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Biomedical subjects

J Guibert

Publications and source records attributed to J Guibert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

ICSI outcomes in obstructive azoospermia: influence of the origin of surgically retrieved spermatozoa and the cause of obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Spermatozoa can be retrieved from the testis and epididymis of men with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and used for ICSI. However, it is unknown whether the outcome of ICSI depends on the cause of obstruction or the origin of surgically retrieved spermatozoa. METHODS: A cohort of 171 men with OA and normal spermatogenesis were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into three groups according to the site and origin of obstruction: 83 men had congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens; 55 and 33 had acquired epididymal and deferent duct obstructions, respectively. The outcome of 368 ICSI cycles was determined and compared according to the origin of spermatozoa: epididymal (n = 253) or testicular (n = 115). RESULTS: Fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates did not differ between spermatozoa of different origin (58.9% versus 51.9% and 22.1% versus 24.3% with epididymal and testicular spermatozoa, respectively). However, the miscarriage rate was significantly higher for testicular spermatozoa (35.7% versus. 12.5% P < 0.05, chi2 test). Findings were similar whatever the aetiology of the OA. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of testicular spermatozoa, even those generated during normal spermatogenesis, alters embryonic development and that epididymal spermatozoa should be preferentially used, irrespective of the aetiology of OA.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Kinetics of SRY gene appearance in maternal serum: detection by real time PCR in early pregnancy after assisted reproductive technique.

BACKGROUND: Fetal DNA circulating in maternal serum offers a possibility for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis but its kinetics during very early pregnancy is still unclear. In order to clarify this point, the studies on the kinetics of fetal DNA appearance in maternal serum were conducted on patients undergoing assisted reproduction. METHODS: Using a quantitative real time PCR assay, the presence of SRY gene sequences was evaluated in the serum of patients at the onset of pregnancy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were originally studied but first trimester abortion occurred in five cases. Among the 22 ongoing pregnancies, ten were found to bear at least one male fetus and all sera from these women gave positive results for SRY gene detection. The SRY gene was found to be detectable as soon as day 18 after embryo transfer in one case and it had been found in the other nine patients by day 37. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal DNA is found in maternal serum even before the fetal circulation is established, which is highly suggestive that it is released, at least in part, from the trophoblast. Detection of fetal DNA in maternal serum very early in pregnancy may have clinical implications such as with the management of pregnant women carrying a fetus at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

DNA↗
PubMed2002

Semen alterations in HIV-1 infected men.

BACKGROUND: Couples in whom the man is infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increasingly request assisted reproductive technology (ART) to allow safe procreation. Semen quality is critical in such situations. METHODS: Semen characteristics were evaluated in 189 HIV-infected men requesting ART. At the time of semen analysis all men were healthy and 177 were receiving anti-retroviral therapy. Comparisons were made with HIV-seronegative men, partners of women requiring IVF because of tubal infertility, after matching for age and sexual abstinence delay. RESULTS: The most significant semen alterations found in the HIV-infected men were reduced percentages of rapidly progressive sperm [median (range), 10% (0-30%) compared with 15% (5-30%) in the controls, P < 0.001], and increased concentrations of non-spermatic cells [3 x 10(6)/ml (0.2-16 x 10(6)/ml) compared with 1.1 x 10(6)/ml (0.1-14 x 10(6)/ml) in the controls, P < 0.001]. HIV-infected men also showed lower ejaculate volumes [2.8 ml (0.6-9.3 ml) compared with 3.6 ml (1.1-11 ml), P < 0.05] and total sperm counts [262.5 x 10(6) (0-1003 x 10(6)) compared with 310.5 x 10(6) (48.3-1679 x 10(6)), P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Semen evaluation in a large population of HIV-infected men requesting ART evidenced several alterations. Some of these anomalies might be related to anti-retroviral treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Adhesion formation after laparoscopic resection of uterosacral ligaments in women with endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk of postoperative adhesions in women who undergo laparoscopic surgical management of deep endometriosis infiltrating the uterosacral ligaments (USL). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-six women with deep endometriosis infiltrating the USL. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic resection of all USL with deep endometriotic lesions and excision of all other endometriotic lesions, followed by second-look laparoscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At second-look laparoscopy, 15 patients (32.6%) had no adhesions at the site where the USL had been resected, 24 (52.2%) had filmy avascular adhesions, and 7 (15.2%) had dense or vascular adhesions. No patient had adhesions of the binding type. Only two factors, the revised American Fertility Association (rAFS) score at initial laparoscopy and surgical modality (unilateral resection of the right USL, unilateral resection of the left USL, bilateral resection of USL) had a statistically significant influence on the risk of postoperative adhesions occurring. After adjustment, the relation with initial rAFS stage and surgical modality remained significant in the stepwise logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: These encouraging results are particularly interesting for patients with infertility due to pelvic pain syndrome. Second-look laparoscopy should not be performed routinely after laparoscopic management of deep endometriosis infiltrating the USL. We propose that it be reserved for women with rAFS stages III and IV endometriosis, especially when lesions are located on the left side.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Discovery of High Proper-Motion Ancient White Dwarfs: Nearby Massive Compact Halo Objects?

