Prediction of death in patients with burns.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
M Dumont
Publications and source records attributed to M Dumont.
Time course of narrow frequency bands in the waking EEG during sleep deprivation.
Electroencephalograms (EEGs) of 14 normal subjects were recorded every 2 h during 38 h constant routines. Adjacent narrow frequency bands (NFB) with similar temporal trends were grouped into frequency clusters. Clusters I (2.00-7.75 Hz) and III (11.00-14.75 Hz) exhibited similar time courses which may reflect both the duration of time awake and a circadian modulation. Cluster II (8.00-10.75 Hz) was characterized by a time course similar to the circadian modulation of core body temperature. Cluster V (18.00-24.75 Hz) was correlated with subjective sleepiness and may reflect the increasing effort made by subjects to perform the task as sleep deprivation lengthened. Various NFB in the waking EEG may reflect different physiological mechanisms underlying variations in vigilance states.
Adult↗
[Bilateral subungual metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a diagnostic trap!].
We report a bilateral metastasis of the fifth nail unit of the hand in a man with primary squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung. The presence of fingertip metastasis may be the first manifestation of an internal neoplasm and is related to a poor prognosis, with a survival rate of less than 50% after 6 months. Therefore, physicians should be aware of this condition when examining patients with similar unusual lesions.
Bone Neoplasms↗
Natural bright light exposure in the summer and winter in subjects with and without complaints of seasonal mood variations.
BACKGROUND: Considering the success of bright light therapy in seasonal affective disorders, it was suggested that seasonal mood disorders are triggered by decreased exposure to bright light in the winter; however, no previous studies have used objective measures to assess seasonal patterns of bright light illumination in subjects with seasonal mood variations. METHODS: Eleven subjects reporting seasonal mood variations and 8 control subjects had their levels of natural bright light (BL) exposure measured for 5-6 days with an ambulatory monitor during both the summer and winter, at a latitude of 45 degrees 31'N. RESULTS: Both groups received significantly more BL in the summer than in the winter, but there was no difference between the two groups for the pattern of BL exposure, including total duration, daily distribution, and amplitude of seasonal variation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that complaints of seasonal mood variations are not caused by a differential pattern in bright light exposure compared to normals. It is possible, however, that some individuals are more sensitive than others to variations in natural bright light. Whether an increased vulnerability is due to a more fragile affective state or to a lower sensitivity to light remains to be determined.
Adult↗
Poly A-containing histone H4 mRNA variant (H4-v. 1): isolation and sequence determination from bovine adrenal medulla.
A histone H4 cDNA variant (H4-v.1) was cloned from a bovine adrenal medullary phage library using PCR as a method of detection. The isolated clones contained a short 5' untranslated region (UTR) followed by the histone H4 coding region and a long atypical 3'UTR. The 3'UTR comprised the palindromic and purine-rich sequences typical of cell-cycle dependent histone mRNAs, and a 1.1 kb extension downstream of the palindromic sequence ending with a poly(A) track typical of cell-cycle independent histone mRNAs. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses indicate that the transcript is fully expressed in bovine adrenal medulla. Thus, bovine histone H4-v.1 mRNA represents the first example of a histone H4 transcript that contains both 3'UTR characteristics of cell-cycle dependent and cell-cycle independent histone mRNAs.
Adrenal Medulla↗
Characterization of the high affinity [3H]nociceptin binding site in membrane preparations of rat heart: correlations with the non-opioid dynorphin binding site.
