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Biomedical subjects

M Coppens

Publications and source records attributed to M Coppens.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Carbohydrate metabolism during hormonal substitution therapy.

Oestrogens and progestogens are known to influence glucose tolerance. Impairment of glucose tolerance is seen in particular among users of progestogens with androgenic properties. Dydrogesterone is frequently used as the progestogen adjunct during oestrogen substitution therapy for the management of climacteric complaints in post-menopausal women. However, no detailed data have been published concerning its effects on carbohydrate metabolism. In this study, 20 healthy post-menopausal women received equine oestrogens at a dose of 0.625 mg/day for 2 mth, following which dydrogesterone was added cyclically (20 mg/day for 12 days/mth) over a period of 6 mth. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed before and after each treatment regimen. In relation to the concentrations observed after oestrogen was given alone, dydrogesterone induced only a small increase in blood insulin values which was not statistically significant. The effect was similar to that produced by endogenous progesterone, which is known to be of no clinical significance.

Blood Glucose↗

Tarsal tunnel syndrome: clinical and pathological results.

The tarsal tunnel syndrome is a complex entity. The condition results from a compression of the posterior tibial nerve, either at its terminal or collateral branches, at the tibio-astragalo-calcaneal canal of Richet. A retrospective study of 27 consecutive cases, treated by epi- or perineural neurolysis, illustrates the variability of the clinical picture but fails to confirm the complete and immediate success of the intervention, as reported by the majority of authors. However, the long-term follow-up shows a significant improvement in the terminal latencies of the posterior tibial nerve at 2 years post-surgery. A pathological study of 20 cadaveric feet discloses microscopic anomalies in 22 of the 120 nerve biopsy specimens.

Adult↗

Oligohydramnios, renal insufficiency, and ileal perforation in preterm infants after intrauterine exposure to indomethacin.

Three preterm infants exposed antenatally to indomethacin developed a characteristic syndrome consisting of edema and hydrops with a bleeding disorder at birth, oliguric renal failure during the first 3 postnatal days, and acute pneumoperitoneum resulting from localized ileal perforation(s) at the end of the first week of life. Despite the value of indomethacin for arresting preterm labor, the physician must take into account the potential hazards of drug toxicity.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome and 45X karyotype.

A review of 63 patients with 45X karyotype (Turner's syndrome) admitted to a hospital from 1972 to 1985 showed that 20 (32%) had one or more major cardiac malformations (mostly coarctation and aortic stenosis). Four (20%) died in the neonatal. One infant had mitral stenosis and severe aortic stenosis and died at the age of 35 days. The three (15%) other patients who died had a typical hypoplastic left heart syndrome, with an atretic aortic valve in two and pinpoint aortic valve in one. Turner's syndrome was clinically suspected in three of the cases. One of these had mosaicism (46XX,45X) the others had a 45X pattern. During the same period (1972-85) 39 patients (14 girls and 25 boys) were admitted with diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Three (21.4%) girls had a 45X karyotype. The high incidence of hypoplastic left heart syndrome in Turner's syndrome and of Turner's syndrome in girls with hypoplastic left heart syndrome suggests that hypoplastic left heart syndrome can be another expression of the 45X karyotype.

Female↗

Endometrial response to the use of a sequential oral contraceptive.

Belgium is 1 of the few countries where sequential oral contraceptives are still commercially available. The authors investigated the endometrial effect of Ortho-Novum SQ (14 tablets of 100 mcg mestranol and 7 tablets of 100 mcg mestranol + 2 mg norethisterone) in 222 biopsy specimens obtained from 184 asymptomatic Caucasian women (mean +or- s.d, age and parity, 34.6 +or- 6.7 and 2.0 +or- 1.0, respectively) who had used this sequential OC during an average of 52.5 months. Notwithstanding predominantly longterm use of Ortho-Novum SQ, 43% of the tissue samples had normal proliferative or luteal endometrium. The data suggest a positive correlation between the endometrial response and the duration of pill use. No premalignant or malignant changes were found. In 15 of 24 subjects for whom multiple biopsy specimens were available, the histological picture was static; 7 showed regression and only in 2 were the changes progressive, although never more severe than minor 'class 2' lesions. These results, which are at variance with those reported for users of other sequential brands (mainly Oracon), suggest that prolonged use of Ortho-Novum SQ does not enhance the risk of endometrial cancer in premenopausal women having no additional risk factors for the development of this type of neoplasia.

