Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Lallemand

Publications and source records attributed to A Lallemand.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Development and maturation of secretory cells in the trachea of human fetuses].

The number of tracheal epithelial secretory cells and their mucus secretions change during the course of human foetal development. The muco-secretory cells of the respiratory mucus and glands were studied in the trachea in 46 human foetuses with the aid of histochemical techniques, and ultrastructural examination. During the second trimester of pregnancy, the mucosecretory cells are very numerous in the surface epithelium for a transitory period, and secrete as much neutral mucin as acid mucin; these latter were predominantly sulphomucins. The glands appear progressively from the 13th week of development and remain almost exclusively of the mucous type until the second trimester. During the third trimester the serous cells appear but their number remains low. The mucosecretory surface epithelial cells are rare in this trimester but produce the same type of secretions. The role of secretory cells in utero in the foetus is poorly understood. Foetal secretions differ from the normal adult mucus cells but approach them with qualitative and quantitative differences observed in the mucus of irritated bronchi or those with scarring.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗
PubMed1992

IX 207-887 in rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and the safety of IX 207-887 treatment in rheumatoid arthritis. The IX compound [10-methoxy-4H-benzo(4,5)cyclohepta-(1,2-b)thiophene-4-yliden acetic acid] is effective in several animal models of rheumatoid arthritis and has a mechanism of action involving the inhibition of interleukin-1 release. METHODS: A double-blind, controlled trial of 16 weeks' duration comparing placebo with IX at a daily dosage of 800 mg or 1,200 mg (20 patients/group) was conducted. RESULTS: Thirteen patients withdrew from the study, 3 because of lack of efficacy (all in the placebo group) and 10 because of side effects (1 in the placebo group [skin rash] and 9 in the IX groups [skin rash in 5, intestinal disturbances in 2, hepatitis in 1, meningitis in 1]). Intent-to-treat analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the variations of clinical and laboratory parameters between the 3 groups. Between-group comparisons showed an improvement in all these variables in the IX groups versus the placebo group. According to Paulus' criteria, 2 of the 20 placebo-treated patients (10%), 9 of the 20 IX 800 mg-treated patients (45%), and 11 of the 20 IX 1,200 mg-treated patients (55%) were considered responders (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the tolerability of IX is acceptable in rheumatoid arthritis patients, and that IX is an effective slow-acting drug for use in rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Gentamicin, norfloxacin and lysozyme concentration in human tears: in vivo and in vitro study.

Hen's egg lysozyme (HEL) activity was measured in vitro with gentamicin and norfloxacin by a turbidimetric technique. Gentamicin at the concentration of 10(-3) M inhibited HEL activity by 39%, while 10(-3) M norfloxacin did not affect HEL activity. However, an in vivo study in healthy persons did not show any significant statistical difference in tear lysozyme activity when 0.3% gentamicin or 0.3% norfloxacin were topically applied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cyclosporin for treatment of life-threatening alloimmunization.

We describe a 16-year-old girl with aplastic anemia who, 1 year after initial diagnosis developed a refractory state to platelet transfusions due to alloimmunization and resulting in severe bleeding. Treatment with cyclosporin, initially prescribed as treatment of the bone marrow failure, resulted in prompt decrease in lymphocytotoxic antibodies, which paralleled a marked improvement in platelet recovery. To our knowledge, such a dramatic effect of cyclosporin on alloimmunization has not been previously reported and merits further attention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Mucin histochemistry of the digestive tract in the human fetus].

