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Biomedical subjects

M Bertrand

Publications and source records attributed to M Bertrand.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Thrombopenia increased by heparin and danaparoid].

Pathogenesis, frequency, and management of heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia are well-known. They may be related with both unfractioned heparin and low-molecular weight heparin. Suspected heparin must be discontinued as soon as the diagnosis is established. Orgaran (danaparoid sodium) may be used for management of patients with heparin-associated thrombocytopaenia but can itself be associated with a thrombocytopaenia. Our case report allows us to catch in mind such a crossed complication.

Aged↗

Cytotoxic activities of novel hexahydroindolizino[8,7-b]indole derivatives prepared by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 3,4-dihydro-beta-carboline ylides.

A series of 1-cyano and 2-cyanohexahydroindolizino[8,7-b]indole derivatives was prepared by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of acrylonitrile with ylides derived from 3,4-dihydro-beta-carboline and its 6-methoxy, 6-benzyloxy, 9-methyl and 9-benzyl analogues. The products, together with their reduced 1- or 2-aminomethyl derivatives, were evaluated for cytotoxic activity in L1210 cancer cells. Compounds derived from 6-benzyloxy or 9-benzyl-3,4-dihydro-beta-carboline were found to be the most active, with IC(50)'s in the 2-50 microM range. Of these, two compounds, the 1- and 2-cyano 8-benzyloxyindolizino[8,7-b]indole derivatives 20a and 20c, respectively, were found by cytometric flux analysis to stop cancer cell growth at the G(2)M and 8N (>G(2)M) stage of the cell cycle. These two compounds also showed no loss of cytotoxic activity in K562R cancer cells resistant to doxorubicin.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

A novel realistic three-layer phantom for intravascular ultrasound imaging.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is an imaging modality that experienced a tremendous development over the last 20 years. Phantoms for IVUS are rare and poorly documented. The aim of this paper is to propose an original IVUS phantom that has geometries and specular textures closer to those of coronary arteries than conventional tube-like phantoms. The proposed phantom has a three-layer aspect, reproducing the intima, media and adventitia that compose the arterial wall. It is made of an agar-based compound, with water, glycerol and cellulose particles. Fourteen phantoms were quantified using IVUS. Six phantoms were evaluated by both photomacroscopy and IVUS. There was an excellent correlation between phantom dimensions evaluated by photomacroscopy and the nominal values (mold dimensions). The IVUS quantification of the phantom was closely correlated to the measurements obtained by photomacroscopy. These results demonstrate that a multilayer phantom, with known and reproducible dimensions and with realistic geometric and echographic properties has been developed.

Arteries↗

From peptide libraries to optimized nonpeptide ligands in the search for S-farnesyltransferase inhibitors.

A complete 331,776-member library of tetrapeptides made of 24 amino acid building blocks was synthesized robotically on solid phase and subjected to a deconvolution based on the inhibitory potency of the sublibraries in a HPLC assay of the S-farnesyltransferase activity in vitro. One of the non-natural peptide and noncysteine-containing leads Nip-Trp-Phe-His (Nip=p-nitrophenyl-L-alanine) was optimized chemically to give a proteolytically stable pseudopeptide with a 200-fold potency compared with the original lead. The final compound was converted to the C-terminal ethyl ester: p-F-C6H4-CO(CH2)2-CO-Bta-D-Phepsi[CH2NH]His-OEt (Bta = benzothienyl-L-alanine) and shown to behave as a prodrug which was hydrolyzed back to the C-terminal acid following cell penetration. The method confirmed that several structurally original leads can be discovered in large libraries when deconvolution relies upon a highly specific assay and that these leads can be optimized by chemical modification to impart the final compound the desired pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: is there a benefit regarding postoperative outcome?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms has raised great interest amongst vascular surgeons. The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates of endovascular treatment with those of open surgery, from the anaesthesiologist's standpoint. METHODS: From January 1997 to June 2000, 425 consecutive patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms were referred for regular surgery. Thirty-nine patients who needed a visceral or renal artery revascularization, or a nephrectomy were excluded. The remaining 386 patients were studied in a prospective manner. Aneurysms were evaluated with spiral computerized tomography scanning and calibrated aortography. After informed consent, only those patients with a suitable vascular anatomy underwent endovascular treatment (n = 193). All other patients underwent open surgery and are considered as a control group (n = 193). Endovascular treatment was performed by a femoral or an iliac retroperitoneal route. All stent-grafts were made to measure using auto-expandable stainless-steel stents covered with a standard polyester prosthetic graft. RESULTS: Six patients in the endovascular treatment group needed to be converted to the open surgical technique (during the same operation) because of rupture of the iliac bifurcation (1 patient), a large endoleak (2 patients), or technical problems (3 patients). CONCLUSION: The amount of bleeding and the need for blood products were significantly lower in the endovascular treatment group. Despite the absence of significant differences regarding cardiac complications and mortality, there was a lesser incidence of pneumonia, acute respiratory and renal failure. Patients in the endovascular treatment group spent less time in the intensive care unit and in the Hospital.

