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Biomedical subjects

A Blanc

Publications and source records attributed to A Blanc.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Improving the prenatal diagnosis of citrullinemia using citrulline/ornithine+arginine ratio in amniotic fluid.

Prenatal diagnosis of citrullinemia is performed using a direct argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) assay on chorionic villi (CV) and citrulline concentration measurement in early amniotic fluid (AF). Here we report the results of 40 prenatal diagnoses performed using this method, discuss the difficulties encountered in interpreting the results, and propose the use of the citrulline/ornithine+arginine ratio (which is more discriminatory than citrulline concentration alone) when performing prenatal diagnosis of citrullinemia.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed2001

The effect of incarceration on prisoners' perception of their health.

The aim of the study is to assess the quality of life among male prisoners using the French version of the Nottingham Health Profile, then to investigate the influence of incarceration on emotional reaction. Before the obligatory medical examination at reception into prison, self-administration by prisoners of the French version of the Nottingham Health Profile. Two prisons in Toulouse (south-western France) are concerned: 199 men are included. The score of each dimension on the French version of the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire and the responses to questions on socio-demographic and penal characteristics and results of medical survey have been studied. The response rate and rate of completion for each dimension are excellent (100%). Considerable evidence is found for the reliability of the Nottingham Health Profile (Cronbach a > 0.72 for all dimensions except energy 0.64 and physical mobility 0.64) and for construct validity in terms of distinguishing between groups with expected health differences. Three variables concerning aspects of life in prison are correlated with variation of the emotional reaction dimension. The Nottingham Health Profile can be used in prison populations. It is easy to use, acceptable to inmates, and fulfils stringent criteria of reliability and validity. It allows recognition of the factors correlated with variation of emotional reaction classically connected with suicidal behaviour in prison.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cytological detection of spermatozoa: comparison of three staining methods.

Sperm detection can be an important factor in confirming sexual assault in cases of rape. This paper compares three of the most commonly used staining methods cited in the scientific literature: Christmas tree. hematoxylin-eosin, and alkaline fuchsin. The population studied was composed of 174 consenting women seen at the Male Infertility Center in Toulouse. France. The date of their last sexual intercourse was accurately known. Alkaline fuchsin did not seem effective in detecting spermatozoa in vaginal samples. Compared with hematoxylin-eosin, Christmas tree stain appeared to be the most useful test in the first 72 h. Two external factors were associated with decreased detection of spermatozoa: time since in tercourse and sperm volume.

Coloring Agents↗
PubMed2000

Establishing the dose-dependent daily variations of a low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine) through a population approach analysis in the rat.

The effects of dose and dosing time on the anticoagulant activity of a low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine) were studied in rats. Three doses were administered at four evenly spaced dosing times. Rats were kept under a light-dark cycle of 24h, and all the main external factors were constant. The bleeding time, the anti-Xa activity of the drug, and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were measured. A population approach analysis to assess daily variations was used. With standard methods, interindividual variability may mask potential time-related effects, while the population approach analysis overcomes this difficulty. Bleeding time was at its peak at 04:00 and at its trough at 22:00, suggesting that platelet activity was time of day dependent. For the pharmacological activity of the drug, we compared several pharmacokinetic models derived from a monocompartmental model. The model that describes the anti-Xa pharmacological activity best is expressed through parameters that depend on animal weight and drug level. The model for APTT is of a sinusoidal type for which the clearance depends on the dosing time. The most inter esting result is that the amplitude of this daily variation is linearly dependent on drug level.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

[Maximum flow meters].

The use of maximum fluid measuring instruments is a simple technique which enables one to monitor the state of air passages in patients suffering from respiratory diseases, and from asthma in particular. The use of these instruments, although simple, requires a special technique in order to evaluate changes observed over a long period of time. Graphing the numerical values obtained through observation aids in the interpretation of these values. These measurements can become a useful factor in the diagnosis, classification and treatment of asthmatic patients. Proper maintenance of these instruments is of vital importance so that they function correctly. All of these factors come into play to contribute to making maximum fluid measuring instruments become "respiratory thermometers".