We present the discovery and spectroscopic identification of two very high proper-motion ancient white dwarf stars, found in a systematic proper-motion survey. Their kinematics and apparent magnitude clearly indicate that they are halo members, while their optical spectra are almost identical to the recently identified cool halo white dwarf WD 0346+246. Canonical stellar halo models predict a white dwarf volume density that is 2 orders of magnitude less than the rho approximately 7x10-4 M middle dot in circle pc-3 inferred from this survey. With the caveat that the sample size is very small, it appears that a significant fraction, approximately 10%, of the local dark matter halo is in the form of very old, cool, white dwarfs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

[Fertility preservation by ovarian tissue cryopreservation].

Female fertility may be compromised after radio or chemotherapy for malignant as well as non-malignant diseases. It could be saved by cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, since it is now well established that primordial follicles can survive freezing. Many births have been obtained in rodents with thawed ovarian fragments, after grafting or in vitro folliculogenesis. Both techniques are more difficult in large animal species, and need further development to enter clinical practice. However, storing ovarian samples is already indicated, especially in younger patients who will require restoration of their fertility in a far future.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Differential transcriptional activity associated with chromatin configuration in fully grown mouse germinal vesicle oocytes.

It was previously shown that fully grown ovarian germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes of adult mice exhibit several nuclear configurations that differ essentially by the presence or absence of a ring of condensed chromatin around the nucleolus. These configurations have been termed, respectively, SN (surrounded nucleolus) and NSN (nonsurrounded nucleolus). Work from our and other laboratories has revealed ultrastructural and functional differences between these two configurations. The aims of the present study were 1) to analyze the equilibrium between the SN and the NSN population as a function of the age of the mice and the time after hCG-induced ovulation and 2) to study the polymerase I (pol I)- and polymerase II (pol II)-dependent transcription in both types of oocytes through the detection of bromouridine incorporated into nascent RNA. We show 1) that ovarian GV oocytes exhibiting the SN-type configuration can be found as soon as 17 days after birth in the C57/CBA mouse strain and 2) that the SN:NSN ratio of ovarian GV oocytes is very low just after hCG-induced ovulation and then increases progressively with the time after ovulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the SN configuration correlates strictly with the arrest of both pol I- and pol II-dependent transcription in mice at any age. Finally, we show that ribosomal genes are located at the outer periphery of the nucleolus in the NSN configuration and that pol I-dependent perinucleolar transcription sites correspond to specific ultrastructural features of the nucleolus. Altogether, these results provide clear-cut criteria delineating transcriptionally active GV oocytes from those that are inactive, and confirm that the SN-type configuration is mostly present in preovulatory oocytes.

Aging↗
PubMed1998

The role of antibiotics in the treatment of chronic prostatitis: a consensus statement.

