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Biomedical subjects

F David

Publications and source records attributed to F David.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultrasound-guided coxofemoral arthrocentesis in horses.

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Coxofemoral joint pain is probably underestimated due to difficulties in identifying hip pain. The deep location of the joint and proximity of the sciatic nerve make arthrocentesis based on external landmarks a difficult and potentially risky procedure in mature horses. OBJECTIVES: To describe an ultrasound-guided injection technique of the coxofemoral joint in standing horses and to evaluate its accuracy and potential difficulties/complications. METHODS: Nine mature horses had both pelvic areas prepared for sterile ultrasound examination (3.5 MHz curvilinear probe). Coxofemoral joints were located and penetrated at their craniodorsolateral aspect under ultrasonographic guidance and injected with sterile contrast medium. A standing ventrodorsal radiographic view of each hemipelvis centred on the hip was obtained for each horse to assess the injection site. Horses were evaluated for 10 days following injection for possible complications. RESULTS: Intra-articular injection was successful in all 18 joints. The procedure was well tolerated by horses under minimal restraint. Mean +/- s.d. needle repositionings required before accurate placement was 1.5 +/- 1.3 per joint. Once the needle was in the joint, synovial fluid was obtained in 7/18 joints. Minimal periarticular contrast medium was detected in 2/18 joints. Mean +/- s.d. ultrasonographic examination time required for coxofemoral localisation, accurate needle positioning and injection was 4.3 +/- 2.1 min. No complications were observed in the 10 days following injection. CONCLUSION: The ultrasound-guided coxofemoral arthrocentesis is an accurate, reliable and safe technique that offers a real time evaluation of needle introduction into the deep and narrow coxofemoral joint space. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Although this technique remains to be tested on clinical cases, it is a promising tool to facilitate diagnosis of coxofemoral pain, septic arthritis or administration of intra-articular medication.

Animals↗

Studies of uptake, elimination, and late effects in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) dietary exposed to Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) during early life.

The phthalate esters are a group of industrial chemicals considered to have endocrine-disrupting properties. The most common tonnage product among these, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is widely spread in the environment. The objectives with the present work were to study uptake and metabolism of orally administered DEHP and its major metabolite mono-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (MEHP) and to evaluate the impact of early life exposure on sex differentiation in Atlantic salmon. The feeding with contaminated diet started immediately after yolk sac resorption and continued for 4 weeks. Nominal concentrations of DEHP in the diet were 400 (measured 359), 800 (measured 827), and 1500 (measured 1648) mg DEHP/kg and a control group was fed food mixed with solvent. After the exposure period, fish were fed non-contaminated diet until final sampling 4 months post-exposure. There were no effects on growth or survival of the fish and no late effects on hepatosomatic index or sex ratio. However, the histological examination of gonads from fish exposed to 1500 mg DEHP/kg revealed a small but significant incidence (3%) of intersex fish (ovo-testis). Chemical residues of DEHP and MEHP were analyzed weekly during the first 3 months of the post-exposure period. Both DEHP and MEHP were rapidly eliminated to near background levels within one week post exposure. The study indicates that exposure of Atlantic salmon to relatively high concentrations of DEHP during a sensitive part of the life cycle may interfere with gonad differentiation.

Analysis of Variance↗

Structural investigation of Pd(II) in concentrated nitric and perchloric acid solutions by XAFS.