Mucin secretion was studied in the gastric, intestinal, left colic and/or rectal mucosa of 42 human fetuses ranging in age from 10 to 41 weeks of gestation (menstrual age). Several histochemical techniques were used at different pH to demonstrate neutral mucins, sialomucins and sulphomucins (Periodic Acid Shiff (PAS) with and without amylase, Alcian Blue (BA) pH 2.5, pH 1 with and without hyaluronidase, BA/PAS pH 2.5 and High Iron Diamine (HID)/BA). The gastric mucosa showed mixed neutral/acid secretions during the second term. The neutral mucins increased during the 3rd term when acid mucins fell and represented only 20 percent of the secretions by the end of gestation, as during the neonatal period. These mixed secretions closely reassembled the intestinal metaplasia described in inflammatory or tumoral lesions of the stomach. The intestinal mucosa secreted mucins as early as 10 weeks before the gastric and rectal mucosa. There were neutral and acid mucins, but unlike in adults, the sulphomucins were secreted by the goblet cells of the villous and crypt epithelia. The secretions of the rectal mucosa were acid and the sulphomucins increased in quantity from 14 to 26 weeks of gestation. The HID positive sulphomucins diffused into the meconium, and probably modified the physical and chemical properties of meconium and influenced anal continence.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Detection by in situ hybridization of messenger RNAs of collagen types I and IV in murine mammary cancer.

Ten breast carcinomas developing in C3H/Bi female mice were studied by an in situ hybridization technique using cDNA probes encoding alpha-I chains of collagens of types I and IV. The results obtained are compared to histochemical data on antibodies to collagens of types I and IV and ultrastructural observations on these tumors. Immunohistochemistry has revealed the presence of type-IV collagen in basement membranes lining intraductal and well-differentiated cancer nests. Type-I collagen was detected in the stroma surrounding these cells. There was no cellular labelling when these antisera were used. In situ hybridization has shown that type-IV collagen mRNA is detected in non-invasive intraductal and well-differentiated tumor cells and in endothelial cells in the stroma. Good correlation between detection of type-IV collagen lining these cells and evidence of mRNA by in situ hybridization was thus observed. Invasive cancer cells did not express hybridization grains with the type-IV collagen probe. Type-I collagen mRNA was visualized in stromal cells, probably fibroblasts and myofibroblasts as shown by electron microscopy. The most active cells were localized close to non-invasive areas. Our data indicate persistent in-vivo biosynthesis of type-IV collagen by some cancer cells that produce their own limitative environment; they suggest that type-IV collagen is not produced by invasive tumor cells and that stromal cells lining the non-invasive regions have a peculiar behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Reliability of clinical criteria for the diagnosis of dementia. A longitudinal multicenter study.

The reliability of the clinical diagnosis of dementia was estimated by comparing the diagnosis made at 1-year intervals on 55 consecutive subjects with suspected cognitive impairment seen at three different centers by neurologists and gerontologists. The diagnosis was based on history and clinical examination, the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (revised ed 3), the Modified Ischemic Score, and a computed tomographic scan. Fifty-two of 55 subjects were given the same diagnosis a year later indicating a reliability of 95%. The study shows that a diagnosis of dementia established by simple clinical criteria comparable to the NINCDS/ADRDA criteria affords sufficient reliability to allow the comparability of groups at different centers for purposes of research, including research on the evaluation of the efficacy of pharmacologic treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

A randomized study comparing ciclosporin A and antithymocyte globulin for treatment of severe aplastic anemia.

UNLABELLED: This report summarizes results of the treatment of SAA with ciclosporin A (CSA) or antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in 82 patients (pts) randomized since January 1986 from 28 centers. STUDY DESIGN: at diagnosis, pts with established international criteria of SAA and without an HLA identical sib donor were randomized between 2 groups: CyA 4 to 6 mg/kg/d orally for 6 months, or H. ATG 15 mg/kg IV for 5 days associated with Methyl-Prednisolone 5 mg/kg for 5 days then gradually tapered off until day 60. At 3 months follow up, pts with a complete response (CR) or a partial response (PR) received no further therapy, pts with a failure (F) or minimal response (MR) were switched in the other group. All patients were followed regularly for at least 1 year. RESULTS: at 3 months, all pts with CyA were alive (36 pts) and only 26/35 in the ATG group because of 9 early deaths due to severe infection. In the CyA group, 5 were in CR or PR and 31 in MR or F. Subsequently, 5 received a mismatched BMT and died, 8 remained on CyA, 20 had ATG with, at 1 year, 3 F and 11 PR + CR, 5 pts are too early to evaluate. In the ATG group, 26 pts were alive at 3 months, 6 had a CR or PR, 20 failed. Two pts received a mismatched BMT and died. Fifteen received CyA with, at 1 year, 1 failure and 7 responses (7 pts are too early to evaluate at 1 year).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1988

[Distribution of fibronectin and laminin during development of the human myenteric plexus and Hirschsprung's disease].

