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A Guyot

Publications and source records attributed to A Guyot.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Advances in reactive surfactants.

The study of reactive surfactants and their applications in the synthesis of latexes for waterborne coatings has been recently boosted by two successive European programmes, involving all together eight academic and five industrial laboratories. The most significant results were obtained using surfactants derived from maleic and related anhydrides, or both nonionic and anionic reactive polymeric surfactants. Such surfactants are able to improve the stability of styrenic and acrylic latexes vs. various constraints, such as electrolyte addition, freeze-thawing tests or extraction with alcohol or acetone. The properties of films used in waterborne coatings are also improved in case of water exposure (less water uptake, dimensional stability), as well as improved weatherability, and blocking properties. Formulations for woodstain varnishes, metal coating of printing inks, based on the use of simple polymerizable surfactants, are now in the market.

Journal Article↗

[Scurvy].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

Characterization of Na/Ca exchange in plasmalemmal vesicles from zona fasciculata cells of the bovine adrenal gland.

The presence of an Na/Ca exchange system in fasciculata cells of the bovine adrenal gland was tested using isolated plasmalemmal vesicles. In the presence of an outwardly Na(+) gradient, Ca(2+) uptake was about 2-fold higher than in K(+) condition. Li(+) did not substitute for Na(+) and 5 mM Ni(2+) inhibited Ca(2+) uptake. Ca(2+) efflux from Ca(2+)-loaded vesicles was Na(+)-stimulated and Ni(2+)-inhibited. The saturable part of Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) uptake displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The relationship of Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) uptake versus intravesicular Na(+) concentration was sigmoid (apparent K(0.5) approximately 24 mM; Hill number approximately 3) and Na(+) acted on V(max) without significant effect on K(m). Na(+)-stimulated Ca(2+) uptake was temperature-dependent (apparent Q(10) approximately 2.2). The inhibition properties of several divalent cations (Cd(2+), Sr(2+), Ni(2+), Ba(2+), Mn(2+), Mg(2+)) were tested and were similar to those observed in kidney basolateral membrane. The above results indicate the presence of an Na/Ca exchanger located on plasma membrane of zona fasciculata cells of bovine adrenal gland. This exchanger displays similarities with that of renal basolateral cell membrane.

Adrenal Glands↗

Two types of pharmacologically distinct Ca(2+) currents with voltage-dependent similarities in zona fasciculata cells isolated from bovine adrenal gland.

Voltage-activated Ca(2+) currents, in zona fasciculata cells isolated from calf adrenal gland, were characterized using perforated patch-clamp recording. In control solution (Ca(2+): 2.5 mm) a transient inward current was followed, in 40% of the cells, by a sustained one. In 20 mm Ba(2+), 61% of the cells displayed an inward current, which consisted of transient and sustained components. The other cells produced either a sustained or a transient inward current. These different patterns were dependent upon time in culture. Current-voltage relationships show that both the transient and sustained components activated, peaked and reversed at similar potentials: -40, 0 and +60 mV, respectively. The two components, fully inactivated at -10 mV, were separated by double-pulse protocols from different holding potentials where the transient component could be inactivated or reactivated. The decaying phase of the sustained component was fitted by a double exponential (time constants: 1.9 and 20 sec at +10 mV); that of the transient component was fitted by a single exponential (time constant: 19 msec at +10 mV). Steady-state activation and inactivation curves of the two components were superimposed. Their half activation and inactivation potentials were similar, about -15 and -34 mV, respectively. The sustained component was larger in Ba(2+) than in Sr(2+) and Ca(2+). Ni(2+) (20 microm) selectively blocked the transient component while Cd(2+) (10 microm) selectively blocked the sustained one. (+/-)Bay K 8644 (0.5 microm) increased the sustained component and nitrendipine (0.5-1 microm) blocked it selectively. The sustained component was inhibited by calciseptine (1 microm). Both components were unaffected by omega-conotoxin GVIA and MVIIC (0.5 microm). These results show that two distinct populations of Ca(2+) channels coexist in this cell type. Although the voltage dependence of their activation and inactivation are comparable, these two components of the inward current are similar to T- and L-type currents described in other cells.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

Culture-positive Bartonella quintana endocarditis.

