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Biomedical subjects

F Boismare

Publications and source records attributed to F Boismare.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Drugs used in a medical intensive care unit].

The treatments of 400 consecutive patients admitted in a 22-bed adult medical intensive care unit (ICU) were analysed prospectively. One hundred and thirty-one different drugs were prescribed with a mean of 5 +/- 4 drugs per patient (means +/- SD), during 8 +/- 11 days. The most commonly prescribed drugs were 1) preventive drugs, 2) antibiotics, 3) psychoactive drugs and analgesics. Two-thirds of the drugs were administered by a parenteral route. Mean daily cost was low: 57 FF per patient (6.3 US dollars, 1984), most of this being due to the prescription of antibiotics (59.8%). The wide range of drugs prescribed in different ICU precludes the compilation of a restricted list of drugs to be used in ICU. Nevertheless, prescription guidelines are suggested consisting of the discussion, for each patient, of the prescription of any of four types of drugs: those of the organ failure(s), of the underlying disease(s), preventive drugs, and finally comfort drugs.

Adolescent↗

Dynamic characteristics of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin metabolism in axonal endings of the rat hypothalamus and striatum during hypoxia: a study using HPLC with electrochemical detection.

The metabolism of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin was studied in normoxic or hypobaric hypoxic rats, using HPLC with electrochemical detection. The changes in serotonin and its metabolite 5 hydroxy indolacetic acid (5 HIAA) levels in the hypoxic striatum and hypothalamus suggest an inhibition of 5 HIAA formation and a complex interaction between synthesis, release and uptake. Hypoxia caused a decrease of the striatal levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), dihydroxy 3-4 phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) [inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and monoamine oxidase (MAO)] and 3-methoxytyramine (3 MT) (inhibition of release). Striatal dopamine levels were increased, suggesting an increase in granular dopamine storage, with an impaired release. Hypothalamic levels of norepinephrine were decreased during hypoxia [(inhibition of TH, MAO, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH)].

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Survival time in hypoxic mice: differentiation between apomorphine-induced hypothermia and antihypoxic properties.

The effects of apomorphine on survival time of mice during lethal anoxic hypoxia were studied. Apomorphine induced hypothermia and an increase in survival time. Both these effects were mediated by cerebral dopamine receptors, however with different affinity for the neuroleptics haloperidol and sulpiride. These data suggest that apomorphine's antihypoxic effect is not only mediated by the classical effect of hypothermia but also by slowing of oxydative metabolism.

Animals↗

Isolation and striatal (3H) serotonin uptake: role in the voluntary intake of ethanol by rats.

Ethanol preferring rats were selected and showed a constant voluntary intake of a 12 percent ethanol solution during 14 days (about 5 g/kg body weight daily). Analysis of 3H serotonin uptake by striatal synaptosomes showed that steady state 3H serotonin synaptosomal levels were lower in alcohol preferring rats. Grouping these rats (5 per cage) reduced both voluntary intake of ethanol and synaptosomal 3H serotonin uptake. Furthermore, blocking the serotonin uptake by clomipramine 5 mg X kg-1 or 10 mg X kg-1 also reduces voluntary intake of ethanol. These data are in agreement with the hypothesis of a modulation of the voluntary intake of ethanol both by chemical and housing stimulation of striatal receptors for serotonin.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Hemodynamic, behavioral and biochemical disturbances induced by an experimental cranio-cervical injury (whiplash) in rats.

Two days after an experimental whiplash performed on anesthetized Long-Evans female rats, without any direct blow to the head, we observed: (1) a hypotension (in supine position) (P less than 0.01), (2) a disturbance of the postural regulation of cerebral blood flow (P less than 0.01), (3) a disturbance of learning behavior characterized by decreased acquisition and retention (conditioned avoidance response and labyrinth tests), (4) an increase of the dopamine level (whole brain, cerebellum, thalamus + hypothalamus, corpus striatum and rest), (5) a decrease of the noradrenaline level in whole brain (P less than 0.05) and in the medulla oblongata but an increase in thalamus plus hypothalamus, hippocampus and corpus striatum, (6) an increased reactivity of the peripheral alpha and beta receptors, determined by analyzing the hemodynamic consequences of i.v. injection of norepinephrine or isoproterenol, (7) there was no modification of the brain content of water or of serotonin and (8) finally, the injured rats displayed a remarkably aggressive behavior, though this was not quantified. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that a change in brain amines metabolism could explain the different functional effects of whiplash. We therefore believe that the postconcussion syndrome is not subjective and that the neck injury is primary in the determination of the syndrome.

