[Thickening of the basement membranes of cutaneous capillaries. A possible peripheral marker of atherosclerosis].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Bonnet.
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It the vascular complications of Behcet's disease, especially thrombophlebitis, are well known, coronary involvement in seldom described (less than ten cases in the literature). The two cases reported here, of patients under 45, having presented both a myocardial infarction confirmed by coronary arteriography, lead to bring up first the problem of the causal relationship between disease and necrosis (inflammatory syndrome, thrombogenic tendency, vasospastic aspect), to reach a preventive attitude with, firstly, and extended use of anticoagulants in patients severely affected, in evolutive outbreaks, and then with the easier indication of anti-spastic treatments, mostly calcium blockers.
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Besides their central role in protein synthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have been found or thought to be involved in other processes. We present here a study showing that tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase has a surprising tissular distribution. Indeed, immunochemical determinations showed that in several bovine organs such as liver, kidney and heart, tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase constitutes, as expected, about 0.02% of soluble proteins. In spleen, brain cortex, stomach, cerebellum or duodenum, this amount is about 10-times higher, and in pancreas it is 100-fold. There is no correlation between these amounts and the RNA content of the organs. Moreover, the concentration of another aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (methionyl-tRNA synthetase) is higher in liver than in pancreas, while the amount of tRNATrp is not higher in pancreas than in liver as compared to other tRNAs. Among several interpretations, it is possible that tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is involved in a function other than tRNA aminoacylation. This unknown function would be specific to the differentiated organs, since fetal cerebellum and fetal pancreas contain the same amount of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase as adult liver.
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This work attempted to study the segmental wall motion on left ventriculograms, in terms of segmental shortening, velocity of segmental shortening, and temporal sequences of various events in systole as well as in diastole. The ability of such a method to characterize patterns of normal regional wall motion and to detect mild abnormalities such as isolated asynchronisms, was tested on two groups of patients. Group I included 25 patients presenting evidence of a normal left ventricle (LV) after left heart catheterization. Group II consisted of 21 patients suffering from an isolated pure idiopathic mitral valve prolapse (MVP), with no mitral insufficiency and with an unaffected global LV function. In all patients left ventriculography was filmed in the right anterior oblique view at a rate of 50 frames/s. For each patient a cycle was chosen, distant from any premature beat, with acceptably contrasted outlines, and a quantitative frame by frame study of the motion of 10 segments was performed using a semiautomated method derived from the Stanford method. In the control group (Group I), analysis of the segmental motion by means of this method demonstrates a mild nonuniformity of the normal wall motion. This is principally marked by a stronger and faster contraction in anterolateral segments (segments 7, 8, 9) and by a shorter duration of the contraction in this region. In contrast the MVP group (Group II), exhibited a frank asynergy of the anterolateral region occurring from end systole to early diastole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The procedure of interruption of the inferior caval vein is designed to prevent pulmonary embolism, but its effectiveness has yet to be compared with thrombolytic therapy. Sixty patients hospitalized for pulmonary embolism and proximal deep vein thrombosis were divided into two groups of 31 and 29 patients, respectively. The patients were selected because of persistent venous thrombosis in the inferior caval, iliac or femoral veins. The patients in the first group (mean age 53.2 years) were treated by interruption of the inferior caval vein. The second group of patients (mean age 57) received only fibrinolytic treatment. From those patients having caval venous interruption due to peri-operative myocardial infarction 1 died and 3 others presented pulmonary embolism (massive in two cases). No patients treated by fibrinolysis suffered from pulmonary embolism. Five patients died of cancer, 2 having had caval interruption, as opposed to only 2 having fibrinolysis. Eight patients undergoing surgery had a severe functional handicap. This study demonstrated a high recurrence of pulmonary embolism in patients with persistent venous thrombosis who were treated by interruption of the inferior caval vein. These patients also had a high morbidity. Fibrinolytic treatment (even in the presence of persistent venous thrombosis) appeared to be more effective in avoiding recurrence of pulmonary embolism.
