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1.
Front Rehabil Sci ; 4: 1281680, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38078068

ABSTRACT

Background: Living with chronic pain (CP) often implies major lifestyle changes, including modifications of daily routines and work. Surprisingly, few validated and effective interventions specifically target functional outcomes in this population. Redesign your Everyday Activities and Lifestyle with Occupational Therapy [REVEAL(OT)] is a lifestyle-oriented intervention led by occupational therapists that directly targets the daily functional challenges of living with CP. The intervention was initially developed and studied as an add-on to standard treatment delivered by Danish multidisciplinary specialized pain clinics. Adapting, implementing, and evaluating REVEAL(OT) within the Canadian healthcare system will contribute to broadening the scope of treatments offered in specialized pain clinics that do not yet include occupational therapy. Objective: The proposed study aims to define and refine REVEAL(OT)/CA with partners (authors of original intervention, people with lived experience, clinicians, managers). Methods: This participatory action research will use a multi-method design and follow the ORBIT model for developing behavioral treatments for chronic diseases. A process of co-construction with partners and an advisory committee will take place in two Montreal specialized pain clinics. It consists of two related work packages (WPs). In WP1, a first series of focus groups with partners (n = 86) and workshops with the advisory committee will be conducted to co-develop the hypothetical pathway describing intervention components and their potential mechanisms of action on targeted outcomes, as well as the first version of the adapted intervention manual. WP2 will co-refine REVEAL(OT)/CA by exploring its acceptability, feasibility and mechanisms of action through intervention deliveries (at least twice in each of two specialized pain clinics; n ≥ 60 patients) and focus groups and/or individual interviews with participating patients and partners. At the end of this study, the intervention manual will be generated both in French and English. Discussion: This study will set the stage for subsequent implementation and effectiveness assessment projects and be an important step towards the deployment of interventions aiming to improve engagement in meaningful daily activities among adults living with CP. Registration: OSF Registries, osf.io/8gksa. Registered 3 August 2023, https://osf.io/8gksa.

2.
Arch Pediatr ; 25(1): 6-12, 2018 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29273447

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Complementary feeding plays a crucial role in the development of infants and toddlers and studies suggest benefits specific to the introduction of food textures. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the recommendations given to parents, their practices, and their attitudes towards the introduction of food textures during complementary feeding in France. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted in 2013. One hundred and eighty-one parents with at least one child aged 6-36 months living in France completed an ad hoc questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of the parents surveyed received oral information on complementary feeding, but only 46% received such information on the introduction of food textures. Pediatricians were the most frequently listed source of oral information on complementary feeding. More than half the parents also looked for additional information in books and on the internet. While oral recommendations matched parents' practices, they seemed to occur at a later age compared to infants' physiological ability to handle new textures. The quality of information on food texture advice available in paper and electronic formats evaluated using a 4-point scale was found to be limited. Introducing new food texture was spontaneously reported as the most common difficulty in complementary feeding (16%). Fear of choking when first introducing food pieces was reported by 54% of the parents. CONCLUSIONS: The parents' lack of information on the introduction of food textures, as well as their fear that their child may choke, should encourage providing new recommendations in France.


Subject(s)
Feeding Behavior , Food , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Parents/education , Weaning , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , France , Humans , Infant , Information Seeking Behavior , Male , Pilot Projects , Surveys and Questionnaires
3.
Pain Res Manag ; 2017: 8123812, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28280406

ABSTRACT

The Quebec Pain Registry (QPR) is a large research database of patients suffering from various chronic pain (CP) syndromes who were referred to one of five tertiary care centres in the province of Quebec (Canada). Patients were monitored using common demographics, identical clinical descriptors, and uniform validated outcomes. This paper describes the development, implementation, and research potential of the QPR. Between 2008 and 2013, 6902 patients were enrolled in the QPR, and data were collected prior to their first visit at the pain clinic and six months later. More than 90% of them (mean age ± SD: 52.76 ± 4.60, females: 59.1%) consented that their QPR data be used for research purposes. The results suggest that, compared to patients with serious chronic medical disorders, CP patients referred to tertiary care clinics are more severely impaired in multiple domains including emotional and physical functioning. The QPR is also a powerful and comprehensive tool for conducting research in a "real-world" context with 27 observational studies and satellite research projects which have been completed or are underway. It contains data on the clinical evolution of thousands of patients and provides the opportunity of answering important research questions on various aspects of CP (or specific pain syndromes) and its management.


