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Biomedical subjects

F Laurent

Publications and source records attributed to F Laurent.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome. Pseudotumors of the thymus occurring after correction of hypercorticism. 3 cases].

Ectopic ACTH-secreting tumours responsible for paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome are invisible at radiography in about 50 percent of the cases. In this situation, the current attitude is to correct the hypercorticism and then embark on a regular morphological monitoring in search of the initial tumour with the purpose of removing it. We report the cases of 3 patients who had a paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome of unknown origin in 1 case and consecutive, in 2 cases, to a bronchial carcinoid tumour initially occult and discovered 30 and 42 months respectively after the onset of the disease. Six to 10 months after hypercorticism was cured with ketoconazole and bilateral adrenalectomy, a thymic mass 2 to 5 cm in length was detected by computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in all 3 patients. At resection of the thymus, performed in 2 cases, a benign hyperplasia of this organ with negative immunohistostaining for ACTH was discovered. This abnormality, seldom reported, seems to result from the abrupt cessation of hypercorticism. It must be known to avoid an unnecessary thymectomy during supervision of patients with paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome related to a radiologically occult tumour.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1993

Characterization and overexpression of the pem gene encoding pectin methylesterase of Erwinia chrysanthemi strain 3937.

The pem gene encoding the pectin methylesterase (PME) of Erwinia chrysanthemi strain 3937 was subcloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. The gene contains an open reading frame of 1098 bp and codes for a protein of 366 amino acids (aa). The mature 37-kDa form of the protein is 342 aa long and has a calculated isoelectric point of 9.64. A plasmid was constructed to overproduce PME: a DNA fragment carrying pem was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and cloned downstream from the pL promoter of the lambda phage, in a high-copy-number plasmid. In an Escherichia coli strain transformed with this plasmid, an increase in PME production of more than 60-fold was obtained, compared with the wild-type Er. chrysanthemi strain. PME represents about 5% of the total protein content of the cells. Comparison of this PME sequence with six PMEs from prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms showed six highly conserved segments whose possible role in enzyme activity are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Protective oral immunization of chickens against Eimeria tenella with sporozoite surface antigens.

Antigens were extracted from the surface of Eimeria tenella sporozoites with a solution containing Triton X 100 (1%), sodium dodecyl sulphate (0.5%) Na deoxycholate (1%) and EDTA (1 mM). After removal of the detergents, these surface antigen preparations conferred an immunity that protected chickens against a subsequent infection (10(4) sporulated oocysts). The best results were obtained after two 250 micrograms injections of Al(OH)3 adsorbed antigens (oocyst output per g caecal material on Day 7 post infection: 2.39 x 10(7) +/- 0.32 x 10(7) oocysts for controls and 7.37 +/- 10(6) +/- 3.19 x 10(6) oocysts for vaccinated birds) and after four gastric intubations of liposome entrapped antigens (oocysts output on Day 7 postinfection: 2.75 x 10(6) +/- 2.02 x 10(6) g-1 caecal material). These results represented respectively 70 and 88% protection indexes. Studies on the systemic and local antibody response after one or several infections of chickens with the parasite indicated at least 20 different molecules in the detergent antigens which are classified after immunoblotting according to their properties.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Cloning and characterization of an Eimeria acervulina sporozoite gene homologous to aspartyl proteinases.

A lambda ZapII cDNA library was constructed using mRNA from Eimeria acervulina sporulated oocysts and screened with monoclonal antibodies raised against Eimeria tenella sporulated oocytes. Monoclonal antibody N3C8B12 identified a clone (6S2) potentially encoding an aspartyl proteinase since significant homology with cathepsin D, pepsin and renin proteinases was revealed by sequence comparisons. The 1500-bp cDNA fragment containing the coccidial gene was subcloned into pGEX-FA expression vector, leading to the production of an 80-kDa fusion protein (FA6S2) which was used to immunize rabbits. The anti-FA6S2 rabbit sera revealed a single 43-kDa protein present in Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria falciformis sporulated oocyst antigens. Indirect immunofluorescence and electron microscopy with mAb N3C8B12 localized the putative aspartyl proteinase in the refractile bodies of Eimeria tenella sporozoites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of the relaxant effects of SCA40, a novel charybdotoxin-sensitive potassium channel opener, in guinea-pig isolated trachealis.

