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Biomedical subjects

J J Lafitte

Publications and source records attributed to J J Lafitte.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Use of an antiserum against deglycosylated human mucins for cellular localization of their peptide precursors: antigenic similarities between bronchial and intestinal mucins.

Highly glycosylated regions of mucins, or glycopeptides, were obtained by proteolysis of human bronchial mucins. They were deglycosylated by treatment with a trifluoromethane sulfonic acid/anisole mixture and subsequent solvolysis with anhydrous liquid hydrogen fluoride. The resulting peptides were then used to raise an immune serum in rabbit. This immune serum was used to localize the peptide precursors of human respiratory mucins within bronchial cells, using an immunohistochemical method. Two main patterns of labeling were observed in the goblet cells: the entire cytoplasm of some goblet cells was immunoreactive, whereas in other cells the labeling was concentrated around the nucleus. In the respiratory mucous glands, the labeling was localized around or below the nucleus. The serous cells were not stained. Similar labeling was observed in human colon goblet cells. This immune serum seems to be specific for mucin-secreting cells and has a strong affinity for the perinuclear region of these cells.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1989

[Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis: sequelae of neuralgic amyotrophy].

Diaphragmatic paralysis is rare in neuralgic amyotrophy. Total quick recovery is usual. We report a case with a diaphragmatic paralysis still present more than 30 years after the onset of a bilateral and recurrent neuralgic amyotrophy. Neuralgic amyotrophy should be considered as a possible cause of chronic diaphragmatic paralysis.

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗
PubMed1989

[Should a cancer of the bronchi be surgically treated after excision of a cerebral metastasis?].

Between 1964 and 1987 35 patients were operated on for cerebral metastases due to an underlying bronchial carcinoma. In 26 cases (group 1) there was excision of the primary tumour also and in 9 cases combined medical treatment was given with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The neurological state was improved by the neurosurgical operation in 88% of patients in group 1 and in 66% of patients in group 2. This improvement was maintained in 30% of the patients as long as they survived. 2 patients died following thoracic surgery (7.69%). The median survival was 11 months in group 1 and 9 months in group 2. Three patients in group 1 were living two years after craniotomy whilst. 1 patient in group 2 is still alive four years after the neurosurgical procedure. The heterogeneity of the two groups does not permit a comparative statistical analysis but overall there does not seem to be any difference in duration or quality of life between the two groups. Complementary cerebral radiotherapy did not affect the prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Special neutrophil elastase inhibitory activity in BAL fluid from patients with silicosis and asbestosis.

Pneumoconiosis is defined as the disease resulting from a chronic exposure to different inorganic dusts. In order to assess the lung defence against the effects of dust exposure, we studied the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from 30 silicotic patients (9 of them having a diagnosis of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF)) and 8 subjects with a diagnosis of asbestosis. Total protein content, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity, free elastase-like activity, immunoreactive alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) and neutrophil elastase inhibitory capacity (NEIC) were determined, and the values obtained were compared to those of 14 control BAL fluids. In all of the patients, our data showed a significant increase of total protein content and free elastase-like activity. In contrast, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activities did not reach statistical significance. Values concerning immunoreactive alpha 1PI and NEIC were significantly raised only in patients with PMF and with asbestosis. When the ratio NEIC/immunoreactive alpha 1PI was calculated, a significant difference was noticed in the asbestosis group; on the other hand, this ratio was significantly reduced in the group of PMF patients. After neutrophil elastase addition, an electrophoretic study by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting was carried out; it showed more proteolysed alpha 1PI in the BAL fluids having a lowered NEIC/alpha 1PI ratio. These facts could be explained by the presence of inhibitors of neutrophil elastase different from alpha 1PI.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1988

The complexity of mucins.

