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Biomedical subjects

J Gauthier

Publications and source records attributed to J Gauthier.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Binding of double-stranded DNA to glomeruli of rats in vivo.

In vivo binding of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) to renal glomeruli of rats was examined. 125I-dsDNA (600 basepairs) was perfused with 131I-IgG as a blood marker into the right renal artery of normal rats, and blood flow was restored. After 10 minutes, isolated glomeruli showed a specific uptake of DNA, which increased in a saturable fashion with increasing doses of administered DNA. To exclude the possibility that 125I in the glomeruli represented only DNA breakdown products, we extracted the DNA from the glomeruli for analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The extracted DNA was 120-200 bp in size, which is large enough to bind antibodies to DNA. In contrast, the radioactivity of DNA taken up by the liver or renal tissues other than glomeruli was predominantly trichloroacetic acid soluble, i.e., less than 15 bp. Immunofluorescence studies showed that antibodies to DNA, administered after DNA, were present in glomeruli. Our data indicate that dsDNA binds to glomeruli in vivo in a saturable manner, and remains large enough to be antigenic. Therefore, the binding of DNA to glomeruli, followed by interaction with antibodies to dsDNA may be a mechanism for DNA-anti-DNA complex formation in glomeruli in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of trifluoroacetic acid on the reduction of disulfide bridges in peptides analyzed by fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

Some of the factors that influence the reduction of disulfide-containing peptides under fast-atom bombardment have been investigated using two neurohormonal peptides that include disulfide bridges in their structures. Deaminoarginine-vasopressin (DAVP) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) have been analyzed as their acetate and trifluoroacetate salts. Results obtained in a thioglycerol matrix indicate that the peptides analyzed as their acetate salts are completely reduced under bombardment, whereas the trifluoroacetate salts show little evidence of reduction. Addition of trifluoroacetic acid to the acetate sample prior to bombardment inhibits reduction whereas addition after bombardment shows no effect on the reduction, thereby indicating the irreversibility of the process. Time-monitoring experiments conducted with the acetate salts of DAVP and AVP in common matrices such as thioglycerol, dithiothreitol + diethioerythritol, glycerol, hydroxyethyldisulfide and nitrobenzyl-alcohol demonstrate an important effect of the chemical nature of the matrix on reduction. In matrices containing thiol groups, the reduction is extensive, whereas it is almost suppressed in matrices such as hydroxyethyldisulfide and nitrobenzylalcohol. However, the addition of trifluoroacetic acid to all of these matrices essentially eliminates reduction and provides measured isotopic peak ratios that are in agreement with theoretically calculated values for these peptides.

Arginine Vasopressin↗
PubMed1987

Perceived self-efficacy and pain control: opioid and nonopioid mechanisms.

In this experiment, we tested for opioid and nonopioid mechanisms of pain control through cognitive means and the relation of opioid involvement to perceived coping efficacy. Subjects were taught cognitive methods of pain control, were administered a placebo, or received no intervention. Their pain tolerance was then measured at periodic intervals after they were administered either a saline solution or naloxone, an opiate antagonist that blocks the effects of endogenous opiates. Training in cognitive control strengthened perceived self-efficacy both to withstand and to reduce pain; placebo medication enhanced perceived efficacy to withstand pain but not reductive efficacy; and neither form of perceived self-efficacy changed without any intervention. Regardless of condition, the stronger the perceived self-efficacy to withstand pain, the longer subjects endured mounting pain stimulation. The findings provide evidence that attenuation of the impact of pain stimulation through cognitive control is mediated by both opioid and nonopioid mechanisms. Cognitive copers administered naloxone were less able to tolerate pain stimulation than were their saline counterparts. The stronger the perceived self-efficacy to reduce pain, the greater was the opioid activation. Cognitive copers were also able to achieve some increase in pain tolerance even when opioid mechanisms were blocked by naloxone, which is in keeping with a nonopioid component in cognitive pain control. We found suggestive evidence that placebo medication may also activate some opioid involvement. Because placebos do not impart pain reduction skills, it was perceived self-efficacy to endure pain that predicted degree of opioid activation.

Female↗
PubMed1985

NADP-isocitric dehydrogenase of gerbil adrenal mitochondria: support of steroid hydroxylation.

In gerbil adrenal cortex the activity of intramitochondrial NADP-linked isocitric dehydrogenase (IDH) is up to 10-fold greater than the NAD-linked IDH. The NADP-IDH, apparent Km 0.58 mM, Vmax 280 nmoles/min/mg mitochondrial protein, appears to be the major source of reducing equivalents to support adrenal mitochondrial steroid 11B- and 19-hydroxylation in this species.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1985

Biofeedback control of migraine headaches: a comparison of two approaches.

