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Biomedical subjects

M Marchand

Publications and source records attributed to M Marchand.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Characterization of the genes for fructose-bisphosphate aldolase in Trypanosoma brucei.

In Trypanosoma brucei stock 427 the glycolytic enzyme fructose-bisphosphate aldolase is encoded by two tandemly linked genes of identical sequence. Such a tandem arrangement of aldolase genes is also present in other T. brucei stocks of unrelated origin. In stock 427 one of the allelic genes is a pseudogene, as a result of a one-nucleotide deletion. The genes code for a polypeptide of 371 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight of 40,940. The protein that is predicted from the gene sequence has 45-48% positional identity with known aldolase sequences of other organisms. The trypanosomal protein is, however, unique in having a 10 amino-acid insertion near its N-terminus and high number of basic residues, a feature it shares with other glycolytic enzymes of T. brucei. These glycolytic enzymes have in common that they are located in microbody-like organelles, the glycosomes. We have previously proposed that the positively charged residues may be involved in the import of the proteins into the organelles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

[Pre- and postoperative study of arrhythmia in atrial septal defects (ostium secundum and sinus venosus)].

An electrophysiological study was carried out pre- and postoperatively in 25 patients (children and adults) presenting with an atrial septal defect of the ostium secundum type (OSASD). The purposes of the study were to find out whether early electrophysiological abnormalities were present in children, to compare the results obtained in children and in adults and to evaluate the impact of surgery by comparing preoperative and late postoperative electrophysiological data. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I was composed of 11 children (mean age 8.18 +/- 1.03 years) with a mean pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio of 2.33 +/- 0.24. Group II comprised 14 adults (mean age 36.79 +/- 4.89 years) with a mean pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio of 3.42 +/- 0.24. Preoperatively, in group I 55 p. 100 of the patients (6/11) had sinus node dysfunction, 18 p. 100 (2/11) had disturbances of atrioventricular conduction, and none had atrial dysrhythmia. Preoperatively, in group II 43 p. 100 of the patients (6/14) had sinus node dysfunction, 36 p. 100 (5/14) had disturbances of atrioventricular conduction, and 36 p. 100 (5/14) had sustained atrial dysrhythmia (flutter or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). The frequency of sustained atrial dysrhythmia correlated positively with the patient's age and with the presence of sinus node dysfunction. Following surgical closure of the atrial septal defect, the electrophysiological parameters were not significantly modified in both groups. This study confirmed the presence of early electrophysiological abnormalities of sinus node function and atrioventricular conduction in children with OSASD. The most significant finding in adults was the occurrence of atrial dysrhythmias in the oldest patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Large patent ductus arteriosus and interventricular communication associated with congenital absence of the pulmonary valve].

A case of pulmonary valve agenesis with ventricular septal defect and large patent ductus arteriosus is reported in a neonate. Heart failure occurred at 10 days of life; clinical examination showed continuous murmur. Echocardiography and angiocardiography visualized a major dilatation of the pulmonary artery. At cardiac catheterization there was an important left to right shunt through a large ductus, and pulmonary hypertension. There was also marked pulmonic regurgitation. Because of respiratory distress, ligation of ductus arteriosus was performed at 5 weeks of life. Five years later the patient is still in good condition. Patent ductus arterious is rarely associated with pulmonary valvular agenesis and ventricular septal defect. Our case is not explained by the fetal circulation theory described in this heart malformation.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1988

[Control of the patency of coronary-internal mammary artery bypasses by non-selective angiography].

98 successive coronary bypasses using the internal mammary artery were controlled systematically, at an early stage, about the 17th postoperative day, by non selective brachial angiography using a retrograde injection. This control method, simple, quick, reliable and non-aggressive, enables to visualize the internal mammary artery and the bypassed coronary vessel, over its entire length. There were no failure in the control, nor any local or general complication during this examination. The overall patency of such bypasses, evaluated with this method, is 98 p. cent in our series, with however, 12 p. cent of angiographic aspects of a poorly functional bypass. These aspects are related to a slow flow in the by-pass (spindly internal mammary artery, anastomotic stenosis or thin distal bed of the bypassed coronary artery), or to a competitive flow (non significant coronary stenosis). The perfusion of the bypassed coronary, which is not so well studied in the literature, is important to analyze and difficult to evaluate with our technique because of the static views that are used. A similar non-selective angiographic method using a dynamic recording (radio-cinema with dual incidence) is currently being evaluated.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Rules and incentives for hospitals: the Belgian financing system.

