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Biomedical subjects

M Voirol

Publications and source records attributed to M Voirol.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Giardia lamblia gastritis. A case report].

A 56 year-old male patient had a gastric resection (Billroth II) at age 33. In 1993 he had vague upper digestive complaints. During investigations for a moderate anaemia biopsies performed during an oesogastroduodenoscopy revealed a jejunitis with Giardia lamblia (G.l.) trophozoites which were also found on the gastric mucosa associated with Helicobacter pylori related chronic active gastritis. The few publications dealing with the presence of Giardia lamblia in the stomach either assert or cast some doubts on the pathogenicity of this protozoa for the gastric mucosa. Gastric involvement by G.l. is usually associated with duodeno-jejunal disease responsible for diarrhoea which may occur as epidemics of varying extension. Since Giardia lamblia infection is not submitted to reporting in Switzerland, the epidemiology in our country is scarcely known and investigated. In our opinion, however, health authorities in Switzerland should consider the need of reporting this infectious disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Acceleration of pubertal development following central blockade of the Y1 subtype of neuropeptide Y receptors.

Pubertal development results from the coordinate secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by hypothalamic GnRH neurons. Central administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) to prepubertal rats can indefinitely delay sexual maturation by inhibiting this GnRH secretion. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the physiological role of NPY in pubertal development, and to assess the potential involvement of its Y1 receptor subtype in this setting. The timing of pubertal development was determined in juvenile female rats receiving chronic i.c.v. infusion of a specific Y1 receptor antagonist (BIBP 3226), and compared with controls. Although treatment with BIBP 3226 did not affect the age at vaginal opening, animals receiving the Y1 antagonist experienced a quicker progression through puberty, corroborated by a significant increase in pituitary luteinizing hormone content. This effect of BIBP3226 on the gonadotrope axis occurred without apparent toxicity, but was accompanied by a transient decrease in body weight gain on the first day of treatment, suggesting an effect on appetite. Together, our results add to the evidence in favour of a role for NPY in the onset of puberty. They are entirely consistent with the proposed inhibition exerted by endogenous hypothalamic NPY before the onset of pubertal development. They also suggest that the Y1 subtype of NPY receptors is involved in this effect.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Role of glucocorticoids in the response of the hypothalamo-corticotrope, immune and adipose systems to repeated endotoxin administration.

The present study was designed to determine whether the glucocorticoid inhibitory feedback mechanism plays a role in the well-known tolerance of the neuroendocrine-immune axis response to repeated endotoxemia. Adult male rats underwent adrenalectomy (ADX) and were implanted with a subcutaneous corticosterone (compound B, CB, 75 mg) pellet, or sham operated and implanted with a placebo pellet. On the morning of day 8 after surgery (experimental day, D1), all rats received an intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (25 microg/kg body weight) which was repeated daily until D5. Blood was drawn via intravenous indwelling catheters before (sample time zero) as well as 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after LPS treatment on D1, 3 and 5 for measurements of corticotropin (ACTH), CB, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and leptin. In sham animals, tolerance to repeated LPS administration was complete by D5 for the corticotrope axis and the immune response. In addition, LPS was found to stimulate leptin secretion on day 1 in intact rats, an effect that also disappeared thereafter. ADX + CB rats showed only a partial tolerance of the corticotrope axis on D5, whereas tolerance of the immune response was similar to that found in sham animals. Interestingly, the acute stimulation of leptin secretion by LPS in ADX + CB rats was qualitatively similar to that of intact controls on D1, but plasma leptin levels were significantly reduced on D3 and 5 compared to controls. Our results demonstrate that the adrenal response tolerance of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis to repeated endotoxemia. In addition, our finding that TNF-alpha secretion follows the same pattern in sham-operated and in adrenalectomized animals suggests that unlike the corticotrope axis, tolerance of the immune response does not depend upon stimulated CB levels. The decrease in circulating levels of leptin following ADX is consistent with the stimulatory effects of glucocorticoids on leptin secretion. However, our finding of an acute stimulation of leptin secretion by LPS in ADX + CB animals demonstrates that this effect of endotoxemia is at least partially glucocorticoid independent.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

[Erosive gastritis: an aggravating cause of anemia in patients treated for chronic renal insufficiency].