Subject(s)
Chronic Pain/epidemiology , Chronic Pain/therapy , Health Plan Implementation , Pain Clinics/statistics & numerical data , Pain Management/methods , Registries , Adult , Aged , Chronic Pain/diagnosis , Female , Health Plan Implementation/methods , Health Plan Implementation/standards , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Quebec/epidemiology , Registries/standards , Registries/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors
4.
Encephale ; 43(3): 259-267, 2017 May.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27623120

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a medical emergency. The objective of this paper is to systematically review the literature published over the past 15 years pertaining to prophylactic and curative treatment of WE with thiamine. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using Medline to include all studies published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2015. RESULTS: Of the 316 abstracts identified, 20 met the final inclusion criteria. The evidence on the use of prophylactic thiamine was quite heterogeneous. The use of thiamine in this context largely depended on the evaluation of an individual's risk of developing WE. Use of prophylactic thiamine in low-risk patients is not universally indicated. When prescribed in this sub-population, the oral route is suggested but may be insufficient owing to its limited intestinal absorption and the high risk of non-compliance. High-risk patients need parenteral treatment with a recommended posology of 250 mg daily for 3 to 5 days. Intramuscular route is preferred in the outpatient setting, whereas intravenous route is suggested for inpatients. In cases where the diagnosis of WE is suspected or confirmed, a curative treatment with high-dose IV thiamine is justified. The evidence widely accepted in the literature is much clearer in this condition, with treatment regimens consisting of 500 mg IV 3 times daily for 3 to 5 days, followed by 250 mg IV daily for a minimum of 3 to 5 additional days. CONCLUSION: The literature does indicate that thiamine should be prescribed at high dosages, with the parenteral routes indicated in hospital settings and in high-risk patients. Based on the current literature review, we suggest treatment algorithms guiding thiamine prescription for WE.


Subject(s)
Thiamine/administration & dosage , Thiamine/therapeutic use , Vitamin B Complex/administration & dosage , Vitamin B Complex/therapeutic use , Wernicke Encephalopathy/drug therapy , Drug Prescriptions , Humans , Treatment Outcome , Wernicke Encephalopathy/prevention & control
5.
Bioresour Technol ; 128: 252-8, 2013 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23196247

ABSTRACT

The use of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an alternative method to predict the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of a broad range of organic substrates was investigated. A total of 296 samples including most of the substrates treated by anaerobic co-digestion were used for NIRS calibration and validation. The NIRS predictions of the BMP values were satisfactory (Root Mean Square Error = 40 ml CH(4) g(-1) VS(fed); r(2) = 0.85). The integration of the entire substrate diversity in the model remained nevertheless difficult due to the specific organic matter properties of stabilised substrates and the high level of uncertainty of the BMP values. The elaboration of a model restricted to "fresh" substrates allows the practical use of the NIR technique to design and operate anaerobic co-digestion plants. The addition of more samples in the dataset in order to perform local calibrations would probably make the elaboration of a global NIR-model possible.


Subject(s)
Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism , Methane/metabolism , Models, Biological , Organic Chemicals/metabolism , Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods , Computer Simulation
6.
Inflamm Bowel Dis ; 17(10): 2116-21, 2011 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21910173

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to determine the ability of normal subjects and patients with quiescent CD to absorb vitamin D(2) using a novel vitamin D bioavailability test. In addition, we evaluated whether the location of disease or previous surgery had any influence on the bioavailability of vitamin D(2) in CD patients. METHODS: Ten normal subjects (50% female) and 37 CD patients with quiescent disease (51% female) were included in this study. Subjects who recently received any vitamin D(2) were excluded. The vitamin D bioavailability test was performed in all subjects. After a baseline blood draw, all subjects were then given a single 50,000 IU oral dose of vitamin D(2) in a capsule formulation and had their blood drawn 12 hours later to determine serum vitamin D(2), which reflected their vitamin D(2) absorption capacity. RESULTS: Forty-two percent and 29% of CD patients were found to be either vitamin D-deficient (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] ≤20 ng/mL] or insufficient [25(OH)D 21-29 ng/mL], respectively. Twelve hours after ingesting 50,000 IU vitamin D(2) , vitamin D(2) levels rose from a baseline of 0.7 ± 0.7 ng/mL (mean ± SEM) to 49.8 ± 3.0 ng/mL in normal subjects. In CD patients, baseline vitamin D(2) levels rose from 0 ng/mL to 34.8 ± 2.8 ng/mL. CD patients had on average a 30% decrease in their ability to absorb vitamin D(2) (P = 0.01). Moreover, we found a wide variability of vitamin D(2) bioavailability in CD patients. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no statistical difference of vitamin D(2) bioavailability between patients in the CD subgroup stratified by the location of disease, the type of surgery, and receiving or not receiving surgery. CONCLUSIONS: More than 70% of the patients with quiescent CD were vitamin D-deficient or insufficient. The ability to absorb vitamin D(2) in CD patients is unpredictable and the only way to determine this is to perform a vitamin D bioavailability test. Use of this test may guide clinicians in administering the appropriate therapeutic dose of vitamin D for treating vitamin D deficiency in patients with CD.


