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Biomedical subjects

C Roux

Publications and source records attributed to C Roux.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

[Influence of Chlamydiae serology and the presence of a pelvic inflammatory state on the results of in-vitro fertilization].

The authors investigated the influence of Chlamydiae serology and the presence of a pelvic inflammatory state on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization on the basis of an analysis of 116 stimulation cycles. The study included 71 female patients suffering from infectious sterility of tubular origin with distal lesions. Chlamydiae trachomatis serology was considered to be positive at IgG titers in excess of 1/64. When the serum test was positive, there was a significant reduction in the number of clinical pregnancies and the cleavage rate. The percentage of ectopic pregnancies (6 ectopic pregnancies out of 29 clinical pregnancies) was very high, particularly if the serum test was positive and a pelvic inflammatory state persisting after antibiotic treatment contraindicated microsurgery. Surgery was performed only in favorable cases and did not appear to have any negative impact on the outcome. The presence of a non-stabilized pelvic infectious state was correlated with a significant increase in the drop-out rate and the number of post-menopausal gonadotropin required to achieve stimulation. The fact that unexpected spontaneous pregnancies may occur after an unsuccessful attempt must be taken into account when sterilization or salpingectomy are envisaged in an attempt to improve the outcome.

Chlamydia Infections↗

A prospective study of the incidence and nature of injuries to adult rugby players.

The incidence and nature of injuries occurring in 8 adult club rugby teams was followed prospectively during the 1988 rugby season. The findings were compared with those from two similar studies in schoolboy rugby players. A total of 114 injuries were sustained by 78 players; 85% of injuries occurred during matches. Injury was most prevalent during the first 8 weeks of the season and again after the mid-season break. Hookers (19%), wings (15%), fullbacks (11%) and centres (10%) were the players most often injured. Injury occurred most commonly when the player was tackled (26%), during open play (21%) and during the loose scrum (17%). Muscles (33%) and ligaments (32%) were the anatomical structures most often injured. Injury caused 35% of injured players to miss more than 35 days of rugby. Thirteen per cent of injured players did not play again for the rest of the season and only 14% of injured players returned to rugby after 7 days or less. Prolonged disability was associated with ligament injuries (57%), dislocations (17%) and fractures (10%).

Adult↗

Teratogenic effect of the cholesterol synthesis inhibitor AY 9944 on rat embryos in vitro.

AY 9944 [trans-1,4-bis(2-chlorobenzylaminomethyl) cyclohexane dihydrochloride] is an amphiphilic cationic molecule. This chemical is an established inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis and is teratogenic in rats. The mechanisms of this teratogenicity remain to be clarified. This study used cultured rat whole embryos to ascertain whether AY 9944 had a direct effect on embryos, or whether its action was indirect, via the maternal cholesterol metabolism. Four experimental conditions were investigated: (A) controls; (B) 10 day untreated embryos were cultured in serum of treated rats; (C) 10 day untreated embryos were cultured in serum containing added AY 9944 (0-1,000 micrograms/ml); and (D) 10 day embryos from females treated on day 4 of gestation were cultured in normal serum. In group B there was no growth retardation; some slight nonspecific abnormalities were not significant. In group C, direct addition of AY 9944 to culture medium retarded growth and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. No malformation was observed, but histological examinations showed numerous areas of cell necrosis, especially in the CNS. In group D, not only was growth retardation observed, but also characteristic malformations of AY 9944 teratogenesis, including pituitary agenesis. These results show that AY 9944 teratogenicity is initiated prior to day 10.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Human seminal plasma suppresses the chemiluminescence of polymorphonuclears without modifying phagocytosis.

The suppressive activity of human seminal plasma was confirmed on the luminol-amplified chemiluminescent reaction of human polymorphonuclears. This suppression was found to be dose-dependent and noncytotoxic. The responsible factor appeared to be a radical scavenger of low molecular weight, acting selectively on hydrogen peroxide. Correlation with glandular markers of semen indicated this molecule to have a prostatic origin. Neither crude seminal plasma nor this factor were found to suppress intracellular engulfment and killing of bacteria. This molecule seems to cooperate with the other semen antioxidants to protect sperm cells from extracellular oxygen radicals.

Humans↗

Thoracic and lower cervical spine involvement in a case of rheumatoid arthritis.

The authors report a case of spine involvement in a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis treated with corticosteroids. First, the patient developed acute back pain, related to costovertebral joints arthritis at levels T9-T10. Then, neck pain and cord involvement yielded to diagnosis of cervical interapophyseal joints arthritis; there was a C5-C6 subluxation which necessitated surgical treatment. The conjunction of these two rheumatoid localizations is an uncommon feature. Study by the CT scan is valuable when rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is suspected. Lower cervical spine subluxation, even severe, may be well tolerated. Surgery is necessary when there is medullary involvement.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Costo-vertebral arthropathy. Diagnostic and therapeutic value of arthrography.

