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Potential Alterations (potential + alteration)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	83%

Selected Abstracts

Aging and lung injury repair: A role for bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2008
Ana L. Mora
Abstract The incidence of lung fibrosis increases with age. Aging is associated with modifications in the intracellular and extracellular environment including alteration of the extracellular matrix, imbalance of the redox state, accumulation of senescent cells and potential alteration of the recruitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The combination of these senescence-related alterations in the lung and in bone marrow progenitor cells might be responsible of the higher susceptibility to lung fibrosis in elderly individuals. The understanding of these age related changes must be considered in the rationale for the development of therapeutic interventions to control lung injury and fibrosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 641,647, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Involvement of NO in gastric emptying of semi-solid meal in conscious pigs

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 2 2005
R. A. Lefebvre
Abstract, The influence of non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition on gastric emptying of a semi-solid meal was studied in conscious pigs. Antro-duodenal motility and fundic compliance were also assessed to evaluate the mechanisms at the origin of potential alteration in gastric emptying pattern. NG -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (l -NAME; 20 mg kg,1 i.v.) delayed gastric emptying (half-emptying time of 128.98 ± 16.86 min vs 73.74 ± 7.73 min after saline, P < 0.05, n = 6) as a result of decreased proximal gastric emptying. No changes were observed for distal gastric emptying as a result of unchanged antral motility. Similarly, no changes were noted on duodenal motor patterns either in the fasted or in the fed state. l -NAME decreased fundic compliance in fasted state (49 ± 11 mL mmHg,1vs 118 ± 15 mL mmHg,1 after saline, P < 0.05, n = 6). As this phenomenon is expected to increase emptying rate, the gastroparesis induced by NOS inhibition is thus likely to originate from distal resistive forces. It is concluded that NO positively modulates gastric emptying. [source]

Faecal microbiota profile of Crohn's disease determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2009
A. ANDOH
Summary Background, Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses are powerful tools to assess the diversity of complex microbiota. T-RFLPs permit rapid comparisons of microbiota from many samples. Aim, To perform T-RFLP analyses of faecal microbiota in Crohn's disease (CD) patients to investigate potential alterations in faecal microbial communities and furthermore to analyse the effects of elemental diet on faecal microbiota profiles. Methods, Thirty-four patients with CD and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. DNA was extracted from stool samples and 16S rRNA genes were amplified by PCR. PCR products were digested with BslI restriction enzymes and T-RF lengths were determined. Results, Faecal microbial communities were classified into seven clusters. Almost all healthy individuals (28/30) were included in cluster I, II and III, but the majority of CD patients (25/34) could be divided into another four clusters (cluster IV,VII). Prediction of bacteria based on the BslI-digested T-RFLP database showed a significant decrease in Clostridium cluster IV, Clostridium cluster XI and subcluster XIVa in CD patients. In contrast, Bacteroides significantly increased in CD patients. Significant increases in Enterobacteriales were also observed in CD patients. Furthermore, elemental diets modulated faecal bacterial communities in CD patients. Conclusions, Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses showed that the diversity of faecal microbiota in patients with CD differed from that of healthy individuals. Furthermore, elemental diets modulated faecal microbiota composition, and this effect may be involved in mechanisms of clinical effects of elemental diet. [source]

Thalamic atrophy associated with painful osteoarthritis of the hip is reversible after arthroplasty: A longitudinal voxel-based morphometric study

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2010
Stephen E. Gwilym
Objective Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is a method of assessing brain gray matter volume that has previously been applied to various chronic pain conditions. From this previous work, it appears that chronic pain is associated with altered brain morphology. The present study was undertaken to assess these potential alterations in patients with painful hip osteoarthritis (OA). Methods We studied 16 patients with unilateral right-sided hip pain, before and 9 months after hip arthroplasty. This enabled comparison of gray matter volume in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain versus healthy controls, as well as identification of any changes in volume following alleviation of pain (after surgery). Assessment involved self-completion questionnaires to assess pain, function, and psychosocial variables, and magnetic resonance imaging scanning of the brain for VBM analysis. Results Significant differences in brain gray matter volume between healthy controls and patients with painful hip arthritis were seen. Specifically, areas of the thalamus in patients with chronic OA pain exhibited decreased gray matter volume. Furthermore, when these preoperative changes were compared with the brain morphology of the patients 9 months after surgery, the areas of reduced thalamic gray matter volume were found to have "reversed" to levels seen in healthy controls. Conclusion Our findings confirm that gray matter volume decreases within the left thalamus in the presence of chronic pain and disability in patients with hip OA. The results also show that these thalamic volume changes reverse after hip arthroplasty and are associated with decreased pain and increased function. These findings have potential implications with regard to optimizing the timing of orthopedic interventions such as arthroplasty. [source]

