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Biomedical subjects

C Robert

Publications and source records attributed to C Robert.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Epidural analgesia with a bupivacaine-fentanyl mixture in obstetrics: comparison of repeated injections and continuous infusion.

We compared the efficacy and side-effects of continuous infusion versus repeated injections of epidural bupivacaine-fentanyl during labour. Forty-four parturients were randomly distributed into two groups balanced for population size, morphology and parity. Analgesia was begun at the same stage of labour with a mixture of 20 ml 0.25 per cent plain bupivacaine and 2 ml (100 micrograms) fentanyl. In Group I the initial dose ranged from 8-12 ml as a function of height; an injection of the same dose was repeated immediately upon recurrence of pain. In Group II, after an initial dose of 5-7 ml, a continuous infusion of 3 ml.h-1 was begun, and continued until full dilatation. Analgesia was rated using a pain scale; effects on maternal blood pressure, respiratory rate and neonatal status were noted. Bupivacaine and fentanyl assays were carried out on maternal venous blood in 30 parturients during the course of labour. There was a longer latency to onset of analgesia in Group II (approximately five minutes), followed by a more constant degree of analgesia. This better analgesia cannot be accounted for by a difference in dosage; doses were significantly lower in Group II, despite the fact that labour was of the same duration. The course of labour, and maternal and neonatal status were comparable in the two groups. Assays showed no difference in bupivacaine blood concentrations between the two groups nor signs of drug accumulation. The constant infusion technique is advantageous since it provides a more regular degree of analgesia with lower doses than those required for patients having repeated injections.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Development of an efficient spheroplast transformation procedure for S. thermophilus: the use of transfection to define a regeneration medium.

The conditions for the efficient polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced spheroplast transformation of three strains of Streptococcus thermophilus have been established. This required the careful optimization of various experimental parameters, the most important being the choice of the lytic enzyme (lysozyme versus mutanolysin), the extent of cell wall digestion and the conditions for the PEG shock which were found to be strain-specific. The transfection assay we had previously developed for S. thermophilus represented a key step and powerful tool in our transformation studies. It allowed individual and stepwise adjustment of the above mentioned factors, but was also compulsory for the establishment of an effective regeneration medium for the strains we examined. Among various potential osmotic protectors tested, raffinose in combination with CaCl2 and MgCl2 was most efficient and routinely supported regeneration with up to 10% efficiency, after PEG treatment. With the spheroplast transformation procedure described in this paper, shuttle vectors and recombinant plasmids could be introduced into three industrial yogurt starters, with maximal efficiencies of 7.5 x 10(4) transformants/micrograms of liposome encapsulated, covalently closed circular DNA. A striking, yet unexplained, reduction in transformation rates was observed when erythromycin rather than chloramphenicol was used as the selecting agent.

Calcium Chloride↗
PubMed1988

Study of skin ageing as a function of social and professional conditions: modification of the rheological parameters measured with a noninvasive method--indentometry.

Skin ageing was studied with a noninvasive method: indentometry. We measured two rheological parameters: resistance to pressure, indentation, under the pressure of 10 g/cm2, and elastic rebound, elasticity, after the removal of the pressure. We studied three different populations: cloistered nuns, white collar and blue collar workers. We found in all populations a steady decrease in elasticity as a function of age; this effect was always steeper in females. The working women lost their elasticity more rapidly than the nuns, and the male blue collar workers lost their elasticity more rapidly than the male white collar workers. The development of indentation as a function of age is somewhat different. The white collar males showed a steady loss of resistance to pressure with age much more rapidly than their blue collar counterparts. The females showed either a biphasic change (the nuns), no change at all (the white collar workers) or a loss of resistance to pressure (the blue collar workers). These results show that professional as well as social factors may influence skin ageing.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ageing of the skin: study of elastic fiber network modifications by computerized image analysis.

We quantitated the skin elastic fibers of the papillary and reticular dermis using specific staining procedure followed by automated computerized image analysis. Fifty skin biopsies of patients consulting for cardiovascular risk factors were studied. The following parameters were estimated: surface area (% of total surface), length, and number of fibers as a function of age. The evaluation of the skin elastic fiber system showed no significant trend with age in the number of elastic fibers per unit area in the superficial or deep dermis. We found, however, a continuous increase with age in the relative surface area, and the length of the elastic fiber system. These results can best be interpreted as a continuous apposition of elastic-type material to the preexisting fibers by skin fibroblasts. This material may well be of a different composition than young elastin, for instance enriched in structural glycoproteins (microfibrils), lipids and calcium as found in the elastic fibers of aorta and lung. Such quantitative modifications may explain the decrease in skin elasticity, and the continuous increase in stained fibers.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Conjugative mobilization as an alternative vector delivery system for lactic streptococci.

