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M Lemaire

Publications and source records attributed to M Lemaire.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

CCK-A and CCK-B selective receptor agonists and antagonists modulate olfactory recognition in male rats.

Modulation of learning and memory is one of the physiological roles that the neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK-8) may play. We have used a behavioural model of olfactory recognition among rats to test this hypothesis and to explore the relationship between CCK-A and CCK-B receptors and memory retention. Adult male rats form a transient memory of a juvenile congenere as indicated by a reduction in the duration of investigatory behaviour upon re-exposure 30 min after an initial exposure, but not when re-exposure is delayed until 120 min afterwards. In the present study, rats were treated after the first contact with various compounds; inhibition and facilitation of olfactory recognition were evaluated as the persistence in investigation 30 min and the decrease in investigation 120 min after pharmacological manipulations, respectively. Systemic injection of CCK-8, of a selective CCK-A agonist, or of non-peptide CCK-B antagonists (CI-988 and LY-262691) enhanced olfactory recognition. In contrast, the CCK-B selective agonist BC 264 and the tetrapeptide CCK-4 both disrupted it. Taken together with previous evidence of the detrimental effect of the nonpeptide. CCK-A antagonist devazepide on olfactory recognition, these results confirm and extend the hypothesis that there is a balance between CCK-A-mediated facilitative effects and CCK-B-mediated inhibitory effects on memory retention.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic study on a cyclosporin derivative, SDZ IMM 125.

The immunosuppressant, SDZ IMM 125 (IMM), is a derivative of cyclosporin A (CyA). The disposition kinetics of IMM in plasma, blood cells, and various tissues of the rat was characterized by a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model; the model was then applied to predict the disposition kinetics in dog and human. Accumulation of IMM in blood cell is high (equilibrium blood cell/plasma ratio = 8), although the kinetics of drug transference between plasma and blood cell is moderately slow, taking approximately 10 min to reach equilibrium, implying a membrane-limited distribution into blood cells. A local PBPK model, assuming blood-flow limited distribution and tissue/blood partition coefficient (KP) data, failed to adequately describe the observed kinetics of distribution, which were slower than predicted. A membrane transport limitation is therefore needed to model dynamic tissue distribution data. Moreover, a slowly interacting intracellular pool was also necessary to adequately describe the kinetics of distribution in some organs. Three elimination pathways (metabolism, biliary secretion, and glomerular filtration) of IMM were assessed at steady state in vivo and characterized independently by the corresponding clearance terms. A whole-body PBPK model was developed according to these findings, which described closely the IMM concentration-time profiles in arterial blood as well as 14 organs/tissues of the rat after intravenous administration. The model was then scaled up to larger mammals by modifying physiological parameters, tissue distribution and elimination clearances; in vivo enzymatic activity was considered in the scale-up of metabolic clearance. The simulations agreed well with the experimental measurements in dog and human, despite the large interspecies difference in the metabolic clearance, which does not follow the usual allometric relationship. In addition, the nonlinear increase in maximum blood concentration and AUC with increasing dose, observed in healthy volunteers after intravenous administration, was accommodated quantitatively by incorporating the known saturation of specific binding of IMM to blood cells. Overall, the PBPK model provides a promising tool to quantitatively link preclinical and clinical data.

Adult↗

Investigation of the distribution of EAB 515 to cortical ECF and CSF in freely moving rats utilizing microdialysis.

