PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Turcotte

Publications and source records attributed to G Turcotte.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Another feature of TURP syndrome: hyperglycaemia and lactic acidosis caused by massive absorption of sorbitol.

Endoscopic transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can be complicated by absorption of a large volume of irrigation fluid. The clinical features of this complication are referred as the TURP syndrome. We report a case where hyperglycaemia and lactic acidosis complicated the TURP syndrome caused by the massive absorption (approximately 15 litres) of a sorbitol- mannitol irrigation solution. The proposed mechanism is a type B lactic acidosis related to the metabolism of sorbitol.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1998

Ethanol production from AFEX-treated forages and agricultural residues.

Lignocellulosic materials derived from forages, namely timothy grass, alfalfa, reed canary grass, and agricultural residues, such as corn stalks and barley straw, were pretreated using ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) process. The pretreated materials were directly saccharified by cellulolytic enzymes. Sixty to 80% of theoretical yield of sugars were obtained from the pretreated biomasses. Subsequent ethanolic fermentation of the hydrolysates by Pachysolen tannophilus ATCC 32691 resulted in 40-60% of theoretical yield after 24 h, based on the sugars present in the hydrolysates. The uptake of sugars was not complete, indicating a possible inhibitory effect on P. tannophilus during the fermentation of these substrates.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1992

How pregnant workers see their work, its risks and the right to precautionary leave in Québec.

In 1981, the Québec government passed a law providing "precautionary leave" or reassignment to other jobs for pregnant workers exposed to a risk for their health or that of their fetus. This measure was much more popular than expected, with about 30% of pregnant workers taking leave in 1987. Uncertainty about what constitutes a risk for pregnancy, conflicts between views of pregnancy as a social or private act, and differing ideas on employers' responsibility for protection of pregnant workers have combined with worries about cost to stimulate debate on this law. Since 1986, there has been pressure on the government to restrict access to precautionary leave. This article describes research designed to answer some of the questions raised during the debate. Data banks of the Health and Safety Commission and responses of 2500 women workers were examined to characterize the jobs of women who did and those who did not take leave. Leave was usually taken by those who worked in sectors traditionally associated with risks, and women who applied for precautionary leave more often reported their working conditions to be difficult. Women taking leave accorded more importance to their maternal and domestic roles, but equal value to their roles in the workplace. The article concludes that the popularity of the measure is not due to laziness or lack of responsibility on the part of women workers, but to poor conditions in women's traditional jobs. It is suggested that more emphasis be placed on improving conditions rather than on early leave from work.

Civil Rights↗
PubMed1991

Radiation-inactivation size of transformed and non-transformed androgen receptors.

The nucleic acid sequence of the androgen receptor (AR) gene predicts that the protein structure possesses DNA- and steroid-binding domains that show high degrees of sequence similarity with those of other steroid receptors. Since the steroid-binding domain of the AR corresponds to a 30 kDa portion of the protein, and the AR structure may be monomeric or hetero-oligomeric depending on its transformation state, we have herein determined the AR radiation-inactivation size (RIS) in relation to the molecular structure whose binding activity toward methyltrienolone (R1881) is abolished by a radiation 'hit'. Soluble fractions from whole canine prostatic tissue were used as a source of non-transformed AR. The AR transformation was induced by the addition of 0.6 M-KCl, and these preparations were used together with high-salt nuclear extracts as a source of transformed AR. To maximize the binding activity, molybdate and dithiothreitol were included during AR extraction. Receptor transformation was verified by modifications of both the sedimentation coefficients (from 7.5 S to 4.1 S on sucrose gradients) and molecular masses (from 260 kDa to 115 kDa by gel filtration). The RIS values of the non-transformed and transformed ARs were not statistically different: 92 +/- 19 kDa and 110 +/- 25 kDa respectively. In addition, the inactivation of AR binding activity by radiation was attributed to a loss of binding sites, with no significant change in the Kd. When benzoic acid, a free-electron scavenger, was added together with dithiothreitol before and after irradiation, no change in the RIS value was observed. Thus, in the canine prostate, the RIS value of the AR represents the monomeric protein, independently of its association with other proteins, and this value corresponds to that predicted by cloning studies and photoaffinity-labelling of AR.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Multiple binding components for methyltrienolone in canine prostatic epithelial cells.