Due to the current variability in applying polyethylene glycol-mediated protoplast transformation to lactic streptococci, a study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of conjugative mobilization as an alternative method for vector delivery. By using the broad-host-range conjugative plasmid pVA797, the partially homologous cloning vector pVA838 was successfully introduced into various strains of Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus cremoris, Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Streptococcus faecalis. Frequencies ranged from 10(-2) to 10(-6) transconjugants per recipient. Both pVA797 and pVA838 were acquired intact, without alteration in functionality. Also, the shuttle vector pSA3, which shares partial homology with pVA797, was mobilized via conjugation. The use of S. lactis LM2301 as the intermediate donor allowed the use of physiologic and metabolic characteristics for recipient differentiation. The construction of a vector containing a "DNA cassette" conferring mobilization and the resolution, segregation, and stability of the cointegrates, pVA797, pVA838, and pSA3, are also reported.

Chloramphenicol Resistance↗
PubMed1983

[A case of barium-peritoneum with neurological involvement. Importance of barium determination in biological fluids].

Barium in the peritoneum following a barium enema led to a severe and irreversible chronic barium poisoning, although from the abdominal and gastro-intestinal point of view, there were virtually no sequelae. Barium assay on the cerebro-spinal fluid of this patient revealed excessively high levels, which provides the laboratory evidence of the direct action of barium on the central nervous system. Barium assays on biological fluids after barium-peritoneum could be used to assess the degree of barium poisoning and may have prognostic value.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of inhaled nitric oxide as a selective pulmonary vasodilator in pediatric cardiac surgical practice.

Our aim was to assess the role of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) therapy in post operative cases of congenital heart defects who developed pulmonary arterial hypertensive (PAH) crisis and had no response with conventional management. From February '95 to January '97, inhaled NO therapy was used in 21 children. Age ranged from 2 months to 9 years (mean 5.6 years) and duration of therapy ranged from 1 to 13 days. Of 21 patients, 17 responded well with 5-20 ppm while 4 did not. The preoperative mean pulmonary systolic pressure was 88 mm Hg against mean systemic pressure of 96 mm Hg. Post operatively, their PA pressure reduced to 62 mm Hg, with systemic pressure of 98 mm Hg. After using inhaled NO, PA pressure dropped to 24 mm Hg (mean systolic) (p < 0.007), after excluding the non responders. Of 4 non responders, two died due to irreversible pulmonary vascular disease and remaining two died due to residual defects. The study shows that inhaled NO is a selective pulmonary vasodilator, which is useful in postoperative PAH crisis and also reduces the transpulmonary gradient in single ventricle repair cases. It is safe and effective for prolonged use. It is very useful in Indian perspective, when more number of cases with congenital heart defects (CHD) along with severe PAH are encountered routinely.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative study of rheological and surface pattern parameters of human skin as a function of age, work conditions and sun exposure.

