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Biomedical subjects

D Labbe

Publications and source records attributed to D Labbe.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Subthreshold olfactory stimulation can enhance sweetness.

The impact of olfactory perception on sweetness was explored in a model solution using odorants at subthreshold concentrations. First, the impact of 6 odorants, previously described in the literature as congruent with sweetness, was investigated at suprathreshold level in a sucrose solution. Ethyl butyrate and maltol were selected as they had the highest and the lowest sweetness-enhancing properties, respectively. Second, the impact on sweetness of the 2 odorants was investigated at subthreshold concentrations. A system delivering a continuous liquid flow at the same sucrose level, but with varying odorant concentrations, was used. At a subthreshold level, ethyl butyrate but not maltol significantly enhanced the sweetness of the sucrose solution. This study highlights that olfactory perception induced by odorants at a subthreshold level can significantly modulate taste perception. Finally, contrary to results observed with ethyl butyrate at suprathreshold levels, at subthreshold levels, the intensity of sweetness enhancement was not proportional to ethyl butyrate concentration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Effect of interleukin-1beta on transforming growth factor-beta and bone morphogenetic protein-2 expression in human periodontal ligament and alveolar bone cells in culture: modulation by avocado and soybean unsaponifiables.

BACKGROUND: In periodontal disease, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is responsible for the matrix breakdown through excessive production of degrading enzymes by periodontal ligament fibroblasts and osteoblasts. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in tissue regeneration as one of the factors capable of counteracting IL-1beta effects. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effect of avocado and soya unsaponifiables (ASU) on the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) by human periodontal ligament (HPL) and human alveolar bone (HAB) cells in the presence of IL-1beta. METHODS: HPL and HAB cells were incubated for 48 hours with ASU (10 microg/ml) in the presence or absence of IL-1beta (10 ng/ml). The steady-state levels of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and BMP-2 mRNAs were determined by Northern blot or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The amounts of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 proteins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The data indicated that IL-1beta strongly decreases the expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 by HPL cells. ASU were capable of opposing the cytokine effect. In HAB cells, TGF-beta1 and BMP-2 mRNA levels were downregulated by the cytokine. ASU were found to reverse the IL-1beta-inhibiting effect. In contrast, the cytokine stimulated the production of TGF-beta2 in alveolar bone cells, with no significant effect of ASU. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the IL-1beta-driven erosive effect in periodontitis could be enhanced by a decreased expression of members of the TGF-beta family. The ASU stimulation of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and BMP-2 expression may explain their promoting effects in the treatment of periodontal disorders, at least partly. These findings support the hypothesis that ASU could exert a preventive action on the deleterious effects exerted by IL-1beta in periodontal diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Post-operative care and patient satisfaction after ambulatory surgery for breast cancer patients.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate patient information provided, the management of post-operative symptoms and post-operative care, and patient satisfaction with ambulatory breast surgery over a 1-year period. METHODS: From January to December 2000, all breast cancer patients undergoing conservative breast surgery were offered surgery as an outpatient procedure at the Ambulatory Surgery Unit. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty six patients underwent outpatient surgery. None were readmitted during the first night or the first week. Two hundred and nineteen patients completed a questionnaire. One hundred and sixty nine patients (group 1) underwent wide local excision (WLE) and 50 (group 2), WLE and axillary lymphadenectomy. Patients in group 2 experienced more pain at discharge from the hospital (p < or = 0.01) and during the first week after discharge (p < or = 0.00001) than patients in group 1. The mean overall satisfaction score was 8.97 on a scale of 1-10. Post-operative information provided by the surgeon before discharge from the hospital was rated 8.90 on a scale of 1-10 while information provided by the nurse was rated 9.33 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Ambulatory surgery for breast cancer patients is safe and popular with patients, however, post-operative pain presents problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

A clinically relevant HIV-1 subunit vaccine protects rhesus macaques from in vivo passaged simian-human immunodeficiency virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether immunization with recombinant HIV-1 envelope protein derived from a clinical isolate could protect macaques from infection with an in vivo passaged chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 16 animals were studied from which three groups of four animals were immunized with vaccine formulations of the CC-chemokine receptor-5-binding recombinant gp120 of HIV-1W6.1D. Four weeks after the last immunization, all 16 animals were intravenously challenged with in vivo passaged SHIV derived from the same HIV-1 group B clinical isolate (W6.1D) as the vaccines. RESULTS: Vaccine protection from infection was demonstrated in 10 out of 12 macaques immunized with recombinant gp120. Complete protection from infection was achieved with all of the animals that received the SBAS2-W6.1D formulation, a potent inducer of both T-cell and humoral immune responses. Partial protection was achieved with SBAS1-W6.1D, a formulation based on immunomodulators known to induce T-cell responses in humans. In vaccinated animals that were infected, virus load was reduced and infection was delayed. CONCLUSIONS: In a relatively large number of primates, vaccine efficacy was demonstrated with a clinically relevant HIV-1 vaccine. These results reveal that it is possible to induce sterilizing immunity sufficient to protect from infection with SHIV which was passaged multiple times in vivo. Our findings have implications for current HIV-1 clinical vaccine trials and ongoing efforts to develop safe prophylactic AIDS vaccines.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1997

[Psychological profile of suicide using firearms to the face. Review of the literature. Our experiences at the university hospital center at Caen].

