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Biomedical subjects

M P Noel

Publications and source records attributed to M P Noel.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Does language really matter when doing arithmetic? Reply to Campbell (1998)

Campbell (1998) has questioned the conclusion of Noël et al. (1997) and has argued that alternative analyses of their data provide strong evidence that arithmetic performance is subject to reading-based interference and provide some support for the language-specificity of number-fact memory. We consider that Campbell reached conclusions different from those we had obtained because (1) he performed his analyses on a different data set (i.e. including also the table-unrelated errors), (2) he has given a double weight to the naming errors and (3) he has multiplied the analyses without correcting the corresponding P values. We thus consider that there exist interactions between language and performance in simple multiplication tasks, but that the current data can easily be explained without postulating that such interactions operate at the level of the retrieval stage. In other words, we consider that there are not definitive arguments, as yet, in favour of the hypothesis of modality-specific arithmetical-fact networks.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Tuberculosis, mycobacterium infection and hairy cell leukemia].

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of tuberculosis and/or mycobacteria infection is particularly difficult in immunocompromised patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the clinical presentation, means of diagnosis, treatment and outcome of tuberculosis in a retrospective study of 6 patients among 75 with hairy cell leukemia diagnosed from 1982 to 1995. RESULTS: Hearlding symptoms of tuberculosis diagnosis were: fever (6/6), weight loss (4/6), pleural effusion (1/6), superficial adenopathy (1/6), persistence of cytopenia or splenomegaly during the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. Pulmonary symptoms were present in only two cases. Diagnosis was obtained by positive culture of mycobacteria in 2 cases (Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pleural effusion, Mycobacterium kansaii in adenopathy). Microbiological diagnosis was never obtained from sputum (6/6). Diagnosis was obtained by histopathology in all cases: from bone marrow (2 cases), lymph nodes (2 cases), liver (1 case), spleen (1 case), umbilical fat (1 case). Tuberculosis was disseminated in all cases. By clinical, biological, microbiological histopathological means and response to treatment, tuberculosis was considered as: hematopoietic in all cases, hepatic (in 4/6), pleural (1/6), pulmonary (1/6). A favorable outcome of tuberculosis was observed in all cases. No death was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis was found in 8% of hair cell leukemia patients. In hairy cell leukemia, tuberculosis is characterized by few pulmonary symptoms and scarse microbiological documentation. In contrast, histopathology is very interesting to confirm diagnosis. Tuberculosis is in most cases disseminated and in particular hematopoietic diffusions is always present. In spite of existensive localization, the prognosis remains excellent and all patients can be cured. In our opinion, this good prognosis may be linked to the improvement of hairy cell leukemia treatment observed since the advent of interferon pentostatin and 2cdA.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Good predictive value of combined cytogenetic and molecular follow up in chronic myelogenous leukemia after non T-cell depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a report on 38 consecutive cases.

We prospectively performed repeated cytogenetic and PCR monitoring of residual disease in all cases Ph positive of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) allografted with non T cell depleted marrow at our institution over a period of 8 years. Thirty eight patients who survived the immediate post transplant period could be analyzed (median of 3 cytogenetic analyses/patient, examining 100 mitoses, and 4 PCR analyses/patient). Seven of the 38 patients had a hematological relapse (which was extramedullary in one case) and one a purely cytogenetic relapse, possibly stabilised by interferon treatment. Within 6 months of transplant, Ph positive mitoses were seen in 2 patients, and positive PCR in most cases, without implying subsequent relapse. Six of the 32 patients analyzed cytogenetically more than 6 months post transplant had Ph positive mitoses on at least one occasion: 5 had a hematological relapse within 7 months of positive cytogenetic analysis, and the remaining patient, treated by interferon remained in purely cytogenetic relapse. (The extramedullary relapse was not preceded by a positive marrow karyotype). Eight of the 38 patients had positive PCR findings on at least one occasion more than 6 months post transplant. Seven relapsed (6 hematological relapses including the extramedullary relapse, and 1 cytogenetic relapse) after 3 to 20 months, but the remaining patient remained in CR 36 months later, with negative PCR. The 30 patients who never had positive PCR findings remained in CR. In this relatively large series of patients, we found a good correlation between PCR findings more than 6 months post transplant and remission or relapse status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Autologous bone marrow transplantation as consolidation therapy may prolong remission in newly diagnosed high-risk follicular lymphoma: a pilot study of 34 cases.