XAFS spectra of palladium(II) in concentrated HNO3/HClO4 acid mixtures have been recorded and analyzed. Structural parameters of the Pd(H2O)4(2+) complex and the mixed nitric Pd(NO3)2(H2O)2 complex, for the first time, were determined by the XAFS method. For pure 5 M HClO4 and for mixtures (0-0.3 M HNO3), the XAFS spectra of the 0.02 M Pd solutions are indeed very similar and originated from four Pd-O(w) equivalent distances. For the Pd(H2O)4(2+) square-planar aqua ion in strong perchloric acid, the use of an FEFF6 theoretical approach led to a first-shell Pd-O(w) distance of 2.00 (1) A and a Debye-Waller (DW) factor of sigma2 = 0.0030 (3) A2. Four water molecules are tightly bound to the Pd2+ ion in the equatorial plane, while two (or one) axial water molecules are weakly bound to the metal ion at 2.5 A with a DW factor of 0.015 (5) A2. For highly concentrated mixtures (4-6 M HNO3) and for pure concentrated (4-6 M) nitric acid as well as for crystalline powder Pd(NO3)2(H2O)2, the XAFS spectra are very similar and are determined by the mixed nitric complex Pd(NO3)2(H2O)2: four Pd-O near-equivalent distances of 2.01 (1) A from two H2O and two NO3 molecules with a total DW factor of sigma2 = 0.0037 (3) A2. Moreover, two Pd---N distances of 2.8-2.9 A were determined in the second coordination shell. Finally, for intermediate mixtures (1-3 M HNO3 in 5 M HClO4), the XAFS spectra are a superposition of the XAFS of Pd(H2O)4(2+) and Pd(NO3)2(H2O)2 complexes. The mean ligand number NO3(-) around Pd2+ has been calculated, and the XAFS results at pH close to zero confirm the spectrophotometric results previously published.

Journal Article↗

Factors associated with virological response in HIV-infected patients failing antiretroviral therapy: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the antiviral response to optimized therapy following genotypic resistance testing and to identify factors associated with virological response in HIV-1-infected patients failing antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 344 HIV-1-infected patients who underwent genotypic resistance testing because of virological failure. Virological response was defined as a plasma HIV RNA level below 200 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL or a drop of plasma viral load from baseline of more than 1 log10. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with virological response. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 40 years, with a male to female ratio of 4:1. Fifty-one per cent of patients had received the three major classes of antiretrovirals and the median duration of previous antiretroviral therapy was 4.6 years. At baseline, the median plasma HIV RNA level was 4.4 log10 copies/mL and the median CD4 cell count was 274 cells/microL. At 3 months, 55% of patients (188 of 344) had a virological response, which was sustained at 6 months (53%). Predictors of virological response were exposure to two or fewer protease inhibitors [odds ratio (OR) 1.8; P=0.046], and use in optimized therapy of a new class of antiretrovirals (OR 2.9; P=0.006), of more than two new drugs (OR 3.0; P<0.0001), of abacavir (OR 1.9; P=0.03), or of lopinavir/ritonavir (OR 3.7; P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of patients achieved a short-term virological response in this cohort study. Patients with the least experience of protease inhibitor treatment and in whom a new class of antiretroviral, more than two new drugs, abacavir or lopinavir/ritonavir was used in optimized therapy had the best virological outcome.

Adult↗

Assessment of cetirizine, an antihistamine, to prevent cutaneous reactions to nevirapine therapy: results of the viramune-zyrtec double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

We conducted a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of cetirizine to assess the ability of antihistamines to prevent nevirapine-associated rash in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Patients initiating treatment with nevirapine were randomized to receive either cetirizine, 10 mg q.d. (104 patients), or placebo (96 patients) during the first 6 weeks of therapy. Rash occurred in 22 (11%) of 200 patients; 10 (9.6%) were in the cetirizine group and 12 (12.5%) were in the placebo group (odds ratio [OR], 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31-1.81; P=.5). Five of 22 rashes were cases of hypersensitivity syndrome. The rate of nevirapine discontinuation due to rash was similar in the 2 groups (7.7% and 6.25% in the cetirizine and placebo groups, respectively; P=.4). Multivariate analysis showed no treatment-group effect but indicated that age >40 years (OR, 3.83; 95% CI, 1.4-10.46; P=.008) was associated with an increased risk of rash. Cetirizine has no preventive effect on nevirapine-associated rash.

Adult↗

[Neurospychiatric symptoms in HIV infected patients and the role of efavirenz].

