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Biomedical subjects

M Franck

Publications and source records attributed to M Franck.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Velocimetric and biochemical fetal effects of placental embolisation using microspheres in ewes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability of our animal model and study the fetal response to placental ischemia. STUDY DESIGN: Eight monofetal pregnant ewes were fitted with appliances in conformity with a previously defined operating protocol which we have developed. Microspheres at different concentrations were injected through the fetal face of the placenta. The extent of this embolisation was evaluated using biochemical (acid-base balance) and velocimetric criteria (umbilical and carotid arteries). RESULTS: Five fetuses received high concentrations of microspheres and developed acute fetal distress (pH = 6.8 +/- 0.05; PO2 = 6.7 +/- 0.4; (S - D)/S (U.A.) = 1.0; (S - D)/S (C.D.) = 0.58 +/- 0.05). Three fetuses received lower concentrations of microspheres and developed chronic fetal distress (pH = 7.2 +/- 0.02; PO2 = 15 +/- 1; (S - D)/S (U.A.) = 0.75 +/- 0.09; (S - D)/S (A.C.) = 0.62 +/- 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our experimental model is able to reproduce acute and chronic fetal distress. The concentration of microspheres used to create chronic distress is currently understood. Long-term fetal compensation mechanisms prevent the evaluation of risks linked to each degree of chronic distress in utero. The subsequent aim is to obtain a correlation between velocimetric observations and acid-base balance data.

Animals↗

[Which patients benefit from treatment with respiratory feedback?].

The physiological and psychological data of 82 patients with essential hypertension, who participated in the treatment group of a respiratory feedback (RFB) evaluation (Franck et al. 1994), were examined, using clusteranalysis, to detect and to describe therapy responders and nonresponders. For patients with usual personality characteristics, active coping strategies and interest in games and technics the best blood-pressure decrease (systolic bp: 13.05 mmHg, diastolic bp: 10.63 mmHg) was found. Furthermore patients, who stopped RFB-treatment have been compared with patients, who finished the treatment program. Patients, who stopped the RFB-treatment, had more psychological symptoms in the sense of psychosomatic complaints.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗

Pulsatility improves hemodynamics during fetal bypass. Experimental comparative study of pulsatile versus steady flow.

BACKGROUND: The main advantage of pulsatile flow compared with steady flow during cardiopulmonary bypass is to prevent a rise in systemic vascular resistances. We hypothesized that pulsatile flow could overcome the progressive rise in peripheral and placental vascular resistances observed during fetal bypass and leading to progressive irreversible hypoxemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: A study was undertaken in 17 fetal lambs (110 to 140 days of gestation). Fetal bypass was established for a 30-minute period through right atrial and main pulmonary artery cannulation. The circuit had no oxygenator. Flow was delivered by a standard roller pump for the continuous study (group 1, n = 9) or by a centrifugal pulsatile pump for the pulsatile study (group 2, n = 8). Oxymetric and hemodynamic parameters, along with organ blood flow determined by radiolabeled microspheres counting, were recorded before (T1) and after 10 minutes (T2) and 30 minutes (T3) of bypass. SaO2 and PaO2 were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 at T2 but thereafter deteriorated similarly in both groups, whereas PCO2 remained unchanged. Pump flow in group 2 was significantly higher than in group 1 at T2 and T3 (957.6 +/- 49 and 1104 +/- 152 versus 437.6 +/- 23 and 467.8 +/- 43 mL/min, respectively). Systemic vascular resistances during pulsatile bypass were also significantly lower than in group 1 at T2 (402 +/- 12 versus 930 +/- 79 dynes/sec/cm-5) and T3 (374 +/- 60 versus 1017 +/- 192 dynes/sec/cm-5). At T2 and T3, all individual blood flows except the brain but including the placenta were statistically higher in group 2 than in group 1. Placental vascular resistances gradually increased during bypass in group 1 to reach 2.9 +/- 0.2 mm Hg.mL-1.min-1.kg-1 at T3 and remained approximately stable in group 2 during 30 minutes of pulsatile bypass, varying from 0.35 +/- 0.02 to 1.26 +/- 0.14 from T2 to T3 (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that pulsatile flow for 30 minutes of bypass in a fetal lamb preparation temporarily prevents the progressive hypoxemia observed under steady-flow bypass. Pulsatile flow allows higher pump flow through a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistances. Individual organ blood flow, including placenta, was significantly higher under pulsatile bypass. With technical improvements in the design of pulsatile devices adapted to more physiological beat rates, pulsatility may become a valuable adjunct to overcome placental dysfunction observed during experimental fetal cardiac surgery.

Animals↗

[Preservation today].

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Preservatives, Pharmaceutical↗

[An experimental animal model for inducing fetal distress during pregnancy].

