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Biomedical subjects

E Maes

Publications and source records attributed to E Maes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Measles vaccination levels of children enrolled in WIC during the 1991 measles epidemic in New York City.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed measles vaccination rates and risk factors for lack of vaccination among preschool children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the 1991 measles epidemic in New York City. METHODS: Children aged 12 to 59 months presenting for WIC certification between April 1 and September 30, 1991, at six volunteer WIC sites in New York City were surveyed. RESULTS: Of the 6181 children enrolled in the study, measles immunization status was ascertained for 6074 (98%). Overall measles coverage was 86% (95% confidence interval [CI] = +/- 1%) and at least 90% by 21 months of age (95% CI = +/- 1%). Young age of the child, use of a private provider, and Medicaid as a source of health care payment were risk factors for lack of vaccination (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: During the peak of a measles epidemic, measles immunization rates were more than 80% by 24 months of age in a sample of WIC children. The ease of ascertaining immunization status and the size of the total WIC population underscore the importance of WIC immunization initiatives.

Child, Preschool↗

The immunization of children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The impact of different strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of different interventions to increase measles vaccination coverage among preschool children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). DESIGN: Public health intervention trial. SETTING: Six volunteer WIC sites in New York City. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 12 to 59 months presenting for WIC certification between April 1 and September 30, 1991, who were eligible for measles vaccination. INTERVENTIONS: Two WIC sites were assigned at random to one of three immunization strategies: (1) escort: child was escorted to a nearby pediatric clinic for immunization; (2) voucher incentive: the family returned monthly, rather than every 2 months, to pick up WIC food vouchers until the child was immunized; or (3) referral: the family was passively referred for immunization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Proportion of eligible children receiving measles vaccination. RESULTS: Of children eligible for measles immunization, 74% (618/836) were immunized. Children at escort sites were 5.5 times (relative risk [RR] = 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7 to 8.1) and those at voucher incentive sites were 2.9 times (RR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.9 to 4.5) more likely to be immunized than children at referral sites. Children were immunized more rapidly at escort sites (median, 14 days) and voucher incentive sites (median, 26 days) than at referral sites (median, 45 days; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Both escort and voucher incentive models resulted in more children being immunized more rapidly than passive referral. Because of ease of administration, voucher incentives may be a more suitable immunization intervention for use at WIC sites, with addition of escort where feasible.

Female↗

Primary structure of acidic oligosaccharide-alditols derived from the jelly coat of Ambystoma tigrinum. Occurrence of oligosaccharides with fucosyl(alpha 1-5)[fucosyl(alpha 1-4)]-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto- nonulosonic acid and fucosyl (alpha 1-2) galactosyl (alpha 1-3)-N- acetylgalactosamine sequences.

Eleven O-glycosidic carbohydrate units derived from the jelly coat of Ambystoma tigrinum were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. As previously shown for four other amphibian species, the glycans display a remarkable species specificity. As a characteristic feature, 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid (Kdn) was found difucosylated at C4 and C5, and alpha-Gal attached to C3 of GalNAc-ol. The most representative carbohydrate units are: [formula: see text]

Ambystoma↗

Structure of three Kdn-containing oligosaccharide-alditols released from oviducal secretions of Ambystoma tigrinum: characterization of the carbohydrate sequence Fuc (alpha 1-5) [Fuc (alpha 1-4)] Kdn (alpha 2-3/6).

Oligosaccharide-alditols released by reductive beta-elimination from the egg jelly coat of Ambystoma tigrinum were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. As observed for five other amphibian species, these carbohydrate chains are highly species-specific, and should support the species-specificity of gamete interaction. The carbohydrate chains of Ambystoma tigrinum are characterized by the presence of a new type of sequence: Fuc (alpha 1-5) [(Fuc (alpha 1-4)] Kdn (alpha 2-3/6).

Ambystoma↗

[Sturge-Weber syndrome: apropos of an anatomo-clinical case report with prepapillary glial proliferation].

The authors report the case of a woman with Sturge-Weber syndrome (oculotrigeminate form) presenting with neovascular glaucoma of abrupt onset during pregnancy. Since medical treatment failed, she underwent a retrobulbar alcoholisation. Three months after delivery, enucleation was performed for esthetic reasons. The enucleated eye showed diffuse choroidal angioma, total retinal detachment and a prepapillary glial proliferation. We discuss this uncommon association.

Adult↗

Hyperthyroidism, ophthalmoplegia and unilateral mydriasis.