Age Factors↗

The human G-protein beta3 subunit C825T polymorphism is associated with coronary artery vasoconstriction.

AIMS: Abnormal coronary vasomotion plays a role in the clinical expression of coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that the functional C825T polymorphism located in the ubiquitous G-protein beta3 subunit, implicated in the cellular signal transduction of many receptors, could modify artery coronary vasomotion. We assessed the potential association of the pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene C825T polymorphism on coronary vasomotion in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the response of angiographically normal human coronary arteries (n=131) after intravenous injection of methylergonovine maleate, a vasoconstrictor, followed by injection of isosorbide dinitrate, a vasodilator, according to GNB3 genotypes. Coronary vasomotion was assessed with quantitative coronary angiography. Subjects bearing at least one T allele had greater susceptibility to vasoconstriction in response to methylergonovine maleate than CC subjects, whereas vasodilation in response to isosorbide dinitrate did not differ among the different genotypes. CONCLUSION: The C825T polymorphism of the G-protein beta3 subunit may be a genetic determinant of coronary artery vasomotion in humans.

Coronary Angiography↗

Should the angiotensin II antagonists be discontinued before surgery?

UNLABELLED: Angiotensin II antagonists (AIIA) are part of a new rational treatment of hypertension. Because adverse circulatory effects during anesthesia can occur in patients chronically treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, some clinicians discontinue them at least 24 h before operation. No data are available concerning AIIA administration in patients scheduled for vascular surgery performed under general anesthesia. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to compare hemodynamics during induction of anesthesia in patients chronically treated with AIIA and those of patients not receiving this drug on the morning before operation. Thirty-seven patients chronically treated with AIIA for hypertension were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I: AIIA discontinued on the day before surgery (n = 18); Group II: AIIA given 1 h before anesthesia (n = 19). Patients received sufentanil 0.4 microg/kg, propofol 1.5 mg/kg, and atracurium 0.5 mg/kg. During the procedure, the anesthesiologist was required to maintain systolic blood pressure and heart rate within 30% of baseline values using intravascular fluid administration and vasoconstric- tors (e.g. , ephedrine, phenylephrine, or terlipressin). Hemodynamic variables were recorded each 1 min. Hemodynamic study ended at incision. The number and duration of hemodynamic events were collected, and total doses of vasoactive drugs were noted in each group. Systolic arterial pressure was significantly decreased in Group II at 5, 15 and 23 min after induction of anesthesia (*P < 0.05). In this group, the decrease in systolic arterial pressure was associated with more frequent episodes of hypotension (AIIA withdrawn: 1 +/- 1; AIIA given: 2 +/- 1; P < 0.01), with a larger number of patients developing at least 1 episode of hypotension (AIIA withdrawn: 12; AIIA given: 19; P < 0.01), and a longer duration of an episode of hypotension (AIIA withdrawn: 3 +/- 4 min; AIIA given: 8 +/- 7 min; P < 0.01), and an increased need for vasoactive drugs. In conclusion, blockade of the renin-angiotensin system increases the potential hypotensive effect of anesthetic induction. A severe hypotensive episode, requiring vasoconstrictor treatment, occurs after induction of general anesthesia in patients chronically treated with AIIA. Recommendations to discontinue AIIA drugs on the day before the surgery may be justified. IMPLICATIONS: This prospective randomized study demonstrated that more severe hypotensive episodes, requiring vasoconstrictor treatment, occur after induction of general anesthesia in patients chronically treated with AIIA and receiving this drug on the morning before operation, in comparison with those in whom AIIA were discontinued on the day before operation. Recommendations to discontinue these drugs on the day before the surgery may be justified.

