Biomedical subjects

J-B Corcuff

Publications and source records attributed to J-B Corcuff.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[Thyroglobulin mRNA detection in the follow-up of thyroid carcinomas].

The follow-up of differentiated carcinomas is based on the detection of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the serum. Tg assays are immunoassays that may be hampered by autoantibodies directed against Tg. To avoid this problem some authors advocated the use of mRNA extraction and RT-PCR amplification. Quantitative methods have been developed to achieve a good analytical sensitivity. These techniques may then be alternative to the Tg assay when anti-Tg antibodies are present in the serum should it be proven they display pronostic values reliable enough for clinical diagnosis use.

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[I131 in blood samples: management in the laboratory].

OBJECTIVES: Patients treated by (131)I may require blood sampling in the days following its administration. We investigated the safety of such samples in terms of radioactivity and the possible disturbance of the analyses by these "131I-spiked" samples. METHOD: 1) The radioactivity of blood samples from 131I-treated patients was measured (dose rate, surface activity, total activity) ; 2) The risk for the personnel was subsequently evaluated and ; 3) The interference of this 131I-generated radioactivity on the results of routine automated and IRMA assays was investigated. RESULTS: 1) All RA measures but two were found below the European limits ; 2) Irradiation of personnel was negligible ; 3) The faint radioactivity did not disturb any analyses. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate the safety that results from the negligible radioactivity in these blood samples.

Drug Contamination↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ac-SDKP, a marker of the angiotensin-converting enzyme activity?].

The tetra-peptide Acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (Ac-SDKP) generated by the cleavage of thymosine beta4 inhibits the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and the proliferation and secretion of fibroblasts in the myocardium and the glomeruli. The clinical administration of Ac-SDKP has been proposed and partially investigated. The peptide could protect hematopoietic stem cells during anti-neoplastic treatments leaving cancerous cells unprotected. As it opposes the effects of TGFbeta it could prevent fibrosis after myocardial infarcts and glomeruli fibrosis during the natural course of diabetic nephropathy. However, until now the expected benefits of such a treatment are based on an indirect consideration. Indeed, the degradation of Ac-SDKP is due to the action of the angiotensin-converting enzyme. Interestingly, the blocking of this enzyme both improves the above-mentioned fibrosis and increases the plasma levels of Ac-SDKP. Should the therapeutic effects prove solid, and therapeutic levels be established assaying Ac-SDKP could be an interesting marker of therapeutic efficiency.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Primary hyperaldosteronism].

Diagnosing primary aldosteronism, a hypertensive endocrine disease, is difficult because of an ill-defined frequency, various clinical forms and multiple diagnostic criteria. Current recommendations rest upon aldosterone and renin or renin activity determinations, the main point being to investigate aldosterone secretion with regards to of its main stimulus, renin. Proponents of the renin assay argue that it is easy and reliable. Proponents of the renin activity assay favour this method because of multiple epidemiological studies. Whatever the method used, each laboratory has to establish its critical thresholds in relation to the kits used. Extensive comparative studies would be useful to appreciate their relative benefits.

Aldosterone↗