Asthma↗
PubMed1998

Bayesian calculation of methotrexate clearance after low dose intramuscular administration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine a pharmacokinetic procedure (Bayesian method) for estimation of methotrexate (MTX) clearance, using only 2 blood samples, in outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose intramuscular (i.m.) MTX. METHODS: Population pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by the weighted least squares (WLSQ) method in plasma samples from 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In each patient, 11 samples were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay, at Time 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after i.m. administration. These measures were validated by pharmacokinetic studies in 20 other patients with RA. Individual total body clearance of MTX was calculated using only 2 plasma samples (at 0.5 and 2 h after i.m. injection) by the Bayesian method using the population pharmacokinetic parameters. The clearance measures obtained by the Bayesian method were compared with those obtained by the WLSQ method. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetic variables (clearance, half-life, area under the curve) of 14 patients were determined, as well as the covariance and the mean values necessary to apply the Bayesian method. No significant difference was found between clearance values obtained by the Bayesian method compared to the WLSQ method, confirming the validity of the Bayesian values. CONCLUSION: The present population pharmacokinetic parameters allowed the determination of individual clearance of MTX with only 2 plasma samples (0.5 and 2 h after administration) in patients treated with low dose im MTX. Individual clearance is used to modulate MTX administration in patients presenting adverse reactions in spite of good clinical response. Individual determination of MTX pharmacokinetics in patients at risk for adverse MTX reactions could be useful for adjustment of the drug regimen.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Liability of the pneumonologist. Recent medical civil legislation].

The clinician engages his penal, private and administrative responsibilities whenever he performs a medical act. Common law applies for private practice, as is the case of most pneumologists. Actually, there is little common law jurisprudence directly concerning pneumological situations. We present here the current trends and recent decisions made by judges faced with cases engaging physician's responsibilities.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1996

HEMOCO: a French prospective study of hemophiliacs infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

HEMOCO is a multicenter prospective cohort set up in 1989 to monitor 407 French hemophiliacs infected by HIV-1 and recruited in 4 hemophilia treatment centers in the Paris region. As of 15 July 1995, 42% of the patients in the cohort had developed stage B HIV disease and 29% stage C disease (AIDS); 23.1% of the patients had died. The cumulative proportion of patients with AIDS was 4.5% at 5 years and 27.4% at 10 years, while the respective mortality rates were 3.8% and 19.5%. In our study, only age was predictive of AIDS, with an estimated relative risk of 1.2 per 10-year age increment; this factor was also predictive of death. After 10 years of follow-up, 6.1% of the study population had no clinical or laboratory signs of immunodepression. The follow-up protocol in the HEMOCO protocol is the same as that in the French SEROCO study, which includes men infected by HIV-1 through sexual contact. This will allow us to compare the progression of HIV infection between these two exposure groups.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Decoying the cap- mRNA degradation system by a double-stranded RNA virus and poly(A)- mRNA surveillance by a yeast antiviral system.

The major coat protein of the L-A double-stranded RNA virus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae covalently binds m7 GMP from 5' capped mRNAs in vitro. We show that this cap binding also occurs in vivo and that, while this activity is required for expression of viral information (killer toxin mRNA level and toxin production) in a wild-type strain, this requirement is suppressed by deletion of SKI1/XRN1/SEP1. We propose that the virus creates decapped cellular mRNAs to decoy the 5'-->3' exoribonuclease specific for cap- RNA encoded by XRN1. The SKI2 antiviral gene represses the copy numbers of the L-A and L-BC viruses and the 20S RNA replicon, apparently by specifically blocking translation of viral RNA. We show that SKI2, SKI3, and SKI8 inhibit translation of electroporated luciferase and beta-glucuronidase mRNAs in vivo, but only if they lack the 3' poly(A) structure. Thus, L-A decoys the SKI1/XRN1/SEP1 exonuclease directed at 5' uncapped ends, but translation of the L-A poly(A)- mRNA is repressed by Ski2,3,8p. The SKI2-SKI3-SKI8 system is more effective against cap+ poly(A)- mRNA, suggesting a (nonessential) role in blocking translation of fragmented cellular mRNAs.

Capsid↗
PubMed1994

His-154 is involved in the linkage of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae L-A double-stranded RNA virus Gag protein to the cap structure of mRNAs and is essential for M1 satellite virus expression.

The coat protein (Gag) of the double-stranded RNA virus L-A was previously shown to form a covalent bond with the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNAs. Here, we identify the linkage as a phosphoroimidazole bond between the alpha phosphate of the cap structure and a nitrogen in the Gag protein His-154 imidazole side chain. Mutations of His-154 abrogate the ability of Gag to bind to the cap structure, without affecting cap recognition, in vivo virus particle formation from an L-A cDNA clone, or in vitro specific binding and replication of plus-stranded single-stranded RNA. However, genetic analyses demonstrate that His-154 is essential for M1 satellite virus expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Design and results of the nursing quality assurance program in Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau: an integrated effort.

