Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Schmitt

Publications and source records attributed to C Schmitt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Transient effects in fission from new experimental signatures.

A new experimental approach is introduced to investigate the relaxation of the nuclear deformation degrees of freedom. Highly excited fissioning systems with compact shapes and low angular momenta are produced in peripheral relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Both fission fragments are identified in atomic number. Fission cross sections and fission-fragment element distributions are determined as a function of the fissioning element. From the comparison of these new observables with a nuclear-reaction code a value for the transient time is deduced.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Modern diagnostics in chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPDs).

According to the new WHO classification a group of chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPDs) were defined: chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), chronic eosinophilic leukemia and hypereosinophilic syndrome (CEL/HES), polycythemia vera (PV), chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (with extramedullary hematopoiesis, CIMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and so called CMPD/unclassifiable. As clinical features and laboratory findings differ widely between these diseases several diagnostic approaches are mandatory at diagnosis for classification and are needed also for follow up studies, especially for the measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD). We here outline the laboratory set up at diagnosis and during follow up in CMPDs with specific focus on the respective therapeutical consequences. Only by using a comprehensive diagnostic panel including cytomorphology, cytogenetics, and molecular genetic methods establishing the correct diagnosis, optimizing treatment as well as evaluating treatment response is possible in CMPDs today.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed2004

Use of oral supplements in malnourished elderly patients living in the community: a pharmaco-economic study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inadequate nutritional support in elderly patients is likely to be responsible for increased morbidity and increased associated costs. Conversely prescribing oral supplements to ensure sufficient protein and energy intake should be beneficial. Even though this claim makes sense there is a lack of objective data to support the evidence. The objective of the present study was to assess the cost of malnutrition and related comorbidities among elderly patients living in the community and to determine the impact of nutritional support practice on these outcomes. METHODS: Observational, prospective, longitudinal, cohort study with a 12 months follow-up conducted with 90 general practitioners in France. Two groups of physicians were selected based on historical prescribing practice: group 1 with rare and group 2 with frequent prescription of oral nutrition supplements. The resulting study population was 378 elderly malnourished patients aged over 70, living in the community, either at home or in institutions. Nutritional status at baseline was determined using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale. Main outcome measures were nutritional status, malnutrition-related comorbidities and medical care consumption. RESULTS: Populations in the two groups of patients were balanced for age, gender, weight and body mass index but differed significantly in terms of housing status (P < 0.005) and nutritional status (P < 0.001). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, MNA improved within both groups over time but improvement was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.01). The adjusted cost per patient of hospital care (EUR -551), nursing care (EUR -145) and other medical care was significantly reduced in group 2 as compared to group 1, with cost savings of EUR -723 per patient (90% CI: EUR -1.444 to EUR -43). Including the costs related to nutritional products, the total cost savings per patient attributable to nutrition support were EUR -195 (90% CI: EUR -929 to EUR +478). CONCLUSION: Appropriate nutrition support can address the problem of malnutrition among elderly individuals living in the community and may contribute to reduce the costs of health care.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[In vitro fertilization in France: economic aspects and influence of the gonadotropin choice (urinary vs. recombinant) on cost].

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to make an economic evaluation of in vitro fertilization and to determine the impact of some factors on its cost, particularly the choice between recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) and urinary FSH (u-FSH) for ovarian stimulation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Costs were calculated in a Public Health view, by studying two phases: the stimulation cycle (including down-regulation) and the pregnancy (including the neonatal period). The calculation has included the side effects and the frozen embryos transfers. Economic data came from various sources: the French nomenclature on medical treatments (NGAP), the French drugs dictionary (Vidal) and the French Information system medical plan (PMSI). FSH costs were computed according to the currently marketed products, i.e., Fostimon (Laboratoires Genévrier, Sophia-Antipolis, France) for urinary FSH, and Gonal-F (Laboratoires Serono, Boulogne-Billancourt, France) and Puregon (Laboratoires Organon, Puteaux, France) for recombinant FSH. Two different ways of efficacy between u-FSH and r-FSH were considered for the calculations, those reported in Daya's meta-analysis (3.7% in favour of r-FSH for the clinical pregnancy rate per initiated cycle) and in the only double-blind study (Frydman et al., no difference). RESULTS: The annual cost of ART reaches approximately 130 million Euros in France, for the cycles only, and 170 million Euros when including the pregnancy costs. Urinary FSH is much cheaper than recombinant FSH. Whereas the number of administered FSH units was higher in u-FSH, this results in a mean lower cost of 500 Euros per cycle (2422 Euros for u-FSH and 2959 Euros for r-FSH). For one complete year, in France, the potential over cost of recombinant products reaches 24 million Euros when considering only the cycles (128.4 vs. 104.0 million Euros) and 24-31 million Euros when pregnancies and babies (neonatal period) are considered (171.4 vs 140.7 and 147.0 million Euros, respectively). The IVF per baby cost can be estimated at 16 463 Euros for r-FSH and at 14 116 Euros (in case of equivalence between the two drugs) to 15 805 Euros (in case of a difference of 3.7% pregnancy per oocyte recovery) for u-FSH. CONCLUSION: This gives Public Health lighting to the choices in the matter of ovulation stimulation. It shows the economic impact of the choice in the FSH type.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed2003