Efavirenz has now become commonly used to treat HIV infection. Neuropsychiatric disorders have been reported in patients treated with efavirenz. Several factors often make it hard to determine the cause of these disorders: HIV infected patients take many different drugs, they may suffer from various organ diseases, and may also be heavily affected by problems in their everyday life. The French experts group working on neuropsychiatric side effects of efavirenz has undertaken a review of these disorders with the aim to identify: (1) semiology, (2) epidemiology in the global population, in HIV infected patients, and in patients treated with efavirenz. The expert group suggests recommendations to manage these disorders.

Alkynes↗

Stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-capillary GC-MS for profiling and target component analysis of pharmaceutical drugs in urine.

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) in combination with thermal desorption (TD) on-line coupled to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CGC-MS) was applied to the analysis of pharmaceutical drug compounds and metabolites in urine. SBSE implies stirring of the aqueous sample (urine, blood, etc.) with a glass stir bar coated with a thick layer (24 microl) of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for sorptive enrichment of the analytes of interest. In combination with quantitative TD, on-line coupled with CGC-MS, the technique showed to be very versatile and sensitive for the analysis of a wide range of drug substances. Moreover, the relative high enrichment efficiencies of SBSE allow to use mass spectrometric detection (MSD) in the full scan mode. In situ derivatization of polar compounds before SBSE is demonstrated for the analysis of paracetamol and this resulted in both improved chromatographic behavior and higher sensitivity. The quantitative performance of SBSE-TD-CGC-MS is illustrated with the analysis of some barbiturates in urine.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

Analysis of off-flavors in the aquatic environment by stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-capillary GC/MS/olfactometry.

The off-flavor compounds 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, 2,3,6-trichloroanisole, 2,3,4-trichloroanisole, and 2,4,6-tribromoanisole were analyzed in water samples by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) followed by on-line thermal desorption (TD) capillary GC/MS. Quantification was performed using the MS in the single-ion-monitoring mode (SIM) with 2,4,6-trichloroanisole-D(5 )as internal standard. Quantification limits are 0.1-0.2 ng L(-1) for the haloanisoles, 0.5 ng L(-1) for geosmin, and 1 ng L(-1) for MIB. The relative standard deviations at the quantification limit ranged from 7 to 14.6%. SBSE recovery was evaluated by spiking real water samples and varied from 87 to 117%. More than twenty samples per day can be analyzed by SBSE-TD-capillary GC-MS. The same technique in combination with olfactometry was used to elucidate unknown odorous compounds in water samples.

Anisoles↗

Chronic effects of vapour phase di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) on six plant species.

A fumigation experiment was performed in which six plant species representing the European flora were exposed to a range of DBP concentrations. Controlled amounts of DBP-saturated air were injected into the ingoing air-streams of plant fumigation chambers, maintaining constant concentrations there for a period of up to 76 days. The target concentrations were a control, 0.8, 1.5, 3.5, and 10.0 microg m(-3). The variation in sensitivity between plant species to atmospheric DBP was quantified on the basis of whole plant biomass in order to derive no-observed-effect-concentrations (NOECs). Significant dose-response relationships, based on realised concentrations, were thus derived using non-linear regression, resulting in NOECs of 0.51 microg m(-3) for Trifolium repens, 0.96 microg m(-3) for Brassica campestris, 1.87 microg m(-3) for Phaseolus vulgaris and 2.21 microg m(-3) for Plantago major. A significant effect was also observed for Holcus lanatus at 12.4 microg m(-3) DBP, but due to the variation at lower levels of DBP exposure, no dose-response relationship could be derived. No significant effect on growth of current year needles in Picea abies was observed, even at the highest level of DBP, 13.7 microg m(-3). Based on statistical extrapolation according to Aldenberg and Slob [Ecotox. Environ. Safety, 25 (1993) 48], an overall predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the plant-atmosphere compartment of 0.33 microg m(-3) DBP was calculated. The PNEC was calculated using the mean and standard deviation of the NOEC for four of the tested species and an extrapolation factor. In addition to changes in leaf colour, leaf crinkling and growth reduction, a number of not quantified observations are described, indicating that DBP affects the physiology as well as the morphology of these species.

