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J J Conte

Publications and source records attributed to J J Conte.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

An in vivo model for the experimental selection and pharmacological study of drugs able to modulate polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes.

Cellular and humoral parameters of the polyclonal stimulation of lymphocytes induced by a single injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide were determined in 6-11 week-old C57B1/6 mice at various periods of time. The study of cellular parameters on day 5 in 8-10 week-old mice appears to be suitable to quantify the induced polyclonal stimulation. Cyclophosphamide was shown to inhibit it, particularly when the drug was given the day or one day after the injection of lipopolysaccharide, and a dose dependent effect was observed. This model may be useful for the selection, and the immunopharmacological study, of drugs able to modulate a polyclonal stimulation of B lymphocytes.

Animals↗

[Gynecomastia and chronic renal insufficiency in periodic hemodialysis. Demonstration of a decrease in the free fraction of testosterone].

Gynecomastia is frequently observed in male patients undergoing hemodialysis; however, its mechanism is still unclear. Hormonal studies were performed in a group of 39 men, aged 50 +/- 14 years, dialysed for 2.8 +/- 2 years. 23 (59 p. 100) of them had gynecomastia. Peripheral hypogonadism and hyperprolactinemia were found in all the hemodialysed patients. Whether gynecomastia was present or not, no significant difference was observed for gonadotropins, prolactin, testosterone, estradiol 17 beta and testosterone-estradiol binding globulin levels. In contrast, the urinary output (p less than 0,05) and free testosterone (p less than 0,05) were significantly lower in the group with gynecomastia. Gynecomastia occurring in hemodialysed patients is probably due to a decrease of the testosterone/estrogen ratio. If so, percutaneous treatment with 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone might improve this type of gynecomastia.

Adult↗

[Circulating immune complexes and bronchopulmonary cancers].

This study of circulating immune complexes was carried out using a C1q radio-labelled complement fixation test in 162 patients suffering from broncho-pulmonary disease. There were a similar number of positive results in primary cancer (44%) or secondary (53%) in tuberculosis (37%) or other pathologies (64%). With primary causes neither the histological type nor the stage of extension were associated with any particular frequency of positive tests. The diagnostic interest of research into circulating immune complexes thus appears limited. This study shows however, the activation of humoral systems of immunity during the course of broncho-pulmonary diseases, and raises the prospect of qualitative studies into the nature of the antigen implicated and their role in the mechanism of defence of the organism.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Acceleration of glomerulonephritis in NZB x NZW mice by early immunization with DNA and injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Experimental approach to the treatment of lupus nephritis by use of the accelerated model of NZB x NZW mouse disease.

The effects of early immunization with DNA and of injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the glomerulonephritis of NZB x NZW mice were studied. Combined injections of DNA complexed to methylated bovine serum albumin (DNA-mBSA) and of LPS appeared to be more efficient in accelerating the disease in NZB x NZW mice than injections of DNA-mBSA or LPS alone. A rapid increase in levels of anti-DNA antibodies, an early appearance of severe renal lesions and a shortened survival were observed in mice injected with both DNA-mBSA and LPS. This new model was found to be suitable for therapeutic studies in mice with accelerated disease treated with cyclophosphamide and heparin. The efficacy of cyclophosphamide for the treatment of NZB x NZW mouse disease was shown by immunological and histological studies in mice younger than 4 months. Heparin appeared to have a beneficial effect by preventing the endocapillary cellular proliferation induced by injections of DNA-mBSA and LPS. The accelerated model of NZB x NZW mouse disease might be a useful tool for experiments on the treatment of lupus nephritis.

Animals↗

Sequential study of C 1 q-binding substances and of anti-DNA antibodies in (NZB X NZW)F1 mice: evidence for an acute phase of the lupus disease in 2-month-old mice.

