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Biomedical subjects

J M Antoine

Publications and source records attributed to J M Antoine.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of fermented milk containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 on winter infections in free-living elderly subjects: a randomised, controlled pilot study.

Probiotics are being increasingly studied for their ability to enhance host resistance to, and recovery from, infection. The probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 has previously been shown to reduce the incidence and duration of episodes of diarrhoea in children. Our controlled pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation for 3 weeks with milk fermented with yoghurt cultures and L. casei DN-114001 on the incidence and severity of winter infections (gastrointestinal and respiratory) in elderly people. We found no difference in the incidence of winter infections between groups. However, duration of all pathologies was significantly lower in the treatment group (7.0 3.2 days, n=180) than in the control group (8.7 3.7 days; n=180) (p=0.024), as was maximal temperature (38.3 0.5 C treatment group vs. 38.5 0.6 C control; p=0.01). The potential for a 20% reduction in the duration of winter infections that we have found warrants further investigation on a larger scale.

Aging↗

Peptide fragments released from Phe-caseinomacropeptide in vivo in the rat.

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of bovine Phe-caseinomacropeptide (Phe-CMP) in the rat after oral administration. This polypeptide was monophosphorylated and mainly nonglycosylated: Phe-CMP-1P. During gastrointestinal digestion and absorption, Phe-CMP-1P was degraded. Intact Phe-CMP-1P and CMP-1P were rapidly released from the stomach. In contrast, partial hydrolysis by pancreatic enzymes was observed. In vitro hydrolysis by brush-border membrane vesicles also indicated that the peptide was degraded. In the blood, "CMP-immunoreactive material" appeared rapidly, reaching a maximum level of 5.5 microg/ml at 60 min.

Administration, Oral↗

[Operable stage IB and II cancer of the uterine neck: retrospective comparison between preoperative utero-vaginal curietherapy and initial surgery followed by radiotherapy].

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors and treatment toxicity in a series of operable stages IB and II cervical carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 1972 and January 1994, 414 patients (pts) with cervical carcinoma staged according to the 1995 FIGO staging system underwent radical hysterectomy with (n = 380) or without (n = 34) bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. Lateral ovarian transposition to preserve ovarian function was performed on 12 pts. The methods of radiation therapy (RT) were not randomised and depended on the usual practices of the surgical teams. Group I: 168 pts received postoperative RT (64 pts received vaginal brachytherapy alone [mean total dose (MD): 50 Gy], 93 pts had external beam pelvis RT (EBPRT) [MD: 45 Gy over 5 weeks] followed by vaginal brachytherapy [MD: 20 Gy], and 11 pts had EBPRT alone [MD: 50 Gy over 6 weeks]. Group II: 246 pts received preoperative utero-vaginal brachytherapy [MD: 65 Gy], and 32 of theses 246 pts also received postoperative EBPRT [MD: 45 Gy over 5 weeks] delivered to the parametric and the pelvic lymph nodes with a midline pelvic shield. The mean follow-up was 106 months. RESULTS: The 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 80%. From 75 recurrences, 35 were isolated locoregional. Multivariate analysis showed that independent factors decreasing the probability of DFS were: both exo and endocervical tumour site (p = 0.047), lymph-vascular space invasion (p = 0.041), age < or = 51 yr (p = 0.013), 1995 FIGO staging system (stage IB1 vs stage IIA, p = 0.004, stage IB1 vs stage IB2, p = 0.0009, and stage IB1 vs stage IIB with 1/3 proximal parametrical infiltration, p = 0.00002), and histological pelvic involved lymph nodes (p = 0.00009). Methods of adjuvant RT did not influence the probability of DFS (group I vs group II, p = 0.10). The postoperative complication rate was 10.2% in group I and 8.9% in group II (p = 0.7) but the postoperative urethral complication rate necessitating surgical intervention with reimplantation was lower in group I than in group II (0.6% vs 2.3%, respectively, p = 0.03). The 10-year rate for grade 3 and 4 late radiation complications according to the LENT-SOMA scoring system was 10.4%. EPRT significantly increased the 10-year rate for grade 3 and 4 late radiation complications (yes vs no: 22% vs 7%, respectively, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: In our series, the methods of adjuvant RT (primary surgery vs preoperative uterovaginal brachytherapy) do not seem to influence the prognosis of the stage IB, IIA, and IIB (with 1/3 proximal parametrical involvement only) cervical carcinomas. The postoperative EPRT applied according to histopathological risk factors after surgical treatment increases the risk of late radiation complications.

Adult↗

[Comparison of predictive values of inhibins A and B, and plasma estradiol in IVF patients treated with GnRH agonists and recombinant FSH].