Subject(s)
Crohn Disease/blood , Intestinal Absorption/physiology , Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism , Vitamin D Deficiency/blood , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Adolescent , Adult , Biological Availability , Case-Control Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Vitamin D/administration & dosage , Vitamin D/blood , Young Adult
7.
Nat Prod Res ; 24(5): 391-7, 2010 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20306360

ABSTRACT

From the seed and leaf extracts of Eryngium species, two new compounds were isolated, along with an aliphatic ketone and several known terpenoids reported from a member of Umbelliferae for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by chemical methods and spectroscopic analysis.


Subject(s)
Eryngium/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Terpenes/isolation & purification , Eryngium/metabolism , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular , Optical Rotation , Plant Extracts/metabolism , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/metabolism , Seeds/chemistry , Seeds/metabolism , Terpenes/chemistry , Terpenes/metabolism
9.
Pain Res Manag ; 12(1): 13-21, 2007.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17372630

ABSTRACT

Neuropathic pain (NeP), generated by disorders of the peripheral and central nervous system, can be particularly severe and disabling. Prevalence estimates indicate that 2% to 3% of the population in the developed world suffer from NeP, which suggests that up to one million Canadians have this disabling condition. Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of NeP are therefore urgently needed. Randomized, controlled trials, systematic reviews and existing guidelines focusing on the pharmacological management of NeP were evaluated at a consensus meeting. Medications are recommended in the guidelines if their analgesic efficacy was supported by at least one methodologically sound, randomized, controlled trial showing significant benefit relative to placebo or another relevant control group. Recommendations for treatment are based on degree of evidence of analgesic efficacy, safety, ease of use and cost-effectiveness. Analgesic agents recommended for first-line treatments are certain antidepressants (tricyclics) and anticonvulsants (gabapentin and pregabalin). Second-line treatments recommended are serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors and topical lidocaine. Tramadol and controlled-release opioid analgesics are recommended as third-line treatments for moderate to severe pain. Recommended fourth-line treatments include cannabinoids, methadone and anticonvulsants with lesser evidence of efficacy, such as lamotrigine, topiramate and valproic acid. Treatment must be individualized for each patient based on efficacy, side-effect profile and drug accessibility, including cost. Further studies are required to examine head-to-head comparisons among analgesics, combinations of analgesics, long-term outcomes, and treatment of pediatric and central NeP.


Subject(s)
Analgesics/therapeutic use , Neuralgia/drug therapy , Algorithms , Chronic Disease , Humans , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
10.
Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet ; 46(2): 51-59, jul.-dic. 2005. tab
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: lil-490721