Animals↗

Nifedipine in chronic bronchial asthma: a randomized double-blind crossover trial against placebo.

Calcium-channel blockers such as verapamil and nifedipine have been shown to inhibit exercise-induced asthma as well as acutely induced bronchoconstriction, but little is known of their chronic effects, if any, on bronchial asthma. Nifedipine, 60 mg/day for 3 weeks, was compared to placebo in a double-blind randomized crossover study, as an addition to the usual treatment of 11 patients with severe chronic bronchial asthma. Nifedipine decreased the weekly duration of the attacks (102 +/- 34 vs 193 +/- 49 min, p less than 0.05), the number of betamimetic puffs inhaled per week (13 +/- 3 vs 18 +/- 4, p less than 0.05), and the duration of intercritical dyspnoea (7.9 +/- 3.9 vs 15.9 +/- 2.3 h, p less than 0.05) without significantly changing the number of asthma attacks (4.8 +/- 1.2 vs 4.7 +/- 1.7, NS). Nifedipine did not significantly change basal respiratory function, nor did it change heart rate or blood pressure. Side effects were noted in 5 patients taking nifedipine, leading to a decrease in the dosage to 30 mg per day in 3, and in one patient taking placebo. In this study nifedipine had essentially subjective effects, but these warrant a longer-term study of nifedipine or other calcium antagonists in the treatment of bronchial asthma.

Adolescent↗

Oxotremorine-induced cholinergic syndrome: modifications by levodopa and/or oral cytidine diphosphocholine.

A peripheral and cerebral cholinergic syndrome was induced in mice by oxotremorine administration; pretreatment orally with cytidine diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) does not potentiate this syndrome and even antagonizes oxotremorine-induced salivation. Levodopa antagonizes the oxotremorine-induced cerebral symptoms (akinesia + tremor); however this antagonism disappears when mice are chronically pretreated orally with CDP-choline, confirming the action of CDP-choline on dopaminergic pathways. The proven efficacy of CDP-choline in Parkinsonism could then be mediated by a hypersensitivity of some cerebral dopamine receptors, and not by a direct stimulating effect of the striatal dopaminergic receptors.

Administration, Oral↗

Use of RU 25960, a new calcium antagonist, in normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia.

RU 25960--3-[Bis(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-amino]-propan-1-ol hydrochloride--a vasodilator with calcium antagonist properties, was tested on learning in hypobaric hypoxic rats and survival time in normobaric hypoxic mice. It decreased learning in hypobaric hypoxia, but did not change survival time in mice. This suggests that the mechanisms underlying learning and survival are not the same, and that like other calcium antagonists, RU 25960 has no protective effect against the deleterious effects of hypoxia on the brain.

Aerospace Medicine↗

A homotaurine derivative reduces the voluntary intake of ethanol by rats: are cerebral GABA receptors involved?

The effects of some derivatives of homotaurine (3 APS), the well known GABA agonist, were tested on the voluntary intake of ethanol by rats. Spontaneously ethanol drinking rats (DR) were selected and had a constant voluntary intake of ethanol by rats. Spontaneously ethanol drinking rats (DR) were selected and had a constant voluntary intake of a 12% ethanol solution (VIE) during 14 days (about 5 g/kg body weight daily). Calcium acetylhomotaurine (0.26 and 0.52 mmol/kg daily IP) significantly reduced VIE and this was inhibited by the GABA antagonist bicuculline (2 mg/kg IP). The conditioned aversion test to saccharin was negative. Bicuculline alone did not affect VIE. Other homotaurine (3-APS) derivatives: sodium acetyl homotaurine (Na AOTA), homotaurine (OTA), sodium acetyltaurine (Na A TA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) did not affect VIE. These data suggest that the gabaergic system could be implicated in VIE. MERAM Lab. patent.