Clinical description of a 33 years-old woman, with hyperthyroidism, admitted to the emergency unit with external bilateral ophthalmoplegia and left mydriasis, unreactive to light. The external ophthalmoplegia is proven to be due to myasthenia. The left mydriatic pupil demonstrates features typical for Adie's tonic pupil. The association of a tonic pupil with an auto-immune disease is infrequent. The axiom that internal ophthalmoplegia in a patient with external ophthalmoplegia excludes myasthenia gravis should be reevaluated.

Adult↗

A new in vitro model for the study of pancreatic A and B cells.

A method is developed for the preparation of single, pure, and viable rat pancreatic A and B cells in numbers sufficient for in vitro analysis. Islet isolation and dissociation techniques have been modified to increase the yield in islet cells per pancreas and per experiment. Islet cells are separated on the basis of their light scatter activity and flavin adenine dinucleotide autofluorescence into single non-B cells, single B cells, and structurally coupled B cells. Islet non-B cells are further purified into single A cells by autofluorescence-activated sorting according to the cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate content at 20 mM glucose. Apart from offering the advantage of separating cells according to their functional characteristics, this procedure succeeds in the simultaneous isolation of 95-100% pure A and B cells. More than 50% of the cells in the initial islet preparation are recovered as single purified cells which can be maintained in culture. The isolated pancreatic A and B cells have been defined in terms of their cell volume, DNA and hormone content, and ultrastructural characteristics. The availability of pure pancreatic A and B cells is expected to contribute to our understanding of the regulation of glucagon and insulin release.

Animals↗

Interplay of nutrients and hormones in the regulation of insulin release.

Single pancreatic B cells are purified by autofluorescence-activated cell sorting, and their secretory activity is measured after overnight culture. Compared to intact islets, the isolated cells release 2-fold more insulin under basal conditions and 5-fold less during nutrient stimulation. Their secretory activity can be induced by glucose, leucine, or arginine, but only 0.3-1.7% of their hormone content is liberated at 20 mM nutrient concentrations. This poor nutrient-induced insulin release from purified B cells is attributed to their low cAMP levels and is markedly increased after addition of (Bu)2cAMP, of glucagon, or of pancreatic A cells. These results strongly support the concept that the potent in vivo insulin-releasing action of glucose and leucine is not only dependent on their fuel capacity in pancreatic B cells but also on the concurrent cAMP levels in these cells. In isolated islets, endogenously released glucagon apparently determines the cAMP production in B cells and thus participates in the nutrient-induced secretory process. Somatostatin and epinephrine were shown to exert their suppressive effects via the glucagon-dependent messenger system. It is concluded that nutrients and hormones interact with two different messenger systems which amplify each others' stimulatory effect upon insulin release. cAMP might represent the hormone-induced messenger which sets the B cell's sensitivity and secretory capacity for nutrient stimuli such as glucose. The higher insulin secretory response observed after reaggregation of single B cells could not be attributed to an altered activity in the nutrient or hormonal regulatory units, raising the possibility that the aggregated state of the cells is rather responsible for a better organization or cooperation of the secretory effector unit.

Amino Acids↗

[Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate: clinical and metabolic effects (lipids, glucose, hemostasis)].

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a potent progestagen, is used as a very efficient contraceptive agent. The method of administration is by a threemonthly or sixmonthly intramuscular injection. The method is particularly convenient when the desired number of children has been reached. Fertility is sometimes reestablished only slowly after stopping the injections. The main side effects are linked to endometrial atrophy (blood loss, amenorrhoea). Other side effects are infrequent and subjective. A controversy has risen over the product, by reference to its effects on beagle dogs. We have reviewed the literature. We also present the characteristics of 313 patients treated during (all together) 8,000 months. These patients belong to a rather poor sample of the population (amongst them many immigrant women), aged about 30, with above average pregnancy and parity rates. We also studied, in 31 patients, serum levels of glucose and lipids, and haemostasis. Side effects and reasons for discontinuing the drug are reported. The Pearl index was 0,75% women-years. There was no average effect on weight, blood tension, glycemia. Triglycerides increased slightly, and there was a discreet activation of coagulation with inhibition of the fibrinolytic activity, but without clinical consequences. We conclude that we can go on prescribing the drug, in view of our study and after reviewing the literature.

Adolescent↗

Effects of glucose and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate upon reaggregation of single pancreatic B-cells.