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the set of rules and mechanisms that control the financing of Belgian hospitals. It emphasizes their effects on economic incentives for hospital managers and physicians. For this purpose, it is first necessary to understand how the social security system and the health care sector are organized in Belgium. The paper first describes their main features. The paper then gives an historical overview of recent developments in the financing of Belgian hospitals. It emphasizes the double source of hospital revenues, i.e., patient per-diam prices and medical practice fees, although its main concern is with the evolution of the rate-setting process for the per-diem prices. Since the 1981 decision to freeze the per-diem prices and patient-day quotas for individual hospitals, proposals for changes in the financing system have been under study. Implementation of some of these changes began in 1986. The major modification involved is to correct historical per-diem prices by means of interhospital cost comparisons. The paper ends with a critical appraisal of these latest developments. It focuses on the advantages and shortcomings of the pre-1986 system and of the recent changes. The accent is put on the economic incentives and their effects on the behavior of hospitals.

Belgium↗
PubMed1987

Variants with reduced virulence derived from Leishmania major after mutagen treatment.

After several in vitro treatments of a virulent population of Leishmania major with the mutagen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), five clones (vir-) were obtained that did not produce cutaneous lesions after subcutaneous injection of 10(6) promastigotes. All the control clones (vir+) obtained from the non-mutagenized parasite population produced progressive cutaneous lesions with as few as 10(3) parasites. Late lesions were observed occasionally after injection of 10(7) vir- parasites. These late lesions appeared to result from the selection of virulent revertants, since parasites isolated from these lesions produced progressive lesions in BALB/c mice almost as readily as the control parasites. Two vir- clones, one vir+ clone and one revertant clone were examined for survival in BALB/c macrophages in vitro. All clones were taken up by the macrophages and transformed into amastigotes. However, vir- clones failed to multiply inside the macrophages. A vir- clone was found to protect mice against a subsequent challenge with vir+ parasites.

Agglutination↗
PubMed1987

Computerized single-breath nitrogen washout in children: variability and reproducibility.

The variability, short-term (1 hour) and long-term (2 weeks) reproducibility of the variables derived from the single-breath N2 test were evaluated in a group of 56 healthy children aged 10 to 16 years with a computerized system. The variability was low for vital capacity and total lung capacity (coefficient of variation less than 3%), moderate for residual volume and phase III N2 slope (9 and 13%) and very high for closing volume (more than 50%). A closing volume could not be identified by the computer algorithm in 18.3% of the trials. The reproducibility of the variables was satisfactory both at 1 hour and at 2 weeks, with the exception of the closing volume, whose increase at 2 weeks seemed to be due to methodological factors. We conclude that reliable results of static lung volumes and phase III N2 slope, but not of closing volume, may be obtained in children by a computerized system in epidemiological studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Massive hemolysis and acute mitral insufficiency one year following mitral valve repair. Apropos of a case].

The authors report a case of massive haemolytic anaemia with acute mitral valve regurgitation and left cardiac failure, which occurred one year after surgical reconstruction of the mitral valve for rupture of smaller leaflet chordae. Anaemia, mitral regurgitation and cardiac failure disappeared after mitral valve replacement, using a Carpentier Edwards No. 29 valve. Haemolytic anaemia following mitral valve reconstruction is exceptional. It seems to be due to the suture material lying in a turbulent regurgitation stream when mitral incompetence develops again.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

[Effect of loperamide on fecal flora of children with severe prolonged diarrhea].

Loperamide has recently been proposed in the management of infants with severe protracted diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of loperamide (0.5 mg/kg/d) on fecal flora in 19 cases of severe protracted diarrhea. Criteria analysed were: clinical tolerance (vomiting and abdominal distension) and efficacy (number of stools, transit time and Na/k in stools); complete identification and counts of aerobic and strict anaerobic bacteria in fresh stools before and 4 to 8 days after the beginning of loperamide. Parental and/or oral alimentation remained unchanged during the entire study. Clinical resolution of diarrhea was rapid (less than 24 h) in 9 of 14 patients. In 2 cases ileus was observed and resolved when loperamide was discontinued. Although important changes in specific fecal flora counts was noticed for streptococcus D and proteus as compared to 5 controls, no bacterial overgrowth appeared or was worsened during loperamide treatment.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1986

[Inferior vena caval return to the left atrium with intact interauricular septum. Apropos of 2 cases surgically treated with success].

Two cases of abnormal inferior vena caval return to the left atrium are reported in a 9 year old boy and 13 year old girl. The diagnosis was suspected on the finding of severe cyanosis alone, and the anomalous systemic venous return was correctly identified by angiography of the inferior vena cava. There were three angiographic points of interest in these two cases: the normal position of the inferior vena cava, the absence of a left-to-right interatrial shunt and the presence of a vertical intra-left atrial "membrane" inserted behind the orifice of the inferior vena cava. Surgical correction consisted in resecting the inferior part of the interatrial septum and reconstructing a new septum behind the orifice of the inferior vena cava with a dacron patch in one case and by direct suture in the other. The good surgical result was controlled by angiography in both cases. In the second case, an intrapulmonary shunt due to multiple arteriovenous fistulae demonstrated by contrast echocardiography was responsible for persistent mild cyanosis for a few months after surgery. The long-term clinical results were excellent in both cases. The authors review the literature of this rare malformation due to persistence of part of the right valve of the sinus venosus.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