Acamprosate↗

The effects of chronic treatment with captopril in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their offspring.

Ten consanguine monogamous SHR couples (G1) were treated from their 5th to their 37th week of age with captopril, 50 mg/kg/day i.p. Male rats were treated without interruption. Treatment was withheld in female rats from delivery to weaning. They were compared to ten similar SHR couples which were only daily i.p. injected with the same volume of solvent. Second (G2) generation rats (untreated) were studied. In G1 rats, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) ratio were decreased, while heart rate (HR) was not changed. Plasma renin activity remained unchanged at 37 weeks of age though the treatment was effective. Parental treatment did not reduce SBP and HW/BW ratio in G2 rats. This indicates that reduction of hypertension in SHR is not enough to prevent hypertension development in the offspring of the treated rats.

Animals↗

The effects of nicergoline on spontaneously hypertensive rats and their offspring.

Six consanguine monogamous SHR couples (G1) were treated from 5 weeks of age on with an alpha blocker, nicergoline, 0.1 mg/kg/day i.p.. Male rats were treated without interruption; treatment was withheld in female rats from delivery to weaning. They were compare to six similar SHR couples who were only daily i.p. injected with the same volume of solvent in the same conditions as controls, as well as with naive (untreated) rats. Second (G2) and third (G3) generation rats (untreated) were studied. In G1 rats, systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate, heart weight/body weight ratio and bulbar noradrenaline content were decreased (compared to control or naive rats), while plasma renin activity (PRA) and hypothalamic noradrenaline content were not changed. In G2 rats, SBP and PRA were decreased, all other parameters being unchanged. No parameter was changed in G3 rats. This appears to be the first report of a preventive effect of antenatal treatment on the development of hypertension in SHR.

Animals↗

Effects of parenteral treatment by nicergoline on the development of hypertension of S.H.R.

Six consanguine monogamous SHR couples (G 1) were treated from 5 weeks of age on with an alpha blocker, nicergoline, 100 mcg. kg-1 day-1 i.p. Male rats were treated without interruption; treatment was withheld in female rats from delivery to weaning. They were compared with six similar SHR couples who were only daily i.p. injected with the same volume of solvent in the same conditions, as controls. Second (G 2) and third (G 3) generation rats (untreated) were studied. In G 1 rats, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was decreased, and no change was found in heart rate (H R), heart weight to body weight ratio (HW/BW), hypothalamic and bulbar noradrenaline content (HNA,BNA). In G 2 rats, SBP, BNA and plasma renin activity were significantly decreased, all other parameters being unchanged. No parameter change was observed in G 3 rats. We think that such long acting effects after antenatal treatment could only be due to an action on the origin of the SHR hypertension.

Animals↗

Modification by sulpiride, pimozide, or domperidone of apomorphine's effects on learning in hypoxic rats.

The study of apomorphine's interaction with three dopaminergic antagonists (domperidone, sulpiride and pimozide) is an attempt to characterize the dopaminergic receptors involved in the dopaminergic agonist-induced protection against hypobaric hypoxia. Apomorphine (1 mg X kg-1 but not 0.01 mg X kg-1) reduced total performance (avoidance + escape responses); this effect was antagonised by domperidone and pimozide--not by sulpiride--and appeared to have a peripheral origin. Apomorphine (0.01 and 1 mg X kg-1) increased the avoidance performance during hypoxia. This antihypoxic protection was not suppressed by domperidone, confirming its central origin, but was antagonised both by sulpiride and pimozide. The receptors involved in the anti-hypoxic protective effect appear therefore to be cerebral D4 receptors, according to the classification of Seeman.

Animals↗