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Biomedical subjects

A Rousseau

Publications and source records attributed to A Rousseau.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Bayesian forecasting of oral cyclosporin pharmacokinetics in stable lung transplant recipients with and without cystic fibrosis.

The aims of the current study were (1) to study Neoral pharmacokinetics (PK) in stable lung recipients with or without cystic fibrosis (CF), (2) to compare Neoral PK between these two groups, and (3) to design Bayesian estimators for PK forecasting and dose adjustment in these patients using a limited number of blood samples. The individual PK of 19 adult lung transplant recipients, 9 subjects with CF and 10 subjects without CF, were retrospectively studied. Three profiles obtained within 5 days were available for each patient. A PK model combining a gamma distribution to describe the absorption profile and a two-compartment model were applied. Different exposure indices were estimated using nonlinear regression and Bayesian estimation. The PK model developed reliably described the individual PK of Neoral in lung transplant patients with and without CF, and the values of the first and second half-lives were different in these two populations (lambda(1) = 4.14 +/- 3.01 vs. 2.16 +/- 1.75 h(-1); P < 0.01; lambda(2) = 0.36 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.49 +/- 0.12 h(-1); P < 0.01), while the mean absorption time and standard deviation of absorption time tended to be less in patients with cystic fibrosis (P < 0.1). Also, the patients with CF required higher doses than those without CF to achieve similar drug exposure. Consequently, population modeling was performed in CF and non-CF patients separately. Bayesian estimation allowed accurate prediction of AUC(0-12), AUC(0-4), C(max), and T(max) using three blood samples collected at T0h, T1h, and T3h in both groups. This study demonstrated the applicability and good performance of the PK model previously developed for oral cyclosporin and of the MAP Bayesian estimation of cyclosporin systemic exposure in CF and non-CF patients. Moreover, it is the first to propose a monitoring tool specifically designed for cyclosporin monitoring in patients with CF.

Administration, Oral↗

[Radio-carpal palmar subluxation: treatment by volar rim osteotomy of the radius].

A case of post-traumatic carpal proximal instability which was surgically treated two months after the initial trauma is reported. A 41 years old man presented a volar subluxation of the scaphoid associated with a fracture of the volar rim of the distal radius and an increased scapho-lunate gap. This subluxation was initially missed because of the discretion of the radiographic signs and was confirmed by CT scan. A volar rim osteotomy with bone grafting was performed for a buttress support which allowed the reduction of the volar subluxation of the external part of the carpus. Fourteen months after the operation radiographs showed the effectiveness of the butress support for the treatment of proximal carpal instability, but also arthritic changes in the proximal part of the scaphoid.

Adult↗

Medical information system in hospital emergency departments' organizational perspectives.

The study reported in this article examines the implementation of the same software in 3 emergency departments from different Belgian hospitals. It was experienced and perceived very differently as a failure or a success by the units' staff. The software integrates different functionalities, which can be chosen and customized by some members of the units themselves. We will look at the three processes of implementation to find out different plausible explanation for their 'failure or success'. Our approach is developed through the qualitative methodology of case studies. The translation theory is presented as a renewal way of thinking the perceived 'successful or failed' implementation of a new information system and a guide for new project in emergency department.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗

Sensitive determination of vinorelbine and its metabolites in human serum using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantitation of vinorelbine (VNB) and two metabolites, vinorelbine N-oxide (VNO) and deacetyl vinorelbine (DAV) in human serum. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) reached 0.5 ng/ml for both VNB and VNO and 1 ng/ml for DAV. The method was proved linear in the range of LOQs up to 1000 ng/ml, and extraction recovery was 80% on average for the three compounds. It was applied to the pharmacokinetic monitoring of vinorelbine and, for the first time, to the detection of VNO in the serum of patients suffering from non-small-cell lung cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Frequent cyclin D1 gene amplification and protein overexpression in oral epithelial dysplasias.

Amplification of the cyclin D1 gene has been identified in 17-55% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In some tumors, this alteration has been associated with decreased survival and increased recurrence rates. In precancerous lesions of the mouth, the frequency of cyclin D1 gene amplification is not known. In addition, it is unknown whether amplification of the gene translates to overexpressed cyclin D1 protein in these lesions. We examined 59 formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue biopsies of oral epithelial dysplasias (OED) and 25 oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from the floor of the mouth for cyclin D1 gene and protein levels. Genomic DNA was extracted from laser microdissected lesional tissue and a duplex, quantitative PCR assay was used to determine the amplification of the cyclin D1 gene relative to interferon-gamma. Cyclin D1 protein expression was determined using immunohistochemistry and counting positive nuclei by computer image analysis. We found cyclin D1 gene amplification in 41% of mild, 45% of moderate and 24% of severe OEDs. Cyclin D1 was amplified in 36% of SCC. Overexpression of cyclin D1 protein was identified in 29% of mild, 47% of moderate, 29% of severe OED's, and in 32% of SCC. Overexpression of cyclin D1 protein was identified in similar proportions of all grades of dysplasia and SCC. There were statistically significant correlations identified between gene and protein levels in all categories of disease. We concluded that amplification of the cyclin D1 gene is frequent in OED and that duplex, quantitative polymerase chain reaction is a reliable method to detect this change in routinely processed biopsies. The strong correlation between cyclin D1 gene amplification and protein levels suggests that this method may be suitable to assess cyclin D1 gene status in tissues not suitable for protein analysis.

