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Biomedical subjects

P Cervantes

Publications and source records attributed to P Cervantes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Circadian secretion of cortisol in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the 24-h cortisol secretion profiles of normal control subjects and patients with bipolar disorder who were in the depressive, manic and euthymic phases of the disorder. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen patients, 25-62 years of age, in depressed (n = 5), manic (n = 5) or euthymic (n = 8) phase of bipolar disorder recruited through a psychiatric outpatient clinic, and 5 control subjects, 24-41 years of age, recruited through advertisement or word of mouth. OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects were interviewed and symptom ratings were obtained using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Young Mania Scale. Blood collection began at 0800 and continued at hourly intervals for 24 h. Serum cortisol levels were assayed using a validated commercial radioimmunoassay kit. RESULTS: An analysis of variance of the area under the cortisol 24-h time-concentration curve (AUC) revealed a significant difference between the control group and patient groups (F = 3.69, p = 0.03). the mean AUCs of the patients in the depressed (263.4 micrograms/dL) and hypomanic (262.2 micrograms/dL) phases were beyond the 95% confidence interval for the controls (120.9-253.3 micrograms/dL). There were no significant group differences in cosinor acrophase and no significant effects of sex, education, age of illness onset, duration of illness or duration of mood state at time of testing on the cortisol measures. Pearson correlations between symptom rating scores and cortisol secretion variables were not significant. CONCLUSION: The increases in cortisol secretion in patients in both the depressed and manic phases of bipolar disorder suggest that cortisol level is probably not a state marker in bipolar disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effects of clinical audit on the quality of care in patients with type 2 diabetes: results of the DIABEST pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the quality of diabetes care in general practice by the use of audit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective multicenter pilot study. Thirty-five groups of ten general practitioners (GPs) have been set up throughout France on a voluntary basis. These groups were led by a steering committee that includes a diabetologist and a GP. Each group established a consensus on healthcare standards and carried out 2 data collections over a 12-month period, with adoption of corrective measures between these 2 collections. RESULTS: 309 (90.4%) of the 342 practitioners completed the first data collection, assessing the management of 3,125 patients over a year. Less than half the groups have reached the 80% reference threshold for quality of care with regard to foot examination, microalbuminuria, ECG, fundoscopy and assessment of diet. The audit also found no intervention within one year in case of poor glucose control for 47% of patients, unsatisfactory quality of HbA(1c) measurement and insufficient resources for diet and education. 226 (66.1%) practitioners completed the second data collection assessing the management of 2,248 patients. Comparison between the two phases of the audit showed significant improvements for all the indicators of the process of care (p<0.001). Quality of HbA(1c) measurement and diet assessment by GPs progressed (p<0.01). Outcomes of care also improved with respect to the proportion of patients with HbA(1c)<=8% (p=0.007), fasting glycaemia<1.40 g/l (p=0.05) and SBP<140 mmHg (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study confirms the feasibility of using clinical audit at the national level. It seems to be an effective measure to improve the management of patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care. It is intended that the large-scale DIABEST study will address this issue.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1999

Vitamin B12 and folate levels and lithium administration in patients with affective disorders.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether there is a relationship between lithium administration and vitamin B12 metabolism. METHODS: We compared serum B12, serum folate, and red blood cell folate concentrations in patients receiving and not receiving lithium at two Mood Disorders Clinics. As the two centers differed in vitamin assay methods, data were first analyzed separately and then combined. To rule out an in vitro effect of lithium on the assays, we also added varying amounts of lithium to lithium-free blood samples and measured vitamin concentrations. RESULTS: Mean serum B12 concentrations were approximately 20% lower in the lithium than in the nonlithium group at each center. This difference was statistically significant for each center and on combination (two-tailed p = .017, .021, and .0009). The parametric effect size for each center and the combined weighted mean effect size were moderate in magnitude (.605, .523, and .565). There was a nonsignificant trend toward an increased prevalence of assay-defined B12 deficiency in the lithium group at one center only, with no cases in either group at the other center and a nonsignificant combined relative risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our data may represent a lithium-associated decrease in serum B12 concentration. The clinical significance of these findings is not yet clear.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Value of plethysmography in the respiratory function evaluation of coal miners in Lorraine].

The results of body plethysmography in 607 coalminers from Lorraine, France, are analysed. The relationship between radiological aspects and tobacco consumption are discussed. When progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) is absent, total lung capacity (TLC) and slow vital capacity (VC) are related with profusion, but remain independant of X-ray type and tobacco consumption. Tobacco alters flows and FEV1/VC results. A 20% incidence of residual volume (RV) inflation is observed unrelated to X-ray aspect. When PMF is present, TLC results are more contrasted (8.9% restrictive defects, 5.7% hyperinflation) and obstructive pattern follows X-ray progression. Tobacco consumption induces more RV and functional residual capacity inflation. These results strongly support the fact that the effects of dust exposure vary with smoking. Consequently, the interactions between pneumoconiotic fibrosis and distension appear to be reflected by plethysmography. This method is useful for determining each functional pattern. It may also be of pronostic value but this needs to be confirmed by further studies.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of avian beta 1 and mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

We have studied the molecular properties of avian beta 1-adrenergic receptor and human beta 2-adrenergic receptor. The turkey erythrocytes beta 1-receptor has been solubilized in active form by digitonin and has been purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography followed by electroelution from polyacrylamide gel. The photoactivable ligand, iodocyanopindololdiazirine, labels specifically a major 45 kDa and minor 55 kDa polypeptide in turkey erythrocytes, whereas in A431, it labels two polypeptides of molecular weights 65 kDa and 55 kDa. Both types of receptors are N- and possibly O-glycosylated but the turkey beta 1 receptor has only complex carbohydrates whereas the human beta 2 receptor has in addition oligo mannosidic polysaccharidic moiety. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised against the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors. Polyclonal antibodies were found to mimic beta-adrenergic agonists by stimulating adenylate cyclase upon binding to the receptors. The monoclonal antibodies precipitated both intact and affinity labeled receptors which they also revealed on immunoblots.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Upper airway artifact in respiratory impedance measurements.

