Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Morand

Publications and source records attributed to P Morand.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

HIV-1 in blood monocytes: frequency of detection of proviral DNA using PCR and comparison with the total CD4 count.

In vivo infection of monocytes/macrophages by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been investigated in many studies since these cells were suggested to provide a reservoir for the virus. In this study, we wanted to find out whether HIV provirus could be detected in circulating monocytes and whether it could be compared with the provirus found in T lymphocytes (T-Ly). Twenty-one seropositive subjects were studied. The amplification method (PCR) was used with three different primer pairs (in gag, env, and long terminal repeat regions of the viral genome) to detect the HIV-1 genome in monocytes and T-Ly separated by an immunomagnetic isolation technique. Of 21 monocyte samples, 13 (61.9%) were positive with at least one primer pair. Furthermore, the provirus harboured in 9 of those 13 monocyte-positive samples differed, with respect to pattern of primer response, from the provirus found in T-Ly. When comparing primer responses of monocytes and T-Ly, most of the differences were found to have occurred with the env primers (8 of 9 cases). Dilution experiments with the 8 E5 cell line revealed that 9 of 12 T-Ly contained 15-150 HIV DNA copies per 150,000 cells while 8 of 11 positive monocytes contained less than 15 copies. However, monocyte samples from two asymptomatic individuals and an AIDS patient showed high levels of HIV DNA, comparable to those obtained in T-Ly. Finally, it was also found that the monocyte-positive subjects were more immunosuppressed than the negative ones, as shown by the total CD4 count of both groups (means of 269 T4/mm3 and 573 T4/mm3, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1992

Structure-activity studies of photoactivated antiviral and cytotoxic tricyclic thiophenes.

The photoactivated antiviral and cytotoxic activities of the naturally occurring thiophene, alpha-terthienyl (1), and 15 synthetic analogues were evaluated against murine cytomegalovirus and Sindbis virus, and murine mastocytoma cells. After irradiation with near UV light, alpha-terthienyl and most of its analogues had significant toxicity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations in the range of 0.02-40 microM. In the absence of near UV irradiation, only one analogue had antiviral activity and five were cytotoxic. The most active analogues were those containing carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or cyano substituents. Quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis of thiophene phototoxicity suggested that the rate of singlet oxygen production is the primary determinant of antiviral and cytotoxic activities. For phototoxicity against murine cytomegalovirus, a significant role for hydrophobicity was also demonstrated. Tricyclic thiophenes show significant potential for photochemotherapy of viral infections and cancer, and further evaluation in animal models is recommended.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1992

[Cardiovascular complications of interferon].

Interferon, a fairly recent drug, is used in some cancers and other diseases. The adverse effects include cardiotoxicity which was recognized from phase-I trials. Some of these complications are very common and not serious at the dose levels administered: transient hypotension at the beginning of the treatment, atrial extrasystole. Other effects are less common and not dangerous: low-level conduction impairment or reversible hypertension as the authors recalled. There are also a much more serious forms of toxicity which may be life-threatening, one of which seems to be dose-dependent and consists of the onset of cardiomyopathy, which is usually reversible when treatment is stopped, the other is uncontrollable and usually occurs in high-risk cardiac patients from the first few injections and results in sudden death induced by acute coronary artery failure and/or serious ventricular arrhythmia. The physiopathology of this cardiotoxicity remains unknown, but as it is known to exist, rigorous cardiological monitoring of all patients receiving this treatment is necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Hypolipidemic treatment after myocardial infarction].

Treatment of hyperlipidaemia is even more important after than before myocardial infarction. Currently available data should be confirmed by larger studies including women and lasting over 10 years. Analysis of the results would be facilitated by studying comparable groups with respect to left ventricular function and severity of the coronary disease. The total serum cholesterol should optimally be under 2 g/l and the LDL-cholesterol under 1.30 g/l. However, coronary artery disease is a multifactorial condition and the correction of only one predisposing factor, albeit a major one, is not sufficient for effective prevention.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Evaluation of anti-atheromatous properties of calcium channel inhibitors].

Calcium is involved in several biochemical atherogenesis processes and its activity is antagonised in cell and animal experimental models by all classes of slow channel calcium inhibitors. However, the doses required in animals to slow the development of atherosclerotic lesions are above therapeutically acceptable doses in man. The clinical relevance of their anti-atherosclerotic activity in the few clinical studies undertaken is difficult to assess because of the variable criteria of judgment used.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[How to evaluate the cost/effectiveness ratio of different therapies of coronary disease].

