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J Kint

Publications and source records attributed to J Kint.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

P-glycoprotein is an independent prognostic factor predicting relapse in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of a 6-year prospective study.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a cellular drug-efflux pump, is thought to be one of the major causes of multidrug resistance (MDR) in malignancies. Since therapeutic strategies are being developed to circumvent drug resistance by inhibiting P-gp function, large prospective studies evaluating the clinical relevance of P-gp in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are warranted. P-gp expression was evaluated over a period of 6 years in 102 consecutive patients with de novo childhood ALL and in 35 children with relapse of ALL. Bone marrow and blood smears were studied immunocytochemically with two monoclonal antibodies at initial diagnosis and at relapse. P-gp expression was found in 14 (14%) patients at initial diagnosis. After induction treatment, complete remission was achieved in 100/102 patients (98%), of whom 19 relapsed. Cumulative event-free survival was significantly higher in the P-gp-negative group compared with the P-gp-positive population (Logrank P = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed the results to be independent of age, WBC count and karyotype, and concomitantly underlined the importance of MDR1 phenotype detection in childhood ALL. P-gp expression was more frequently found at relapse (34%) than at primary diagnosis (P = 0.01). In the relapsed patient group, P-gp-positive patients had a 2-fold greater risk for adverse clinical outcome than the P-gp-negative relapsed patients. P-gp expression was not induced by exposure to previous chemotherapy since the majority of P-gp-negative patients remained negative at relapse. P-glycoprotein expression in newly diagnosed childhood ALL is an independent adverse prognostic parameter with a predictive value for relapse.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1998

Seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase activity and male infertility.

Measurement of alpha-glucosidase (alpha-GLUC) activity by means of a simple colorimetric test using a commercial kit (EpiScreen; FertiPro, Lotenhulle, Belgium) yielded results that were strongly correlated with the values obtained for the neutral iso-enzyme measured by a fluorimetric reference method (r=0.85, P=0.003, n=13). The former method was characterized by a low intra- and inter-coefficient of variation (6.6 and 4.3% respectively). Vasectomized men with azoospermia (n=27) had a significantly lower alpha-GLUC activity in semen than vasectomized men with residual spermatozoa present (n=11, P < 0.01) and men with azoospermia of primary testicular origin (n=33, P < 0.01). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed alpha-GLUC measurement to be reasonably accurate in differentiation between cases with obstructive versus testicular azoospermia at criterion value 13.5 U/l (sensitivity=82%, specificity= 70%). In cases with spermatozoa present, alpha-GLUC activity and output per ejaculate were positively correlated with sperm concentration (r=0.53 and 0.38, n=472), linear velocity (r=0.35 and 0.30, n=224), curvilinear velocity (r=0.32 and r=0.29, n=224), semen adenosine triphosphate (r=0.35 and 0.26, n=64), the concentration of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (r=0.31 and 0.29, n=74), and gamma-glutamyltransferase activity (r=0.62 and 0.32, n=275) in seminal plasma. The activity of alpha-GLUC was inversely correlated with ROS generation after 12-myristate, 13-acetate phorbol ester stimulation (r=-0.27, n=104), and both alpha-GLUC activity and total output were inversely correlated with the concentration of peroxidase-positive white blood cells among samples with > or =1x10(6)/ml of these cells (r=-0.30 and -0.19, n=165). It is concluded that simple photometric measurement of alpha-GLUC activity in seminal plasma reflects the functional state of the epididymis and may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of certain cases with azoospermia.

Colorimetry↗
PubMed1997

[The use of chlorhexidine as a preventive and therapeutic means of plaque control in the handicapped. Review of the literature and definitive advise for application].

With respect to oral hygiene, most of the handicapped are very dependent. Moreover, it is shown that the higher the dexterity level, the poorer the oral hygiene. It's well documented that the use of Chlorhexidine (CHX) is an essential tool in oral care for the handicapped. The efficacy however, only becomes optimal after thorough plaque and calculus removal. From the literature, it becomes clear that the application of a 1% gel in prefabricated trays is the most efficient. Regarding mouthrinses, it's important to use big volumes in order to reach optimal contact with tooth surfaces. The use of a spray seems very handy but is quiet inefficient; no homogeneous diffusion of CHX can be obtained. The choice of any device for CHX application depends on the handicapping condition and on the knowledge and motivation of educators, and medical care takers. The present article summarizes the dental literature on the use of CHX in handicapped. An advice for well indicated use of CHX is proposed.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1996

Effects of acute cardioselective and non-selective beta-adrenergic blockade on plasma ammonia levels in exercising dogs.

