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Biomedical subjects

Jean-Luc Evrard

Publications and source records attributed to Jean-Luc Evrard.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Venlafaxine compared with fluoxetine in outpatients with depression and concomitant anxiety.

The aim of this double-blind study was to compare the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine vs. fluoxetine in the treatment of patients with depression and anxiety. A total of 146 moderately depressed patients with associated anxiety were randomized to receive 75 mg/d venlafaxine or 20 mg/d fluoxetine for 12 wk. Dose increases were permitted after 2 wk of treatment, to 150 mg/d venlafaxine and 40 mg/d fluoxetine, to optimize response. At the final visit, a statistically significantly greater efficacy of venlafaxine over fluoxetine was observed on depressive symptoms and concomitant anxiety, and 75.0 and 50.7% of patients administered venlafaxine and fluoxetine, respectively, showed an overall response. A sustained response (for at least 2 wk), present at the end of the study was achieved in 57.8 and 43.3% of patients in the venlafaxine and fluoxetine groups, respectively, and at the final visit, 59.4 and 40.3% of patients, respectively, were in remission (virtually asymptomatic). Dose increases were required by a greater percentage of patients in the fluoxetine group (52.9%), than in the venlafaxine group (37.1%), and in those patients whose dose was increased, a higher efficacy was again observed with venlafaxine. Venlafaxine and fluoxetine were well tolerated, with the most frequently experienced adverse events being nausea and headache. Fewer patients in the venlafaxine group than in the fluoxetine group reported at least one adverse event (55.7 and 67.1% patients, respectively). Venlafaxine therefore proved to be significantly more effective than fluoxetine in improving depressive symptoms and concomitant anxiety.

Adolescent↗

A novel pollen-specific alpha-tubulin in sunflower: structure and characterization.

We describe here a new alpha-tubulin isoform from sunflower we named alpha(pi)-tubulin. Alpha(pi)-tubulin is the most divergent higher-plant alpha-tubulin described so far, having an unusual deletion in the H1/B2 loop and a glutamine-rich C-terminus. We constructed a three-dimensional model and discuss its implications. Using specific antibodies, we show that alpha(pi)-tubulin expression is restricted to the male gametophyte. Alpha(pi)-tubulin mRNA represents 90% of alpha-tubulin mRNA and a small percentage of total pollen mRNA. Among the plants tested, alpha(pi)-tubulin was only detected in sunflower and in Cosmos. Since both plants are Asteraceae, we propose that alpha(pi)-tubulin is specific to this family. Our results suggest that alpha(pi)-tubulin can inhibit tubulin assembly in pollen. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that alpha(pi)-tubulin is found in a complex with beta-tubulin in mature sunflower pollen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