The binding parameters of [3H]nociceptin were examined in membrane preparations of rat heart and compared with those of [3H]dynorphin A-(1-13) ([3H]Dyn A-(1-13)). Scatchard analysis of [3H]nociceptin binding revealed the presence of two distinct sites: a high affinity (Kd: 583 nM) low capacity (Bmax: 132 pmol/mg protein) site and a low affinity (Kd: 10,316 nM) high capacity (1552 pmol/mg protein) site. Dyn A and related peptides were potent competitors of the binding to the high affinity site with the following rank order of potency: alpha-neo-endorphin > Dyn A-(2-13) = Dyn A-(3-13) > Dyn A-(5-13) > Dyn A-(1-13) > Dyn A > Dyn B > Dyn A-(6-10) >> Dyn A-(1-8). Nociceptin was 6.7 times less potent than Dyn A with a Ki of 4.8 microM as compared with 0.72 microM for Dyn A. The order of potency of the various peptides in inhibiting [3H]nociceptin binding correlated well (r = 0.93) with their ability to complete with the binding of [3H]Dyn A-(1-13) (Dumont and Lemaire, 1993). In addition, the high affinity [3H]nociceptin and non-opioid [3H]Dyn A-(1-13) sites were both sensitive to NaCl (120 mM) and the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors, U-73122 and neomycin (100 microM). The binding activities were less affected by the weak PLC inhibitor, U-73343, and no effect was observed with the non-hydrolysable GTP analogs. Gpp(NH)p and GTP-gamma-S. Nociceptin (1-50 microM) was also shown to inhibit the uptake of [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) by cardiac synaptosomal preparations. In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the potency of nociceptin in inhibiting [3H]NA uptake was increased by 1.6-fold as compared with Wistar Kyoto (WKY) control rats and such effect was accompanied by comparable increased levels of cardiac ORL1 mRNA and [3H]nociceptin high affinity sites. These changes correlated well with the previously observed increased levels of non-opioid cardiac [3H]Dyn A-(1-13) sites in SHR (1.3 times as compared with WKY) and increased potency of Dyn A-(1-13) in inhibiting [3H]NA uptake by cardiac synaptosomes in SHR (2.2-fold as compared with WKY) (Dumont and Lemaire, 1995). The results demonstrate that in rat heart the characteristics of the high affinity, low capacity [3H]nociceptin binding site are similar to those of the non-opioid Dyn binding site. The stimulation of this site by nociceptin, Dyn A or related peptides is more likely to produce a modulation of PLC activity and [3H]NA uptake and may participate to the pathophysiology of hypertension.
Animals↗
Bone mineral density in French Canadian women.
This cross-sectional study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck in French Canadian women residing in the Quebec city area. Data collection was initiated in 1988 and completed in 1994. A total of 747 French Canadian Caucasian women (16-79 years of age) with no metabolic bone disease were evaluated. BMD measurements were obtained using dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Anthropometric measures such as weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Medical files provided information on demographic characteristics, hormonal profile and lifestyle habits. Results show a curvilinear trend of BMD with aging. Furthermore, the peak BMD at the lumbar spine (L2-4) was reached at 29 years followed by a stable phase until 35 years, after which BMD started to decrease. The pattern of bone evolution at the femoral neck was different, peak BMD being achieved earlier, at 21 years, while after age 26 years a significant decrease was already observed. Women older than 60 years showed the lowest BMD. Regression analysis showed that age, weight and height are determinants of BMD at the lumbar spine and explained 33.9% of inter-individual variation. At the femoral neck, 29.1% of variation was explained by age and height only. In conclusion, our data suggest that French Canadian women have a different pattern of bone loss at the femoral neck compared with the lumbar spine, according to their mean BMD values.
Adolescent↗
Daytime vigilance after morning bright light exposure in volunteers subjected to sleep restriction.
This study was designed to test the hypothesis that bright light (BL) can have a stimulating effect on vigilance even in the absence of suppression of melatonin secretion and that this effect can be detected when measured in subjects with low vigilance levels. Seven normal subjects were exposed to bright-white light (BL group) and seven to dim-red light (DL group) on 2 consecutive days, each following a night of 4-h sleep restriction. The light treatment was administered in the late morning, between 0900 and 1330 hours. Salivary melatonin measurements indicated that BL did not suppress melatonin secretion or induce circadian phase shifts. The effects of the two treatments were compared on validated measures of daytime vigilance: immediate effects were evaluated on subjective alertness during the light treatment, whereas short-term (0.5-10.5 h) and long-term (20.5-34.5 h) carryover effects were measured on subjective alertness, daytime sleep latencies (DSL), and psychomotor performance. After two nights of sleep restriction, subjective alertness and daytime sleep latencies decreased significantly, but there was no effect of the light treatment. BL treatment did not affect global performance, but there was an effect on the strategy used by the subjects, as shown by faster reaction times and increased percentage of errors in the BL group. It was concluded that daytime BL exposure did not have a stimulating effect on our measures of vigilance even in sleep-deprived subjects but that it may increase physiological arousal and affect the subjects' behavior in some specific performance tasks.