The hereditary, hypertrophic interstitial neuropathy which afflicts the trembler mouse manifests itself about two weeks after birth. Consequently, the identification of these mutant mice was not possible before this age, except when double mutants were available. We show that the trembler mice can be easily distinguished from their normal littermates before the clinical symptoms appear by using an HPTLC/densitometry technique that allows the simple and rapid analysis of the polar lipids extracted from one sciatic nerve. The results presented in this paper demonstrate important differences between the polar lipid compositions of sciatic nerves from 8-day-old normal and trembler littermates, whose phenotypes were confirmed by the morphological analysis of the contralateral sciatic nerves. The small amount of material that is needed for this identification makes it possible to use the remaining nerve material for other studies. Furthermore, important differences between the sciatic nerve protein compositions of normal and trembler mice, identified according to their polar lipid composition, were also observed and these differences can, therefore, also be employed for the identification of the mutants before the manifestation of the clinical symptoms of the trembler neuropathy.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare disease with a higher prevalence in women, especially in the post-partum state. In one case, we attempted to relate this pathology to a disorder in collagen metabolism. A 32-year-old woman presented two episodes of myocardial infarction, 2 and 4 months after delivery which were shown to be due to two consecutive coronary artery dissections on coronary angiogram. Collagen metabolism was investigated in skin fibroblast cultures derived from the patient, and in control fibroblast cultures. After protein labelling in culture, total protein and collagen synthesis were determined. Quantification of procollagen synthesized in cell cultures and their rate of conversion into collagen were determined both in the culture media and a cell layer extract by DEAE cellulose chromatography. The results showed a reduced total collagen synthesis in the cultures of the patient in comparison with control cultures. The ratio between type I and III procollagen was not altered. The rate of conversion of procollagen into collagen was higher in the pathological cultures than in control cultures. Impaired collagen synthesis due perhaps to a change in hormonal equilibrium in the post-partum state might therefore have been responsible for coronary artery dissection.
An instrument for combined scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) to which a photometer unit is attached is described. A special stage in the vacuum chamber of a scanning electron microscope incorporates light microscope optics (objective and condenser) designed for transmission and epi-illumination fluorescence LM. An optical bridge connects these optics to a light microscope, without objective and condenser. The possibility of performing quantitative DNA measurements in this combined microscope (the LM/SEM) was tested using preparations of either chicken erythrocytes, human lymphocytes, or mouse liver cells. The cells were fixed, brought on a cover-glass, quantitatively stained for DNA, dehydrated, and critical point dried (CPD). After mounting the cells were coated with gold. The specimens were brought into the vacuum chamber of the combined microscope and individual cells were studied with SEM and LM. Simultaneously DNA measurements were performed by means of the photometer unit attached to the microscope. It is shown in this study that DNA measurements of cells in the combined microscope give similar results when compared to DNA measurements of embedded cells performed with a conventional fluorescence microscope. Furthermore, it is shown that although the gold layer covering the LM/SEM specimens weakens the fluorescence signal, it does not interfere with the DNA measurements.
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Four hundred forty previously untreated patients with active multiple myeloma were entered into a randomized trial (Southwest Oncology Group [SWOG] study 7927/28) comparing vincristine, melphalan, Cytoxan (Mead Johnson & Company, Evansville, Ind), and prednisone (VMCP) alternating with vincristine, BCNU, Adriamycin (Adria Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio) and prednisone (VBAP) with or without levamisole with vincristine, Cytoxan, and prednisone (VCP) with or without levamisole for induction therapy. The treatment groups were well balanced for all of the known major prognostic factors. Patients receiving VMCP-VBAP responded (greater than or equal to 75% regression) more frequently to induction therapy, both without (54%) and with (44%) levamisole v VCP without (28%) or with (28%) levamisole (P less than .001). In addition, patients receiving VMCP-VBAP (+/- levamisole) had a survival duration determined to be significantly increased by all forms of analysis: 48 and 33 months for VMCP-VBAP without and with levamisole v 29 and 26 months for VCP without and with levamisole (P = .011 overall). Levamisole did not improve response rates or survival duration (P greater than or equal to .1), nor did it prolong remission in the maintenance phase (P = .85). Analysis of SWOG study 7704/05 (updated April 1985) confirmed improved survival for combination therapy v MP, but no benefit for levamisole. The overall findings support the use of VMCP-VBAP as an excellent treatment option for remission induction in patients with active myeloma of all stages and prognostic categories.
