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Biomedical subjects

S Bouchard

Publications and source records attributed to S Bouchard.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

A double-blind study of bromocriptine and L-dopa in de novo Parkinson's disease. Short-term results.

The first phase of a longitudinal multicenter study comparing bromocriptine and L-dopa (as Sinemet) as de novo therapy for Parkinson's disease using a double-blind randomized design has recently been completed. Over a period of 5.5 months, bromocriptine and L-dopa were equipotent in reducing functional and neurological disability. These observations complement and extend earlier studies and suggest a role for bromocriptine as de novo therapy of Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Optimum symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease with dopaminergic therapy.

This paper presents a review of the literature on the therapeutic action and the side effects of the two main dopaminergic agents: L-DOPA/decarboxylase inhibitor (L-DOPA/DI) and bromocriptine (Parlodel used either as monotherapy or in combination in patients with Parkinson's disease. The combination of L-DOPA/DI and bromocriptine gives the best therapeutic efficacy (49% improvement) in the total score (bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor). However, treatment by monotherapy or combination gives the same pattern of activity: greatest improvement in tremor, followed by rigidity and bradykinesia. Improvement observed in the short term is not sustained over longer periods of time for monotherapy with either drug. The short-term side effects are similar for each treatment, whereas long-term complications (dyskinesia, end-of-dose deterioration and on-off phenomenon) appear only when levodopa is used, alone (high incidence) or in combination with bromocriptine (low incidence). The overall optimum treatment is obtained with a combination of L-DOPA/DI and bromocriptine.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of spasticity with tizanidine in multiple sclerosis.

Spasticity is a frequent and often disabling symptom in MS patients. Current drugs used as antispastic agents include Dantrolene Sodium, Baclofen and Diazepam. Tizanidine (5-chloro-4-(2imidazolin-2 yl amino)-2,1,3-benzothialdiazole) is a new antispasticity agent that has purported central action. A double blind placebo controlled trial was performed to study the efficacy of this drug in MS patients. Sixty-six patients entered an eight week therapeutic trial and fifty-nine completed the trial. Patients were assessed at 0, 2, 3 and 8 weeks of therapy for clinical effects. Electrophysiologic tests were performed at 0 and 8 weeks. A statistically significant benefit was noted in spastic muscle groups in the legs with concomitant significant reduction in hyperactive stretch reflexes and ankle clonus. Side effects most frequently cited included dry mouth and drowsiness. Two patients developed elevated liver function test that decreased with cessation of therapy. Other clinical details, side effects and electrophysiologic data will be presented. Tizanidine appears to reduce clinical spasticity and hyperreflexia in MS patients although no change in functional status was detected. Tizanidine may well serve as an alternate antispastic agent, alone or in combination with other agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of bromocriptine (Parlodel) and levodopa-carbidopa (Sinemet) for treatment of "de novo" Parkinson's disease patients.

Fifty-one patients were enrolled in a double-blind, parallel group, multicentre study conducted to assess short-term efficacy and tolerance of bromocriptine (Parlodel) or L-DOPA/carbidopa (Sinemet) in patients never treated with amantadine, ergot alkaloids or L-DOPA-based drugs. An attempt to use the lowest effective dose was made. The responder rate for each group was approximately 78%; the mean daily dose for responders was 22.5 mg of bromocriptine or 250 mg of L-DOPA/carbidopa. The overall clinical improvement in each group was 62% (bromocriptine) and 55% (L-DOPA/carbidopa) for neurological assessment and 36% (bromocriptine) and 31% (L-DOPA/carbidopa) for functional disability. Comparison between groups did not show any significant difference for both neurological and disability assessments. The most frequent side effect was nausea (L-DOPA, N = 3; bromocriptine, N = 6).

Antiparkinson Agents↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of once-daily guanfacine and twice-a-day methyldopa in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.

Control of hypertension (ie, reduction of blood pressure to less than or equal to 160/90 mmHg) in 40 mild to moderate hypertensives not responding adequately to hydrochlorothiazide was achieved by the addition of guanfacine (once daily) or methyldopa (twice daily) in a 16-week, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Control occurred after two weeks (at 1 mg/day) in 50% of the guanfacine-treated patients and in most patients within four to six weeks of treatment. The final mean doses were 2.5 mg/day of guanfacine or 763 mg/day of methyldopa. Sixteen patients maintained control of hypertension with continued guanfacine therapy for one year.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Bromocriptine in the management of end of dose deterioration in Parkinson's disease.

Thirty-three patients with advanced Parkinson's disease complicated by end of dose deterioration were treated with bromocriptine. The drug was slowly increased so that by treatment week 24 the mean daily dose of bromocriptine was 22mg and levodopa had been decreased by an average of 15 percent. The majority of improvement in daily fluctuations and Parkinsonian disability score was documented by 8 weeks, at which time the mean daily bromocriptine dose was only 12mg. End of dose deterioration was reduced in 78 percent of the patients (mean 43% improvement). Total Parkinsonian disability score was decreased by 33 percent. Adverse effects were minimal; the most common was mild transient early treatment nausea which occurred in 15 percent of the patients. The slow introduction of small doses of bromocriptine, combined with minimal levodopa reduction, can give Parkinsonian patients significant improvement in end of dose deterioration.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Biochemical properties and kinetic parameters of dihydroxyphenylalanine--5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase in brain, liver, and adrenals of cat.

Biochemical properties and kinetic parameters of nonpurified dihydroxyphenylalanine-5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase extracted from brain and two peripheral organs, liver and adrenals, were studied in the cat. This study shows that decarboxylase activity in brain is lower than in peripheral organs and that 5-hydroxytryptophan can be decarboxylated without exogenous addition of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP). However, the addition of PLP substantially increases the enzyme activity. Excess of coenzyme (greater than 60 muM) induces inhibition in adrenals and liver but not in the central nervous system (CNS). The observed inhibition might be related to the presence of a tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative formed in the medium. Differentiation between mechanisms of action of decarboxylase in the CNS and peripheral organs is suggested.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The assessment of panic using self-report: a comprehensive survey of validated instruments.

A repertoire of reliable and valid self-report instruments to assess panic and panic disorder would help both researchers and clinicians. This review presents a description and an analysis of the available instruments. Following a comprehensive search of the literature, 14 instruments with published information on reliability and validity were reviewed. The following information is reported for each instrument: brief description of the instrument and its development, mean and standard deviation for clinical and nonclinical samples, and psychometric properties. Four types of instruments are presented: general assessment and information (n = 2), severity of panic disorder (n = 2), body sensations (n = 2) and cognitive dimensions of panic (n = 8). Overall, it would seem that panic measures have moderate to excellent psychometric qualities. However, the comparison between the instruments is difficult because the amount of empirical support available varies widely from one instrument to the other.

Factor Analysis, Statistical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cyclic traction machine for long-term culture of fibroblast-populated collagen gels.

Our research group has been investigating the effect of cyclic deformations on the evolution of fibroblast populated collagen gels (FPCG). Since existing traction machines are not designed for such an application, we had to design a cyclic traction machine adapted to tissue culture inside an incubator over an extended period of time. Biocompatible materials were used for fabrication to allow for easy sterilization and to prevent any adverse reaction from the tissue. The traction machine is based on a computer-controlled stepping motor system for easy adjustment of the deformation amplitude and frequency. The maximum stretching speed achieved is around 1 mm/s. The traction machine can measure FPCG mechanical properties and perform rupture tests to determine its ultimate strength. Several FPCGs have been successfully cultured with the machine for up to four weeks without any adverse reaction.

Biocompatible Materials↗