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Biomedical subjects

M Rey

Publications and source records attributed to M Rey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Nondisjunction induced by ethanol in Drosophila melanogaster females.

The effect of ethanol on chromosomal segregation was investigated in Drosophila melanogaster females homozygous for a structurally normal X chromosome marked with the recessive mutation yellow (y/y). For chronic treatments the females were kept from eclosion in food supplemented with 10% or 15% (v/v) ethanol, mated 24 or 48 h later to wild-type males and brooded in freshly prepared ethanol food. For the acute treatments 24- or 48-h-old females were exposed for 60 min to a 75% (v/v) ethanol solution by means of soaked tissue paper placed at the bottom of regular culture vials and brooded daily after mating. The results obtained show that: (1) both treatments significantly increased the frequency of X-chromosome nondisjunction; (2) after acute treatment this effect declined in later broods; (3) the yield of malformed flies in the progeny of acutely treated females was significantly higher than control values and also declined in later broods; (4) ovary analysis showed that chronic ethanol treatments caused a cessation of egg production. The induction pattern of nondisjunction and malformed flies is interpreted as giving support to the assumption that these effects may result from a direct action of ethanol. Ethanol toxicity was assessed by exposing females of different ages to a 50% or a 75% (v/v) solution for 60 min and counting the surviving flies 24 h later. The surviving fraction decreased steeply from 1-day-old (100%) to 5-day-old females (1.8%). It is suggested that toxicity may have been due to the action of a metabolite of ethanol, probably acetaldehyde.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Reducing the incidence and morbidity of very low birth weight premature infants after maternal transport to a perinatal center].

An improvement in the mortality and morbidity of very low-birth-weight infants could be confirmed by the regionalisation of high-risk pregnancies. The immaturity of premature newborn limits the therapeutic success. Our aim is therefore on the one hand, to make an early diagnosis of patients at risk of threatened premature delivery, and secondly, to provide intensive therapy for women already showing symptoms of premature delivery, to achieve the best possible prognosis. A reduction in the number of very low birth-weight infants and their mortality and morbidity rate appears to be possible if the pregnant women can be placed in a perinatal centre in good time; if the pregnancy can be prolonged and fetal lung maturation can be induced by betamethasone; if the delivery can be managed carefully, avoiding hypoxaemia, shock situations, and trauma; in certain cases this would mean performing a caesarean section by isthmo-cervical longitudinal incision; if primary neonatal care is performed by an experienced neonatologist. With the standard of neonatology as it is today, a considerable increase in the survival rates of very low birth-weight infants can hardly be expected. Nevertheless, to cut down their numbers is the biggest potential for the future reduction of the infant mortality rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Modulation of the in vitro electrophysiological effect of corticosterone by extracellular calcium in the hippocampus.

The electrophysiological effects of various concentrations of corticosterone (CORT) on the hippocampus were investigated using extracellular recordings from CA1 hippocampal slice preparations subjected to four different extracellular concentrations of calcium. In all cases, the CORT effect was manifested by a PS amplitude decrease without affecting the slope of either the input volley or the EPSP. Our results showed that, for the lowest extracellular calcium concentrations (1.3 and 2.5 mM), the inhibitory effect of CORT on the PS amplitude appeared only with the supra-physiological 10,000 nM CORT concentration, whereas for the highest ones (3.13 and 5.32 mM) this effect was observed, respectively, with 5 and 0.05 nM CORT concentrations. The antiglucocorticoid RU 486, used in combined application with CORT, blocked the electrophysiological effect of CORT. The possible involvement of calcium-dependent mechanisms at the CORT receptor level or in the final cellular response are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

