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Biomedical subjects

B Hillemand

Publications and source records attributed to B Hillemand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Serum trypsin-like activity in chronic alcoholized men: possible relationship with lipids, apoA-1 and apoB lipoproteins.

Chronic alcoholization is known to increase plasma trypsin levels. One-hundred and forty-six male chronic alcohol users were tested for serum trypsin-like activity (STA), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-/cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apoA-1 and apoB lipoproteins. STA was positively correlated to LDL-C, TG and apoB rates and the CT/HDL-C index and negatively correlated to HDL-C and apoA-1 rates and the apoA-1/apoB index. Eighty-four patients with high STA (group B) compared to 62 patients with normal STA (group A) showed significantly higher LDL-C, TG, apoB rates and TC/HDL-C index contrasting with significantly lower HDL-C and apoA-1 rates and the apoA-1/apoB index. The two groups were matched for age, overweight, cigarette smoking and glycemia. Hepatic dysfunction does not explain the differences in the lipoproteic parameters. Such results would suggest that there may be a tryptic alteration of apoproteins in vivo as already demonstrated in vitro and experimentally suspected in vivo in some other studies. Competition by the trypsin-activated alpha 2 macroglobulin for the chylomicron-remnant LDL receptor-related protein may be evoked.

Alcoholism

[Nutrition hygiene centers and prevention of alcoholization and alcoholism: growth or decline].

Initially conceived for detection and early treatment (secondary prevention) of alcoholization and alcoholism by means of a clinical method Le Go's scale of biological markers of dangerous alcoholization and of an intervention method "The Alimentary Hygiene Centers" have deviated to a purpose assembling in theory prevention and care resulting in a new denomination "Alimentary Hygiene and Alcohology Center". In fact, this double purpose leads to a decrease in secondary prevention. This is unfortunate since the results are better when detection and treatment are done before alcohol dependence or visceral lesion appear. There is here a true problem of public health.

Alcoholism

Platelet affinity for serotonin is increased in alcoholics and former alcoholics: a biological marker for dependence?

The kinetics of 3H serotonin platelet uptake were studied in alcoholics and former alcoholics to see whether differences found between alcohol-preferring and non-preferring rats could be reproduced in man. Three groups of patients were studied: 10 dependent alcoholics on admission for treatment; 10 dependent alcoholics after 20 days of treatment; 8 former dependent alcoholics, abstinent for 1-11 years. Controls were non-alcoholics, matched for age and sex. The Km for 3H serotonin uptake in platelets was lower in patients from all three groups compared to 15 controls. This phenomenon could be congenital or induced by the previous excessive intake of alcohol. We believe that this increased platelet affinity for serotonin, in the absence of cirrhosis of the liver and/or depression could be a marker for alcohol dependence, enabling the therapeutic effort to be focussed on these patients.

Adult

[High-density lipoproteins, total cholesterol, triglycerides and serum trypsin activity. Study in chronic alcoholic and withdrawn subjects].

Apolipoprotein is controlled by proteolytic processus and serum trypsin-like activity (STA) may be elevated in some chronic alcoholic subjects. STA, apoA lipoprotein, HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides were tested in 44 men dealt in 4 groups (subjects with normal or elevated STA, alcoholic or withdrawn). Significantly lower apoA lipoprotein (p less than 0,02) and HDL-cholesterol (p less than 0,001) levels as well as significantly higher triglyceride levels (p less than 0,01) were evidenced in the group with elevated STA compared to the group with normal STA. In another way, a negative correlation between HDL-cholesterol and STA (p less than 0,01) and a positive correlation between triglycerides and STA (p less than 0,001) were noted. The different factors known to modify these lipidic parameters cannot account for such disturbances. The role of elevated STA is evoked.

Alcoholism

Ability of calcium bis acetyl homotaurine, a GABA agonist, to prevent relapse in weaned alcoholics.

After they had been weaned off alcohol in hospital 85 severe alcoholics (above 200 g alcohol/day) were included in a double-blind study of calcium bis acetyl homotaurine (Ca AOTA, 25 mg/kg/day), a new gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist, versus placebo. Patients were treated as outpatients during the 3-month study. The only other treatment that patients received was meprobamate, 800 to 1200 mg/day, in the first month. The criterion for success was abstinence at 3 months (with normal gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase being one of the criteria). Of the 70 patients who completed the study, 33 received Ca AOTA and 37 placebo. 20 patients on Ca AOTA did not relapse, compared with 12 on placebo (p less than 0.02 by X2 test). Side-effects were noted by 7 patients on Ca AOTA and 2 on placebo. The results suggest that Ca AOTA may be useful in helping severe alcoholics who have been weaned off alcohol not to relapse.

Acamprosate

[Mixed idiopathic cryoglobulinemia and glomerulonephritis (author's transl)].

Mixed idiopathic cryoglobulinemia may be associated with renal failure. When this occurrence appears some characteristic lesions may be observed on renal biopsies. The authors describe a case of mixed idiopathic cryoglobulinemia with nephrotic syndrome and hypertension. Histologic data and immunofluorescence study of renal biopsies are similar to those described in the published literature. If antigen-antibody complex seems to be for all authors the etiological feature of renal disease, the treatment to apply is not well known. The related case had been treated by plasmapheresis and the authors give their results to short and mean term.

Antigen-Antibody Complex

"Tryptic-like" activity in sera of patients with pancreatitis.

Serum trypsin esterolytic activity was measured in 106 sera from 61 controls and 45 patients with pancreatitis. A trypsin specific synthetic substrate, N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine-paranitroanilide, was used. High levels of enzymatically active trypsin were shown to be present in serum of patients with pancreatitis. No difference between the two samples was noticed for the serum concentrations of alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin (the two main serum trypsin inhibitors). Active trypsin was contained in the high molecular weight fraction of plasma proteins, corresponding to a complex with alpha-2-macroglobulin. The determination of serum typsin activity as a sensitive test for detection of pancreatitis was demonstrated to be statistically significant.

Adult

[Congenital cyst of the common hepatic duct. Adenocarcinoma of the gall bladder and of the stomach (author's transl)].

The authors report an unusual case of coexistence in the same patient of a congenital cyst of the common bile duct, a mucous adenocarcinoma of the stomach and a gall bladder adenocarcinoma. There was a favourable short term course after gastrectomy, cholecystectomy and resection of the cyst followed by bilio-digestive anastomosis on a long jejunal Y-shaped loop. The authors review recent literature.

Adenocarcinoma