The objectives of this study were to determine the mean plasma inhibin A and B kinetics in normoovulatory patients treated by GnRH agonist and rec-FSH and to compare their predictive value with that of plasma estradiol on retrieved oocytes number and pregnancy rate. The study was carried out retrospectively in 36 normoovulatory IVF patients stimulated by GnRH agonist from D21 and rec-FSH from D2 of the following cycle. Two groups of 18 patients (having obtained or not a pregnancy) were paired for age and cause of infertility. Estradiol was measured by direct immunoassay. Inhibin A and B were measured by ELISA (Serotec Limited, Oxford, UK). Inhibin A was correlated with estradiol until P-2 (P0: day of follicles aspiration). Inhibin B rose earlier, its concentration reached its maximum at P-5. Plasma estradiol and inhibin A kinetics were not different among pregnant and nonpregnant women. There was a trend for a broader plasma Inhibin B surface under the curve in pregnant than in nonpregnant women. Estradiol and Inhibin A were correlated to the oocytes number at the end of stimulation (P-2 and D10). Inhibin B was correlated earlier than estradiol and inhibin A, at P-8 and D7. Plasma inhibin A did not demonstrate a better predictive value than estradiol neither of the oocytes number nor the chance of pregnancy. Inhibin B could be useful for early decision of cycle cancellation or stimulation adjustment.

Estradiol↗

[Breast cancer and pregnancy: review of the literature].

The association of breast cancer with pregnancy is rare. It is defined as the occurrence of breast cancer during pregnancy or during the year following delivery. Patient management must be ensured by a multidisciplinary team including gynecologists, obstetricians and clinical oncologists.

Adult↗

Metabolic characteristics of the faecal microflora in humans from three age groups.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the influence of the ageing process on the bacterial metabolism. The aim of this work was to study the inter-individual variation and the influence of age on metabolic characteristics of the faecal microflora from persons of three age groups. METHODS: Nine enzyme activities and 11 metabolites were analysed in faecal samples of 21 elderly persons (69-89 years of age), 15 adults (30-46 years of age) and 14 children (3-15 years of age). RESULTS: They provide a pattern of the faecal microflora metabolism in a French population aged between 3 and 89 years. They showed large inter-individual differences in the three groups. Although the enzyme activities were not significantly different between groups, glycolytic activities appeared less variable in adults than in elderly persons and children. The major metabolites (acetate, propionate, butyrate and L-lactate) resulting from carbohydrate fermentation were similar in the three groups. Samples from elderly persons were characterized by higher D/L lactate ratio and higher concentrations of metabolites resulting from protein fermentation (ammonia, valerate, iso-butyrate and iso-valerate). CONCLUSION: The data showed significant differences between elderly persons and younger adults and children, but the major metabolic characteristics of the faecal microflora were not greatly altered by the ageing process.

Adolescent↗

Cranial nerve palsy revealing an occipitovertebral metastasis from carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

A 37-year-old woman had a histologically documented occipitovertebral metastasis from an invasive epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The metastasis was found 3 months after the primary and was treated by local radiation therapy followed by systemic chemotherapy. Radiation therapy was highly effective in relieving the pain but was not associated with changes in magnetic resonance imaging findings. Lymph node involvement and local extension occurred. The patient died 1 year after the diagnosis of the metastasis. Involvement of the occipitovertebral junction by uterine cervix carcinoma metastasis is exceedingly rare. The relevant literature is reviewed.

Adult↗

Changes in cell proliferation and differentiation of adult rat small intestine epithelium after adrenalectomy: kinetic, biochemical, and morphological studies.

The effects of 10-day bilateral adrenalectomy on morphometry, proliferation, and apoptosis were determined in the small intestine of 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats. The activities of sucrase, lactase, and its respective mRNA, aminopeptidase N, and intestinal alkaline phosphatase were also evaluated. Adrenalectomy lead to partial atrophy and disorganization of the epithelium, with an increased number of goblet and Paneth cells and a reduction of crypt cell proliferation paralleled by a marked increase in villus apoptosis. Biochemical assays revealed that aminopeptidase N and intestinal alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly decreased, whereas disaccharidases were increased by adrenalectomy. The corresponding induction of lactase mRNA suggests an active response of the epithelium. In conclusion, adrenalectomy modified maturation and the differentiation processes of the small intestinal mucosa, especially in the proximal part of the small intestine. This result points to an important role of adrenals and glucocorticoids in the trophic status of the adult small intestinal mucosa.