Adult↗

Differential effects of 6-DMAP, olomoucine and roscovitine on Xenopus oocytes and eggs.

The effects of the new cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, roscovitine and olomoucine, on oocytes and eggs of Xenopus laevis were investigated and compared with those of 6-dimethylamino purine (6-DMAP). The inhibitory properties of 6-DMAP, olomoucine and roscovitine towards p34cdc2-cyclin B isolated from Xenopus eggs revealed K-IC50 values of 300, 40 and 10 microM respectively. The three compounds inhibited progesterone-induced maturation with M-IC50 values of 200, 100 and 20 microM. These values were consistent with the K-IC50 values but the ratio M-IC50/K-IC50 was higher for roscovitine and olomoucine than for 6-DMAP. The disappearance of spindle and condensed chromosomes without pronucleus formation was observed when 1 mM 6-DMAP was applied for 4 h at germinal vesicle breakdown or at metaphase II, whereas no effect was observed using 1 mM olomoucine or 50 microM roscovitine. Changes in the electrophoretic mobility of p34cdc2 and erk2 were observed only in homogenates of matured oocytes or eggs exposed for 4 h to 1 mM 6-DMAP. When the drugs were microinjected into matured oocytes, olomoucine (100 microM) and roscovitine (50 microM) induced pronucleus formation more efficiently than did 6-DMAP (100 microM). Taken together, these results demonstrate that Xenopus oocytes possess a lower permeability to olomoucine and roscovitine and that these new compounds are suitable for in vivo studies after germinal vesicle breakdown provided they are microinjected.

Adenine↗

Adaptive control methods for the dose individualisation of anticancer agents.

Numerous studies have found a clear relationship between systemic exposure and the toxicity or (more rarely) the efficacy of anticancer agents. Moreover, the clearance of most of these drugs differs widely between patients. These findings, combined with the narrow therapeutic index of anticancer drugs, suggest that patient outcome would be improved if doses were individualised to achieve a target systemic exposure. Bayesian maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) forecasting is an efficient and robust method for the optimisation of drug therapy, but its use for anticancer drugs is not yet extensive. The aim of this paper is to review the application of population pharmacokinetics and MAP to anticancer drugs and to evaluate whether and when MAP Bayesian estimation improves the clinical benefit of anticancer chemotherapy. For each drug, the relationships between pharmacokinetic variables [e.g. plasma concentration or the area under the concentration-time curve] and pharmacodynamic effects are described. Secondly, the methodologies employed are considered and, finally, the results are analysed in terms of predictive performance as well as, where possible, the impact on clinical end-points. Some studies were retrospective and intended only to evaluate individual pharmacokinetic parameter values using very few blood samples. Among the prospective trials, a few studied the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships which provided the basis for routine pharmacokinetic monitoring. Others were performed in clinical context where MAP Bayesian estimation was used to determine maximum tolerated systemic exposure (e.g. for carboplatin, topotecan, teniposide) or for pharmacokinetic monitoring (e.g. for methotrexate or platinum compounds). Indeed, its flexibility in blood sampling times makes this technique much more applicable than other limited sampling strategies. These examples demonstrate that individual dose adjustment helps manage toxicity. The performance of pharmacokinetic monitoring is linked to the methodology used at each step of its design and application. Moreover, a limitation to the use of pharmacokinetic monitoring for certain anticancer drugs has been the difficulty in obtaining pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic data. Recent progress in analytical methods, as well as the development of noninvasive methods (such as positron emission tomography) for evaluating the effects of chemotherapy, will help to define pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships. Bayesian estimation is the strategy of choice for performing pharmacokinetic studies, as well as ensuring that a given patient benefits from the desired systemic exposure. Together, these methods could contribute to improving cancer chemotherapy in terms of patient outcome and survival.

Animals↗

Expression of integrin alpha5beta1 and MMPs associated with epithelioid morphology and malignancy of uveal melanoma.

