Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Nicolas

Publications and source records attributed to J Nicolas.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Effects of peridural analgesia on labor].

A review of the effects during labour of epidural analgesia on dilatation, expulsion and delivery of the placenta. Uncertainties in knowledge of the precise organisation of uterine innervation and of the intrinsic innervation of the organ render the study of changes in uterine contraction and in cervical resistances difficult. At circulating levels higher than those found in clinical practice, local anaesthetics have a definite oxytocic e-fect, local anaesthetics have a definite oxytoci effect, whilst adrenalin is a powerfult tocolytic. By contrast, the indirect effects related to neurolysis in extradural analgesia are negligeable. Cervico-segmentary resistances are decreased. In practice, there is no increase in the period of dilatation in the absence of any haemodynamic disturbances and if mixtures containing adrenalin are avoided. Expulsion is favourised by muscular relaxation but impaired by the lack of voluntary expulsive effort, hence the choice of a local anaesthetic with the lowest possible motor effect. Delivery of the placenta, which involves only uterine contraction, which is not affected, may be accelerated by oxytocics.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

[Presence of a protein disulfide isomerase (EC 5.3.4.1) in wheat germ].

The presence of a protein disulfide isomerase (rearrangease) in wheat embryo has been demonstrated by its ability in reactivating randomly cross-linked ribonuclease. This activity requires a dialysable cofactor; after dialysis, the activity is recovered by addition of reduced glutathione. The enzyme can be precipitated by 70% saturation ammonium sulfate.

Disulfides↗

Increased production of interferon-gamma, but not IL-4 mRNA, by streptozotocin in the popliteal lymph node assay.

The popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay has been proposed as a tool to predict systemic autoimmune reactions induced by medicinal products and chemicals, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. To determine whether PLN responses involved Th1 or Th2 cell control, or both, the effects of streptozotocin (STZ), a prototypic immunotoxic compound, were analysed on the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA by lymph node cells after injection into the hind footpad of C57 BL/6 mice. Streptozotocin induced a dramatic increase in IFN-gamma mRNA production, which correlated with PLN responses as evidenced by augmented weight and cellularity indices. No effect on IL-4 mRNA synthesis was noted. These results suggest that a Th1 response is involved in the PLN response to STZ.

Animals↗

[Quality of life of children: importance of its evaluation. Comparison of children in good health with those at risk (psychological, social, somatic)].

A multicentric study was performed in France and Spain: 490 children were evaluated with a previously validated questionnaire including open-ended questions and structured response format questions. Children are either in good health or suffering from somatic diseases, psychological problems or social difficulties; 38% of the children are Spanish, 62% are French; the questionnaire validation was checked again, and confirmed. Children are happy about their leisure, and unhappy when separated from their families. Among the factors affecting the answers to the structured format questions the most important are the social difficulties and to a lesser extent the psychological problems. Somatic diseases impair the child's quality of life in Spain. Children differ according to the country where they live. Among children in good health, Spanish children report a better quality of life than French children. Open-ended answers were only studied in France. They were very different when children with social difficulties or psychological problems filled out the questionnaire and were compared to children in good health or with somatic diseases. Both children with psychological and social difficulties mention more often the relationship domain. Children with social problems never mention their activities as a source of happiness.

Child↗

[Clinical aspects of AIDS and related syndromes in Pointe-Noire (Peoples' Republic of Congo). Apropos of 73 cases detected in 6 months].

A.I.D.S. is a true public health problem in Central Africa since its "appearance" in 1983. Several authors have described its clinical manifestations, as well as the absence of groups at risk and a sex ratio near to 1. The present study, carried out in Pointe-Noire hospital (Popular Republic of Congo) tries to select in connexion with sex and age, one or several clinical symptoms which should indicate the necessity of requesting a HIV serology test. Four groups have been isolated: a) patients with very important loss of weight and chronic or intermittent diarrhea, b) fever with loss of weight and pulmonary X-Ray anomalies, c) polyadenopathies, d) associated opportunistic infections and Kaposi sarcoma. In Africa, A.I.D.S. strikes all age groups and both sex. There is one group at risk: transfused patients, particularly the sickle-cell anemia homozygotes.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

[Molecular genetics of the remethylation of homocysteine].

In plasma of mothers with a child affected with a neural tube defect plasma homocysteine is often elevated, and attributed to a reduced folate-dependent homocysteine remethylation. There is strong evidence that folic acid prevents fasting moderate hyperhomocysteinemia. The pathophysiology of neural tube defect and interactions between genetic and nutritional factors that determine plasma homocysteine levels remain poorly understood. Investigations on genetic causes of moderate hyperhomocysteinemia are in progress. This mini-review focuses on molecular genetic knowledge of folate-dependent homocysteine remethylation in neural tube defect.

5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (FADH2)↗