The results of epidemiologic studies on the efficacy of different strategies of prevention or improvement of the prognosis of coronary artery disease are generally expressed in terms of percentage reduction of risk; for example, the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia reduces the risk of coronary death by 21%. In order to improve the assessment of the efficacy of these approaches the authors propose to take into account the number of subjects which needs to be treated each year to prevent one cardiovascular event more than the control group (for example, in hypercholesterolaemia, 1,736 patients). This number depends on the reduction of risk and also on the incidence of complications in the control group. Using this method, the authors classified different therapeutic strategies in order of their efficacy: thrombolytic therapy in the acute phase of myocardial infarction, then aortocoronary bypass grafting of left main coronary or triple vessel disease, secondary prevention with stopping smoking, and betablocker therapy. Finally, primary prevention with anti-smoking campaigns, treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Based on this figure and knowing the annual cost of patient treatment, it is possible to calculate a cost-effectiveness ratio for each of these therapeutic interventions.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

[Cardiovascular manifestations of Cogan syndrome. Apropos of a case].

The authors describe a case of Cogan's syndrome in a patient with ulcerative colitis complicated by several cardiovascular manifestations including bilateral coronary ostial stenosis, rapidly progressive aortic regurgitation and aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, thrombosis of the common iliac artery and pericardial symphysis. This rare form of inflammatory arteritis, the diagnosis of which is usually made on the finding of associated ocular and auditory involvement, is distinct from other types of angiitis by the predisposition to severe cardiovascular complications which influence the vital prognosis. The differential diagnosis with more common collagen diseases with cardiovascular complications is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Nocturnal-diurnal changes of norepinephrine blood levels in patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency. Practical values].

The purpose of this study was to investigate circadian changes in noradrenaline (norepinephrine) levels in patients presenting with congestive heart failure. Eighteen patients were investigated with a group mean age of 66 years, 12 in NYHA class III and 6 in class IV. The cause of the heart failure was ischemia in 7 cases, valvular in 1 case and idiopathic in the other 10 cases. The mean follow-up time of the disease was 3.9 years. Six healthy volunteers were investigated following the same protocol. Blood samples were taken while the patient was lying down over a period of 24 hours, after installing a peripheral venous catheter. The assay was carried out by means of high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. In the controls, the mean noradrenaline level (norepinephrine) was 220 +/- 62 pg/ml, with daytime peaks. The heart failure patients showed a high mean level (230 +/- 404 pg/ml), with less daytime variability than the controls (92% vs 127%; p < 0.05). The 8 a.m. value was reproducible, and there was close correlation between this value and the mean value for the 24 hours (p < 0.001). Thus, the morning sample provides a good estimation of the levels over the 24 hours.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Efficacy of antihypertensive treatment in the French population. A multicenter survey].

In order to assess the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment in the population, a study was undertaken in 5 French cities during the commercial fairs of Grenoble, Marseilles, Nice, Toulouse and Lille. The blood pressure was measured according to the WHO recommendations in volunteers. The study included a total of 7107 subjects of both sexes, with 4064 subjects in the 35-64 year age group. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in the 791 hypertensive patients who knew their antihypertensive therapy. Taking < 160/95 mmHg as the criterion of efficacy, 52 to 73% of the hypertensive patients were well controlled. However, if the therapeutic objective of normalisation of the blood pressure (BP < 140/90 mmHg) is taken as the criterion of efficacy, only 23 to 29% of the hypertensive patients were controlled whilst their BP remained significantly higher than that of normotensive controls of the same age. The difference in efficacy of antihypertensive therapy between the cities may be explained by the heterogenicity of the populations whereas the treatment did not differ significantly. After adjustment analysis with respect to sex showed that women were better controlled than men whatever the criterion chosen. The group controlled at BP < 160/95 mmHg only differed from the group < 140/90 with respect to the average BP value which was higher before treatment and decreased less with treatment; though this did not achieve statistical significance. In matters of public health, if the ideal blood pressure is taken as < 140/90 mmHg, this study shows that the objective is only attained in one out of four patients in the population studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Gingival hyperplasia secondary to the use of calcium antagonists: analysis].

Calcium antagonists are drugs restricting transmembrane calcium delivery. They possess a wide range of action against vasoconstriction and spastic reactions and were therefore initially recommended for the treatment of angina pectoris. With the increasing number and classes of calcium antagonists new therapeutic indications have emerged. Cases of gingival hyperplasia associated with their use are repeatedly reported, therefore the question deserves to be restated. The aim of the present study was to discuss the clinical, pathologic and pathogenetic features bases on an investigation carried out in a Department of Cardiology, on a case observation and on review of published cases in the international literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Fungal myocarditis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

