Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Gaucher

Publications and source records attributed to P Gaucher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Alcoholic cirrhosis and cobalamin metabolism.

The cobalamin status of 27 patients suffering from alcoholic cirrhosis and 20 control subjects was analyzed. Plasma cobalamin (p < 0.005), total corrinoids (p < 0.005) and their analogs (p < 0.05) were all significantly elevated in the cirrhosis patients. These differences were due to increased haptocorrin (HC)-bound corrinoid (p < 0.02), which could be explained by a deficient hepatic clearance of cobalamin bound to HC. The increase in the concentration of true cobalamin was greater than that of its analogs. There were positive correlations between cholestasis (serum alkaline phosphatase) and plasma analog concentrations (p < 0.05), HC-bound cobalamin (p < 0.005) and total corrinoids bound to HC (p < 0.005). The plasma concentrations of the indicators of cobalamin deficiency, homocysteine (p < 0.05) and methylmalonic acid (p < 0.001), were increased, which could indicate poor cellular penetration of vitamin B12 or a defect in the activation of the two vitamin-B12-dependent enzymes.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗
PubMed1996

Crohn's disease and vitamin B12 metabolism.

The concentrations of vitamin B12, its analogs, and the haptocorrin and transcobalamin carriers in 21 patients suffering from Crohn's disease and a group of controls (20 adults) were measured. There were no significant differences in the mean values for vitamin B12, total corrinoids (vitamin B12 + analogs), or vitamin B12 or total corrinoids bound to haptocorrin or transcobalamin of the Crohn's and control patients. There was a significant increase in the binding capacity of transcobalamin in the Crohn's patients compared to the controls (P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the binding capacities of haptocorrin. The serum concentrations of the markers of vitamin B12 status, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid, showed an increase (P < 0.01) in homocysteine in the Crohn's disease patients, but no change in methylmalonic acid. As the hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with normal folate concentrations, there may have been a defect in the activation of the enzyme due to altered intracellular vitamin B12 status.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of resection, liver transplantation and transcatheter oily chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Resection and liver transplantation are currently considered as the most useful treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, transcatheter oily chemoembolization may be favourably compared with these two surgical treatments in patients with anatomically operable tumors. METHODS: Between 1985 and 1991, 122 patients with an Okuda stage I tumor were hospitalized in two French hospitals. Among these patients, 33 remained untreated, 42 were treated by transcatheter oily chemoembolization, 30 by resection and 17 by liver transplantation. The four groups were closely comparable except for age, the patients in the two surgical groups being significantly younger. Moreover, the frequency of pTNM II tumor was significantly higher in the resection group. RESULTS: The 5-year probability of survival was close to 45% in each of the three treated groups and was significantly higher than in the untreated group (0% at 4 years, p < 0.0001). The probability of cancer recurrence and/or metastatic dissemination was lower after transcatheter oily chemoembolization than after surgery. CONCLUSION: Thus, transcatheter oily chemoembolization seems comparable at 5 years with resection or transplantation for the treatment of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Agenesis of the right lobe of the liver and portal hypertension].

A case of agenesis of the right lobe of the liver associated with portal hypertension is reported. This uncommon feature was diagnosed by computed tomography which excluded secondary liver atrophy due to cirrhosis or tumour. The main pathophysiological hypothesis for agenesis and portal hypertension, exceptionally associated, is arrest of hepatic development during foetal life.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Studies on peroxisomes of colonic mucosa in Crohn's disease.

