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Biomedical subjects

P Brodeur

Publications and source records attributed to P Brodeur.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Registration and geometric modelling of the spine during scoliosis surgery: a comparison study of different pre-operative reconstruction techniques and intra-operative tracking systems.

During scoliosis instrumentation surgery, it is difficult for surgeons fully to track vertebral motion in 3D, because only the posterior elements of the spine are exposed. Different intra-operative modelling approaches are evaluated using a registration technique that matches intra-operative measurements with a 3D pre-operative model of the spine. Two tracking systems (magnetic digitiser and mechanical arm) and two pre-operative reconstruction techniques (multiplanar radiography and CT scan) are sequentially combined to build four intra-operative models. Their accuracy is assessed by comparison with the pre-operative geometry. The most minimally invasive approach (multiplanar radiographic reconstruction and magnetic digitiser) has an accuracy of 5.9 mm in translation, and errors on vertebral rotations are 4.4 degrees, 6.7 degrees and 5.0 degrees in the frontal, sagittal and transverse planes, respectively. With CT scan reconstruction, the accuracy is significantly increased by about 2 mm in translation and as much as 4.5 degrees for vertebral rotations in the sagittal plane. For the mechanical arm, the accuracy is increased by less than 1 mm in translation and 1 degree for vertebral rotations. CT scan is the most accurate reconstruction technique, but its use for long spinal segments is generally not allowed because of the high radiation exposure. Multiplanar radiographic reconstruction may be an alternative solution for long spinal segments when great accuracy is not necessary. Considering the small increase in accuracy and its awkwardness, the use of the mechanical arm may not be appropriate during surgical manoeuvres.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

[Evaluation of peroperative measurement system in the follow-up of vertebral displacements].

A computer assisted surgery system has been developed to quantify the vertebral displacements induced by the Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation and to visualize in 3-D the spine at different per-operative steps. This spinal surgery is realized to correct idiopathic scoliosis. Per-operative measurements are obtained by using a magnetic digitizer. Five points per thoracic vertebra and six points per lumbar vertebra are digitized. The method proposed estimates the location of the digitized points on a computer graphics 3-D model of vertebrae by a point-to-surface matching algorithm. The 3-D models are constructed before the surgery using multiplanar radiographic reconstruction technique (2 or 3 views) and geometric modeling methods. Computer tools permit the 3-D visualization of the spine peroperatively and the evaluation of clinical indices such as Cobb angles and vertebral rotations. The system includes 3 principal error sources: 2) reconstruction error; 2) digitizer error (digitizer precision) and 3) point-to-surface matching error. In order to validate the overall system, measurements have been simulated for 2 vertebrae and 2 digitizers of different precision, taking onto account the reconstruction error. For 5 and 6 digitized points per vertebra, the matching algorithm gives a RMS error of respectively 3.0 and 2.0 mm.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1995

Computer-assisted pedicle screw fixation. A feasibility study.

STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated a computer-assisted surgical tool for inserting pedicle screws. OBJECTIVES: This study reviewed the feasibility, usefulness, and accuracy of the proposed tool. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Reviews documented neurovascular damage caused by screw misplacement. Currently, screw hole position is assessed by radiologic means and curette palpation. METHODS: Three sheep vertebrae and one artificial object were reconstructed three-dimensionally from computed tomography scan slices. At surgery, the surgeon's movements were displayed relative to the three-dimensional vertebrae on a computer screen. The tool was used to detect pedicles and to verify the position of drilled holes. In our laboratory, we calculated the system's accuracy by taking measurements on the artificial object. RESULTS: All pedicles were identified with the computer. Five of the six drilled hole positions were correctly represented. An accuracy of 4.5 mm +/- 1.1 mm RMS (root of the mean squared) and 1.6 degrees +/- 1.2 degrees were calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggested the proposed system could be useful for pedicle detection and assessing the intravertebral location of a drilled hole. The proposed system could be used for many different orthopedic procedures where structures are hidden from the surgeon's view.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Structure, map position, and evolution of two newly diverged mouse Ig VH gene families.

We have characterized two novel mouse VH gene families, VH3609N and VHSM7. These VH families have recently diverged from previously defined VH families. The VH3609N family, which may contain only one member in most inbred strains of mice, shares sequence similarity with the VHJ606 family and is located to the 3' side of VHJ606. VHSM7, with at least three members, is related to the VHJ558 family but maps 3' of VHJ558. These findings suggest that physical displacement of VH sequences may facilitate their subsequent divergence. During the early stages of VH gene family evolution that are exemplified by these new families, amino acid replacements have been selected against in frame-work regions and selected for in complementarity-determining regions. This pattern of nucleotide substitution appears to reflect evolutionary pressures to maintain germ-line VH diversity and, possibly, to select for new antibody specificities, as well as to select against mutations resulting in aberrant Ig. The classification of VH sequences with borderline similarity to previously defined VH families is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Progesterone receptors and ventilatory stimulation by progestin.