The aim of this study was to assess plasma ammonia levels during acute treadmill exercise in dogs after intravenous administration of a single dose of different cardioselective (atenolol) and non-selective (sotalol and propranolol) beta-adrenergic blocking drugs. The experiments were performed on 6 male mongrel dogs (20-25 kg) trained to run on a motor driven treadmill. After administration of saline or atenolol, there was no significant increase in plasma ammonia during exercise; propranolol and sotalol however, both non-selective beta-blockers, produced a significant increase in plasma ammonia. Plasma levels of alanine and glutamine were not altered during exercise compared with resting values, and were not modified by the administration of beta-blockers. It is not clear whether the different effects on exercise induced hyperammonemia are due to different effects on muscle ammonia formation or on the ammonia clearance by the liver.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1996

Novel frameshift mutation in a heterozygous woman with Fabry disease and end-stage renal failure.

UNLABELLED: It is generally accepted that Fabry disease (angiokeratoma corporis diffusum) is an X-linked disorder resulting from the deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase. In males, the enzymatic defect leads to accumulation of glycosphingolipids, particularly in the kidney which causes end-stage renal disease. We report here a woman who presented in 1987 with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and required hemodialysis 4 years later when her son was evaluated for proteinuria. In these patients morphologic, biochemical, and genetic investigations were performed to explore the possibility of a hereditary renal disorder. Ultrastructural examination of the son's renal biopsy specimen revealed lamellated osmiophilic inclusions in the glomeruli, typical of Fabry disease. Four months after kidney transplantation in the mother, a graft biopsy specimen also revealed dense lamellated inclusions on electron microscopy. The leukocyte alpha-galactosidase activity was 0.008 mumol/min.10(9) cells in the son and 0.070 in the mother (range 0.100-0.500 mumol/min.10(9) cells). The diagnosis of Fabry disease was confirmed in both patients by the identification by DNA sequencing of a novel mutation in the alpha-galactosidase gene: one single base pair deletion in exon 3 (7317delA). IN CONCLUSION: (1) end-stage renal disease may occur in heterozygous women with Fabry disease; (2) morphologic lesions due to glycosphingolipid accumulation may be observed in the renal allograft after transplantation, and (3) DNA analysis confirmed the diagnosis by demonstrating a frameshift mutation, which has as yet not been reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in cord blood and amniotic fluid of appropriate-for-gestational-age infants: a predictor of age-related fetal growth rate.

Procollagen propeptide serum levels reflect the rate of collagen production. Because the prenatal period is unrivaled in terms of relative amounts of collagen synthesized per unit of time, this life episode must be the most sensitive period for the study of these biochemical markers of growth variability. N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) concentration was measured by two different methods (Fab'-fragment and whole antibody-based RIA assay) on paired samples of cord serum and amniotic fluid from a study cohort of 602 perinates with gestational age ranging from 20 to 41 wk. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical usefulness of the PIIINP assay for the evaluation of fetal somatic growth variation during the second half of normal pregnancies. It was demonstrated that the PIIINP level in cord serum, as well as in amniotic fluid, reflects age-related growth activity in "healthy" fetuses (n = 504) with normal intrauterine growth. This reflection was independent of the cumulative body mass or length already attained at the time of investigation. The PIIINP concentration closely mirrors the shape of the fetal somatic growth velocity curve, expressed as weight-specific gain (g/kg/d) during the second half of pregnancy. It can be concluded that PIIINP level in cord blood or amniotic fluid of fetuses with normal intrauterine growth is an interesting parameter for the assessment of maturity-related fetal growth potential.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1994

Aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in cord blood and amniotic fluid of high-risk pregnancies: a biochemical approach to the dynamic assessment of deviant fetal growth.

N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) concentration was measured in cord serum, amniotic fluid, and maternal serum from high-risk pregnancies. The fetal PIIINP variability was shown to be independent of the maternal serum PIIINP values. Although a highly significant negative correlation was found between the fetal propeptide level and gestational age in both appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates (n = 504) and small-for-gestational-age infants (n = 98), the PIIINP concentration in cord serum or amniotic fluid of small-for-gestational-age infants was significantly lower compared with that of appropriate-for-gestational-age infants matched for postconceptional age. PIIINP assay may thus serve as a dynamic biochemical indicator of deviant fetal growth. The PIIINP results were also related to the severity or duration of intrauterine growth retardation, as indicated by significantly lower propeptide cord serum values in nonmalformed small-for-gestational-age infants with small head circumference, known as an index for the chronicity of fetal nutritional deprivation. Preeclampsia, maternal diabetes or smoking, and congenital anomalies appeared not to be associated with any alteration of fetal propeptide concentration, provided they did not cause fetal growth deceleration. The finding of extremely high cord serum PIIINP values in six newborn infants with the Potter malformation sequence led to the speculation that large amounts of propeptides or their fragments usually are excreted by the fetal kidneys into the amniotic fluid. We suggest that determination of the PIIINP level in amniotic fluid or cord serum, obtained by amniocentesis and percutaneous umbilical sampling, may be a helpful adjunctive biochemical parameter in future research protocols assessing fetuses at risk for intrauterine growth retardation.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1994

Performance of the Coulter STKS and the Sysmex NE-1500 in a paediatric population.