Effects of sinus lifting on voice quality

CLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2003
A prospective study, risk assessment
Abstract: A variety of potential complications associated with sinus lift surgery have been reported in the literature. However, potential alterations of voice quality following sinus elevation have so far not been mentioned or evaluated scientifically. For the majority of patients, slight changes of the voice pattern are of no importance. However, for voice professionals, whose voices have become part of their distinctive profession or trademark, minimal changes may have dramatic consequences. This specific group of patients, such as speakers, actors and singers, depend on the particular quality and timbre of their voice for their livelihood. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of sinus lifting on voice quality in the above patient group. In a collaborative interdisciplinary effort, the Departments of Oral Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, Section of Phoniatrics and Logopedics, thoroughly evaluated a series of voice parameters of four patients undergoing sinus lifting pre- and postoperatively. The parameters analyzed included pitch, dynamic range, sound pressure level, percent jitter, percent shimmer and noise-to-harmonics ratio with special emphasis on formant analysis. No changes were detected in any of the commonly evaluated parameters. These were rated subjectively by patients and their friends or relatives and objectively with instrumental tools under isolated phoniatric lab conditions. In conclusion, sinus lift surgery appears to be a safe, predictable evidence-based method for regenerating the highly atrophic posterior maxilla, which does not jeopardize the individual characteristic voice pattern of high-profile patients critically dependent on their voices for their livelihood. Résumé Quelques complications potentielles associées à la chirurgie d'épaississement du plancher sinusal ont été rapportées dans la littérature. Les altérations potentielles de la qualité de la voix suivant l'épaississement du plancher sinusal n'ont pas encore été mentionnées et évaluées scientifiquement. Pour la majorité des patients, des petites variations dans le timbre de la voix ne sont pas importantes. Cependant, pour les professionnels de la phonation pour lesquels la voix est devenue une partie importante de leur profession, des variations même faibles peuvent entraîner des conséquences dramatiques. Ce groupe spécifique de patients, tels que les orateurs, les acteurs et les chanteurs dépendent essentiellement de la qualité et du timbre particulier de leur voix dans leur vie professionnelle. Par conséquent, le but de cette étude a été d'estimer les effets d'un épaississement du sinus sur la qualité de la voix dans ce groupe de patients. Dans un effort interdisciplinaire collaboratif, les départements de chirurgie buccale et d'otorhino-laringologie, la section de phonétique et de logopédie ont évalué de manière très précise une série de paramètres de la voix avant et après l'opération chez quatre patients ayant subi un épaississement du sinus maxillare. Les paramètres analysés contenaient la hauteur, l'étalement, le niveau de pression du son, le pourcentage de trac, le pourcentage de chatoiements et la proportion bruit-harmonie avec une insistance spéciale sur l'analyse du formant. Aucun changement n'a été détecté dans aucun des paramètres évalués couramment. Ces derniers étaient estimés subjectivement par les patients et par leurs amis ou parents, et objectivement à l'aide des instruments sous des conditions de laboratoire de phonétique isolé. En conclusion, la chirugie d'épaississement du plancher sinusal semble une méthode sûre, avec un pronostic basé sur l'évidence, permettant de regénérer les maxillaires très atrophiés qui n'empêche pas la caractéristique individuelle de la voix chez des patients avec des profils où la voix est essentielle à leur vie active. Zusammenfassung Der Einfluss einer Sinusbodenelevation auf die Stimmqualität, eine Langzeitstudie und Risikoanalyse. In der Literatur werden eine ganze Reihe von möglichen Komplikationen beschrieben, die bei dem chirurgischen Eingriff der Sinusbodenelevation auftreten können. Veränderungen der Stimme, die als Folge einer Sinusbodenelevation vorkommen können, wurden aber bis heute weder beschrieben, noch wissenschaftlich ausgewertet. Für den Grossteil der Patienten haben leichte Veränderungen der Stimme keine Bedeutung. Für Personen aber, deren Stimme bei der Ausübung ihres Berufes wichtig ist, eventuell ein Teil ihres Berufes oder gar Markenzeichen geworden ist, können kleine Veränderungen dramatische Folgen haben. Diese ausgewählte Gruppe von Patienten, wie zum Beispiel Nachrichtensprecher, Schauspieler oder Sänger, sind im täglichen Leben auf die spezifische Art und den Klang ihrer Stimme angewiesen. Daher war das Ziel dieser Studie, Einflüsse einer Sinusbodenelevation auf die Stimmqualität bei den oben erwähnten Patienten zu untersuchen. In einer interdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit untersuchten die Klinik für Oralchirurgie und Otorhinolaryngologie und die Abteilung für Phonetik und Logopädie an 4 Patienten vor und nach der Sinusbodenelevation sehr eingehend verschiedene Parameter der Stimme. Die untersuchten Parameter waren Tonhöhe, Tonvolumen, den durch den Ton erzeugten Luftdruck, Schwingungen, Vibrationen und das Verhältnis zwischen Nebengeräuschen und harmonischem Klang mit speziellem Augenmerk auf formative Analysen. Man erkannte bei keinem der oben untersuchten Parametern eine Veränderung. Sie wurden sowohl subjektiv durch die Patienten und ihre Freunde oder Verwandten, sowie objektiv mit Messinstrumenten unter absolut schallisolierten Laborbedingungen gemessen. Über die Sinusbodenelevation kann man zusammenfassend sagen, dass es sich um eine sichere, voraussagbare und auf wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen basierende Operationsmethode zum Wiederaufbau einer massiv athrophischen Maxilla im Seitenzahnbereich handelt. Sie gefährdet die individuellen Stimmcharakteristika von kritischen und sehr anspruchsvollen Patienten, die in ihrem täglichen Leben auf ihre charakteristische Stimme angwiesen sind, nicht. Resumen Se han descrito en la literatura una variedad de complicaciones asociadas con la cirugía de la elevación del seno. Pero hasta el momento no se han mencionado ni evaluado científicamente alteraciones potenciales de la calidad de voz tras la elevación del seno. Para la mayoría de los pacientes, pequeños cambios en el patrón de voz no tienen importancia. De todos modos, en los profesionales de la voz, cuyas voces se han convertido en parte distintiva de su profesión o marca, pequeños cambios pueden tener consecuencias dramáticas. Este grupo específico de pacientes, tales como locutores, actores y cantantes, dependen de la calidad particular y timbre de su voz para su sustento. Consecuentemente, el propósito de este estudio fue valorar los efectos de la elevación del seno en la calidad de voz en el anterior grupo de pacientes. En un esfuerzo de colaboración interdisciplinaria, los departamentos de Cirugía Oral y Otorrinolaringología, Sección de Foniatría y Logopedia, evaluaron e profundidad una serie de parámetros de voz de 4 pacientes que se someterían a elevación del seno pre y postoperatoriamente. Los parámetros analizados incluyeron tono, rango dinámico, nivel de presión sonoro, porcentaje de reverberación, porcentaje de tremulación y relación ruido a harmónicos con especial énfasis en el análisis formante. No se detectaron cambios en ninguno de los parámetros evaluados comúnmente. Estos se valoraron subjetivamente por los pacientes y sus amigos o parientes y objetivamente por herramientas instrumentales bajo condiciones de laboratorio de aislamiento foniátrico. En definitiva, la cirugía de elevación del seno parece ser un método seguro, predecible basado en la evidencia para regenerar el maxilar posterior altamente atrófico, que no pone en peligro las características del patrón de voz de los pacientes de características especiales dependientes de manera crítica de sus voces para su sustento. [source]

