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Biomedical subjects

A Aubert

Publications and source records attributed to A Aubert.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Sickness and behaviour in animals: a motivational perspective.

Proinflammatory cytokines, produced by the activated immune system, induce a whole set of non-specific symptoms in the infected individual (i.e. hypophagia, adipsia, reduced social interest). However, evidence summarised in this review shows that behavioural changes induced by cytokines are not merely the consequence of a degraded state but reflect motivational reorganisation. If the set-up of these new priorities is expressed by a general decrease in behavioural activities (e.g. immobility, sleepiness), the sick individual remains nevertheless an open system still able to respond to environmental stimuli. If these cues are evaluated as relevant to the new priorities (e.g. cues from scattered pups or cues from nest material when ambient temperature is low), the sick individual interrupts sickness behaviour in order to respond specifically to the cues (e.g. retrieving of the pups or nest building). Once this is done, there is a return to recuperative behaviour. These findings represent a primary characterisation of biobehavioural action of immune stimuli, and they open new perspectives to facilitate further progress in our understanding of cytokine effects on behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Clearance of infection in cats naturally infected with feline coronaviruses is associated with an anti-S glycoprotein antibody response.

We have investigated by Western blotting the antibody responses against the three major structural proteins in cats naturally infected with feline coronaviruses that cleared virus infection (group I), established chronic asymptomatic infection (group II) or were sick (group III). The cats of group I developed an anti-S glycoprotein response that was, relative to the anti-M glycoprotein response, at least 30-fold higher than that of chronically infected cats from groups II and III. These results suggest that the anti-S glycoprotein response against antigenic domains revealed by Western blot is associated with clearance of the virus after natural infection, and is not a risk factor for the establishment of a chronic infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Descriptive epidemiology of patients with alcoholic liver disease hospitalized in a hepato-gastroenterology service].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the detection of early stage alcoholic liver disease and to identify the importance of this disease, this study compared epidemiological characteristics, the reasons for and the duration of hospitalization, in-patient mortality and the frequency of multiple hospitalizations in alcoholic patients without cirrhosis and in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis hospitalized in the hepatogastroenterology department of Antoine-Beclere Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1982 to December 1995, all patients with a daily alcohol intake in the previous year of at least 50 g per day and all patients with alcoholic cirrhosis whatever their drinking habits were studied. RESULTS: Three thousand three hundred and forty six patients were included. The daily alcohol intake in the previous five years was 118 +/- 81 g and the duration of alcohol abuse was 22 +/- 13 years. Two thousand one hundred eight patients had liver biopsy; 37% had histologically proven or probable cirrhosis. Forty one percent of the patients without cirrhosis who had liver biopsy already had steatofibrosis and/or acute alcoholic hepatitis. 32.5% of the patients had hepatitis B virus markers. 7.7% of the patients were positive for anti hepatitis C virus antibody. Thirty two percent of the patients with cirrhosis were women versus 22% of the patients without cirrhosis (P < 0.01). Alcoholism was the reason for the first hospitalization in sixty percent of the patients without cirrhosis and in twenty percent of the patients with cirrhosis (P < 0.01). On the other hand, ascites were the first reason for the first hospitalization in patients with cirrhosis (28%). The two main causes for multiple hospitalizations were also ascites and alcoholism. CONCLUSION: Two thirds of heavy drinkers did not have cirrhosis on admission since alcoholism was the first reason for multiple hospitalizations in these patients, therefore the management of alcoholism in out-patients must be improved.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1999

[Granular cell tumor of the common bile duct. Contribution of endoscopic ultrasonography in 2 cases].

We report two cases of granular cell tumors involving the common bile duct in patients presenting with obstructive jaundice. Pre-operative endoscopic ultrasonography showed short asymmetric stricture with small well delimited hypoechoic mass in the distal common bile duct wall and proximal dilatation. These tumors were misdiagnosed as a bile duct carcinoma in one case and biliary metastasis of a melanoma in the other. Histological examination of the resected specimen showed granular cell tumors. A review of the previously reported cases shows that preoperative diagnosis is uncommon. It should be considered when endoscopic ultrasonography performed for biliary obstruction in a young woman shows a small and well limited hypoechoic mass.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Biological diagnosis of the type of liver disease in alcoholic patients with abnormal liver function tests].

