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Biomedical subjects

J Scotto

Publications and source records attributed to J Scotto.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1970

Ultrastructural study of two cases of alpha-chain disease.

Intestinal biopsies of two patients with alpha heavy-chain disease were examined by electron microscopy. Except for a few differences, cells involved by the malignant neoplasia of the small intestine were similar and belonged to the plasma cell line and were, in fact, more like the cells observed in typical multiple myeloma. It is not surprising to find such cells in a disease which is characterized by the presence of alpha heavy chain in the serum since plasma cells are considered to be the main source of immunoglubulins. Moreover, the association of an intestinal plasmacytic neoplasia with the heavy chain of the immunoglobulin A in the serum agree with what is known of the normal synthesis by most of the plasma cells of the digestive tract of this immunoglobulin. Since lymphocytes can synthesize immunoglobulins and plasma cells probably originate from lymphocytes, too great an importance should not be attributed to morphological classification. Only an obvious, functional characteristic seems really useful for differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum by a simple spot hybridization technique: comparison with results for other viral markers.

A simplified spot method for determination in serum of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) by molecular hybridization is proposed. For simultaneous testing of 30 serum samples, it reduced to about 1 hr the duration of the steps preceding hybridization proper. The method also greatly reduced the loss of DNA during these steps and allowed more sensitive detection in samples of only 25 or 50 microliters. HBV DNA was determined in 181 serum samples by this method, and the results were pooled with 67 previous determinations by the Southern blot technique. Results for the pool were then compared to those obtained with radioimmunoassay for serological HBV markers. Ninety-six of the 248 samples were HBV DNA positive. Eleven others gave variable or inconclusive results, probably due to low viral particle titers. Seventy-two HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive sera contained HBV DNA, confirming that HBeAg is a marker of active viral replication. Fourteen other HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive sera, obtained from eight patients, were either HBV DNA negative or oscillated between negative and positive, or, again, were weakly positive; serological follow-up in 7 patients showed seroconversion to anti-HBe in 5, 3 of which became HBsAg negative. Eight of the HBsAg-positive sera were negative or borderline for HBeAg but contained HBV DNA and may, therefore, have been infective; seven of these sera had anti-HBe. Six HBsAg-negative sera contained HBV DNA and may also have been infective; five of these exhibited HBV antibodies. These results indicate that molecular hybridization not only provides a more sensitive and direct method for detecting hepatitis B virus in serum but also defines additional serological patterns with predictive or epidemiological value.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-HBc screening for the prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus in France.

As anti-HBc screening has been proposed for blood donor testing, we investigated its effectiveness during pregnancy. Among 4,023 successive pregnant women screened for anti-HBc, 539 (13.4%) were positive and further tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs. HBsAg was found in 73 (1.81%) and anti-HBc only was positive in 66 (1.64%). Among the 73 women positive for HBsAg, HBV DNA was found in the serum of seven, the cord blood of two, the placenta of three. Of the 58 infants given HBV immunoglobulins and vaccine, only four had transient HBsAg. None of the 66 women positive for anti-HBc only had anti-HBc IgM, HBeAg, or HBV DNA in serum, cord blood or placenta but five women became HBsAg positive before, at, or after delivery. Among the infants born of these 66 mothers, three had high ALT, two had HBsAg and one HBV DNA without HBsAg. Screening for anti-HBc may be cost effective, at least in low HBV prevalence areas, since there is evidence for infectivity of pregnant women positive for anti-HBc only.

Carrier State↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The cerebro-hepato-renal (Zellweger) syndrome: lamellar lipid profiles in adrenocortical, hepatic mesenchymal, astrocyte cells and increased levels of very long chain fatty acids and phytanic acid in the plasma.

