Treatment of retroperitoneal fibrosis by mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
M Andre
Publications and source records attributed to M Andre.
Bradykinin stimulates the intracellular calcium activity in human mesothelial cells.
AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of bradykinin on the intracellular calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) in human mesothelial cells in culture. RESULTS: Bradykinin (1-1000 nmol/l) caused a concentration-dependent and reversible increase of [Ca2+]i in mesothelial cells (n = 94); 10 nmol/l bradykinin increased [Ca2+]i from 23 +/- 9 to 670 +/- 170 nmol/l (n = 36). The pattern of the bradykinin-induced [Ca2+]i increase was biphasic with a transient [Ca2+]i peak, which was followed by a sustained [Ca2+]i plateau. The bradykinin-mediated [Ca2+]i plateau, but not the peak, was inhibited in a solution with an extracellular reduced Ca2+ concentration (from 1000 to 1 micromol/l, n = 11). Flufenamate (> or = 10 micromol/l), an inhibitor of non-selective ion channels abolished the bradykinin-mediated increase of [Ca2+], whereas the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nicardipine (10 micromol/l) had no effect (n = 3-5). The [Ca2+]i response to bradykinin was inhibited by the BK2 antagonist Hoe 140 (IC50 +/- k7 nmol/l, n = 30). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that bradykinin stimulates [Ca2+]i in mesothelial cells by a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and an influx from Ca2+ through non-selective channels via a BK2 receptor.
Bradykinin↗
Both apolipoprotein E and A-I genes are present in a nonmammalian vertebrate and are highly expressed during embryonic development.
Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is associated with several classes of plasma lipoproteins and mediates uptake of lipoproteins through its ability to interact with specific cell surface receptors. Besides its role in cardiovascular diseases, accumulating evidence has suggested that apoE could play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease. In vertebrates, apoA-I is the major protein of high-density lipoprotein. ApoA-I may play an important role in regulating the cholesterol content of peripheral tissues through the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. We have isolated cDNA clones that code for apoE and apoA-I from a zebrafish embryo library. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences showed the presence of a region enriched in basic amino acids in zebrafish apoE similar to the lipoprotein receptor-binding region of human apoE. We demonstrated by whole-mount in situ hybridization that apoE and apoA-I genes are highly expressed in the yolk syncytial layer, an extraembryonic structure implicated in embryonic and larval nutrition. ApoE transcripts were also observed in the deep cell layer during blastula stage, in numerous ectodermal derivatives after gastrulation, and after 3 days of development in a limited number of cells both in brain and in the eyes. Our data indicate that apoE can be found in a nonmammalian vertebrate and that the duplication events, from which apoE and apoA-I genes arose, occurred before the divergence of the tetrapod and teleost ancestors. Zebrafish can be used as a simple and useful model for studying the role of apolipoproteins in embryonic and larval nutrition and of apoE in brain morphogenesis and regeneration.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Plants--rhizospheric organisms interaction in a manmade system with and without biogenous element limitation.
The effect has been studied of inoculation of seeds of wheat with two species of rhizospheric microorganisms--Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida--on young plant growth with complete and with nitrogen deficit mineral nutrition. With complete mineral medium, plants grown from seeds inoculated with bacteria of Pseudomonas genus (experiment plants) have been found to have better growth over plants not inoculated with these bacteria (control plants). The experiment plants had increased transpiration and their biomass had higher organic nitrogen content. With nitrogen deficit medium, the plants inoculated with bacteria and those without them, have not revealed changes in growth. Neither case demonstrated competition of microorganisms with plants for nitrogen sources.
Biomass↗
Guinea pig model for Staphylococcus aureus native valve endocarditis.
We present a new experimental model of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis in guinea pigs. Permanent aortic valve damage was produced by electrocoagulation after catheterization of the right carotid artery, which allowed avoidance of the intracardiac catheter to produce cardiac vegetations. Our model closely mimics pathological mechanisms of native valve endocarditis.
Animals↗
Ets-1 and Ets-2 proto-oncogenes exhibit differential and restricted expression patterns during Xenopus laevis oogenesis and embryogenesis.