The prevalence on ECG, Holter monitoring and stress testing and the prognosis of ventricular arrhythmias were assessed in 236 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This diagnosis was confirmed by haemodynamic and coronary angiographic criteria in 218 cases. Analysis of ECG recordings confirmed the high incidence of ventricular extrasystoles (VES) which were observed in 56% of cases, with doublets in 28% and salvoes in 5% of cases. Sustained VT was observed in 5 cases before the diagnosis was established and in 9 cases during follow-up. Ventricular fibrillation was documented in 8 patients without overt cardiac failure. Holter monitoring over 24 hours (N = 76) showed less than 30 VES per hour in 32% of cases, greater than 100 per hour in 36% of cases, predominantly diurnal in 36% of cases, doublets in 40% of cases and salvoes in 15% of cases. A significant correlation was observed (p less than 0.01) between repetitive activity and the frequency of VES. Exercise stress testing (N = 113) showed aggravation of the ventricular arrhythmia in 28% cases. Of the 72 clinical and paraclinical variables that were analysed, the group of patients with VES and doublets on ECG had lower left ventricular ejection fractions and higher pulmonary pressures. Eighty patients died of cardiac causes during follow-up of 38.8 +/- 27 months. Taking into account the haemodynamic differences, the presence of doublets on the ECG was a poor prognostic factor in subjects with ejection fractions greater than 40% (p less than 0.06); this was even more significant when greater than 50% (p less than 0.027).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The object of this study was to identify vector-cardiographic parameters (VCG) dependant on the size of myocardial infarction and its consequences on segmental left ventricular wall motion. Forty-five patients were selected for study after a complete haemodynamic investigation including quantitative analysis of LV wall motion. They were divided into three groups: Group I, comprising 15 normal control subjects; Group II, comprising 16 patients with abnormal LV wall motion related to anterior wall infarction due to a solitary lesion of the left anterior descending artery; Group III, comprising 14 patients with abnormal LV wall motion related either to posterior wall infarction or inferior wall infarction due to a solitary lesion of the right coronary or left circumflex arteries. Segmental wall motion was analysed by a semi-automatic programme derived from the Standford method. This programme detects the number of pathological segments in a ventricle and their shortening, and also determines a coefficient of severity of the abnormal zone. The VCG was performed according to Frank's principle and exploited using the computerised Arnaud RUBEL system. The characteristics of the instantaneous vectors were determined every 10 ms up to 60 ms: X, Y and 2 coordinates, amplitude, azimuth and elevation. These coordinates were compared with the segmental wall motion in every patient. There was a close correlation between LV regional wall motion abnormalities and the deflection of the initial vectors (during the first 40 ms) in the horizontal and frontal planes. A ROC statistical analysis showed that VCG was an excellent method of detecting abnormal LV wall motion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pectus excavatum is a common malformation in diseases of elastic tissue (Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos...). When observed apparently alone it may represent a minor form of dystrophy, implying the same risk of a cardiac lesion. Abnormalities of the thoracic skeleton and echocardiographic mitral valve prolapse is a well established association, suggesting a common disorder of connective tissue. However, there is no absolute proof that this is a statistically significant association. Histological connective tissue changes relating these two markers have yet to be found. Clinical and echocardiographic examinations and skin biopsies were performed in 17 patients with pectus excavatum. Mitral valve prolapse was detected in 65% of cases (associated in 1 out of 3 cases with tricuspid valve prolapse). In 53% of cases electron microscopy showed abnormal skin collagen and elastin. Collagen abnormalities were twice as common as those of elastin and could be associated. Mixed changes of thinning of elastin and collagen fibres of irregular calibre were particularly suggestive. Pectus excavatum would therefore seem to be the expression of a minor form of dystrophy of collagen and elastin tissues and a clinical marker of possible mitral valve prolapse.
A yeast genomic library in Escherichia coli, constructed by insertion of Sau3A restriction fragments into the hybrid Saccharomyces cerevisiae-E. coli plasmid pFL1, was screened by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for colonies expressing yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS). Four clones were isolated by this technique. Data obtained by Southern and restriction analysis of the inserts showed a common 3.8-kb BamHI restriction fragment which, when inserted into the plasmid pFL1, gave a positive RIA. Several controls showed that this 3.8-kb insert codes for the entire AspRS: (i) S. cerevisiae transformed by the PFL1 plasmid carrying the 3.8-kb fragment overproduces AspRS activity by a factor of ten compared to the wild-type yeast strain; and (ii) a new protein with electrophoretic behaviour similar to AspRS and immuno-reactive toward anti-AspRS appears in crude extracts of transformed yeast and E. coli.
A population of 236 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was studied and followed up for an average of 38.8 +/- 27 months. The most common atrial arrhythmia was atrial fibrillation (AF) which was observed in 27 p. 100 of cases. Patients with AF (n = 43) and without it (n = 193) at the time of diagnosis were compared: the subjects with AF were older (p = 0.036), had a higher left ventricular ejection fraction and lower end diastolic pressures (p = 0.022). AF was associated with mitral valve prolapse (p = 0.007) and with signs of adiastole (p = 0.0015); the most significantly correlated variable was echocardiographic dilatation of the left atrium (p = 0.0012). AF was the presenting symptom of DCM in 13 cases (5.5 p. 100); in 10 cases (4 p. 100) it was the main clinical and therapeutic problem, realizing an arrhythmic form of DCM. Electrical conversion was successful in 7 out of 11 patients with a 2 year follow-up: 3 patients remained in sinus rhythm for over 6 years and have no clinical symptoms, posing the problem of the dominant if not exclusive underlying role of AF in these cases of DCM. An example illustrated by several echocardiographic examinations is presented. Embolic complications were observed in a quarter of the cases with AF and this arrhythmia was present in half the patients with embolic phenomena. However, the prognosis in the groups with and without AF was not significantly different.