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Biomedical subjects

O Guillard

Publications and source records attributed to O Guillard.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Morvan's fibrillary chorea and acrodynic syndrome following mercury treatment].

A 31 year-old inhabitant of French Guiana was prescribed mercuric iodide per os for two and a half months. Shortly before the end of the treatment he developed fasciculations in the trunk and particularly the lower limb muscles, distal painful paresthesias with vasomotor disorders, episodes of excessive perspiration and palmoplantar erythema, moderate fluctuating hypertension, progressive loss of weight and irritability with insomnia. Clinical and electrical signs of neuropathy were lacking. The clinical picture was that of Morvan's fibrillary chorea with acrodynia, the conditions of onset strongly suggesting a mercurial intoxication. Blood and particularly urine mercury levels were elevated. Administration of dimercaprol (BAL) considerably increased urinary excretion of mercury and there was progressive improvement and finally recovery after two months of BAL treatment. This case exemplifies the possible co-existence of fibrillary chorea and acrodynia. Whereas in many cases of fibrillary chorea a precise etiology cannot be determined, the affection can be induced by mercury as by gold administration. The fact that cases of fibrillary chorea due to mercury poisoning are rarely reported may be the result of individual patient hypersensitivity or particular metabolic absorption and excretion features of mercury. This case cannot be included within the continuous activity syndrome of muscle fibers described by Isaacs, since muscle contractures were absent and there was associated acrodynia. Moreover, there was no latent polyneuropathy, in spite of the intense fasciculations. It must be concluded, therefore, that in spite of its rarity fibrillary chorea should keep its semiologic autonomy.

Acrodynia↗
PubMed1980

[Physiology and pathology of zinc. Recent data (author's transl)].

This review summarizes our current knowledge on the role of zinc in physiology and pathology. After recalling that this knowledge was acquired after improvements of assay procedures, the authors go on to present normal zinc metabolism, especially its absorpiton and its role as a coenzyme. In a second part, disorders accompanying abnormal blood zinc levels are successively examined.

Acrodermatitis↗
PubMed1979

Diurnal variations of zinc, copper and magnesium in the serum of normal fasting adults.

Serum levels of copper, magnesium and zinc exhibit circadian rhythms in physiologically normal subjects eating normally. The same study was repeated with fasting subjects in order to determine the effect of daily food intake on these fluctuations. Blood samples were taken at 3 hour intervals, from 6 h to 18 h. Copper and magnesium no longer exhibit circadian rhythms in fasting subjects. In the case of zinc, however, a particularly interesting rhythm is observed, with a drop at 9 h and 15 h and an abrupt increase at 18 h.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Comparison of the acute toxicity and the ulcer inducing power of zinc sulphate and pantothenate carried out in animals (author's transl)].

Zinc sulphate and pantothenate are two drugs capable of inducing ulcer. An experimental was performed in order to determine the acute toxicity of both drugs. The obtained data were in favour of a lesser ulcer inducing capacity of zinc pantothenate, associated to a better diffusion of this salt in the peripheral tissues. These results suggest a plausible use of zinc pantothenate as a therapeutic agent.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of chromium in human cataractous lenses and whole blood of diabetics, senile, and normal population.

Chromium (Cr) is of known biological importance, necessary for the maintenance of normal glucose metabolism. There is a lower level of blood Cr concentrations in cases of diabetes. Diabetes carries a risk of cataract development, so the potential effects of Cr on the eye may need to be studied in more depth. The presence of this trace element in both normal and cataractous human lenses has to our knowledge not been investigated so far. The concentration of total Cr in 61 human lenses and 38 blood samples was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman effect (EAASZ). Analysis of the levels of Cr in human lenses shows a significant difference between normal and diabetic populations, and an absence of difference between senile and diabetic populations.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Total chromium in the human lens. Determination with Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry following mineralization in a mini-autoclave.

A simple, quick procedure has been developed for preparation of human lenses for total chromium (Cr) analysis by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (EAAS). This procedure involves wet ashing in a mini-autoclave with HNO3 and H2SO4. Recovery was 101.6%. This procedure is simple to carry out, does not generate corrosive fumes, and minimizes contaminations. Measurements obtained by this method give values similar to those found previously by more cumbersome methods. It can be conveniently used to prepare biological samples for ultratrace analysis. The mean Cr concentration in human lenses varied between 0.345 +/- 0.147 micrograms/g dry wt in the normal population and 0.205 +/- 0.160 micrograms/g dry wt in cataractous lenses.

Cataract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modification of the blood-brain barrier through chronic intoxication by aluminum glutamate. Possible role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease.

The authors have used an experimental rat model of chronic aluminum (Al) intoxication to reproduce pathological signs analogous to those observed in humans for Alzheimer's disease or dialysis encephalopathy. Preliminary chronic intoxication was achieved during 5 wk by daily subcutaneous injection of a suspension of glutamate and Al prior to intravenous (i.v.) administration of sodium L-glutamate and Al chloride. A significant increase in Al content was observed in different areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, the occipito-parietal cortex, the cerebellum, and the striatum. Moreover, half of the animals subcutaneously treated with Al glutamate had neurological disturbances, such as trembling, equilibrium difficulties, and convulsions leading to death about 1 h after i.v. administration. A significant increase in glutamic acid at the level of the occipito-parietal cortex was found in comparison with controls, which received only sodium L-glutamate or saline solution. These results show that the Al-L-glutamate complex may well induce a modification of the blood-brain barrier.

Aluminum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of total mercury in human hair samples by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry.

A procedure for the determination of mercury in human hair by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry with a new reaction vessel was developed and evaluated. To eliminate the so-called matrix effect, calibration was carried out in an isomedium under identical operating conditions. Under these conditions, the recovery percentage of mercury from human hair digest samples using the peak height method, was 102 +/- 2.2%. The method has been used for measuring the mercury level in hair of different groups of people living in the Nantes, France area.

Calibration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Physiology and pathology of zinc. Recent data].

This review summarizes our current knowledge on the role of zinc in physiology and pathology. After recalling that this knowledge was acquired after improvements of assay procedures, the authors go on to present normal zinc metabolism, especially its absorption and its role as a coenzyme. In a second part, disorders accompanying abnormal blood zinc levels are successively examined.

Humans↗