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Biomedical subjects

L Merle

Publications and source records attributed to L Merle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[From organophosphate compound toxicity to atherosclerosis: role of paraoxonase 1].

PURPOSE: Paraoxonase 1 is an ubiquitous human serum and tissue esterase known to hydrolyse organophosphorous compounds. It seems to be implicated in various vascular diseases. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Recently paraoxonase has been located on the surface of High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) which has directed studies towards its involvement in atherosclerosis. An antioxidant effect has been suggested from its structure rich in reducing amino acids (cysteine), which was confirmed on low density lipoproteins (LDL) first in vitro and then in vivo. Paraoxonase 1 hydrolyses an arachidonic acid derivative found on the surface of oxidised LDL known to participate in the essential initial step of atherogenesis. Clinically paraoxonase 1 activity is low when pathological vascular ageing occurs early (myocardial infarction) and when cardiovascular risk is high (diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, analphalipoproteinemia). FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: The genetic polymorphism of this enzyme is one of the determinants of serum paraoxonase 1 activity variations. It could explain sensitivity differences in chronic organophosphate intoxications and has been suspected as a risk factor of vascular injury. A decrease of this enzyme activity with ageing could play a part in the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the aged.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1998

Inhibition of arylesterase by aliphatic alcohols.

The inhibition of arylesterase (EC 3.1.8.1) by 11 aliphatic alcohols (one to seven carbon atoms) was studied in blood serum from healthy donors. Inhibition curves were described by the Hill equation, with a Hill coefficient (n) close to unity, except for some alcohols, mainly the lowest. The inhibiting activity of the alcohols was highly dependent on their structure, since the C50 values covered about three orders of magnitude. The least active compound was methanol (C50 approximately 1 M) and the most active was heptanol (C50 approximately 7.4 x 10(-4) M). The A and B isozymes (differing by the amino acid at position 191) had similar inhibition parameters with the alcohols tested. Quantitative structure-activity relationships were computed with either the experimental solvation parameters of Abraham [6] or the theoretical parameters of Wilson and Famini [11]. Both methods gave similar results, with a slight advantage to the empirical parameters in terms of simplicity and statistical significance. The two main determinants of inhibition were identified as molecular volume and lack of polarity. The effect of volume was non-linear, tending to a maximum when the length of the alcohol increased. For a given number of carbon atoms, the best inhibitor was the least polar compound. These results point to a binding site consisting mainly of nonpolar aliphatic amino acids, and located in the depth of the protein molecule.

Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases↗
PubMed1998

Bayesian pharmacokinetic estimation of vinorelbine in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a population pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine in a population of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients using a Bayesian estimation in order to calculate for any further patient, individual pharmacokinetic parameters from few blood samples. METHODS: Vinorelbine was given by a 15-min infusion (30 mg x m(-2)) to eight patients with NSCLC. Its serum concentration was determined by HPLC and its pharmacokinetics was described by a three-compartment open model with elimination from the central compartment. Volume of the central compartment (V1) and rate constants (k10, k12, k21, k13, k31) were selected as population pharmacokinetic parameters and computed by non-linear regression (two-step approach) from 14 to 18 concentration measurements per course. Subsequently, these parameters were used by the Bayesian estimator to calculate individual pharmacokinetics from only 2 or 3 measured concentrations. RESULTS: The population mean values (CV%) of V1, k10, k12, k21, k13, k31, CL, t1/2gamma were respectively 21 l (55%), 3.2 h(-1) (29%), 7.7 h(-1) (74%), 1.3 h(-1) (67%), 4.7 h(-1) (53%), 0.04 h(-1) (20%), 57 l x h(-1) (31%) and 43 h (36%). The comparison of results obtained from the Bayesian estimator and from the three-compartment model showed that CL and t1/2gamma were well predicted (relative deviation: +/- 12 to 22%) by the Bayesian method using only two blood samples. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that Bayesian estimation allows, at minimal cost and minimal disturbance for the patient, the determination of several vinorelbine pharmacokinetic parameters and therefore dose adaptation from as few as two drug concentrations, measured at 6 h and 24 h after infusion.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Decrease of serum paraoxonase activity in chronic renal failure.

