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H Francis

Publications and source records attributed to H Francis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Progesterone induction of the uterine milk proteins: major secretory proteins of sheep endometrium.

Progesterone induction of the uterine milk proteins (UTMP), the major secretory products of the ovine uterus during pregnancy, was studied in ovariectomized ewes given physiological levels of progesterone for 0, 2, 6, 14, or 30 days. Western blotting of uterine flushes and of endometrial explant culture medium, endometrial RNA analyses on dot and Northern blots, and immunocytochemistry performed on uterine tissue sections demonstrated the presence of low levels of UTMP mRNA and UTMP protein after 6 days of progesterone therapy, and increasing levels of UTMP production and secretion after 14 days. Highest activity was observed at Day 30. The induction of the UTMP progressed from small amounts of antigen present in the supranuclear region of a few epithelial cells in deep and middle-depth regions of uterine glands in the Day 6 progesterone-treatment group to large amounts detected in epithelial cells spread throughout the length of the glands in later groups. UTMP production was also identified in the uteri of intact ewes at Day 16 (but not earlier) of the estrous cycle and during early pregnancy (Days 14 to 22). Production of a protein similar to the UTMP was also noted in the uterus of a pregnant cow. The UTMP provide a good model of a progesterone-responsive secretory protein in a mammal whose synthesis is increased gradually over a period of weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Correlation between the release of ovine trophoblast protein-1 by the conceptus and the production of polypeptides by the maternal endometrium of ewes.

We studied the biosynthesis of two proteins, p70 (Mr 70,000; pI 4.0) and p15 (Mr 15,000; pI 5.7), by endometrial tissues from ewes between Days 12 and 24 of pregnancy and between Days 12 and 16 of the oestrous cycle to determine whether production of the two was correlated with the period of biosynthesis of ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1) by the conceptus. We also compared the protein synthetic activities of endometrium from gravid and non-gravid horns of pregnant ewes at Days 14, 16 and 18 in which the conceptus had been confined to one uterine horn. Proteins p70 and p15 were produced maximally between Days 14 and 20 of pregnancy, but synthesis by endometrial cultures from cyclic ewes was low or absent. Furthermore, synthesis of Protein p70 in particular was much greater by the gravid than non-gravid horn of unilaterally pregnant ewes. We conclude that synthesis of Proteins p70 and p15 by the uterus of sheep coincides with the time of oTP-1 production by the conceptus.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Seasonal and steroid-dependent effects on the modulation of LH secretion in the ewe by intracerebroventricularly administered beta-endorphin or naloxone.

The natural opioid ligand, beta-endorphin, and the opioid antagonist, naloxone, were administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) to evaluate effects on LH secretion in ovariectomized ewes and in ovariectomized ewes treated with oestradiol-17 beta plus progesterone either during the breeding season or the anoestrous season. Ovary-intact ewes were also studied during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle. Jugular blood samples were taken at 10-min intervals for 8 h and either saline (20-50 microliters), 100 micrograms naloxone or 10 micrograms beta-endorphin were injected i.c.v. after 4 h. In addition, luteal phase ewes were injected i.c.v. with 25 micrograms beta-endorphin(1-27), a purported endogenous opioid antagonist. In ovariectomized ewes, irrespective of season, saline and naloxone did not affect LH secretion, but beta-endorphin decreased the plasma LH concentrations, by reducing LH pulse frequency. The effect of beta-endorphin was blocked by administering naloxone 30 min beforehand. Treating ovariectomized ewes with oestradiol-17 beta plus progesterone during the breeding season reduced plasma LH concentrations from 6-8 micrograms/l to less than 1 microgram/l. In these ewes, saline did not alter LH secretion, but naloxone increased LH pulse frequency and the plasma concentrations of LH within 15-20 min. During anoestrus, the combination of oestradiol-17 beta plus progesterone to ovariectomized ewes reduced the plasma LH concentrations from 3-5 micrograms/l to undetectable levels, and neither saline nor naloxone affected LH secretion. During the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle, naloxone enhanced LH pulse frequency, which resulted in increased plasma LH concentrations; saline had no effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in Zaire.

Cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions were assessed by the CMI-Multitest (Merieux, Lyon, France) in patients with different stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Kinshasa, Zaire. Skin tests were read after 48-72 h. A reaction to an antigen was considered positive if there was induration of greater than 2 mm. Cutaneous anergy occurred more often in HIV-seropositive patients than in healthy controls (p less than 0.001) and was most prevalent in patients with advanced HIV illness. HIV-seropositive patients with a positive tuberculin reaction were more likely to have active tuberculosis (TB) than HIV-seropositive patients without a positive tuberculin reaction (p less than 0.001). Therefore, a TB diagnosis should be pursued in HIV-seropositive patients with a positive tuberculin reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Human immunodeficiency virus infection among employees in an African hospital.

To define the prevalence and course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we examined prospectively a cohort of 2002 adult hospital workers in Kinshasa, Zaire. From 1984 to 1986 the prevalence of HIV infection increased from 6.4 percent to 8.7 percent. Over the two years there was a cumulative incidence of new HIV infection of 3.2 percent. The prevalence was higher among women (16.9 percent) and men (9.3 percent) under the age of 30 than among women (9.0 percent) and men (6.2 percent) over 30. Prevalence rates were similar among physicians (5.6 percent), laboratory workers (2.9 percent), and clerical workers (7.9 percent), but they were higher among female nurses (11.4 percent) and manual workers (11.8 percent). Despite marked differences in the intensity of nosocomial exposure, female nurses had similar infection rates on the female internal medicine ward (9.9 percent), in pediatrics (10.8 percent), and in the delivery room (10.7 percent). The attributable risk of HIV infection from a transfusion was 5.9 percent. Neither medical injections nor scarification was a risk factor for HIV infection. Of the 101 seropositive asymptomatic employees in the 1984 survey, 16 percent had AIDS-related complex, 3 percent had AIDS, and 12 percent had died of AIDS by 1986. Previous studies have revealed a seroprevalence of 8.4 percent among women attending an antenatal clinic near the hospital in 1984 and 1986, and of 5.8 percent (in 1984) and 6.5 percent (in 1986) among men donating blood at the hospital's blood bank. We conclude that there is a continuing high prevalence of HIV infection among hospital workers in Kinshasa, Zaire, which appears to be representative of that in the community and not nosocomial.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1988

The prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus over a 10-year period in rural Zaire.

In 1985 we tested 659 human serum samples, collected in the remote Equateur province of Zaire in 1976, for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Five (0.8 percent) were positive, and HIV was isolated from one of these. Follow-up investigations in 1985 revealed that three of the five seropositive persons had died of illnesses suggestive of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and two remained healthy but seropositive. In 1986, a serosurvey we conducted using a cluster-sampling technique in the same region showed a seroprevalence of 0.8 percent in 389 randomly selected residents. The seroprevalence in 283 prostitutes was 11 percent. Patients with AIDS were identified in various hospitals in the province. Risk factors for AIDS included a greater than average number of sexual partners and residence outside the area. We believe that the long-term stability of HIV infection in residents of rural Zaire suggests that social change may have promoted the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Parotid swelling during human immunodeficiency virus infection.

In Europe and in the United States, bilateral parotid gland swelling has been observed as a sign of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children, but it has not been associated with HIV infection in adults. We observed a chronic parotid gland swelling in nine HIV-seropositive patients during a nine-month period in Kinshasa, Zaire. Parotid gland enlargement was bilateral in seven patients (78%), slightly painful in seven patients (78%), and painless in two patients (22%). No evidence of inflammation was observed around Stensen's duct. One of the two patients in whom a parotid gland biopsy was performed had a malignant lymphoma of the large-cell, histiocytic type. In the other patient, the parotid gland showed normal morphology with minor inflammation. Among 284 adults and 40 children with symptomatic HIV infection, chronic parotid gland enlargement was observed in none of the patients. However, two (0.7%) of the adults presented with an acute pyogenic parotitis. Further studies are needed to determine whether parotid gland enlargement is associated with HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Assessment of proximity of a wound to major vascular structures as an indication for arteriography.

