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F Pousset

Publications and source records attributed to F Pousset.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Developmental expression of cytokine genes in the cortex and hippocampus of the rat central nervous system.

Cytokines are now considered as constitutive factors of the brain. Some of them are involved in the mechanism regulating lineage commitment and cellular differentiation of the central nervous system (CNS). We describe here the analysis of gene expression in cortex and hippocampus, of interleukin-1 alpha (IL1), interleukin-2 (IL2), interleukin-6 (IL6), macrophage-colony stimulating factor-1 (MCSF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) in fetal (day 18 of gestation; G18), newborn (postnatal day 2; P2), young (postnatal day 21; P21) and adult rat using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IL6 and MCP1 mRNA presented distinct patterns of expression levels: IL6 mRNA level is most highly expressed in the embryonic cortex, whereas MCP1 is expressed at a maximal level in the postnatal day 2 cortical area. In the hippocampus, IL6 is most expressed at the adult stage and MCP1 exhibits an equal level of expression from day two to the adult stage. However, under our experimental conditions, IL1 alpha, IL2 and MCSF mRNA were not observed. Thus, certain cytokine genes, each with a specific pattern, are expressed in the rat CNS in adult and during ontogenesis. These observations suggest that cytokines might be involved as regulating factors promoting CNS development.

Animals↗

Cytokines as mediators in the central nervous system.

Cytokines are soluble mediators involved in cell-cell regulations in the immunological and the hematopoietic system. We review various cytokine effects on the central nervous system, including growth-promoting activity, neuro-modulatory action, fever induction, sleep and decreased food intake. In addition, cytokines, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters and hormones all participate in an intricate inter-relationship to contribute to the development and maintenance of brain homeostasis. Cytokines are also involved in the wounding responses of injured brain after trauma, infection or neuro-degenerative processes. Pharmacological modulation of the expression and/or actions of cytokines in the brain may represent a new field of research of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of central disorders.

Brain Injuries↗

Cardiac lymphoma presenting as atrial flutter in an AIDS patient.

An increasing number of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cardiac lymphoma have been documented. Antemortem diagnosis of cardiac non-Hodgkin lymphoma in AIDS is difficult because of the non-specificity of the clinical findings. Rapid progression of cardiac dysfunction is common after symptoms appear. We report the case of a patient with AIDS and cardiac lymphoma revealed by an atrial flutter.

Atrial Flutter↗

[Role of intravascular brachytherapy in the prevention of vascular restenosis after angioplasty].

About 30% of patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty show evidence of restenosis, which appears to be independent of the angioplasty method used. The restenosis is due of two factors, firstly migration of smooth vascular muscle cells of the vascular media to the intima and multiplication which lead to the formation of a neo-intima. Irradiation limits the proliferation by acting of the cells in the mitotic stage. The vascular target volume is not very thick and is difficult to define it, that why brachytherapy seems to be the best procedure to prevent restenosis. However, the development of this treatment present many difficulties. Different irradiation techniques have been studied. Such techniques include catheter containing radioactive sealed source, radioactive stent, or balloon containing radioactive liquid inside. Each of these methods have their own advantages, inconveniences, problems and risks. Radioisotope may be either beta or gamma emitters. Gamma emitter presents problems for radioprotection but the satisfactory dose distribution may be difficult to obtain using beta emitter. Choice of dose, dose rate and delay between the end of angioplasty and the beginning of brachytherapy is subject to some discuss. Animal experiments using radioisotope have shown reduction in cell proliferation. Human trials showed feasibility, safety of the method and real impact on restenosis prevention. However, long-term efficacy has not been proved because the follow-up of the patients is too short. A randomized trial of 192Ir brachytherapy for prevention of restenosis has recently shown the efficacy in short and median term. However, long term efficiency and secondary effects have not yet been established as the follow up time of this study is still too short. That is why, collaboration between cardiologists and radiotherapists and physicists is indispensable to enable the development of an optimal technique.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

[Study of combined anticoagulant (fluindione)-aspirin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for thromboembolic complications. A randomized trial (FFAACS)].

BACKGROUND: A combination of low-dose aspirin (A) and anticoagulation (AC) may provide better protection against thromboembolic events compared with AC alone in high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We performed a multicentric placebo-controlled double blind-trial to test the preventive efficacy against thromboembolic events of the addition of aspirin (A) (100 mg) or placebo (P) to anticoagulant treatment in patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation. A total of 157 patients were included, with atrial fibrillation and previous thromboembolic event or older than 65 years with either a history of hypertension, a recent episode of heart failure or a left ventricular dysfunction. All patients received fluindione (F) and P or F and A, with an INR target between 2 and 2.6. The primary endpoint was a combined endpoint of stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic), myocardial infarction, systemic arterial emboli or vascular death. RESULTS: The study had to be stopped prematurely owing to a too low recruitment rate. During follow-up (0.84 years) 3 non-fatal thromboembolic events were recorded (1P, 2A) and 6 patients died (3P, 3A), none of them from a thromboembolic complication. However, 3 deaths were secondary to severe haemorrhagic complications (1P, 2A). Non-fatal haemorrhagic complications occurred more often in group A (n = 10, 13.1 pour cent) compared with group P (n = 1, 1.2 pour cent), p = 0.003. CONCLUSION: The FFAACS study was not able to show any therapeutic benefit from the addition of aspirin to anticoagulant in patients with high-risk AF. Such a combination increased the incidence rate of bleeding complications, which therefore greatly reduces its potential overall benefit.

Aged↗

Cytokines and the brain. Bischenberg, October 11-15 1992.

The congress on cytokines, held in Bischenberg (October 11-15, 1992), was marked by the quality of the presentations and a limited number of participants which helped to foster communication. Recent data on biological activities of cytokine and cytokine receptor interactions of the oldest members of this family were reported as well as the mechanisms of inhibition of their activities. Other reports highlighted the growing number of cytokines identified in the brain, their central distribution, and the relationship between peripheral and central compartments of cytokines. But this meeting was also marked by a number of reports, based on different experimental models, that the biological activities of cytokines were of physiological relevance in fever, neuropathologies and behaviour. Interesting discussions raised fundamental questions about whether cytokines could be considered as neurotrophic factors, the role of the blood brain barrier and the signals regulating transmission between the immune and nervous systems. The implication of cytokines in central functions reinforces the concept of a central immune response encompassing soluble and cellular interactions between cerebral cells themselves and between cerebral and immune cells.

Animals↗