Longitudinal studies of C 1 q and DNA-binding substances were performed in sera from 38 (NZB X NZW)F1 female mice between days 39 and 150 of life. Results suggest a two-phase evolution of circulating immune complexes and anti-DNA antibodies in young (NZB X NZW)F1 mice and show the existence of an acute phase of the disease during the second month of life of these mice.

Acute Disease↗

Genesis and pathogenicity of anti-DNA antibodies.

The formation of anti-DNA antibodies appears to be under a genetic control similar to that regulating the immune response to complex antigenic compounds. The ability to develop a high immune response to DNA seems to be predominantly dependent on the nature of the B-cell population whereas a major role of the T-cell suppressor population is not evident in this response. The immune response to DNA does not necessarily need the presence of thymus-derived lymphocytes, but in some cases T-cells may exert a helper effect. The development of anti-DNA antibody response may be triggered by various factors: viral, bacterial or parasitic agents, tissue destruction or some drugs. A mechanism that may play an important role is the "nonspecific" triggering of anti-DNA antibodies by substances that, like bacterial lipopolysaccharides, exert a potent stimulatory effect on B-cells and simultaneously induce a release of DNA in extracellular fluids. In lupus diseases as well as in mice injected with lipopolysaccharide, pathogenic effects of anti-DNA antibodies appear to be closely related to the formation of DNA-anti-DNA complexes. The demonstration that injections of lipopolysaccharide lead to the localization of DNA-anti-DNA complexes in kidney glomeruli stressed the possible importance of stimuli responsible for a release of DNA in circulating blood in the expression of the pathogenic effects of anti-DNA antibodies.

Animals↗

[Primary and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Course 1 year after operation. Apropos of 28 cases].

The course of mean arterial pressure was compared in two series concerning 18 primary or tumoral hyperaldosteronism and 8 idiopathic ones. Identification of the nature of the hyperaldosteronism should not yet motivate a decision on principle, surgical in case of tumor, medical in an idiopathic case. In the latter case cooperation and tolerance of medical treatment, severity of hypertension also come into consideration. A positive spirolactone test, a hypertension course of less than six years were in our experience a good indication of successful surgery, as opposed to a normal unilateral renal biopsy. In case of operation, the removal protocol should adapt to the peroperative findings; 80% adrenalectomy is the most common procedure, except in the case of isolated adenoma of more than 10 mm diameter.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

[Lupus nephropathy. Treatment with the indomethacin-hydroxychloroquine combination and comparison with corticoids].

The authors report their comparative experience of the treatment of proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis using prednisone (16 patients) or the indomethacin-hydroxychloroquine association (12 patients). Prednisone in high dosage was associated in this series with 9 deaths and in 6 patients, with renal failure or an extra-renal complication. By contrast, the indomethacin-hydroxychloroquine association proved to be highly effective, without side-effect. In the endocapillary glomerulonephritis group (8 cases) the authors obtained 7 durable remissions (36.3 months on average) and 1 temporary remission of 24 months, with an average length of treatment of 45.8 months. In the extracapillary glomerulonephritis group (4 cases) the authors obtained 1 remission, 2 improvements and I death, with an average length of treatment of 16.8 months. This combination has a highly significant anti-proteinuric and anti-haematuric action, with a constant efficiency on renal function and on the extra-renal signs of lupus. Its effect is less constant on the immunological disorders. Study of iterative renal biopsies confirms this favourable impression. According to these results, the authors propose a provisional scheme of management of proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis.

Adolescent↗

[Renal microscopic hematuria in rheumatoid polyarthritis].

In a retrospective study of 162 cases of rheumatoid arthritis we found that 24 patients (14.8%) had presented with microscopic haematuria with or without proteinuria. Renal biopsy had been performed in 15 of these 24 patients. Apart from the classical lesions of extramembranous glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis and interstitial nephritis, 60% of histological results showed lesions of mesangial glomerulonephritis. These lesions seemed to be independent of maintenance treatments, but they might have been facilitated by the chronic inflammation kept going by the rheumatoid disease itself.

Adult↗