We evaluated early intensification followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) using marrow purged by mafosfamide in patients with high-risk low-grade follicular lymphoma (LGFL) reaching a status of minimal disease (MD). Thirty-four patients entered the program. All fulfilled at least one of the following criteria at diagnosis: a bulky tumor > 7 cm; three or more adenopathies > 3 cm; massive pleural or peritoneal effusion; massive splenomegaly; B symptoms; platelet count < 100 x 10(9)/l. Twenty-one patients had bone marrow involvement. Twenty-six patients received ACVBP, and eight CVP as front-line therapy. Twenty-one (62%) patients achieved MD status, 18 reached intensification. At 4 years, the time to treatment failure is 55 +/- 9%, and the probability of persisting remission is 75 +/- 11%. Comparison by intention to treat of the 26 patients who received ACVBP as front-line therapy to 14 historical high-risk LGFL similarly treated in our institution without intensification, showed better results for the intensified group (P = 0.04 for both probability of persisting remission and time to treatment failure). These results indicate that early intensification using marrow purged with mafosfamide is a therapeutic option which may bring benefit to patients with high-risk LGFL.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Quantitation of absolute regional myocardial perfusion using cine computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a method for quantitation of regional myocardial perfusion using cine computed tomography. BACKGROUND: Cine computed tomography is a relatively new cardiac imaging technique with excellent temporal and spatial resolution. Application of this technique to the study of human coronary circulation could substantially broaden our knowledge of human cardiac pathophysiology. This goal has been previously approached with some success. However, no method to date has shown validated accuracy of regional perfusion measurements over the entire range of physiologically important flow states. METHODS: Eight anesthetized dogs underwent thoracotomy for instrumentation. They were then studied during baseline flow conditions, after coronary vasodilation with intravenous dipyridamole and after coronary stenosis or occlusion. Regional myocardial perfusion was assessed by cine computed tomography using a method that includes estimates for myocardial blood volume and rate of myocardial enhancement after an aortic root contrast medium infusion. Measurements made nearly simultaneously by the radioactive microsphere method served as a reference standard. RESULTS: A total of 32 perfusion conditions were studied with a range of 4 to 593 ml/min per 100 g. There was reasonable agreement between the two methods of measurement throughout the whole range of perfusion states: r = 0.97, regression slope 0.99, intercept 2 ml/min per 100 g. In zones not subserved by a stenosed or occluded artery, cine computed tomography accurately depicted perfusion homogeneity with a coefficient of variation of 13 +/- 1% (mean +/- SE) versus 11 +/- 1% for the microsphere method (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Cine computed tomography is capable of providing accurate, quantitative assessment of regional myocardial perfusion over a broad range of perfusion states. This method, if extended to the study of humans, could enhance the understanding of disorders of the coronary circulation in human cardiovascular disease states.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Measurement of right ventricular volume using cine computed tomography.

Volume measurements of the right ventricle are clinically important, particularly in the assessment of congenital heart disease. The complex configuration of the right ventricular cavity, however, makes assessment of its volume difficult. Cine computed tomography (CT) permits depiction of cardiac anatomy in parallel, sequential, high-resolution tomographic images. To test whether cine CT would allow accurate, reproducible determination of right ventricular volumes, 11 excised, fixed canine hearts were scanned ex vivo. The endocardial contours of the right ventricular cavity were traced by two independent observers. The right ventricular cavity areas were measured in each image and right ventricular volume calculated by a Simpson's rule approximation. Actual right ventricular volume (range 24-86.5 mL) was measured by cavity fluid capacity. Right ventricular volumes derived from cine CT data correlated closely with actual volumes (R = .96, cine CT volume = 0.99 X [actual volume] + 0.2 mL). Interobserver correlation was excellent (R = .99). It is concluded that cine CT scanning permits accurate, reproducible determination of right ventricular volume ex vivo. This technique should be immediately applicable to the noninvasive evaluation of right ventricular function in children and adults.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Finite element analysis of myocardial diastolic function using three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstructions: application of a new method for study of acute ischemia in dogs.

The effect of acute myocardial ischemia on the myocardial elastic modulus has been a matter of controversy. To evaluate this question, diastolic elastic modulus was assessed by finite element analysis of left ventricular geometry using three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstructions and right and left ventricular pressure recordings. Elastic properties were estimated before and after coronary occlusion in 6 open-chest dogs. Elastic modulus values were derived by means of a computer program that determined the global elastic modulus that best predicted the diastolic changes in left ventricular geometry. In the finite element analysis after coronary occlusion, two analyses were performed: one utilizing the control elastic modulus for all segments of the left ventricle and one in which ischemic (dyskinetic) segments were assigned a higher elastic modulus. Results showed that the control elastic modulus was a poor predictor of diastolic left ventricular expansion after coronary occlusion. The finite element analysis in which the ischemic segments were assigned a higher elastic modulus better predicted ischemic diastolic wall motion patterns. Error values (difference between predicted and actual left ventricular segmental diastolic motion) were: control, 1.9 +/- 0.3 mm (mean +/- SD), ischemia, 2.9 +/- 0.5 mm, and 2.2 +/- 0.4 mm using the stiffer elastic modulus for ischemic segments. Error values were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) under ischemic conditions when the control elastic modulus was uniformly applied compared with control and ischemia with dyskinetic segments assigned a higher elastic modulus. From these data, it is concluded that the myocardial diastolic elastic modulus is increased by ischemia and that this approach may allow clinical assessment of intrinsic muscle stiffness.

Animals↗