The use of angiography to evaluate penetrating extremity wounds with proximity to major vascular structures remains controversial. Arteriography in the asymptomatic patient with a penetrating extremity wound is reported to identify arterial injuries in 6% to 21% of patients; however, some injuries may have little clinical importance. This study attempted to determine the value of proximity as an indication for angiography. Five hundred seven asymptomatic patients with 534 penetrating extremity injuries underwent arteriography due to proximity to major vascular structures. Thirty-six arteriograms (6.7%) were positive. Seven patients did not undergo operative exploration, 19 patients (3.6%) had arteriograms, and ten (1.9%) had false-positive arteriograms. The remaining 498 patients had true-negative examination results. Arteriography was associated with 13 complications (2.6%). Proved vascular injury in the clinically asymptomatic patients in our series was extremely low (3.6%). These data make it difficult to justify arteriography due to proximity of injury to major vascular structures. However, it is difficult to abandon exclusion arteriography based on these retrospective data. These observations do suggest that better criteria to define proximity need to be identified.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Benign joint hypermobility with neuropathies: documentation and mechanism of median, sciatic, and common peroneal nerve compression.

We report three patients in whom carpal tunnel syndrome was due to neurapraxis as a consequence of unusual sleep postures enabled by their benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS). A fourth patient also had bilateral sensory sciatic neuropathy and a common peroneal palsy, similarly due to regularly adopted unusual postures. Recognition of such cause-effect mechanisms and their simple solution in BJHS should obviate needless investigation and unnecessary surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Herpes zoster in African patients: a clinical predictor of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

A recent episode or a history of herpes zoster was found in 30 (11%) of 284 patients hospitalized with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection at Mama Yemo Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire. Of 146 African patients with a history of herpes zoster who were referred to us by physicians at the Mama Yemo Hospital, 133 (91%) were HIV seropositive. The clinical characteristics of the herpes zoster episodes did not differ between HIV-seropositive and -seronegative individuals, except that 23% of the HIV-seropositive patients experienced recurrences compared with none of the HIV-seronegative patients (P = .05). No patient developed a generalized herpes zoster eruption, and only patients with ophthalmic zoster developed related complications. Patients who experienced severe pain during their herpes zoster attack lost more weight than did those who had only minor pain (P = .0003).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Acute HIV illness following blood transfusion in three African children.

Three children are described in whom pre-transfusion samples were HIV-seronegative and post-transfusional samples, obtained within 1 week after transfusion, were HIV-seropositive. Two of them developed a transient fever within 1 week of receiving the blood transfusion, and a transient generalized skin eruption which lasted for about 2 weeks. All three developed persistent generalized lymphadenopathy. One child developed a lumbar herpes zoster 7 months after transfusion. IgM Western blots demonstrated the presence of antibodies to protein bands p17, p24 and p55 in all three children. These three case reports suggest that children who receive a seropositive blood transfusion are at high risk for developing acute manifestations of HIV infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

HIV infection and associated risk factors in female prostitutes in Kinshasa, Zaire.

In Africa, female prostitutes represent a high risk group for HIV infection. In Kinshasa, Zaire, 101 (27%) out of 377 prostitutes were seropositive to HIV by ELISA and Western blot determination. Seropositivity was significantly associated with the number of lifetime partners with a median number of 600 partners, four seropositives and 338 for seronegative individuals (P = 0.02). Seropositivity was also significantly associated with a history of taking oral medications for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and/or pregnancy (odds ratio = 2.21, confidence interval = 1.2-4.2), and with the introduction of any product into the vagina for hygiene or other purposes (odds ratio = 2.3, confidence interval = 1.1-4.7). In addition, among 85 prostitutes reporting condom use by their sexual partners during the previous year, the use of condoms by 50% or more of partners was associated with a reduced risk of HIV seropositivity (P = 0.046). An increased risk of HIV seropositivity was not associated with fellatio, anal intercourse, or with any type of kissing. Twenty-nine per cent of prostitutes reported at least one symptom suggestive of HIV infection, and seropositivity was associated with weight loss, either with or without chronic diarrhea or pruritic dermatitis. These data confirm that African prostitutes are at high risk for HIV infection and that the number of lifetime sexual partners, and factors which interfere with the integrity of the vaginal or cervical mucosa, may be associated with an increased risk of HIV infection acquired through heterosexual contact.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Developmental changes in proton magnetic resonance relaxation times of cardiac and skeletal muscle.