Mucins represent the main components of gel-like secretions, or mucus, secreted by mucosae or some exocrine glands. These high-molecular-weight glycoproteins are characterized by the large number of carbohydrate chains O-glycosidically linked to the peptide. The determination of mucin molecular weight and conformation has been controversial for several reasons: 1) the methods used to solubilize mucus and to purify mucins are different and 2) the molecules have a strong tendency to aggregate or to bind to other molecules (peptides or lipids). Recently, electron microscopy has shown the filamentous shape of most mucins and their polydisperse character which, in some secretions, might correspond to a polymorphism of the peptide part of these molecules. The recent development of high pressure liquid chromatography and high-resolution proton NMR spectroscopy has allowed major progress in the structural study of mucin carbohydrate chains. These chains may have from 1 to about 20 sugars and bear different antigenic determinants, such as A, B, H, I, i, X, Y or Cad antigens. In some mucins, such as human respiratory mucins, the carbohydrate chain diversity is remarkable, which raises many questions. Mucins are molecules located at the interface between mucosae and the external environment. The carbohydrate chain diversity might allow many interactions between mucins and microorganisms and play a major role in the colonization or the defense of mucosae.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Vaso-occlusion of the pulmonary artery].

Vaso-occlusion of the pulmonary artery is an angiographic technique which involves the voluntary and precise obstruction, temporary or permanent, performed at the end of diagnostic studies or therapeutic studies on one or several branches of the pulmonary artery. The diagnostic indications are touched on briefly at the end of this review because they are older and better known than the therapeutic indications. The latter has developed in less than 10 years and concerns first and foremost two pathologies: hemoptysis and arterio-venous aneurysms of the lung. The erosive pseudo-aneurysm of the pulmonary artery complicating parenchymatous necrosis above all of infections or tumours should be sought in certain situations and treated by vascular occlusion. The pulmonary arteriovenous aneurysms may equally be treated by selective obstruction of their afferent pedicles by metal spirals or detachable balls. This technique, in sacrificing the minimum of pulmonary parenchyma, should be considered according to each case as a possible supplement or replacement for surgery.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1988

[Lipoblastic liposarcoma of the lung. Ultrastructural study of a case].

A case of fatal lipoblastic pulmonary liposarcoma in a 20 year-old female is reported. A thoracotomy was performed but failed to yield the pathological diagnosis. This diagnosis was obtained by ultrastructural study of a cerebral metastasis. To our knowledge, only seven cases of pulmonary liposarcoma have been previously described in the literature and the lipoblastic aspect was never mentioned.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Peptides of human bronchial mucus glycoproteins. Size determination by electron microscopy and by biosynthetic experiments.

Secreted human bronchial mucins, directly collected from macroscopically healthy bronchial mucosa, were prepared in the presence of six proteinase inhibitors, and analysed by electron microscopy. These mucins were similar in length distribution to molecules prepared from sputum [Slayter, Lamblin, Le Treut, Galabert, Houdret, Degand & Roussel (1984) Eur. J. Biochem. 142, 209-218], although they were a little longer, their lengths ranging up to about 1,650 nm. This length corresponds to an extended mucin peptide of about 450 kDa. In order to compare these peptide lengths with the molecular size of biosynthetic precursors, an antiserum raised against trifluoromethanesulphonic acid-treated highly glycosylated regions of human bronchial mucins was used to isolate mucin precursors synthesized in explants of human bronchial mucosa during pulse-labelling with [3H]threonine or [3H]glucosamine. A main precursor labelled with [3H]threonine and with an apparent molecular mass of about 400 kDa was detected by fluorography following SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. This band was observed as early as 20 min; it was more intense after a 40 min chase and had disappeared after a chase period of 280 min in unlabelled medium, presumably owing to glycosylation. Much fainter bands at about 200 kDa and between 200 and 400 kDa, also labelled with [3H]threonine, were observed mainly after a 40 min chase and had disappeared after a 280 min chase. None of these bands was labelled with [3H]glucosamine, nor did they disappear after multiple treatments with immobilized lectins. After a 280 min chase, [3H]threonine-labelled material appeared in the stacking gel, which also contained [3H]glucosamine label. The results indicate that the 200-400 kDa species are mucin precursors, whose size is comparable with that obtained by electron microscopy for respiratory mucins collected directly from the macroscopically healthy bronchial mucosa.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1987

Determination of adriamycin and its fluorescent metabolites in human plasma by HPLC.