In order to assess the relative effectiveness of finger warming and temporal blood volume pulse reduction biofeedback in the treatment of migraine, 22 female migraine patients were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: temporal artery constriction feedback, finger temperature feedback, or waiting list. Biofeedback training consisted of 12 sessions over a 6-week period. All patients completed 5 weeks of daily self-monitoring of headache activity (frequency, duration, and intensity) and medication before and after treatment. Treatment credibility was assessed at the end of Sessions 1, 6, and 12. Results showed that temporal constriction and finger temperature biofeedback were equally effective in controlling migraine headaches and produced greater benefits than the waiting list condition. Power analyses indicated that very large sample sizes would have been required to detect any significant differences between the two treatment groups. No significant relationships were found between levels of therapeutic gains and levels of thermal or blood volume pulse self-regulation skills. Likewise, treatment outcome was not found to be related to treatment credibility. Further analyses revealed that changes in headache activity and medication were associated with changes in vasomotor variability. Because blood volume pulse variability was not significantly affected by biofeedback training, questions about its role in the therapeutic mechanism are raised.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Postmeningococcal pericarditis in children. A case favoring an immunoallergic process].

A case of pericarditis following meningococcal meningitis in a 19 month old boy is presented. First clinical signs were noted after 5 days of antibiotherapy (Cefotaxime); at that time the meningitis was cured and the bacteriologic studies yielded negative results. Complete clinical recovery was obtained within 24 hours of treatment with prednisone (2 mg/kg), antibiotherapy being stopped 4 days earlier. The pathogenesis of post meningococcal pericarditis is discussed based on the data from the literature. This observation adds support to an immuno-allergic origin of this pericarditis.

Humans↗
PubMed1984

Calcium oxalate retention in subjects with crystalluria.

Calcium oxalate retention was studied in non-stone-forming volunteers. All subjects were placed on a constant diet for 5 days. After the oral administration of 10 microCi of [14C]-oxalic acid, the pattern of urinary oxalate excretion was followed for 48 h. Each subject was then given 10 microCi of [14C]-oxalic acid mixed with sufficient sodium oxalate (7.5 mg/kg body weight) to induce calcium oxalate crystalluria. Urinary oxalate excretion was then recorded for 48 h. After the administration of labeled oxalic acid (without additional sodium oxalate), 76.6 +/- 5.9% of the total recovered dose was excreted by 4 h. When the labeled oxalic acid was mixed with a sodium oxalate load, 62.4 +/- 8.8% was excreted by 4 h (p less than 0.01). Induction of calcium oxalate crystalluria results in the retention of oxalate in the kidney. The degree of retention varies among individuals. Differences in particle retention may help explain the differences between stone formers and non-stone formers.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Blood volume pulse biofeedback in the treatment of migraine headache: a controlled evaluation.

In order to evaluate the specific effects of blood volume pulse (BVP) biofeedback in the treatment of migraine headaches, 21 female migraine patients were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: temporal artery constriction feedback, temporal artery dilation feedback, or waiting list. Biofeedback training consisted of 15 sessions over an 8-week period. All patients completed 5 weeks of daily self-monitoring of headache activity and medication before and after treatment. Results showed that constriction and dilation biofeedback were equally effective in controlling migraines and produced greater benefits than the waiting-list condition. No significant relationships were found between therapeutic gains and BVP self-regulation skills. However, further analyses revealed that changes in headache activity and medication were associated with changes in vasomotor variability. The current rationale for the use of BVP biofeedback in the treatment of migraine is questioned and a new one is proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Management of compulsive shoplifting through covert sensitization.

A client with a shoplifting of 4 years' duration was treated by convert sensitization. To control for improvement attributable to demand characteristics alone, thought-stopping was utilized prior to the treatment period. Results indicated that the application of thought-stopping produced an increase in all dimensions (frequency, duration and intensity) of shoplifting urges which were brought under control and virtually eliminated by instituting covert sensitization. Follow-up assessments at 1, 2, 5 and 14 months showed maintenance of treatment gains. These findings are discussed from the viewpoint of a cognitively mediated model of compulsive shoplifting.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Regional distribution of ventilation at residual volume in induced bronchospasm.

The regional distribution of a bolus of gas inhaled at residual volume (RV) is attributed to regional airway closure and is responsible for the phase IV of the single-breath washout during the following deflation. As bronchospasm increases the range of airway opening pressures through the lung, the regional distribution of the bolus could change with effects on the shape of the single-breath washout. We investigated the regional distribution of boluses inhaled at RV and their single-breath washouts during methacholine-induced bronchospasm in prone dogs. With increasing total lung resistance (RL) we first observed in five out of eight animals a preferential "redistribution" of the bolus to the upper caudal regions of the lung, which could be partially attributed to the increased lung volume at RV. When maximal RL was attained, the bolus was evenly distributed through all regions of the lung in these animals with disappearance of phase IV and increased slope of phase III, and a final decrease of tracer concentration at low lung volumes was observed. We conclude from these data that increased bronchomotor tone in dogs results in a less homogeneous intraregional distribution of the bolus with increased slope of phase III and in a more even interregional distribution leading to disappearance of phase IV. In severe bronchospasm the downward slope at low lung volume suggests intraregional closed lung units emptying through collateral pathways into still open neighboring units.

Animals↗