Cloning and sequencing of Duck circovirus (DuCV).

The genome of Duck circovirus (DuCV) is circular and 1996 nts in size. Two major open reading frames were identified, encoding the replicase (V1) and the capsid protein (C1). A stem-loop structure comprising the nonamer 5'-TATTATTAC, conserved in all circo-, nano- and geminiviruses, was found. Unique to DuCV, the region between the 3'-ends of the rep and cap gene contains four repeats of a 44-bp sequence. Phylogenetic analysis shows close relation of DuCV with Goose circovirus and suggests classification of DuCV as a new member of the genus Circovirus of the virus family Circoviridae.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma in children: therapeutic abstention after initial lymph node resection--a Study of the French Society of Pediatric Oncology.

PURPOSE: To clarify treatment strategy for lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LPHL), the French Society of Pediatric Oncology initiated a prospective, nonrandomized study in 1988. Patients received either standard treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma or were not treated beyond initial adenectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1988 to 1998, 27 patients were available for study. Twenty-four patients were male, and median age was 10 years (range, 4 to 16 years). Twenty-two, two, and three patients had stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Thirteen patients (stage I, n = 11; stage III, n = 2) received no further treatment after initial surgical adenectomy (SA). Fourteen patients received combined treatment (CT; n = 10), involved-field radiotherapy alone (n = 1), or chemotherapy alone (n = 3). The two groups were comparable for clinical status, treatment, and follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 27 patients achieved complete remission (CR). With a median follow-up time of 70 months (range, 32 to 214 months), overall survival to date is 100%, and overall event-free survival (EFS) is 69% +/- 10% (SA, 42% +/- 16%; CT, 90% +/- 8.6%; P <.04). If we considered only the patients in CR after initial surgery (n = 12), EFS was no longer significantly different between the two groups. Patients with residual mass after initial surgery (n = 15) had worse EFS if they did not receive complementary treatment (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Although based on a small number of patients, our study showed that (1). no further therapy is a valid therapeutic approach in LPHL patient in CR after initial lymph node resection, and (2). complementary treatment diminishes relapse frequency but has no impact on survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Common variable immunodeficiency patient classification based on impaired B cell memory differentiation correlates with clinical aspects.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a very heterogeneous syndrome defined by impaired immunoglobulin production. The functional classification of CVID patients on the basis of in vitro immunoglobulin production is time consuming and has never shown any predictive value. We propose a classification based on the quantitative repartition of naive/memory B cells according to the dual expression of IgD and CD27. Fifty-seven patients were categorized into three groups: Group MB2 (11 patients, 19%) with normal memory B cells; Group MB1 (19 patients, 33%) with defective switched memory (IgD-CD27+) but normal nonswitched memory B cells (IgD+CD27+); Group MB0 (27 patients, 47%) with almost no memory B cells. In addition, a downexpression of activation markers (CD25, CD21, CD80, CD86) on B cells characterized the group MB1 patients and was associated with an upexpression of activation markers (HLA-DR, CD95, CD57) on T cells. This classification correlates with some clinical aspects showing a higher prevalence of splenomegaly (16/27, 59%), lymphoid proliferation (13/27, 48%) and granulomatous disease (12/27, 44%) in group MB0. Splenomegaly was also frequent in group MB1 (8/19, 42%). In contrast, autoimmunity was observed with similar prevalence in all three groups. Moreover, by analyzing B cell phenotype, immunoglobulin transcript expression, and somatic mutations, we propose different putative mechanisms responsible for impaired B cell activation and memory differentiation in this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Nanometer resolution and coherent optical dipole coupling of two individual molecules.

