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Biomedical subjects

R Lefrancois

Publications and source records attributed to R Lefrancois.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of ranitidine on resting pressure and pentagastrin response of human lower esophageal sphincter.

The effect on the lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) of a new H2-receptor antagonist, ranitidine, has been tested during manometry in normal man. Basal tone and LES pentagastrin response were not significantly different after oral ranitidine administration in 10 healthy subjects. No significant variation of LESP was observed in six additional patients during 1 mg/kg body wt ranitidine infusion as compared to placebo. These results show that despite the difference in chemical structure and a greater inhibitory effect on gastric secretion, ranitidine, like cimetidine, does not alter resting pressure or LES response to pentagastrin in man. Ranitidine may therefore benefit patients with gastroesophageal reflux.

Administration, Oral↗

Elastic properties of the rectal wall in normal adults and in the patients with ulcerative colitis.

The elastic properties of the rectal wall have been studied in 16 normal adults (group I) and in 24 patients with ulcerative colitis, during a nonactive (13 cases, group II) or an active period (11 cases, group III). The rectal intraluminal pressures after accommodation to the distension were significantly higher in group III than in groups I and II. These pressures were not related to distending volumes in groups I and II but were correlated with the distending volumes in group III. The rectal elasticity coefficient was significantly greater in group III than in the other two groups. There was an inverse correlation between the rectal elasticity coefficient and the rectal area. These results suggest a loss of the rectal distensibility in active colitis.

Adolescent↗

[A new case of hemoglobin J Capetown alpha 92 (FG 4) Arg replaced by gln].

Hemoglobin J Capetown was found incidentally in a patient of french origin suffering from urticaria with delayed pressure oedema. Using a preparative finger-print technique, the structural determination was easy. A functional study of the purified component confirmed the high oxygen affinity of hemoglobin J Capetown and demonstrated a low reactivity for organic phosphates. These results may explain the perturbations observed in the whole blood.

Amino Acids↗

Breath holding and rebreathing at low and high altitude.

Breath holding and rebreathing have been carried out at sea level in lowlanders and at high altitude in acclimatized lowlanders and in highlanders. It has been shown that the values of gasping time, breath-holding time, rebreathing time and the composition of the alveolar gases at the breaking point are modified by chronic hypoxia, especially in highlanders. The modifications observed can be explained by different sensitivities to humoral stimuli of the different groups of subjects. The importance of nonhumoral factors, as studied by comparing apnea and rebreathing, seems modified at altitude, especially in highlanders, although the mechanism of this change is unknown.

Acclimatization↗

[Reference values of pulmonary compliance (author's transl)].

Pulmonary compliance has been measured, using a classical method in 156 healthy subjects aged between 18 and 74 years, breathing spontaneously. Pulmonary compliance (ml-cmH2O-1) was related to height in meters (H) by an allometric relationship such as C = aHb. As b was not significantly different from three, than C/H3 ratio was studied. This ratio was not dependent on age so that it was possible to establish that, in men, C (ml-cmH2O-1) = 36.6 H3 (m) and in women, C (ml-cmH2O-1) = 33.3 H3 (m). These two relationships were significantly different. From these relationships and from reference values of pulmonary volumes, specific pulmonary compliance could be calculated but since confidence limits were very wide, their utilization is limited. Furthermore, it is difficult to apply specific compliance in respiratory impairment.

Adolescent↗