Practical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis are presented. Chronic prostatitis is classified as chronic bacterial prostatitis (culture-positive) and chronic inflammatory prostatitis (culture-negative). If chronic bacterial prostatitis is suspected, based on relevant symptoms or recurrent UTIs, underlying urological conditions should be excluded by the following tests: rectal examination, midstream urine culture and residual urine. The diagnosis should be confirmed by the Meares and Stamey technique. Antibiotic therapy is recommended for acute exacerbations of chronic prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic inflammatory prostatitis, if there is clinical, bacteriological or supporting immunological evidence of prostate infection. Unless a patient presents with fever, antibiotic treatment should not be initiated immediately except in cases of acute prostatitis or acute episodes in a patient with chronic bacterial prostatitis. The work-up, with the appropriate investigations should be done first, within a reasonable time period which, preferably, should not be longer than 1 week. During this period, nonspecific treatment, such as appropriate analgesia to relieve symptoms, should be given. The minimum duration of antibiotic treatment should be 2-4 weeks. If there is no improvement in symptoms, treatment should be stopped and reconsidered. However, if there is improvement, it should be continued for at least a further 2-4 weeks to achieve clinical cure and, hopefully, eradication of the causative pathogen. Antibiotic treatment should not be given for 6-8 weeks without an appraisal of its effectiveness. Currently used antibiotics are reviewed. Of these, the fluoroquinolones ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin are recommended because of their favourable antibacterial spectrum and pharmacokinetic profile. A number of clinical trials are recommended and a standard study design is proposed to help resolve some outstanding issues.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

[Antibacterial activity of ofloxacin in urine for 4 days after a single oral dose of 400 mg].

Antibacterial activity of ofloxacin in urine after a single oral dose of 400 mg was evaluated in ten healthy female volunteers. Urine was collected over six periods, i.e., 0-6 h, 6-12 h, 12-24 h, 24-48 h, 48-72 h, and 72-96 h postdose. Ofloxacin levels were assayed in all samples using a microbiological method and HPLC. Urinary ofloxacin MICs were determined for five bacterial strains recovered from urine, two E. coli strains of which one was susceptible and the other resistant to nalidixic acid (Nal-A), one Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to nalidixic acid (Nal-B), one Staphylococcus saprophyticus strain, and one Enterococcus faecalis strain; MICs were 0.06, 0.25, 1, 0.25, and 2 mg/L, respectively. Mean urinary ofloxacin levels by the microbiological method during the six collection periods were 193.3 +/- 30.3, 138.1 +/- 31, 53.2 +/- 7.3, 8.3 +/- 0.8, 1.4 +/- 0.2, and 0.6 +/- 0.1 mg/L, respectively. HPLC provided similar results: 216.7 +/- 31.6, 130.7 +/- 20.5, 56.5 +/- 7.1, 8.3 +/- 0.9, 1.5 +/- 0.3, and 0.5 +/- 0.05 mg/L, respectively. Mean urinary ofloxacin excretion over 96 h was 67.4 +/- 3.6% of the dose by the microbiological method was 72.5 +/- 2.5% of the dose by HPLC. On the first day, bacteriostatic activity of urine against enterobacteria exceeded 32 and was greater than 8192 for the nalidixic acid-susceptible E. coli strain; on the next day, overall values were equal or greater than 8 for the nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains. Bacteriostatic activity was equal to or greater than 32 for the S. saprophyticus strain during the first two days and equal to 8 on the first day and 4 on the second day for the E. faecalis strain.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Specific inhibition of cardiac and skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pumps by H-89.