The Coulter STKS and the Sysmex NE-1500 were evaluated for their performance in paediatric samples. Special attention was paid to the ability of both instruments to detect white blood cell morphology abnormalities. Therefore a population with a high frequency of pathologies was selected. The studied population included children aged between 1 month and 14 years, 45% of which suffered from oncological and/or haematological diseases. Two hundred and forty blood samples were analysed. The leukocyte differentiation results from the Coulter STKS and the Sysmex NE-1500 were compared with the manual microscopic method. The differentials compared very well for neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of blasts, immature granulocytes, left shift and atypical lymphocytes were examined. While specific morphology flagging showed a rather low sensitivity, blasts and immature granulocytes were mostly detected by the two systems, taking into account white blood cell alarm flags other than the two mentioned above. The overall sensitivity for the detection of white blood cell abnormalities was better with the Coulter STKS, whereas the Sysmex NE-1500 showed a higher specificity. In an ancillary study which was performed exclusively on neonatal samples, of which 80% originated from preterm infants, we found a limited sensitivity for the detection of low percentages of nucleated red blood cells for both analysers. The high frequency of abnormalities, together with the limited sensitivity mentioned above, prompted us to review all neonatal samples in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

IgG subclass deficiency in children with recurrent bronchitis.

We studied the incidence of IgG subclass deficiency in children with recurrent bronchitis. Recurrent bronchitis was defined as three or more episodes a year during at least 2 consecutive years, of bronchopulmonary infection, productive cough with or without fever and/or diffuse râles by physical examination in the absence of asthma or atopy. Fifty three children were selected, of whom 30 (57%) were deficient in one of the IgG subclasses. None had an IgG1 deficiency. Nine (17%) were deficient in IgG2, 9 (17%) in IgG3 and 20 (38%) in IgG4. Isolated IgG subclass deficiencies were most frequently seen for IgG4 (14, 26%), less for IgG3 (6, 12%) and even less for IgG2 (4, 7%). Nine (17%) children were IgA deficient and 8 (15%) IgG deficient with a combined IgG subclass deficiency in 8 and 7 of them respectively. By subdivision into different age groups most patients were encountered in the youngest group. The mean content of IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 in 3- to 4-year-old children with recurrent bronchitis was significantly lower than in the age matched controls. The mean value for IgG4 in the 5- to 6-year-olds was significantly lower than in the control group. This study demonstrates the correlation between recurrent bronchitis in childhood and IgG subclass deficiency. IgG subclass deficiency and recurrent bronchitis are both quite prominent phenomena in young children but rare in older children, suggesting a transient immaturity of the immune system as one of the possible pathogenetic factors. An IgA or an IgG deficiency is highly suggestive for the existence of a combined IgG subclass deficiency.

Bronchitis↗
PubMed1979

Methods of study of the invasion of malignant C3H-mouse fibroblasts into embryonic chick heart in vitro.

Methods of study of tumour invasiveness in vitro were investigated using the interactions between malignant virally transformed C3H mouse fibroblasts (MO4) with fragments from embryonic chick heart. Invasion of MO4 cells into the heart tissue could be demonstrated in all three-dimensional cultures. On the contrary, seeding of MO4 cells on top of a monolayer of heart cells did not mimic invasion. Precultured heart fragments were more suitable for the study of the early phase of invasion than freshly cut ones because they presented healthy well-delineated borders. Aggregates of MO4 cells proved more suitable than suspensions or monolayer fragments because they were amenable to quantitation, were not traumatized or treated with enzymes during harvest. They allowed precise control of the initial site of contact with the heart tissue. The nature of the culture medium predominantly affected the growth of the MO4 population. This factor influenced the pattern of invasion quantitatively, but did not alter the invasive capacity of the MO4 cells itself. In cultures on adhesive substrates the interaction between the MO4 cells and the heart tissue was complicated by the fact that both also interacted with the aritficial substrate. Shaker cultures appeared better than comparable static cultures because they allowed better aeration and so delayed central necrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1970

Histidinemia.

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Acetates↗