This paper aims to describe and evaluate the results of the Nursing Quality Assurance (QA) Program in the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. The program was designed in 1987 as part of a global QA program involving all aspects of patients' care. The QA Program was organized at three levels: hospital, ward and joint medical-nursing. During the first 3 years of the study the following activities were carried out: (A) nursing process and results; (B) risk management; (C) patients' opinion; (D) utilization review; (E) ward nursing QA programs. Among other significant results, the program has detected that only 55.6% patients manifest that they sleep well at hospital, hygiene of dependent males (51%) is significantly worse than dependent females (81%) and patients' falls are more prevalent among oriented patients (73%) than disoriented patients (27%). Also a significative improvement has been demonstrated after implementing corrective measures in patients' information (7.5/10-8.1/10) and patients without supervision in emergency areas became from 35% to 0.02%. New nursing records were designed as a result of the QA assessment. The most important conclusion is that the Nursing QA Program is a valid instrument to evaluate general problems in the hospital and concrete problems in each ward.

Female↗
PubMed1993

TIF4631 and TIF4632: two yeast genes encoding the high-molecular-weight subunits of the cap-binding protein complex (eukaryotic initiation factor 4F) contain an RNA recognition motif-like sequence and carry out an essential function.

The 5' ends of eukaryotic mRNAs are blocked by a cap structure, m7GpppX (where X is any nucleotide). The interaction of the cap structure with a cap-binding protein complex is required for efficient ribosome binding to the mRNA. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the cap-binding protein complex is a heterodimer composed of two subunits with molecular masses of 24 (eIF-4E, CDC33) and 150 (p150) kDa. p150 is presumed to be the yeast homolog of the p220 component of mammalian eIF-4F. In this report, we describe the isolation of yeast gene TIF4631, which encodes p150, and a closely related gene, TIF4632. TIF4631 and TIF4632 are 53% identical overall and 80% identical over a 320-amino-acid stretch in their carboxy-terminal halves. Both proteins contain sequences resembling the RNA recognition motif and auxiliary domains that are characteristic of a large family of RNA-binding proteins. tif4631-disrupted strains exhibited a slow-growth, cold-sensitive phenotype, while disruption of TIF4632 failed to show any phenotype under the conditions assayed. Double gene disruption engendered lethality, suggesting that the two genes are functionally homologous and demonstrating that at least one of them is essential for viability. These data are consistent with a critical role for the high-molecular-weight subunit of putative yeast eIF-4F in translation. Sequence comparison of TIF4631, TIF4632, and the human eIF-4F p220 subunit revealed significant stretches of homology. We have thus cloned two yeast homologs of mammalian p220.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Dosing problems in the use of topical ophthalmic drops.

The effect of two drops of the same drug, one instilled immediately after the other, was compared to the effect of a single drop in 100 healthy volunteers. The drugs investigated were tropicamide, 0.125%, and phenylephrine, 2.5%. The mydriatic effect of two drops was 30%-35% stronger than the effect achieved by a single drop.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The coat protein of the yeast double-stranded RNA virus L-A attaches covalently to the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNA.

The eukaryotic mRNA 5' cap structure m7GpppX (where X is any nucleotide) interacts with a number of cellular proteins. Several of these proteins were studied in mammalian, yeast, and drosophila cells and found to be involved in translation initiation. Here we describe a novel cap-binding protein, the coat protein of L-A, a double-stranded RNA virus that is persistently maintained in many Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. The results also suggest that the coat protein of a related double-stranded RNA virus (L-BC) is likewise a cap-binding protein. Strikingly, in contrast to the cellular cap-binding proteins, the interaction between the L-A virus coat protein and the cap structure is through a covalent bond.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Treatment of gingival recession with a coronally repositioned flap].

The treatment of an exposed root surface may be indicated for an aesthetic improvement of a gingival recession. The surgical technic depends on the type of the recession, the quality and the quantity of the keratinized gingiva apically or laterally from the recession. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the minimal quantity of keratinized gingiva necessary to obtain a root coverage. 10 recessions on maxillary cuspids were treated with coronally repositioned flap. Less than 3 mm of keratinized gingiva was present apically to the exposed root surface. All patients received oral hygiene instructions, plaque control and scaling and root planing. Gingival recession, width of keratinized gingiva and loss of attachment were measured at the time of surgery and three months postoperatively. The mean recession was 5.20 mm (+/- SE = 0.36) prior to treatment and the keratinized gingiva was 1.70 mm (+/- 0.16) high at T0. The mean gain of root coverage was 3.43 mm (+/- 0.29) at three months post-operatively. At T0 and 3 months post-operatively, the measures of recessions showed a statistically difference confirming the validity of the technic. The absence of correlation between initial height of keratinized gingiva and the coverage result (r = 0.05) indicates that initial width of keratinized gingiva does not affect the coverage results.

Epithelial Attachment↗