The isoquinolinesulfonamide H-89, an inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases (EC 2.7.1.37, cAPrK), inhibited the Ca2+-ATPase activity of cardiac and skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) with concentrations giving half-maximal inhibition of 8.1 +/- 1.3 and 7.2 +/- 0.9 micromol/L, respectively. The effect of H-89 on cardiac SR Ca2+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.38) was the same irrespective of the presence or absence of inhibitors of cAPrK and furthermore, was not affected by a neutralising monoclonal antibody raised against phospholamban. Thus, the action of H-89 in inhibiting SR Ca2+-ATPase would not appear to be mediated by inhibition of cAPrK to reduce the phosphorylation state of phospholamban. In both cardiac and skeletal muscle SR, the inhibition by H-89 was noncompetitive with respect to ATP at a low concentration of ATP (<1 mmol/L) and of a mixed pattern at high concentrations of ATP. H-89 produced a decrease in affinity of the SR Ca2+ pump to Ca2+ with an increase in the Km for Ca from 0.52 +/- 0.01 to 0.94 +/- 0.03 micromol/L (P < 0.05) in cardiac SR and from 0.39 +/- 0.01 to 0.79 +/- 0.02 micromol/L (P < 0.05) in skeletal muscle SR. These results suggest that H-89 inhibits SR Ca2+-ATPase by a direct action on the SR Ca2+ pump to decrease its affinity to Ca2+. Such an action may contribute to the pharmacological effect of H-89.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Mechanism of action of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-uptake activators--discrimination between sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase and phospholamban interaction.

The Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) can be affected by direct modulation of the Ca2+ pump or by removing the inhibitory effect of dephosphorylated phospholamban. The effect of these mechanisms was assessed using ellagic acid and 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone. Both compounds (30 micromol/l) enhanced SR-Ca2+ uptake in rabbit cardiomyocytes by 65.3 +/- 13% and 44.3 +/- 6.7% for 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone and ellagic acid, respectively (at pCa 6.2). A similar effect was observed in cardiac SR microsomes (59.5 +/- 7.4% and 45.1 +/- 6.7) with 30 micromol/l 1-(3,4-dimethodoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone and ellagic acid, respectively. 1-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone increased Ca2+ storage by cardiac SR microsomes mainly at high [Ca2+] with a 57% increase of Vmax, whereas ellagic acid increased Vmax to a smaller extent (22%) and stimulated Ca2+ uptake at lower [Ca2+] with a leftward-shift of the pCa/ATPase relationship by pCa 0.24. Ellagic acid also differed from 1-(3,4-dimethoxylphenyl)-3-dodecanone in that it produced a Ca2+ sensitizing effect only in cardiac SR microsomes (by pCa 0.3) whereas 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone stimulated the ATPase, at saturating Ca2+, in both cardiac and skeletal muscle SR vesicles. It is suggested that 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone stimulates directly the Ca2+-ATPase activity, in contrast to ellagic acid which enhances the cardiac SR-Ca2+ uptake by interacting with phospholamban, as confirmed by the lack of additive effect between ellagic acid and monoclonal antibodies raised against phospholamban. 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-dodecanone and ellagic acid constitute attractive pharmacological tools to investigate the functional consequences of enhancing SR Ca2+, uptake by affecting different mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

cADP-ribose releases Ca2+ from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum independently of ryanodine receptor.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), an endogenous metabolite of beta-NAD+, activates Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum in sea urchin eggs via the ryanodine receptor (RyR) pathway. A similar role has been proposed in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), although this remains controversial. We therefore investigated the ability of cADPR to induce Ca2+ release from canine cardiac SR microsomes using fluo 3 to monitor extravesicular Ca2+ concentration. We found that cADPR induced Ca2+ release in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas neither its precursor, NAD+, nor its metabolite, ADP-ribose, elicited a consistent effect. In addition, an additive effect on calcium release between cADPR and 9-Me-7-Br-eudistomin-D (MBED), an activator of RyR, was found as well as no cross-desensitization between cADPR and MBED. Specific blockers of the RyR did not abolish the cADPR-induced Ca2+ release. These results provide evidence for cADPR-induced Ca2+ release from dog cardiac SR via a novel mechanism which is independent of RyR activation.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1997

[Treatment of uncomplicated recurrent cystitis in women: lomefloxacin versus norfloxacin].

