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Biomedical subjects

A Faradji

Publications and source records attributed to A Faradji.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Liver transplantation in a patient with hemophilia A and end stage liver failure].

We report the case of a 50 year-old man factor VIII deficient haemophiliac and hepatitis C cirrhosis. The patient underwent orthotopic liver transplantation because of episodes of variceal bleeding and encephalopathy. He received factor VIII replacement therapy perioperatively. Factor VIII returned to normal within 24 hours postoperatively and factor VIII replacement was stopped. Liver transplantation can be considered as definitive therapy for haemophilia.

Hemophilia A↗

Knee joint arthroplasty in a patient with haemophilia A and high inhibitor titre using recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven): a new case report and review of the literature.

Elective orthopaedic surgery is regularly withheld from patients with haemophilia and high inhibitor titre despite the presence of severe arthropathy and urgent medical need. A knee joint arthroplasty was performed in a patient with severe haemophilia A and a high inhibitor titre using recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) as the sole coagulation factor. There was no abnormal bleeding during surgery although an increased blood loss through surgical drains did occur during the first 6 h postoperatively. Rehabilitation was started on day 1 and continued for 3 months. Walking commenced on day 4. After 1 year of follow-up, the clinical outcome of surgery was considered excellent with no pain, knee mobility at 0-5-90 degrees, and an International Knee Society score of 95/100. No rFVIIa-associated side-effects or thrombotic complications were reported. In conclusion, knee joint arthroplasty is now an option for haemophilia patients with a high inhibitor titre. An international review of all available data on elective orthopaedic surgery in inhibitor patients is required so that the optimal treatment regime can be defined and the short- and long-term risk-benefit ratio of surgery compared to that of noninhibitor patients.

Adult↗

French previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A after exposure to recombinant factor VIII : incidence of inhibitor and evaluation of immune tolerance.

Fifty French previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A (factor VIII < 1%), treated with only one brand of recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII), were evaluated for inhibitor development, assessment of risk factors and outcome of immune tolerance regimen. The median period on study was 32 months (range 9-74) since the first injection of rFVIII. Fourteen patients (28%) developed an inhibitor, four of whom (8%) with a high titer (> or = 10 BU). All inhibitor patients but one continued to receive rFVIII either for on-demand treatment or for immune tolerance regimen (ITR). Among these patients, inhibitor was transient in 2 (4%), became undetectable in 6 and was still present in 6. The prevalence of inhibitor was 12%. Presence of intron 22 inversion was found to be a risk factor for inhibitor development. Immune tolerance was difficult to achieve in our series despite a follow-up period of 16 to 30 months: immune tolerance was complete in only one out of the 3 patients undergoing low dose ITR and in one out of the 5 patients with high dose ITR.

Child↗

[Evaluation of transfusion practice. Surveys for evaluating the practice of nursing care in transfusion medicine in four hospital sites].

In four medical centers, transfusion medicine care practices were evaluated by testing the nursing staff with a list of questions. The anonymous test evaluated the knowledge and transfusion practices, and in one of them the bed-side compatibility control procedure in particular. These tests showed failures in the labeling of tubes during phlebotomy for immuno-hematologic testing, in blood product conservation in the ward, and in bed-side compatibility testing which is not always carried out fully at the bed-side. These results, showed on which topics the teaching program should emphasize so as to improve the quality of blood transfusion in the medical centers according to legal obligations.

Blood Transfusion↗

Positive selection of CD34+ cells from cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cells after thawing: technical aspects and clinical use.

Autologous stem cell transplantation has become an important therapy in lymphoma, multiple myeloma and solid tumors. The rationale for the selection of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood or bone marrow progenitor cell collections is based on the observation that contaminating tumor cells can be depleted approximately 3 to 6 logs. This procedure may be limited because of lack of sufficient numbers of progenitor cells in the leukapheresis concentrates. The use of frozen/thawed peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples makes it possible to pool two or even more stem cell harvests collected at different time points to increase the total number of CD34+ progenitor cells. We report in this work the feasibility of frozen/thawed peripheral blood CD34+ positive cell selection, using the large-scale (Ceprate SC) and the lab-scale avidin-biotin immunoadsorption system (Ceprate LC). This procedure consists of a washing step and a positive selection step. Our results show that frozen/thawed CD34+ cells were obtained with a purity of 86.68 +/- 3.62%, a viability of 97.94 +/- 0.97% and a recovery of 91.85 +/- 10.84% (range 80 to 112%). The CFU-GM assays were performed in a methylcellulose based medium; 89.13 +/- 19.63 colonies were obtained for 10(3) cells plated. Two patients were grafted with peripheral blood CD34+ cells selected after freezing. Our clinical data show that these cells are capable of rapidly reconstituting hematopoiesis after high-dose chemotherapy.