Adult↗
Seasonal and diurnal patterns of human illumination under natural conditions.
Little is known about the natural pattern of seasonal and diurnal illumination to which normal people are exposed, especially in northern latitudes. In this study, ambient illumination of normal volunteers living at a latitude of 45 degrees 31' N was recorded with ambulatory photosensors worn for 5 to 6 days in winter and summer. Results from 12 normal subjects (6 men, 6 women) aged 18 to 35 years were included in the analyses. The mean daily duration of time awake was similar in both seasons: 14.6h in the summer and 14.9h in the winter. However, the phase of the sleep-wake cycle was advanced in the summer compared to the winter, as shown by an earlier average waketime and bedtime in the summer. Illumination recorded by the ambulatory monitor between waketime and bedtime was categorized according to four ranges of light intensities: very dim (< 1 lux), dim (1-100 lux), moderate (100-1000 lux), and bright (> 1000 lux) illumination. There was no seasonal difference for the time spent in illumination lower than 1000 lux, but the duration of daily exposure to bright light averaged 2.6h in the summer compared to only 0.4h in the winter (p = 0.0004). To evaluate the diurnal distribution of ambient illumination, time spent awake was divided into four time intervals: morning (waketime to 12:00), afternoon (12:00 to 16:00), early evening (16:00 to 20:00), and late evening (20:00 to bedtime). Except for late evening, the time spent in bright illumination was significantly longer during the summer for all time intervals, but the relative distribution of bright light exposure throughout the day was the same in both seasons. The subjects spent more than 50% of their time awake in illumination dimmer than 100 lux, even in the summer. More naturalistic studies are needed to determine whether very short exposure to bright light or longer exposure to light of moderate intensity (100-1000 lux) are sufficient to maintain circadian entrainment and euthymia in normal young subjects.
Adult↗
[Non-obstructive azoospermia and ICSI].
50 cases of non obstructive azoospermia required testicular sperm extraction and ICSI. Results are promising but ability to find spermatozoa remains questionable. Further studies are necessary to improve success of the method. Genetic research also need to be developed for better understanding the process.
Cryopreservation↗
Expression of the liver Na+-independent organic anion transporting polypeptide (oatp-1) in rats with bile duct ligation.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In rats with cholestasis due to bile duct ligation, the expression of the Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide, the major uptake system for conjugated bile acids in hepatocytes, is down-regulated. Our purpose was to examine the expression of the organic anion transporting polypeptide, a Na+-independent uptake system for bile acids and organic anions, in rats with bile duct ligation, and to compare the expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide to that of Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide. METHODS: Rats with bile duct ligation were studied after 1, 3 or 7 days. The expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide and Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide proteins was examined by Western blot analysis and steady-state mRNA levels were determined by Northern blot analysis using cDNAs encoding organic anion transporting polypeptide and Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide. Sham-operated animals were used as controls. RESULTS: The expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide protein was slightly, but not significantly, decreased 1 day after ligation (10.3%); it was markedly decreased after 3 days (56.9%; p<0.03) and 7 days (46.8%; p<0.05) compared to sham-operated animals. Steady-state mRNA levels of organic anion transporting polypeptide were decreased by 79.7% (p<0.04), 48.8% (p<0.02) and 57.4% (p<0.02) after 1, 3 and 7 days respectively. For comparison, Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide protein and mRNA levels were decreased by 73.8% (p<0.03) and 70.0% (p<0.05) at 1 day and remained low after 3 and 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: In rats with bile duct ligation, the expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide protein and mRNA is down-regulated. Down-regulation of organic anion transporting polypeptide seems less pronounced than that of Na+-dependent taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide. Nevertheless, it could contribute to a decreased uptake of potentially toxic bile acids or organic anions in this situation.
