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Biomedical subjects

C Dupont

Publications and source records attributed to C Dupont.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Bacterial and fungal flora in healthy eyes of birds of prey.

Birds of prey are often affected with external ocular injuries that are routinely treated with antimicrobial agents used for small animals. The resident ocular bacterial and fungal flora is still unknown in birds of prey and this knowledge would be very useful in assessing the accuracy of treatments. In a study involving 65 raptors with healthy eyes, swabs were taken from both eyes to identify the resident bacterial and fungal flora. Fifty-five birds had a positive culture in one or both eyes. Both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms were isolated, with a predominance of Staphylococcus spp., which were found in 52.3% of cultures. Only two fungal species, Aspergillus spp. and Cladosporium spp. were found. The overall results of this study are similar to previous studies carried out in humans and other animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effect of Pygeum africanum extract on A23187-stimulated production of lipoxygenase metabolites from human polymorphonuclear cells.

Pygeum africanum extract has been used for more than 20 years in France in patients suffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The extract displays anti-inflammatory activity and inhibits bladder hyperreactivity during the above conditions. However, the mechanism of action of P. africanum extract has never been clearly resolved. It has been recently demonstrated that infiltration by inflammatory cells may be involved in the development of BPH. Certain of these cell types, such as macrophages, are known to produce chemotactic mediators including leukotrienes, and thus may contribute to the development of the disease. In order to investigate the potential effect of P. africanum extract on arachidonate metabolism, we examined its effect in vitro on leukotriene (LT) synthesis in human polymorphonuclear cells stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187. Two formulations of the extract were tested, one dissolved in DMSO and one aqueous solution obtained after alkalinization (0.1 N; NaOH/acidification (0.1 N; HCl). Neither formulation had any effect on cell viability which was above 95% in both cases. P. africanum extract dissolved in DMSO significantly inhibited the production of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites (5-HETE, 20-COOH LTB4, LTB4 and 20-OH LTB4) at concentrations as low as 3 micrograms/ml (p < 0.01), while the same extract dissolved in NaOH/HCl only exhibited an inhibitory effect at 10 micrograms/ml (p < 0.01). This difference apparently reflects the greater solubility of the active components in the extract in DMSO. The ability of P. africanum to antagonize 5-lipoxygenase metabolite production may contribute, at least in part, to its therapeutic activity in inflammatory component of BPH.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1993

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNAs encoding precursors of sarafotoxins. Evidence for an unusual "rosary-type" organization.

Sarafotoxins (SRTXs) are 21-amino acid peptides structurally and functionally similar to endothelins (ETs). To understand how SRTXs are overproduced in venom glands of the snakes Atractaspis engaddensis and hence used as toxins, we cloned cDNAs encoding SRTXs and elucidated their nucleotide sequences. We predict that SRTX precursors are large prepropolypeptide chains with an unusual "rosary-type" structure made of 12 successive similar stretches of 40 residues (39 in the first stretch). Each stretch begins with a "spacer" of 19 invariant residues (18 in the first stretch) immediately followed by the sequence of one SRTX isoform. Six different isoforms are identified within a single precursor molecule. Maturation of the precursor may require endopeptidases that cleave the Leu-Cys bond and the Trp-Arg/Lys bond invariably found at the SRTX N and C termini, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

A proposition for the diagnosis and treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children: a report from a working group on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Working Group of the European Society of Paediatric Gastro-enterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN).

In this paper, a Working Group on Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux discusses recommendations for the first line diagnostic and therapeutic approach of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in infants and children. All members of the Working Group agreed that infants with uncomplicated gastro-oesophageal reflux can be safely treated before performing (expensive and often unnecessary) complementary investigations. However, the latter are mandatory if symptoms persist despite appropriate treatment. Oesophageal pH monitoring of long duration (18-24 h) is recommended as the investigation technique of choice in infants and children with atypical presentations of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy in a specialised centre is the technique of choice in infants and children presenting with symptoms suggestive of peptic oesophagitis. Prokinetics, still a relatively new drug family, have already obtained a definitive place in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in infants and children, especially if "non-drug" treatment (positional therapy, dietary recommendations, etc.) was unsuccessful. It was the aim of the Working Group to help the paediatrician with this consensus statement and guide-lines to establish a standardised management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in infants and children.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Assessment of the arterial tonometer (N-CAT) for the continuous blood pressure measurement in rapid atrial fibrillation.