Clinical, radiological, histological and biochemical aspects of two cases of cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome (CHRS) are reported. CT scan disclosed a demyelinating process and gyral abnormalities reflecting the observed neuropathological findings. Trilamellar and lamellar inclusions were found in brain astrocytes, hepatic mesenchymal and adrenal cells. The morphologic features of these inclusions are similar to those observed in childhood adrenoleukodystrophy, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy and infantile Refsum's disease. In the two CHRS patients, increased plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids (C26:1, C26:0) and phytanic acid were in the same range as those observed in seven other instances of neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy. The presence of increased plasma levels of phytanic acid in these disorders suggests that phytanate oxidase activity is, at least, partially located in peroxisomes.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of liver HBV DNA during follow-up of acute viral hepatitis in children.

Twenty-nine children with acute icteric hepatitis were classified as follows after serological tests for the agents of viral hepatitis: hepatitis B 17 patients, hepatitis A 3 patients, hepatitis A + B 1 patient, possible non-A, non-B hepatitis 8 patients. In four of these cases, hepatitis A or non-A, non-B occurred in chronic HBsAg carriers. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was present in the initial serum of 15 of the 18 patients with acute hepatitis B. About 1 year after onset, HBsAg and HBV DNA were absent in 17 of them (16 of whom developed anti-HBs) and the remaining patient became a chronic HBsAg carrier without HBV DNA in his serum. At the same time, liver biopsy samples from all 29 patients were available for HBV DNA investigation. HBV DNA sequences in the liver were never found in any patient, neither under free form nor integrated into the cellular genome. The absence of HBV DNA integration in any of the liver samples taken about 1 year after the acute phase of hepatitis B suggests that such integration is either unlikely or is transitory during the symptomatic period.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on human and rat cells. In vitro versus in vivo experiments.

Human infant skin fibroblasts and liver cells were subcultured with 250 microM PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid), and primary cultures of glial brain cells from new-born rats with 100 microM; oleic acid was added to controls. Minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with bovine serum was used as a reference. During the short-term experiment (18-24 h), control liver cells showed a regular increase in protein level, while protein increment was more rapid in linoleic and especially in arachidonic acid-treated cells, but only for the first 3 hours. During the long-term experiment (7 d), control skin fibroblasts showed a faster growth rate (increase in number of cells) than reference or fibroblasts cultured with the added PUFAs. Lipid droplets were seen in the PUFA-treated liver cells and skin fibroblasts, and ultrastructural modifications were observed in fibroblasts, but without growth rate alteration. During the long-term experiment (2 w), control glial brain cells showed faster protein increment (measuring growth rate) than PUFA-treated cells, particularly than arachidonic acid-treated cells. HMGR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase) activity, determined after 6 h (liver cells) or 1 and 2 w (brain cells) of culture, was low in controls and reference, whilst higher in PUFA-treated-cells, and was especially high in arachidonic acid-treated brain cells. The present study indicates than the high HMGR activity may correspond to cultures of cells rapidly stopped in their protein increment, and to cultures of cells showing a slow rate of proliferation. This contrasts with results obtained from in vivo experiments; it also emphasizes the high mevalonate (MVA) level as a possible sign of nutritional medium imbalance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Course of chronic hepatitis related to B virus in children. Study of serum viral DNA].

Nineteen children with chronic hepatitis related to the hepatitis B virus were followed for an average of 6 years. The determination of the hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum allowed us to know the state of viral replication. Thus three groups of patients could be defined: the first in which replication remained active during the total period of follow-up; the second in which the extinction of replication was observed; the third in which replication was inactive from the beginning of the serological follow-up. Symptoms, high levels of aminotransferases and histologically aggressive lesions, sometimes with cirrhosis, were more frequent in the presence of viral DNA. During the decrease of the replication, a clear-cut and time-limited increase of serum-aminotransferase levels was often noted. After the disappearance of hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum, clinical signs could be found only in children with cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Four cases of hepatitis with initial aggressive lesions led to persistent chronic hepatitis without viral DNA in the serum. In all but one of the patients who started with an aggressive form, viral DNA disappeared in the serum. This loss occurred later and only in 2 patients of 5 who presented initially with chronic persistent hepatitis. Thus a long period of follow-up in childhood chronic hepatitis related to B virus shows frequent inactivation of viral replication. This evolution seemed to occur earlier when the initial histological lesions were aggressive as if this aggressiveness favored the elimination of the virus and the presence of specific antibodies in the serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