Single B-cells have been previously shown to respond poorly to glucose, in contrast to B-cells lodged in intact islets or in small groups of structurally coupled B-cells, isolated as such from islets. To analyze the role of cell coupling in glucose-induced insulin release, single B-cells were reaggregated in vitro and then tested for their secretory capability. Glucose as well as (Bu)2cAMP stimulated the degree of reaggregation during short shaking incubations (up to 180 min); onset of this process was most rapidly observed with (Bu)2cAMP (within 20 min), but after 180 min a comparable extent was measured with either 20 mM glucose or 0.5 mM (Bu)2cAMP. Calcium was an absolute prerequisite for reaggregation of B-cells. Glucose-induced insulin release from reaggregated B-cells was 4-fold higher than from single B-cells; this difference was not caused by some metabolic priming effect of glucose or (Bu)2cAMP, but appeared primarily mediated by the aggregated state of the cells. It is concluded that the secretory response of pancreatic B-cells is highly dependent on their aggregation with other B-cells. Both glucose and cAMP promote the adhesion of B-cells, and this may contribute to their well known insulinotropic effects.

Animals↗

An unusual cause of attacks of focal cerebral symptoms: multiple endocrine neoplasia type IIA.

A case of MEN type IIa is described showing among other symptoms, three attacks of transient neurological symptoms. These were attributed to a localized, transient cerebral ischemia. The latter probably developed as a consequence of the concomitant occurrence of different phenomena: the existence of hypercalcemia and on the other hand the secretion of vasoactive substances by one of the three tumours forming the MEN type IIa syndrome. The pheochromocytoma played an essential role because the symptoms did not recur after the bilateral adrenalectomy.

Adenoma↗

Glucose-induced insulin release depends on functional cooperation between islet cells.

Similar to other endocrine glands, the endocrine pancreas displays a characteristic topography of its constituent cells. The functional significance of this structural organization was examined by measuring the secretory activity of the B cell in rat islet cell preparations of different composition. Glucose released 30-fold more insulin from B cells lodged within intact islets as from purified single B cells; structurally coupled B cells and single B cells isolated with A cells or incubated with glucagon responded 4- and 2-fold, respectively, more effectively to glucose than single B cells alone. Glucose homeostasis is thus dependent not only on the number and integrity of the insulin-containing B cells but also on their interactions with neighboring B and non-B cells. This study provides direct support for the concept that the microanatomy of the islet creates the anatomical basis for functional cooperation between islet cells and hence for an appropriate glucose-induced insulin release.

Animals↗

Reliability of amidolytic assays for progressive antithrombin and heparin cofactor activities on capillary blood.

Amidolytic assay of antithrombin III on capillary blood can validly substitute for similar assays performed on venous blood, as an excellent correlation exists (r = 0.95). For the amidolytic assays of heparin cofactor activity, a much less satisfactory correlation is found (r = 0.81). Results are far more dispersed and a decrease is observed in late capillary samples. Using a low heparin concentration to assay heparin cofactor activity leads to surprisingly high activities for capillary blood. The same type of discrepancy is observed during the earliest stages of clotting of venous blood.

Amides↗

Radiation induced lipid oxidation in fish.

Oxidative rancidity in herring and redfish was studied as a function of the applied irradiation dose, the storage time and storage temperature and the packaging conditions.--Measurements of the TBA (thiobarbituric acid) value and the peroxide value were used to evaluate the degree of oxidation of lipids, and were related with sensory scores.--Especially for the fatty fish species (herring) irradiation accelerated lipid oxidation and induced oxidative rancidity. Irradiation of vacuum-packed herring fillets and subsequent storage at +2 degrees C seems to be an interesting process. For the experiments conducted on a semi-fatty fish (redfish), oxidative rancidity was never the limiting factor for organoleptic acceptability.

Animals↗

Rat liver microsomal palmitoyl-CoA synthetase: subunit structure.

Long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (acid:CoA ligase (AMP-forming), EC 6.2.1.3) from rat liver microsomes was shown to dissociate completely into one polypeptide chain in 75% 2-chloroethanol in water. The presence of one amino and one carboxy terminal was established. The molecular weight of the subunit as deduced from sedimentation equilibrium as well as quantitative carboxy terminal analysis agrees with the value of 28 000 +/- 1000 as reported previously (Bar-Tana, J. and Rose, G. (1973) Biochem. J. 131, 443--449). Hence, the catalytic unit of 168 000 daltons appears to be composed of identical subunits.

Animals↗