The N-CAT is a newly developed arterial tonometer (TBP) able to determine systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures continuously and noninvasively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of TBP relative to directly measured invasive blood pressure (IBP) in ten haemodynamically stable postoperative cardiac patients who were in rapid atrial fibrillation (HR > or = 100 bpm). There were differences between TBP and IBP for systolic (-1.7 mmHg) and diastolic (+0.9 mmHg) values but not for the mean arterial blood pressures. The N-CAT was able to follow blood pressure changes closely and demonstrated an average systolic, diastolic and mean bias (+/-SD) of -1.71 +/- 4.6, 0.99 +/- 4.6 and 0.33 +/- 4.2 mmHg, respectively. Although these biases are within the required standards for equivalency for noninvasive blood pressure to invasively determined blood pressure, approximately 20% of the readings were > +/- 10 mmHg while only 5% were > +/- 20 mmHg. Moreover, there were occasional discrepancies of sufficient magnitude and duration which may limit the clinical usefulness of the N-CAT in patients in whom continuous and accurate blood pressure measurement is required.

Arteries↗
PubMed1993

Rotavirus induces alpha-interferon release in children with gastroenteritis.

alpha-Interferon (IFN) blood levels were studied in 38 children hospitalized for rotavirus gastroenteritis. During rotavirus infection, a peak of systemic alpha-IFN was observed within 2 days of onset of symptoms. There was a significant positive correlation between alpha-IFN levels and the number of vomiting episodes (p = 0.0003) but not with duration of vomiting, maximal temperature, and duration of fever. alpha-IFN levels were higher in children with peripheral cyanosis compared with children without peripheral cyanosis (p = 0.005) and tended to be higher in children with diarrhea of < 3 days' duration compared with those with diarrhea lasting > 4 days (p = 0.06). alpha-IFN could be partly responsible for the severity of such initial symptoms as vomiting and peripheral cyanosis in rotavirus gastroenteritis and could play a role in recovery from diarrhea.

Female↗
PubMed1993

In vivo evaluation of the stratum corneum barrier function in blacks, Caucasians and Asians with two noninvasive methods.

This study compared in man the in vivo barrier function of stratum corneum in three racial groups: black, Caucasian and Asian, by two noninvasive technics. They were transepidermal water loss (TEWL) determination measured with an evaporimeter and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) to measure the lag time before the vasodilation induced by application of methyl nicotinate (10 microliters of 0.5% solution in ethanol/propylene glycol 95/5 v/v). Both methods were performed simultaneously on each forearm of 7 black, 8 caucasian and 6 Asian subjects before and after removal of the stratum corneum by stripping. TEWL measurements were higher (p < 0.01) in Asians and Blacks compared to Caucasians. Stripping (8 or 12 strips) increased TEWL in all groups; TEWL increase percentage was higher (p < 0.05) in Asians compared to Caucasians. Vasodilatation lag times assessed by LDV showed that skin permeability was more important in Asians (p < 0.01) and in Caucasians (p < 0.05) than in blacks. Lag times decreased with stripping. After 8 or 12 strips, the order of sensitivity was: Asian > Caucasian > black. Our study showed that, with both noninvasive methods, removal of the stratum corneum increased permeability, with racial differences.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Measuring fecal lipid output in infants receiving a neonatal milk-based formula].

Fecal fat output was measured over three days in ten infants aged 28 to 115 days fed an infant formula (SMA Comfort, Sodilac) containing 39.2% unsaturated fatty acids and 20.1% medium-chain triglycerides (C8, C10, and C12). Fat intake ranged from 59.32 to 136.80 g. Mean fat absorption coefficient was 96 +/- 2%. SMA Comfort offers a fat absorption coefficient comparable to that seen with breast milk.

Celiac Disease↗