PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Gaudin

Publications and source records attributed to C Gaudin.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Systemic, splanchnic and renal hemodynamic effects of a dopaminergic dose of dopamine in patients with cirrhosis.

The effects of dopamine on kidney function have not been elucidated in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, although increased portal pressure has been observed with supradopaminergic doses of dopamine in these patients, the splanchnic hemodynamic effects of low doses of dopamine have not been previously studied. Thus we studied the acute systemic, splanchnic and renal hemodynamic effects of a dopaminergic dose of dopamine (1.5 micrograms/kg body wt min) in nine cirrhotic patients. Plasma dopamine levels increased markedly from 35 +/- 20 pg/ml to 31,400 +/- 4,900 pg/ml during dopamine administration. A significant diastolic pressure decrease of 10% was associated with a 15% increase in heart rate. Cardiac output was not altered. Although dopamine significantly increased azygos blood flow by 16%, wedged and free hepatic venous pressures were not altered. Dopamine significantly increased renal blood flow by 31%, but did not change the glomerular filtration rate. We conclude that a dopaminergic dose of dopamine increases azygos blood flow but not the hepatic venous pressure gradient. Finally, although it increases renal blood flow, dopamine does not seem to have any beneficial effects on glomerular filtration rate in cirrhotic patients.

Dopamine↗

Plasma catecholamines in patients with presinusoidal portal hypertension: comparison with cirrhotic patients and nonportal hypertensive subjects.

During a hemodynamic study, plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured in the pulmonary artery and in the hepatic vein in 18 presinusoidal portal hypertensive patients. Results were compared with those in 15 nonportal hypertensive subjects and in 24 cirrhotic patients in good condition (grade A, according to Pugh's classification). Plasma norepinephrine concentrations in the pulmonary artery or in the hepatic vein were not significantly different between nonportal hypertensive subjects (mean +/- S.E.M.: 271 +/- 36 and 83 +/- 11 pg/ml, respectively) and presinusoidal portal hypertensive patients (273 +/- 33 and 84 +/- 11 pg/ml, respectively). These concentrations were, however, elevated in cirrhotic patients (408 +/- 47 and 256 +/- 45 pg/ml, p less than 0.05 in comparison with the two other groups). These differences suggest that increased sympathetic nervous activity in cirrhosis is associated with the presence of liver disease or increase in sinusoidal pressure. Differences in plasma epinephrine concentrations were not significant among the three groups of patients. However, the existence of a significant correlation between pulmonary artery plasma epinephrine concentration and cardiac index (r2 = 0.46, p less than 0.01) in patients with presinusoidal portal hypertension suggests that the adrenal medulla could play a role in the pathophysiology of the hyperkinetic syndrome of these patients.

Adult↗

Haemodynamics of leg veins during a 30-days-6 degrees head-down bedrest with and without lower body negative pressure.

Venous distensibility of the lower limbs was assessed in six healthy men who were submitted twice successively to 1 month of -6 degrees head-down bedrest, with and without lower body negative pressure (LBNP) (LBNP subjects and control subjects, respectively). Venous capacity (delta Vv,max, in ml.100 ml-1) of the legs was determined by mercury strain gauge plethysmography with venous occlusion. Plethysmographic measurements were made on each subject before (Dc), during (D6 and D20) and after (5th day of recovery, D+5) bedrest. During bedrest, LBNP was applied daily, several times a day to the subjects submitted to this procedure. Results showed a gradual increase in Vv,max (ml.100 ml-1) throughout the bedrest, both in the control group [delta Vv,max = 2.11 SD 0.54 at Dc, 2.69 SD 0.29 at D6, 4.39 SD 2.08 at D20, 2.39 SD 0.69 at D+5, P less than 0.001 (ANOVA)] and in the LBNP group [delta Vv,max = 2.07 SD 0.71 at Dc, 2.85 SD 1.19 at D6, 3.75 SD 1.74 at D20, 2.43 SD 0.94 at D+5, P less than 0.001 (ANOVA)], without significant LBNP effect. These increases were of the same order as those encountered during spaceflight. It is concluded that -6 degrees head-down bedrest is a good model to simulate the haemodynamic changes induced by exposure to weightlessness and that LBNP did not seem to be a good technique to counteract the adverse effects of weightlessness on the capacitance vessels of the lower limbs. This latter conclusion raises the question of the role and magnitude of leg venous capacitance in venous return and cardiac regulation.

Adult↗

Gastric lesions secondary to long-distance running.