The authors report 8 cases of fungal myocarditis discovered at autopsy of a series of 118 patients with AIDS. The cardiac disease was symptomatic and responsible for death in 2 cases. Antemortem diagnosis of fungal infection was made on examination of bronchioloalveolar lavage, the cerebrospinal fluid or gastrointestinal biopsy. The demonstration of intramyocardial pathogens was postmortem in all cases. The organism was Candida albicans in 3 cases, Cryptococcus neoformans in 3 cases, and Aspergillus fumigatus in 2 cases. The lesions were not confined to the heart; multi-visceral fungal involvement was diagnosed at autopsy in all cases. Cryptococcal and Candida myocarditis have already been described in most autopsy series in AIDS, but Aspergillus myocarditis is very rare. These fungal myocarditis are usually clinically latent or masked by neurological or respiratory symptoms.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

[Cardiac toxicity of fluoro-uracil. Typical and atypical aspects. Apropos of 8 cases].

The cardiac toxicity of 5 fluoro-uracil, an antimitotic agent widely used in various protocols, has been known for 16 years. Several cases have been reported in the literature, leading to the suggestion, without formal evidence, that the chief mechanism responsible for this cardiac toxicity is "classical" coronary spasm. However, certain clinical aspects already described may shed doubt on this theory. On the basis of 8 cases, the authors report different clinical pictures all caused by cardiac toxicity of 5FU. It is of interest to note that chest pain with the classically described electrocardiographic changes did not apply in the majority of cases. The commonest pattern was asymptomatic electrocardiographic abnormalities and/or arrhythmias without angina. Among the reported cases, one patient had pain with electrocardiographic abnormalities, recurrent after the withdrawal of 5FU and resistant to maximal medical treatment, despite the absence of any coronary disease or signs of spasm. One patient had a first myocardial infarction, later rechallenge with the drug resulting in failure. In another patient, with known coronary disease, 5FU probably cause cardiogenic shock. In total, some of our cases, as well as other features described in the literature, raise questions as to the pathophysiology of the cardiac toxicity of 5FU.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[An unusual pericardial tumor: bronchogenic cyst].

The authors report the case of an intrapericardial bronchogenic cyst in a 42 year old woman with no cardiac symptoms. Despite extensive investigation, the final diagnosis was made only at anatomopathological examination. A pericardial localisation of this embryological tumour is very rare and a number of features of the condition are described. In this case, the carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) was a veritable marker of this tumour. This association, described for the first time, between a simple biological marker and an intrapericardial bronchogenic cyst, could be a valuable diagnostic aid in a pathology in which surgery could reasonably be deferred should the diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst be certain.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Modification of alpha-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis by the polyaldehyde derived from beta-cyclodextrine and alpha-amylase thermostability.

The cleavage of beta-cyclodextrine by sodium periodate at the seven 2-3 diols of the glucose unit gives rise to the polyaldehyde 1, used to modify alpha-amylase. The reductive modification of alpha-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis reduced the number of reactive lysine groups from 8 to 3.5 per mol of enzyme with an activity loss of 25% and increased the half-life at 80 degrees C from 4.7 to 7.0 minutes.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1991

Influence of beta-blockade on circulating plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylethylene glycol (MHPG) during exercise in moderate hypertension.

1. The effect of exercise testing and beta-blockade on plasma norepinephrine (PNE), and secretion of its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG), was assessed in 28 mild-to-moderate hypertensives before and after the administration of dilevalol, a new beta-blocker with beta 2-agonism. 2. This double blind, placebo-controlled study consisted of two successive submaximal exercise tests before and after the administration of a single oral dose of dilevalol (200 mg, 400 mg or 600 mg). Plasma norepinephrine levels were determined at rest, at 100 watts step of exercise and at maximal effort (Emax). 3. During the control test, mean PNE levels increased from 1.73 +/- 0.52 nmol/L (resting value) to 8.01 +/- 4.01 nmol/L at Emax (P less than 0.01) as MHPG levels increased from 11.18 +/- 1.33 nmol/L (rest) to 17.50 +/- 1.15 nmol/L (Emax, P less than 0.01). After dilevalol, PNE increased significantly as compared to controls (P less than 0.05), from 2.32 +/- 0.99 to 12.42 +/- 5.97 nmol/L (P less than 0.01). PNE and MHPG levels were correlated, both at rest and during exercise. PNE levels after beta-blockade were linearly related to the dose of beta-blocker administered. MHPG levels were unaltered by the administration of dilevalol, both before and after exercise. 4. The increase in MHPG that occurs during bicycle exercise is largely generated from an increase in central nervous system noradrenergic activity. While dilevalol increases the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, both at rest and during exercise (which is reflected by increases in PNE levels) the drug does not alter resting central nervous system noradrenergic activity nor amplify the increase in central noradrenergic activity that occurs during exercise.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