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Biomedical subjects

M Decoulx

Publications and source records attributed to M Decoulx.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Hypertension in the elderly. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of labetalol and nifedipine. A multicenter, randomized, single-blind study].

This randomized multicentre study in elderly hypertensives with two unbalanced groups (2 patients under labetalol for 1 patient under nifedipine) compared the efficacy and safety of labetalol, whose dosage could be adjusted (1, 2, then 3 tablets/day) according to blood pressure level (BP greater than or equal to 160/95 mmHg), to that of nifedipine given at its recommended dosage (2 tablets/day). The treatment period lasted 6 weeks (D42). The main judgment criteria was the rate of patients with normalized BP under treatment (SBP less than 160 and DBP less than 95 mmHg). The analysis was carried out on 170 patients, 112 labetalol and 58 nifedipine. Both groups were homogeneous when entering into the study. The only difference was a higher rate of smokers in the nifedipine group compared with labetalol's (29% vs 13%). The rate of patients with normalized BP (SBP less than 160 and DBP less than 95 mmHg) were 66% in the labetalol group and 48% in the nifedipine's (p less than 0.05). Treatment withdrawals for all causes during the study were more frequent in the nifedipine group (19%) than in the labetalol's (6%). Treatment withdrawals for adverse events occurred in 3.5% of patients in the labetalol group and in 12% of the nifedipine's. The overall adverse events rate was 9% with labetalol and 29% with nifedipine (p less than 0.001). In this comparative study in elderly hypertensives, labetalol given in a dose titration schedule proved significantly superior to nifedipine, given at recommended maximal dosage, in terms of both BP control and side effects profile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

Current concepts in primary hyperparathyroidism.

622 patients were operated on between 1966 and 1988. Urolithiasis was the most common presenting symptom (26%) but routine measurements of serum calcium led to detect 50% cases. At present, the disease is three times more frequent in women than in men. Estrogenic deprivation, neck irradiation (3.4%) and lithium therapy favor the occurrence of hyperparathyroidism (HPT); frequent association with goiter (19.8%), diabetes (8.3%) and multiple endocrine neoplasia (3.5%) has been noticed. Bone Gla protein concentrations correlate with calcium and HPT blood concentrations but do not reflect the severity of bone damage. Dual photon absorptiometry is now available for quantification and follow-up of bone demineralization, especially in asymptomatic forms of HPT.

Humans

Long term treatment with the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 in a patient with a thyrotropin- and growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma.

A patient with a mixed pituitary tumor secreting TSH and GH was treated, starting 3 months after partial adenomectomy, with the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 for 8 months. Somatostatin itself inhibited TSH, GH, and alpha-subunit release by the tumor both in vivo and in vitro. Long term treatment with twice daily sc injections of SMS 201-995 resulted in decreased TSH secretion and lower serum thyroid hormone levels. However, euthyroidism was achieved only when the patient was treated with three daily 200-micrograms injections of SMS 201-995. After 30 weeks of SMS 201-995 therapy, TSH secretion increased, while GH secretion remained suppressed. After withdrawal for 6 months, SMS 201-995 (100 micrograms, sc, twice daily) again completely inhibited TSH secretion. SMS 201-995 did not alter the volume of the residual adenomatous tissue. We conclude that SMS 201-995 may be a valuable therapeutic agent for the management of patients with a thyrotroph adenoma. However, desensitization may occur during long term treatment.

Adenoma

[Histomorphometric data in 5 cases of pseudohypoparathyroidism: discussion on bone sensitivity to parathyroid hormone].

We studied 5 patients (aged 8 to 18) presenting chronic calcipenia with hyperphosphatemia and an increase in C terminal-specific immunoreactive parathyroid hormone. Systematic radiography of the hands revealed 2 cases with signs of subperiosteal resorption characteristic of hyperparathyroidism and 2 cases of cortical fibrillation. These cases were monitored by measuring phosphate levels in the urine after injection of parathyroid hormone (Ellsworth-Howard test), by determining urinary elimination of cyclic AMP after injection of parathyroid hormone (Chase-Aurbach test) and by assaying cyclic AMP levels in the plasma after intravenous administration of parathyroid hormone (Tomlinson-Hendy test). These 3 measurements revealed no changes upon injection of parathyroid hormone, even after administration of vitamin D, thus suggesting renal resistance to parathyroid hormone. The absence of cyclic AMP secretion is suggestive of perturbation of the membrane receptor. Histomorphometric study of the bones showed an increase in resorption and osteoid areas and in the relative osteoid volume without modification of osteoid thickness, which is very suggestive of an effect of parathyroid hormone on the bone. Pseudohypoparathyroidism was, then, characterized by renal resistance to parathyroid hormone and an effect of the latter on bone cells.