Paraoxonase is an esterase that hydrolyzes organophosphate compounds. The enzyme is associated with HDL and could protect LDL against peroxidation, which suggests a possible involvement of paraoxonase in the antiatherogenic properties of HDL. Paraoxonase activity has been shown to be low in patients with myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, or familial hypercholesterolemia. Because cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in chronic renal failure, serum paraoxonase activity was measured by spectrophotometry using three synthetic substrates (phenyl acetate, paraoxon, and 4-nitrophenyl acetate) in 305 patients with kidney disease, including 47 patients with non-end-stage chronic renal failure, 104 patients treated with hemodialysis, 22 patients treated with peritoneal dialysis, and 132 renal transplant patients. Patients were compared with two groups of aged-matched control subjects (total number = 195). Especially with 4-nitrophenyl acetate, paraoxonase activity was lower in patients with some degree of renal insufficiency (chronic renal failure [P < 0.05], chronic hemodialysis [P < 10(-4)], chronic peritoneal dialysis [P < 10(-4)]) than in control subjects. In transplant patients, paraoxonase activity was not found to be different from that in control subjects. The decrease of paraoxonase activity and thus the reduction of its antiatherogenic properties in renal failure could be an essential factor of premature vascular aging, especially when dialysis is used. Renal transplantation seems to restore paraoxonase activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Influence of biological variables upon pharmacokinetic parameters of intramuscular methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis.

The pharmacokinetics of methotrexate were studied in 22 patients receiving 5-15 mg per week in a single i.m. administration for rheumatoid arthritis. The data consisted of 3 plasma levels per patient, taken at 2, 6, and 12 hours after the administration. The concentration of methotrexate was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The pharmacokinetic parameters of a 2-compartment model were determined by Bayesian estimation using the population values of Bressolle et al. [1996]. The fitted parameters were: total plasma clearance of methotrexate (CL), first-order absorption constant (ka), volume of central compartment (V1), and transfer constants between the 2 compartments (k12 and k21). Additional parameters were derived from the fitted ones: maximal concentration (Cmax), time to maximum (tmax), volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss), and terminal half-life (t1/2). Twenty-one biological covariates were considered to explain the interpatient variability. The relationships between these covariates and the pharmacokinetic parameters were investigated by principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis. About 90% of the variability of CL were explained by 4 variables (sex, age, height and serum creatinine). About 50%-70% of the variability of the other pharmacokinetic parameters were explained by a set of covariates including age, height, creatinine, creatinine clearance, and dose. The effect of dose was noticed mainly on k12, Vss, and t1/2, thus suggesting that the transfer of the drug from plasma to tissues may be nonlinear. The possibility of predicting CL with a good precision would facilitate the computation of dosage regimens in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Buprenorphine withdrawal syndrome in a newborn.

A pregnant woman who was addicted to heroin rapidly withdrew from illicit drugs after the onset of a 4 mg/day buprenorphine treatment. In the newborn's blood, urine, and meconium 20 hours after birth, high concentrations of buprenorphine and its metabolite norbuprenorphine were detected, with a higher buprenorphine/norbuprenorphine ratio than in adults, possibly as a consequence of immature hepatic function; no illicit drugs were found. The child had a weak withdrawal syndrome on the second day of life and recovered rapidly. The measured buprenorphine daily dose ingested by the newborn through mother's milk was very low (3.28 micrograms) and probably had little pharmacologic effect because no withdrawal signs could be noted when maternal feeding was later abruptly interrupted. Further investigations are required to determine whether buprenorphine can be considered to be a good alternative to methadone in the treatment of pregnant heroin addicts to prevent marked withdrawal syndromes in newborns.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Population pharmacokinetics of amikacin in geriatric patients studied with the NPEM-2 algorithm.