Gastrointestinal disorders have been reported during long-distance running. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of prolonged exercise on the upper digestive tract. Seven subjects were submitted to a standard endoscopic examination of the upper digestive tract before and after long-distance running (range 18-50 km). Mucosal biopsy specimens were taken during all endoscopies. After running, all runners had histologically pathological features in the stomach. Vascular lesions were present in the chorion in six subjects after running, with the intensity of the lesions ranging from congestion to hemorrhage. Postexercise histological examination also showed a decrease in mucosal secretion. These lesions secondary to prolonged exercise indicate the presence of hemodynamic perturbations in the upper digestive tract.

Adult↗

Effects of restraint stress on catecholamine concentrations in the glandular stomach of rats.

Restraint stress is known to induce gastric ulcers in rats. Peripheral sympathetic activity and catecholamines are involved in the pathogenesis of these gastric ulcers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of restraint on mucosal and muscle catecholamine concentrations in the glandular stomach of rats. In unrestrained rats, noradrenaline concentration was higher in the muscle than in the mucosa of the glandular stomach (629 +/- 106 vs 18 +/- 3 pg/mg and 217 +/- 37 vs 18 +/- 8 pg/mg, respectively in the corpus and the antrum, p less than 0.01). This can be explained by the existence of an abundant noradrenergic innervation in the muscle layer. After 20 hours of restraint, adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations were significantly decreased in adrenals, in comparison with unrestrained animals (255 +/- 53 vs 638 +/- 160 ng/mg and 113 +/- 17 vs 198 +/- 37 ng/mg, respectively for adrenaline and noradrenaline, p less than 0.05). In the glandular stomach, noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations in restrained rats were not significantly different from those in unrestrained rats. However, adrenaline concentrations in the muscle of restrained rats were higher than in the mucosa. Moreover, restraint induced a significant decrease in dopamine concentration in the antral mucosa (from 100 +/- 12 pg/mg in unrestrained rats to 15 +/- 5 pg/mg in restrained rats), suggesting that a depletion in dopamine in the antral mucosa could be one of the pathogenetic factors involved in antral gastric stress-induced ulcers in rats.

Animals↗

Orthotopic liver transplantation with hepatic artery anastomoses. Hemodynamics and response to hemorrhage in conscious rats.

Orthotopic liver isotransplantation was performed in one group of Lewis rats using cuffs for the portal vein and the infrahepatic vena cava, stents for the hepatic artery and the bile duct. Three other groups were also investigated: group A, normal rats; group B, sham-transplanted rats (clamping of the vessels, washing of the liver, placing cuffs around the portal vein); and group C, sham-transplanted rats with ligature section of the hepatic artery. Blood-flow measurements were performed, 1 week after the surgical procedure, with the radioactive microsphere method in conscious animals. Transplanted rats exhibited significant (ANOVA, P less than 0.05) increase in cardiac index and decrease in mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Blood flows of the portal territory and to the kidneys were not significantly modified. Arterial liver blood flow and arterial liver vascular resistance in rats with liver transplantation were not significantly different between normal and sham-transplanted rats but were significantly different from rats with ligature of the hepatic artery. These results confirm the validity of the method used for vascular anastomoses. Hypotensive hemorrhage (2 ml/100 g bw) induced marked hemodynamic changes, but rats with liver transplantation when compared with normal and sham-transplanted rats exhibited the following: (a) significantly lower percentage of decrease in cardiac index and in mean arterial pressure; and (b) significantly higher renal and portal tributary blood flows. Plasma catecholamine concentrations and plasma volume were higher in rats with liver transplantation than in normal rats but were not significantly different from sham-operated rats. Histologic examination of the liver revealed slight portal edema in sham-operated rats and small necrotic areas in the liver, probably corresponding to the reperfusion injury, in rats with liver transplantation. In conclusion, the method described for the four vascular anastomoses allows functional perfusion of the transplanted liver. Rats with liver transplantation exhibited a hyperkinetic circulatory syndrome and an improved tolerance to hemorrhage. Changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations and in plasma volume did not account for the hemodynamic changes.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Activities of pefloxacin and ciprofloxacin against experimental malaria in mice.