Xenopus XI-ets-1 and XI-ets-2 are maternally expressed. From late oogenesis to early embryogenesis their transcripts are localized to the animal pole and the intermediate zone, suggesting a function in the differentiation of animal blastomeres and future mesoderm. Their presence at the level of germ plasm suggests also a role in the differentiation of the germinal lineage. Both zygotic genes are expressed ubiquitously beginning at MBT, and then restricted to a circumblastoporal collar. In neurula and tailbud stages, ets-1 and ets-2 transcripts are detected in neural crest cells and their derivatives. Specific transcription can also be observed for ets-1 in the hemangioblastic precursors, in endothelial cells of the forming heart and blood vessels. Ets-2 is itself specifically expressed in the putative pronephros and in the forming pronephric tubules and extending pronephric duct. Like another member of the ets-gene family (XI-fli), both genes are transcribed in regions of the embryo undergoing important morphogenetic modifications, especially in migrating cells and/or along their migration pathways. We postulate that these genes orchestrate modifications of cellular adhesion. Changes in the expression of cadherins and integrins repertories would be consistent with such a role and could account for the phenotypes we reported earlier for XI-fli overexpression. Such a role would be critical for tumor cell dissemination, in addition to the one already ascribed to ets-1 in the expression of proteases specific for the extracellular matrix.
Animals↗
Measles virus transmission from infected to immune individuals--implications for measles control and elimination.
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Adult↗
Physicochemical characteristics of emulsions during fat digestion in human stomach and duodenum.
Seven fasting subjects were fitted with nasogastric and nasoduodenal tubes and received intragastrically a coarsely emulsified test meal. Gastric and duodenal aspirates were collected after 1, 2, 3, and 4 h. In the duodenum, most lipids (> 90%) were present as emulsified droplets 1-100 microns in size. Large droplets and unemulsified material present in the test meal (> 100 micron) disappeared, whereas smaller droplets (1-50 microns) were generated after 1 h of digestion. Thus the median lipid droplet diameter significantly decreased (19.6 vs. 56.5 microns in the test meal) and the droplet surface area significantly increased (1.58 vs. 0.70 micron2/g fat). Intermediate droplet diameters were 34.3, 46.3, and 27.6 microns after 2, 3, and 4 h, respectively. In the stomach, a comparable emulsion particle size pattern was observed, with median droplet diameters of 17.2, 37.9, 52.4, and 41.6 microns after 1, 2, 3, and 4 h, respectively. However, the extent of triglyceride hydrolysis was much lower in the stomach (6-16%) than in the duodenum (42-45%), where small droplets were enriched in lipolytic products, cholesterol, and phospholipids. The present findings show for the first time that most dietary lipids are present in the human duodenum as emulsified droplets 1-50 microns in size and that no further marked emulsification of dietary fat occurs in the duodenum compared with the stomach.
Adult↗
Aseptic systemic abscesses preceding diagnosis of Crohn's disease by three years.
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Abscess↗
Specific effects of irradiance and CO2 concentration doublings on productivity and mineral content in lettuce.
Experiments in growth chambers with controlled atmosphere were performed to compare the effects on the productivity of two treatments stimulating photosynthesis: the doubling of CO2 concentration, the doubling of irradiance; the combining of both was also tested. A large effect of light was noticed: (i) the accumulation of carbon was, contrarily to CO2 effect, amplified within time, and led to the most important dry matter production. (ii) the specific leaf weight was about two-fold increased. (iii) the nitrate content was 2-3 fold less. A significant positive effect of CO2 was detected on the fresh biomass production and the iron content of lettuce. A synergy was observed on dry matter production by the interaction of the two factors.
Biomass↗
ECOSIMP2 model: prediction of CO2 concentration changes and carbon status in closed ecosystems.
The ECOSIMP2 model, simulating the Plant-Soil-Atmosphere interactions, was developed as a tool for the management of an experimental artificial ecosystem. It consists in three main carbon compartments for production, consumption and decomposition of the biomass. The main biological parameters concern photosynthesis (apparent Km, CO2 compensation point), the harvest index, the rate of consumption, and the kinetics of litter decomposition. From realistic assumptions of kinetics of soil compartments, a steady-state case was obtained, simulating a terrestrial ecosystem. The stability of the atmospheric CO2 concentration was studied after a virtual enclosure of the system in a 20-m high greenhouse. In natural lighting the conditions of stability are severe because of the small size of the atmospheric compartment which amplifies any imbalance between carbon fluxes. The positive consequence of that amplification for research on artificial ecosystems was emphasized.