In order to try to understand and treat efficiently pathology in the human pregnant woman the authors have carried out experimental work on animals. Twenty four pregnant ewes with a single fetus were operated on in the last trimester of pregnancy. Fetal distress was provoked by injecting microspheres into the aorta beneath the renal arteries via the femoral route. The first results in terms of survival, by chemical and Doppler measurements were very encouraging. The operation itself was not a significantly disturbing factor, but the injection of microspheres did cause fetal distress. This experiment should be continued.

Acute Disease↗

Cloning and characterization of a cold- and ABA-inducible Arabidopsis gene.

We have identified by differential screening a novel Arabidopsis thaliana gene, called kin1, which is induced at +4 degrees C. The nucleotide sequences of both the genomic clone and the corresponding cDNA were determined. The deduced 6.5 kDa polypeptide has an unusual amino acid composition being rich in alanine, glycine and lysine. The gene belongs to a family of at least two genes. Northern blot analysis revealed that the level of kin1 mRNA is increased 20-fold in cold-treated plants. In addition to being expressed in cold, kin1 is also induced by water stress and the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) which has been suggested to be a common mediator for osmotic stress responses and cold acclimation in plants. Sequence comparisons showed that the kin1 gene product has similarities to fish antifreeze proteins (AFPs).

Abscisic Acid↗

Gene fusions to lacZ reveal new expression patterns of chimeric genes in transgenic plants.

The lacZ gene of Escherichia coli, coding for beta-galactosidase, is a widely used reporter gene for gene expression studies in microbial and animal systems. To demonstrate that it is also a powerful reporter gene in plants, lacZ was fused to 5' regulatory elements of several genes known to be functional in plant cells. By measuring LacZ activities in transgenic plants containing these gene constructs, we showed that the reporter is correctly monitoring the regulatory properties of the well-characterized promoters fused to lacZ. beta-Galactosidase was assayed directly in plant extracts when they contained high levels of LacZ or, when LacZ was expressed at low level, by separating the endogenous and LacZ activities electrophoretically and detecting the enzymes with a fluorogenic substrate. The most outstanding property of the marker is its amenability to histochemical detection. Due to its stability, LacZ can be fixed in the tissue with glutaraldehyde without loss of activity and detected with high resolution by using XGal. We could reveal expression patterns unnoticed earlier for many of the regulatory elements studied. The chlorophyll a/b binding protein gene, expressed at very high levels in green tissues, is also expressed at a low level in the vascular cylinder of the root. The Agrobacterium T-DNA gene encoding octopine synthase is especially active in the epidermis of the root tip and the TR2' gene was shown to be root specific in the intact plant and stimulated by wounding in the leaf tissue. The TR1' gene, fused to nptII, shows similar characteristics suggesting co-regulation of this tightly linked dual promoter.

Chimera↗

Predominance of bacteriophage SP82 over bacteriophage SP01 in mixed infections of Bacillus subtilis.

In mixed infections with Bacillus subtilis phages SP82 and SP01, the SP82 genotype is predominant among the progeny. This predominance is determined by a specific region of the genome, the pos region, which apparently is located near genes 29 to 32 (by the SP01 numbering system). Recombination between SP82 and SP01 yields phage which have both the SP82 pos region and an SP01 mutation. This mutation then behaves in mixed infection as if it were part of an SP82 genome.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Echocardiographic appearance of flail aortic valve in a dog with infective endocarditis.

A 4-year-old female Boxer was suffering from aortic valve endocarditis with perforation of the right coronary cusp resulting in a flail aortic cusp and subsequent acute aortic insufficiency. This flail aortic cusp was observed on M mode and two-dimensional endocardiograms as a free linear echostructure in the left ventricular outflow tract. Although rarely observed, a free linear echostructure seems more specific of a flail aortic valve than a shaggy echostructure, which can represent a free moving vegetation and thus be confusing. Severe acute aortic insufficiency resulted in an uncommon abnormal mitral valve motion in the absence of early mitral diastolic opening. The absence of early mitral valve opening was thought to be a consequence of coupled aortic regurgitation, reduced left ventricular compliance, and presumably delayed mitral valve opening secondary to coronary artery occlusion. An exaggerated septal diastolic dip accounted for the decreased transmitral inflow. All the usual contractility parameters were within normal range; subsequently, mitral valve motion alterations seem to be more reliable indicators of left ventricular dysfunction during acute aortic insufficiency.

Animals↗

[Relaxation therapy with respiratory feedback in patients with essential hypertension].

During a stationary rehabilitation program for four to six weeks 170 patients with essential hypertension participated in a respiratory feedback (RFB) evaluation. 91 patients were treated with this relaxation therapy and compared with 79 controls. Furthermore the anti-hypertensive medication was controlled. One treatment group (without antihypertensive medication) had a higher systolic blood-pressure decrease than controls. In both treatment groups psychological effects in the sense of more positive mood and less physical complaints were found.

Antihypertensive Agents↗