The distribution of fibronectin and laminin, two glycoproteins involved in the migration of neural crest cells, was studied by an indirect immunohistofluorescence technique in 35 embryos and fetuses (from 6 weeks old to birth), 5 normal controls, and 6 patients with Hirschsprung's disease, in order to provide a new approach to the embryogenesis of human myenteric plexus and the pathogenesis of aganglionosis. Fibronectin was not seen near individual neuroblasts unlike myoblasts and mesenchymal cells which were surrounded by this macromolecule. There was a progressive and parallel cephalocaudal development of the plexus and the muscular layers from the esophagus to the intestine. However, in the rectum, at 7 weeks, neuroblasts were detected in close contact to fibronectin-labeled cells whereas they were not in the colon. These present results were in favor of two origins for neuroblasts: the vagal and the caudal neural crest cells. Faulty migration of caudal neural crest cells might be involved in the aganglionosis of Hirschsprung's disease in spite of the fact that local environment of fibronectin and laminin was identical to that of normal subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cyclosporin increases the rate and length of remissions in insulin-dependent diabetes of recent onset. Results of a multicentre double-blind trial.

In a double-blind trial 122 patients aged 15-40 years with insulin-dependent diabetes of recent onset were randomly assigned to cyclosporin 7.5 mg/kg per day or placebo. At the sixth month 25.4% of the cyclosporin group and 18.6% of the placebo group were in complete remission (not a significant difference). Treatment was continued in those patients with complete or partial remission (insulin requirement less than 0.25 U/kg per day) and 106 patients were followed to nine months, at which stage 24.1% of the original cyclosporin group and 5.8% of the original placebo group were in complete remission (p less than 0.01). For those patients whose whole-blood trough cyclosporin levels in the first three months averaged 300 ng/ml or more, the rates of complete remission at six and nine months were 37.5% and 37%. The rates of partial remission were also higher in the cyclosporin group and at six months the rate of complete or partial remission was 46% in the whole cyclosporin group and 65.6% in those with an average blood level exceeding 300 ng/ml in the first three months, versus 28.8% in the placebo group. The principal side-effect of cyclosporin was a modest and reversible increase in plasma creatinine. These results indicate that cyclosporin promotes the remission of type I diabetes and suggest the need for new controlled protocols aimed at evaluating the length of the effect and selecting the best drug regimen.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1986

[Induction of remissions of insulin-dependent diabetes by cyclosporin].

The effect of cyclosporine was evaluated in a double blind placebo controlled trial in 122 recent onset insulin-dependent diabetics. A significantly higher incidence of complete remissions was observed in patients treated with cyclosporine than in those receiving placebo (respectively 24 and 5.8%). The effect was still more clear-cut in patients having presented the highest cyclosporine blood level (37%). These results which have been obtained with modest toxicity demonstrate that cyclosporine induces remission of insulin-dependent diabetes and prompt to set up new controlled trials to evaluate the duration of the effect obtained and the potential risks of the treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effect of a methionine-enkephalin analog in Huntington's disease.

The methionine-enkephalin analog FK 33-824 was administered intravenously to 12 patients with Huntington's disease in a crossover double-blind study. The abnormal involuntary movements (AIM) were not improved after administration of 0.5 mg of FK 33-824. A significant decrease in the AIM score was observed only 150 and 180 min after injection of high doses (2 mg); however, the difference between the active drug and the placebo was never statistically significant. These results are discussed in terms of experimental data suggesting a relationship between methionine-enkephalin and dopamine neurons in the brain and of methionine-enkephalin deficiency in the brain of patients with Huntington's disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Galactose alpha 1-3 galactose and anti-alpha galactose antibody in normal and pathological pregnancies.