By performing cryogenic laser spectroscopy under a scanning probe electrode that induces a local electric field, we have resolved two individual fluorescent molecules separated by 12 nanometers in an organic crystal. The two molecules undergo a strong coherent dipole-dipole coupling that produces entangled sub- and superradiant states. Under intense laser illumination, both molecules are excited via a two-photon transition, and the fluorescence from this doubly excited system displays photon bunching. Our experimental scheme can be used to optically resolve molecules at the nanometer scale and to manipulate the degree of entanglement among them.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Biopolymeric colloidal carriers for encapsulation or controlled release applications.

Biopolymers represent an interesting alternative to synthetic polymers in order to be used as structured carriers for controlled release and encapsulation applications. In particular, the ability of these carriers to entrap both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs may be very promising for many applications. In addition, the absence of chemical compounds and organic solvents used to produce biopolymeric matrices could be very interesting for some industrial applications. Simple or complex coacervation methods involving proteins or protein and polysaccharide mixtures were used to create new matrices dedicated to controlled release applications. Controlled release experiments with model compounds were conducted in order to evaluate the performance of such matrices. An alternative and promising research field deals with particles obtained from hydrogel systems. Totally transparent solid matrices resulting from the dehydration of new protein gels were formed and swelling capacities of these matrices were studied.

Biopolymers↗
PubMed2002

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in induction treatment of children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a randomized study of the French Society of Pediatric Oncology.

PURPOSE: To determine whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; lenograstim) decreases the incidence of febrile neutropenia after induction courses in treatment of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive (G-CSF+) or not receive (G-CSF-) prophylactic G-CSF, 5 microg/kg/d, from day 7 until an absolute neutrophil count > or = 500/microL was sustained over 48 hours, after two consecutive induction courses of cyclophosphamide 1.5 or 3 g/m(2), vincristine 2 mg/m(2), prednisone 60 mg/m(2)/d x 5, doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2), high-dose methotrexate 3 or 8 g/m(2), and intrathecal injections (COPAD[M]) on protocols LMB89, LMT89, and HM91 of the French Society of Pediatric Oncology. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight patients were assessable, 75 G-CSF+ and 73 G-CSF-. Although duration of neutropenia less than 500/microL was 3 days shorter in G-CSF+ patients (P = 10(-4)), incidence of febrile neutropenia (89% v. 93% in the first course, 88% v. 88% in the second course), durations of hospitalization and antimicrobial therapy, percentages of infections, mucositis, and transfusions were not significantly different. Although the percentage of G-CSF+ patients commencing the following course on day 21 was significantly higher (84% v 68% after the first and 57% v. 38% after the second course; P <.05), the median delay between the two courses was only 1 day less in G-CSF+ patients (median delay after first COPAD(M), 19 v. 20 days, P =.01; after second, 21 v. 22 days, P = not significant). Remission and survival rates were similar in both arms. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that G-CSF did not decrease treatment-related morbidity, nor increase the dose-intensity in children undergoing COPAD(M) induction chemotherapy for NHL.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2002

[Comparison between dissociated and associated heterophoria].

BACKGROUND: Since Ogle (1949) dissociated heterophoria is distinguished from associated heterophoria. Dissociated heterophoria is defined as a deviation from the orthovergence position that occurs when no fusional contours are provided. Associated heterophoria is a deviation that occurs under prism correction of fixation disparity, i.e. under a viewing condition in which fusional contours are absent only in the centre of the visual field. Both dissociated and associated heterophoria have been used as indications for prismatic correction. It has been controversially discussed to what extent dissociated and associated heterophoria are comparable. METHODS: A total of 43 subjects were investigated using the white Maddox rod test for horizontal dissociated heterophoria and the cross test of Hans-Joachim Haase (a test similar to the fixation disparity test described by Ogle 1949) for horizontal associated heterophoria. In both tests subjects were asked to continually correct any deviation using Herschel prisms. Readings were taken after 1 min. RESULTS: The correlation between the results obtained with the white Maddox rod test and the cross test was r = 0.89 (p < 0.0001) and the slope of the regression line was 0.92 (95% confidence interval from 0.77 to 1.07). One subject was unable to reach a match in the cross test because she had an "obligate" fixation disparity due to a staphyloma posticum. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a high correlation between dissociated and associated heterophoria. This result appears plausible since the feedback loop for fusion is disconnected in both cases, although in a different manner: When dissociated heterophoria is measured, fusionable contours are absent. When associated heterophoria is measured, any disparity of peripheral contours that could serve as an error signal is nullified by instantaneous prism correction. The high concordance of dissociated and associated heterophoria suggests that both measures are of equal value as an indication for prismatic spectacle correction. In rare cases of an "obligate" fixation disparity, however, associated heterophoria cannot be determined so that dissociated heterophoria remains as the only indication.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Dissimilar atrial rhythms: coexistence of reentrant atrial tachycardia, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and interatrial conduction block.