ICRF-187 permits longer treatment with doxorubicin in women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To test potential protection by ICRF-187 against cumulative doxorubicin-dose-related cardiac toxicity, we conducted a randomized clinical trial in 150 women with advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received fluorouracil (5FU) 500 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 every 21 days intravenously (IV) (control regimen, 74 patients), or the same regimen preceded by ICRF-187 1,000 mg/m2 IV (experimental regimen, 76 patients). RESULTS: We previously reported that ICRF-187 in this dose and schedule provides cardiac protection and does not substantially alter the noncardiac toxicity or antitumor efficacy of the control regimen. In this updated analysis of the entire patient cohort, we provide additional support for these findings and demonstrate that patients in the ICRF-187 group received more cycles (median, 11) and higher cumulative doses (median, 500 mg/m2) of doxorubicin than patients in the control group (median, nine cycles, P less than .01; and 441 mg/m2, P less than .05). Twenty-six patients in the ICRF-187 group received doxorubicin doses of at least 700 mg/m2, and among them, 11 patients received 1,000 mg/m2 or more. Only three patients in the control group received doxorubicin doses of 700 mg/m2; the maximum dose administered to one patient in this group was 950 mg/m2. ICRF-187 cardiac protection was demonstrated by difference in incidence of clinical congestive heart failure (CHF; two patients in the ICRF-187 group v 20 in the control group; P less than .0001) and by differences in resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determined by multigated radionuclide (MUGA) scan from baselines and that required patient removal from study (five patients in the ICRF-187 group had a decrease in LVEF to less than 0.45 or a decrease from the baseline LVEF of 0.20 or more v 32 in the control group; P less than .000001). Among the 30 patients who had an assessable endomyocardial biopsy at cumulative doxorubicin 450 mg/m2, none of 16 in the ICRF-187 group and six of 14 in the control group had a score of 2 (P less than .05). ICRF-187 cardiac protection was observed in patients with and without prior chest-wall radiation or other risk factors for developing doxorubicin cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSION: By protecting against cumulative doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity, ICRF-187 permits significantly greater doses of doxorubicin to be administered to patients with greater safety.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Evaluation of the school health program for the detection of vertebral deformities].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of deformities of the vertebral column in the child population of a rural area; the index of false positives that diagnoses in the School Health programme generate; and the percentage of children where the diagnosis is confirmed and the treatment is then followed. DESIGN: Descriptive observational study. SITE. Public and private Schools of the Basic Areas of Sanlúcar la Mayor and Olivares, and the Rehabilitation Unit of Sanlúcar la Mayor Health Centre. PATIENTS AND OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: 4120 children from the first, fifth and eighth years of EGB, in 1989 and 1990. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pathology was suspected in 5% of the children examined. 64.59% attended Rehabilitation and anomalies were confirmed in 51.85%. The level of false positives in the screening was about 48%. In 54% of the confirmed cases, Physiotherapy was indicated; in one case, Surgery; and in one case orthesis. There were no important differences as to the prevalence of Pathology among the three age groups studied. (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the small number of anomalies confirmed, their detection by means of a simple method allowed evolution to be watched and early treatment started when necessary. The low productivity of the examination was due to the high number of children that did not attend for the confirmation of the diagnosis (35%), and the false positives that the screening generated (48%).

Child↗
PubMed1991

Long-acting chloramphenicol versus intravenous ampicillin for treatment of bacterial meningitis.

In most developing countries, bacterial meningitis (BM) is associated with a high case-fatality rate. The search for a simple, convenient, and inexpensive antibiotic treatment remains a priority. In this study, a non-blinded, multicentre, randomised clinical trial of 528 cases of BM was done in two hospitals in Mali and Niger, between March, 1989, and May, 1990, to see whether a double injection of long-acting chloramphenicol (on admission to hospital and 48 h later) is as effective as a course of intravenous ampicillin (8 days, 4 times a day). The cumulative case-fatality rate on day 4 (principal end-point) among the chloramphenicol (254 patients) and ampicillin (274) groups were, respectively, 28% and 24.5% (relative risk 1.14, 95% confidence interval 0.86-1.52). No outbreak occurred during the study period. The hospital case-fatality rate was 33.1%. Main risk factors for death were associated with clinical condition on admission--ie, altered consciousness, convulsions, or dehydration. The case-fatality rates were 13% (21/161) for Neisseria meningitidis, 36.1% (48/133) for Haemophilus influenzae, and 67% (77/115) for Streptococcus pneumoniae. In a multiple logistic regression model, controlling for the differential distribution of potential risk factors (including bacterial species), there was no difference between treatment groups. Our findings suggest that long-acting chloramphenicol is a useful first-line presumptive treatment for BM in high-incidence countries.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1991

Right ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.

A case of right ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy associated with primary biliary cirrhosis is described. The patient was a middle aged woman, who initially complained of fatigue and itching. The diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis was made based on clinical, biochemical and histological evidence of the disease. Seven years later severe right-sided heart failure developed. The diagnosis of right ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy was made based on echocardiographic and angiographic evidence of a globally dilated and poorly contracting right ventricle. Left ventricular function was within normal limits. Autoimmune serology screening at this time revealed the presence of organ-specific cardiac antibody (titre 1/20) and of antinuclear antibody (titre 1/80) by indirect immunofluorescence. There were no findings of mitochondrial antibody or other non-organ specific or organ-specific antibodies. Overall, this assessment demonstrates autoimmunity in both hepatic and heart muscle disease in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis and right ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy.