We investigated the in vivo antimalarial activities of pefloxacin and ciprofloxacin in Swiss albino mice infected intravenously with 5 x 10(6) Plasmodium yoelii N67 parasites 1 h before treatment. Groups of 20 mice received a subcutaneous injection of 40, 80, or 160 mg of ciprofloxacin or pefloxacin per kg of body weight every 8 h for 3 days. Parasitologic activity was assessed on day 4, and survival was assessed on day 21. Control mice had a fulminant course with a parasitemia of 61.3% +/- 12.1% on day 4, and 90% of the mice were dead on day 21. The lower dosages of pefloxacin and ciprofloxacin (40 and 80 mg/kg) were not efficient. With 160 mg/kg, ciprofloxacin achieved an 85.8% reduction in parasitemia and 17 of 20 mice survived. Pefloxacin achieved a 92.8% reduction in parasitemia, and all mice survived. All treated, noninfected control mice survived. With ciprofloxacin, the antimalarial activity was similar with injections of 240 mg/kg every 12 h but was strongly diminished with injections of 160 mg/kg every 12 h. With pefloxacin, similar activities were observed with injections of 160 mg/kg every 8 h or injections of 160 or 240 mg/kg every 12 h. With both drugs, this activity was highly reduced when the treatment was delayed by 24 h. This underlines the need to provide treatment within the first hours after infection to achieve an optimal effect in this rapidly lethal experimental model of malaria. Pefloxacin and, to a lesser extent, ciprofloxacin are potent antimalarial drugs which might prove useful in the treatment of less rapidly aggressive human malaria.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of ketanserin in patients with cirrhosis.

The pharmacokinetics of ketanserin, a new serotonin S2 (5HT2) antagonist, were studied in 26 patients with cirrhosis. Patients were randomised to receive either a single oral dose of ketanserin 20mg (n = 14) or 40mg (n = 8) or an intravenous dose of ketanserin 5mg (n = 4). The plasma kinetics of ketanserin and its metabolite ketanserinol were determined over 48 hours, by high pressure liquid chromatography with a fluorometric detector. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis based on a statistical moment theory. The first-pass effect of ketanserin was markedly decreased after oral administration compared with results previously obtained in healthy subjects. The peak concentration was not higher in cirrhotic patients than in controls. This result could be due to an increase in the initial volume of distribution. The production of ketanserinol was reduced in cirrhotics. A decreased mean ketanserin elimination half-life (t1/2 = 12 +/- 4 and 10 +/- 3h vs 16 +/- 3 and 18 +/- 4h in healthy controls after oral ketanserin 40mg and intravenous ketanserin 5mg, respectively) contrasted with a substantial increase in t1/2 for ketanserinol (33 +/- 13 vs 19 +/- 4h). The volumes of distribution were also markedly reduced in patients with cirrhosis. These results suggest either a reduction in the oral dosage of ketanserin or an increase in the interval between doses in patients with cirrhosis.

Administration, Oral↗

Free and conjugated catecholamines in patients with cirrhosis.

A defect of conjugation may play a role in the elevated plasma free norepinephrine observed in patients with cirrhosis. Plasma free, sulfoconjugated, and glucuronoconjugated catecholamine concentrations were assessed in 15 patients with cirrhosis and in 15 age-matched control subjects. Plasma free norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis (481 +/- 75 and 96 +/- 16 pg/ml, respectively) than in those of the control group (307 +/- 33 and 42 +/- 10 pg/ml, p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively). Plasma free dopamine levels were similar in both groups. Sulfoconjugated catecholamines were the predominant form in plasma from both cirrhotic patients and control subjects. The ratio of conjugated to total catecholamines was similar in the two groups. Therefore, it is unlikely that a defect in conjugation of catecholamines is contributing to the excessive plasma free norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations found in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, in patients with cirrhosis, no significant relation was found between plasma conjugated catecholamines and the severity of liver disease. This study shows that cirrhosis does not induce alteration in conjugation of catecholamines and that hepatocellular function is not essential for conjugation of circulating catecholamines.

Adult↗

Sequence analysis of the Clostridium cellulolyticum endoglucanase-A-encoding gene, celCCA.