Antigens, CD34↗

Peripheral blood CD34+ cells: method of purification and ex vivo expansion.

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are used increasingly for autotransplantation in the treatment of acute leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, solid tumors such as ovarian and breast carcinoma. They are collected by leukaphereses during rapid hematopoietic recovery, following cytotoxic chemotherapy with or without administration of hematopoietic growth factors. We studied the clonogenic and cytokine-mediated expansion potential of CD34+ cells from mobilized PBSC. Low density mononuclear cells were processed using the CEPRATE LC CD34 KIT (CellPro). CD34+ purified cells, were cultured in suspension with 6 combined hematopoietic growth factors (IL1beta, IL3, IL6 at 100 U/ml and G-CSF, GM-CSF and stem cell factor at 10 ng/ml of each) for up to four weeks. Every week, cells were counted and CFU-GM assay was performed in a methylcellulose based medium. We have analysed the percentage of cells bearing CD34, CD33, CD38, HLA-DR, CD45RA, CD45RO antigens. Our results showed, that CD34+ cells were obtained with a purity of 92 +/- 2.3% and a yield of 71 +/- 10.7%. The majority co-expressed CD33 (57.76 +/- 34.16%) and CD38 (62.2 +/- 34%) antigens. These culture conditions, are necessary to obtain a fold increase of nucleated cells (377 fold at week 4), of CFU-GM progenitors (41.2 fold at week 3) and of CD34+ cell absolute number (10 fold at week 1) with an important differentiation of progenitors in particular myeloid progenitors.

Antigens, CD34↗

Large scale isolation of human blood monocytes by continuous flow centrifugation leukapheresis and counterflow centrifugation elutriation for adoptive cellular immunotherapy in cancer patients.

The increasing interest in mononuclear phagocytes for adoptive cellular immunotherapy (ACI) trials in cancer patients led us to define a procedural approach to harvest reproducibly highly purified single-cell suspensions of large numbers of functional human circulating blood monocytes (Mo). A semiclosed counterflow centrifugal elutriation (CCE) system has been developed, using a new large capacity Beckman JE 5.0 rotor with one interchangeable 40 ml or 5 ml separation chamber, to purify Mo from mononuclear cell (MNC) concentrates of healthy donors and cancer patients obtained by continuous flow centrifugation leukapheresis (CFCL). This method does not require a Ficoll density gradient centrifugation step. A total of 115 leukapheresis procedures were carried out in 35 patients and in 30 healthy donors by either Cobe 2997 or Cobe Spectra, with a similar efficiency in MNC apheresis. The average yield per leukapheresis procedure was 5.6 x 10(9) MNC of purity 90-100% (25-45% Mo, 40-65% lymphocytes). The average yields per elutriation procedure (R/O fraction) were 1.1 x 10(9) cells (purity 93% Mo) using the 5 ml separation chamber, and 1.5 x 10(9) cells (purity 91%) using the 40 ml separation chamber, with a respective recovery of 82 +/- 7% and 78 +/- 8% Mo. In vitro analysis of the viability and function of the purified Mo shows that neither morphological integrity nor physiological activity was compromised by this two-step isolation procedure, which additionally provides highly purified human Mo suspensions, in a quantity suitable for ACl of cancer patients.

Cell Separation↗

Effects of Clostridium difficile toxin B on human monocytes and macrophages: possible relationship with cytoskeletal rearrangement.

Toxin B from Clostridium difficile is cytopathic in vitro for various types of cells, including polymorphonuclear cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Since intestine lamina propria is rich in macrophages, we studied the effect of toxin B on human monocytes and on human macrophages generated in vitro by long-term culture of purified circulating blood monocytes. Upon addition of toxin B, human monocytes exhibited few modifications whereas macrophages adopted a stellate morphology, with rounding up of the perikaryon. Toxin B made microfilaments of actin disappear and induced an important reorganization of vimentin and a redistribution of tubulin. Membrane area increased by approximately 16%. Toxin B did not affect the viability of human mononuclear phagocytes and did not exert any significant lytic effect. It profoundly altered the phagocytic function of macrophages. When activated by gamma interferon in the presence of toxin B, monocytes were more cytotoxic for U-937 target cells than control monocytes activated in absence of toxin. Finally, the combined treatment of monocytes with gamma interferon and toxin B increased significantly the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha, whereas toxin B alone was unable to induce tumor necrosis factor production. These results suggest that morphological and functional alterations induced in human mononuclear phagocytes by toxin B from C. difficile are due to the disorganization of the cytoskeleton and the resulting impairment of the membrane traffic equilibrium.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Hemostatic changes in human adoptive immunotherapy with activated blood monocytes or derived macrophages.