The present study deals with the comparison of three non-invasively measurable parameters of human skin as a function of age and environmental factors. Two of them are related to mechanical properties and one to the surface microtopography of the skin. Three populations were studied living in different conditions concerning exposure of skin to external influences. The first population (cloistered nuns) lives in well controlled, uniform conditions (skin is always hidden from solar radiation), the second one is regularly exposed to infrared radiation (glass-blowers) and the third one represents an average population (white-collar workers). Two of the studied parameters seem interesting for the estimation of biological aging which may not be identical to chronological age. The first one, the elastic rebound of the skin, is generally well correlated to age but the rate of change is rather slow. The other one, related to the skin surface relief, also generally well related to age, changes faster but the dispersion of the individual results is greater than for elastic rebound. For a better estimation of biological aging the determination of both parameters seems to be preferable to the determination of any of them individually.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chondroitin-4-sulphate (proteoglycan), a receptor for Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte adherence on brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Adherence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitized erythrocytes to the microvascular endothelium is mediated by different receptors expressed by endothelial cells. The study of the adherence of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes to Saimiri monkey brain microvascular endothelial cells revealed the presence of an additional receptor, which was identified and further characterized. This receptor was also found on the surface of primary human lung endothelial cells (HLEC). We developed two mAbs to this receptor which very efficiently blocked the adherence of parasite strains to Saimiri brain endothelial cells (SBEC). The ability of these mAb to bind to SBEC was partially blocked by chondroitin-4-sulphate (CSA). Competitive inhibition assays on adherence of parasitized red blood cells (PRBC) showed that CSA, but not hyaluronic acid, chondroitin-6-sulphate, dermatan sulphate, keratane sulphate, heparan sulphate or chondroitin-4S-disaccharide, was able to almost completely inhibit PRBC adherence. The same effect was obtained with chondroitinase ABC and AC, but not B, hyaluronidase or heparinase. These results strongly suggest that a member of the chondroitin-glycosaminoglycan family, CSA, represents an additional receptor used by P. falciparum PRBC to cytoadhere to microvascular endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Difference in permissiveness of human fibroblast cells to variants A and B of human herpesvirus-6.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV6) is a lymphotropic virus genetically related to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and for which two variants, A and B, have been distinguished. Human CMV is usually cultivated with human fibroblasts (HF). The lack of cell lines useful for HHV6 isolation and propagation led us to investigate whether HHV6 variants A and B could infect HFs as CMV does. Isolates of HHV6 variants A and B were used to infect MRC-5 HFs. HHV6 infection was detected by means of immunoperoxidase assay using three specific monoclonal antibodies. HHV6-specific antigens were detected in 88 and 38% of cases after infection with variants A and B, respectively. The highest number of HHV6-antigen-positive cells was obtained at 4-5 days p.i. The titre of HHV6 stocks was determined in parallel by immunoperoxidase assay on HFs and by observation of cytopathic effect using serial dilutions on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The number of infectious particles inducing the appearance of antigen-positive HF cells was consistently lower than the titre of virus stocks, expressed as TCID50. The amount of HF-associated HHV6 DNA was measured using limiting dilution PCR assay; it was significantly increased during 4-day infection in the case of variant A but not variant B. The yield of virus from infected HFs was demonstrated only for variant A by the serial propagation of virus from HFs to PBMCs and by the increase in cell-free HHV6 DNA in HF culture supernatant. Our results show that HHV6 can reproducibly infect HFs, albeit at a low level, and that HFs are more permissive to variant A than to variant B, as reported previously for PBMCs and human T-cell lines.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selection and characterization of two specific monoclonal antibodies directed against the two variants of human herpesvirus-6.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for human herpesvirus-6 (HHV6) proteins were derived from the splenocytes of mice immunized with HHV6 TAN isolate-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The two mAbs 8C8 and 7C7 reacted by means of immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase assays with both variant A and variant B isolates giving two different staining patterns. In infected cells, cytoplasmic diffuse staining was observed with mAb 8C8, whereas intense nuclear staining was obtained with mAb 7C7. These different locations of viral target proteins were confirmed by confocal microscopy. The mAb 8C8 reacted with a family of six glycoproteins designated as the gp72 complex in the case of variant A strains and gp63 complex in the case of variant B strains. The endoglycosidases H and F reduced those glycoproteins to a putative precursor molecule of 58 kDa. The mAb 7C7 reacted with 116 and 109 kDa proteins with the two HHV6 variants. These two mAbs did not neutralize virion infectivity in the absence of complement. No cross-reactivity was observed when these mAbs were used in immunoperoxidase assay and immunoblotting against the proteins of human cytomegalovirus or other human herpesviruses. Thus, the two mAbs 8C8 and 7C7 may be valuable tools for the diagnosis and biological investigation of HHV6 infections.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the jaw opening reflex for assessing the effects of local anaesthetics in freely moving rats.

INTRODUCTION: In order to characterize a nonbehavioral model for assessing local anaesthetic (LA) activity, the effects of different LA agents (articaine, bupivacaine, procaine, and tetracaine) were measured in the conscious rat using the jaw-opening reflex (JOR). METHODS: One hundred sixty rats were chronically implanted with stimulating electrodes in the dental pulp of the low incisor. While animals were conscious and unrestrained, the JOR threshold was measured electrophysiologically via electrodes wrapped around the digastric muscle. Each LA was administered in the infratemporal area. The increase of the JOR threshold was assessed during a 3-h period following injection. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the data showed a dose-dependent response to the four drugs tested. When the highest dose of each drug (articaine and procaine: 24 mg kg(-1), bupivacaine: 6 mg kg(-1), tetracaine: 3 mg kg(-1)) was administered (i) an immediate effect was observed for tetracaine and bupivacaine, whereas a 5-min delay was needed for articaine and procaine to act on the JOR threshold and (ii) an increase (>60%) of the JOR threshold was observed. The effects lasted 90 min for articaine, 45 min for procaine and bupivacaine, and 15 min for tetracaine before a return to baseline values. DISCUSSION: The rat JOR response combined with infratemporal injection of test drugs can be used for the pharmacological evaluation of LAs.

Anesthetics, Local↗