Angiography↗
PubMed1991

Diagnostic value of two-dimensional echocardiography in cardiac hydatid disease.

Echinococcal infection of the heart is rare. The preoperative findings, with special attention to two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), of six patients with cardiac echinococcosis and their surgical and pathological correlations are reported. Cardiac hydatid cysts (HCs) were located in the cardiac apex in three patients, in the upper part of the interventricular septum extending towards the anterior aspect of the heart in one and in the postero-superior right atrial wall in another patient. The remaining patient had multiple intrapericardial cysts. In three patients the cysts presented as well defined, rounded, echolucent masses within the myocardial wall bulging into the cardiac chambers. In two patients, the cysts had ruptured into a cardiac chamber with loss of the characteristic 'cystic' appearance; these cysts presented as an echogenic or solid mass protruding into a cardiac chamber. Finally, another patient had one HC with echolucent appearance and another HC in a different location with echogenic appearance; this last cyst corresponded to a degenerated HC. In two cases the cyst showed a loculated internal aspect. In one patient the myocardial segment involved by the cyst had a dyskinetic movement. In all six patients, 2DE accurately demonstrated the location and morphological details of the cardiac cysts, permitted recognition of the ruptured and/or degenerated cysts and was superior to thoracic computed tomography and angiography in the preoperative assessment of these patients. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (one patient) gave no further information to that obtained by 2DE. We conclude that 2DE is the technique of choice for an early diagnosis of this rare entity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Surgical treatment of a rare congenital anomaly of the vertebral artery: case report and review of the literature.

A case of an abnormal loop of the vertebral artery compressing both the cervicomedullary junction and the accessory nerve is reported. The embryological development of the vertebrobasilar system may explain this anatomical anomaly. The possibility of an abnormal location of the vertebral artery may complicate the lateral C1-C2 puncture for myelography. Only five similar cases have been reported previously, but none of them presented any clinical symptomatology, and surgical treatment was never required. The present patient was cured by microvascular decompression. The pathogenetic and surgical implications are discussed in light of the literature.

Accessory Nerve↗
PubMed1991

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in snorers with sleep apneas: predictive value of presurgical polysomnography.

To determine its predictive value, polysomnography was performed on 14 snorers with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) before and 3 months after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). In the 8 patients considered as cured (less than 10 apneas per hour after UPPP), total apnea index (TAI) decreased from 29.7 +/- 22.6 to 4.9 +/- 3.5. Rapid eye movement sleep (REM) increased from 10.9 +/- 3.6 to 14 +/- 5.7% of the total sleep period (TSP). In the 6 uncured patients, TAI decreased from 59.7 +/- 15.7 to 32 +/- 15.7 and REM increased from 7.7 +/- 5.6 to 15.8 +/- 7.2% of TSP. Snoring and drowsiness decreased in both cured and uncured patients. A presurgical apnea index less than 40 seems to be a reliable predictor of successful UPPP. The association of obstructive apnea with either central apnea or mixed apnea was not a factor of poor prognosis. Better sleeping could explain in part the clinical improvement in both cured and uncured patients, but postoperative polysomnography is needed to detect asymptomatic SAS.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Percutaneous surgery in renal lithiasis. Current indications].

The indiscriminate use of extracorporeal shock waves in the treatment of urinary calculi has changed the place of percutaneous surgery in the treatment of renal lithiasis. The authors analyse current indications of PCN highlighting stone size. In their view, calculi greater than 2 cm warrant treatment by PCN since only 15-20% of patients are completely stone-free following a single session of ESWL. Attention is focussed on the staghorn calculus and the percutaneous approach. They describe the difficulty encountered in the fragmentation of the cystine calculus owing to its hardness and discuss the difficulties that may arise when using the percutaneous approach in patients with coexisting renoureteral conditions, in the treatment of lithiasis in children and in the obese patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[In vitro functional differentiation of hippocampal corticosterone receptors by mineralo- and glucocorticoids].

Modulation of CA1 evoked electrophysiological properties (amplitude, latency, paired-pulse facilitation) by different concentrations of aldosterone (ALDO), spironolactone (SPI), and corticosterone (CT) was studied in hippocampal slice preparation from BALB/c mice. ALDO (5 nM) induced a prolonged increase of the population spike (PS) amplitude with a decrease of its latency and of the paired pulse facilitation. The same effect was observed with a solution of CT (0.5 nM) alone or combined with ALDO (0.5 nM), but no effect was observed with a solution of combined CT (0.5 nM) and SPI (500 nM). Implication of corticosteroid receptors in this response was discussed.

Aldosterone↗