A 50-year-old alcoholic man with a 1-year history of pyrexia of unknown origin was admitted with symptoms of endocarditis. Large vegetations on his mitral and aortic valve were found on echocardiography. Using the Bactec 9240 system. Bartonella quintana could be grown from two culture sets of blood collected before the start of antimicrobial therapy. This is the first case report of culture-proven bartonella infection in the UK. and is noteworthy because Bartonella quintana was detected in conventional blood culture systems after prolonged incubation.

Bacteremia↗

Molecular epidemiology of multi-resistant Escherichia coli.

In this case-control study multi-resistant Escherichia coli isolates were characterized on a molecular level and risk factors for their development were identified. Thirty-two multi-resistant E. coli strains were isolated from the urine of 13 patients attending a renal clinic for chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) and from different sites of 11 terminally ill patients with nosocomial infections hospitalized on five different wards. All 32 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole and produced beta-lactamase. All strains contained plasmids of 2-110 MDa of which a 50 MDa and a 100 MDa plasmid were present in 81% of the strains. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis demonstrated 17 genotypes among 32 strains which indicates a polyclonal outbreak with some geographic clustering. Monitoring of patients over the study period showed that either the resident genotype remained the same and that these retained strains underwent changes in their plasmid contents, or that they were replaced by a different genotype after several months of therapy for chronic UTI. Univariate analysis indicated that multi-resistant E. coli develop in the presence of long-term selective ciprofloxacin pressure at a dosing regimen of 250 mg bid for more than 20 days and that treatment with a broad spectrum antimicrobial for more than three days favours the selection of multi-resistant E. coli in the flora of terminally ill patients with multiple disorders.

Aged↗

Antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria associated with community-acquired urinary tract infection in Britain.

Twelve laboratories in different parts of Britain each supplied approximately 80 consecutive urinary bacterial isolates from community patients. All strains were identified by a central laboratory, where sensitivity to a variety of orally administered antimicrobials was determined by microtitre broth dilution. 65.1% of isolates were Escherichia coli, 23.4% 'coliforms' other than E. coli, 4.6% Proteus and Morganella spp., 1.8% Pseudomonas spp., 2.4% enterococci, 0.7% group B streptococci, 1.5% coagulase-negative staphylococci and 0.5% Staphylococcus aureus. Using previously published breakpoint sensitivity values, 98.9% of all isolates were found to be sensitive to norfloxacin and to ciprofloxacin, 95.7% to co-amoxiclav, 86.8% to nitrofurantoin, 77.4% to cephalexin, 75.6% to trimethoprim, 75.0% to cephradine and 51.7% to amoxycillin. There were some differences in sensitivities between centres, particularly those of the cephalosporins. Using standard breakpoints, submitting laboratories were found to overestimate sensitivity to nitrofurantoin and to underestimate sensitivity to the quinolones and to co-amoxiclav; there was considerable overestimation of sensitivity to cephalosporins.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Activation by angiotensin II of Ca(2+)-dependent K+ and Cl- currents in zona fasciculata cells of bovine adrenal gland.

