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Biomedical subjects

J Roux

Publications and source records attributed to J Roux.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Two remote glucocorticoid responsive units interact cooperatively to promote glucocorticoid induction of rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression.

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene transcription is specifically activated by glucocorticoid hormones in liver cells. This regulation involves a glucocorticoid responsive region located 2,500 bases upstream from the transcription start site of the rate gene. By transient transfection of TAT-CAT fusion genes into a rat hepatoma cell line expressing the TAT gene we found that this region promotes only 30% of the glucocorticoid stimulation. We have identified a new cis-acting region far upstream (-5,400) from the transcription start site that is essential to achieve the physiological level of glucocorticoid stimulation of endogenous TAT gene expression. This region corresponds to a tissue-specific DNAse I hypersensitive site which is constitutive despite the fact it possesses a glucocorticoid receptor binding site. It is by itself almost inactive on a promoter but it cooperatively enhances the action of the proximal glucocorticoid responsive region. Its activity requires both the glucocorticoid receptor binding site and its flanking sequences.

Animals↗

A pneumotoxin, O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate, induces hemorheological alteration in rats.

O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOS-TMP), an impurity present in widely used organophosphorus insecticides, has been shown to induce lung injury after oral administration. To date, very little is known about the hemorheological changes which may occur during the inflammation of lung caused by OOS-TMP. The present study has demonstrated that oral administration of OOS-TMP (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg) to rats produced an increase in whole blood apparent viscosity at 24, 48 and 72 h following the treatment in rats. Concomitantly, the plasma fibrinogen level and red blood cell (RBC) aggregation were increased at 24 and 48 h. There was no change in RBC filterability. Thus, OOS-TMP, a pneumotoxin, was capable of causing a systemic hemorheological alteration, probably via increase in fibrinogen content, an acute-phase protein, in rats.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Positive and negative regulation of a transfected chimeric tyrosine aminotransferase gene: effect of copy number.

To define a selective system for the study of rat tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT; EC 2.6.1.5) gene expression, we have introduced into cultured cells the selectable bacterial gene gpt linked to TAT gene flanking sequences. After integration in host cell DNA, the chimeric gene exhibits the same pattern of regulation as the TAT gene. In hepatoma cells, its expression is induced after glucocorticoid hormone treatment and repressed after fusion with fibroblasts. In fibroblasts, the chimeric gene is not expressed. The correct pattern of regulation is lost when the number of integrated copies is high. At copy number above 10, the transfected gene responds poorly to glucocorticoids in hepatoma cells. At copy number above 50, the gene is expressed in fibroblasts. Another gene present in the same construction and controlled by the SV40 early promoter and enhancer is positively regulated by glucocorticoids in hepatoma cells but not after fusion with fibroblasts. These data indicate that in hybrid cells, both TAT promoter and glucocorticoid-responsive elements are negatively regulated.

Animals↗

Comparison of three different regimens in the treatment of acute brucellosis: a multicenter multinational study.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate efficacy, safety and patient acceptability of three antibiotic regimens for the treatment of acute brucellosis. Six different centres were involved: three in France, one in Greece and two in Spain. The regimens were: oral rifampicin 900 mg/day plus oral doxycycline 200 mg/day for 45 days (A), oral doxycycline 200 mg/day for 45 days plus im streptomycin 1 g/day for 21 days (regimen B) [corrected] and the WHO regimen (C) combining oral tetracycline 2 g/day for 21 days plus im streptomycin, 1 g/day, for 14 days. Regimens A and B were randomly allocated in all centres, while regimen C was allocated only in two centres. All patients were suffering from acute brucellosis clinically and biologically proven. 143 patients were allocated for treatment and analysed. Their mean age was 41 years (range 13-70), 49 were female and 94 male, and their mean weight was 64 kg (range 35-98). Among these patients, 14% had localized disease (nine orchitis, eight osteo-articular involvement and one pleural effusion), but there was no statistical difference between the three regimens in regard to this localized disease. Forty-five per cent of the patients had positive blood cultures. The cure rate with regimen A was 95%, 96% with regimen B and 59% with regimen C. Thus regimen A presented the same efficacy rate as regimen B, but regimen C cannot be regarded as the treatment of choice for acute brucellosis.

Acute Disease↗

PGL-I antigen and antibody detection in leprosy patients: evolution under chemotherapy.

Multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients were tested for circulating phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) antigen and antibodies before treatment. In the 27 MB patients tested, 27 (100%) were antigen positive with levels ranging from 50 to 5000 ng/ml, and 26 (96%) were antibody positive with titers ranging from 1000 to 64,000. Although the antigen and antibody levels were much higher in MB than in PB patients, we could not demonstrate a correlation between the number of acid-fast bacilli/mg of skin biopsy and these two parameters in 14 MB patients. After starting daily multidrug therapy, 10 MB patients were monitored monthly. As much as 88.75% +/- 10.8% of the PGL-I antigen was cleared from the bloodstream after 1 month while the anti-PGL-I antibody remained stable. This rapid decrease in the PGL-I antigen level strongly suggests the usefulness of this test for monitoring MB patients under chemotherapy.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

[A study of ivermectin in the treatment of lymphatic filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti var. pacifica in French Polynesia].

Forty carriers of 20 or more W. bancrofti var. pacifica per ml were blind administered ivermectin at 50, 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg doses. The rate of successful treatment was 100% with the 4 dosages. The percentage cure rate and the decrease percentage in the microfilarial count were significantly higher in persons treated with 100, 150 and 200 mcg/kg than in persons treated with 50 mcg/kg. Frequency and intensity of side-reactions were similar to those observed during treatment with DEC; they were more frequent and severe in persons with greatest microfilaremia but did not depend on the dosage. Ivermectin in 100 mcg/kg single-dose, administered once a year, is the best candidate to replace DEC in mass treatments.

Adult↗

[The effect of 2 chloroquine-based drug strategies (prevention and therapy of febrile cases] on malaria transmission].

A 3 years study was decided in 12 villages of the South-West Burkina Faso to compare the chemoprophylaxis and the chemotherapy of febrile cases as potential malaria control strategies. During the first year pretreatment data were collected. During the two following years a programme carried out (I) prophylaxis (10 mg chloroquine/kg body weight) was given weekly to all children under 14 years old in 5 villages, and (II) therapy (10 mg chloroquine/kg body weight) was given in a single dose to all febrile cases in 7 other villages. Chloroquine tablets were distributed by health workers belonging to the community. Both prophylaxis and therapy reduced the gametocyte rate in children (2-9 years) respectively of 63% and 45%. The analysis of the evolution after the first year of the sporozoite rate of anopheline was made difficult by concomitant natural variations of mosquitoes longevity and by mosquitoes displacements. Significant variations of sporozoite rate can be explained by natural variations of mosquitoes longevity. But data from the rice field villages support evidence that reduction of the pool of parasite infective for vectors induced the decrease of Anopheles gambiae s. l. sporozoite rate. Therefore our results reflect a trend more than a strict reduction of malaria transmission.

Adolescent↗

[Value of public opinion polls for evaluating the acceptability of epidemiologic surveys in urban areas].

A prevalence study on non communicable diseases related to nutrition, alcoholism and tabagism is planned in French Polynesia. The methodology used, although complicated, has been successful in insular states of the South Pacific with either traditional or transitional ways of life. Acceptability level of the study in the urban area of Papeete (Tahiti) has been tested by a public opinion poll using the quota method in order to obtain valuable information on feasibility of the project. The public opinion poll showed that 75% of people would participate, 19.5% would be reluctant and 5.5% would hesitate. The good results must be carefully interpreted with regards to the multi-ethnic structure of French Polynesian population, and to the limits of the quota method.

Adult↗

Implementation of chemoprophylaxis of leprosy in the Southern Marquesas with a single dose of 25 mg per kg rifampin.

Between 1967 and 1987 in the Southern Marquesas, a remote archipelago in French Polynesia, the detection rate of leprosy was 48.9 per 100,000 when it was 8.6 per 100,000 for French Polynesia as a whole. In 1988, a program of chemoprophylaxis of leprosy with a single dose of 25 mg/kg rifampin was implemented, and 2751 persons (98.7% of the population) were treated in the Southern Marquesas. In addition, 678 South Marquesans and 2466 members of their families living in the Northern Marquesas and in the Society Archipelago, received the same chemoprophylaxis. Among 2676 persons studied in the Southern Marquesas (97.4% of the treated population), 130 had elevated IgM anti-phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies by ELISA without any evidence of leprosy. The onset of a skin lesion of borderline leprosy in a boy 3 months after chemoprophylaxis raises the question of the nature of such a skin lesion and, indirectly, of the effectiveness of the chemoprophylaxis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in Tahiti.