Human blood monocytes (Mo) and monocyte-derived macrophages (M psi) possess cytotoxic effects against tumor cell lines when appropriately stimulated by various biological response modifiers, e.g., gamma interferon (gamma IFN) and muramyltripeptide (MTP). Activated Mo/M psi represent a new tool for the treatment of human malignancies, termed "adoptive cellular immunotherapy". Activated Mo/M psi express tissue factor procoagulant activity (PCA), which is a physiological trigger of blood coagulation. PCA was evaluated in vitro using a modification of the one-stage recalcification clotting time, and hemostatic changes were studied in vivo in cancer patients. Nine patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis were injected intraperitoneally with activated Mo and 11 patients with non-small cell lung carcinomas were infused intravenously with activated M psi. Hemostatic changes were followed using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen level, antithrombin III (ATIII) and protein C (PC) activities. Fibrinolytic activity was estimated by euglobulin lysis time and assays for plasminogen and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). These assays were performed before and after each autologous infusion and on days 2 and 3. Activated Mo and M psi expressed potent PCA (85.5 +/- 7.5 U/ml for MTP activated Mo and 50 +/- 5.3 U/ml for gamma IFN activated M psi suspensions). In both groups of patients, APTT, PT, and TT underwent no significant variations. There was no significant consumption of ATIII or PC, and fibrinolysis was not activated during the study period. In the group injected intraperitoneally with MTP-activated Mo, fibrinogen showed a significant and progressive increase in relation to the development of an inflammatory reaction, reaching a maximum average value of 6.1 g/l at the end of the therapy with a concomitant increase in FDP levels. This increase was not observed after intravenous therapy with gamma IFN-activated M psi. No patient suffered from hemorrhagic or thrombotic events. In our experience, repeated injections of activated Mo or M psi expressing potent tissue factor PCA did not induce significant in vivo activation of the coagulation system in cancer patients.

Aged↗

Human blood-derived macrophages: differentiation in vitro of a large quantity of cells in serum-free medium.

Large quantities of human blood-derived monocytes have been cultured in suspension in nonadherent cell culture bags and maintained for up to 3 weeks in a serum-free medium. This serum-free medium contained Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium (IMDM) supplemented with human albumin, alpha-phosphatidylcholine, transferrin, and insulin. Morphology, cell surface antigens, and functional properties of these in vitro maturing macrophages were studied in comparison with macrophages cultured in a standard medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. In this report we demonstrate that this serum-free medium allows a better yield of cell survival than the standard medium; it also allows the differentiation of blood monocytes into fully functional macrophagic cells that express the different antigens found in mature macrophages. The results indicate that the use of serum-free defined medium offers good conditions in which to culture large numbers of human monocytes and allows an accurate analysis of the effect of supplementation with growth factors such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) on the differentiation and survival of monocytes and macrophages. Serum-free cultures could also be helpful for the precise analysis of the cell secretion activity and for determining the factors that are responsible for monocyte maturation into macrophages.

Antigens, Surface↗

Long term cultures of human monocytes in vitro. Impact of GM-CSF on survival and differentiation.

In vitro differentiation of human monocytes (Mo) provides large amounts of mature and functionally competent macrophages (M phi) which may be used as potentially powerful anticancer agents for adoptive immunotherapy. Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was evaluated for its ability to influence long term cultures of Mo-derived M phi. Large quantities of Mo isolated by leukapheresis and elutriation were cultured in non-adherent cell culture bags or in plastic flasks with or without GM-CSF. At various stages of differentiation, GM-CSF treated M phi were recovered and assayed for survival, morphology, surface antigens, functional properties and proliferation in comparison with control M phi. In the present paper, we demonstrate that GM-CSF at a concentration of 50 U/ml (5 ng/ml) promotes better cell survival and the differentiation of Mo into M phi displaying certain morphological differences as compared to control M phi such as an increased expression of Max-1 antigen, CR3 and Fc gamma II receptors, higher phagocytic properties and increased capacities of cytotoxicity and TNF secretion when the cells are further activated by IFN-gamma. Furthermore, GM-CSF treated cells exhibit a low-grade proliferation although the nature of the proliferating cells has not been entirely elucidated. We conclude that the GM-CSF treated M phi would be particularly suitable for adoptive immunotherapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Phase I trial of intravenous infusion of ex-vivo-activated autologous blood-derived macrophages in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: toxicity and immunomodulatory effects.

