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Biomedical subjects

C Frances

Publications and source records attributed to C Frances.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Kala-azar in immunosuppressed patients. Apropos of a case disclosed by skin lesions].

Kala-azar was revealed by skin lesions in a patient treated for recurrent Hodgkin's disease. These lesions, extremely discreet, consisted of papules on the forehead and in the peribuccal area. Histological examinations initially showed nodular infiltration of the dermis with very few Leishman-Donovan bodies; subsequently, foamy, Virchow-type histiocytes appeared, and Leishman-Donovan bodies became numerous. This clinical and histological similarity with leprosy has already been noted for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis which is frequent in India and in Ethiopia. Skin lesions in kala-azar appear to be exceptional since they were not observed in the 7 cases of kala-azar in immunodepressed patients previously published. The fact that they are discreet may account for their apparent rareness. Easily accessible, they make it possible to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis--an often difficult diagnosis in these patients owing to the underlying disease. Immunodepression has little influence on the clinical and biological manifestations of kala-azar, but reserves must be made concerning the usual criteria for cure.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Interaction between elastin and elastases and its role in the aging of the arterial wall, skin and other connective tissues. A review.

Elastic fibers are progressively lysed during maturation and aging and in an accelerated fashion in several aging diseases such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, emphysema and several skin diseases. Several enzymes (elastase-type proteases) were isolated in recent years in our laboratory which appear to be involved in these processes. A cell membrane bound serine protease was isolated from arterial smooth muscle cells and was shown to increase with in vitro aging of the cells. A metallo-protease was isolated from skin fibroblasts and was shown to be capable of attacking the constituents of elastic fibers, mainly the microfibrillar glycoproteins and also the desmosine cross linked elastin in vivo. This partially purified fibroblast enzyme was shown to attack these elastic fibers when injected into the dermis. A new selective staining procedure was used to visualise and quantitate, by computerized image analysis, the skin elastic fibers in normal and pathological human or animal skin biopsies. This method, combined with the injection of elastase in rabbit skins, alone or together with inhibitors, enables the ex vivo/in vivo study of elastase action (and of its inhibition).

Adult↗
PubMed1984

On the presence of a metalloprotease in human skin fibroblasts that degrades the human skin elastic fiber system.

Succinyl-trialanine paranitroanilide, a specific synthetic substrate of elastases, was shown to be hydrolyzed by Triton X-100 extracts of human skin fibroblasts at near neutral pH. The neutral endopeptidase has been partially purified by ion exchange chromatography (DEAE Sephadex) and affinity chromatography using an AH-Sepharose (Ala)3 column. The enzyme has been purified 85-fold and appears to be a metalloprotease as shown by its inhibitory profile. In its partially purified form, the neutral endopeptidase was found inactive toward benzoyl arginine paranitroanilide, benzoyl tyrosine paranitroanilide, azocasein, type I collagen, and [3H]ligamentum nuchae-insoluble elastin. Structural glycoprotein microfibrils isolated from porcine aorta are extensively degraded by this neutral protease. It could also hydrolyze, but to a lesser extent, insoluble elastin purified from human aortas; it was, however, found inactive toward bovine ligamentum nuchae elastin. Its potentiality to degrade the human skin elastic fiber system (namely elastic fibers, oxytalan, and elaunin fibers) has been assessed by a morphometric analysis of the length of these fibers (on tissue sections appropriately stained to identify the components of the elastic fiber system) prior to and after enzyme action. Analysis of the data obtained by morphometry indicated that this neutral protease attacked rapidly both elaunin and oxytalan fibers of human dermis, but only slowly the mature elastic fibers.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1984

[Long-term development of eosinophilic fasciitis. Study of 11 cases].