Adolescent

[Bone involvement in hypothyroidism in adults. Apropos of 20 patients].

Although bone changes in hyperthyroidism are well known, they have been much less studied in hypothyroidism and we set out to establish whether they did occur in the latter condition. We present the results of a prospective study of 20 adult patients, with acquired primary hypothyroidism. No changes in urinary or blood calcium or phosphorus metabolism were observed and serum parathormone, 25-hydro, 125-dihydro and 24-25-dihydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were normal. Histological examination of iliac crest bone biopsy after double labelling with tetracycline showed normal bone trabeculation volume, surface of resorption and rates of calcification. However, the relative osteoid volume was increased and there was a much higher osteoid thickness index. These observations may be explained by a global decrease in the activation and activity of the multicellular units of bone remodeling due to the general slowing of cellular metabolism encountered in that condition.

Adult

[Sensitivity of bone to parathyroid hormone in type I pseudohypoparathyroidism. 6 cases].

The sensitivity of bone to parathormone in pseudoparathyroidism is not well known. Six patients with Type I pseudohypoparathyroidism (4 with Albright's osteodystrophy) had increased alkaline phosphatase levels (5 patients) and radiological signs of periosteal resorption in the hand in one case. All patients had histological signs of increased surfaces of resorption and periosteocytic lacunae, increased osteoid surfaces and relative osteoid volume with no change of the index of osteoid thickness. These changes are identical to those observed in hyperparathyroidism which leads on to the discussion of the role of the increased parathormone secretion induced by the lack of calcium on the remodeling of bone. Our six cases show that there is no bone resistance to parathormone. The diversity of bone changes in hyperparathyroidism, similar to that of primary hyperparathyroidism, is without doubt dependent on the degree of renal insensitivity to PTH through the inactivation of vitamin D.

Adolescent

Dopamine-secreting pheochromocytoma: an unrecognized entity? Classification of pheochromocytomas according to their type of secretion.

A pheochromocytoma that exclusively secretes dopamine (DA) rather than predominantly DA among a blend of catecholamines is as yet unreported. Of the 50 patients with pheochromocytoma who have undergone surgery, 32 underwent treatment within the last 5 years (when DA assay has been available). One half of these patients (15/32) exhibited DA secretion either in mixed catecholamines (12 patients) or exclusively (three patients). All three patients with exclusive DA-secreting tumors were normotensive. Without hypertension, the clinical investigation was a diagnostic challenge (unexplained cough or flank mass with inflammatory features). All three tumors were malignant and two were ectopic. Five of the 12 patients with mixed catecholamine-secreting tumors whose secretions included DA were hypertensive. Five other patients had flank mass and one had an unexplained cough. Tumors were rather large, and three of the tumors with mixed secretion were ectopic. Of the 12 patients, seven had tumors that were judged to be malignant. Three patients exhibited a dramatic decrease in blood pressure under alpha-blockade, which was not used in subsequent cases. Predominant or exclusive secretion of DA would explain the lack of hypertension due to its antiadrenergic action that inhibits the vasoconstrictive effects of other amines. Hypertension in patients with pheochromocytoma might depend on the ratio of DA/noradrenaline + adrenaline.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

[Bone effects of hypothyroidism in adults. Apropos of 20 cases].

In contrast to the complications of hyperthyroidism, the bone lesions associated with hypothyroidism have not been extensively studied. A prospective study was conducted in 20 adults with protothyroid acquired hypothyroidism did not reveal any abnormalities in the parameters of phospho-calcium metabolism or the concentrations of PTH and the metabolites of vitamin D. The histomorphometric study of bone revealed hyperosteoidosis reflected by a considerable increase in the index of thickness of the osteoid, essentially affecting the relative osteoid volume. The surfaces of resorption and the bony trabecular volume were within normal limits and the rate of calcification was slightly decreased. The modifications of the histomorphometric investigation can be interpreted as a consequence of the slowing down of the basal osseous activity (BMR) due to thyroid hormone deprivation.

Adult

[Wermer's syndrome (author's transl)].

The authors present a brief report on a familial case of Wermer's syndrome, and review the principal characteristics of this "multiple endocrine neoplasm" which usually affects the parathyroids, pancreas, and anterior pituitary.

Adult