The rate of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was determined in three populations in Tahiti by means of a direct immunofluorescence test performed in specimens, tissue culture and detection of chlamydial antibody in serum specimens using a single-serotype indirect immunofluorescence test. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered in 53% of 53 bar girls, 24% of 75 women attending a public maternity clinic for routine care, and 37% of 71 men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic with acute or subacute urethritis. The presence of chlamydial antibody in a high proportion of the groups studied confirmed the high frequency of chlamydial infections (62.3%, 66.6% and 83.1% respectively). Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection was often associated with chlamydial infection in both bar girls and men with urethritis (11.4% and 18.3% respectively). With regard to clinical manifestations, 58.3% (7/12) of bar girls and 23.2% (10/43) women at the maternity clinic without clinical complaints were found to be Chlamydia trachomatis-positive. The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis in these asymptomatic persons highlights their important role in spread of this organism in Tahiti. The findings indicate that routine testing for Chlamydia trachomatis is warranted in patients attending the sexually transmitted disease and public maternity clinics in Tahiti.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of synthetic antigens for detecting antibodies to phenolic glycolipid I in patients with leprosy and their household contacts.

Three synthetic antigens related to the natural antigen phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) were compared for their efficacy in detecting leprosy when used as antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgM antibody to PGL-I. Absorbance values for ELISAs using the three antigens correlated well (.79 less than r less than .99) and had a high rate of agreement (89.5% less than a less than 98.4%). Of three subjects (household contacts of patients with leprosy) who later developed the disease, one with lepromatous and one with indeterminate leprosy were seropositive by ELISAs using the three antigens before the clinical onset of disease; one who developed borderline tuberculoid leprosy was seronegative. The predictive value of a positive result for the test was very low (less than 2.4%) and the predictive value for a negative result was high (greater than 99.9%) because of the low prevalence of leprosy in French Polynesia (1.78 per 1000). The high sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of the tests using the three antigens confirmed their great value for serodiagnosis of leprosy, especially the multibacillary form; the ELISA using NTP seems to be more specific and sensitive for detecting the paucibacillary form.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

[Leprosy in the French Polynesian archipelagoes from 1967 to 1987].

Between 1967 and 1987, 255 new cases of leprosy were detected in French Polynesia (FP) that means on average a 8.6% detection rate. Average detection rate calculated in 7 three-year periods did not vary significantly during the 21 years studied period of time. In two remote archipelagoes of FP average detection rate of leprosy is specially high: Gambier archipelago and Southern Marquesas archipelago with respectively a 54.7 and a 48.9% detection rate. To control leprosy, the network of treatment and active case-finding should be strengthened in archipelagoes and chemoprophylaxis programmes could be planned in places where the problem is especially important.

Humans↗

Polynesian origins and affinities: globin gene variants in eastern Polynesia.

Analysis of copy number variants of the duplicated alpha-, zeta-, and gamma-globin genes in eastern Polynesians revealed a high frequency of both triplicated-zeta-gene chromosomes and a specific alpha thalassemia deletion. This deletion and a novel restriction-enzyme-site polymorphism associated with a zeta zeta zeta chromosome are found only in Melanesians and Polynesians. Analysis of alpha-globin restriction-enzyme haplotypes indicated further similarities to Melanesians but suggested an additional non-Melanesian genetic component in eastern Polynesia. Several globin gene alleles showed evidence of marked frequency fluctuations due to genetic drift.

Alleles↗

[Control of malaria in Africa: from the eradication of malaria to the control of malaria].

The control strategies usually recommended in Africa south of the Sahara have not been followed by a lasting decline in the endemic level of the disease in the rural environment. The set-backs of the eradication period have revealed the need to redefine control objectives and strategies adapted to each type of malaria. Systematic chemotherapy for attacks of fever is a strategy that can be proposed in all circumstances; it avoids mortality from malaria; it can be carried out in the field on a country scale. The other means of control, directed against the parasites and the vectors, may be used depending of the specific situation in each country and on each type of malaria. Malaria control has to be integrated into the basic health system of each country, and we need to improve health education and develop primary health care. We must continue with our efforts to develop new antimalarial drugs, insecticides and vaccines; urgent steps must be taken to train malariologists capable of adapting the new techniques to the actual situation in the field. It is by associating socioeconomic development with the control means as a whole that we shall be able to control the various types of malaria and to reach out towards the objective of health for all by the year 2000.

Africa↗