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Biomedical subjects

J Constans

Publications and source records attributed to J Constans.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Affinity differences for vitamin D metabolites associated with the genetic isoforms of the human serum carrier protein (DBP).

Human vitamin D binding protein (DBP) displays considerable polymorphism with 120 described alleles. Among these, three alleles are frequently observed, Gc 1F (pI 4.94-4.84), Gc 1S (pI 4.95-4.85) and Gc 2 (pI 5.1). Differences between these genetic forms of the protein in affinity for vitamin D metabolites have been detected by electrophoretic methods. The constant affinity (Ka) values determined in this study confirm these differences. The affinities of six rare variants were also examine. Those of the DBP genetic forms to the vitamin D derivatives 25-OH-D3 and 1,25-(OH)2-D3 seem to be related to the isoelectric point of the proteins: a high affinity corresponding to a low isoelectric point. The Gc 1A9 and 1A11 mutants were associated with higher affinity for the vitamin D derivatives and the Gc 1C1 and 1C21 mutants were deficient.

Calcifediol↗
PubMed1993

[Cardiac involvements in scleroderma: study with echocardiography and cardiac Doppler in 38 patients].

A study of heart lesions has been conducted in 38 patients with systemic sclerosis using echocardiography, doppler and colour doppler. Abnormalities were found in 66% patients. Valvulopathies (mainly mitral regurgitation) were the most frequent lesions (45%). The presence of anti-SCL70 antibody was correlated to right cavities dilatation. Pulmonary hypertension was found in 6 patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Prognostic role of pregnancy on the course of HIV infection: a retrospective cohort study (1985-92)].

In a hospital-based cohort study of HIV-infected patients, we compare the progression of the disease (occurrence of CDC group IV, death, decline of CD4 below 200/mm3) between 55 women with delivery and 89 matched control HIV positive women with no history of pregnancy. After a mean follow-up of three years, no significant difference was observed between the two groups even after adjustment on prognostic variables.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1993

[Membrane fatty acids and blood antioxidants in 77 patients with HIV infection].

We have measured the fatty acid (FA) composition of erythrocyte membranes and plasma anti-oxidants in HIV+ patients. Saturated FA are higher and poly-unsaturated FA lower than in controls (P = 0.02). Selenium (Se) is lower in patients less than 400 CD4 cells/mm3 (P = 0.002). Vitamin A is lower in the HIV+ regardless of the CD4 cell count. Se and vitamin A are correlated to nutritional markers (body mass index and albumin).

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1993

[Interferon and blood tumor necrosis factor in 95 patients with HIV infection].

We have measured TNF-alpha and interferon alpha in 95 HIV positive patients and 20 healthy subjects. TNF-alpha was higher in the HIV+ patients (P = 0.0001) and was correlated to the CD4 cell count (P = 0.02) and cholesterol (negatively) (P = 0.04). Interferon-alpha was correlated to the wasting syndrome (P = 0.002), hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.004) and haematocrit (P = 0.04).

HIV Seropositivity↗
PubMed1993

[Pneumopathy caused by amiodarone in internal medicine: 8 cases].

We report on eight cases of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. Main clinical symptoms are acute/subacute dyspnea or progression in some cases. Amiodarone responsibility is difficult to ascertain. Several arguments can be presented: clinical symptoms with dyspnea and/or fever and/or cough, interstitial or in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, abnormal broncho-alveolar lavage cytopreparation smear with increased percentage of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes in typical cases; trans-bronchoscopic lung biopsy failed to provided information on amiodarone toxicity in the two patients where biopsy were performed. Differential diagnosis is an essential step to eliminate other possible causes ie pulmonary micro-organism infections, cancer or pulmonary oedema secondary to heart failure. In one case acute pulmonary toxicity occurred early, after introduction of amiodarone, with a proposed immuno-allergic mechanism. In other cases, chronic amiodarone deposition in the lungs can explain clinico-radiologic features. In six cases improvement was observed after discontinuation of therapy within a 6-months period.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Carcinoid heart disease: two cases of left heart involvement diagnosed by transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography.

We report two observations of significant left heart involvement in patients with the carcinoid syndrome assessed by transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiographic lesions of this kind have only been reported twice. In the present cases, there was mitral involvement with mitral regurgitation in one case and a mitro-aortic involvement with mitral and aortic regurgitation in the other. The mechanism of left heart lesions is unclear since in both cases no right-to-left cardiac shunt was present, as attested by colour Doppler and saline contrast transoesophageal echocardiography. The location of the primary tumour was unknown in one case and ileal in the other; no pulmonary metastasis was detected. The use of transoesophageal echocardiography might make it possible to detect left-sided cardiac lesions more frequently since they were found in anatomical series, in 30% of patients with carcinoid syndrome.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Ventricular arrhythmia revealing mitochondrial myopathy in a 69-year-old woman.

We report a case of mitochondrial myopathy (MM), assessed by histological and biochemical studies. This illness was diagnosed in a 69-year-old patient with myocardiopathy revealed by ventricular arrhythmias. The originality of this case lies in the patient's age, the mode of onset and the biochemical features (i.e. normal mitochondrial enzymatic complexes but very low respiration when using glutamate as a substrate).