Aged↗

The continuous recording of blood pressure in patients undergoing carotid surgery under remifentanil versus sufentanil analgesia.

UNLABELLED: We compared the hemodynamic stability during carotid endarterectomy of remifentanil with that of sufentanil anesthesia. Fifty-six patients were randomly assigned into Remifentanil (n = 27) or Sufentanil (n = 29) groups. In the Remifentanil group, IV propacetamol (2 g) and morphine (0.1 mg/kg) were infused 30 min before skin closure. In the Sufentanil group, patients received 2 g propacetamol. Beat-to-beat recordings of systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were stored on a computer. The maximum and minimum values of BP and HR after induction, at intubation, during the surgical procedure, and after the operation and the coefficients of variation of SBP and HR were used as indices of hemodynamic stability. The coefficients of variation of SBP and HR were similar in both groups during and after surgery. However, at intubation, maximal SBP was higher in the Sufentanil group (P < 0.05). Decreased propofol doses and isoflurane end-tidal concentrations were used in the Remifentanil group. At recovery, a similar profile of SBP and HR was found in both groups. We conclude that intra- and posthemodynamic stability was similar with remifentanil or sufentanil in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. However, remifentanil was more effective for blunting the increase in SBP at intubation without increasing the blood pressure-decreasing effect of induction. Intraoperative remifentanil use was associated with a decreased amount of hypnotic drug administered. IMPLICATIONS: Beat-to-beat recordings of heart rate and blood pressure in patients undergoing carotid surgery revealed that hemodynamic stability was similar with remifentanil or sufentanil anesthesia both during and after surgery. Remifentanil was more effective in limiting the increase in blood pressure associated with intubation without increasing the blood pressure-lowering effect of induction or the blood pressure response to recovery.

Aged↗

[Representative observations of therapies in arterial hypertension].

An enquiry was conducted by 125 general practitioners in 1998 concerning 1,204 hypertensive patients (55.5% women, 71% aged 60 or over, 54% with normalised blood pressures). At the first visit (inclusion) the most frequently described therapeutic classes were: diuretics (19%), betablockers (19%), ACE inhibitors (14%), angiotensin II inhibitors (7%). The use of fixed associations was uncommon except for that of ACE inhibitors with diuretics (10.5%). The incidence of normalisation of blood pressure was the same in all therapeutic classes, about 55%, comparable to reported data; however, 42% of non-normalised patients were on monotherapy. Only 7.4% of patients had their treatment changed at inclusion: 3.8% of normalised and 11.2% of non-normalised hypertensives. This low incidence of change of treatment is partially explained by the patients' own opinion about the treatment of their hypertension. In fact, the majority of therapeutic changes is observed when the patient and the doctor both concur. This data on the treatment of hypertension confirms the respective usage of the main therapeutic classes but the limited number of treatment changes at inclusion does not allow yet assessment of these new choices. One year follow-up of this cohort to the second phase of results should provide important information with respect to this point.

