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Biomedical subjects

F Vidal

Publications and source records attributed to F Vidal.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

CDEBP, a site-specific DNA-binding protein of the 'APP-like' family, is required during the early development of the mouse.

A murine protein, termed CDEBP, was previously shown to bind the double-stranded DNA motif GTCACATG, identical to the yeast centromeric element CDEI. The cDNA sequence showed three domains with extensive similarities to the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). The protein is homologous over its entire length to the human protein designated APPH. In situ immunofluorescence assays using antibodies raised against distinct parts of CDEBP detected discrete sites of accumulation inside the interphase nucleus, and the bulk of the protein was not associated with mitotic chromosomes. One of the complexes with double-stranded CDEI oligonucleotides detected by gel shift assay was not present when the protein had been selectively removed from nuclear extracts by immunoprecipitation. We reported previously that microinjection into one-cell mouse embryos of DNA fragments including the CDEI sequence results in an early arrest of development with abnormal nuclei containing variable amounts of DNA. The same characteristic figures were observed when embryos were treated with antisense oligonucleotides complementary to parts of the CDEBP coding region. Complexes between the CDEBP protein and CDEI sites in the mouse genome thus appear to play a critical role in the replication/segregation of the embryonic genome.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

[Evaluation of serum adenosine deaminase as a prognostic marker in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection with zidovudine].

BACKGROUND: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a key enzyme in cellular immunity. It catalyses the reaction 2'deoxyadenosine to 2'deoxiinosine, a critical step in the production of essential metabolites for the synthesis of nucleic acids. Its main physiological activity occurs in T cells of lymphoid tissue. The advanced HIV infection is characterized by a severe and progressive cellular immunity compromise. Partial positive results have been obtained with Zidovudine (AZT), a drug which Serum adenosine deaminase has been proposed as a useful marker for the assessment of the therapy response in these patients. METHODS: Serum ADA activity was determined in patients infected with HIV in stage II, before and after four months of therapy with AZT, regarding variations in its activity with improvements in biological parameters--CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. RESULTS: Patients infected with HIV showed a significant increase in ADA activity compared with patients in the control group: 21.6 +/- 5.4 vs. 10.4 +/- 2.3 U/l (p < 0.001). Therapy with AZT decreased ADA activity: 21.6 +/- 5.4 vs. 15.2 +/- 4.3 U/l (p < 0.001) and correlated with an increase in CD4 counts: 187 +/- 105 vs. 353 +/- 145/mm3 (p < 0.001) and in CD4/CD8 ratio: 0.188 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.382 +/- 0.18 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The detection of a decrease in ADA correlates significantly with a favourable outcome in immunological parameters in individuals infected with HIV in stage II of disease treated with AZT.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of cytogenetic analysis for clinical preimplantation diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using cytogenetic analysis in preimplantation diagnosis. DESIGN: Two different biopsy protocols (chemical drilling and zona cutting) and two fixation methods were tested in a mouse model. Afterwards, the efficiency of obtaining chromosome preparations from untransferable human embryos depending on the method used to obtain the blastomeres (embryos biopsy or removal of the zona pellucida and blastomere disaggregation) was determined. The chances of obtaining chromosome preparations depending on the type of embryo (haploid, diploid, triploid, and apparently unfertilized) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Results from the mouse model showed that chemical drilling yields better results than cutting in terms of metaphases per biopsied embryo and surviving rate after biopsy. In human embryos, biopsy of diploid embryos produced 46.6% chromosome preparations, while 29% were obtained after blastomere disaggregation and 20.4% when biopsying triploid embryos. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the disaggregating procedure and triploid embryos cannot be considered as good models to assess the feasibility of cytogenetic analysis in preimplantation diagnosis. Poor chromosome quality and loss during fixation are the main problems to use cytogenetics in preimplantation diagnosis; a combination of cytogenetics and other techniques is suggested in cases of balanced translocations.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cell biology of restenosis post-angioplasty.

PTCA is a well established intervention to reduce the severity of atherosclerotic coronary stenosis. In spite of a primary success rate of 90 - 95%, late restenosis occurs in 30 - 50% of patients within 3/6 months of the procedure. Angioplasty in swine induces similar events to those found in humans, thus providing a model for studying strategies for intervention. Blood interaction to the damaged vessel wall occurs with reperfusion after the intervention. Therefore, the in vivo characterization of the interaction of cellular elements (platelets and white cells) and blood proteins with the exposed vascular cells in the vessel wall post-angioplasty may be necessary to identify early triggers of restenosis. Angioplasty was performed simultaneously in the coronary and carotid arteries of swine by fluoroscopy assisted standard techniques. Angiography was performed acutely post-dilatation and residual lumen diameter evaluated. Dilated vessels from 30 min to 6 h postintervention were processed to prepare RNA and preserved to perform immunohistochemistry. Dilatation injury induces maximal expression of c-fos 30 min and c-myc from 2 to 4 h postdilatation. Platelet deposition is initiated immediately post-dilatation as well as infiltration of fluid phase proteins on the damaged areas.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1995

Peribulbar anaesthesia: the role of local anaesthetic volumes and Thiomucase in motor block and intraocular pressure.