The galactose alpha 1-3 galactose (Gal alpha 1-3 Gal) residue is a carbohydrate widely distributed in many non-human mammals. Since Gal alpha 1-3 Gal residues are described on the cell surface of tumor cells, we have examined the possibility of their expression on human trophoblastic cells at different stages of placental implantation and in various pregnancy-associated conditions. Using immunohistochemical methods, Gal alpha 1-3 Gal was demonstrated on interstitial and vascular trophoblast during pregnancy. For villous trophoblast, the staining disappeared in second trimester pregnancies. The density of staining for Gal alpha 1-3 Gal was increased in highly invasive trophoblast (mole and choriocarcinoma) and decreased in poorly invasive specimens (spontaneous abortion, XO monosomia). No cells displaying Gal alpha 1-3 Gal at their surface were identified in some segments of spiral arteries from pre-eclamptic women. The anti-Gal antibody titer increased in the first trimester of pregnancy and in the sera of pre-eclamptic and eclamptic patients. These findings suggest that Gal alpha 1-3 Gal residues could be considered as markers for trophoblast invasive capacity and that the binding of maternal anti-Gal antibodies to the trophoblast could contribute to limit trophoblastic invasion and thus participate to the immunological control of implantation.

Antibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

First-step treatment of mild to moderate uncomplicated essential hypertension by a new calcium antagonist: nicardipine.

Nicardipine, a new calcium antagonist, was tested in a 14-week double-blind trial including 15 outpatients with uncomplicated essential hypertension. They were randomly assigned to nicardipine (20-30 mg three times daily) or placebo as first-step treatment. When necessary but always after a minimum of 4 weeks, pindolol (15 mg/day) was combined with nicardipine or placebo. At the end of step 1 (85 +/- 6 days with nicardipine vs. 58 +/- 6 days with placebo, p less than 0.01), nicardipine induced larger drops in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) than the placebo (21 +/- 2.5 vs 1.4 +/- 3 mm Hg, p less than 0.001, and 13 +/- 2 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, p less than 0.001, respectively). In the nicardipine group (n = 57), 53% of patients had controlled blood pressure (SBP less than 160 mm Hg and DBP less than 95 mm Hg) versus 17% in the placebo group (n = 47), p less than 0.001. There was no significant correlation between the decrease in blood pressure and the age of patients. The most common side effects in the nicardipine group were flushes (12%), headache (8%), ankle edema (5%), and asthenia (4%). When blood pressure was not brought under control and pindolol was prescribed as the second-step treatment, the nicardipine group (n = 52) displayed larger drops in SBP and DBP than the placebo group (n = 40) (27 +/- 5 vs. 15 +/- 3 mm Hg, p less than 0.01, and 18 +/- 1 vs. 9 +/- 2 mm Hg, p less than 0.001, respectively). These results show that a calcium antagonist is useful for first-step treatment of hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nucleolar organizer regions in congenital mesoblastic nephroma.

A review of 78 renal tumors in patients under 6 months of age revealed 35 congenital mesoblastic nephromas (CMNs). Based on cellular criteria, 14 were classified as classical, 4 as partly cellular, and 17 as cellular CMN. The mean ages were 24, 11, and 70 days, respectively. There were 13 intrarenal tumors (stage I) but 9 classical, 3 partly cellular, and 5 cellular CMNs extended to the perirenal fat (stage II) and 5 cellular tumors ruptured (stage III). In order to assess cellular proliferative activity, silver staining of nucleolar organizer region (Ag-NOR) proteins was performed on 19 CMNs. The number of Ag-NOR dots per cell was significantly lower in classical and partly cellular CMN than in cellular CMN, whatever the stage (P < .01). Within the cellular CMNs, the mean number of Ag-NOR dots was statistically higher in the single case that recurred with fatal outcome (P < .02). Counting of Ag-NOR dots appears to be a reproducible method for evaluating the biologic potential of CMNs. The number of Ag-NOR dots, DNA content measurements, the histological subclassification, and the presence or absence of tumor at the surgical margins may be useful features in selecting those patients who will benefit from further treatment after nephrectomy.

Female↗