Proton magnetic resonance relaxation time measurements were used to study developmental changes in rabbit cardiac and skeletal muscles during the last days of gestation and at several postnatal times. Tissue water content decreased steadily during late fetal and early postnatal stages of development. During this period T1 and T2 for cardiac and skeletal muscles also decreased. The relaxation times stabilized after the 20th postnatal day, and at this juncture the T1 and T2 values for myocardium remained consistently higher than for skeletal muscle. The developmental changes in proton relaxation time probably represent changes in water distribution and mobility as well as macromolecular structure during muscle maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Persistent diarrhoea in Zairian AIDS patients: an endoscopic and histological study.

To determine the aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in African patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 42 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and persistent diarrhoea were enrolled in a microbiological, endoscopic, and histological study. Cryptosporidium was the intestinal parasite most often identified (30%); Isospora belli was found in 12% of the patients. Histological examination of the duodenal mucosa showed a non-specific inflammatory reaction in a significantly higher number of HIV-seropositive patients (82%) than HIV-seronegative controls without diarrhoea (52%) (p = 0.02). Lymphocytes were more likely to be found in inflammatory reactions in HIV-seropositive patients than in controls (p less than 0.0001). Pathogens were observed in histological sections of the duodenum of HIV-seropositive patients only (p = 0.002) and included cryptosporidia (four patients) Isospora belli (one), Strongyloides stercoralis (one), and Cryptococcus neoformans (one). On histological examination the rectal mucosa of HIV-seropositive patients and controls was similar, except eosinophils were more likely to be present in inflammatory reaction in HIV-seropositive patients (p = 0.05) and enteric pathogens were observed only in HIV-seropositive patients (cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies (one) and Schistosoma mansoni (two). The aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in most African AIDS patients remains unclear.

Democratic Republic of the Congo↗
PubMed1988

Wounds of the extremities in proximity to major arteries: value of angiography in the detection of arterial injury.

The place of angiography in the diagnosis of arterial injuries in cases of penetrating wounds of the extremities has been a source of controversy, especially when the injury is in proximity to the artery but there is no clinical evidence of arterial injury. The positive yield of angiography has been reported to be between 6% and 20%, but most angiographers suspect the yield to be lower. The cost of angiography continues to increase. A retrospective analysis was performed in 507 patients with 534 possible arterial injuries associated with wounds near vessels. Thirty-one arteries were considered by the radiologist to have surgically significant injury. Seven patients did not have surgery. On the basis of surgical findings in 24 patients, there was a true-positive angiographic yield of 3.6% as well as five false-positive angiograms. Angiographic sensitivity was 100%, specificity 99%, accuracy 99%, positive predictive value 85%, and negative predictive value 100%. Ten (2.0%) minor angiographic complications and two (0.4%) major complications occurred. There were three surgical complications in negative surgeries. False-positive angiograms can probably be reduced by more circumspect evaluation of minor abnormalities. However, the 3.6% true-positive yield must be balanced against the complications of surgery and angiography and the associated costs. Although delayed diagnosis and therapy of arterial injury are less satisfactory than early repair, angiography of wounds in proximity to major extremity arteries should be reserved for situations in which exclusion of injury is critical to overall management of the patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of the WHO clinical case definition for AIDS in rural Zaire.

The clinical case definition for AIDS proposed by WHO for use in Africa was evaluated against HIV antibody status in 72 patients in rural Zaire. Twenty-one (29%) of the patients were antibody-positive. For diagnosing anti-HIV seropositivity, the case definition had a sensitivity of 52%, a specificity of 78%, a positive predictive value of 50% and a negative predictive value of 80%. Calculation of the positive predictive value at different levels of prevalence of HIV infection suggests that the case definition operates at maximum reliability in selected high-risk groups. Modifications to the case definition should be evaluated to try and improve its sensitivity and positive predictive value.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