We describe a method for measuring adriamycin and its metabolites, adriamycinol and adriamycinone in plasma, using reversed phase HPLC and fluorescence detection. The lower limit of detection is approximately 1 ng/mL for each compound. An extraction technique for serum is described which is capable of an almost equal recovery (greater than 93%) of adriamycin and metabolites without interference from endogenous components of plasma and from other common drugs. Within-day and day to day coefficients of variation are estimated.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of hydrolases, peroxidase and protease inhibitors in bronchoalveolar fluid from Macacus cynomolgus and human controls.

1. Serial bronchoalveolar lavages were performed on a subhuman primate (Macacus cynomolgus) in order to give an experimental model for silicosis. 2. We have measured glycosidases, proteases, peroxidase and antiproteases of the BAL fluids from seven normal monkeys. 3. The results obtained were similar to those found in human control BAL fluids. 4. For monkeys, the repetition of the bronchoalveolar procedure does not seem to have an important influence on the values obtained. 5. The present results will now permit sequential follow up studies during the course of experimental silicosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Severe pulmonary embolism disclosing a deficiency in protein C].

A constitutional deficit in protein C is a rare disorder. Our report concerns a 35 year old non-smoking male, presenting with a past history of uncomplicated phlebitis of the lower limbs. In the course of a new episode of phlebitis, the patient presented with a severe pulmonary embolus treated by embolectomy under extracorporal circulation, with interruption of the inferior vena cava. The plasma level of protein C (Elisa technique) measured before treatment with antivitamin K was 40% (normal 70-140%). The absence of associated hepatic or haematological anomalies confirmed the constitutional character of the deficit. The immediate and subsequent progress turned out favourably on treatment with heparin, then anti-vitamin K.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[CA 19-9 in early cancers of the bronchi. Comparison with the carcinoembryogenic antigen].

CA 19-9 (monosialoganglioside) isolated from adenocarcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract can be measured in biological fluids using a monoclonal antibody assay. A radioimmunometric assay kit produced by ORIS Industrie has been used to measure the serum level of CA 19-9 in lung cancer and the results have been compared to that of carcinoembryonic antigen. The combination of the 2 markers increase by 10% the number of subjects with a raised marker. There is no significant relationship between the levels of CA 19-9, the type of tumour or the tumour stage. The recognition of the sialic acid as an epitope by the monoclonal antibody appears to be responsible for the false positive results in non-malignant lung disease.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1984

Massive hemoptysis of pulmonary arterial origin: diagnosis and treatment.

Among 189 patients treated for massive or repeated hemoptysis by transcatheter techniques between 1973 and 1983, a prospective study was attempted between 1979 and 1983 (72 patients) to search for bleeding of pulmonary arterial origin. Among these 72 patients, six were treated by surgical (one) or angiographic (five) occlusion of segmental pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary erosive pseudoaneurysms were seen in five cases (one with intracavitary aspergilloma, two with cavitary tuberculosis, and two with pyogenic abscesses). Among these six cases, one patient died from massive hemoptysis, one from unknown causes, and four are still alive. They are compared with five other patients who died from massive hemoptysis among 117 patients treated only by embolization of their systemic arteries between 1973 and 1979 (one with cavitary tuberculosis, two with intracavitary aspergillomas, one with an abscess of the lung, and one with a necrotic hilar cancer). A pulmonary arterial source of bleeding should be considered in addition to systemic arterial sources in the setting of destructive lung disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Subarachnoid spinal metastases. Apropos of 2 cases].

Two cases of spinal subarachnoidal metastases are reported. From data from the literature, the authors review clinical manifestations and diagnostic difficulties. Etiopathological evidence which may explain this localization is discussed.

Aged↗