We studied the psychological feature of subjects who attempted suicide with firearms. This retrospective study included 36 cases of "facial suicide" treated at the Caen University Hospital since 1981 and data in the literature. An analysis of the different parameters showed in several cases, that this population is different from the others, particularly hospitalized drug overdose suicide patients. Two notions were particularly remarkable in these patients: history of patients psychiatric disorders were very rare and recurrent suicide attempts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Serum creatinine assay: results of a multicentric study with 16 analytical systems].

During a multicenter evaluation, 16 methods for creatinine measurement have been tested according to the guidelines of the Société française de biologie clinique (SFBC) protocol. Kinetic Jaffé methods, widely used in France, performed on different analytical systems (Astra Beckman, IL 508, RA 1000 Technicon, Hitachi 704, 705, 717 Boehringer, Fara Roche, Progress Kone, Kem-O-Mat Coulter, Perspective France Monitor) have been compared to a continuous flow method with aqueous standards, to enzymatic methods using creatinine amidohydrolase with a colorimetric measurement (Boehringer and Ektachem Kodak) and to an HPLC method. Reproducibility, estimated with four different control sera, proved to be unsatisfactory in some cases as compared to current criteria for imprecision (less than +/- 10 mumol/l for intralaboratory and less than +/- 20 mumol/l for interlaboratory imprecision). The same selected patients sera covering the whole range of physiopathological concentrations have been analyzed with each method, and compared with the continuous flow results. Differences are more dependent on the sample than on the calibrators. The influences of haemolysis, bilirubin, acetoacetate, albumin, lipids, glucose, and some cephalosporins have been evaluated with spiked human sera. Haemolysed, turbid and jaundiced patient samples have been analyzed as well. The results vary according to the analytical procedure. This study took place in the implementation of a selected method for routine purpose with special regards to interferences and an acceptable imprecision. The method must satisfy the physicians' demands in the renal function exploration, especially in kidney-transplant patients.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1989

Bile acid glycine and taurine conjugates in serum of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: effect of ursodeoxycholic treatment.

We have applied a specific and accurate high pressure liquid chromatographic technique to determine fasting serum glycine and taurine conjugates of individual bile acids in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis before and during ursodeoxycholic acid therapy. The study was carried out in nine patients in whom the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis was established according to accepted criteria. After one year of UDCA therapy liver function tests significantly improved. Total serum bile acid concentration did not change significantly (29.2 (31.5) v 28.3 (26.4) microM). Total UDCA (1.7 (2.2) v 13.3 (14.5) microM) and glyco UDCA (0.8 (1.6) v 10.9 (11.4 microM) but not tauro UDCA levels increased significantly (p less than 0.01); UDCA (7.7 (12.6) v 40.2 (12.7)%) became the major species of the circulating bile acids. Primary bile acids (23 (28.3) v 11.2 (10.5) and their glycoconjugates fell significantly (p less than 0.01). There were no significant changes in the concentrations of conjugates of the secondary bile acids (4.5 (3.8) v 3.9 (3.0]. Our study shows that oral administration of UDCA to patients with primary biliary cirrhosis induced marked changes in the circulating pool of endogenous bile acids together with improvement in liver function test values. The data also suggest that the beneficial effect of longterm administration of UDCA in these patients might be mediated through changes in the circulating primary bile acids and UDCA rather than through changes in the circulating secondary bile acids, deoxycholate and lithocholate.

Bile Acids and Salts↗
PubMed1989

[Advancement genioplasty with miniaturized Paulus plates].

Described by Obwegeser in 1957, horizontal osteotomy of the chin is one of the simplest osteotomies performed on the face. For a long time the insertion of an implant has been preferred to this osteotomy due to the difficulties involved in maintaining it in a good position. The use of preformed Paulus plates of different sizes resolves the problems of contention and ensure perfect stability of the osteomuscular fragment, guaranteeing a permanent result.

Bone Plates↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of bilateral spontaneous dural carotid-cavernous fistulas by coils and sclerotherapy. Case report.

A case of bilateral spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistulas producing increased intraocular pressure is reported. The fistulas lay between the meningeal branches of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the cavernous sinus, but the ICA itself was not involved. Successful treatment was accomplished by the introduction of steel coils and a sclerotic liquid into the cavernous sinus via the distal superior ophthalmic vein.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