The long-term outcome of eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) described for the first time by Shulman in 1974 remains unclear. Its exact pathological classification is still contested. We reviewed 11 cases selected exclusively on their initial symptoms being compatible with EF. The outcome of the cutaneous lesions, the investigations of possible visceral involvement were analysed with a follow-up of 1 to 9.5 years (average 4.8 years). Regression of the cutaneous infiltration was complete in 5 cases and partial in 3 cases. No regression was observed in 3 cases. Steroid therapy was given in 10 patients: objective improvement was observed in 5 patients. There was no improvement in the other 5 cases. Ungual capillaroscopy was performed in 9 patients and showed none of the characteristic capillary changes of scleroderma. These results suggest that the prognosis and outcome of EF justify its distinction from systemic scleroderma. The effects of steroid therapy on the cutaneous lesions are very variable.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Male genital dyskeratotic tumor. 2 case reports].

Two cases of genital vegetant tumors are described associated with lichen sclerous in male patients. Clinically they were very close to giant condyloma acuminatum. This diagnosis was rejected after histological examination of the tumors. The pathological changes consisted of epithelial hyperplasia, dyskeratosis, epidermal dysplasia and presence of some vacuolated keratinocytes. After surgical excision, the relapses are frequent. Etr etinate or local 5-fluorouracil seemed to prevent these relapses.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Investigation of intercellular matrix macromolecules involved in lichen sclerosus.

Dermal changes of the vulva in lichen sclerosus were compared with control vulvar samples using ultrastructural and immunofluorescence techniques. Collagen degeneration and regeneration were observed ultrastructurally in the superficial dermis of lichen sclerosus with increased amounts of ground substance. These processes appeared to alter the affinity of collagen fibres for the anticollagen antisera types I, III, IV. A decrease in elastin content was observed by electron microscopy. A loss of fibronectin was discovered at the dermo-epidermal junction, which looked normal ultrastructurally. The linear laminin pattern at the dermo-epidermal junction was also altered. These results suggested an enzymatic process in the pathogenesis of lichen sclerosus. Amidase activity could be determined in 6 normal and 6 pathological biopsies, though higher in the pathological samples (p less than 0.01).

Atrophy↗
PubMed1982

Isolation and partial characterization of an elastase-type protease in human vulva fibroblasts: its possible involvement in vulvar elastic tissue destruction of patients with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus.

A complete disappearance of orcein positive material was observed in the superficial dermis of patients suffering from Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. An elastase-type protease was isolated and partially purified from Triton X-100 extracts of human vulvar fibroblasts by gel permeation chromatography. It presents the characteristics of a metalloenzyme hydrolyzing Succinoyl-tri-alanine paranitroanilide maximally at pH 8.0 and is also active towards insoluble elastin. When partially purified enzyme is directly applied on to rabbit skin sections or when injected intradermally to young rabbits, it produces appreciable degradation of elastic fibers. The involvement of this protease in the disappearance of elastic fibers in Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is postulated.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Cytoplasmic differentiation antigens of human epidermal cells.

Three immunologically distinct types of cytoplasmic antigens have been found to be expressed concurrently in normal human skin. These antigens are tissue but not species specific and differ by their location in different subpopulations of cells. One type is present only in the superficial layers of the epidermis, another only in basal cells, and the third is present in all keratinocytes. All subjects studied to date have all three types of antigens in their skin. There seems to be two subgroups of antigens of each type. One subgroup consists of antigens expressed universally in all subjects. The other consists of a family of variably expressed antigens which are common to some but not all persons. They may represent genetically determined alloantigens different from HLA. The superficial basal cell antigens are absent or greatly decreased in expression in malignant, but not in benign, tumors of the epidermis. This finding, along with the stratification of the antigens in different layers of the skin, suggests that epidermal cytoplasmic antigens are differentiation antigens.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗
PubMed1978

[Generalized lymph node sarcoma during course of an actinic reticuloid (author's transl)].

A 50 year old man with actinic reticuloid developed a diffuse malignant lymphoma 7 years after the beginning of the dermatosis. Biopsy of lymph node showed a polymorphic proliferation with lymphocytes, numerous reticular cells and several Sternberg-like cells. An ultrastructural study showed an indifferentiate lymphocyte proliferation and numerous malignant reticular cells without the Sternberg cell picture. In this patient we discuss the role of immunosuppressive therapy, chronic herpes virus infection and chronic antigenic photostimulation. Up to now, this is the third case of an association between actinic reticuloid and malignant lymphoma.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1972

[Not Available].

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History of Pharmacy↗