PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Lazaro

Publications and source records attributed to E Lazaro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

HIV infection and tobacco smoking behaviour: prospects for prevention? ANRS CO3 Aquitaine Cohort, 2002.

OBJECTIVE: To provide up-to-date and covariate-specific estimates on tobacco smoking prevalence in a representative cohort of French human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 infected patients in 2002. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Aquitaine Cohort of HIV-infected patients. A logistic regression model was used to estimate associations between regular tobacco smoking and sex, age, HIV transmission categories, duration and immuno-virological status of HIV infection and duration of antiretroviral therapy. Smoking prevalence estimates were compared with the general French population values after stratification on age and sex. RESULTS: Among 2036 patients included in the analysis, 51% were regular smokers (95%CI 49-53). Smoking prevalence was significantly higher with younger age (OR 1.7 among those < or = 45 years of age), among injecting drug users (OR 4.3), among those whose infection was not controlled (OR 1.2) and those whose HIV infection had been diagnosed for > or = 5 years (OR 1.5). The main difference with the general population was the peak smoking prevalence among HIV-positive patients infected through injecting drug use. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected patients are highly exposed to tobacco smoking, which is implicated in multiple conditions occurring in the course of HIV infection. Adapted smoking cessation programmes should become one of the priorities of the medical care of HIV-infected individuals.

Adolescent↗

[Coexistence of dermatomyositis and macrophagic myofasciitis].

INTRODUCTION: An inflammatory myopathy, characterised by joint and muscle pain, chronic asthenia, with infiltration of peri-fascicular epimysium, perimysium and endomysium by cells of the macrophagic line, macrophagic myofasciitis is often associated with other, generally auto-immune, affections. However, the coexistence with another inflammatory myopathy is relatively rare. OBSERVATION: A 29 year-old woman presented with 2 distinct inflammatory myopathies, a macrophagic myofasciitis and a dermatomyositis, which had appeared a few years after. DISCUSSION: In the rare cases in which 2 inflammatory myopathies are combined, the precise relationship between them is unknown, an individual susceptibility to developing muscle diseases is suggested.

Adult↗

JC virus meningitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The human neurotropic JC virus (JCV) is most commonly acquired during childhood, and, because no clinical illness has been associated with primary infection, is presumed to be asymptomatic. In the immunocompromised host, JCV is responsible for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). We describe a patient with longstanding systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with acute meningitis without encephalitis or PML. JCV was the only pathogen found in the cerebrospinal fluid suggesting a primary infection or symptomatic reactivation. Our observation demonstrates the expanding clinical importance of JCV in autoimmune diseases, and diagnostic tests for JCV should be included in the investigative work-up for meningitis or encephalitis in these patients.

Adult↗

[Pulmonary plasmacytoma: about two new cases and review of the literature].

INTRODUCTION: Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an uncommon plasma cell malignancy mainly located to the upper aerodigestive tract. Primary pulmonary plasmacytoma is extremely rare. EXEGESIS: We report two new cases of primary pulmonary plasmacytoma and then proceed to a review of the literature concerning 35 similar cases previously described. CONCLUSION: Complete or partial responses were obtained in 24 cases (65%). Five patients (14%) have developed multiple myeloma within 3 years following plasmacytoma diagnostic. In spite of sustained responses with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, surgical resection while feasible remains the first therapeutic option.

Aged↗

[Nephrocalcinosis: initial manifestation of primary Sjögren's syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: Nephrocalcinosis is a rare complication of chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis observed in primary Sjögren's syndrome. It can precede subjective sicca symptoms. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with a primary Sjögren's syndrome. The first symptoms appeared 10-years-ago while she was affected with a nephrocalcinosis. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune investigations for Sjögren's syndrome should be initiated in any patient presenting with nephrocalcinosis and distal renal tubular acidosis.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular↗

A bioassay for evaluating antimalarial activity and for measuring concentration in plasma.

Our objective was to develop a bioassay method based on the isotopic microtest of Desjardins and to validate it by comparing the results with high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The bioassay was developed using a continuous culture of P. falciparum, and the test material consisted of 32 human serum samples from 22 Filipino patients treated only with chloroquine (CQ) for noncomplicated malaria. A blind assay of the serum was done using the Desjardins method and HPLC. A good correlation (r2 = 0.90, n = 32) was observed between the CQ plus monodesethylchloroquine (DCQ) concentrations obtained by HPLC and the equivalent CQ by bioassay. It was also shown that the antimalarial activity of CQ is practically identical to that of its main metabolite DCQ, the activity of DCQ being 0.9 times the activity of CQ. The bioassay is reliable, semi-automated, and reproducible. This method may be used as a complementary technique to HPLC for determining biological activity in serum and for measuring the kinetics of this activity, as well as to indicate the existence of new metabolites. The bioassay can be applied to other protozoans for which an in vitro model is available.