Progestin is thought to be a ventilatory stimulant but its effectiveness in raising ventilation is variable in humans and other species. We hypothesized that the level of progesterone receptors was an important determinant of the ventilatory response to progestin. Since estradiol induces progesterone receptor formation, we compared the ventilatory effect of the synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) given in combination with estradiol with the effects of estradiol alone, MPA alone, or vehicle (saline) in ovariectomized rats. Animals receiving MPA alone had low numbers of progesterone receptors (2.43 pmol/g uterine wt) and had no change in ventilation, arterial Pco2, or Po2. MPA administration raised ventilation 23 +/- 5%, lowered arterial Pco2 3.2 +/- 0.9 Torr (both P less than 0.01) and tended to raise arterial Po2 when given in combination with estradiol to animals with increased numbers of progesterone receptors (4.85 pmol/g uterine wt). Estradiol alone produced the highest number of progesterone receptors (12.3 pmol/g uterine wt) but had no effect on ventilation or arterial Pco2 and decreased arterial Po2. Combined estradiol plus MPA treatment produced a greater fall in arterial Pco2 than did treatment with MPA alone, estradiol, or saline (all P less than 0.05). These results suggest that both an elevation in progestin levels and progesterone receptor numbers are required to stimulate ventilation.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Maternal hypoxic ventilatory response, ventilation, and infant birth weight at 4,300 m.

To test the hypothesis that increased hypoxic ventilatory responsiveness (HVR) raised maternal ventilation and arterial oxygenation during high-altitude pregnancy and related to the birth weight of the offspring, we studied 21 residents of Cerro de Pasco, Peru (4,300 m), while eight of them were 36 +/- 0 wk pregnant and 15 of them 13 +/- 0 wk postpartum. HVR was low in the nonpregnant women (mean +/- SE shape parameter A = 23 +/- 8) but increased nearly fourfold with pregnancy (A = 87 +/- 17). The increase in HVR appeared to account for the 25% rise in resting ventilation with pregnancy (delta VE observed = 2.4 +/- 0.7 l/min BTPS vs. delta VE predicted from delta HVR = 2.6 +/- 1.7 l/min BTPS, P = NS). Hyperoxia decreased ventilation in the pregnant women (P less than 0.01) to levels similar to those measured when nonpregnant. The increased ventilation of pregnancy raised arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) from 83 +/- 1 to 87 +/- 0%, and SaO2 was correlated positively with HVR in the pregnant women. The rise in SaO2 compensated for a 0.9 g/100 ml decrease in hemoglobin concentration to preserve arterial O2 content at levels present when nonpregnant. Cardiac output in the 36th wk of pregnancy did not differ significantly from values measured postpartum. The increase in HVR correlated positively with infant birth weight. An increase in HVR may be an important contributor to increased maternal ventilation with pregnancy and infant birth weight at high altitude.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Molecular characterization of antibodies bearing Id-460. II. Molecular basis for Id-460 expression.

Id-460+ immunoglobulins can be induced in vivo by immunization with dinitrophenyl (DNP) or P. pneumotropica and form two nonoverlapping groups of antibodies with respect to antigen binding specificity. In this study, using Id-460+ antibodies of differing antigen binding specificities, we compared on the molecular genetic level the five gene segment combinations (VH, DH, JH, VL, and JL) that encode the variable regions of these idiotype-positive immunoglobulins. The Id-460 determinant appears to be a conformational or combinatorial determinant encoded by VH460 and VK1 crosshybridizing genes. DH, JH, and JK gene segments appear to have no measurable effect upon expression of Id-460. Finally, antigen binding specificity does not appear to simply localize to any particular gene segment but may in part be the result of somatic mutation and/or VDJH junctional sequences, whose length correlates roughly with antigen binding specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

c-myc Gene rearrangements involving gamma immunoglobulin heavy chain gene switch regions in murine plasmacytomas.

In murine plasmacytomas, the c-myc gene has frequently been found to undergo rearrangement by virtue of a T(12;15) chromosome translocation. The immunoglobulin heavy chain gene switch region (S alpha) constitutes the target for most of these recombinations particularly in IgA producing plasmacytomas. We sought to identify non-S alpha myc target sites in several IgG producing tumors. The c-myc target in MPC-11 (a BALB/c IgG2b producing plasmacytoma) has been cloned, localized to the Igh-C locus and identified as the gamma 2a heavy chain gene switch region (S gamma 2a). Furthermore, by Southern blot hybridization, we have determined that the S gamma 2b region is the c-myc target in two NZB IgG2b producing plasmacytomas. The potential relation between Ig class expressed and c-myc translocation target is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The genetic basis of antibody production: the dominant anti-arsonate idiotype response of the strain A mouse.

Immunization of the A strain of mice with the hapten p-azophenylarsonate (Ars) results in an immune response in which approximately 50% of the anti-Ars antibodies share cross-reactive idiotypic determinants (IdCR). A gene or genes linked to the heavy chain constant region locus is required for the production of this idiotype. The expressed VH gene from a hybridoma cell line which expresses the IdCR has been cloned. DNA hybridization studies utilizing the VH gene have revealed that there are many related genes in both idiotype-producing and idiotype-nonproducing strains of mice. However, under stringent hybridization conditions, only a single band of 6.4 kb is present in Eco R1-digested A strain DNA. Strains of mice which are phenotypically idiotype-negative either lack this band completely or possess a much weaker one at this position. Utilizing DNA from Igh recombinant strains of mice, it has been shown that the VH locus controlling idiotype expression contains the structural gene information for the idiotype-positive heavy chains. It has also been shown that DNA at this locus appears to be sufficient for the production of the cross-reactive idiotype. Utilizing a DNA probe derived from regions flanking the structural gene has confirmed the relatedness of V genes in a variety of mouse strains and revealed a significant degree of polymorphism at the Igh locus.

Animals↗