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P Lopes

Publications and source records attributed to P Lopes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Predicting coronary disease risk based on short-term RR interval measurements: a neural network approach.

Coronary heart disease is a multifactorial disease and it remains the most common cause of death in many countries. Heart rate variability has been used for non-invasive measurement of parasympathetic activity and prediction of cardiac death. Patterns of heart rate variability associated with respiratory sinus arrhythmia have recently been considered as possible indicators of coronary heart disease risk in asymptomatic subjects. The aim of this work is to detect individuals at varying risk of coronary heart disease based on short-term heart rate variability measurements under controlled respiration. Artificial neural networks are used to recognise Poincaré-plot-encoded heart rate variability patterns related to coronary heart disease risk. The results indicate a relatively coarse binary representation of Poincaré plots could be superior to an analogue encoding which, in principle, carries more information.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1999

[Contraception during the first sexual intercourse: a survey concerning 467 female teenagers, 13 to 21 years in the Nantes area].

More than 30 years after the legalization of contraception in France (Neuwirth law) it was interesting to access the sexual behavior and the practice of contraception of French female teenagers. It is with this purpose that this survey has been done in the city of Nantes in Loire Atlantique. 467 female teenagers, 13 to 21 years old, were concerned. Results point out that more of 75% of young girls who replied to this survey used one contraceptive method during the first sexual intercourse and condom is predominantly used. A few ambivalences stake out this life period, so preventive strategies have to be very specific in order to fight sexual transmitted diseases (STD) and AIDS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Intracystic (encysted) papillary carcinoma of the breast: a clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical study.

Intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) of the breast is a rare tumor with predilection for elderly women and distinctive pathological features that must be distinguished from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of papillary type and from invasive papillary carcinoma. The clinical, radiological, and pathological features of 29 cases of IPC are reported. The cases were divided into three groups (IPC alone, associated with DCIS, or associated with invasive carcinoma) and studied in terms of their size, predominant architectural pattern, nuclear grade, and presence of necrosis. Immunohistochemical studies were performed to evaluate the c-erbB2 oncoprotein, estrogen receptors, and ki-67 antigen expression. The median age of the patients was 75 years. Microscopically, nine tumors (31.0%) were IPC alone, nine (31.0%) had IPC associated with DCIS, and 11 (38.0%) were IPC associated with invasive carcinoma. Most of the IPC cases had low or intermediate nuclear grade, no necrosis, strongly expressed estrogen receptor, and was negative for c-erbB-2. Nuclear grade 3 and necrosis were found only in cases of IPC associated with invasive carcinoma. The median Ki-67 antigen expression was 10.6%. One patient with IPC alone had a recurrence 5 years later. Lymph node metastases were found in one patient who had the tumor with the biggest invasive area. IPC is a low-grade carcinoma with overall good prognosis. However, there is a high frequency of DCIS or invasive carcinoma associated with it, and the prognosis of these cases is related to the type, grade, and size of the associated lesions.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Diffuse leiomyomatosis with genital involvement and Alport syndrome. Report of two cases].

We observed the cases of two young women who both developed esophageal and perineal tumors successively. The esophageal component usually is the first manifestation. Esophagectomy, with or without gastrectomy is generally required. The genital affection involves the periclitoridian region, the minora and majora labia. Tracheobronchial localization is less common, but it may be lethal due to bronchospasm. An association between diffuse leiomyomatosis and Alport syndrome is not fortuitous. Recently, molecular biology has enabled to understand the combination of the two pathologies by showing the presence of a deletion on adjacent X chromosome genes, COL4A5 and COL4A6, which are involved in the synthesis of type IV collagen fibres. Leiomyomatosis and Alport syndrome are transmitted as X-linked dominant traits. Women with diffuse leiomyomatosis transmit Alport syndrome. An antenatal diagnosis can be proposed for such patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Adjuvant therapy with a glycoprotein IIb-IIa inhibitor (abciximab) in coronary angioplasties with a high thrombotic risk].