Anemia is one of the commonest and most serious complications of chronic renal failure. The causes are multiple, while gastrointestinal blood loss is often unrecognized. Eleven hemodialyzed patients underwent esogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) to investigate anemia requiring transfusion of 4 or more blood units in a 6-month period. The same investigator performed all the endoscopies using the following scores: 0 = no lesions, 1 = focal red appearance of the mucosa, 2 = bleeding of the mucosa due to the gastroscope, 3 = erosive lesions, and 4 = presence of ulcers. Patients with a score of 1 or more were treated with ranitidine in a dose of 150-300 mg daily for 6 months. The need for transfusions before and after OGD was compared. The results were as follows: 8 of 11 patients had a score of 1-3, 1 patient scored 4 and 2 patients had no lesions. After 6 months' treatment with ranitidine no differences in hematocrit values were noted but the need for transfusions was significantly reduced (8.6 +/- 1.4 blood units before OGD vs. 4.9 +/- 1.3 blood units in the 6 months following OGD). It is concluded that minimal lesions of the esogastroduodenal mucosa are very common in hemodialyzed patients and ranitidine treatment could reduce the need for blood transfusions in these patients.

Anemia↗
PubMed1987

[Nutritional profile of patients with cancer of the pancreas].

A case control study was carried out in the Geneva area from 1976 to 1980 to determine correlation between cancer of the pancreas and nutrition. The controls were randomly selected from the general population and 88 patients with pancreatic cancer were interviewed on their food habits by two experienced dietitians. Bias may always be suggested, but even Anglo-Saxon workers are increasingly adopting this method. Comparison between patients with pancreatic cancer and controls revealed different alimentary habits. Consumption of beer (2.9 times higher risk), of butter (2.1 times) and pasta (2.5 times) considerably increases the risk, whereas margarine, fruit and fresh vegetables are associated with a significant reduction of risk.

Beer↗
PubMed1986

Gastric ulcer: a double-blind comparison of 100 mg pirenzepine plus antacid versus 800 mg cimetidine plus antacid.

Fifty-five patients with endoscopically confirmed gastric ulcers received either cimetidine (28 patients) or pirenzepine (27 patients) in a randomized double-blind manner. Fifty-seven per cent of the patients treated with cimetidine and 48% of those treated with pirenzepine presented with endoscopically healed ulcers after 4 weeks of treatment. By 8 weeks complete healing had occurred in 83% of the patients taking cimetidine and 76% of those taking pirenzepine. These differences were not statistically significant. Severity of pain on entering the study was correlated with slower healing of the ulcer. Side effects occurred in 5 of 27 patients in the pirenzepine group and 3 of 28 in the cimetidine group. They were mostly mild and did not differ from side effects observed in other studies.

Antacids↗
PubMed1985

[Interaction of alcohol and nutrition factors in the etiology of hepatic cirrhosis in men].

Habitual food and alcohol intake throughout adult life were assessed by interview in 211 patients suffering of liver cirrhosis and 387 control subjects selected at random from the corresponding general population. In the cirrhotics only the habits prior to clinical disease were taken into account. A significant dose-response relationship between alcohol intake and relative risk of cirrhosis, as well as the protective effect of total caloric intake and of its protein fraction, was demonstrated by logistic regression analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Treatment of stomach ulcers with cimetidine and pirenzepine].

37 patients with endoscopically confirmed gastric ulcers received either cimetidine (19 patients) or pirenzepine (18 patients) in a double-blind trial. At 4 weeks, 53% of the patients treated with cimetidine and 44% of those treated with pirenzepine had endoscopically healed ulcers. At 8 weeks, complete healing had occurred in 83% of the patients taking cimetidine and 71% of those taking pirenzepine. These differences are not statistically significant.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗
PubMed1983

[Multicenter study on the litholytic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid. 30 cases].

In the context of a cooperative clinical trial carried out in the Cantons of Basel and Vaud, Switzerland, the litholytic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (Ursochol) in a daily dose of 9 mg/kg was investigated in 42 patients with radiotransparent gallstones. The litholytic effect was evident in 22 (73%) of the 30 patients followed up for a maximum period of 1 year. Complete dissolution of gallstones was obtained in 40% of cases. In addition, ursodeoxycholic acid significantly reduced (p less than 0,001) the dyspeptic-painful symptoms and the number of biliary colics. Tolerance was excellent. In particular, no cases of diarrhea were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Alcohol, tobacco and food consumption in pancreatic diseases. Preliminary results of a study of 1000 cases].

The incidence of the cancer of the pancreas is particulary high in Geneva. To determine the possible effects of tobacco, alcohol and/or food, the consumption habits of patients with digestive diseases have been studied at the University Hospital of Geneva since 1977. The present contribution deals with pancreatic patients only. These patients' consumption of tobacco, alcohol and food has been compared with that of standardized controls randomly selected from the Geneva population. A relationship between pancreatic cancer and lifetime tobacco consumption was found on the one hand, and on the other a relationship between chronic pancreatitis and lifetime alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Drinking↗