ABSTRACT

La influenza porcina (IP) es una de las enfermedades respiratorias de mayor prevalencia en los cerdos en el ámbito mundial, causa brotes de gripe en los rebaños y usualmente pocos cerdos mueren. La mortalidad se incrementa si la influenza se presenta como parte del síndrome del complejo respiratorio porcino (CRP). En Venezuela, se ha demostrado la presencia de infecciones tales como el síndrome respiratorio y reproductivo porcino (SRRP), coronavirus respiratorio porcino (CRP), virus de Aujeszky y síndrome multisitémico de emaciación post-destete; no existiendo reportes de infección por el virus de influenza porcina. El objetivo de este trabajo fue demostrar la presencia de anticuerpos contra el virus de influenza porcina (VIP) subtipos H1N1 y H3N2 en granjas de cerdos de Venezuela, mediante la prueba de inhibición de la hemoaglutinación (IH). Se evaluaron 305 muestras de suero de cerdos provenientes de 10 granjas ubicadas en diferentes estados de Venezuela: Anzoátegui, Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes, Guárico, Miranda y Zulia. Las muestras de sangre fueron tomadas a 185 lechones en fase de crecimiento - finalización y 120 muestras de madres. Los anticuerpos específicos para el subtipo H1N1 (3/10) y H3N2 (4/10) fueron detectados en 7 de las 10 granjas. El subtipo H1N1 fue detectado en 7,9 por ciento (24/305) de los sueros y el subtipo H3N2 fue positivo en 8,2 por ciento (25/305) de los sueros. El análisis serológico evidenció anticuerpos contra el VIP, subtipos H1N1 y H3N2, pudiéndose inferir que la presencia de los animales positivos es producto de una infección natural ya que, para el momento del ensayo, no existen vacunas autógenas ni comerciales contra la enfermedad en Venezuela.


Subject(s)
Animals , Antibodies , Hemagglutination Tests , Influenza A virus , Swine , Venezuela , Veterinary Medicine
11.
Contact Dermatitis ; 51(5-6): 284-7, 2004.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15606654

ABSTRACT

We report the first case of immediate-type hypersensitivity caused by Emla cream. A 55-year-old woman, after using Emla cream, went on to develop urticaria. An open test was positive to Emla cream. Patch tests and prick tests were performed with Emla cream, the components of Emla cream (lidocaine, prilocaine and castor oil) and other local anaesthetics. The patch test with lidocaine and the prick test with Emla cream were both positive. An intradermal test and subcutaneous administration of 3 anaesthetics that had negative patch tests and prick tests were performed and well tolerated, allowing their use. In the literature, anaphylactic reactions to lidocaine injections, delayed-type hypersensitivity after lidocaine subcutaneous injections and contact dermatitis from Emla cream have all been described. This first case of contact urticaria from Emla cream was due to lidocaine and did not show any cross-reaction with other local anaesthetics.


Subject(s)
Anesthetics, Combined/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Contact/etiology , Lidocaine/adverse effects , Prilocaine/adverse effects , Urticaria/chemically induced , Anesthetics, Local/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/chemically induced , Intradermal Tests , Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination , Middle Aged , Ointments , Patch Tests
12.
Haemophilia ; 9(1): 57-9, 2003 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12558779

ABSTRACT

The transportation of plasma specimens to specialized haemophilia centre laboratories for anti-factor VIII inhibitor titre determination is often necessary. The routine method of transporting frozen specimens on dry ice is limited by its cost and need for special handling. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of storing specimens at room temperature on the FVIII inhibitor titre determinations using the Bethesda assay. Specimens stored both in liquid phase as well as adsorbed onto filter paper discs were studied. The results of the present study demonstrate that plasma specimens stored for up to 2 weeks at room temperature, either in liquid phase or adsorbed onto filter paper, yield equivalent measures of FVIII inhibitor titres using the Bethesda assay to plasma specimens stored frozen at -70 degrees C. Plasma specimens dried on filter paper discs and stored at room temperature offers a reliable, more practical and less expensive alternative to frozen plasma as a means of transport to specialized referral laboratories for analysis of anti-FVIII titres.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/blood , Blood Preservation/methods , Blood Specimen Collection/methods , Factor VIII/antagonists & inhibitors , Cryopreservation , Drug Stability , Hemophilia A/blood , Humans , Immunoassay , Male , Paper , Temperature , Transportation/methods
13.
Haemophilia ; 9(1): 104-9, 2003 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12558786