The population pharmacokinetics of amikacin were studied in 40 geriatric medicine patients (aged 59-95 years, average 78 years) by the NPEM-2 algorithm, using a 2-compartment model. The fitted parameters were: renal clearance of amikacin, expressed as a fraction of creatinine clearance (CLS) and volume of the central compartment, expressed as a fraction of body weight (VS). The nonrenal clearance of amikacin (CLi) and the transfer constants between the 2 compartments (k12 and k21) were held constant. The distribution of each pharmacokinetic parameter was characterized by the median and the 50% dispersion factor (DF50) which is the interval between the 25th and 75th percentiles, divided by 1.32. The parameters were thus estimated by the following values: CLs = 0.91 +/- 0.45 and Vs = 0.29 +/- 0.10 l x kg-1. The volume of distribution was increased with respect to the usual value of 0.20 l x kg-1. The interindividual variability was high, particularly for clearance. Although the median value of CLs was close to unity, indicating that for most patients the elimination kinetics of amikacin followed that of creatinine, there was a slight probability to observe much higher values of CLs (up to 5), indicating that for some aged patients the elimination of amikacin was less altered than that of creatinine. These parameters were used as reference population values to estimate the pharmacokinetics of amikacin in a second group of 20 patients by the Bayesian method, with 2 blood samples per patient. For each patient the fitted parameters were able to predict the plasma concentrations of amikacin during the next 72 hours with no significant bias and a precision of 3.5 mg x 1(-1). This study confirms the ability of the NPEM-2 algorithm to provide reference population values for use in Bayesian monitoring of aminoglycoside therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Acyclic oligonucleotide analogues.

Acyclic analogues of oligothymidylate and oligoadenylate and their alternating copolymers were synthesized to study their thermal melting, their stability against snake venom phosphodiesterase and their primer/template properties using the Klenow fragment of the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I enzyme. Acyclic dodecaadenylate (GlyA)12 hybridized to dodecathymidylate p(dT)12, and the complex presented a sharp melting with a Tm at 24 degrees C. This association was confirmed by circular dichroism curves which were similar to those of the natural oligonucleotide duplexes in A-conformation. (GlyA)12 proved very stable against snake venom phosphodiesterase hydrolysis. The reaction rate was more than 10,000 times slower than that of p(dT)12. (GlyA)12 served as a primer for the Klenow DNA polymerase. When (GlyA)12 was complexed with the poly(dT) template, the enzyme polymerized dATP but the reaction was much slower than with the (GlyT)12 primer. Molecular modelling of atactic (GlyA)12.(dT)12 of the A-conformation indicates that this conformation is energetically possible.

Adenine↗
PubMed1995

Population pharmacokinetics of amikacin in intensive care unit patients studied by NPEM algorithm.

The population pharmacokinetics of amikacin was studied in 40 intensive care unit patients (212 plasma concentrations) by NPEM algorithm using a one-compartment model. The population was best characterized by the following pharmacokinetic parameters: renal clearance relative to creatinine clearance (Cs = 0.96 +/- 0.33), and either the total volume of distribution (Vd = 23.9 +/- 7.0 l) or the volume of distribution relative to body weight (Vs = 0.36 +/- 0.10 l.kg-1. The volume of distribution was increased with respect to the usual value of 0.25 l.kg-1. The statistical distribution of these pharmacokinetic parameters was approximately gaussian, with no significant correlation between volume of distribution and clearance. The medians and standard deviations of Cs and Vs were used as reference population values to estimate the pharmacokinetics of amikacin in a second group of 29 patients by the bayesian method, with two blood samples per patient. For each patient, the fitted parameters were able to predict the plasma concentrations of amikacin during the next 72 h with no significant bias and good precision (2.9 mg.l-1 for peaks and 0.5 mg.l-1 for troughs). This study confirms the ability of the NPEM algorithm to provide reference population values for use in bayesian monitoring of aminoglycoside therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of 2- and 3-compartment models for the Bayesian estimation of methotrexate pharmacokinetics.