The nucleotide sequence of a Clostridium cellulolyticum endo-beta-1,4- glucanase (EGCCA)-encoding gene (celCCA) and its flanking regions, was determined. An open reading frame (ORF) of 1425 bp was found, encoding a protein of 475 amino acids (aa). This ORF began with an ATG start codon and ended with a TAA ochre stop codon. The N-terminal region of the EGCCA protein resembled a typical signal sequence of a Gram-positive bacterial extracellular protein. A putative signal peptidase cleavage site was determined. EGCCA, without a signal peptide, was found to be composed of more than 35% hydrophobic aa and to have an Mr of 50715. Comparison of the encoded sequence with other known cellulase sequences showed the existence of various kinds of aa sequence homologies. First, a strong homology was found between the C-terminal region of EGCCA, containing a reiterated stretch of 24 aa, and the conserved reiterated region previously found to exist in four Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanases and one xylanase from the same organism. This region was suspected of playing a role in organizing the cellulosome complex. Second, an extensive homology was found between EGCCA and the N-terminal region of the large endoglucanase, EGE, from C. thermocellum, which suggests that they may have a common ancestral gene. Third, a region, which extended for 21 aa residues beginning at aa + 127, was found to be homologous with regions of cellulases belonging to Bacilli, Clostridia and Erwinia chrysanthemi.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Effect of hepatic failure upon the pharmacokinetics of cefixime].

Modifications of cefixime kinetics due to severe impairment of liver function were determined in 9 cirrhotic patients. Cefixime was administered as a single dose of 200 mg and levels were measured by HPLC. Maximum serum concentrations and area-under-the-curves of serum concentrations were not modified. The time for maximum serum concentration was delayed and the cefixime half-life in serum was prolonged, as a reflect of increased volume of distribution resulting from ascites and hypoalbuminemia. Renal clearance increased in these patients, possibly because of reduced extra-renal clearance. No metabolite was detected in serum or urine. Modifications of cefixime kinetics resulting from impaired hepatic function were modest and did not require specific dosage adjustment.

Adult↗

Low dose of nitroglycerin failed to improve splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis: evidence for an impaired cardiopulmonary baroreflex function.

High doses of nitroglycerin may decrease portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis with untoward effects such as arterial hypotension and a decrease in systemic O2 uptake. In the present study, low doses of nitroglycerin (7 to 15 micrograms per min, i.v.) were administered in 11 patients with cirrhosis in order to unload cardiopulmonary baroreceptor--one of the possible mechanisms by which nitroglycerin may improve splanchnic hemodynamics--and moreover to avoid deleterious systemic effects. Nitroglycerin significantly decreased right atrial pressure (-35%) and pulmonary wedged pressure (-27%) with significant increase in plasma norepinephrine concentration (+23%), which indicated that cardiopulmonary baroreceptor unloading was achieved. Changes in systemic hemodynamics were slight, although significant, with a decrease in arterial pressure (-8%) and an increase in heart rate (+8%); this indicates a minimal effect on high-pressure baroreflexes. In contrast, no significant change was observed in hepatic venous pressure gradient, hepatic blood flow and azygos blood flow. However, the fraction of cardiac output reaching the azygos system significantly increased by 18%. Plasma renin activity did not change significantly. Moreover, O2 transport and uptake were significantly decreased. These findings show that low doses of nitroglycerin failed to improve splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis. These results suggest an impaired cardiopulmonary baroreflex function which is probably located on the efferent arch.

Adult↗

Hepatic denervation alters hemodynamic response to hemorrhage in conscious rats.

We investigated the effect of liver denervation on cardiovascular homeostasis. Three days after surgical denervation of the liver, hemodynamic studies (radioactive microsphere method) were conducted in conscious rats. The efficacity of the liver denervation procedure was confirmed by a significant decrease in norepinephrine content in various lobes of the liver. Liver denervation did not affect either systemic or splanchnic resting hemodynamics. However, hemorrhage (2 ml per 100 gm body weight) induced a decrease in cardiac index which was significantly more marked in rats with liver denervation (-62 +/- 3%) than in sham-operated rats (-47 +/- 5%; p less than 0.05). This more severe response to hemorrhage may be due to a lack of portal territory vasoconstriction since the fraction of cardiac output reaching portal territory did not decrease during hemorrhage in rats with liver denervation (16 +/- 1% to 14 +/- 1%) but significantly decreased in sham-operated rats (from 15 +/- 1% to 11 +/- 1%, p less than 0.05), this value being significantly lower, after hemorrhage, in sham-operated rats than in denervated rats. The results confirm the lack of tonic neural influence on hepatic circulation during physiological experimental conditions and indicate that hepatic nerve function has a significant contribution to the overall cardiovascular homeostasis.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of a clonidine-induced decrease in portal pressure in normal and cirrhotic conscious rats.