ABSTRACT

The use of porcine factor VIII (FVIII) (Hyate:C, Ipsen) has proven to be very successful in treating patients with FVIII inhibitors. The best way to predict the usefulness of porcine FVIII therapy, and/or to estimate the appropriate treatment dose in a given patient, is to measure the patient inhibitor titre against porcine FVIII with the Bethesda assay, using porcine FVIII as the source of FVIII in the assay. The goals of the present study were to (1) find the optimal storage temperature, diluent and concentration for a working solution of porcine FVIII to be used as the source of FVIII for the porcine Bethesda assay, (2) assess the reliability of the labelled FVIII units in the preparation of such working solutions of porcine FVIII and (3) compare the inhibitor titres determined by the Bethesda assay using both porcine and human standard reference curves for measuring residual FVIII. The results of the present study demonstrate that a ready-to-use working solution of 1 U mL(-1) of Hyate:C diluted in human FVIII deficient plasma, either containing or deficient in von Willebrand factor antigen, is stable for up to 12 months, at -20 degrees C. The preparation of the 1 U mL(-1) working solution could be reliably calculated based on the units indicated on the vial label. Finally, using the human standard curve yields similar results to using the porcine standard curve for measuring any titre of allo- or auto-antibody against FVIII in the Bethesda assay, using Hyate:C as the source of FVIII. These findings are of practical value when performing a porcine FVIII-based Bethesda assay.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/blood , Factor VIII/immunology , Isoantibodies/blood , Animals , Blood Preservation/methods , Cryopreservation/methods , Drug Stability , Drug Storage/methods , Factor VIII/antagonists & inhibitors , Humans , Immunoassay/methods , Reference Standards , Reproducibility of Results , Swine , Temperature
14.
J Antimicrob Chemother ; 48(6): 813-20, 2001 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11733465

ABSTRACT

The proconvulsant effect of biphenyl acetic acid (BPAA) on several fluoroquinolones (FQs) was investigated in vivo, by measuring drug concentrations in the biophase at the onset of convulsions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 134) were given BPAA orally, at various doses 1 h before starting FQ infusion, which was maintained until the onset of maximal seizures, when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples were collected for drug concentration determination. The FQ-BPAA interactions in the biophase (CSF) were adequately described on most occasions by an inhibitory Emax effect model with a baseline effect parameter. The efficacy of the proconvulsant effect was characterized by the ratio of the CSF concentrations of FQs at the onset of convulsant activity when BPAA was absent (CCSF0, FQs) and as BPAA CSF concentrations tended toward infinity (CCSFbase, FQs). This ratio varied from 15 for enoxacin to 1.9 for sparfloxacin. The potency of the proconvulsant effect was characterized by the CSF concentration of BPAA corresponding to a proconvulsant effect half of its maximum. This parameter varied between 0.18 +/- 0.06 micromol/L with enoxacin and 15.0 +/- 12.1 micromol/L with sparfloxacin. The CSF diffusion of all FQs was apparently non-linear, as well as the plasma protein binding of BPAA, complicating interpretation of plasma data. The important variability in the proconvulsant effect of BPAA demonstrated in this study between various FQs suggests that in vitro gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) binding experiments conducted in the presence of BPAA are unlikely to be good predictors of FQ convulsant risk in clinical practice.


Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Phenylacetates/pharmacology , Seizures/chemically induced , Animals , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacokinetics , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacokinetics , Convulsants/pharmacokinetics , Convulsants/pharmacology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Interactions , Fluoroquinolones , Male , Phenylacetates/pharmacokinetics , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptors, GABA/metabolism , Seizures/metabolism
15.
Mol Vis ; 7: 283-7, 2001 Dec 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11740468

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the genomic organization of the mouse gene for the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) specific protein RPE65. METHODS: A genomic clone containing the entire Rpe65 gene was isolated from a mouse genomic P1 library. Fragments of this clone were subcloned and sequenced by automated fluorescent dideoxy DNA sequencing and analyzed. Direct sequencing of PCR amplification products was used to complete the structure. Primer extension analysis was used to determine the transcription start site. RESULTS: Southern hybridization of restriction digests of mouse genomic DNA reveals a likely single autosomal gene for Rpe65 with no evidence of pseudogenes. Sequence analysis of the mouse P1 clone for Rpe65 and fragments thereof reveals 14 exons distributed over 27 kbp. The transcription start site is located 57 bp upstream of the initiation codon. The protein encoded by the mouse Rpe65 gene is highly conserved when compared with RPE65s from other species. CONCLUSIONS: RPE65 is a highly conserved protein and it appears that the genes for the mouse and human RPE65s, at least, are also conserved in overall structure.