The purpose of this phase I study was to evaluate the toxicity and biological activity of autologous blood-derived macrophages activated ex-vivo with recombinant human interferon gamma (rhuIFN gamma) [monokine-activated killer (MAK) cells] and administered intravenously to 11 lung cancer patients once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Peripheral blood monocytes were collected by leukapheresis and then purified by counterflow elutriation. The MAK cells were generated by culturing the purified monocytes in Teflon bags for 7 days and adding rhuIFN gamma to the cultured cells for the last 18 h. These MAK cells expressed differentiation-associated surface antigen MAX1, and were cytotoxic in vitro against tumour cell line U937. The MAK cells were infused at dose levels from 1 x 10(7) to 5 x 10(8) on an intrapatient dose-escalating schedule. No severe adverse side-effects occurred. Toxicity was mild to moderate [primarly fever (75%) and chills (32%)], non-dose-dependent, and non-cumulative. No consistent change in haemostatic function, or liver or renal function was observed. Dose-limiting toxicity was not reached at 5 x 10(8) cells (optimal dose reproduced for each patient). The maximum tolerated dose was not determined. The immunomodulatory activity of i.v. infused MAK cells was demonstrated both in vivo by significant increases in granulocyte count and neopterin level in the patients' peripheral blood post-infusion and in vitro by secretory products (IL-1. TNF alpha, neopterin, and thromboplastin-like substance) in the culture supernatants. The in vivo traffic patterns of autologous MAK cells labelled ex-vivo with 111In oxine were studied in 7 patients. Gamma imaging showed an immediate but transient lung uptake (less than 24 h), and a progressive uptake of radioactivity in the liver and spleen was seen from 6 h to 72 h post-infusion. Our results indicate that the preparation of high numbers of autologous, blood-derived MAK cells is a feasible procedure, and their transfusion is safe for patients. This immunotherapeutic approach seems to be encouraging from the point of view of establishing an adjuvant therapeutic modality in cancer patients with minimal residual disease.

Aged↗

Synthesis of complement components C2 and C4 by human monocyte-derived macrophages during in vitro differentiation in serum-free culture conditions.

In order to analyze the kinetics of complement component synthesis by human monocytes/macrophages, we have developed a system of defined culture conditions in the absence of serum. Moreover, the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provides a high sensitivity for the detection of mRNAs and the study of the regulation of complement component synthesis by these cells. Human blood monocytes were collected and purified by cytapheresis and elutriation, and then cultured in nonadherent cell culture bags for up to 3 weeks. Cells were grown in Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium supplemented with alpha-phosphatidylcholine, transferrin, insulin, glutamine and antibiotics. The phenotypic and functional properties of macrophages differentiated under these serum-free culture conditions have been previously analyzed [1]. Secretion of complement component was measured by a hemolytic assay. mRNA was prepared using guanidine isothiocyanate extraction followed by cesium gradient ultra-centrifugation. cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription, then amplified by PCR. Fresh monocytes did not display any secretion of C2 as measured by hemolytic assay. However, C2 secretion was detected on and after the 3rd day of serum-free cultured unstimulated monocytes. The rate of C2 production increased along with macrophage differentiation up to the 3rd week of culture. We were not able to detect any functional C4 secretion. In preliminary studies, C2 and C4 mRNAs were detected in macrophages and in unstimulated fresh monocytes. These preliminary studies show that the serum-free culture conditions we have developed allow very satisfactory survival and differentiation of human monocytes, and provide optimal conditions for the study of their secretory activity.

Cell Differentiation↗

Phase I study of liposomal MTP-PE-activated autologous monocytes administered intraperitoneally to patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

We have conducted a phase I study with autologous monocytes activated ex vivo and administered intraperitoneally in nine patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Blood monocytes were collected by leukapheresis and then purified by counterflow elutriation (up to 10(9) cells, with a purity of greater than 90%). Ex vivo activation was obtained by incubating these cells with 1 micrograms liposomal MTP-PE/10(6) monocytes for 18 hours in hydrophobic culture bags at 37 degrees C in 5% carbon dioxide humidified air. The activated monocytes were then infused in the peritoneal cavity once a week for 5 consecutive weeks through an implanted peritoneal infusion system, Port-A-Cath (Pharmacia Deltec, St Paul, MN), on an intrapatient dose-escalating schedule (10(7) to 10(9) monocytes). No severe adverse reactions occurred. Toxicity was mild, the chief acute reactions being fever (27%), chills (13%), and abdominal pain (25%). None of the side effects led to dose reduction. No consistent change in hemostatic function, liver function, or renal function was observed. Significant increases in granulocyte counts, neopterine, and acute phase reactants (fibrinogen, C-reactive protein) occurred in the peripheral blood. In vitro monocyte activation was demonstrated by the relapse of procoagulant activity and monokines (interleukin-1 [IL-1], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF alpha]) in the supernatants of cultured monocytes. Evidence for in vivo monocyte activation was provided by the increase of these monokines in the peritoneal fluids. Kinetic studies with indium-111 (111In)-labeled activated autologous monocytes in five patients suggest that these infused monocytes may remain in the peritoneal cavity for up to 7 days. This locoregional immunotherapeutic approach seems to be encouraging in view of adjuvant therapeutic modality in ovarian cancer patients with minimal residual intraabdominal disease following second-look laparotomy.