1. Experiments have been performed in order to analyse the mechanism whereby SCA40, a new imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivative relaxes airway smooth muscle. 2. SCA40 (0.01-10 microM) caused a complete and concentration-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig isolated trachea contracted with 20 mM KCl but failed to inhibit completely the spasmogenic effects of 80 mM KCl. 3. Quinine (30 microM) antagonized the relaxant activity of SCA40 in 20 mM KCl-contracted guinea-pig isolated trachea. The ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel blocker, glibenclamide (3 microM), did not antagonize the relaxant activity of SCA40 in either 20 mM KCl or 1 microM carbachol-contracted isolated trachea. 4. SCA40 (0.01-10 microM) and isoprenaline (0.1 nM-10 microM) caused a complete and concentration-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig isolated trachea contracted with carbachol 1 microM. 5. The large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channel blocker, charybdotoxin (60-180 nM), non-competitively antagonized the relaxant activity of isoprenaline on 1 microM carbachol-contracted trachea. The inhibition was characterized by rightward shifts of the isoprenaline concentration-relaxation curves with depression of their maxima. 6. The relaxant activity of SCA40 in 1 microM carbachol-contracted trachea was antagonized by charybdotoxin (60-600 nM) in an apparently competitive manner. The concentration-relaxation curves to SCA40 were shifted to the right with no significant alteration in the maximum response. 7. It is concluded that SCA40 is a novel potassium channel opener which is a potent relaxant of guinea-pig airway smooth muscle in vitro. The relaxant activity of SCA40 does not involve ATP-sensitive K+-channels but rather large-conductance Ca2'-activated K+-channels or other charybdotoxin sensitive K+-channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cardiovascular effects of SCA40, a novel potassium channel opener, in rats.

1. Experiments have been performed to investigate the cardiovascular actions in the rat of SCA40, a novel potassium channel opener which is a potent relaxant of guinea-pig airway smooth muscle in vivo and in vitro. 2. SCA40 (0.01-30 microM) caused a complete and concentration-dependent relaxation of rat isolated thoracic aorta contracted with 20 mM KCl but failed to inhibit completely the spasmogenic effects of 80 mM KCl. 3. The ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel blocker, glibenclamide (3 microM), failed to antagonize the relaxant action of SCA40 on 20 mM KCl-contracted rat isolated thoracic aorta. 4. SCA40 (0.001-100 microM) had dual effects on rat isolated atria. At low concentrations, SCA40 produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the rate and force of contractions. At higher concentrations (greater than 1 microM) SCA40 induced concentration-dependent increases of atrial rate and force. 5. In vivo, in normotensive Wistar rats, SCA40 elicited a dose-dependent (1-100 micrograms kg-1) decrease in mean arterial pressure which was accompanied by a moderate dose-dependent increase in heart rate. SCA40 (100 micrograms kg-1) had a slightly greater hypotensive effect than cromakalim (100 micrograms kg-1) but the duration of the hypotension was longer with cromakalim than with SCA40. 6. The hypotensive effect of SCA40 was not reduced by propranolol, atropine, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or glibenclamide. 7. It is concluded that the mechanism by with SCA40 relaxes vascular smooth muscle in vitro and in vivo involves activation of K(+)-channels distinct from glibenclamide-sensitive ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Effects of toxins, apamine, charybdotoxin and iberiotoxin on the relaxation of the smooth muscular fiber induced by imidazo(1,2-a)pyrazine derivative].

Experiments have been performed in order to analyse the mechanism whereby SCA40, a new imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivative relaxes airway smooth muscle. We investigated the effect of different toxins, known to be K(+)-channel blockers on guinea-pig smooth muscle relaxant activity of SCA40. The small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channel blocker apamin (100 nM) did not antagonize the relaxant activity of SCA40 in 1 microM carbachol-contracted isolated guinea pig trachea. The large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channel blocker, iberiotoxin (30, 60 and 180 nM) antagonized the relaxant activity of SCA40 in an apparently competitive manner. The concentration-relaxation curves to SCA40 were shifted to the right with no significant alteration in the maximum response. The relaxant activity of SCA40 in 1 microM carbachol-contracted isolated trachea was antagonized by both charybdotoxin (60 nM) and iberiotoxin (60 nM), but the antagonism induced by iberiotoxin appears to be more potent than that induced by charybdotoxin. It is concluded that the potent relaxant activity of SCA40 on guinea-pig airway smooth muscle in vitro involves a charybdotoxin and iberiotoxin sensitive K(+)-channel.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Eimeria tenella and Eimeria acervulina: an antigenic stimulation in vitro of cells from immune chickens induced by adoptive transfer of protection against avian coccidiosis].