INTRODUCTION: We retrospectively studied our experience with adjunctive therapy with glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitor (abciximab) on patients with a high risk of thrombotic complications during coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 1996 to November 1997, we performed PTCA in 210 patients, and abciximab was given to 38 (18%) of them. The interventions were urgent (primary PTCA in acute myocardial infarction) in 55% of the cases. The mean age of patients was 68.6 +/- 12 years and 71% were male. The reasons for coronary intervention were: acute myocardial infarction in 21 patients (55.3%), unstable angina in 9 (23.7%) and stable angina in 8 (21%). Coronary stents were implanted in 13 patients (34%) and an intra aortic balloon pump was used in 4 (11%). The reasons for using abciximab were: thrombus containing lesion: 22 (57.9%); other type B2/C lesion characteristics: 6 (15.9%); acute closure post balloon PTCA: 9 (23.7%), sub-acute stent thrombosis: 1 (2.6%). Oral acetilsalicilic acid and intravenous heparin were given to all patients at the beginning of the intervention. The mean APTT was 124 +/- 32 seconds at the end of the procedure. RESULTS: The arterial sheaths (8 French) were removed six hours after procedure, according to the normalisation of APTT values. Angiographic success in this group of patients was 100%. One patient died during hospitalisation due to left ventricular failure. There was no need for repeated angioplasty or coronary bypass grafting during hospital stay. The main complications related to the use of abciximab were: bleeding (requiring transfusion) in four patients 10.5%); severe thrombocytopenia (< 50,000 platelets/mm3): 1 (2.6%): cardiac tamponade (requiring pericardiocentesis): 1 (2.6%) and pseudo-aneurysm of femoral artery (requiring vascular surgery): 1 (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of abciximab as adjunctive therapy in this small group of patients undergoing coronary interventions with high risk of thrombotic complications is associated with high procedural success, but at the expense of high rates of bleeding complications. Therefore, special care must be applied during and after the procedure to enhance the safety of the patients treated with this drug.

Abciximab↗
PubMed1997

Prenatal diagnosis of ring chromosome 14 after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE: To collect extensively abnormal cytogenetic results in pregnancies obtained after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University Hospital of Nantes, France. PATIENT(S): A couple with 5 years of primary infertility and severe male factor undergoing ICSI procedure. INTERVENTION(S): Ultrasound-guided transvaginal follicular aspiration, amniocentesis, and medical abortion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum levels of E2, beta-hCG, and fetal chromosomal karyotype. RESULT(S): Ultrasonic observation at 12 weeks revealed an 8-mm thick cystic hygroma in the nuchal area. Because the karyotypic analysis was [46,XX,r(14)/45,XX,-14], medical abortion was performed at 14 weeks, after the patients gave their informed consent. CONCLUSION(S): According to the prevalence of this unusual chromosomal abnormality in humans, such abnormal cytogenetic results have to be collected extensively to assess the feasibility of using ICSI procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Localization of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord: effects of capsaicin, melittin, dorsal rhizotomy and peripheral axotomy.

A putative role for bradykinin has been proposed in the processing of sensory information at the level of the spinal cord. Autoradiographic studies have demonstrated the presence of B2 kinin receptor binding sites in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn and a down-regulation of those receptors in rat models of pain injury. In this study, classical immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy immunofluorescence were used first to localize bradykinin-like immunoreactivity in all major spinal cord segments of naive rats; second, to assess bradykinin-like immunoreactivity changes that occur in animals subjected to various chemical treatments and surgical lesions. High densities of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity were observed in motoneuron of the ventral horn, deeper laminae and nucleus dorsalis of the dorsal horn. Higher magnification of ventral horn showed strong immunostaining of motoneuron perikaryas and their proximal processes. Two types of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity immunostained cellular bodies were observed in deeper laminae of the dorsal horn. These interneurons, morphologically corresponding to islets and antenna-type cells project dendrites to adjacent laminae. Furthermore, numerous strongly marked dendrites, transversally cut, suggest the presence of projection neurons to higher cervical centres. Following unilateral lumbar dorsal rhizotomy (L1-L6) or peripheral lesion of the sciatic nerve, important increases of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity were found in laminae III and IV of the ipsilateral dorsal horn. In contrast, significant decreases of immunodeposits were observed in both cell bodies and numerous dendrites of motoneuron surrounding neuropil. Specific destructions of sensory afferent fibres with capsaicin or selective activation of kallikreins with melittin caused increases of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity in both the dorsal and ventral horns of the spinal cord. These results which demonstrate the cellular localization of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity in both dorsal and ventral horns of the rat spinal cord, further reveal the plasticity of this non-sensory peptidergic system following various chemical and surgical treatments. Hence, these anatomical findings along with earlier functional and receptor autoradiographic studies reinforce the putative role of bradykinin in sensory function.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio of hormonal replacement therapy for menopause and susceptible elements in maximizing compliance].

We recall that the rules of prescription of a hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) must involve compliance. The explanations of stopping HRT are multiple: denial of menopause, omitting to take the HRT by absence of immediate benefits, poor understanding of the interest of long term HRT, side effects and the fear of breast cancer. Information associated to the individual assessment of the balance between risks and benefits will allow improvement in compliance.

Denial, Psychological↗