Animals↗
Opioid and nonopioid cardiovascular effects of dynorphins.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Daytime sleep propensity after moderate circadian phase shifts induced with bright light exposure.
Moderate circadian phase shifts were induced by 3 days of bright light exposure, without changing the habitual sleep schedule. Daytime sleep propensity was evaluated with multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) conducted before and after the light treatment. Phase shifts were estimated using the core body temperature rhythm recorded during constant routines. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the timing of the bright light exposure. Morning bright light exposure (Morning group) advanced the circadian phase by about 1.2 hours, evening bright light (Evening group) delayed the circadian phase by 1.6 hours on average; whereas, bright light administered in the afternoon (Afternoon group) did not change the circadian phase. After the light treatment, daytime sleep latencies decreased in the Evening and Afternoon groups, but did not change in the Morning group. Reduced sleep latencies in the Afternoon group probably reflect an increase in the manifest sleep tendency induced by the protocol itself. It is suggested that, in the presence of a high physiological sleep tendency, a moderate circadian phase delay may increase further daytime sleep propensity, whereas a moderate circadian phase advance may help to maintain daytime sleep propensity at a lower level.
Adolescent↗
Nonexocytotic noradrenaline release from rat cardiac synaptosomal-mitochondrial fractions.
Nonexocytotic noradrenaline (NA) release was examined in rat cardiac synaptosomal-mitochondrial fractions prelabeled with [3H]NA (300 nM; 1 h at 37 degrees C). Ischemic conditions (1 mM iodoacetate + 2 mM NaCN; 15 min at 37 degrees C) evoked a Ca(2+)-independent release of [3H]NA from isolated synaptosomes, which represented 33.4% of total content, whereas the release evoked by 56 mM K+ was Ca2+ dependent and represented 5.8% of total content. Tyramine, phencyclidine (PCP), and rimcazole also caused important Ca(2+)-independent releases of [3H]NA (from 12 to 45% of total content) with median effective concentrations (EC50s) of 6.8, 182, and 41.8 microM, respectively. The release responses evoked by ischemic conditions, tyramine, PCP, and rimcazole were mimicked by the delta-receptor ligand, 1,3-ditolyl guanidine (DTG), and blocked by the uptake 1 inhibitor, desipramine (100 microM). The delta 1-receptors ligands, (+)-3-hydroxyphenyl-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)-3-PPP) and (+)N-allylnormetazocine [(+)SKF-10047], were potent blockers of the release of [3H]NA evoked by ischemic conditions but not by PCP or rimcazole. These data indicate that ischemic conditions and PCP/delta 2-receptor ligands induce carrier-mediated NA efflux from cardiac sympathetic nerve terminals, whereas delta 1-receptor ligands produce marked inhibition of the ischemic response.
Animals↗
Design of potent dynorphin A-(1-9) analogues devoid of supraspinal motor effects in mice.
Four analogues of dynorphin (Dyn) A-(1-9) incorporating D-Leu in position 8 alone or in combination with the nonhydrolysable psi [CS-NH] thiopeptide bond surrogate between positions 6 and 7 were tested in vitro for their ability to compete with the binding of selective kappa, mu, and delta opioid ligands, using membrane preparations of guinea pig cerebellum (kappa) and rat brain (mu and delta), for their ability to block the electrically induced contractions of the guinea pig ileum, and for their in vivo antinociceptive (writhing test) and motor (motor dysfunction assay) activities in mice. [D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) displayed an affinity and a selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor that were comparable with those of Dyn A-(1-9). The potencies of [D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) in the guinea pig ileum, writhing, and motor dysfunction assays were markedly enhanced (8-12 fold) compared with those of Dyn A-(1-9). [6 psi 7(CS-NH),D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9), [Lys6, 6 psi 7(CS-NH),D-Leu8] Dyn A-(1-9), and [Leu6, 6 psi 7(CS-NH), D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) were somewhat less potent than [D-Leu8]Dyn A-(1-9) in all opioid assays. However, the thiopeptides were more potent analgesics than Dyn A-(1-9)(ED50 of 29.5, 23.9, and 15.5 nmol/mouse, respectively, compared with 90.7 nmol/mouse for Dyn A-(1-9)) and caused little or no motor impairment at analgesic doses.
