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R Gass

Publications and source records attributed to R Gass.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone, its sulfate, testosterone and FSH during puberty of African children in Gabon.

Plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone (T) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 111 schoolboys and 95 schoolgirls from 7 to 18 years. 68 male and 55 female adults aged from 19 to 25 were also investigated. Results are expressed as the mean +/- SD, DHEA was the first hormone to vary showing a significant mean increase between the 10 and 11 year age groups of both boys and girls. Higher levels were observed in the age 12 group (boys 164.70 +/- 60.74; girls 256.60 +/- 145.40 ng/dl) but were followed by a significant decrease in both 13 year old groups. Similar increases followed by decreases were also noted for DHEAS, although the increase started between 11 and 12 years and reached a maximum at 13. An abrupt increase in FSH levels between 11 and 12 years followed by a plateau through 15-18 years, was observed for boys and girls. As expected, T levels increasing significantly in boys with the initial rise between 11 and 12 and a climb through to the 15-18 age group. Our results suggest a late plasma DHEAS secretion with adult levels attained after age 19. Menarche was also found to be late.

Adolescent↗

[Male infertility in Gabon. Comparison of spermatic parameters between fertile and infertile groups].

Aetiology of infertility in Central Africa remains largely controversial. The male factor has been less studied than the female factor. We present data obtained on spermatic parameters in comparison between fertile and infertile groups. Values obtained in fertile men are similar to those observed in European or American countries. Very low values of spermatozoa concentration, percentage of motile and morphologically normal forms were found in infertile male.

Fertility↗

Significance of esophageal manometry and long-term pH monitoring for the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux in infancy and childhood.

From examinations and clinical observations of 40 infants and a varying number of children from 2 to 11 years who all had characteristic symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), an attempt was made to establish the diagnostic contribution of esophageal manometry and long-term pH monitoring. A correlation between decreased resting pressure (less than or equal to 12 mmHg), or a sphincter insufficiency, and the degree of reflux symptoms was completely absent in infancy and increased only very slightly in young children. The most influential pH monitoring parameters were reflux during sleep, beyond 2 h postprandial, and during crying. These correlated most with the symptoms in infants. On the other hand, clinical developments were independent of the extent of the pH monitoring findings.

Child↗

Prepartal infection of the placenta with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Placentas from 191 consecutive deliveries were cultured for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other bacteria before being examined histologically. N gonorrhoeae was seen on direct microscopical examination and cultured from two placentas, one of which had chorioamnionitis and the other had a granulocytic invasion of the membranes. In both patients, rupture of the membranes had occurred two hours or less before delivery, and thus after infection. A third patient was also found to have light gonococcal infection of the placenta. Six infections with group B streptococci were identified, but only one correlated with chorioamnionitis. Chorioamnionitis was observed in 16 (8.4%) and granulocytic infiltration of the membranes in 18 (9.4%) of the deliveries.

Adolescent↗

[The placenta of premature and hypotrophic Gabonese infants].

494 placentae coming from two different geographical parts of Gabon were studied. They were grouped into control, premature, small-for-dates and stillborn. The urban population gives rise to most mothers of about 26 years of age, who deliver normally at 38 weeks of babies weighing 3,300 g and 50 cm long, with placentae weighing 550 g, as well as premature babies and those in which there is white cell infiltration of the membranes, signs of toxaemia and normal placentae. On the eastern plateaux of Gabon there are more mothers around the age of 23, who deliver normally at 37 weeks of pregnancy of babies weighing 3,100 g and 48 cm long, with placentae weighing 450 g, with small-for-dates babies and inflammation of the placenta. Malaria is the cause of many premature deliveries and of small-for-dates and stillborn, especially in the plateaux.

Female↗

[Cancer mortality, according to social indicators].

The age-standardized annual mortality rates for 1969/72 are analyzed for each of 183 districts which have been characterized socio-economically and demographically on the basis of the 1970 census. Discriminant analysis for several malignant tumours shows increased mortality in regions of greater population density (lung cancer) and, independently of this finding, in regions with a higher proportion of persons working in the "tertiary sector" (other malignant tumours).

Adult↗

[Evaluation of the Swiss Hospital Association diagnostic and surgical statistics].

Number of admissions, days of care and the average length of stay are presented by age, sex and other criteria for Swiss short stay hospital. Persons 60 and over consumed more than 50 percent of all days of care. On the average, females of all age groups, except from 5 to 54 years of age, were hospitalized longer than males. Principal factors influencing the length of stay are: age, diagnosis and mode of discharge. The increase in the number of persons 65 and over admitted to medical departments corresponds to the demographic development, while it exceeds the demographic increase for surgical departments.

Adolescent↗

Continuous 20-24 hr Esophageal pH-monitoring in infancy.

With the aid of a specially designed combination electrode for infants, 20-24 hr monitoring of esophageal pH was undertaken in 15 infants, aged 5 wk-11 mo. Results demonstrated that the reflux time pH less than or equal to 4 was valid for this age group as for adults, to differentiate between physiologic and pathologic reflux. A new parameter, that of clearance time, defined as normalization time required to return to initial pH, was introduced to improve pH assessment. Both parameters showed a highly significant correlation in relation to each other, and were consistently in accord with the clinical symptoms.

Gastroesophageal Reflux↗

[The influence of the geographic, demographic and socio-economic factors on the mortality from ischaemic heart disease in Switzerland (author's transl)].

The age-standardized mortality rate of Swiss men from ischaemic heart disease (ICD 8th revision, codes 410-414) can be placed between the higher mortality rate of the Federal Republic of Germany and the lower one of France. A geographical gradient is also found within Switzerland: the German speaking areas register higher rates than the French speaking areas, and this difference is more pronounced for comparisons of large cities than for rural locations. These mortality rates are not biased by the other diseases of the heart (ICD codes 420-429). In addition to this geographical gradient, the socio-economic classes, marital status and the number of children are the best demographic and social indicators to discriminate in multivariate form the deaths from ischaemic heart disease among all deaths of men aged 45 to 64 years: the relative risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease is higher among men in non-manual professions (especially in non-independent situations) and among married men with two or none children. The results confirm the importance of the psycho-socio-cultural factors in the etiology of ischaemic heart disease.

Adult↗

[Influencing factors related to narcotic consumption and leisure sports in juveniles].

This report presents some results of a survey of 2872 men and women of 17 to 18 years of age. A multivariate analysis shows a strong association of consumption of illegal drugs with that of tobacco and alcohol, as well as with absence of spare time sports activities (men) and excessive use of medicaments (women). The results favour a multifactorial model of prevention of drug abuse.

Adolescent↗

[Regional variation in mortality from ischemic heart disease in Switzerland].

Age standardized mortality from coronary heart disease was found to be higher in the German speaking parts of Switzerland than in the French speaking parts. Mortality from other diseases of the heart does not show a contrary gradient. The same pattern was confirmed among a cohort of Swiss physicians, observed over a 18-year period. Differences in smoking habits cannot explain the differential mortality rates.

Adult↗