Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Fraisse.
The qualitative and quantitative composition of the main aromatic and polyphenolic constituents of infusion from Chamaemelum nobile flowers was examined. The camomile tea contained a large amount of polyphenolic compounds (340 mg/l), the most important being chamaemeloside (155 mg/l). Only traces of essential oil were recovered in tea (7 mg/l).
Dried flowering tops of 24 harvested batches (Artemisia vulgaris: 13; Artemisia verlotiorum: 11) and 12 batches of mugwort from commercial origin were examined. The levels of principal compounds averaged respectively: total hydroxycinnamic acids 6.09; 10.29 and 9.13%, chlorogenic acid 0.79; 2.05 and 1.35%, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid 0.51; 4.01 and 1.25%, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid 2.21; 1.25 and 2.60%. Specifications were discussed for an European Pharmacopoeial monography.
We evaluated individual adipose tissue (subcutaneous lipomas) dioxin contamination in non-occupationally exposed persons living in France (adult patients undergoing a surgical ablation of benign lipomas), in relation to the corresponding individually evaluated mean daily dietary dioxin intake (DDDI). The diet survey (questionnaire) included information on consumption of meat, fish, milk and dairy products, from which the individual DDDI was calculated. Sixteen subjects participated in this study. DDDI ranged between 1.06 and 3.31 pg I-TEQ/kg body weight, bw (mean value: 2.05+/-0.72). Adipose tissue polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) levels ranged between 18.5 and 76.9 pg I-TEQ/g lipids (mean value: 35.6+/-14.8). No relation was found between the DDDI and adipose tissue PCDD/PCDF concentrations. The mean DDDI in France does not fundamentally differ from those found in other industrialised countries, is within the range of 1-4 pg I-TEQ/kg/day recently suggested by WHO-ECEH/ICPS for the tolerable daily intake of dioxins. Adipose tissue PCDD/PCDFs levels are similar to levels in other European countries and USA without relation to sex or age, and can be considered representative European background concentrations. Globalisation of alimentary production leads to a similar food exposure in Western European countries, in spite of dioxins accidental selective contaminations that are epiphenomenon and thus do not have any impact in human dioxin background levels.
Dried flowering aerial parts of 12 harvested batches and 9 batches of commercial origin from Viola arvensis Murray were examined. The levels of principal compounds averaged respectively: total flavonoids 2.86 and 1.63%, rutin 1.15 and 0.57%, violanthin 0.80 and 0.82%, violarvensin 0.75 and 0.20%, mucilage 21.5 and 16.5%, total ashes 10.6 and 14.8%, potassium 2.75 and 2.85% and also salicy lic acid 0.11 and 0.09%. Saponins were not detected. Specifications were discussed for an European Pharmacopoeial monography.
A single multiresidue method was developed to determine 109 priority organic compounds included in the 76/464/EEC Council Directive on Pollution of the European Union. Such Directive includes 132 priority pollutants with a broad spectrum of polarities to be analyzed in drinking and surface waters, with the aim to protect water quality. From this list, the compounds analyzed included benzidines, chloroanilines, chloronitrobenzenes, chloronitrotoluenes, chlorophenols, chloronitrotoluidines, PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, phenylurea, and triazine herbicides. The method was developed in four steps. First, automated off-line solid-phase extraction using polymeric sorbent Oasis 60 mg cartridges was optimized to trap 109 compounds. Second, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with electron impact ionization (GC/EI/MS) was used in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode for tentative identification of target analytes. Third, GC/EI/MS under full scan conditions was used for spectrum identification and analyte confirmation. Last, quantification was performed from SIM chromatogram using surrogates and internal standard. This method offered excellent sensitivity and selectivity, and the preconcentration of 200 mL permitted the achievement of limits of detection at the low nanogram/liter level and recoveries between 70 and 120%. Such methodology was applied to determine 109 organic compounds in French surface waters, and several pollutants were detected at levels from ppt to ppb. This multiresidue method developed was highly reproducible and robust and permitted a high sample throughput.
A national survey was carried out in order to assess the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in long-life half-skimmed drinking milk produced and consumed in France. 151 Samples were collected from 33 dairy establishments selected for their production amounts following a random sampling scheme. 148 of the 151 results were finally used for statistical assessment. The mean concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalent found is 0.65 pg/g of milk fat. This result is far below the threshold recommended by the European Union.
Quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (1) was isolated from the aerial parts of Alchemilla xanthochlora and characterized by spectroscopic analysis.
The two major caffeoylquinic acids, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, were new-isolated from the flowering tops of Artemisia vulgaris (yield 2.0% and 0.3% on dry weight, respectively) and characterized by spectroscopic analysis.
Luteolin 3'-O-beta-D-glucuronide (1) was isolated from the leaves of Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis and characterized by spectroscopic analysis.
Dried flowering tops of Hypericum perforatum L. (16 batches) and H. maculatum (3 batches) were studied according to the harvest period. The mean levels of the flavonoid and dianthranoid compounds were respectively: total flavonoids 3.20 and 3.92%, hyperoside 0.87 and 2. 12%, rutin 0.54 and 0.02%, isoquercitrin 0.48 and 0.75%; total dianthranoids 0.14 and 0.13%, hypericin 0.04 and 0.02%, pseudohypericin 0.08 and 0.11%. The flavonoid and dianthranoid levels were higher in young flowering tops of H. perforatum. 3 commercial batches were also examined for a comparative study. Pharmacopoeial specifications are proposed for a revision of the monograph "St.-John's-wort".