The effects of angiotensin II (100 nM) on the electrical membrane properties of zona fasciculata cells isolated from calf adrenal gland were studied using the whole cell patch recording method. In current-clamp condition, angiotension II induced a biphasic membrane response which began by a transient hyperpolarization followed by a depolarization more positive than the control resting potential. These effects were abolished by Losartan (10(-5) M), an antagonist of angiotensin receptors of type 1. The angiotensin II-induced transient hyperpolarization was characterized in voltage-clamp condition from a holding potential of -10 mV. Using either the perforated or the standard recording method, a transient outward current accompanied by an increase of the membrane conductance was observed in response to the hormonal stimulation. This outward current consisted of an initial fast peak followed by an oscillating or a slowly decaying plateau current. In Cl(-)-free solution, the outward current reversed at -78.5 mV, a value close to EK. It was blocked by external TEA (20 mM) and by apamin (50 nM). In K(+)-free solution, the transient outward current, sensitive to Cl- channel blocker DPC (400 microM), reversed at -52 mV, a more positive potential than ECl. Its magnitude changed in the same direction as the driving force for Cl-. The hormone-induced transient outward current was never observed when EGTA (5 mM) was added to the pipette solution. The plateau current was suppressed in nominally CA(2+)-free solution (47% of cells) and was reversibly blocked by Cd2+ (300 microM) but not by nisoldipine (0.5-1 microM) which inhibited voltage-gated Ca2+ currents identified in this cell type. The present experiments show that the transient hyperpolarization induced by angiotensin II is due to Ca(2+)-dependent K+ and Cl- currents. These two membrane currents are co-activated in response to an internal increase of [Ca2+]i originating from intra- and extracellular stores.

Angiotensin II↗

Antibiotic resistance of Shigella in Monrovia.

Twenty Shigella strains were isolated from bloody stools, of which 10 had been collected from children. Eighty per cent of the Shigella isolates were serogrouped as S. flexneri. All 20 Shigella strains were susceptible to gentamicin, nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin. More than 80% were resistant to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and tetracycline and 65% were resistant to chloramphenicol. Ten of 20 Shigella isolates showed a quadruple resistance to all four antibiotics. The usefulness of nalidixic acid for the treatment of multiresistant Shigella infections is discussed.

Child, Preschool↗

A clinical trial of pefloxacin in prostatitis.

Thirty-one patients with initial, recurrent or chronic prostatitis mainly caused by Enterobacteriaceae were treated with pefloxacin 400 mg bd for three to 105 days (median, 28 days). The clinical and bacteriological results four weeks after the end of the treatment, were: 23 patients (74%) cured, 21 without reinfection and two with reinfection, failure in two and relapse in six patients. Side-effects, which were definitely related to pefloxacin, occurred in seven patients (22.5%) and were of a photosensitization-, muscular- and neuropsychic-type. A high eosinophil count was observed in another patient. In one patient, treatment was withdrawn because of side-effects.

Administration, Oral↗

Pefloxacin: safety in man.

Pefloxacin has been in clinical use in France since 1985. During this period of time, the Rhone-Poulenc Drug Safety Department has received 213 spontaneous reports concerning patients who experienced a total of 316 adverse events. The level of such spontaneous reporting from physicians depends upon the frequency and the clinical significance of the events. Skin, musculoskeletal and CNS problems were the events most frequently reported. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequently reported laboratory abnormality, use of heparin being associated with this in many cases. From these data, pefloxacin in routine clinical use appears to be well tolerated. For the agent to be used in children in the future, its safety in this population should first be carefully investigated. At present it is contraindicated in children under 15 years of age.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Heterogeneity in the molecular defect leading to the leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is a recessive autosomal disease characterized by life-threatening recurrent bacterial infections, by defective functions of leukocytes and by deficient membrane expression of leukocyte adhesion glycoproteins. These proteins, LFA-1, Mac-1 and p150,95, are alpha 1/beta 1 heterodimers composed of different alpha chains and of a common beta chain. Patients with the severe phenotype of the disease completely lack the three glycoproteins on cell surface. Previous studies showed a conserved synthesis of the LFA-1 alpha chain precursor in cytosol of patients' cells and an inconstant presence of the beta chain precursor. When present, precursors are in free form and not associated to alpha/beta complexes in the cells of patients with the severe phenotype. The availability of the beta chain cDNA probe allowed us to examine the beta chain gene expression in the lymphoblastoid cell lines of 4 patients. On the basis of the results obtained both at protein and RNA levels we can distinguish 3 types of mutations characterized by (a) barely detectable beta subunit messenger RNA and undetectable beta precursor, (b) decreased level of beta subunit mRNA and undetectable beta precursor and (c) normal beta subunit mRNA level and detectable beta precursor of normal size.

Antigens, Differentiation↗