Atmosphere↗
Bicarbonate-based dialysis solution preserves granulocyte functions.
OBJECTIVE: Intraperitoneal phagocytes play an important role in local defense in preventing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis. This study therefore investigates the effect of the conventional lactate-based dialysis solution-pH 5.2 (LBDS-pH 5.2) and a bicarbonate-based dialysis solution (BBDS) on various cell functions. DESIGN: We studied C5a-induced actin polymerization (AP) as a measure of the cytoskeletal alteration, phagocytosis of zymosan particles, and chemotaxis in neutrophils incubated in either LBDS-pH 5.2, LBDS-pH 7.4, or BBDS-pH 7.4, comparing the data with cells treated with phosphate-buffered saline-pH 7.4 (PBS-pH 7.4) as a control. SUBJECTS: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were isolated from the blood of healthy donors and incubated with dialysis solution prior to the experiment. RESULTS: C5a-induced AP was dramatically inhibited in PMNs incubated in LBDS-pH 5.2, paralleled by a complete inhibition of phagocytosis and C5a-induced chemotaxis. In comparison, BBDS improved AP to values above the control and also nearly normalized phagocytosis. Chemotaxis markedly improved in cells treated with the low glucose-containing BBDS (Bic 20), containing high glucose concentrations (Bic 30). CONCLUSION: In comparison with conventional lactate-based dialysis solution-pH 5.2, bicarbonate-based dialysis solution at low osmolality better preserves neutrophil functions that involve the cytoskeleton.
Actins↗
Comparison of immunological and molecular hybridization detection methods for the detection of hepatitis A virus in sewage.
Immune electron microscopy (IEM), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and molecular hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled cDNA probe were compared for the detection of wild-type human hepatitis A virus (HAV) in raw and treated sewage. In the same experiments, classic tests for culturable enteroviruses were carried out. With the hybridization probes, HAV was detected in three of the 13 affluent samples (23%) and in eight out of 13 effluent samples (61%). For four of the effluent samples, positivity revealed by IEM was confirmed by the cDNA probe. In contrast, two of the samples shown as positive by IEM were negative with the probes. Detection of HAV by RIA was negative in all cases. Demonstration of HAV was higher in effluent than in affluent. No particular relationship was established between demonstration of HAV, on the one hand, and the various concentrations of enteroviruses observed in the same samples on the other. Overall, if all the results, irrespective of the type of water (affluent or effluent), are taken together, 50% of the sewage samples tested were found to contain HAV by one or another method of detection.
Hepatovirus↗
Inhibition of C5a-induced actin polymerization, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils incubated in a glucose-based dialysis solution.
Chemotaxis and phagocytosis are important functions of phagocytic cells, which are closely related to cytoskeletal reorganization. These functions may be abnormal in phagocytes of uremic patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In order to examine whether these abnormalities result from treatment, we studied actin polymerization (AP), as an index of cytoskeletal alterations, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) of healthy subjects. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils were exposed to either a hepes buffer or a glucose-based dialysis solution (GBDS) of different pH's (5.2, 7.4) and different glucose concentrations (1.36%, 2.27%, 3.86%). After incubation for 0, 5, or 20 minutes, cells were activated with 10 nmol/L C5a-complement. AP was measured as filamentous (F) actin content by NBD phallacidin staining and FACS analysis. Chemotaxis of PMNs was measured in Boyden chambers. In addition, phagocytosis of zymosan particles was assessed. Prior exposure to GBDS pH 5.2 of each glucose concentration immediately and completely inhibited AP in response to 10 nmol/L C5a-complement, reduced chemotaxis (> 95%), and completely inhibited phagocytosis. The inhibition was pH-dependent, since GBDS pH 7.4 caused less inhibition of these functions. We conclude that glucose-based dialysis solutions are cytotoxic towards neutrophils and completely inhibit their ability to display responses requiring cytoskeletal reorganization.
