complexes. Renal disease responded to treatment with corticosteroids. A review of the literature found similar cases of glomerulonephritis and inflammatory bowel disease, but no previous association with sclerosing cholangitis has been recognized. The pertinent clinical, immunological, and pathophysiological aspects of this association are reviewed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Micronodular cirrhosis after thiabendazole.

Hepatotoxicity secondary to the administration of thiabendazole has been rare since this drug was produced in 1964. In 14 of 15 patients reported previously in the literature, severe intrahepatic cholestasis resolved within seven months of the onset of illness. A recent report documented the progression to cirrhosis in a 15th patient. We report the second case of a patient with intrahepatic cholestasis that developed after treatment with thiabendazole and progressed to severe micronodular cirrhosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1989

Reliability and validity of the Omnitron hydraulic resistance exercise and testing device.

This study assessed the measurement reliability and validity of the Hydra-Fitness Omnitron, a microprocessor-controlled isokinetic ergometer that provides concentric resistance for dynamic extension and flexion movements as well as resistance for isometric contractions. Maximal peak torque output measured by the Omnitron and strain gauge devices connected to the apparatus were compared in 26 physically active males who were tested over 3 days for isometric knee extension and isokinetic knee flexion/extension at two resistance levels. Maximal torque outputs remained stable on days 2 and 3 (p less than 0.05), and intraclass reliability yielded r = 0.94 to 0.98. There was no difference between the slopes of the regression lines for the different experimental conditions (p less than 0.05). There was significant improvement between day 1 and days 2 and 3 that corresponded to a combination of a training and learning effect. Thus, one practice session was necessary to obtain reliable individual differences. The validity correlations between peak torque output measured from the Omnitron and strain gauges were greater than r = 0.94. There was a small discrepancy (0.44 to 0.88 Nm) between the two measuring devices that can be explained by the difference in shank pad positioning that accommodates for different segment lengths. We conclude that reliability and validity were excellent over a wide range of torque outputs measured during maximal isometric and maximal dynamic double concentric flexion and extension movements.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Duodenal Crohn's disease: an analysis of 89 cases.

Duodenal Crohn's disease has an estimated incidence of 1% to 2% among patients with Crohn's disease. We report 89 patients with duodenal Crohn's disease. Common symptoms were upper abdominal pain and symptoms of gastroduodenal obstruction. Contiguous disease of the gastric antrum and duodenum was present in 60% of patients. Endoscopic examination revealed abnormalities in 62 of 67 patients. Granulomas or granulomatous inflammation was found in 37 of 76 patients. Forty-nine patients treated medically were followed up for 2-25 yr (median 9.7 yr). Good to excellent results were obtained in 45 patients. Thirty-three patients required surgical intervention, usually for gastroduodenal obstruction. Reoperation was required in eight patients, seven of whom had had vagotomy with gastroenterostomy or subtotal gastrectomy. In two of these seven patients, marginal ulcers developed. Both patients had had gastroenterostomy and vagotomy. Our experience does not support the routine use of vagotomy when a bypass procedure is performed. Good to excellent results were achieved in 26 of the 30 surgically treated patients followed up for more than 1 yr (1-43 yr; median 11 yr). Measured in terms of need for surgical intervention, gastroduodenal disease generated considerably less morbidity than did distal Crohn's disease (p less than 0.001). Most patients achieved good to excellent results whether treated medically or surgically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Modification in movement accuracy in the triphasic pattern during a rapid forearm-flexion task.

The present study was designed to investigate modifications in the triphasic EMG pattern during a forearm-flexion task at maximum speed which required three levels of movement accuracy. 36 subjects participated in 4 training sessions, performing a total of 200 repetitions of each movement. The fastest movement time was associated with the least accurate movement task. Likewise, the slowest movement time was found for the movement requiring the greatest accuracy. Differences in the duration and amplitude of agonist 1 activity, the start of agonist 2 activity, and the start and amplitude of antagonist activity were observed for the three movements. The results indicate that agonist 1 provides a propulsive force to initiate limb movement. The antagonist EMG activity was thought responsible for braking and correcting limb movement. Modifications in agonist 2 activity suggest this burst is related to movement velocity.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Motion sickness-induced food aversions in the squirrel monkey.

Conditioned aversions to colored, flavored water were established in Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) by following consumption with 90 min of simultaneous rotational and vertical stimulation. The experimental group (N = 13) drank significantly less of the green, almond-flavored test solution than did the control group (N = 14) during three post-treatment preference testing days. Individual differences were noted in that two experimental monkeys readily drank the test solution after rotational stimulation. Only two of the experimental monkeys showed emesis during rotation, yet 10 monkeys in this group developed an aversion. These results that (1) motion sickness can be readily induced in Squirrel monkeys with simultaneous rotational and vertical stimulation and (2) that conditioned food aversions are achieved in the absence of emesis in this species.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Social and reproductive behaviors in surrogate-reared squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).

A colony of 16 surrogate-reared squirrel monkeys was observed for the adequacy of social and reproductive behaviors at maturity. Aside from some self-directed abnormalities centering around nonnutritive orality, this group was behaviorally normal in spite of having no contacts with mother-reared, older conspecifics. Half (N=5) of the females gave birth, with four infants viable. One infant has remained with the colony and is thriving. The other three remained with the group for as long as 42 days before death or removal. Maternal care appeared adequate. Mean estimated conception age for females was 35 months, and the mean impregnation age for males was estimated to be 42 months.

Animals↗