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Biomedical subjects

M de Backer

Publications and source records attributed to M de Backer.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Urinary cyclic AMP in hyperthyroidism.

Urinary cyclic AMP was studied in 22 female and in 6 male hyperthyroid normocalcemic patients and in 3 hyperthyroid hypercalcemic men. Cyclic AMP/creatinine ratios were elevated both in female (4.12 +/- 0.26 mumoles/gm creatinine) and male (3.92 +/- 0.41 mumoles/gm creatinine) hyperthyroid normocalcemic patients as compared with normal female and male controls (2.85 +/- 0.20 and 2.54 +/- 0.14 mumoles/gm creatinine, respectively). However, there was no difference in the 24-hour urinary cyclic AMP excretion of both hyperthyroid and normal subjects. The hyperthyroid hypercalcemic men excreted less (2.47 +/- 0.19) mumoles/24 hr) cyclic AMP/24 hr than the normal male controls. In the thirteen female patients, studied when euthyroid, the cyclic AMP/creatinine ratio was normalised.

Adult

Respiratory failure and cardiac disturbances in myotonic dystrophy.

Cardiopulmonary abnormalities are frequently encountered in myotonic dystrophy. We present five patients with myotonic dystrophy who entered the intensive care unit in acute respiratory failure. The possible etiologic factors of pulmonary complications are reviewed. The most important is probably aspiration pneumonia. The difficulties in the treatment of the respiratory failure are emphasezed. Myotonia of the chest muscles and diaphragm make artificial ventilation difficult. Recovery is delayed chiefly by swallowing disturbances. General anaesthesia is hazardous. Four patients presented cardiac arrhythmias and/or conduction abnormalities which were transient.

Adolescent