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J Birraux

Publications and source records attributed to J Birraux.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effect of cyclosporin on cell division and apoptosis in human oral keratinocytes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gingival overgrowth (GO) is a side-effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) therapy and is characterised by enlargement of the gingiva with epithelial thickening and overproduction of extracellular matrix components. The pathogenesis of the epithelial thickening in GO remains obscure. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of CsA on the growth of oral epithelial cells in vitro and to test the hypothesis that CsA influences apoptosis in these cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cyclosporin was cocultured with an immortalized normal human oral keratinocyte cell line (HOK-16B), an epitheloid cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa) and primary oral keratinocytes. Cell division was quantified using a CyQUANT kit. Apoptosis was induced using tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and assayed by analysis of caspase-3 activity. Expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, was measured by western blotting. RESULTS: CsA exhibited a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell division in all three keratinocyte cell cultures. Significantly, HOK-16B cells treated with high doses of CsA (10 alphag/ml) did not recover their proliferative capacity 3 d after withdrawal of CsA, indicating that CsA-induced inhibition of growth is not temporary. Concentrations of CsA that inhibited cell division (1 microg/ml) did not have any effect on constitutive or TNF-alpha -induced apoptosis or Bcl-2 expression in HOK-16B cells. CONCLUSION: CsA inhibits oral epithelial cell division and this effect is not associated with changes in apoptosis in these cells. The action of CsA on oral epithelial cells may be associated with a long-lasting stress signal, which might account for some of the pathological effects of this drug.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2003

Severe bronchial synechia after removal of a long-standing bronchial foreign body: a case report to support control bronchoscopy.

The authors report the case of a child who had severe bronchial synechia of the left main bronchus after removal of a pistachio shell embedded in granulation tissue. Histology finding of the removed granulation tissue at initial bronchoscopy showed an Actinomyces bacterial invasion. It was decided not to treat this local contamination and to perform a control bronchoscopy to verify the disappearance of local bacterial invasion. The control bonchoscopy performed 4 weeks after the foreign body (FB) removal disclosed a large central left main bronchus synechia producing a 70% reduction of the lumen, although the child had become asymptomatic except for a slight residual cough. The resection of the synechia restored a normal bronchial lumen. The performance of a systematic control bronchoscopy after removal of long standing FB is discussed and recommended.

Actinomycosis↗
PubMed2001

Intestinal obstruction caused by an ectopic fallopian tube in a child: case report and literature review.

The authors present the case of a prepubertal 14-year-old girl who was admitted for an acute abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. She was in a poor general state, having recently suffered a weight loss of 5 kg. A plain abdominal x-ray disclosed signs of mechanical ileus. An abdominal ultrasound scan showed a normal uterus, a normal right-sided ovary, but no left ovary. An emergency laparoscopy found a normal uterus with complete absence of the left ovary and salpinx, the upper left dome of the uterus being smooth with no visible horn. The right ovary and salpinx were normal. Intestinal obstruction was caused by a strangulating cordlike structure of unclear origin. After converting to a laparotomy, we found an abnormal fallopian tube inserted in the left parieto-colic groove. The tube extended next on the lateral sigmoïd mesentery and wrapped itself around the ileum, provoking a local strangulation and an ischemic covered bowel perforation. The bowel perforation was treated by a segmental bowel resection. Careful dissection of the cordlike structure disclosed a true rudimentary fallopian tube with hypotrophic fimbriae and a small distal round structure containing ovarian tissue. These structures were removed entirely. A review of the literature on this rare situation is presented and discussed.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1999

Improvement of the effect of hepatocyte isograft in the Gunn rat by cotransplantation of islets of Langerhans.

PURPOSE: Hepatocyte transplantation (HcTX) has been investigated for many years as an alternative therapy to orthotopic liver transplantation to treat hepatic congenital enzymatic deficiency disease. The animal model most used is the Gunn rat, which presents a hyperbilirubinemia caused by the lack of uridine-diphosphate-glucuronyl-transferase. Some investigators have clearly described a hepatotrophic effect mediated by islets of Langerhans (IL) when transplanted with hepatocytes (Hc). In this study, the functional effect of cotransplanted IL on hepatocytes (co-HcTX) in Gunn rats in an isograft model is assessed. METHODS: Two groups are compared: group 1 (n = 6), HcTX to group 2 (n = 6), co-HcTX. Cells isolated by enzymatic digestion are transplanted directly into the splenic parenchyma. Blood samples are taken regularly until day 100 to measure the unconjugated bilirubin (UB). Histological examination of the spleen is performed at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Both groups show a significant decrease of the UB: group 1, 47%; group 2, 65%. The decrease is statistically more pronounced with co-HcTX. The histological analysis shows a trophic effect of the IL on the grafted hepatocytes in the co-HcTX group. CONCLUSIONS: The HcTX and the co-HcTX correct partially the hyperbilirubinemia of the Gunn rat. A functional assessment has been performed to evaluate the effect of cotransplanted IL on HcTX.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

A silicone-coated nylon dressing reduces healing time in burned paediatric patients in comparison with standard sulfadiazine treatment: a prospective randomized trial.