PURPOSE: Altered expression of the alpha5beta1 integrin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is recognized as a hallmark of invasive tumor cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of integrin subunit alpha5, its corresponding ligand fibronectin (FN), and the expression pattern for MMPs in four highly proliferative human choroidal melanomas (TP17, TP31, SP8.0, and SP6.5) to evaluate whether any correlation can be established between these markers and cell tumorigenicity. METHODS: Cell tumorigenicity was evaluated by subcutaneous injection of uveal melanoma cell lines in immunodeficient nude mice. Anchorage dependency was evaluated by growth assays in soft agar. The invasive ability of each cell type was also determined using a modified Boyden chamber. Expression of both the alpha5 integrin subunit and FN was determined at the mRNA level by RT-PCR. The protein level (for alpha5) was determined by flow cytometry and inhibition of adhesion assays by using an antibody directed against the alpha5 subunit. Expression of MMPs was determined by standard gelatin zymography. RESULTS: Assays in nude mice provided evidence that the cell lines possess a range of tumorigenic ability of TP17>TP31>SP8.0>SP6.5. Antibody inhibition of cell adhesion and flow cytometry demonstrated that TP17 cells have no detectable membrane-bound alpha5beta1, whereas low levels are found in primary cultured melanocytes, as well as in SP6.5, SP8.0, and TP31 cells. RT-PCR analyses provided evidence that both FN and alpha5 expression may be regulated at the transcriptional level. Gelatin zymography revealed that all cell lines, as well as normal melanocytes, express MMP-2 at varying levels but that only the highly invasive TP17 cell line secretes a distinctive MMP with a high molecular weight of 117 kDa. CONCLUSIONS: Among the four melanoma cell lines selected for the completion of this study, TP17 exhibited the most aggressive phenotype, which also correlated with the mostly epithelioid morphology of these cells. The cell morphology of the TP17 cell line could be related to the loss of alpha5beta1, whereas its invasive properties are more likely related to the expression of the 117-kDa MMP.

Aged↗

Sensitive determination of irinotecan (CPT-11) and its active metabolite SN-38 in human serum using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

A couple of sensitive and accurate liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC- S-MS) methods for the determination of the total forms of irinotecan and its active metabolite SN-38 in human serum, using the same chromatographic and detection conditions, is presented. Both used camptothecin as internal standard (I.S.). The sample pretreatment for irinotecan involved a simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile, whereas a liquid-liquid extraction was necessary for SN-38. A Symmetry C18, 3.5 microm (150 x 1 mm I.D.) reversed-phase column was used for the chromatographic separation, together with a gradient elution of acetonitrile in 5 mM ammonium formate buffer (pH 3) as mobile phase. After ionisation in the pneumatically-assisted electrospray source and in-source collision induced dissociation, acquisition was performed in the selected ion monitoring mode. Recoveries were 69 and 47% on average, detection limits 2.5 and 0.25 ng/ml and quantitation limits 10 and 0.5 ng/ml for irinotecan and SN-38, respectively. Reproducibility was good and the method was linear from limits of quantitation up to 10,000 ng/ml for irinotecan, and up to 100 ng/ml for SN-38. This sensitive and highly specific method is suitable both for pharmacokinetic studies and routine therapeutic drug monitoring.

Acetonitriles↗

Activation of Xenopus eggs by the kinase inhibitor 6-DMAP suggests a differential regulation of cyclin B and p39(mos) proteolysis.

In Xenopus eggs, metaphase II arrest is due to the cytostatic factor that maintains a high level of MPF activity. Kinases are important in this phenomenon since p39(mos) and MAPK play a part in the cytostatic activity whereas p34(cdc2) is the catalytic subunit of MPF. Fertilization induces a rise in intracellular calcium leading to egg activation that can be mimicked by calcium-increasing agents such as calcium ionophore. We have performed on Xenopus eggs a biochemical comparison of the effects of the kinase inhibitor 6-DMAP and the calcium ionophore. Both drugs were able to induce pronucleus formation but the underlying molecular events were different. The inactivation of MAPK occurred earlier in eggs exposed to 6-DMAP. Cyclins B1 and B2 were stable and p39(mos) was proteolysed in 6-DMAP-treated eggs while the three proteins underwent degradation in A23187-treated ones. These results suggest a differential regulation of ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of cyclin B and p39(mos).

Adenine↗

Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases blocks calcium-induced activation of metaphase II-arrested oocytes of Xenopus laevis.

We have studied the effect of a protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) inhibitor on calcium-induced activation of Xenopus laevis oocytes arrested at metaphase II. Ammonium molybdate microinjection blocked pronucleus formation following A23187 treatment while cortical granules still underwent exocytosis. Pronuclei still occurred in ammonium molybdate-injected oocytes following 6-DMAP addition. Changes that usually occurred following A23187 exposure were inhibited in the presence of ammonium molybdate in the oocyte: MAPK dephosphorylation, p34(cdc2) rephosphorylation and cyclin B2 and p39(mos) proteolysis. These results suggest that a PTP is involved in the activation of the ubiquitin-dependent degradation machinery.

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo study of the antithyroid side effects of trimeprazine.

