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Biomedical subjects

V Debois

Publications and source records attributed to V Debois.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A PCR test to identify bacillus subtilis and closely related species and its application to the monitoring of wastewater biotreatment.

A PCR test based on the 16S rRNA gene was set up that could identify any of the five species of the 'Bacillus subtilis group' (B. subtilis, B. pumilus, B. atrophaeus, B. lichenijormis and B. amyloliquefaciens). The test was directly applicable to single colonies and showed excellent specificity. In the mixed population context of wastewater analysis, direct detection of the target Bacillus species by PCR on either crude or purified DNA extracts had poor sensitivity. When assayed on cell suspensions derived from enriched wastewater samples, sensitivity was increased. Using a simple calibration method, it was possible to estimate the proportion of the target organisms. This method was found suitable for easy monitoring of a wastewater bioaugmentation experiment carried out with a mixture of sporulated Bacillus strains.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1999

Soft cervical disc herniation. Influence of cervical spinal canal measurements on development of neurologic symptoms.

STUDY DESIGN: In 100 consecutive patients who underwent surgery because of soft cervical disc herniation, the sagittal and transverse diameters, the area of the bony cervical spinal canal, the sagittal diameter of the hernia, and the minimal bony intervertebral foramen diameter were measured by computed tomography. The data were compared with measurements from a control group of 35 matched healthy individuals. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relation between the severity of concurrent neurologic symptoms and the sagittal and transverse diameters, the cross-sectional area of the bony spinal canal, the sagittal diameter of the hernia, and diameter of the minimal bony intervertebral foramen in patients with soft cervical disc herniation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Traumatic injury and spondylotic changes have a far greater impact on the spinal cord and nerve roots if the sagittal diameter of the bony cervical spinal canal is small. However, in the case of soft cervical disc herniation, no computer tomographic measurements are available for sagittal and transverse diameters, cross-sectional area of the bony spinal canal, sagittal diameter of the hernia, and diameter of the minimal bony intervertebral foramen in relation to the severity of concurrent neurologic symptoms. METHODS: Computed tomography was used to measure sagittal and transverse diameters, cross-sectional area of the bony cervical spinal canal, sagittal diameter of the hernia, and diameter of the minimal bony intervertebral foramen in 100 patients with symptomatic monosegmental cervical soft disc herniation. All patients had undergone an anterior discectomy with removal of the hernia and subsequent interbody fusion using an autologous bone graft taken from the iliac crest. RESULTS: A mean sagittal diameter of the bony cervical spinal canal of 12.9 mm was found, indicating a certain degree of developmental stenosis. Patients with motor disturbances had a significantly smaller sagittal diameter of the bony spinal canal than did patients without motor disturbances. There was a linear correlation between the sagittal diameter of the bony cervical spinal canal and that of the hernia. The sagittal diameter, the area of the bony spinal canal, and diameter of the minimal bony intervertebral foramen were significantly smaller in patients with soft cervical disc herniation than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study strongly suggest that the degree and severity of neurologic symptoms accompanying cervical soft disc herniation are inversely related to the sagittal diameter and the area of the bony cervical spinal canal. The latter area is reduced in cases of developmental stenosis or because of soft disc herniation. Moreover, patients with soft cervical disc herniation have a significantly smaller sagittal diameter of the bony spinal canal, a significantly smaller minimal bony intervertebral foramen diameter, and a significantly smaller cross-sectional area of the bony cervical canal than do healthy matched individuals.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1998

Thoracic disc herniations: transthoracic, lateral, or posterolateral approach? A review.

BACKGROUND: The choice between transthoracic, lateral, and posterolateral approaches to excise thoracic disc herniations remains controversial. METHODS: The outcome of the three approaches was compared in seven of the authors' cases and in 324 other cases reported in the literature. RESULTS: Partial or total neurological recovery was found in 93% after a transthoracic procedure versus 87% after a posterolateral technique and 80% after a lateral approach (P < 0.05). A trend toward superior results after a transthoracic technique was also noted in subgroups of patients with radiculopathy, patients with intradural disc herniations, and patients with multiple lesions, although statistical significance was not reached. Pulmonary complications occurred in 7% of transthoracic techniques versus 5% in lateral and 0% in posterolateral techniques (p < 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The transthoracic approach is recommended for all thoracic disc herniations below the T4 level except for patients with serious pulmonary compromise.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Efficacy and safety of oral tramadol and pentazocine for postoperative pain following prolapsed intervertebral disc repair.

In this multicenter double-blind randomized study the analgesic efficacy and safety of 50 mg tramadol was compared against 50 mg pentazocine by mouth in the treatment of 160 patients with acute pain following prolapsed intervertebral disc repair. The day of surgery patients were treated with parenteral opioids. The study started the morning after surgery. A wash out period of four hours was allowed after parenteral analgesics. Pain assessment was made using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a verbal rating scale (VRS) during a six hours observation period. Remedication with the same drug at the same dosage was allowed if pain relief was unsatisfactory. Overall analgesic activity and spontaneously reported side effects were also registered. Results showed both treatments provided equivalent effective analgesia for the six hours observation period. The global assessment of analgesia by patient and observer was not significantly different for both treatments, although less additional medication was required in the pentazocine group. Side effects were quite common in both groups, and occurred more frequently in the pentazocine group.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1979

Benign tumors of the cranial vault, a report of 12 cases.

Twelve cases of different types of benign tumors of the cranial vault are described. In most cases there was a localised swelling which was sometimes painful. There were no neurological abnormalities due to the lesion. Radiological examination revealed a zone of radiolucency in all cases. In 8 patients the brain scan with 99mTc sodiumpertechnetate showed an increased uptake at the level of the bone lesion. Eight patients were operated upon and a total resection could be performed. In the four others only a biopsy was done. Histopathological examination revealed a fibrous dysplasia (3x), an eosinophilic granuloma (3x), an osteoid osteoma (2x), a cholesteatoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, an osteoclastoma and a fibroma. The pathological mechanisms underlying these different lesions are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Intraventricular hemorrhage : relation between the symptomatology and computed tomography (author's transl)].

The author gives a description of 60 patients with a ventricular hemorrhage. In most of the cases an intracerebral hematoma or a vascular malformation (aneurysm, angioma) are the causes of the ventricular hemorrhage. Frequently the symptomatology is caracterised by a sudden coma (ictus apoplecticus) or the clinical picture of a subarachnoid hemorrhage without important disturbances of consciousness. With computed tomography a ventricular hemorrhage can be diagnosed very easily. Three formes can be distinguished : haematocephalus totalis, haematocephalus partialis and intraventricular hemorrhage. Most of the patients were treated conservatively. Only 11 patients received surgical treatment. The mortality is very important : 58,3%. Nevertheless this study shows that not all ventricular hemorrhages have a bad prognosis. In one third of the patients the consciousness was normal or only mildly disturbed. These patients had a good recovery. It seems that the ventricular hemorrhage is not the only factor which influences the clinical picture. The origin, the localisation and extent of the primary hemorrhage are essential prognostic factors for morbidity ahd mortality. Above all the direct or indirect lesions of the brain stem seems to be an important factor.

Adolescent↗