Subject(s)
Eye Proteins/genetics , Pigment Epithelium of Eye/metabolism , Proteins/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Base Sequence , Blotting, Southern , Carrier Proteins , Cloning, Molecular , DNA Primers/chemistry , DNA Probes/chemistry , Exons , Eye Proteins/metabolism , Gene Library , Humans , Introns , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Proteins/metabolism , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , cis-trans-Isomerases
16.
Burns ; 27(7): 771-5, 2001 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11600260

ABSTRACT

Methadone is used increasingly as a second-line opioid in the management of cancer pain refractory to conventional opioids. Recent case studies suggest that its use as an analgesic could be extended to non-cancer pain, especially neuropathic pain. The present case study reports, for the first time, the efficacy of methadone in a burn patient experiencing neuropathic pain in his healed wounds. The patient sustained extensive (55% total body surface area) chemical burns and developed chronic burning sensations, particularly in the lower limbs where skin grafting had been performed. Conventional pharmacotherapies against neuropathic pain were attempted to control pain for over 5 years. The agents used included long- and short-acting opioids, amitriptyline, clonazepam, and gabapentin, but they all failed to relieve the pain. When methadone (5 mg every 12 h) was introduced, it significantly alleviated the patient's pain within a few days of administration. The patient has now been taking methadone (15 mg every 12 h) for 10 months and reports that the opioid caused 70% pain relief and a 55% amelioration in his quality of life. Although these results are based on a case report, they suggest that a switch to methadone might be useful in some burn patients who have developed chronic neuropathic pain unrelieved by conventional pharmacotherapies. Methadone, however, needs to be titrated with vigilance and thus should be administered by a physician experienced with its use in the treatment of chronic pain.


Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Burns/complications , Leg Injuries/complications , Methadone/therapeutic use , Neuralgia/drug therapy , Neuralgia/etiology , Analgesics, Opioid/administration & dosage , Chronic Disease , Humans , Male , Methadone/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Quality of Life , Trauma Severity Indices , Treatment Outcome
17.
Ann Readapt Med Phys ; 44(5): 281-90, 2001.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11587671

ABSTRACT

AIM: The purpose of this study was to validate an evaluation test of the gesture behaviour for patients with chronic low back pain. METHOD: Forty-four patients (19 females and 25 males) (45.7 +/- 10.8 years) with chronic low back pain (delay of pain: 9.8 +/- 9.0 years) took part in an educational back school program. They performed 3 tests at the beginning (pre-test), at the end (post-test) and three months after the back school program (control): a visual analogic scale, the Dallas questionnaire and a gesture evaluation test that is composed of three tasks for the pre-test and five tasks for the post-test and the control session. RESULTS: Our gesture test was reproducible and sensible. The mean gesture result increased significantly after the back school program (39.6 +/- 23.2 % in the pre-test and 73.4 +/- 12.5 % in the post-test, p < 0.05) and was stabilized at this high level (69 +/- 18.8 %) for the control session. The patients demonstrated abilities to transfer an appropriate gesture behaviour to new tasks. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study validated a gesture behaviour test for the patient with chronic low back pain. The use of this test during a back school program demonstrated an immediate and long lasting effect on the appropriate gesture behaviour. However the algo-functional status was increased more belatedly and more modestly.


Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living , Exercise Therapy/methods , Low Back Pain/physiopathology , Low Back Pain/rehabilitation , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Psychomotor Performance , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Exercise Therapy/standards , Female , Humans , Low Back Pain/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Physical Therapy Specialty , Posture , Psychometrics , Sensitivity and Specificity , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome
18.
J Biol Chem ; 275(40): 31274-82, 2000 Oct 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10896939

ABSTRACT

RPE65 is essential for all-trans- to 11-cis-retinoid isomerization, the hallmark reaction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Here, we identify regulatory elements in the Rpe65 gene and demonstrate their functional relevance to Rpe65 gene expression. We show that the 5' flanking region of the mouse Rpe65 gene, like the human gene, lacks a canonical TATA box and consensus GC and CAAT boxes. The mouse and human genes do share several cis-acting elements, including an octamer, a nuclear factor one (NFI) site, and two E-box sites, suggesting a conserved mode of regulation. A mouse Rpe65 promoter/beta-galactosidase transgene containing bases -655 to +52 (TR4) of the mouse 5' flanking region was sufficient to direct high RPE-specific expression in transgenic mice, whereas shorter fragments (-297 to +52 or -188 to +52) generated only background activity. Furthermore, transient transfection of analogous TR4/luciferase constructs also directed high reporter activity in the human RPE cell line D407 but weak activity in the non-RPE cell lines HeLa, HepG2, and HS27. Functional binding of potential transcription factors to the octamer sequence, AP-4, and NFI sites was demonstrated by directed mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and cross-linking. Mutations of these sites abolished binding and corresponding transcriptional activity and indicated that octamer and E-box transcription factors synergistically regulate the RPE65 promoter function. Thus, we have identified the regulatory region in the Rpe65 gene that accounts for tissue-specific expression in the RPE and found that octamer and E-box transcription factors play a critical role in the transcriptional regulation of the Rpe65 gene.