Using a whole cell assay system, the androgen binding capacity of canine prostatic epithelial cells was evaluated in relation to their function. Radiolabeled Methyltrienolone (R1881) was used as the ligand in the presence of an excess of Triamcinolone acetonide and the amount of [3H]R1881 bound to the cells at equilibrium was determined by either displacement or saturation studies. With immature cells in culture (3 days of attachment), displacement analysis revealed the presence of high affinity binding sites which were also present in cells cultured for 10 days. With freshly dispersed prostatic cells (mostly secretory epithelial cells) as well as with older cells in culture (17 and 24 days), only less specific binding sites were observed with both unlabeled R1881 and/or dihydrotesterone (DHT). In contrast, only the high affinity androgen receptor (AR) was present in cytosolic extracts prepared from normal glands. Displacement studies performed with cultured cells at different stages of growth also showed that the basal level as well as the degree of low affinity binding increased during the maturation of non-proliferating cells. The presence of multiple binding components was demonstrated by saturation studies performed with either cultured or freshly dispersed cells. The first component, that was saturated at 5 nM of [3H]R1881, was due to AR while the other two binding components, showing positive-cooperativity (Hill coefficients of 1.90 and 5.07, respectively), were saturated at concentrations of 15 and 30 nM of [3H]R1881. In contrast, the Hill coefficient for the AR was 0.88 indicating the presence of an independent component. It was calculated that only 11.4% of the total uptake of R1881 was attributed to AR binding, suggesting that the remainder may represent an intracellular pool of androgens. Thus, a whole cell binding assay represents a dynamic system for the detection, by saturation studies, of binding components that are not revealed using the conventional displacement studies or cell-free systems. It is proposed that these acceptor sites may play a role in differentiated prostatic function rather than in cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Androgen binding as evidenced by a whole cell assay system using cultured canine prostatic epithelial cells.

The androgen receptor content in the prostate has been usually evaluated using subcellular fractions without taking into account cellular and functional heterogeneity of the gland. Using enriched populations of immature canine prostatic epithelial cells cultured in primary monolayers, a whole cell assay system was developed to measure androgen receptors. Tritiated dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and/or methyltrienolone (R1881) in serum-free medium were used as ligands and Triamcinolone acetonide (0.5 microM) was added to prevent the binding of R1881 to other types of receptors. The amount of radiolabelled ligand specifically bound to the cells was determined at equilibrium. Specific binding was proportional to the number of cells seeded. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of at least two types of binding sites. The Kd for the high affinity binding site was 2 x 10(-9) M. Competition studies indicated that this component was specific for androgens; Methyltrienolone, Mibolerone and the antiandrogen RU 23908 were the most efficient competitors. They were followed by DHT, 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, testosterone, estradiol and estrone. Progesterone, 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol and epitestosterone were not inhibitors. The level of specific binding was 11.0 +/- 7.6 fmol of bound R1881 per 10(6) cells (n = 34) or 2075 +/- 1434 fmol per mg of DNA; these values correspond to an average of 6624 +/- 4577 sites per cell. Thus, using this whole cell assay system, specific and androgen receptors were detected in immature prostatic epithelial cells in culture. This assay will therefore be useful to study the interrelationship between androgen binding activity and specific cell functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Analytic clinical chemistry precision and medical needs. The Canadian Interlab Program (CIP).

Precision obtained with two different serum pools used daily as internal quality-control specimens by 130 laboratories throughout Canada (Canadian Interlab Program) is reported for 14 analytes assayed by either manual or automated methods over a period of 16 months. Precision criteria set by Barnett to meet medical needs were not met for calcium, glucose, phosphorus, and urea nitrogen by more than 10% of the laboratories studied. Specific guidelines for laboratory precision are suggested for optimal and minimal performance in the assays of albumin, bilirubin, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, total protein, triglyceride, urea nitrogen, and uric acid.

Canada↗