Adolescent↗

A feasibility study evaluating rhBMP-2/absorbable collagen sponge for maxillary sinus floor augmentation.

This 16-week open-label study assessed the safety and technical feasibility of implanting human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 delivered on an absorbable collagen sponge (rhBMP-2/ACS) for two-stage maxillary floor sinus augmentation. This first use of rhBMP-2/ACS in human clinical maxillary sinus floor augmentation included 12 patients with inadequate bone height in the posterior maxilla. The total delivered dose of rhBMP-2 implanted varied from 1.77 to 3.40 mg per patient. The rhBMP-2/ACS device was easily handled. Significant bone growth was documented by computerized tomographic scans in all evaluable patients (11/12). The overall mean height response for the maxillary sinus floor augmentation was 8.51 mm (95% confidence interval 6.07 to 10.95). There were no serious or unexpected immunologic or adverse effects and no clinically significant changes in complete blood counts, blood chemistries, or urinalysis results. The most frequent adverse effects were facial edema, oral erythema, pain, and rhinitis. Eleven patients have received dental implants and follow-up examinations are still being conducted. Histologic examinations of core bone biopsies obtained at the time of dental implant placement confirmed the quality of the bone induced by rhBMP-2/ACS. These results tend to indicate that rhBMP-2/ACS may provide an acceptable alternative to traditional bone grafts and bone substitutes for maxillary sinus floor augmentation procedures in humans.

Absorbable Implants↗

Erythromycin and 5S rRNA binding properties of the spinach chloroplast ribosomal protein CL22.

The spinach chloroplast ribosomal protein (r-protein) CL22 contains a central region homologous to the Escherichia coli r-protein L22 plus long N- and C-terminal extensions. We show in this study that the CL22 combines two properties which in E. coli ribosome are split between two separate proteins. The CL22 which binds to the 5S rRNA can also be linked to an erythromycin derivative added to the 50S ribosomal subunit. This latter property is similar to that of the E. coli L22 and suggests a similar localization in the 50S subunit. We have overproduced the r-protein CL22 and deleted forms of this protein in E. coli. We show that the overproduced CL22 binds to the chloroplast 5S rRNA and that the deleted protein containing the N- and C-terminal extensions only has lost the 5S rRNA binding property. We suggest that the central homologous regions of the CL22 contains the RNA binding domain.

Chloroplasts↗

Biochemical and kinetic characteristics of the interaction of the antitumor antibiotic sparsomycin with prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes.

Using 125I-labeled phenol-alanine sparsomycin, an analogue of sparsomycin having higher biological activity than the unmodified antibiotic, we studied the requirements and the characteristics of its interaction with the ribosome. The drug does not bind to either isolated ribosomal subunits or reconstituted whole ribosomes. For sparsomycin binding to 70S and 80S ribosomes, the occupation of the peptidyltransferase P-site by an N-blocked aminoacyl-tRNA is a definitive requirement. The sparsomycin analogue binds to bacterial and yeast ribosomes with Ka values of around 10(6) M-1 and 0.6 x 10(6) M-1, respectively, but its affinity is probably affected by the character of the peptidyl-tRNA bound to the P-site. Chloramphenicol, lincomycin, and 16-atom ring macrolides compete with sparsomycin for binding to bacterial ribosomes, but streptogramins and 14-atom ring macrolides do not. Considering the reported low affinity of puromycin for bacterial ribosomes, this antibiotic is also a surprisingly good competitor of sparsomycin binding to these particles. In the case of yeast ribosomes, blasticidin is a relatively good competitor of sparsomycin interaction, but anisomycin, trichodermin, and narciclasin are not. As expected, puromycin is a poor competitor of the binding in this case. The results from competition studies carried out with different sparsomycin analogues reveal, in some cases, a discrepancy between the drug ribosomal affinity and its biological effects. This suggests that some intermediate step, perhaps a ribosomal conformational change, is required for the inhibition to take place.

Binding, Competitive↗

Interaction of the antibiotic sparsomycin with the ribosome.