Moderate and high-dose methotrexate was given by a 4-h infusion to 10 patients. The pharmacokinetics of methotrexate, determined by fluorescence polarization immuno-assay, was successively described by a 2- and a 3-compartment open model with elimination from the central compartment. Population pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by non-linear regression from 8 data points for each course and were subsequently used to fit the same data by the Bayesian estimation method. According to Akaike's information criterion, the 3-compartment model was found statistically superior in 7 patients out of 10. Using this model clearance was well predicted (+/- 5%) by the Bayesian method with only 2 points taken at the end of the infusion and 24 h after. The prediction was less good for the steady-state volume of distribution (+/- 18%) and the half-lives (+/- 20-30%). This procedure enables a good estimation of individual pharmacokinetic parameters for methotrexate, specially with clearance, at minimal cost and minimal disturbance for the patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Some biochemical properties of an acyclic oligonucleotide analogue. A plausible ancestor of the DNA?

As acyclic oligonucleotides have been suggested as a primitive model of DNA or RNA in prebiotic times, we compared some biochemical properties of these analogues to that of natural ones. Firstly, an acyclic analogue of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates was tested as a potential substrate of enzymes intervening in nucleic acids synthesis. GlyTTP, a dTTP analogue with a missing 2'-methylene group is not accepted as a substrate by either DNA polymerase or deoxynucleotidyl terminal transferase (TdT). Secondly, the modified dodecathymidylate (GlyT)12, the racemic acyclic sugar analogue of (dT)12, proved to be an efficient primer for DNA polymerase and TdT, though the associative properties of (GlyT)12 are very weak as shown by UV spectroscopy in phosphate buffer without magnesium chloride. But (GlyT)12 has the advantage to be 500-times more stable against hydrolysis by snake venom phosphodiesterase than the corresponding oligothymidylate.

DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase↗
PubMed1984

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of amineptine and its main metabolite in human plasma.

An isocratic reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatographic method for the determination of amineptine and its main metabolite in plasma using an internal standard, is reported. The effects of stationary phase alkyl chain length and the concentration of alkyl sulfonate in the mobile phase were investigated. The drugs were extracted as ion pairs and the influence of various parameters on the extraction efficiency are discussed. Using a heptane-octanol-tetraheptylammonium bromide mixture (98:2:0.5, v/v/w) as extraction solvent, more than 60% of each drug was recovered with a very good selectivity. UV detection at 220 nm allowed drug determination down to 0.010 microgram/ml. Linear standard curves up to 1.00 microgram/ml were observed.

Biotransformation↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of the esterases of the mitochondrial fraction of guinea pig cortical renal cells.

The esterase activity of the mitochondrial fraction from cortical renal cells was studied in guinea pigs aged 15, 21, 30, and 120 days. The rate of hydrolysis of beta-naphthyl acetate was measured by incubating aliquots of mitochondrial preparations with physostigmine, diisopropylfluorophosphate, HgCl2, and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Enzyme activity was mainly due to the heterogeneous aliesterase group: some aliesterases were sensitive to physostigmine, others to organophosphorus compounds and/or to HgCl2; a C-esterase stimulated by organomercurials and similar to that described by Bergmann et al. in hog kidney was detected (F Bergmann, R Segal, S Rimon. Biochem J 67:481-486, 1957); arylesterase activity was very weak. Acetylthiocholine used as substrate showed there was no cholinesterase activity in the mitochondrial fraction.

Aging↗
PubMed1983

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of bamifylline and its three metabolites in human plasma.

The performance of a gradient elution normal-phase system and of two isocratic elution reversed-phase ion-pair systems was investigated for the high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of bamifylline and its three metabolites. Three packings and mobile phases were tested and the best separation was achieved using a reversed-phase ion-pair system with Hypersil ODS 3 micron as stationary phase. The effects of alkyl chain length and concentration of alkyl sulfonates, salt concentration, column temperature and competing amine on separation and peak tailing are discussed. The determination of bamifylline and metabolites in human plasma using the defined optimal chromatographic conditions is reported.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