Adrenalectomy↗

Assessment of Fallopian tube patency by HyCoSy: comparison of a positive contrast agent with saline solution.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of air-filled albumin microspheres (Infoson) with saline solution in determining Fallopian tube patency during hysterosalpingo contrast sonography (HyCoSy). METHODS: This was a prospective randomized multicenter study with a sequential design. Over a 10-month period, 23 patients (mean age, 33 years) referred for infertility were examined by HyCoSy (saline or Infoson) before conventional hysterosalpingography (Iopamiron 370), performed during the same session. Contrast agents were administered through a 5-F Ackrad balloon catheter inserted transcervically into the uterine cavity. HyCoSy was performed with a 7-MHz transvaginal probe using both B-mode and color Doppler, and tubal patency was demonstrated by the appearance of contrast agent in the peritoneal cavity near the ovaries. Data were registered for each patient during the examination and the results were monitored by sequential analysis. RESULTS: Mean volumes of contrast injections were 35.3 mL of saline, 14.4 mL of Infoson, and 13.8 mL of Iopamiron 370. Infoson-enhanced HyCoSy provided a significantly larger (P = 0.006) number of correct diagnoses (20/22 Fallopian tubes) than did saline HyCoSy (12/24 Fallopian tubes), and the same number as that achieved by hysterosalpingography. CONCLUSION: A positive ultrasound contrast agent appears to be more efficient than saline solution at determining Fallopian tube patency in infertile women by means of HyCoSy, and as efficient as an iodinated contrast agent in the same population explored by HSG. HyCoSy could be used to screen infertile women, thereby avoiding the use of iodinated contrast medium and exposure to ionizing radiation during conventional HSG in patients with patent Fallopian tubes.

Adult↗

The 13C/2H-glucose test for determination of small intestinal lactase activity.

To diagnose hypolactasia, determination of lactase enzyme activity in small intestinal biopsy material is considered to be the golden standard. Because of its strongly invasive character and the sampling problems, alternative methods have been looked for. We analysed the 13C-glucose response in serum after consumption of 25 g of naturally enriched 13C-lactose. As an internal standard, 0.5 g of 2H-glucose was added and the 2H-glucose response in serum was measured simultaneously. The studies were performed in healthy volunteers with a background of genetically determined lactase nonpersistence (n = 12; low lactase activity) and lactase persistence (n = 27; high lactase activity). The results were compared with those of the lactose hydrogen breath test, the lactose 13CO2 breath test and the previously described 13C-lactose digestion test. After consumption of 13C-lactose and 2H-glucose, the mean ratio 13C-glucose/2H-glucose concentration in serum at 45-75 min was 0.26 +/- 0.09 in the low lactase activity group and 0.93 +/- 0.17 in the high lactase activity group (P < 0.01). Threshold of the ratio between digesters and maldigesters was calculated as 0.46. Accuracy of the new test was superior to all other tests. We conclude that the 13C/2H-glucose test has the potential of determining the small intestinal lactase activity in vivo and of estimating the amount of lactose which is digested in the small intestine.

Adult↗

A heat labile soluble factor from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482 specifically increases the galactosylation pattern of HT29-MTX cells.

The aim of this work was to set up and validate an in vitro model to study a molecular response of an intestinal host cell line (HT29-MTX), to a non-pathogen microflora component. We found that Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron strain VPI-5482 had the capacity to change a specific glycosylation process in HT29-MTX cells via a mechanism that involved a soluble factor. Differentiated HT29-MTX cells were grown in the presence of 20% of spent culture supernatant from the B. thetaiotaomicron during 10 days. Glycosylation processes were followed using a large panel of lectins and analysed using confocal microscopy, western blotting and flow cytometry techniques. Our results show that a B. thetaiotaomicron soluble factor modified specifically the galactosylation pattern of HT29-MTX cells, whereas other glycosylation steps remained mainly unaffected. Further characterization of this soluble factor indicates that it is a heat labile, low molecular weight compound. Reverse transcript-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis was unable to show any significant change in mRNA expression level of the main galactosyltransferases expressed in HT29-MTX cells. By contrast, galactosyltransferase activities dramatically increased in HT29-MTX cells treated by the soluble extract of B. thetaiotaomicron, suggesting a post-translational regulation of these activities. Our in vitro model allowed us to study the cross-talk between a single bacteria and intestinal cells. The galactosylation process appears to be a target of this communication, thus uncovering a new window to study the functional consequences of co-operative symbiotic bacterial-host interactions.

Bacteroides↗

Influence of dietary fat on postprandial glucose metabolism (exogenous and endogenous) using intrinsically (13)C-enriched durum wheat.