Phenol-alanine-sparsomycin, a derivative of sparsomycin carrying a p-hydroxy-benzyl function easily labeled by iodination, has been used to study the interaction of this drug with the ribosome. Our study indicated that the binding of the drug to the ribosome is sensitive to trichloracetic acid and is equally affected by disintegration of the particle after RNase and protease treatments. The ribosome is not irreversibly inactivated, and the chemical structure of the drug is not affected by interaction with the particle. These data are not compatible with the proposed covalent association of sparsomycin with the ribosome by G. A. Flynn and R. J. Ash (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 114:1-7, 1983); therefore, the antibiotic must inhibit protein synthesis through a reversible interaction with the ribosome.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and thyroid disease.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) performed for diffuse and nodular goiter in the past 5 years, was evaluated in 1399 cases. Surgery was performed on the basis of FNAB cytologic diagnosis that was positive or suggestive of malignancy and/or a suggestive clinical history. Surgery also was performed in cases of cold nodules with negative FNAB results that did not respond to 6 months of suppressive thyroxine therapy. A correlation of cytologic findings with histologic findings was possible in 415 patients who underwent surgery: the evaluation of FNAB results yielded better results when suspicious cytologic findings were considered to be positive (2.4% false-negative, 86.3% sensitivity) rather than negative (6.5% and 65.7%, respectively). FNAB has become a useful procedure in the study and diagnosis of thyroid diseases. It is a simple, rapid diagnostic procedure that may be used to expedite the management of malignant lesions.

Biopsy, Needle↗

An assessment of monocyte procoagulant activity in patients with solid tumors.

Generation of thromboplastin by monocytes has been shown to play a vital role in hypercoagulable states seen in malignancy. The purpose of this study was to compare the procoagulant activity in cancer patients and controls. Recalcification times (RT) of whole blood from 19 normal volunteers, 8 patients with benign polyps, 12 patients previously treated by surgery for head and neck (H&N) or colon cancer, and 13 untreated patients with various stages of H&N or colon cancer were determined. Tests were performed with and without stimulation with Escherichia coli endotoxin. The mean RT in saline (RTS) of untreated patients with early cancer (4.58 +/- 0.83 min) and that of patients with advanced cancer (5.23 +/- 1.16 min) were lower than that of controls (6.55 +/- 0.82 min), P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively. The RTS of patients previously treated and of those with benign polyps were no different from those of controls. Activation with endotoxin significantly lowered the recalcification times (RTE) in the early (3.90 +/- 0.58 min) and advanced cancer patients (4.23 +/- 0.66 min) compared to the RTE of controls (5.69 +/- 0.75 min, P less than 0.01 for both groups) as well as compared to those with benign tumors, P less than 0.05. The mean RTE of previously treated patients (4.72 +/- 0.58 min) was also lower than that of controls, P less than 0.05. Our results suggest that RT is significantly reduced in cancer patients compared to that of controls. Furthermore, monocyte activation with endotoxin may enable us to distinguish cancer patients from controls as well as from those with benign tumors.

Adenoma↗

The "swallowed bullet" syndrome.

A unique case is reported in which a bullet, after entering the maxillary antrum, penetrated the hard palate, was deflected into the esophagus where it struck the cervical spine, and then passed uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract.

Adolescent↗

Chemical, biochemical and genetic endeavours characterizing the interaction of sparsomycin with the ribosome.

Sparsomycin interaction with the ribosome and characteristics of the drug binding site in the particle were studied using chemical modification of the drug, affinity labeling methods and isolation of drug resistant mutants. The structure-function relationship studies, performed with a large number of drug derivatives, indicate that the drug interacts with the ribosome by its western and eastern moieties. The uracil ring, in the western end of the drug molecule, probably forms hydrogen bonds with the rRNA, while the apolar CH3-S-CH3 group in the eastern end interacts with a hydrophobic ribosomal domain that affinity labeling results seem to indicate is formed by protein. An increase in lipophilicity in this part of the antibiotic results in a dramatic increase in the inhibitory activity of the drug. The sparsomycin binding site is not accessible in free ribosomes, but the presence of an N-blocked amino acyl-tRNA at the P-site turns the particles capable of reversible interaction with the drug. After failure using Escherichia coli, a sparsomycin-resistant mutant was obtained by direct mutagenesis on Halobacterium halobium, a species with a unique copy of rRNA genes, stressing the role of rRNA on the drug interaction site.

Binding Sites↗