The authors report five cases of costo-vertebral (CV) joint arthropathies, without osteo-arthritis. The patients had referred pain, with misleading irradiations to the loin or to the abdomen, so that the diagnosis was difficult. The authors have performed in these five cases an arthrography of T11 and T12 CV joints. In every case, the arthrography triggered pain at one of these levels. The arthrography was followed by intra-articular injection of corticosteroid derivative in the symptomatic joint. In these cases, this procedure was a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic method. CV joint arthropathies are frequent, but often lead to incorrect diagnosis. These preliminary results encourage further use of this procedure in CV arthropathies.

Adult↗

Cholesterol prevents the teratogenic action of AY 9944: importance of the timing of cholesterol supplementation to rats.

These studies were conducted to determine whether dietary cholesterol supplementation could prevent fetal malformations induced by the amphipathic drug AY 9944, which is well known as a cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor, and to investigate whether the plasma maternal sterol level and the nature of the sterols found in treated Wistar rats could explain this prevention. Pituitary agenesis was the most constant element of holoprosencephaly when AY 9944 was administered on d 4 of gestation at two dosages, 50 or 75 mg/kg. The rate of malformed fetuses was dose related. A strong negative correlation was established between maternal plasma sterol levels on d 10 of gestation (day of pituitary gland formation) and the rate of fetal anomalies (r = -0.97, P less than 0.01). Supplementation of AY 9944-treated rats with cholesterol had an obvious preventive action on fetal malformations. When cholesterol was added to the diet the same day as AY 9944 treatment and maintained until d 15, the prevention of malformations was almost complete. When the supplementation was initiated later, the prevention of anomalies decreased. The nature of plasma maternal sterols shows that the cholesterol supplementation modifies significantly the ratio of cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol in treated rats. Therefore, maternal plasma sterol perturbations may play a role in the teratogenic action of AY 9944.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Mild isocapnic hypoxia enhances the bronchial response to methacholine in asthmatic subjects.

We studied the effect of mild isocapnic hypoxia (FIO2 = 15.5%) on lung mechanics, heart rate, circulating plasma catecholamines, and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in ten asthmatic adults. Hypoxia did not alter lung mechanics (i.e., dynamic pulmonary compliance [CLdyn], pulmonary resistance [RL]) nor did it increase plasma catecholamines, but it significantly increased bronchial responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine, as assessed by the fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1: 1.2 +/- 0.18 versus 0.9 +/- 0.14 L/s, p less than 0.05), the rise in RL (RL: 19.1 +/- 1.4 versus 8.4 +/- 1 cm H2O/L/s, p less than 0.05), and the steeper slope of the dose-response curve to methacholine. We concluded that the hypoxic characteristic of asthmatic attacks may aggravate airflow obstruction.

Adult↗

An antiserum against protamines for immunohistochemical studies of histone to protamine transition during human spermiogenesis.

Specific polyclonal antisera have been obtained against total human protamines isolated from purified sperm nuclei. The specificity of antibodies was assessed in immunodotting and immunoblotting assays. In this preliminary report, these specific antibodies were used as probes for in-situ determination of histone to protamine transition during human spermiogenesis. Protamine-containing sites were detected on sections of human testes by light microscopy using the immunoperoxidase technique. As in other mammals, protamines appear and concentrate in condensed nuclei of elongating spermatids, i.e. during the later steps of human spermiogenesis.

Histones↗

Effect of AY 9944 and chlorpromazine on Concanavalin A-induced stimulation of human lymphocytes.

Amphiphilic molecules AY 9944 and chlorpromazine (CPZ) inhibited DNA synthesis in Concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner. While AY 9944 strongly decreased 7-dehydrocholesterol conversion to cholesterol, CPZ did not significantly affect this reaction. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of AY 9944 and CPZ on DNA synthesis took place in the presence of cholesterol in the culture medium. These findings suggest that the mechanism of inhibition of DNA synthesis by AY 9944 or CPZ is not related to endogenous cholesterol synthesis or exogenous cholesterol supply. Results are discussed in relation to the amphiphilic properties of AY 9944 and CPZ and to the interaction of these drugs with membranes or other intracellular targets such as calmodulin.

Autoradiography↗

Cellular distribution and hormonal regulation of h-SBP in human hepatoma cells.

The cellular distribution of human Sex Steroid Binding Plasma Protein (h-SBP) was studied in human cells and tissues by indirect immunofluorescence. h-SBP was detected in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, of prostate and epididymis epithelial cells and in endometrium. Sexual and non-sexual skin, intestine epithelium, striated muscle and some rodent organs were not labelled. The intracellular localization of h-SBP indicate that h-SBP could be taken up from the extracellular compartment or synthesized in situ in sex steroid target organs, where it may play a role in hormone uptake. The hormonal regulation of h-SBP secretion by a human hepatoma cell line, H5A, showed that tri-iodothyronine was more potent than estradiol or tamoxifen, which acted as estrogen agonist, in increasing secreted h-SBP and the combined effect of both thyroid and estrogen hormones resulted in an additive stimulation of h-SBP secretion. As shown by Northern blot analysis, oligonucleotides synthesized from the known sequence of h-SBP hybridized with a RNA of approximately 2 kb which was more represented in H5A cells than in normal human liver, and was increased 2-3 times after hormonal stimulation of the cells. The presence of a poly(A+)RNA coding for h-SBP in the human liver indicated the hepatic synthesis of this protein.

Animals↗