2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
[Effects of micronized natural progesterone on the liver during the third trimester of pregnancy].
In France, prescription of micronized progesterone at high doses of 900 to 1200 mg/day is common practice in the case of preterm delivery, even though this is neither an indication nor a posology given for marketing authorisation. A few cases of gestational pruritus have been reported during such use, associated with cholestasic and/or cytolytic hepatic disorders. We report here the results of a controlled, double-blind study versus a placebo, aimed at assessing the effects on the liver of micronized progesterone administered orally at high doses (900-1200 mg/day), conducted in a population of 201 women presenting moderate menace of preterm delivery during the third trimester of pregnancy. 85 patients received micronized progesterone and 116 the placebo. The increase above normal levels of total biliary acids (TBA) and aminotransferases (ASAT, ALAT), was significantly more frequent in the micronized progesterone than in the placebo group. Among the 26 patients (14%) with a level of TBA superior to 10 mumoles/l during treatment, 18 belonged to the progesterone and 8 to the placebo group (p = 0.004); the 6 patients (3.4%) with increased ASAT were all under micronized progesterone (p < 0.001), as were the 10 patients (5.6%) with increased ALAT (p < 0.001). However, there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the occurrence of clinical manifestations (icterus, pruritus) which could be attributed to gravid cholestasis. We may conclude from this prospective study that, during the third trimester of pregnancy, micronized progesterone is associated with a significant risk of biological cholestasis. This would suggest that in patients genetically predisposed towards gravid cholestasis, micronized progesterone could be a factor favoursing this disease.
Adult↗
Sleep Quality of Former Night-shift Workers.
This study explored the relationship between past night-shift work and present quality of sleep, first by a survey and second with standard laboratory recordings. Nurses (n = 479) working on a day or evening schedule answered a questionnaire about past night-shift work and present quality of sleep. An insomnia index, derived from the questionnaire, was elevated for nurses who had worked more than five nights per month for four to ten years. The index was low for the 13 nurses who had worked more than ten years on night shifts. The sleep of 15 day nurses was recorded in the laboratory. Results showed that a high insomnia index was associated with a high number of awakenings, and that former night-shift workers had a significant reduction in slow-wave sleep, whether or not they had subjective sleep complaints. These results suggest that working at night may have persistent deleterious effects on sleep quality when the experience is long and includes a substantial number of night shifts.
Journal Article↗
Generation of an integrated transcription map of the BRCA2 region on chromosome 13q12-q13.
An integrated approach involving physical mapping, identification of transcribed sequences, and computational analysis of genomic sequence was used to generate a detailed transcription map of the 1. 0-Mb region containing the breast cancer susceptibility locus BRCA2 on chromosome 13q12-q13. This region is included in the genetic interval bounded by D13S1444 and D13S310. Retrieved sequences from exon amplification or hybrid selection procedures were grouped into physical intervals and subsequently grouped into transcription units by clone overlap. Overlap was established by direct hybridization, cDNA library screening, PCR cDNA linking (island hopping), and/or sequence alignment. Extensive genomic sequencing was performed in an effort to understand transcription unit organization. In total, approximately 500 kb of genomic sequence was completed. The transcription units were further characterized by hybridization to RNA from a series of human tissues. Evidence for seven genes, two putative pseudogenes, and nine additional putative transcription units was obtained. One of the transcription units was recently identified as BRCA2 but all others are novel genes of unknown function as only limited alignment to sequences in public databases was observed. One large gene with a transcript size of 10.7 kb showed significant similarity to a gene predicted by the Caenorhabditis elegans genome and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome sequencing efforts, while another contained a motif sequence similar to the human 2',3' cyclic nucleotide 3' phosphodiesterase gene. Several retrieved transcribed sequences were not aligned into transcription units because no corresponding cDNAs were obtained when screening libraries or because of a lack of definitive evidence for splicing signals or putative coding sequence based on computational analysis. However, the presence of additional genes in the BRCA2 interval is suggested as groups of putative exons and hybrid selected clones that were transcribed in consistent orientations could be localized to common physical intervals.
BRCA2 Protein↗