OBJECTIVES: The histological diagnosis of the different stages of alcoholic liver disease is not systematic. The aim of this study was to assess whether common biological features were useful in identifying the different stages. METHODS: One thousand twenty six alcoholic patients with liver histology and without any associated diseases or infections likely to alter serum liver tests were studied. Diagnostic analyses were performed using stepwise discriminant analysis in the entire population and in asymptomatic patients. RESULTS: a) Serum ASAT activity levels were only normal in 39% of the patients with normal histological liver and in 14% of the patients with steatosis; b) liver failure was already present in patients with fibrosis without cirrhosis; c) betagamma block was the only biochemical parameter which confirmed the diagnosis of cirrhosis without biopsy; d) the diagnostic accuracy of common tests was weak for the diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease without cirrhosis but prothrombin time could be useful in excluding the diagnosis of cirrhosis with and without acute alcoholic hepatitis when liver biopsy is not available. CONCLUSION: Only a prothrombin time of 80% with a negative predictive value of 94% and the presence of beta-gamma [corrected] block with a positive predictive value of 98% were useful for assessing the diagnosis of cirrhosis in all patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Partial protection by vaccination with recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus surface glycoproteins.

In an effort to induce a strong immune response that might protect against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) challenge infection, three groups of five specified pathogen-free (spf) cats each were immunized subcutaneously with different FIV antigen preparations. Immunizations were done at weeks 0, 2, and 4 with 100 microg of recombinant SU from an FIV Zurich 2 (FIV Z2) strain expressed by E. coli (group 1) or the baculovirus expression system (groups 2 and 3) adsorbed on aluminum hydroxyde and administered with QS-21 (groups 1 and 2) or Freund's adjuvant together with the recombinant nucleocapsid protein (protein NC) of rabies virus (group 3). Protein NC was described to act as an exogenous superantigen. Group 3 cats demonstrated the highest detectable antibody response to the vaccine antigen as determined by ELISA and Western blot analysis. All immunized cats together with seven control animals were challenged with 20 CID50 of cat lymphocyte-grown FIV Z2 3 weeks following the last immunization. Whereas virus was readily recovered from peripheral blood lymphocytes of seven of seven nonvaccinated control cats following this challenge dose, virus was not recovered from two cats of groups 1 and 2. All cats in groups 2 and 3 showed a provirus load significantly decreased to 3% of that of controls up to week 8 after challenge infection. Eleven of 15 vaccinated cats and 5 of 7 control cats developed virus-neutralizing antibodies by week 8 after challenge infection. The two cats negative on virus isolation remained seronegative, developed no detectable virus-neutralizing activities, but were repeatedly positive in provirus PCR. Moreover, starting at week 1 after challenge, both cats showed the lowest provirus load in their respective groups. These results indicate that immunization with recombinant FIV SU in conjunction with appropriate adjuvants may lead to partial protection against FIV challenge infection.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

[Videolaparoscopic treatment of paraesophageal hiatal hernia].

STUDY AIM: The aim of this prospective study was to report the results of videolaparoscopic repair in a series of ten patients with paraesophageal hernia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1982 to September 1998, ten patients (three men and seven women, mean age: 68 years [range: 42-87]) were operated on for paraesophageal hernia. An intrathoracic gastric volvulus was present in four patients, a severe anemia in four and two were asymptomatic. All interventions were performed laparoscopically and included sac resection, crura closure and realization of a posterior gastric valve on 270 degrees. RESULTS: There was one irruption of gastric juice in the bronchial tree at the beginning of the anesthesia which required assisted ventilation for 3 days. The mean follow-up was 17.5 months (range: 3-50). There was no postoperative diarrhea and no gas bloat syndrome. Eight patients complained of postoperative dysphagia which disappeared within 6 weeks, except in one patient with esophageal motility disorder postoperatively discovered. None of the patients had postoperative gastroesophageal reflux. A chest X-ray performed after 1 year detected no hernia recurrence in seven patients. There was no recurrent anemia after 6 months. CONCLUSION: The videolaparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernias is feasible without any technical difficulties even in aged patients with precarious physical conditions. The results are good with a mean follow-up of 17.5 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Inflammatory fibroid polyps of the colon].

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is an uncommon lesion involving the stomach, the small bowel and occasionally the colon. Inflammatory fibroid polyp is a large polypoid lesion arising from the submucosa. It has no malignant potential although extensive infiltration may occur. The main histological characteristics are diffuse inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils and highly vascularized fibrocytic stroma. Immunohistochemistry is always positive for vimentine and negative for S 100 and desmin. We report four cases of inflammatory fibroid polyps, 3 of which mimicked carcinoma of the colon. Exploratory laparotomy and histopathological examination of the resected specimen were necessary to confirm definitive diagnosis. In the last case, diagnosis was established by histological examination of an endoscopically-removed colonic polyp.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[MRI cholangiography with rapid spin-echo technique: prospective evaluation of 20 patients].