OBJECTIVE: compare the acceptability of 3-day regimen with that of 10-day regimen of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of recurrent uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women. METHODS: a multicentric, randomized open trial was conduced in 421 patients by gynecologic and general practitioners to determine acceptability, efficacy and safety of lomefloxacin 400 mg in a once a day dose given for three days compared with norfloxacin 800 mg in twice a day dose given for ten days for the treatment of recurrent uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women. RESULTS: acceptability, assessed at day 14, was significantly better for lomefloxacin group than norfloxacin group, respectively 57,1 p.100 and 38,0 p.100. Clinical success rate at day 14 was 97,2 p.100 for lomefloxacin and 97,5 p.100 for norfloxacin; at day 30 clinical success rate was respectively 97,6 p.100 and 98,1 p.100 relapse at one year was comparable between two groups. Adverse events were reported respectively in 15,6 p.100 and 16,6 p.100 of the patients, vaginal infections, dermatologic disorders and digestive disorders (abdominal pain, nausea) predominated. There were no serious adverse event. CONCLUSION: the acceptability is better for a 3-day regimen of lomefloxacin than a 10-day regimen of norfloxacin for treatment of recurrent uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women for comparable efficacy and safety.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Treatment of non-complicated acute cystitis in women: lomefloxacin versus pefloxacin].

OBJECTIVES: Compare the acceptability of a 3-day regimen with that of a single-dose regimen of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of lower urinary tract infection in women. METHODS: A multicentric, randomized open trial was conduced in 595 patients by general practitioners to determine acceptability, efficacy and tolerance of lomefloxacine 400 mg in a once a day dose given for three days compared with a once-a-day 800 mg dose of pefloxacin for the treatment of lower urinary tract infection in women. RESULTS: The delay to symptom relief was greater than 24 hours in both treatment groups. Symptom relief was observed after treatment onset in only 23% of the patients. Clinical success rate at day 14 was 94.2% for lomefloxacin and 95.7% for pefloxacin. The rates of bacteriological eradication were 90.6% and 92.8% respectively with no significant difference. Adverse events were reported in 27.1% and 33.3% of the patients respectively, digestive disorders (abdominal pain, nausea) and neurosensorial disorders (headache, dizziness) predominated. There was no serious adverse event. The incidence of adverse events related to the treatment according to the investigator was smaller with lomefloxacin (16.1%) than with pefloxacin (23.5%) (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Acceptability, assessed at day 14, was not significantly different between the two treatment groups. Lomefloxacin was the only antibiotic currently authorized for use in a three-day regimen for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Pre-Main-Sequence Star Candidates in the Bar of the Large Magellanic Cloud

Candidate pre-main-sequence stars were observed in the bar of the Large Magellanic Cloud during the search for dark matter in the galactic halo. Seven blue stars of apparent visual magnitude 15 to 17 had irregular photometric variations and hydrogen emission lines in their optical spectra, which suggested that these stars are pre-main-sequence stars of about 10 solar masses. These stars are slightly more massive and definitely more luminous than are Herbig AeBe pre-main-sequence stars in our own galaxy. Continued observations of these very young stars from another galaxy, which are probably at the pre-hydrogen-burning stage, should provide important clues about early stages of star formation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Comparative efficacy of sparfloxacin versus ciprofloxacin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection.

A total of 686 adult patients with complicated urinary tract infections were enrolled in a double-blind, randomised, multicentre study to compare sparfloxacin (200 mg loading dose on day 1 followed by 100 mg daily) with ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally twice daily) for 10 to 14 days. Urinary tract infection was defined as pyuria and bacteriuria (cfu > or = 10(5)/mL). Evaluations were performed at four time-points. The clinical efficacy of the two antibacterial agents was equivalent at the end of treatment: clinical cure in 88.6% of the intent-to-treat population and 87.3% in the evaluable population treated with sparfloxacin compared to 85.4% and 84.8% of the intent-to-treat and evaluable populations, respectively, treated with ciprofloxacin. The clinical results were also equivalent at follow-up. The bacteriological efficacy of the two agents was not equivalent. At the end of treatment, bacteriological cure was observed in 72.6% of the intent-to-treat and 72.1% of the evaluable populations treated with sparfloxacin and in 81.4% and 80.8% of the intent-to-treat and evaluable populations, respectively, treated with ciprofloxacin. The difference was primarily because of a higher number of persisting pathogens, which included Enterobacteriaceae other than Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci, which exhibited moderate susceptibility to sparfloxacin. Tolerability was similar in the two treatment groups.

Adolescent↗