Peribulbar anaesthesia is a useful regional anaesthesia and akinesia technique for eye surgery. We studied changes in muscular akinesia and intraocular pressure under peribulbar anaesthesia caused by different volumes of 0.75% bupivacaine with or without the addition of Thiomucase (chondroitin sulphatase) in patients undergoing cataract surgery. A total of 120 patients were randomly allocated into four groups: group 1, bupivacaine 5 mL; group 2, bupivacaine 5 mL plus Thiomucase 10 U mL-1; group 3, bupivacaine 9 mL; group 4, bupivacaine 9 mL plus Thiomucase 10 U mL-1. We assessed: (1) akinesia according to mobility in the four quadrants of the eyeball and the palpebral opening using a scoring system between 0 (total akinesia) and 10 (full movement); and (2) intraocular pressure before, immediately after and 15 min after peribulbar anaesthesia. A significantly better motor blockade was observed in groups 2, 3 and 4 than in group 1 (P < 0.05). Thiomucase increased the quality of motor blockade in group 2, but not in group 4. Intraocular pressure increased by 5-10 mmHg in comparison with baseline values and, after 15 min application of Honan's balloon, decreased by 8-10 mmHg in comparison with baseline values, with no significant differences between groups. Thiomucase can improve the motor block if a lower volume of local anaesthetic is used. The administration of 5 or 9 mL volumes or the addition of Thiomucase decreases the the intraocular pressure in a similar way.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Difficult management of pain following sacrococcygeal chordoma: 13 months of subarachnoid infusion.

We report on a patient suffering severe pain following a long-standing sacral chordoma in whom management of therapy and pain was extremely difficult. Because orally administered morphine was observed to be ineffective in the early stages of treatment, we tried to achieve pain relief by using epidural morphine. This was also unsatisfactory. Intrathecal infusion of morphine and bupivacaine through a catheter inserted at the L2-L3 level was also found to be ineffective; only a segment block was observed. A structural anomaly of the spine was suspected and confirmed by myelography, showing metastasis at L3. Pain relief improved when an infusion of morphine+bupivacaine was employed through a catheter placed at the L4-L5 level below the blockage. A major problem which continued throughout the course of the disease was the daily occurrence of episodes of unbearable sharp pain that required addition of midazolam to the local anesthetic/opioid subarachnoid infusion. The patient received this mixture through an intrathecal port during the last 13 months of life, a gradually increasing dose being necessary. Periods of analgesia were followed by occasional crises of intense sharp pain suggesting incomplete relief. No serious complications or meningitis occurred. This case emphasizes the difficulty in managing pain in this type of cancer.

Bupivacaine↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy and tolerance of oral dipyrone versus oral morphine for cancer pain.

In a double-blind, randomised and parallel clinical trial, two oral doses of dipyrone (1 and 2 g) administered every 8 h were compared with 10 mg of oral morphine given every 4 h for the relief of chronic cancer pain. A total of 121 patients with cancer pain without gastric involvement participated in a 7-day treatment course and were allocated to receive either dipyrone 1 g (n = 41), dipyrone 2 g (n = 38) or morphine (n = 42). Drug efficacy was analysed according to the degree of pain relief using a 100-mm visual analogue scale, and the number of patients who decided to increase the dose of the analgesic drug on day 4. The analgesic effect of dipyrone, 2 g every 8 h, was similar to that of morphine. The efficacy of both schedules was significantly greater than that of dipyrone, 1 g every 8 h. Dipyrone at either 1 or 2 g doses tended to be better tolerated than morphine, although the differences were not statistically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Ultrastructural studies of early mouse embryos obtained by oocyte fusion.