Actins↗
Comparison of glass wool and glass powder methods for concentration of viruses from treated waste waters.
Enumeration of cultivable virus particle in sewage requires the samples to be concentrated. Two adsorption-elution methods, the glass wool cartridge method and the glass powder fluid layer method were compared. Firstly, it was demonstrated that virus could be readily recovered from the head, first 25 ml, of eluate of glass wool rather than from a reconcentration of the entire eluate, either by organic flocculation: 83% of positivity vs 44% respectively or double precipitation by PEG: 85% of positivity vs 61% respectively. Concentration on glass wool allowed the rescue of a greater number of positive samples (33/35) than on glass powder (16/35) as well as a higher mean titer of indigenous viruses, respectively 19 MPNCU/l vs 6 MPNCU/l (F1(34) = 36.02, P < 0.0001). Enteroviruses were the most frequently isolated viruses: found in 34/35 samples by either method, in 32/35 samples by glass wool, and in 14/35 samples by glass powder. Of the 12 enterovirus types identified by either method, a majority was Echovirus 6 (10 samples), Echovirus 11 (7 samples), Coxsackievirus B5 (4 samples) and also Coxsackievirus A7, A16, A21, B1, B6, Echovirus 1, 4, 12 and 19. Adenovirus types 1 and 5 were isolated from 4 samples by either method.
Adsorption↗
[The long-term therapy of familial hypercholesterolemia with heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation].
The long-term tolerance to and effectiveness of heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation (HELP) in combination with lipid reducing drugs and diet was tested in six patient (5 males, 1 female; mean age 48 +/- 4 years). Follow-up period was over 50 months, in one patient over 24 months, while one man had a sudden cardiac death 57 weeks after starting treatment. The study was divided into three phases. In phase I (24 months) treatment consisted of HELP and conventional lipid-reducing drugs; in phase II (12 months) of lovastatin (80 mg daily) and cholestyramine (12-24 g daily); and phase III (14 months) of HELP, lovastatin and cholestyramine. In phase I it was possible to lower the pre-treatment level of LDL-cholesterol from 306 +/- 18 mg/dl to 173 +/- 13 mg/dl (43.5%). A similar effect (from 307 +/- 21 mg/dl to 155 +/- 17 mg/dl [-49.5%]) was obtained in phase II. The resumption of HELP reduced the pre-treatment LDL concentration to 136 +/- 9 mg/dl (-55.7%). The various treatment regimens were well tolerated. Biochemical data remained unchanged except for iron loss requiring substitution. Thus combined HELP, lovastatin and ion exchange offer for the first time an effective and reliable means in familial hypercholesterolaemia of clearly reducing long-term the mean LDL cholesterol level below the atherosclerosis threshold of 120 mg/dl.
Anticholesteremic Agents↗
A simplified ecosystem based on higher plants: ECOSIMP, a model of carbon cycle.
An experiment of Artificial Ecosystem in closed growth chambers is described. It comprises a biomass producer compartment coupled with a decomposer compartment. A model of carbon cycle is presented, simulating the CO2 changes in atmosphere and the carbon status in plants and in the decomposer system. Results of variation in several parameters such as photoperiod, rate of photosynthesis, percentage of harvested biomass introduced in decomposer, kinetics of biomass decomposition, are presented. Positive conclusions are deduced about the feasability of real experiments without particular control of CO2 nor buffering system. Applications in studies on plant-soil-atmosphere ecosystems, for spatial and terrestrial researches, are discussed.
Biomass↗
Growth of plants at reduced pressures: experiments in wheat-technological advantages and constraints.
Procedures and results are presented concerning the growth of wheat plants with variable partial pressures of O2 and N2. Data demonstrate that some growth occurs in pressures as low as 0.1 atmosphere. The growth was similar or higher at 200 mb (0.2 atmosphere) than in normal atmosphere but the development was different. Advantages of the low pressure cultivation, especially in the absence of nitrogen, are discussed, including better ratio volume/mass of plant cultivation module; lower losses of gases by leakage; easier management of photosynthetic oxygen produced by plants.
Atmospheric Pressure↗