Abnormal respiratory-related evoked potentials in untreated awake patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 1 2009
Christine Donzel-Raynaud
Summary Aim:, Obstructive sleep apnoeas generate an intense afferent traffic leading to arousal and apnoea termination. Yet a decrease in the sensitivity of the afferents has been described in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, and could be a determinant of disease severity. How mechanical changes within the respiratory system are processed in the brain can be studied through the analysis of airway occlusion-related respiratory-related evoked potentials. Respiratory-related evoked potentials have been found altered during sleep in mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, with contradictory results during wake. We hypothesized that respiratory-related evoked potentials' alterations during wake, if indeed a feature of the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, should be present in untreated severe patients. Methods:, Ten untreated patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and eight matched controls were studied. Respiratory-related evoked potentials were recorded in Cz-C3 and Cz-C4, and described in terms of the amplitudes and latencies of their components P1, N1, P2 and N2. Results:, Components amplitudes were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in P1 latencies. This was also the case for N1 in Cz-C3. In contrast, N1 latencies in Cz-C4 were significantly longer in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome [median 98 ms (interquartile range 16·00) versus 79·5 ms (5·98), P = 0·015]. P2 and N2 were also significantly delayed, on both sides. Conclusions:, The cortical processing of airway occlusion-related afferents seems abnormal in untreated patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. This could be either a severity marker and/or an aggravating factor. [source]