The effects of clonidine on portal pressure and splanchnic blood flow were studied in conscious rats with sinusoidal portal hypertension due to cirrhosis induced by bile duct ligation. In cirrhotic and sham-operated rats, clonidine (20 micrograms per kg body weight, intravenously) significantly reduced portal, pressure from 19.0 +/- 0.6 to 14.5 +/- 1.0 mmHg and from 9.8 +/- 0.9 to 7.3 +/- 0.5 mmHg, respectively. No significant change in systemic hemodynamics was observed. In cirrhotic rats, clonidine reduced portal pressure, probably by producing a significant increase in portal tributary vascular resistance leading to a 25% decrease in portal tributary blood flow (radioactive microsphere method). In sham-operated rats, clonidine reduced portal pressure presumably by decreasing hepatic portal vascular resistance, since no significant change in portal tributary blood flow was observed. In both groups, clonidine administration significantly decreased plasma noradrenaline concentration. Placebo administration produced neither significant hemodynamic nor significant plasma noradrenaline concentration change. These findings indicate that the sympathetic regulation of the splanchnic circulation is impaired in cirrhotic rats.

Animals↗

Portal and arterial free and conjugated noradrenaline in two models of portal hypertension in rats.

Free and conjugated noradrenaline concentrations were measured in portal-venous and arterial plasma from sham-operated rats or rats with portal hypertension. Two types of portal hypertension in rats were evaluated: in portal vein stenosed rats, the liver was normal, whereas cirrhosis developed in bile duct ligated rats. In cirrhotic rats, arterial free noradrenaline level was higher than in both sham-operated and portal-stenosed rats, this indicating that enhanced sympathetic nervous activity depends on the development of cirrhosis. In all groups of rats, portal venous plasma free noradrenaline was higher than arterial plasma level, indicating a production of noradrenaline by splanchnic organs. Arterial noradrenaline level may be mainly dependent on this splanchnic production in case of portal hypertension. Sulfoconjugated and glucuronoconjugated noradrenaline plasma levels were similar in the three groups of rats. This shows that alteration in conjugation is not likely to be a major factor in the abnormal circulating levels of free noradrenaline observed in cirrhotic rats.

Animals↗

Hemodynamic effects of a combination of clonidine and propranolol in conscious cirrhotic rats.

The hemodynamic effects of the combination of clonidine and propranolol were studied in conscious rats with portal hypertension owing to secondary biliary cirrhosis. Pressure and blood flow measurements (radioactive microsphere method) were performed in three groups of eight rats before and after drug administration. The combined effects of clonidine (2 micrograms/100 g body wt., i.v.) and propranolol (0.2 mg/min for 10 min) were compared with those observed after administration of either clonidine alone or propranolol alone. The association of clonidine and propranolol induced significant decreases in portal pressure (30%) and portal tributary blood flow (43%), the magnitude of these changes being significantly more marked than that after administration of either clonidine alone (12 and 20%, respectively) or propranolol alone (16 and 17%, respectively). After the combination, no significant change in arterial pressure was observed, but cardiac output significantly decreased and systemic vascular resistance significantly increased. Renal blood flow decreased to a similar extent (40%) in the three groups. These findings indicate that the combination of clonidine and propranolol is more effective for reversing splanchnic hemodynamic changes than clonidine alone or propranolol alone. The additive effects of this association are in agreement with the action of clonidine and propranolol at different levels (central and peripheral) and on different receptors (alpha and beta). It suggests that an increase in sympathetic activity may play a major role in hemodynamic changes observed in experimental cirrhosis.

Animals↗

[Tissue hypoxia and hepatocellular insufficiency in patients with cirrhosis].

To determine whether tissue hypoxia occurred in cirrhosis, oxygen contents, mixed venous and hepatic venous lactate concentrations as well as systemic hemodynamics were studied in 53 patients with cirrhosis. The influence of liver failure on tissue oxygenation was also studied. Cardiac index and mixed venous and hepatic venous lactate concentrations were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in 20 control subjects. Oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction ratio and mixed venous and hepatic venous carbon dioxide tensions were significantly lower in the former than in the latter. Oxygen transport was not significantly different between the two groups. Cardiac index and oxygen transport were not significantly different between grade A (Pugh's classification) and grade C patients. Mixed venous as well as hepatic venous lactate concentrations were significantly higher while oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction ratio and carbon dioxide tensions were significantly lower in grade C than in grade A patients. We conclude that tissue hypoxia occurs in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic insufficiency. This tissue hypoxia might be due to arteriovenous shunting-related limitation of tissue oxygen extraction.

Adult↗