Adult↗

[Tibio-talar arthrodesis: long term influence on the foot].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of tibiotalar arthrodesis on function, clinical and radiological tolerance, and subtalar joints. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 37 cases of tibiotalar arthrodesis in 27 young patients who were generally manual workers. Their mean age at surgery was 46 years and mean follow-up at review was 12.8 years (range 5-26 years). Functional outcome was assessed with the Duquennoy scale. We reviewed the anterioposterior and lateral weight-bearing views as well as the lateral view in dorsal and forced plantar flexion. RESULTS: Mean functional outcome was good and very good in 66% of the cases, fair in 30% and poor in one case. Total pain relief had been achieved in 45% of the cases with a mean walking distance of 1500 m without crutches. Residual mobility at last follow-up was 13 degrees for the mediotarsal joint. This mobility allowed the arthrodesed foot to adapt to gait. Radiologically, fusion had been achieved in 83% of the cases within 3 months. The overall functional score fell off proportionally with the degree of arthrodesis valgus starting at 5 degrees. Likewise pes equinus > 10 degrees led to pain and reduced motion. The subtalar joints were affected in all cases, leading to poor adaptation of the foot on uneven ground. Grade 1 osteoarthritis affected the mediotarsal joint and was more marked in case of equine fixation. DISCUSSION: Our results are similar to those reported in the literature. We had 4 cases of nonunion in patients with risk factors previously discussed in the literature. CONCLUSION: Arthrodesis remains a useful method for treating talocrural osteoarthritis, providing good long-term results. The position of the fixation should be 90 degrees in the sagittal plane and 0 degrees to 5 degrees valgus in the frontal plane.

Adult↗

The formation of chlorophyll from chlorophyllide in leaves containing proplastids is a four-step process.

The time course of the different esters of chlorophyllide (Chlide) during the formation of chlorophyll a (Chl) in embryonic bean leaves containing proplastids was investigated by HPLC. After the reduction of photoactive Pchlide (Pchlide) to Chlide, three intermediates, i.e. Chlide geranylgeraniol, Chlide dihydrogeranylgeraniol and Chlide tetrahydrogeranylgeraniol were detected before the formation of Chlide phytol, i.e. authentic Chl. The transformation of Chlide to Chl was found to be much faster in leaves containing proplastids than in etiolated leaves with etioplasts.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗

Two major flavonoids from Ballota nigra.

Two lactoylate flavonoids, luteolin-7-lactate and luteolin-7-glucosyl-lactate were isolated from Ballota nigra. They should be used for the chemical standardization of this drug of medicinal interest.

Journal Article↗

Conformational transition of acidic peptides exposed to minerals in suspension

Mineral surfaces probably participated in the chemical processes which led to life in the primitive oceans. The ordered conformations of simple acidic peptides exposed to insoluble minerals are described. Alternating poly(Glu-Leu) adopts a random coil conformation in water due to charge repulsion. The polypeptide extracts cations from insoluble crystalline CdS or molybdenum and adopts an ordered conformation. CdS leads to the formation of beta-sheets whereas molybdenum leads to alpha-helices. Peptides with at least 10-amino acids are necessary to exhibit a significative adsorption onto the surface. Under the same conditions, montmorillonite adsorbs the polypeptide but does not induce any conformational change.

Journal Article↗

Determination of absolute configurations of amines and amino acids using nonchiral derivatizing agents (NCDA) and deuterium NMR.

Enantiomeric analysis and empirical determination of the absolute configuration of amines and amino acids can be easily performed using acetyl-d(3) chloride as a nonchiral derivatizing agent (deuterium probe) and deuterium NMR in a chiral solvent (Courtieu's method). In the case of amino acids, derivatization to amido esters, performed with methanol-d(4) and acetyl-d(3) chloride, gives a double opportunity for enantiomeric analysis.

