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Biomedical subjects

D Camus

Publications and source records attributed to D Camus.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Immunological changes during the immediate postoperative period (author's transl)].

Postoperative variations in the different parameters of humoral and cellular immunity were studied in 18 adult patients in general surgery. Levels of immunoglobulins G (igG) fell and those of immunoglobulins M (igM) increased significantly. Lymphocytic proliferation under the influence of PHA showed a significant fall. Neither polynuclear function nor total complement activity were modified. Patients in whom the postoperative course was complicated by sepsis differed from the others by a lower activity of the lymphocyte transformation test and by a higher level of igG and igM on the day prior to surgery. In addition, deficiency in the lymphoblastic transformation test increased during the postoperative period, there was a further fall in IgG and IgM increased less in these patients than in those in whom the postoperative course was uncomplicated.

Adult↗

Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by factor(s) produced by Schistosoma mansoni.

Normal spleen cells of CBA mice or Fischer rats were cultured with mitogens or allogeneic cells, together with various substances of Schistosoma mansoni origin, and thymidine uptake was measured. The proliferation (DNA synthesis) of normal lymphocytes was inhibited by the incubation product of the parasite as well as by cell-free supernatant of schistosome culture. Inhibition was obtained only when active materials were added at the beginning of the culture. Both T and B cell proliferation were inhibited. The inhibitory activity found in cell-free supernatant suggested the release by the parasite of some factor(s) interfering with lymphocyte proliferation. Moreover, serum from rats infected by S. mansoni inhibited lymphocyte proliferation also. The inhibitor(s) appeared heat resistant, dialyzable and of low molecular weight (500-1000). Incubation of normal spleen cells with S. mansoni inhibitor(s) did not enhance the release of nonspecific suppressor cell factor. The inhibition of product(s) released by the parasite could explain part of the immunosuppression status found in schistosomiasis.

Animals↗

Immunological studies in human schistosomiasis. II. Antibodies cytotoxic for Schistosoma mansoni schistosomules.

Complement dependent cytotoxic antibodies for Schistosoma mansoni schistosomules were studied in a Brazilian population. The sera of S. mansoni-infected patients gave a high percentage of cytotoxicity (63.4%) compared with sera from persons not infected (8.7%). The IgG class and the specificity of these cytotoxic antibodies are defined. The index of lethality appeared to be independent of the titers of other specific anti-S. mansoni antibodies. A statistical correlation was found between the index of lethality and both the severity of the disease and delayed hypersensitivity to S. mansoni antigen. The significance of cytotoxic antibodies in human schistosomiasis and their relevance to immunity in man are discussed.

Antibodies↗

Immunological studies in human schistosomiasis. III. Immunoglobulin levels, antibodies, and delayed hypersensitivity.

Levels of IgG, IgE, IgM, and IgA were determined, specific antibodies were detected by the fluorescent antibody test, hemagglutination test, complement fixation test and immunoelectrophoresis, and intradermal tests for delayed hypersensitivity to Schistosoma mansoni antigens were performed in Brazilian patients with schistosomiasis mansoni. The results were compared according to the clinical forms of the disease. IgG levels and antibody titers increased progressively in the subclinical, hepatomegalic, and hepatosplenic forms and there was a statistical relationship between IgG levels and the intensity of responses to the four serological tests; Delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) was found more frequently in hepatosplenic patients and more particularly in those with splenomegaly. DHS also correlated with age, but not with sex or with skin color. The strongest DHS reactions were observed in patients 20 to 34 years old, and in those having the highest fecal egg output. IgG levels, antibody titers, and DHS responses decreased after splenectomy and portal filtration of the worms. No significant variation was observed between untreated subjects, patients who were splenectomized and a group not subject to reinfection for 4 yearsk0

Antibodies↗

Sensitization to Schistosoma mansoni antigen in uninfected children born to infected mothers.

Sensitization to Schistosoma mansoni antigen in uninfected children born to infected or uninfected mothers was studied by intradermal reaction. Immediate skin reaction, Arthus phenomenon, and delayed skin responses were noted. The skin response at 24 hr was positive in 48.1% of the uninfected children born to infected mothers, and in only 7.5% of uninfected (control) children born to uninfected mothers. Areas of skin reactions were also larger in the group born to infected mothers. Both of these differences were statistically significant. There were no significant variations according to age or sex. Only one immediate skin reaction was noted in each group, and Arthus phenomenon was never observed.

Antigens↗

Characterization of iron-dependent endogenous superoxide dismutase of Plasmodium falciparum.

Two main superoxide dismutase activities at isoelectric points (pI) 6.2 and 6.8 and two minor at pI 5.6 and 6.4 were found in crude extracts of Plasmodium falciparum. These activities were cyanide-resistant and hydrogen peroxide-sensitive and represented 20-30% of the total SOD activity found in the crude extract. A fragment of 424 bp, amplified from genomic DNA from P. falciparum, was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence identified this fragment as a coding region of an SOD gene. A cDNA corresponding to SOD was then isolated from a P. falciparum cDNA library and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of SOD (197 aa) was compared with 32 known Feor Mn-SODs by the 'DARWIN' system. This analysis showed that the parasitic enzyme was related to typical Fe-SODs. The SOD subunit was purified and the N-terminal sequence, determined up to 29 residues, corresponded to that of cDNA isolated. The iron-dependent SOD activity found in Plasmodium falciparum represents the first level of the antioxidant defence system of the parasite. It is also the first SOD characterized in the parasitic Apicomplexa phylum whose sequence can be compared to equivalent iron-dependent enzymes known in other protozoa and bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synthetic ferrocenic mefloquine and quinine analoguesas potential antimalarial agents.

A few years ago we proposed a strategy for the synthesis of new ferrocene-chloroquine analogues replacing the carbon chain of chloroquine by hydrophobic ferrocenyl moieties. Now, this strategy has been applied to the antimalarial amino-alcohols class to afford new potentially active analogues of mefloquine and quinine bearing a substituted ferrocenic group. The pathway used for the synthesis of the mefloquine analogues includes the coupling of an aminomethyl substituted ferrocene carboxaldehyde with a lithio quinoline compound. On the other hand, the synthesis of quinine analogues was ensured by the 'inverse' reaction of a lithio aminomethyl ferrocene with a quinoline carboxaldehyde. The configurations of each diastereoisomer were unambiguously determined by spectroscopic data. The mechanistic interpretations were fully discussed. Ferrocenyl analogues of mefloquine and quinine exhibited a lower antimalarial activity than mefloquine and quinine themselves. Comparing optical isomers, those isomers dissimilar to ferrocenyl derivatives presented better antimalarial activities than those similar to ferrocenyl.

Animals↗