Trimeprazine (TMP), a phenothiazine used as antipsychotic drug, was previously shown to induce a decrease in thyroid hormone serum levels in rats. Different mechanisms might be involved, mainly (i) a central mechanism, involving a reduction of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion; (ii) a peripheral mechanism, acting upon the synthesis of thyroid hormones, by inhibition of thyroperoxidase (TPO) or trapping of molecular iodine present in the thyroid gland. These different hypotheses were investigated in the present study, using in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro studies concerned TMP and its three main metabolites: trimeprazine sulphoxide (TSO), N-desmethyl trimeprazine (NDT), and 3-hydroxy-trimeprazine (3-OHT). TMP and TSO expressed a high affinity for iodine in vitro, contrary to NDT, which did not complex iodine. Only 3-OHT inhibited TPO in vitro. Administration of 5 mg/kg TMP ip twice daily for 11 days to Wistar rats induced a decrease of free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine (fT(3) and fT(4)) and a trend toward an increase of TSH serum levels. Thyroid concentrations of TMP, NDT, and TSO were significantly higher than serum levels, while 3-OHT was never detected. An iodine-supplemented diet administered to a group of rats treated with TMP significantly increased the thyroid concentration of TMP and TSO, but not that of NDT, while it did not affect the concentrations observed in serum and other organs. The increase in plasma TSH is not consistent with the central mechanism hypothesis, and the absence of TPO inhibition by TMP, TSO, and NDT contradicts the TPO inhibition hypothesis. On the contrary, three findings support the hypothesis of iodine trapping through formation of a complex with TMP and TSO: these molecules complex iodine in vitro, they accumulate in the thyroid, and their thyroid concentration is increased when the rats are fed an iodine-supplemented diet.

Animals↗

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of melatonin: a pilot study in healthy male volunteers.

Melatonin was determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from 13 healthy males lumbar-punctured in the sitting position without preceding bed rest. There was a significant correlation between the levels of melatonin in serum and the CSF. The serum concentration was lower than that in the CSF, a finding that calls in question the theory that melatonin is mainly released from the pineal gland into the bloodstream. In conclusion, serum levels of melatonin in healthy male volunteers, mirror the CSF concentrations when lumbar puncture is carried out using the described technique.

Adult↗

Giant cell angiofibroma of the oral cavity: report of a new location for a rare tumor.

Giant cell angiofibroma is a rare, soft tissue tumor that was first described in the orbit. Since then, several case reports have described this tumor in a number of extra-orbital sites, suggesting a wider anatomic distribution than is generally recognized. The tumor typically acts in a benign fashion with only rare local recurrences but no tendency to metastatic disease. Here, we report the first case of a giant cell angiofibroma in the oral cavity. The tumor presented as a soft tissue nodule on the buccal mucosa of a 60-year-old man. The histologic differential diagnosis included a number of other uncommon soft tissue neoplasms, including giant cell fibroblastoma, solitary fibrous tumor, and pleomorphic lipoma. The histologic and immunohistochemical features of this tumor and differentiation from other histologically similar soft tissue neoplasms are briefly discussed.

Angiofibroma↗

Multiple canalicular adenomas: a case report and review of the literature.

The canalicular adenoma is an uncommon, benign salivary gland tumor that most frequently occurs in the upper lip. Rarely, it manifests itself clinically and histologically as a multifocal lesion, a feature not generally seen with other intraoral salivary gland tumors. Here we report a case of canalicular adenoma that manifested itself with 13 clinically discrete tumor masses involving the upper lip and anterior buccal mucosa. In addition to the clinical nodules, there were microscopic foci of tumor cells in the adjacent normal-appearing salivary gland tissue surrounding the tumors. This article also reviews previously reported multifocal canalicular adenomas and discusses their features, emphasizing differences in the reported growth patterns of this unusual tumor.

Adenoma↗

Reducing chorioretinal viral counts with intravitreal foscarnet injections in a rabbit model of Herpes simplex virus type-1 retinitis.

The efficacy of intravitreal foscarnet injections was evaluated in a rabbit model of Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) retinitis. In untreated infected animals, viral titration revealed that the optic chiasm, vitreous and chorioretina were positive for HSV-1. On the other hand, foscarnet treatment significantly decreased the viral count in the chorioretina when compared to the untreated group. Immunolocalization of HSV in untreated infected animals clearly showed infected cells in the outer and inner layers of the retina and also in the ciliary body of the eye. Clinical examination by indirect ophthalmoscopy indicated an absence of optic nerve congestion and a lower level of vitritis in foscarnet treated animals compared to the untreated group. It is concluded that intravitreal injections of foscarnet reduced the viral titer in the chorioretina in a rabbit model of HSV-1 retinitis. This route of administration might be valuable for the treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients with sight threatening lesions or intolerance to intravenous anti-CMV drugs.

Administration, Topical↗