Air Pollution↗

Characterization of triglycerides in vegetable oils by silver-ion packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and coordination ion spray.

Characterization of triglycerides in vegetable oils was achieved by silver-ion packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography (SI-pSFC) with mass spectrometric detection. Hyphenation was made using commercially available liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) interfaces without any modification. A make-up fluid was delivered through a T-piece placed before or after the SFC restrictor by means of a high pressure pump. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and coordination ion spray (CIS) with silver ions were used as ionization modes. Compared to UV detection, the sensitivity was increased by a factor of 100. Both ionization modes are generating similar structural information. Molecular ions [M-H]+ or [M-Ag(-)] are observed in the mass spectra with exception of the saturated triglycerides for which only CIS gives intense molecular ions. The position at which the fatty acids are esterified to the glycerol backbone can be elucidated by pSFC-APCI although it remains speculative whether this is valid for highly unsaturated triglycerides because reference compounds are not available to proof this.

Atmospheric Pressure↗

Stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-capillary GC-MS applied to biological fluids.

A new sample preparation method, stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), has been evaluated for the enrichment of organic solutes from biological fluids such as urine and blood. In SBSE, a stir bar coated with a polydimethylsiloxane layer is stirred for a given time in the sample. After sampling the stir bar is placed in a thermal desorption unit coupled on-line to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-TD-CGC-MS). The principle and operation of SBSE are presented. Total profiling and target compound analysis have been selected as applications to illustrate the performance of SBSE-TD-CGC-MS (MSD). It is demonstrated that a variety analytes ranging from biological markers (phenols, hormones, fatty acids) to artificial contaminants (recreational drugs, plasticizers) can be enriched with high sensitivity. For polar solutes, in-situ derivatization can enhance both recovery into the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer and chromatographic analysis. Two types of derivatization have been applied, derivatization with ethyl chloroformate and with acetic acid anhydride. Linearity, detectability, and repeatability are illustrated by the determination of 1-hydroxypyrene in a urine sample from a smoker.

Body Fluids↗

[Colorectal spirochetosis, a possible but unusual cause of chronic diarrhea?].

INTRODUCTION: Human intestinal spirochetosis has been known since the end of the nineteenth century. OBSERVATION: We report one case of intestinal spirochetosis revealed by chronic diarrhoea and diagnosed on colonic biopsies. The chronic diarrhoea disappeared with antibiotherapy. COMMENTARIES: The prevalence of intestinal spirochetosis in rectal and colonic biopsies, among patients with digestive disorders, varies in occidental countries from 2% to 7%. Presently, the pathogenic role of intestinal spirochetosis is controversial.

Biopsy↗

Assay of the concentration and 13C-isotopic enrichment of malonyl-coenzyme A by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

We developed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assays for the concentration and mass isotopomer distribution of malonyl-CoA in tissues. The assay involves perchloric acid extraction of the tissue, spiking the extract with [U-13C3]malonyl-CoA or dimethylmalonyl-CoA internal standard, isolation of short-chain acyl-CoA fraction on an oligonucleotide purification cartridge, alkaline hydrolysis to malonate, trimethylsilyl derivatization, and analysis of the mass isotopomer distribution of malonate. The assay was applied to labeling of malonyl-CoA from various [13C]substrates in perfused rat livers and hearts. In livers perfused with [1,2-13C2]acetate, malonyl-CoA is doubly labeled from [1,2-13C2]acetate and singly labeled from 13CO2. In livers perfused with either NaH13CO3 or [3-13C]lactate + [3-13C]pyruvate, the half-lives of singly labeled malonyl-CoA were less than 20 s and 6.95 min, respectively. In rat heart, the half-life of malonyl-CoA, traced with NaH13CO3, was about 1.25 min. Thus, our assay allows us to measure the turnover of tissue malonyl-CoA, the contribution of various [13C]substrates to its production in lipogenic and nonlipogenic organs, and the cycling between acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in nonlipogenic organs.