PURPOSE: To evaluate a MR cholangiographic technique using a non breath-hold fast spin-echo technique in patients with suspected bile duct obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with suspected bile duct obstruction were prospectively investigated with MR cholangiography using a T2-weighted non breath-hold fast spin-echo technique (TR = 8000-9000 mse, effective TE = 120-266 msec, ETL = 16-32, acquisition time = 1-3 min) with a body coil. Results of MR cholangiography were compared to those obtained with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (n = 20 patients) and endoscopic sonography (n = 12 patients) that were considered as reference. RESULTS: MR cholangiography provided high-quality images in 19 out of 20 cases (95%). MR cholangiography had 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 100% accuracy in the diagnosis of bile duct dilation. MR cholangiography had 73% sensitivity, 75% specificity and 73% accuracy in the diagnosis of bile duct obstruction. MR cholangiography failed to depict small stones (< 3 mm) of the main bile duct in 4 cases in which no bile duct dilatation was found. CONCLUSION: MR cholangiography using a non breath-hold fast spin-echo technique depicts bile duct dilatation with a degree of accuracy comparable to that achieved with endoscopic examination. In the absence of bile duct dilatation, small stones of the main bile duct may be undetected with MR cholangiography.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and lithiasis of the common bile duct: prospective study on the importance of preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography].

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard treatment of symptomatic gallstones. At present, no consensus has been reached on the diagnostic and therapeutic methods of concomitant common bile duct stones. Systematic preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography followed, if necessary, by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and sphincterotomy during the same anesthetic procedure could be a diagnostic and therapeutic alternative for common bile duct stones making possible a laparoscopic cholecystectomy without intraoperative investigation of the common bile duct. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five patients underwent a prospective endoscopic ultrasonographic evaluation prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones. Fourty-four patients (35%) had at least one predictive factor for common bile duct stones. Endoscopic ultrasonography and cholecystectomy were performed on the same day. Endoscopic ultrasonography was followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and sphincterotomy by the same endoscopist in case of common bile duct stones on endoscopic ultrasonography. Patients were routinely followed up between 3 and 6 months and one year after cholecystectomy. RESULTS: Endoscopic ultrasonography suggested common bile duct stones in 21 patients (17%). Endoscopic ultrasonography identified a stone in 17 of 44 patients (38.6%) with predictor of common bile duct stones and only in 4 of 81 patients (4.9%) without predictor of common bile duct stone. Among these 21 patients, one patient was not investigated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography because of the high risk of sphincterotomy, 19 patients had a stone removed after sphincterotomy, one patient had no visible stone neither on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, nor on exploration of the common bile duct after sphincterotomy. Endoscopic ultrasonography was normal in 104 patients (83%). However, two patients in this group were investigated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography because endoscopic ultrasonography was incomplete in one case and because endoscopic ultrasonography was normal in the second case but a stone in the left hepatic duct was detected by ultrasonography. A stone was removed after endoscopic sphincterotomy in these two patients. In the group of 102 patients without stone, 91 out of 92, continued to be asymptomatic during a median follow-up of 8.5 months. One patient with symptoms one month after cholecystectomy underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy but no stone was found. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography followed, if necessary with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and sphincterotomy is a diagnostic and therapeutic alternative for common bile duct stones making possible a laparoscopic cholecystectomy without intraoperative investigation of the common bile duct for all patients. This alternative is only justifiable in patients with predictor of common bile duct stones.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Excess weight risk factor for alcoholic liver disease.

Though the hepatotoxicity of ethanol has been established, only 8% to 20% of chronic alcoholics develop cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess whether being overweight is a risk factor for alcoholic liver disease. One thousand six hundred four alcoholic patients were studied. According to the liver biopsies, 194 patients had a normal liver; 402 had steatosis without fibrosis; 281 presented with fibrosis, with or without steatosis; 119 presented with acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) without cirrhosis; 232 indicated cirrhosis without AAH; and 179 presented with cirrhosis with AAH. One hundred ninety-seven patients had clinically obvious cirrhosis. In the study, five variables were studied as risk factors: age, sex, daily consumption of alcohol during the previous 5 years, the total duration of alcohol abuse, and tendency to be overweight (body mass index [BMI] > or = 25 in women and > or = 27 in men). The BMI was calculated according to the minimum weight over the 10 previous years. In the first stepwise logistic regression analysis, age, being overweight for at least 10 years, being of the female sex, and the total duration of alcohol abuse were independently correlated with the presence of cirrhosis. In the second analysis, female sex being overweight were the two independent risk factors of AAH. In the third analysis, being overweight for at least 10 years was the only independent risk factor of steatosis. These results show that the presence of excess weight for at least 10 years is a risk factor for cirrhosis, AAH, and steatosis. Our results suggest that there is a possible potential for the metabolic effects of ethanol ingestion caused by excess weight in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differential effects of lipopolysaccharide on pup retrieving and nest building in lactating mice.