The transfer of 5 x 10(7) or 10(8) spleen cells from E tenella-infected chickens to virgin animals after 12-20-h in vitro stimulation with whole sporozoite homogenates confers significant protection to recipients. The oocyst contents of ceca on d 7 post-infection with 20,000 E tenella oocysts were (1.33 +/- 1.10) x 10(6) in chickens which received 5 x 10(7) immune cells after 20-h in vitro stimulation and (4.64 +/- 2.85) x 10(6) in chickens receiving 5 x 10(7) stimulated cells from normal chickens (85% protection). Adoptive transfer by spleen cells revealed an asymmetric cross-protection between E tenella and E acervulina. Spleen cells from E tenella immune chickens protected only against a subsequent infection with the same parasite, while spleen cells from E acervulina immune chickens protected against infection with E acervulina (78%) but also against infection with E tenella (68% protection). The common antigen permits better stimulation, but common surface sporozoite antigens purified from E tenella sporozoites via anti-E acervulina biliary antibodies are capable of stimulating both types of cells without, however, changing their properties.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Surgical treatment of salivary incontinence in cerebral palsy].

For patients with cerebral palsy, chronic drooling is the result of an abnormality in the cerebral control of orofacial motor functions. Sialorrhea is a troublesome problem for these patients and their attendants. Among various surgical techniques, rerouting of the Stensen's ducts and bilateral excision of the submandibular salivary glands, as described by Wilkie, gives good results. Transposition of the submandibular gland ducts in the tonsillar fossae is an easier procedure but less favorable. We present 19 patients treated by these two methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of amodiaquine and its two metabolites after a single oral dose in human volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of amodiaquine (AQ, Flavoquine, CAS 6398-98-7) and its metabolites, mono (AQml) and bis-desethyl amodiaquine (AQm2) were investigated in 8 healthy volunteers after an oral dose of 306.2 mg of AQ. Metabolic clearance was the main AQ elimination pathway. AQ disappeared rapidly, from the plasma and blood, whereas AQml appeared rapidly in keeping with a hepatic first-pass effect. By contrast, AQ was little excreted in urine and AQm2 formation from AQm1 was low. Blood AQm1 concentrations were higher than plasma levels, with an AQm1/AQ concentration ratio of 5 to 10. This result was related to strong uptake of AQm1 by white blood cells, as shown by an in vitro study. On the basis of plasma concentrations, there was no preferential uptake by red blood cells, the pharmacological target cells; effective AQ concentrations should thus be analyzed in plasma rather than in whole blood. The inhibitory activity of patients' sera on Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro appears to be directly related to the AQm1 concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Anticoccidial vaccines. Review and perspectives].

Coccidioses are a major problem for the poultry industry. Currently, the diseases are controlled by drug chemoprevention, but the development of chemoresistant strains has for several years incited investigators to search for a vaccine. Several methods were investigated: oocyst administration at low and controlled doses, administration of strains which had been attenuated by physical or biochemical means, immunization with extracted or recombinant antigens. For some years to come genetically selected precocious live strains of Eimeria which are now commercially available will be useful as vaccines; but in the future, genetically engineered antigens will provide new opportunities for a successful vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Synthesis and antibronchospastic activity of 8-alkoxy- and 8-(alkylamino)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines.

Theophylline still occupies a dominant place in asthma therapy. Unfortunately its adverse central nervous system (CNS) stimulant effects can dramatically limit its use, and adjustments in the dosage are often needed. We have synthesized a new series of imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyrazine derivatives which are much more potent bronchodilators than theophylline in vivo and do not exhibit the CNS stimulatory profile. In vitro studies on isolated rat uterus and guinea pig trachea confirm the high potentialities of these derivatives. 6-Bromo-8-(methylamino)imidazo[1,2-alpha]-pyrazine-3-carbonitrile (23) is identified as the most potent compound of the series. As in the case of theophylline, phosphodiesterase inhibition appears unlikely to be the unique mechanism of action of this series of heterocycles.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Importance of PCR in the diagnosis of hepatitis C].