Acetates↗

Stir bar sorptive extraction applied to the determination of dicarboximide fungicides in wine.

The dicarboximide fungicides vinclozolin, iprodione and procymidone were analyzed in white wines using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) in combination with thermal desorption-capillary GC-MS analysis (TD-cGC-MS). The method was optimized using spiked water samples in a concentration range between 0.5 and 100 microg/l. Iprodione was measured as its degradation product 3,5-dichlorophenyl hydantoin. Limits of quantification in the full scan MS mode are 0.5 microg/l for vinclozolin and procymidone and 5 microg/l for iprodione. In the ion monitoring mode, concentrations 100 times lower can be dosed. Because of wine matrix effects on the recoveries, quantification of the target fungicides in wine had to be carried out by standard addition. For the thermolabile iprodione, the accuracy of SBSE-TD-cGC-MS was verified using SBSE followed by liquid desorption and analysis by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. Procymidone and iprodione were detected in wines in concentrations up to 65 microg/l while the highest concentration of vinclozolin detected was smaller than 3 microg/l.

Aminoimidazole Carboxamide↗

Pyrolysis-capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of polyvinyl chloride traces in solid environmental samples.

A novel method based on pyrolysis-capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CGC-MS) was developed for the quantitative analysis of polyvinylchloride (PVC) in solid environmental samples like sludge and dust. The samples are extracted and the extract is fractionated by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Possibly interfering biological and frequently occuring synthetic polymers are removed by this clean-up. The final extract is analyzed by pyrolysis-CGC-MS. Selective detection of PVC is performed by using specific markers in the pyrogram. Quantitation is done on naphthalene. Good linearity was obtained in a range from 0.5 to 100 microg applied to the pyrolyser. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) in sludge and dust samples is 10 mg/kg dry mass. A correlation between PVC and phthalates was made for sewage sludge samples.

Environmental Pollutants↗

[Maples at the sub-Alpine vegetation belt: a long history].

Pollen analysis was carried out on lacustrine sediment of a small hollow (15 m x 25 m) at the treeless sub-Alpine belt (202 m) of the inner Maurienne valley in the northern French Alps. A 2,500-year-long maple settlement was demonstrared. Three AMS dates of terrestrial plant macroremains support the chronology. First, Betula and Salix spread prior to 9,000 C14 BP. The first pollen grains of Acer, Abies and Pinus cembra are quoted at 8,600 C14 BP. High frequencies of Alnus glutinosa/incana (20%) and Acer (10%) show that mixed communities of Acer and Alnus persisted above the mountainous Abies forest between 7,490 and 5,850 C14 BP. After 5,850 C14 BP, the decrease in Acer stands could be attributed to fire as suggested by the strong increase in Betula and by the delayed expansion of Pinus cembra.

Altitude↗

[The establishment of Holocene vegetation belts: quite near to a complete model of a solid mass].

Pollen and macro-remains were analysed in a sixth site (La Gouille 1,800 m) of the Chaîne des Hurtières (northern French Alps). Nine A.M.S. dates support the chronology. Thus, the establishment of the vegetation belt of a massif can be modelled in the northern French Alps. Betula invaded sub-Alpine grasslands as early as 10,000 14C BP. Around 9,600 14C BP shrublands with Corylus, Alnus and Sorbus were established before the spread of Abies at the site approximately 8,200 14C BP. A decrease in Abies prior to 8,100 14C BP occurred during the Venediger climatic oscillation. At around 2,940 14C BP, a strong regression of Abies due to human action is noted with the expansion of Alnus viridis. Recently, a second Abies retraction led to the present sparce P. cembra and Alnus viridis vegetation cover.

Altitude↗