The present study evaluates the influence of different amounts of fat added to starch on postprandial glucose metabolism (exogenous and endogenous). Nine women (24 (se 2) years old, BMI 20.4 (se 0.7) kg/m(2)) ingested 1 week apart 75 g glucose equivalent of (13)C-labelled starch in the form of pasta without (low fat; LF) or with 15 (medium fat; MF) or 40 (high fat; HF) g sunflower oil. During the 7 h following meal consumption, plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TG) and insulin concentrations, and endogenous (using [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose) and exogenous glucose turnover were determined. With MF and HF meals, a lower postprandial glucose peak was observed, but with a secondary recovery. A decrease in exogenous glucose appearance explained lower glycaemia in HF. At 4 h after the HF meal the insulin, insulin:glucose and postprandial blood TG were higher than those measured after the LF and MF meals. Despite higher insulinaemia, total glucose disappearance was similar and endogenous glucose production was suppressed less than after the LF and MF meals, suggesting insulin resistance. Thus, the addition of a large amount of fat appears to be unfavourable to glucose metabolism because it leads to a feature of insulin resistance. On the contrary, the MF meal did not have these adverse effects, but it was able to decrease the initial glycaemic peak.

Adult↗

Ultrasonography compared with magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of adenomyosis: correlation with histopathology.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of transabdominal (TAUS) and transvaginal sonography (TVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of adenomyosis, and to correlate imaging with histological findings. METHODS: In a prospective study, 120 consecutive patients referred for hysterectomy underwent TAUS, TVUS and MRI. Results of these examinations were interpreted blindly to histopathological findings. RESULTS: Histological prevalence of adenomyosis and leiomyomas was 33.0 and 47.5% respectively. Adenomyotic uteri were accompanied by additional pelvic disorders in 82.5% of cases. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of TAUS and TVUS were 32.5 and 65.0%, 95.0 and 97.5%, 76.4 and 92.8%, and 73.8 and 88.8% respectively. Myometrial cyst was the most sensitive and specific TVUS criterion. In MRI, the presence of a high-signal-intensity myometrial spot was as specific but less sensitive than a maximal junctional zone thickness (JZ(max)) >12 mm and a JZ(max) to myometrial thickness ratio >40%. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MRI were 77.5, 92.5, 83.8 and 89.2% respectively. No difference in accuracy was found between TVUS and MRI, but sensitivity was lower with sonography in women with associated myomas. CONCLUSIONS: TVUS is as efficient as MRI for the diagnosis of adenomyosis in women without myoma, while MRI could be recommended for women with associated leiomyoma.

Adult↗

[Oocyte donation after the bioethics law. Medical, ethical and legal implications drawn form a series of 300 cases at the Tenon hospital].

This is the perfect example of the problems which are the consequences of the actual medicine. We carried out an ovocyte donation study at the Tenon Hospital, in Paris, between 1994 and 1999 involving 177 cryopreserved thawed embryo transfers among 300 recipients. This study enables us to stress the ethical difficulties posed by the so called bioethical laws of 1994. Simultaneously two consequences became clearly evident: a paucity of donors, and the necessity to only transfer frozen embryos due to decree of 1996 upon sanitary security that imposes the quarantine of embryos for six months. On the other hand, the use of this method has yielded important new information regarding embryo implantation and the importance of ovocyte quality that is closely correlated to donor age.

Bioethics↗

[Role of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility].

UTERINE DISORDERS: Because they can prevent implantation, anomalies within the uterine cavity play an important role in fertility. The uterine disorders most often observed during hysteroscopy and implicated in infertility are adhesions, septa, polyps, submucous myomas, adenomyosis, endometritis, anomalies of the cervical canal, and lesions of the uterotubal junction. EXPLORATIONS: Hysterosalpingography can be used to evaluate tubal permeability but provides inadequate information about the uterine cavity (numerous false-positives and false-negatives). Pelvic ultrasound is especially helpful for diagnosing interstitial anomalies in the uterus. HYSTEROSCOPY: Diagnostic hysteroscopy also has a place in infertility investigations, for it allows direct visualization of the uterine cavity, the endometrial mucus (endometritis, adenomyosis), and the cervical canal. The examination is practiced on a out-patient basis, without anesthesia, using appropriate small-caliber instruments and irrigation with physiological saline. Surgical hysteroscopy is used to treat these anomalies. Patients receive general anesthesia. A high-frequency, low-voltage electric current is used, and glycine for irrigation. This procedure allows resection of submucous myomas and polyps and of septa and adhesions. Some groups use laser beams and irrigation by physiological saline for these treatments. Coagulation of a superficial focal spot of adenomyosis is not useful in infertility therapy. RESULTS: As assessed by the percentage of patients with each indication who subsequently became pregnant, the results of surgical hysteroscopy have been satisfactory: 62 per cent (%) of cases after myomectomy, 66% after section of uterine septa, and 61% after treatment of complicated adhesions. A new exploration of the uterine cavity will be necessary sometime after the surgery to verify the absence of any iatrogenic disorders (adhesions, myomatous fragments).

Female↗