Anatomy↗

[Aortic aneurysm. External reinforcement by a resorbable prosthesis].

A case of fusiform aneurysm of the abdominal aorta discovered during a septic procedure is presented. The aneurysm showed signs of impending rupture. The aorta was strengthened by external grafting using resorbable material. The patient died two months later of his underlying disease. The histology of the aorta and surrounding tissue is described. The repair proved to be satisfactory.

Aged↗

The factor which aggregates nematode, yeast and liver phosphoglycerate kinase in tRNA.

1. A factor isolated from the free-living nematode, Turbatrix aceti and from yeast, causes aggregation of phosphoglycerate kinase from nematodes, yeast and rat liver. The rat muscle enzyme is not affected. 2. The aggregation factor is either identical to or very similar to tRNA, Pure tRNA from yeast or Escherichia coli, when mixed with nematode, yeast or rat liver phosphoglycerate kinase causes the enzyme to aggregate to higher mol. wt forms. Both the natural factor and tRNA bring about similar changes in the behavior of nematode phosphoglycerate kinase. 3. The tRNA does not remain bound to the enzyme though it appears to cause a sequential aggregation from monomer to tetramer. 4. No conclusion could be reached as to whether the factor plays a physiological role or if it is simply tRNA fortuitously present during purification of the enzyme.

Animals↗

Effect of aging on enolase from rat muscle, liver and heart.

Muscle enolase (2-phospho-D-glycerate hydrolase, EC 4.2.1.11) and liver enolse from young and old rats have been purified to homogeneity and several properties of the respective young/old pairs, including Km, behavior on polyacrylamide gels, sensitivity to heat and specific activity have been compared. No difference has been detected. On the other hand, the heart isozyme shows an age-related increase in a heat-sensitive form of the enzyme. The results strongly support the idea tht some enzymes become altered in aging animals but others do not.

Aging↗

Nutritional factors and conditions for the axenic culture of free-living nematodes.

1. Soy-peptone has been fractionated to yield a series of increasingly purified components which sharply increase the populations of Caenorhabditis briggsae and Caenorhabditis elegans when added to the basal medium. The nutritionally active material appears to be a small polypeptide. 2. C. briggsae and C. elegans routinely reach populations of 150,000/ml or greater in 9 days in still culture, starting from an inoculum of only 500 organisms per ml. C. elegans is particularly sensitive to the depth of the medium. However, large populations can be achieved in deep cultures if continuous shaking is carried out. 3. Panagrellus silusiae shows improved populations if the basal medium is supplemented with the nutritional factor from soy-peptone. However, 0.5% acetic acid or 1% ethanol added to the medium serves equally well. There is no additive effect of ethanol and the factor.

Animals↗

Interruption of aortic arch and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Interruption of the aortic arch and hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the same patient is exceptional. In the combined collections of the Registry of Cardiovascular Disease (St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.) and the Registry of Congenital Heart Defects of the Rijksuniversiteit Gent (Gent, Belgium) three specimens were found with this unusual combination. These cases are herein described and compared with four similar cases previously reported in the literature.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Computerised analysis of fetal behaviour.

Conventional analysis of fetal behaviour is laborious and time-consuming. For it to have a role in a clinical setting, practical and more objective methods are necessary. We describe a computerised fetal behavioural analysis programme. Fetal behaviour (in the form of heart rate and movement) was recorded using a conventional Doppler ultrasound transducer. Data are presented comparing the method with conventional forms of behavioural analysis and documenting its limitations.

Computer Simulation↗

Chronic diarrhoea in non collagenous microscopic colitis: therapeutic effect of cholestyramine.

Chronic watery diarrhoea is the main symptom of the microscopic colitis syndrome, including collagenous colitis (CC), lymphocytic colitis (LC), and not otherwise specified (NOS) colitis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal effect of cholestyramine in non collagenous microscopic colitis. The records of 13 patients with LC and 7 patients with NOS, who had received cholestyramine as first line therapy and who responded to a questionnaire, were reviewed. On an intention to treat basis, a good clinical effect of cholestyramine was achieved in 75 % of the patients in both LC and NOS colitis. There was no therapeutic effect in 15 % of the patients, who all had LC. In general, the anti-diarrhoeal effect appeared within one week of treatment. Cholestyramine provides a rapid and adequate symptomatic relief of the diarrhoea in non collagenous microscopic colitis.

Adult↗