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F Ferre

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferre.

60 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Regional distribution and pharmacological characterization of [125I]endothelin-1 binding sites in human fetal placental vessels.

High-affinity binding sites for [125I]endothelin(ET)-1 have been detected in purified membrane preparations of the fetal arteries and veins of the chorionic plate and the stem villi vessels of the human term placenta. Regardless of the vessel type, the apparent dissociation constant was found to be in the picomolar range (26----45 pM), and the Bmax value close to 600 fmol/mg protein. In stem villi vessels, ET-1, ET-2, sarafotoxin S6b and vasocontractor intestinal peptide (VIC) were approximately equipotent in their competitive displacement of [125I]ET-1 binding. The endothelin precursors, human and porcine big-endothelin, recognized ET-1 sites with low affinity (nM range), a finding which reflects their low potency as recognized vasocontractant agents. Interestingly, [125I]ET-1 binding parameters and pharmacological profiles were identical in fetal veins and arteries of the chorionic plate. Similarly, a study carried out in rat aortic membranes, revealed the presence of high affinity [125I]ET-1 binding sites with pharmacological characteristics close to those of the human stem villi vessels. In all vessels investigated, the binding pattern of ET-3 against [125I]ET-1 was of a non-competitive nature. Thus, these results demonstrate the presence of specific [125I]ET-1 binding sites along the vascular tree of the fetal side of the placenta and would support evidence currently available, favouring the existence of distinct ET-1 and ET-3 receptors. Finally, ET-1 in the human placenta may play an important physiological role as regulator of vascular resistance and/or be implicated as a pathological factor in certain pregnancy-related diseases.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of highly purified, inactivated HIV-1 particles isolated by anion exchange chromatography.

This report characterizes inactivated, gp120 depleted, HIV-1 particles purified by an anion exchange chromatography production process. This antigen formulated with incomplete Freund's adjuvant constitutes Remune, which is being evaluated in a phase III clinical endpoint trial to determine the effect of this immune-based therapy on clinical progression of HIV-1 seropositive patients. Multiple production lots of the inactivated HIV-1 antigen strain HZ321, isolated by anion exchange chromatography, exhibit purity of > 95% by gel filtration. These findings are corroborated by thin section electron microscopy showing a homogenous field of intact particles. Analyses of the purified virus particles for protein, lipid, carbohydrate and RNA show structural retention of the envelope proteins, lipid bilayer and core components after large scale processing. The qualitative identification of at least 85% of total HIV-1 protein is determined by ELISA, Western blot, HPLC and amino acid sequencing analyses. Quantitative values are assigned to 50% of these proteins. The data confirm the presence of virally encoded proteins p6, p7, pI15, p17, p24, p32, pI39Gag, gp41, pp55Gag, p66/51, Vpr, Vif and Nef. Excellent consistency between production lots and equivalency to HIV-1 preparations purified by sucrose density gradient sedimentation has been established for protein and lipid composition, and overall purity. These findings further establish that non-viral encoded proteins and lipids are integral structural components of the intact virion and are not contaminants unique to a particular isolation method. The data confirm the presence of multicomponent antigens in the viral particles for stimulating a broad HIV-1 specific immune response. Finally, the work demonstrates that the two inactivation procedures (beta-propiolactone and gamma irradiation), which achieve efficient viral inactivation meeting US FDA guidelines, do not damage the protein antigens of the viral particles.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms during treatment with olanzapine, haloperidol and risperidone: results of an observational study].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and the concomitant use of anticholinergic drugs in outpatients diagnosed of schizophrenia treated with olanzapine (OLZ) in comparison with haloperidol (HAL) and risperidone (RIS) under routine clinical practice conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis was carried out on the basis of the information obtained in the EFESO study, an observational, prospective study carried out in outpatients diagnosed of schizophrenia and treated with olanzapine compared to other antipsychotic agents used in the clinical practice. The incidence of EPS in the OLZ treated group compared to the haloperidol and risperidone treatment groups in which over 100 patients were included is analyzed in the present work. The study duration was 6 months and the data were collected by 293 psychiatrists from mental health care areas. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who presented at least one adverse event (AE) (p 3/4 0.001) was less in the OLZ groups (47.8%) compared to those of the HAL (79.8%) and RIS (57.2%) subgroups. A lower percentage of patients treated with OLZ (36.9%) presented EPS in comparison to the RIS (49.6%) and HAL (76%) subgroups (p 3/4 0.001). A lower rate of patients from the OLZ group (10.2%) received anticholinergic treatments compared to the RIS (19.9%) and HAL (44%) subgroups (p< 0.001 in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: OLZ-treated patients presented a lower incidence of EPS and required less anticholinergic treatment than the HAL and RIS treated patients. These results, obtained in naturalistic conditions, coincide with the conclusions reached in randomized clinical trials carried out prior to the marketing of OLZ.

Adult↗