The identification of hepatitis C virus, based on DNA amplification, gives a precise estimation of the prevalence of the most frequent agent of NANB hepatitis. The first ELISA allowing the detection of anti-HCV antibodies, had too many false positive results and required the development of more sensitive and specific assays to confirm its results. PCR, allowing the hepatitis C virus diagnosis by showing directly HCV RNA sequences, offers a complementary approach to immunoserological tests. In blood donors with anti-HCV antibodies and with indeterminate or negative confirmatory tests, the finding of HCV RNA sequences reveals serum infectivity. During acute hepatitis, the delay in the appearance of anti HCV hampers acute phase diagnosis. The early detection of HCV RNA in peripheral blood, confirms the diagnosis and opens up therapeutic possibilities. In chronic hepatitis, the diagnosis of seronegative forms may only be resolved by PCR. Moreover, the presence of HCV RNA in peripheral blood represents the only marker of on-going viral replication and coincides with the severity of liver damage. During treatment with interferon, the follow up of HCV RNA sequences makes it possible to monitor its efficacy. The search for HCV RNA sequences directly in liver tissue shows that HCV may replicate in the liver in the absence of viremia. The presence of HCV RNA in the liver and the serum of liver transplanted patients is essential for the etiological diagnosis and management of hepatitis and bone marrow failure occurring after transplantation. Epidemiological study using PCR is a major tool in documenting vertical transmission between mother and child. Finally, PCR is important for the analysis of the HCV genome. Thus, in France there are at least three main strains, one close to the US prototype, the other close to the Japanese strain, possibly responsible for a more severe illness and a third one distinct from the previous two. However, its limits and constraints imply that PCR must not be considered as a routine assay. This emphasizes the need for more simple and rapid diagnostic tests, allowing the detection of HCV antigens and, as in hepatitis B, the progressive unravelling of the life cycle of HCV.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Rapid detection of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae by a monoclonal antibody.

Six monoclonal antibodies directed against enterobacteria were produced and characterized. The specificity of one of these antibodies (CX9/15; immunoglobulin G2a) was studied by indirect immunofluorescence against 259 enterobacterial strains and 125 other gram-negative bacteria. All of the enterobacteria were specifically recognized, the only exception being Erwinia chrysanthemi (one strain tested). Bacteria not belonging to members of the family Enterobacteriaceae were not detected, except for Plesiomonas shigelloides (two strains tested), Aeromonas hydrophila (five strains tested), and Aeromonas sobria (one strain tested). This recognition spectrum strongly suggested that CX9/15 recognized the enterobacterial common antigen. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot (immunoblot) experiments, the six antienterobacteria antibodies presented similar specificities; they all revealed only one band with an apparent molecular weight of about 20,000 from the crude extract of an enterobacterium. The six monoclonal antibodies, and especially CX9/15, can be used to develop new tests for rapid and specific detection of enterobacteria.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Lung density and lung mass in emphysema.

Mean lung density (dm) and radiologic (VLx) lung volume can be calculated using CT scan data. As many emphysematous patients are overdistended, the analysis of dm alone could be meaningless. However, lung mass (m) can be calculated as the product of dm and VLx. Twenty-four patients suspected of mild or severe emphysema as judged by roentgenographic and physiologic examinations as well as 16 healthy subjects were included in the protocol. They all underwent both a CT scan of the whole lung and functional tests from which the following were derived: airway resistance, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), CO transfer capacity, quasi-static compliance at functional residual capacity (FRC), and blood gases. All CT scans were performed at the FRC of each patient. The dm was lower in emphysema patients than in healthy subjects, as m was greater in patients than in healthy subjects; 1,303 +/- 398 g and 997 +/- 133 g, respectively. Although dm values were significantly correlated to FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and TLC, m values were not correlated to any of these functional indices. Unexpectedly, these results show that most patients (22/24) with emphysema have a normal or increased lung mass. Normal or above normal m values might be due to oversecretion in some patients. Nevertheless, the synthesis of new tissue due to chronic inflammation is the most likely explanation that could account for this finding.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Influence of bovine somatotropin on the composition and manufacturing properties of milk.

Three studies (84, 140, and 200 d) were performed to examine the effect of injecting dairy cows with various doses (0, 320, 640, or 960 mg/28 d; 0 or 640 mg/28 d; 0, 320 mg/14 d, or 320 or 640 mg/28 d) of bST on milk production, composition, and manufacturing properties. Mean bST response among studies on milk production varied from 0 (trial 1) to 7.3% (trial 2) and from 8.5 to 14.2% (trial 3) in relation to feeding conditions. Neither milk fat nor protein percentages in milk at time of maximum response were affected by the use of bST. Distribution of casein and protein in the whey was not affected by the treatments at any time. The nature of fatty acids varied more with time after injection than with bST doses. Neither coagulation time, standard curd firmness, nor soft or pressed cheese yields were affected by the treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma. Apropos of 3 cases].

We report three cases about the diagnostic imaging features of mediastinal choriocarcinoma and during follow up. Computed tomography proved to be more accurate than plain X ray to show the topography and volume of the mediastinal mass hence providing a better approach for biopsy and surgical ablation of the residual tumoral tissues. However, CT cannot differentiate fibrous tumoral remnants from active malignancies and beta HCG is an important tumoral marker in the follow up.

Adult↗