When studying respiratory impedance by forced oscillations, part of the flow measured at the mouth is lost in upper airway wall motion and does not enter the trachea. The corresponding error was studied in 10 normal subjects and 8 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measuring respiratory impedance with the cheeks unsupported, with the cheeks supported, and when upper airway wall motion was simultaneously measured with a head plethysmograph, and corrected for. In normal subjects, wall motion had little influence on respiratory resistance but, whether the cheeks were supported or not, increased the resonant frequency (p less than 0.05) and respiratory compliance (p less than 0.001) and decreased respiratory inertance (p less than 0.001). In patients with COPD, average resistance from 4 to 30 Hz was significantly lower when the cheeks were not supported (3.32 +/- 0.57 cm/H2O X L-1 X s; m +/- SD) than when they were (4.59 +/- 0.73, p less than 0.01) and when the data were corrected (5.41 +/- 1.14, p less than 0.001). Moreover, resistance increased with increasing frequency when wall motion was corrected for and decreased when it was not. Upper airway wall motion also tended to increase resonant frequency and decrease inertance in patients. The data show that supporting the cheeks does not prevent large errors on respiratory impedance and derived parameters, especially in obstructive patients; accurate measurements require that airway wall motion be evaluated and corrected for.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1985

[Nontumoral nervous complications of bronchial cancer].

The authors present 52 cases of neurological complications of bronchial cancer including 35 cases of non-tumoral manifestations. They stress the frequency and the severity of these complications which are dominated by cerebral vascular accidents and describe the pathogenic features of this particular complication. They define the complications accessible to treatment: iatrogenic pathology, deficiency disorders and certain paraneoplasic syndromes.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1981

Effect of clonidine on growth hormone and glucagon secretion.

The effect of clonidine (0.15 mg i.v.) on circulating GH, glucagon and glucose concentrations was measured in six normal subjects. GH and glucose increased but glucagon secretion remained unchanged. These data indicate that in man clonidine-induced GH secretion is not mediated by a stimulatory effect of clonidine on glucagon secretion and that alpha-adrenergic mechanisms have little role in the regulation of basal glucagon secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effect of L-tryptophan on apomorphine-induced growth hormone secretion in normal subjects.

Oral administration of the serotonin precursor, L-tryptophan, to normal male volunteers (n = 7) in a dose (3 g) sufficient to increase free plasma tryptophan concentrations more than 12-fold had no significant effect on basal growth hormone secretion or on apomorphine HCL-induced (0.75 mg sc) peak growth hormone concentrations. These data suggest that, in man, tryptophan administration has little effect on central dopaminergic function, at least in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and that serotonergic mechanisms have no major modulatory effect on dopamine-mediated growth hormone secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Effect of naloxone or levallorphan on serum prolactin concentrations and apomorphine-induced growth hormone secretion.

Naloxone HCl (0.8 mg intravenously; n=9) or levallorphan tartrate (0.25 mg subcutaneously; n=5) had no effect on basal prolactin or growth hormone secretion in normal men. Neither narcotic antagonist inhibited the growth hormone secretory response to apomorphine HCl (0.75 mg subcutaneously). These findings suggest that narcotic antagonists do not block dopamine receptors in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in man and that if these agents have antischizophrenic properties then these are not mediated by dopamine receptor blockade.

Apomorphine↗
PubMed1979

Effect of clozapine on apomorphine-induced growth hormone secretion and serum prolactin concentrations in schizophrenia.

Clozapine had no effect on basal serum growth hormone concentrations in 10 schizophrenic patients but significantly inhibited the apomorphine-induced growth hormone increase that occurred in 7 subjects. Clozapine caused a slight (17%) but significant elevation in basal serum prolactin levels. These data suggest that in man clozapine, like other neuroleptics, blocks dopamine receptors, at least in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Effect of benztropine on haloperidol-induced prolactin secretion.

The effect of benztropine on haloperidol-induced prolactin secretion was investigated in 10 normal male volunteers. Benztropine had no effect on basal prolactin secretion but significantly enhanced the increased induced by haloperidol. The magnitude of the enhancement, however, was relatively small. These data suggest that in man cholinergic mechanisms have no effect on basal prolactin secretion but exert a weak inhibitory effect under conditions of dopamine receptor blockade. Differences in intrinsic anticholinergic properties may account for some of the variations in potency of different neuroleptics in increasing circulating prolactin concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Dopaminergic function in two patients with catalepsy.

Apomorphine HC1 (2 mg subcutaneously), a dopamine receptor agonist, was administered to two schizophrenic patients with catalepsy. In one of these patients the clinical response to apomorphine was compared with that of sodium amytal and the growth hormone response apomorphine (0.75 mg subcutaneously) was compared with that of 25 control subjects. Apomorphine had no effect whereas sodium amytal caused rapid disappearance of catatonic symptoms including catalepsy. The peak growth hormone response to apomorphine was similar to that of controls. These data suggest that unlike experimental catalepsy in animals, catalepsy associated with schizophrenia may not be dependent on impaired dopaminergic function. Further case studies as well as the use of other dopamine receptor agonists are required before definite conclusions can be drawn.

Adult↗