Subject(s)
Pigment Epithelium of Eye/metabolism , Proteins/genetics , Proteins/physiology , 5' Untranslated Regions , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Base Sequence , Binding Sites , CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Carrier Proteins , Cattle , Cell Line , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Cross-Linking Reagents/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Eye Proteins , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Genes, Reporter , HeLa Cells , Humans , Luciferases/genetics , Male , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutagenesis, Site-Directed , NFI Transcription Factors , Nuclear Proteins , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Protein Binding , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transcription, Genetic , Transfection , Transgenes , Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 , beta-Galactosidase/genetics , cis-trans-Isomerases
19.
Acta Crystallogr C ; 54 ( Pt 1): 66-8, 1998 Jan 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9485568

ABSTRACT

The title compound, C16H20O5, was isolated from the gorgonian coral P. americana found in the Caribbean zone of the West Indies. The compound belongs to a well known family of sesquiterpenoid lactones. Its structure features a guaiane skeleton incorporating three types of oxygen functionalities. Thus, the five O atoms that are incorporated in the skeleton form two epoxy groups, a lactone moiety and an ether link. This study assigns the relative stereochemistry at the six chiral centers as 1R, 2R, 4S, 5S, 8R, 10S.


Subject(s)
Cnidaria/chemistry , Sesquiterpenes/chemistry , Animals , Crystallography, X-Ray , Molecular Structure
20.
Transplantation ; 63(6): 893-9, 1997 Mar 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9089231

ABSTRACT

Myoblasts obtained from donors histoincompatible for several non-major histocompatibility complex antigens (i.e., including minor histocompatibility antigens) and from syngeneic donors were transplanted without any immunosuppression into the muscles of male dystrophic C57BL/10J mdx/mdx mice. Myoblasts from syngeneic mice resulted in the formation of a high percentage of dystrophin-positive fibers 16 weeks after the transplantation. There was no evidence of a cellular immune reaction against the donor myoblasts, i.e., no infiltration by CD4 or CD8 lymphocytes and no increased expression of granzyme B and interferon-gamma mRNAs. Transplantation of myoblasts obtained from donors histoincompatible only for non- major histocompatibility complex antigens produced a transient increase of dystrophin-positive fibers at 4 weeks after transplantation for some donor strains but not for others. For donor strains that did produce an increase at 4 weeks, the number of dystrophin-positive fibers was reduced 16 weeks after the transplantation. There was evidence of a cellular immune reaction-infiltration by CD4 and by CD8 lymphocytes and increased expression of granzyme B and interferon-gamma mRNAs. Transplantation of myoblasts obtained from male C57BL/10J +/+ mice into female C57BL/10J mdx/mdx mice also led to the presence of only a few dystrophin-positive fibers with the same signs of cellular immune reaction. In this later case, the cellular immune response was attributed to the H-Y minor antigens. Finally, antibodies against fetal calf serum were detected after both syngeneic and nonsyngeneic transplantations, indicating that the culture medium may also be a source of antigens. In mice, the presence of these antibodies against culture medium did not reduce the success of a first syngeneic transplantation.


Subject(s)
Graft Rejection/immunology , Histocompatibility Antigens/immunology , Muscle, Skeletal/cytology , Muscle, Skeletal/transplantation , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/therapy , Transplantation, Homologous/immunology , Transplantation, Isogeneic/immunology , Actins/biosynthesis , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Antibody Formation , Cells, Cultured , Female , Immunity, Cellular , Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis , Isoantibodies/biosynthesis , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Inbred Strains , Mice, Inbred mdx , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Transplantation, Homologous/methods , Transplantation, Homologous/pathology , Transplantation, Isogeneic/methods , Transplantation, Isogeneic/pathology
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