Polymeric solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges and Speedisks were used to extract 17 phenols from HPLC-grade water, tap water, river water and industrial effluents. With SPE cartridges, recoveries between 60 and 120% were obtained for waters with a total organic carbon (TOC) content below 20 mg C/l. However, when extracting industrial effluent waters with higher TOC values (75 mg C/l), only the polar phenols were recovered from the water fraction. Nonpolar compounds (di-, tri- and tetrachlorophenols) remained attached to the particulate matter and were recovered from the 0.45-microm filter membrane disks by Soxhlet extraction. Speedisks offered a high efficiency and permitted one to extract phenols without a prior filtration step. Acceptable recoveries were obtained when processing heavily charged industrial effluents with a TOC of 505 mg C/l. Liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was used for the routine determination of 17 priority phenols.
Dried aerial parts of Alchemilla xanthochlora Rothm. (16 batches), A. glabra Neygenf. (1 batch), A. coriacea Buser (2 batches) and A. filicaulis Buser (3 batches) present a similar flavonoid and tanin pattern. In the case of A. xanthochlora, the mean levels of the principal compounds were: total flavonoids 2.22%, glucuronyl-3 quercetol 1.18%, tanins 16.0% and ellagic acid 0.36%. The flavonoid levels were higher before flowering and the tanin levels higher during flowering. Four commercial batches were examined for a comparative study. Pharmacopoeial specifications were proposed for a revision of the monograph "Alchemillae herba".
Dried leaves of 9 harvested batches and 5 batches of commercial origin from Corylus avellana L. were examined. The levels of principal polyphenolic compounds averaged respectively: total flavonoids 2.58 and 2.58%, myricitrin 1.09 and 1.35%, quercitrin 0.30 and 0.40%, tannins 5.2 and 6.5%. Specifications were discussed for a French Pharmacopoeial monography.
Dried flowers (1 batch) and leaves (6 batches) of sour orange Citrus aurantium L. had a similar flavonoid pattern. But the flavonoid levels of flowers were higher than those of leaves. The mean levels of the principal flavonoid compounds were respectively: total flavonoids 12.35 and 1.06%, neohesperidin 5.44 and 0.08%, naringin 1.93 and 0.06%, eriocitrin 0.38 and 0.25%. 18 batches of commercial origine were also examined for a comparative study. Specifications were proposed for a revision of the monographs "Sour orange flower" and "Sour orange leaf" of the French Pharmacopoeia.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility and safety of recuperating blood absorbed by swabs used during orthopaedic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Open, prospective study. PATIENTS: Included were children undergoing potentially haemorrhagic orthopaedic surgery for whom intraoperative blood salvage seemed possible. Excluded were those with contraindications for this procedure such as septic surgery and cancer surgery. METHOD: Intraoperative swabs used within the surgical field were collected by a surgical assistant, also in charge of weighing and washing them. The liquid was collected by the aspiration system of a recuperation-washing machine (RWM). The salvaged red blood cells were collected and retransfused at the end of surgery. Several samples of the washing liquid of the swabs and salvaged blood were taken during the procedure. The correlation between the quantity of blood shed and salvaged was calculated. The biological and clinical tolerance of the transfusion was assessed. RESULTS: Twelve patients undergoing surgery for scoliosis have been included. An average of 278 mL of blood were salvaged. In the washed cell concentrates the haematocrit was 54% and the free haemoglobin concentration was 3.84 g.L-1. All the bacteriological tests were negative over the first 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Provided that a strict operatory protocol is followed, this study demonstrates the possibility of recuperating blood from swabs used during major orthopaedic surgery.
A new flavonoid di-C-glycoside, violarvensin (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Viola arvensis, together with the known derivative violanthin (2). The structure of 1 was established as apigenin-6-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-6-deoxygulopyrano side by spectral analysis.
Dried flowering aerial parts of 11 harvested batches and 14 batches of commercial origin from Sisymbrium officinale L. were examined. The levels of principal constituents averaged respectively: total glucosinolates 0.63 and 0.94%, mucilages 13.5 and 10.9%, total itols 8.9 and 10.2%, total flavonoids 0.50 and 0.56%. Specifications were discussed for a French Pharmacopoeial monography.
Six laboratories in six countries collaborated to investigate the analytical method for estimating the testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the context of detecting the application of T as a doping agent in sport. The protocol specified many but not all details of reagents and instrument conditions. The design included the distribution and analysis of four urines with different T/E values, three replicates per value, and one standard. The ranges of mean T/E values for the four urines estimated by peak area (PA) were 0.32-0.42, 0.72-0.94, 0.91-1.14 and 3.19-5.48. The analyses of variance for these data and for the peak height (PH) data were significant for the laboratory factor (p < 0.0001). In addition there was a significant interaction between the urine factor and the laboratory factor which indicates the complexity of the analysis. T/E calculated using PA was not significantly different from that using PH. For within-laboratory precision all values for PH and PA were < 8.3%, and for between-laboratory precision all values were < 11.7% except for one (20.1%). The data represent a baseline for future experiments designed to elucidate the sources of within-and between-laboratory variance, and to harmonize estimates of T/E.