The etiology and pathogenesis of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel pathology, have not been elucidated yet. In particular, the behavior of peroxisomes in inflamed colonic mucosa has not been investigated despite their important role in cellular oxidative metabolism. Using cytochemistry at the ultrastructural level, we have observed these catalase-positive organelles. In addition, biochemical analyses have revealed the specific activities of catalase and cyanide-insensitive acyl-CoA oxidase. Mucosal biopsy specimens from inflamed and noninflamed areas of Crohn's patients were compared to control biopsies. We found that Crohn's disease was marked by an important diminution in the peroxisomal frequency per cell unit area. If catalase activity was not affected by this pathology, cyanide-insensitive acyl-CoA oxidase, an enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation system, was found diminished in inflamed and in noninflamed areas. In conclusion, our results showed that Crohn's disease is accompanied by peroxisomal modifications but the number and the enzyme activities of colonic peroxisomes are less deeply altered in Crohn's disease than during neoplasia. This fact suggests that a relation may exist between the degree of peroxisomal deficiency and the clinical severity of colonic disease.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗
PubMed1994

Artificial insemination in Houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata): influence of the number of spermatozoa and insemination frequency on fertility and ability to hatch.

Between 1989 and 1992, artificial insemination was used in the reproduction of two subspecies of Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii and Chlamydotis undulata undulata) at the National Wildlife Research Center, Taif. The laying period was between January and July and the mean annual egg production in C. undulata macqueenii was 10.2 and in C. undulata undulata was 7.6. No differences were found in sperm production between the two subspecies: the mean volume of ejaculate was 0.08 ml; the mean sperm concentration was 350 x 10(6) spermatozoa ml-1; and the mean number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was about 20 x 10(6). Large intra- and inter-individual variation was found in sperm parameters. Intra-individual variation in number of spermatozoa per ejaculate was due mainly to seasonal variation. The mean quantity of spermatozoa produced per week by fully sexually mature Houbara bustards was 165 x 10(6). There was no significant difference in fertility or in ability to hatch between the two subspecies. Overall, in 1992, mean fertility was 69.3% and 49.2% of eggs hatched. Females showed a median sperm storage duration of 10 days and a maximum sperm storage duration of 22 days. A positive correlation was found between fertility and quantity of spermatozoa inseminated (R = 0.99, P < 0.001). Sperm storage duration was related to the number of spermatozoa inseminated. The best results (85% fertile eggs) were obtained when more than 10(6) spermatozoa were inseminated between 3 and 6 days before laying. Analysis of hatching showed that embryo mortality increased when inseminations were performed more than 10 days before laying.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Hepatitis induced by alpidem (Ananxyl). Four cases, one of them fatal].

Acute hepatitis related to psychotropic drugs has been rarely reported with anxiolytic treatments. Alpidem (Ananxyl) is a new imidazopyridine derivative with anxiolytic properties which was launched in October 1991. Several cases of acute hepatitis, some severe, were described with this drug and its liver toxicity was questioned. Results of a study monitoring drug side-effects caused this drug to be withdrawn from the market for one year. We report four cases of acute hepatitis and discuss the role of alpidem. All but one case were presented as severe acute hepatitis with hepatic failure. One patient ran a fulminant course and died despite liver transplantation. The mechanism of liver toxicity remains unclear.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Pneumatosis cystoides of the colon: knowing how to recognize it. Apropos of 8 cases].

Eight cases of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) affecting the descending colon at first misdiagnosed in seven of them, are reported. The mechanism of cyst formation remains unclear but certain specific endoscopic and X-ray findings should help in differentiating PCI from other intramural tumors, i.e. polyposis. Diagnostic investigations and management approaches are described. No treatment is necessary in most instances because of the benign nature of PCI.

Adenomatous Polyps↗
PubMed1992

Relationship of insulin resistance to protein-energy malnutrition in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: effect of short-term nutritional support.

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and insulin resistance (IR) are common features of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC). In order to determine a relationship between them, nutritional status and glucose homeostasis were studied in 26 patients with ALC. Nutritional status was assessed through dietary, anthropometric, and biological parameters. An IR index (M/I) was obtained from the euglycemic insulin clamp technique. M/I was significantly correlated with accurate markers of PEM (albumin, transthyretin, and retinol-binding protein) but not with other markers of liver dysfunction. Nine patients were studied before and after nutritional support: M/I was significantly improved as were serum markers of PEM. Other markers of liver dysfunction were also significantly improved. These findings suggest that PEM could be responsible, in part, for IR in patients with ALC who are frequently malnourished. Moreover, nutritional support improved insulin sensitivity in these patients.

Anthropometry↗