Oocyte fusion induced by inactivated Sendai virus results in the production of 'zygotes' that are able to undergo the first stages of embryonic development. The oocyte fusion products (OFP) obtained follow a morphological developmental pattern equivalent to that of control embryos, at least up to the 8-cell stage. The percentage of OFP that reach the 8-cell stage is extremely low (3%) compared with control embryos cultured in vitro (95%). On light microscopy, the OFP obtained show morphological characteristics identical to control embryos, although their cell diameters are larger. The cortical reaction, meiotic reactivation, extrusion of second polar bodies and pronucleus formation take place as observed in controls. The ultrastructural characteristics of oocyte fusion products at the 1-, 2-, 4- and 8-cell stages are analogous to those of controls, including the presence of structures related to the activation of the embryo genome. However some differences concerning cell ultrastructure, mainly in the nucleus, are observed and discussed in the text.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Sexing sibling mouse blastomeres by polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent in-situ hybridization.

The diagnosis of human genetic diseases at preimplantation stages allows the transmission of genetic anomalies in high risk couples to be prevented. Embryo sexing can be carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH). However, it is still questionable whether the results obtained from a single analysed cell are fully predictive of the genetic characteristics of the whole embryo. We have isolated all the blastomeres from 4-cell stage mouse embryos and analysed them by PCR and FISH to assess the consistency of the results obtained. One half of each embryo (2/4-embryo) was spread and fixed to be processed by FISH, while the blastomeres of the other half embryo were isolated (1/4 + 1/4-embryo) and individually processed for PCR. We have determined the efficiency of both techniques when applied to different cells of the same embryo. We were able to amplify 92.5% of the embryos. Of these, 91.8% were classified as male or female, while the remaining 8.2% gave contradictory results (one male and its sibling blastomere female). Of the 40 embryos analysed by FISH, 97.5% could be classified as male or female with a sex distribution close to the expected 1:1. When comparing both techniques, 24 out of 36 embryos gave the same result. In nine cases the results did not coincide, and in three embryos comparison was not possible because of PCR contradictory results.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Twin pregnancy after preimplantation diagnosis for sex selection.

A twin female pregnancy was obtained in a haemophilia carrier after two preimplantation diagnosis cycles. The embryonic sex of biopsied blastomeres was determined with the use of dual fluorescence in-situ hybridization with directly labelled DNA probes specific for the X and Y chromosome. A twin female pregnancy was confirmed by means of ultrasonography and amniocentesis at the 14th week of amenorrhoea. The patient delivered two healthy females by Caesarian section at the 37th week of pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Acid aspiration prophylaxis in elective biliary surgery. A comparison of omeprazole and famotidine using manually aided gastric aspiration.

We have compared the effects of single oral doses of omeprazole 40 mg, famotidine 40 mg or placebo on gastric secretion in 45 non-obese patients the night before elective biliary surgery. After stable anaesthesia had been established, a Salem orogastric tube was introduced and gastric contents were aspirated by a blinded observer. The volume and pH were noted. After the abdomen was opened aspiration was repeated but on this occasion with the surgeon's manual assistance. We found that the initial aspirate volume underestimated total gastric volume by an average (SD) of 7.1 (6.6) ml. Famotidine, but not omeprazole, produced a significant decrease in gastric volume and acidity. Patients were considered to be at risk if pH < 2.5 and volume > 0.4 ml.kg-1. Three patients in the omeprazole group, three in the placebo group and none in the famotidine group came into this category. We conclude that a single oral dose of omeprazole 40 mg given the night before surgery does not afford adequate prophylaxis for acid aspiration syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Computerized medical register of venous thromboembolic disease at the Grenoble University Hospital Center: description and evaluation].

The number of vascular exams for venous thromboembolic disease increases dramatically in the vascular medicine unit at the Grenoble University Hospital (France). In order to improve the efficiency and the homogeneity of all the medical staff involved, a computerized register has been created. It automatically provides a letter for the prescriber of the consultation. This database, working on a computer network, has three main functions: office automation (medical folder, report), education, and clinical research. The office automation evaluation is performed after a 6 month experience, comparing 100 medical reports about venous thrombosis assisted by the computer to 100 medical reports written before the installation of the system. The introduction of digitized register is real, still this evaluation has induced some modification in the system in order to be more efficient.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Granulomatous hepatitis and fever of unknown origin].

In this paper, we review the etiological, clinical and evolutive aspects of patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) whose hepatic biopsy showed the presence of granulomas (GH). This is retrospective study covering a period of 10 years (1982-1991). The clinical records of all the patients hospitalized due to FUO (n = 71) and of all those in whose hepatic biopsy the presence of GH (n = 70) was documentated, were reviewed. Thirty patients fulfilled both criteria: FUO + GH. In our environment, Q Fever is the most frequent cause of FUO and GH in patients without infection by the HIV. On the contrary, in patients infected by HIV, the most frequent etiology is tuberculosis.

Adult↗