Amines↗

Endotoxaemia in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence and the bacteriological and clinical significance of endotoxaemia in ICU patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. DESIGN: Prospective review. SETTING: A 15-bed general ICU in a university hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred sixteen patients hospitalised in our ICU fulfilling Bone's criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock and with an available early endotoxin assay (chromogenic limulus assay). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The clinical characteristics of the population were: age 63.6 +/- 11.4 years; SAPS II: 45.4 +/- 15.6; mechanical ventilation: 72.4%; septic shock: 51.7% (n = 60); bacteraemia: 28.4% (n = 33); gram-negative bacteria (GNB) infection 47.4% (n = 55); ICU mortality: 39.6% (n = 46). Detectable endotoxin occurred in 61 patients (51.2%; mean level: 310 +/- 810 pg/ml). There was no relationship between detectable endotoxin and severity of infection at the moment of the assay. Endotoxaemia was associated with a higher incidence of bacteraemia (39.3% vs 16.3%; p = 0.01). There was a trend (p = 0.09) towards an association between positive endotoxin and gram-negative bacteraemia or GNB infection but this was non-significant. This relationship became significant only in the case of bacteraemia associated with GNB infection irrespective of the site of infection. CONCLUSION: Early detection of endotoxaemia appeared to be associated with GNB infection only in cases of bacteraemic GNB infection. Early endotoxaemia correlated neither to occurrence of organ dysfunction nor mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. This study suggests that the use of endotoxaemia as a diagnostic or a prognostic marker in daily practice remains difficult.

APACHE↗

Treatment of aortic arch dissection using the elephant trunk technique.

The elephant trunk technique was developed to facilitate multiple-stage treatment of extensive aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. However, little information is available concerning its usefulness for aortic dissection. From April 1992 to July 1998, we used the elephant trunk technique for treatment of aortic arch dissection in 22 patients (including 19 men) with a mean age of 58.5 years (range 21 to 85 years). Twelve patients presented with type A dissection (acute in 3 and chronic in 9), 3 with type B acute dissection, and 7 with "non A/non B" dissections with retrograde extension to the aortic arch or entry site located in the aortic arch without involvement of the ascending aorta. All patients had aneurysms of the descending (n = 7) or thoracoabdominal (n = 15) aorta. Procedures were performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest at between 15 degrees and 20 degrees C. Antegrade cerebral perfusion was used in three cases. The procedure was associated with aortic valve replacement and/or coronary bypass in 6 cases and bypass of one or more supraaortic vessels in 13. In two patients the distal end of the elephant trunk was attached with an endovascular prosthesis during the same procedure. The ensuing results in these patients indicate that the elephant trunk technique can be highly effective for treatment of complex aortic arch dissection.

Adult↗

Absence of relationship between plasma Lp(a), Lp-AI, anti-oxidized LDL autoantibodies, LDL immune complexes concentrations and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

To determine the relation between the concentration of Lp(a), LpAI, immunological markers of LDL oxidation (antioxidized-LDL autoantibodies (LDL-AB), LDL immune complexes (LDL-IC)) and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in a Caucasian population (France), we studied 77 consecutive patients who successfully underwent PTCA. All were evaluated by follow-up angiography at an average of 6 months after PTCA and were divided into two groups: existence of restenosis (32 patients, group (G+)) and absence of restenosis (45 patients, negative group (G-)). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was higher in the restenosis positive group than in the negative group (28% versus 2% respectively, P=0.001). Before and after adjustment in diabetes mellitus frequency there was no difference in the usual lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B) between the two groups of patients nor in the other parameters (Before adjustment: Lp(a): 0.306+/-0.352 g/l (G+) vs. 0.263+/-0.270 g/l (G-); LpAI: 0.414+/-0.126 g/l (G+) vs. 0.390+/-0.092 g/l (G-); LDL-AB: arbitrary unit (AU) 3.75+/-1.91 (G+) vs. 3.67+/-1.24 (G-); LDL-IC: (AU) 0.93+/-0.82 (G+) vs. 0.86+/-0.44 (G-)). Spearman correlation coefficients did not report any correlation between late loss, loss index, gain and the above mentioned plasma parameters. In conclusion, usual tested plasma lipids, Lp(a), LpAI and in vivo markers of LDL oxidation (LDL-AB and LDL-IC) are not risk factors for restenosis after PTCA in this French population.

Aged↗