PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Desgres

Publications and source records attributed to J Desgres.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

O-ribosyl-phosphate purine as a constant modified nucleotide located at position 64 in cytoplasmic initiator tRNAs(Met) of yeasts.

The unknown modified nucleotide G*, isolated from both Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Torulopsis utilis initiator tRNAs(Met), has been identified as an O-ribosyl-(1"----2')-guanosine-5"-phosphate, called Gr(p), by means of HPLC, UV-absorption, mass spectrometry and periodate oxidation procedures. By comparison with the previously published structure of Ar(p) isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae initiator tRNA(Met), the (1"----2')-glycosidic bond in Gr(p) has been postulated to have a beta-spatial conformation. The modified nucleotide Gr(p) is located at position 64 in the tRNA(Met) molecules, i.e. at the same position as Ar(p). Since we have also characterized Gr(p) in Candida albicans initiator tRNA(Met), the phosphoribosylation of purine 64 can be considered as a constant nucleotide modification in the cytoplasmic initiator tRNAs(Met) of all yeast species so far sequenced. Precise evidence for the presence of Gr(p) in initiator tRNAs(Met) of several plants is also reported.

Candida↗
PubMed1989

Adrenal function in HIV infected patients.

UNLABELLED: Since anatomopathological lesions of the adrenal gland have been frequently observed at autopsy in AIDS, we investigated the glucocorticoid function in 63 patients (51 men, 12 women) infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in order to determine the incidence and the nature of any adrenocortical abnormalities at various stages of HIV infection. The patients were classified according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations into group II (asymptomatic; N = 13), group III (lymphadenopathy; N = 27) and group IV (clinical manifestations; N = 23). Plasma ACTH and cortisol before and after an exogenous ACTH stimulation test were measured in patients as in 30 age-matched controls. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone before and after ACTH stimulation were also measured in 31 patients (group II: 12; group III: 10; group IV: 9). Compared with controls patients from group II-III had higher levels of ACTH (39.11 +/- 17.01 vs 29.73 +/- 8.53 ng/l; p = 0.003) and basal cortisol (232 +/- 91.2 vs 184.3 +/- 30.9 micrograms/l; p = 0.03). No significant differences were noted between group IV patients and controls as to ACTH and basal and stimulated cortisol levels. Among the 63 patients, only one from group IV had a blunted cortisol response after ACTH stimulation test. Plasma renin activity, and basal and stimulated aldosterone levels in the 3 groups of patients were not different from control values. IN CONCLUSION: 1. Adrenal insufficiency does not seem very frequent in group IV patients and is likely to be a late complication in AIDS. 2. The increased ACTH and basal cortisol levels found in group II and group III patients argue for an early dysregulation of the adrenocortical axis in HIV infection. The exact physiopathological mechanism is not yet known, but an enhanced CRH production by interleukin 1 and/or a direct role of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (gp 120) may explain the high ACTH level in HIV patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Correlation between apolipoprotein A-IV and triglyceride concentrations in human sera.

Apolipoprotein A-IV concentration was measured by a newly developed competitive enzyme immunoassay in sera from fasted human subjects (n = 105) whose triglyceride concentrations ranged from 20 to 474 mg/dl (total cholesterol below 260 mg/dl) and in which chylomicrons could not be detected. Mean (+/- SD) apolipoprotein A-IV concentration was 13.0 +/- 2.6 mg/dl in sera with triglyceride levels ranging from 20 to 100 mg/dl, 16.9 +/- 3.7 mg/dl in sera with triglyceride levels ranging from 101 to 250 mg/dl, and 22.7 +/- 6.7 mg/dl in sera with triglyceride levels ranging from 251 to 474 mg/dl. The differences among the three groups were highly significant (P less than 0.001). Moreover, variations of apolipoprotein A-IV concentrations according to the triglyceride levels were noted within the normo-triglyceridemic population. Apolipoprotein A-IV concentration was 12.8 +/- 2.1 mg/dl for triglyceride levels ranging from 20 to 75 mg/dl and 16.4 +/- 3.8 mg/dl for triglyceride levels ranging from 76 to 150 mg/dl (P less than 0.01). In the entire population that was studied there was a significant linear correlation (r = 0.61, P less than 0.001) between the concentrations of serum apolipoprotein A-IV and triglyceride. Although the hypothesis of an unknown factor independently influencing both very low density lipoproteins and apolipoprotein A-IV cannot be ruled out, and although no apolipoprotein A-IV was found in the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein fraction after separation by gel filtration, these data suggest that, in fasting subjects, the secretion of very low density lipoproteins could contribute to the plasma apolipoprotein A-IV level.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Neuroendocrine disorders observed in the post-critical phase in epileptic patients].