Mepitel is a new grid like silicone coated nylon dressing containing no additional biological compounds. We describe a prospective randomized pilot study comparing Mepitel to the standard silver sulfadiazine cream (Flamazine) dressing for the topical treatment of paediatric burns. Seventy-six children presenting within 24 h of injury with a non previously treated burn were randomly assigned to Mepitel treatment (group M) or Flamazine treatment (group F). Age, sex, surface area of burn and causal agent were noted at admission. The depth of the burn, cumulative number of dressings, presence or absence of a complete epithelial cover, infection, bleeding and allergy were noted at each dressing change. There were 41 children in group M and 35 children in group F. Five children were subsequently withdrawn from each group because they required skin grafting. Analysis of the above mentioned criteria showed no statistical difference between the two groups except for the healing time (group M: 7.58+/-3.12, group F: 11.26+/-6.02, p < 0.01) and the number of dressings (group M: 3.64+/-1.5, group F: 5.13+/-2.9, p < 0.05). Mepitel has proved to be an easy-to-remove dressing, adhering only to intact skin. The faster healing time found in the Mepitel group may be related to a direct effect of silicone on epithelial growth or to a decrease in surface-cell damage compared to the silver sulfadiazine group. This attractive product will be further assessed on a larger scale trial to confirm our observations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Does hepatocyte transplantation in a chemically induced acute hepatic failure make sense?

PURPOSE: Acute hepatic insufficiency (AHF) is one of the major challenges of intensive care medicine. Liver transplantation is the current solution to unsuccessful medical management. Owing to the lack of organ donors, other methods such as hepatocyte transplantation (HcTX) and bioartificial livers need to be explored. The aim of our experimental study is to evaluate the effect of hepatocyte transplantation on the survival in AHF animals intoxicated with D-Galactosamine (D-Gal). METHODS: The first step consists of the determination of the dose of D-Gal needed to induce at least 80% mortality between 48 and 72 hours. Two groups of a single strain of male Wistar rats are then compared, one being intoxicated with D-Gal (control group), the other receiving and HcTX in the splenic parenchyma 48 hours after intoxication. RESULTS: The required dose to achieve AHF is 3 gr/kg body weight (Gr. 0). Survival rates are as follow: Gr. 1: D0: 93%; from D1 to D28: 13%. Gr. 2: D0: 80%; D1 and D2: 33%; D3: 20%; D4: 13%, from D5 to D28: 6%. (D0 = Day of transplantation). Liver enzymes show a peak of deterioration at 24 hours, then return to normal values in both groups. Histological examination of those animals still alive and sacrificed on day 28 demonstrates a restitutio ad integrum of hepatic structure. In Group 2, it is possible to observe remaining living hepatocytes in the splenic parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: When HcTX is performed 48 hours after D-Gal intoxication, i.e., when the animals begin to develop AHF symptoms, animal survival only significantly improves between days 0 and 3. Unlike other trials, we cannot demonstrate an improvement in long-term survival. Thus, according to this particular experimental model, HcTX is not an alternative for the treatment of AHF.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of glucose on chemically induced acute hepatic failure in rats.

TOPIC: Acute hepatic failure (AHF) is a physiopathological entity difficult to reproduce experimentally but necessary to evaluate new therapies such as bioartificial liver (BAL) or hepatocyte transplantation (HcTX). Two main animal models are available: surgical or chemical induction of an AHF. Many authors have assessed BAL or HcTX with such models and observed increased survival rate in the treated groups. However, during AHF, severe hypoglycemia takes place. Some authors have shown that adjunction of glucose in beverage after surgically induced AHF may induce by itself an improvement of survival rate. METHOD: The purpose of the present study is to test if the adjunction of glucose leads to the same effect in an AHF chemically induced by D-Galactosamine (D-Gal). A group of animals (rats) receiving glucose 20% as beverage immediately after intoxication (Group 1), is compared with a control group receiving tap water (Group 2). RESULTS: The required dose to achieve AHF is 2.75 g/kg body weight (Gr. 0). Survival rates are as follows: Gr. 1: Day 3:20%; day 5: 10%; day 8: 0%. Gr. 2: Day 3: 0%. The difference in survival rate is not statistically significant between the two groups. Liver enzymes peak at 24 hours, then return to normal values; blood sugar levels show no difference between groups. Histological examination of Gr. 0 animals surviving and sacrificed on day 28 shows restitutio ad integrum of hepatic structure. CONCLUSION: Glucose adjunction does not alter survival rate. We can conclude that this particular model of AHF is reliable.

Animals↗