We report a patient in whom mapping of the right atrium with multipolar catheters and electroanatomic mapping revealed the presence of three dissimilar rhythms: a reentrant atrial tachycardia in the antero-lateral wall of the right atrium and an atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) isolated from each other and a conduction disturbance at the interatrial septum resulting in a rate-related interatrial block and a slow left atrial rhythm. The AVNRT was stopped with intravenous adenosine (6 mg) and induced repeatedly by atrial extrastimuli associated with a critical atrioventricular delay and dual atrioventricular nodal pathways. Electroanatomic mapping disclosed extensive fibrosis isolating viable myocardium of the antero-lateral wall from the rest of the right atrium. The viable myocardium in the antero-lateral wall was activated by a reentrant rhythm circulating around an islet of fibrosis located in the middle of the viable tissue. The AVNRT was ablated by a standard approach and the reentrant atrial tachycardia by producing a linear lesion bridging the central islet of fibrosis with the anterior tricuspid annulus. This case highlights the complicated nature of some dissimilar atrial rhythms and the power of electroanatomic mapping tools to reveal the exact mechanism and guide radiofrequency ablation.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2002

Aiolos and Ikaros: regulators of lymphocyte development, homeostasis and lymphoproliferation.

Aiolos and Ikaros encode hemopoietic-specific zinc finger transcription factors that are important regulators of lymphocyte differentiation. Aiolos and Ikaros play a critical role in regulating B and T cell development. Gene targeting studies in mice have shown that inactivation of Ikaros family proteins leads to a complete absence of T, B, NK and dendritic cells, whereas a reduction of Ikaros activity induce hyperproliferation and lymphomas. Aiolos knock-out mice have quantitatively normal lymphoid cells but have chronically activated B cells producing autoantibodies and develop lymphomas with increased frequency. These proteins are involved in the control of gene expression and, associated to nuclear complexes, participate in nucleosome remodeling. This protein family governs cell fate decisions and regulates homeostasis through complex isoforms expression and dimerization. Changes in this regulatory network may reflect differentiation and proliferation adjustments made in lymphoid progenitors and precursors. The direct involvement of aberrant Ikaros protein expression in human hematological oncogenesis, although suggested by several studies, remains to be settled at the genomic level. These points will be discussed in the present review.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Grapevine fanleaf virus replication occurs on endoplasmic reticulum-derived membranes.

Infection by Grapevine fanleaf nepovirus (GFLV), a bipartite RNA virus of positive polarity belonging to the Comoviridae family, causes extensive cytopathic modifications of the host endomembrane system that eventually culminate in the formation of a perinuclear "viral compartment." We identified by immunoconfocal microscopy this compartment as the site of virus replication since it contained the RNA1-encoded proteins necessary for replication, newly synthesized viral RNA, and double-stranded replicative forms. In addition, by using transgenic T-BY2 protoplasts expressing green fluorescent protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or in the Golgi apparatus (GA), we could directly show that GFLV replication induced a depletion of the cortical ER, together with a condensation and redistribution of ER-derived membranes, to generate the viral compartment. Brefeldin A, a drug known to inhibit vesicle trafficking between the GA and the ER, was found to inhibit GFLV replication. Cerulenin, a drug inhibiting de novo synthesis of phospholipids, also inhibited GFLV replication. These observations imply that GFLV replication depends both on ER-derived membrane recruitment and on de novo lipid synthesis. In contrast to proteins involved in viral replication, the 2B movement protein and, to a lesser extent, the 2C coat protein were not confined to the viral compartment but were transported toward the cell periphery, a finding consistent with their role in cell-to-cell movement of virus particles.

Cell Line↗