In 10 epileptic patients with generalized seizures, plasma levels of ACTH, prolactin, FSH, LH, TSH, were measured first within 60 minutes after the crisis, then 3 to 5 days later without changes in antiepileptic drugs. Within 1 hour after the seizure, a significant rise of ACTH and prolactin 3 - 4 folds the levels observed in the 2nd measure was present. This was compared to measures made within 1 hour after a syncope in which case it was not present. The post-critic rise of ACTH and prolactin would appear to be a characteristic of generalized epileptic seizures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Treatment of citrullinemia. Apropos of a case followed from birth. Importance of alpha-ketonic acids].

From day 1 to day 3, the protein intake of this neonate was restricted to 1 g/kg/d. It included a) essential amino acids (i.e. histidine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan), b) arginine (1,000 mg/d), c) alphaketoisovaleric 500 mg/d, alpha-ketoisocaproic (500 mg/d), alphaketobetamethylvaleric (500 mg/d), alphaketogammamethylthiobutyric (200 mg/d), betaphenylpyruvic (400 mg/d) acids. 250 mg/kg/d of sodium benzoate were given. Caloric and water intakes were 120 cal/kg/d and 120 ml/kg/d respectively. Afterwards, this procedure was modified according to clinical and biological data including serum ammonia and amino acid levels. Alpha-ketonic acid absorption and metabolism were studied on day 29. Both were fast. The detection of alloisoleucine, which is not metabolized was the consequence of the use of alphaketobetamethylvaleric acid. Until the age of 21 months, clinical and metabolic status was satisfactory. At this time, repeated seizures without metabolic failure were accompanied by psychomotor damages.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1986

[Post-crisis elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone and prolactin in epileptic children].

In six children, aged from 8 to 12 years, presenting with primary generalized epilepsy a significant rise in plasma ACTH and prolactin levels (as compared with levels measured 5 days later) was observed either during a generalized seizure demonstrated by EEG (3 cases) or within 1 hour of a generalized seizure (3 cases). The neurophysiological basis for these post-epileptic endocrine disturbances is a sudden depression of dopaminergic and GABA-ergic pathways. As a result, these endocrine changes, already well documented in adults, may be regarded as a good biological marker of the epileptic origin of a paroxysmal attack.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1986

Preparative electrophoresis of human apolipoprotein E: an improved method.

Apolipoprotein E was isolated from human very low density lipoproteins by a two-step electrophoretic procedure derived from that of Méndez (1982. Anal. Biochem. 126: 403-408). It included separation in a sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide slab gel, transfer into an agarose gel, and extraction by ultracentrifugation for 30 min. No protein labeling, dialysis, or concentration procedures were needed. The method was fast, showed an excellent protein recovery, and could be suitable as a general method of protein isolation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Apolipoproteins E↗
PubMed1985

[GABAergic control of hypophyseal gonadotropic function and prolactin. Demonstration by valproic acid].

While there is well-known evidence for dopaminergic control over gonadotrophic and Prolactin functions, the way gamma-aminobutyric acid (Gaba) acts and the routes through which it acts are not so well known. Valproic acid stimulates cerebral Gabaergic tracts. It was therefore used by the authors to study first the basal levels of LH FSH and Prolactin and the way they reacted after two months treatment with this anti-convulsant. The authors noted a decrease of LH-RH stimulated LH and a decrease of the basal levels or Prolactin in TRH stimulated Prolactin. So Gaba can be a neuro-modulator of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, acting synergically with the dopaminergic tracts to decrease Prolactin secretion but opposing the dopaminergic tracts in the control over LH.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Progesterone metabolism in newborn rat heart cell cultures.

Progesterone metabolism was studied in newborn rat heart cell cultures. The following enzymatic activities have been identified: 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 3 alpha- and 5 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductases, and 6 alpha-hydroxylate. These activities are independent of sex and are probably related to the neonatal origin of the cells.

20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1979

Gas-liquid chromatography of isobutyl ester, N(O)-heptafluorobutyrate derivatives of amino acids on a glass capillary column for quantitative separation in clinical biology.

A gas chromatographic method adapted to routine analysis has been developed for quantitative separation on glass capillary columns for free proteic and other known amino acids normally or abnormally found in physiological fluids. The procedure involves ion-exchange chromatography and isobutyl ester, N(O)-heptafluorobutyrate derivatization of free plasma and urine amino acid samples. Derivatized components were ascertained by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The use of glass for the capillary column is mandatory to achieve qualitative and quantitative analysis of the known occurring amino acids in urine and small plasma samples. Quantitative analysis of several types of human amino acid disorders are presented.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1977

[Study of a virilizing adrenal cortical tumor. Analysis of urinary steroids by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry].

The C19 and C21 urinary steroids from a virilizing adrenal tumour with high levels of plasma 17alpha-progesterone and its urinary metabolites have been identified and quantitated by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of sephadex fractions of the total urinary extract. Of the fifty five identified steroids thirteen were new compounds or known compounds not found before in such a case. The actiology of the apparent 21-steroid hydroxylase deficiency is discussed at the light of these analytical results and of the hormonogenesis enzymatic induction of the tumour biopsy.

Adenoma↗