Aged↗

High dose melphalan and ABMT with or without abdominal radiotherapy as consolidation treatment for ovarian carcinoma in complete remission or with microscopic residual disease.

We initiated in February 1982 a pilot study of high dose melphalan (HDM) and ABMT as consolidation treatment for ovarian carcinoma. Eleven patients entered into this study; 6 patients received HDM and ABMT (group 1), 5 patients received HDM in combination with flash abdominal radiotherapy followed by ABMT (group 2). Two of 6 group 1 patients and 3 of 5 group 2 patients are still alive with NED more than 3 years after ABMT (58+, 72+, 37+, 39+, 43+) and are hopefully cured. Main toxicity was haematological, we have not observed any death related to therapy. HDM and ABMT compared favorably with other consolidation treatments (abdominopelvic radiotherapy or IP chemotherapy) and merits a larger evaluation.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Apheresis-elutriation program for adoptive immunotherapy with autologous activated monocytes in cancer patients.

Human blood monocytes (Mo) and monocyte-derived macrophages (M phi) are known to be potent antitumor cytotoxic effector cells through activation with recombinant human interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma), bacterial muramyldipeptide or the synthetic derivative muramyltripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine entrapped in liposomes (L-MTP-PE). Large-scale generation of ex vivo activated Mo from the blood of cancer patients proved feasible. We report our experience with a fixed rotor speed counterflow centrifugation elutration (CEE) procedure using the newly available Beckman high capacity JE-5.0 rotor system that reproducibly isolates up to 1.0-1.5 x 10(9) Mo with greater than 90% purity, in suspension and functionally intact derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cell-enriched suspensions obtained by leukapheresis (LP) from healthy volunteers and cancer patients. The semiclosed, easy to handle CCE system, was adapted to a sterile technique that permitted clinical trials in adoptive monocyte immunotherapy. Freshly isolated Mo did not lose morphological or functional integrity and had no spontaneous activation. Their abilities to become activated to the cytotoxic state after 18-h stimulation with 500 U/ml rIFN-gamma or 1 microgram/ml L-MTP-PE and to differentiate into matured M phi in vitro were not altered. The system was therefore used to isolate large numbers of Mo for a phase I clinical trial of intraperitoneal immunotherapy with L-MTP-PE activated autologous Mo in nine patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Each patient received weekly Mo infusions (n = 5) with an intrapatient dose escalation schedule (from 10(7) to 10(9) Mo). Toxicities were mild including fever, chills and abdominal pain. There was no treatment-induced thromboembolic event or capillary leak syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

A randomized study of on-line plasma perfusion over protein A-sepharose and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

To evaluate the safety of on-line plasma perfusion over protein-A sepharose and the therapeutic advantage of combining plasma perfusion (PP) over protein-A sepharose with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (MCRC), thirty patients were randomized after surgery of primary CRC to receive a combination of 5-FU and PP over protein-A sepharose (group A), or a combination of 5-FU and PP over sepharose (group B), or 5-FU alone (group C). Bi-weekly on-line PP over 200 ml protein-A sepharose gel (group A) or 200 ml sepharose gel (group B) were performed with a Cobe 2997 blood cell separator for a maximum of 19 treatments per patient. 5-FU was given at 1000 mg/m2/d on days 1-5 of a 4-weekly cycle until progression. PP was well tolerated and no severe or life-threatening toxicity was observed. Mild clinical side-effects consisted of fever and chills (36% in group A, 23% in group B). The most common biological effects of PP over protein-A sepharose were significant drops in IgG (66% of pre-PP values), CH50 and C3 (73% of pre-PP values) and a significant generation of C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins. Tumor response rates were 40% for group A, 0% for group B and 20% for group C. The median survival times tended to be longer in group A (17 months) than in group B (10 months) and in group C (9 months). This is the first randomized trial showing some therapeutic advantage in combining PP over protein-A sepharose with conventional chemotherapy in MCRC.

Chromatography, Gel↗