Behavioral symptoms of sickness that develop in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and proinflammatory cytokines include depressed locomotion, anorexia, and reduced social activities. The way maternal behavior is affected in response to cytokines has, however, not yet been investigated. We checked that lactating mice are sensitive to LPS by showing that LPS- (400 microg/kg, ip) injected mice ate and drank less than saline-injected mothers and displayed a decreased rectal temperature. At an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C, nest building was significantly decreased in LPS-treated mothers compared to saline-treated animals, whereas pup retrieving, while slower, was still present and globally as efficient as for saline-treated mice. In a second experiment, dams were either injected with physiological saline or LPS but were also exposed to a cold ambient temperature (6 degrees C) or kept in standard external condition (22 degrees C). LPS-treated mice exposed to cold expressed not only pup-retrieving but also nest-building activity. These differential results indicate that the behavioral expression of LPS-induced sickness depends on the priority of the behavior under consideration.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Differential effect of lipopolysaccharide on food hoarding behavior and food consumption in rats.

Experimental studies assessing the suppressing effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on feeding behavior have focused exclusively on the ingestive component of this behaviour without taking into account its appetitive component. The appetitive sequence of feeding behavior regroups activities animals engage in to gain access to food without necessarily eating it. The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of LPS on food intake and food hoarding. Rats were given the possibility to access food during a 30-min daily session in an apparatus consisting of a cage connected to an alley with free food at its end. Subjects were tested under different motivational levels for food hoarding: a first group (FS) received a food supplement to maintain stable body weight while a second group (noFS) did not receive such a supplement. LPS (250 micrograms/kg i.p.) dramatically decreased total food intake in rats from both groups whereas food hoarding was much less affected in LPS-treated rats from the noFS group. This expression of a still salient secondary motivation in LPS-treated rats which did not receive any food supplement can be interpreted to suggest the expression of an anticipatory feeding behavior along with a reduced immediate appetite. In addition, LPS had no effect, in rats from the noFS group, on the amount of food eaten after transport to the refuge. LPS-treated animals still appear to be able to adjust their defensive behavioral strategies with regard to their needs and capacities. These findings support the adaptive value of the behavioral changes displayed by LPS-treated animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

DNA vaccination using expression vectors carrying FIV structural genes induces immune response against feline immunodeficiency virus.

Following inactivated virus vaccination trials, the surface glycoprotein gp120 of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was considered as one of the determinants for protection. However, several vaccination trials using recombinant Env protein or some peptides failed to induce protection. To understand the role of the gp120 protein in vivo, we vaccinated cats with naked DNA coding for FIV structural proteins gp120 and p10. We analyzed the ability of these vaccinations to induce immune protection and to influence the onset of infection. Injection in cat muscles of expression vectors coding for the FIV gp120 protein induced a humoral response. Cats immunized twice with the gp120 gene showed different patterns after challenge. Two cats were, like the control cats, infected from the second week after infection onwards. The two others maintained a low proviral load with no modification of their antibody pattern. The immune response induced by gp120 DNA injection could control the level of viral replication. This protective-like immune response was not correlated to the humoral response. All the cats immunized with the gp120 gene followed by the p10 gene were infected, like the control cats, from the second week but they developed a complete humoral response against viral proteins after challenge. Furthermore, they showed a sudden but transient drop of the proviral load at 4 weeks after infection. Under these conditions, one injection of the p10 gene after one injection of the gp120 gene was not sufficient to stimulate protection. On the contrary, after a period, it seems to facilitate virus replication.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Innocuity studies of SAG-2 oral rabies vaccine in various Zimbabwean wild non-target species.

The SAG-2 modified live rabies vaccine was tested for innocuity when administered by the oral route in several potential wild non-target bait-consuming species, as follows: ten chacma baboons (Papio ursinus), six African civets (Civettictis civetta), six slender mongooses (Galerella sanguinea), six honey badgers (Mellivora capensis), six large-spotted genets (Genetta tigrina), 39 multi-mammate mice (Mastomys natalensis), 26 bushveld gerbils (Tatera leucogaster) and six pied crows (Corvus albus). At least 9.0 log10 median tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50), given in a volume of 1 ml, was administered orally to each of the animals, except the rodents which received 8.0 log10 TCID50, given in 0.1 ml. All the animals were observed for not < 90 days for signs of vaccine-induced rabies. Most of the species were also tested for vaccine virus replication in the oral cavity and persistent virus infection in the brain, salivary gland and tonsil. None of the animals died of rabies and no persistent infection was found. Rabies virus which was pathologically and serotypically indistinguishable from the vaccinal strain was isolated from the saliva of one genet 1 day after vaccine administration. From this study it was concluded that SAG-2 rabies vaccine would be safe for use in most situations where oral vaccination campaigns for jackals are required in Zimbabwe.

Administration, Oral↗