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Plasma thrombomodulin: new approach of endothelium damage.

Endothelium damage is associated with thrombotic risk in a variety of diseases including atherosclerosis, gram negative sepsis, viral infections and neoplastic disease. Therefore, it appears necessary to find a mean for the clinical investigation for such a damage. Among the markers of these cells, thrombomodulin which is a membrane glycoprotein, seems to be of great interest for this purpose. Actually, thrombomodulin is also found in plasma, following an endothelial lesion. Plasma levels of thrombomodulin are increased in a certain number of pathologies associated with endothelium lesion: atheromatous arterial disease, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and also in systemic lupus erythematosus where the levels of plasma thrombomodulin are related to the severity of the pathology. Moreover, previous in vitro studies confirm the fact that the release of thrombomodulin from the endothelial cell membrane occurs during the course of injury by activated leukocytes or hydrogen peroxide. So, one can suppose a prospective interest in the measurement of plasma thrombomodulin as a diagnostic tool for the approach of endothelium damage.

Endothelium, Vascular↗
PubMed1993

[Arterial thrombosis of the arm and hemorrhagic rectocolitis. Report of a case].

Several cases of arterial thrombosis associated with inflammatory enterocolitis affections have been reported. In all but one case reported in the literature the outcome was favorable. A 40 year old woman developed thrombosis of the radial and ulnar arteries during an acute episode of ulcerative colitis. The course of the thrombotic lesions was irreversible and all fingers of the right hand had to be amputated. The corticotherapy as a possible predisposing factor for these thromboses is discussed, but their onset during an inflammatory episode suggests a role for the inflammatory enterocolitis. A thrombocytosis (807,000 platelets/mm3) could have predisposed to their onset, and in this case the hemostatic disturbances and fibrinolysis associated with the ulcerative colitis could have played a major role.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Evidence of elevated soluble plasma thrombomodulin in atherosclerosis].

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a very efficient natural anti-thrombin glycoprotein expressed on the endothelial cell surface. Circulating soluble thrombomodulin is also detected by enzyme immunoassay in plasma and represents some fragments of membrane TM with various molecular weight. Plasma TM (TMp) levels are elevated in diseases associated with endothelium damage. We have explored TMp in patients with atheromatous disease and compared its level with others endothelial cell markers, particularly those who indicate cell activation, as tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), inhibitor of plasminogen activator (PAI-1) and prostacyclin (PG12). Thirty seven patients with documented atheromatous artery disease were included in this study. They were not diabetics and their hepatic and renal functions were normal. Mean age was 71 +/- years. Routine serum parameters were checked out as well as others more specific for endothelium activation (TMp, PG12, PAI-1, t-PA) measured by enzyme immunoassay. Patients were classified according to three localizations of atheromatous involvement: - 15 patients with peripheral occlusive arteriopathy disease (POAD) - 6 with coronary artery disease (CAD); and 16 with polyvascular involvement (POLY). They were compared with 21 controls without any vascular lesions (mean age: 43 +/- 13 years). In controls TMp was 36 +/- 8 ng/ml without significant change according with age and sex. In patients whatever the localization of atheroma, TMp was found significantly higher: POAD = 51.3 +/- 19.7 ng/ml (p = 0.003); CAD = 49.2 +/- 15.4 ng/ml (p = 0.008); POLY = 49.6 +/- 17.2 ng/ml (p = 0.003). A positive correlation was pointed out in all patients between TMp and t-PA (p = 0.047), TMp and PG12 (p = 0.008). A positive correlation between TMp and t-PA (p = 0.034) was found only in the subgroup with POAD. In this study, there was no correlation between TMp and the following parameters: leucocytes, haemoglobin, cholesterol, HDL, LDL-cholesterol, Lp(a), fibrinogen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Localization of a vitamin-D-binding protein interaction site in the COOH-terminal sequence of actin.

The serum vitamin D binding protein is the carrier of vitamin D and its derivatives in the plasma. One of the known roles of this protein is to sequester monomeric actin in the blood, therefore implicating this protein in actin elimination. However, its binding site at the surface of actin is poorly delimited. We report here the results of a study which locates, using several actin fragments together with immunological probes, a vitamin D binding protein site near the COOH-terminal extremity. Thus, the interface is delimited by the sequence 360-372 in subdomain I of actin.

Actins↗
PubMed1992

A new polymorphism of thyroxin-binding globulin in three African groups (Mali) with endemic nodular goitre.

The thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) polymorphism was investigated in three African groups: two belonged to the Bwa villages of Mali, and the third was a Dogon group living in the same area. The Bwa groups were characterized by the occurrence of nodular goitres, whereas the Dogon population did not show similar pathological symptoms. Females were more affected by goitre than males in the affected villages. The TBG polymorphism enabled us to demonstrate the presence of an undescribed allele (TBG C1) in these populations. The frequency of the TBG S allele was also higher than previously published in other African groups. We observed a disequilibrium in the distribution of the C and S alleles in the population, with an excess of homozygous TBG S individuals. No clear relationship between the TBG polymorphism and the number of nodules can be drawn.

Alleles↗