A freely moving rat model was developed to study the CNS distribution of EAB 515 (S-alpha-amino-5-phosphonomethyl[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-propanoic acid). Microdialysis (MD) in the frontal cortex (FrC) and in the lateral ventricle (LV) of the rat brain was performed to measure the levels of EAB 515 in the cortical extracellular fluid (ECF) as well as in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The femoral artery and femoral vein were cannulated for serial blood sampling and intravenous (i.v.) drug administration, respectively. EAB 515 was also administered via the intracerebroventricular (icv) route in a cross-over experiment. The in vivo recovery of EAB 515 across the MD probes was determined by simultaneous retrodialysis (RD) performed using a hydroxylated analog of EAB 515, as the RD calibrator (RDC). An extremely sensitive and selective on-line HPLC system with native fluorescence detection was developed for the simultaneous analysis of EAB 515 and RDC in microdialysate samples from rat CSF and cortical ECF. Unbound concentrations of EAB 515 in the rat plasma were determined by direct injection of plasma ultrafiltrate onto the HPLC column. The validity of the use of RDC as the RD calibrator was demonstrated by comparing the results of zero-net flux (ZNF) analysis simultaneously in some experiments. After constant rate i.v. infusion in rats (n = 12) for 900 min, the average (S.D.) ratio of the levels of EAB 515 in the CSF to those in plasma (Ccsf.iv/Cp) was determined to be 17.7 (7.8)% and that in the cortex relative to plasma (Ccortex.iv/Cp) was 8.3 (4.8)%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Short report: treatment of gastric ulcer with lansoprazole or ranitidine: a multicentre clinical trial.

We studied the effectiveness of lansoprazole and ranitidine in promoting gastric ulcer healing in a multicentre double-blind trial, by comparing the proportion of healed ulcers after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. One hundred and fifty-eight patients were randomly given either ranitidine (150 mg each morning and at bedtime) or lansoprazole (30 mg each morning and placebo at bedtime). One hundred and twenty-eight patients completed the trial (62 taking lansoprazole, 66 taking ranitidine). Fifty-one (80%) of those treated with lansoprazole and forty-two (62%) of those treated with ranitidine had healed ulcers at 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Sixty-one (98%) patients who received lansoprazole and 57 (86%) who received ranitidine had healed ulcers at 8 weeks (P < 0.05). The observed differences were not significant in the intention-to-treat analysis. No serious adverse event was reported with lansoprazole.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Comparison of lansoprazole with omeprazole on 24-hour intragastric pH, acid secretion and serum gastrin in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Lansoprazole and omeprazole are proton pump inhibitors which both strongly inhibit acid secretion, resulting in a significant increase in serum gastrin levels. However, no direct comparison of recommended doses (20 mg for omeprazole and 30 mg for lansoprazole) has been reported so far. Our aims were to compare the effects of omeprazole 20 mg/day and lansoprazole 30 mg/day on intragastric acidity and serum gastrin concentration in 12 healthy volunteers. METHODS: The study was double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled with a cross-over design. On the seventh day of each period, 24-hour intragastric pH was measured using a combined glass electrode placed in the proximal stomach. The last morning dose of each regimen was taken at the end of 24-hour pH monitoring; acid output and serum gastrin concentrations were then studied in the fasting state and after stimulation with pentagastrin (maximal acid output) and a meal (post-prandial gastrin response). RESULTS: Compared to placebo, both drug regimens induced a sustained increase of 24-hour intragastric pH and significantly decreased basal and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. Lansoprazole 30 mg was slightly more effective than omeprazole 20 mg in terms of time spent above pH 3 (P < 0.05). Accordingly postprandial gastrin concentrations rose slightly more after lansoprazole than after omeprazole. All other differences were insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Both lansoprazole 30 mg and omeprazole 20 mg induce potent and long-lasting acid inhibition, with few minor differences when the two proton pump inhibitors are used at standard doses.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Recognition specificity of the duplicated segments present in Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase CelD and in the cellulosome-integrating protein CipA.

The binding specificity of the duplicated segments borne by Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase CelD and by the cellulosome-integrating protein CipA was investigated. The fusion protein CelC-DSCelD, in which the duplicated segment of CelD was fused to the COOH terminus of endoglucanase CelC, bound with an affinity of 4.7 x 10(7) M-1 to the fusion protein MalE-RDCipA, in which the seventh receptor domain of CipA was grafted onto the COOH terminus of the Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein MalE. The affinity of CelC-DSCelD for the homologous chimeric protein MalE-RDORF3p, carrying the receptor of the surface protein ORF3p, was 6.9 x 10(6) M-1. The fusion protein CelC-DSCipA, in which the duplicated segment of CipA was grafted onto the COOH terminus of CelC, did not bind detectably to MalE-RDCipA or MalE-RDORF3p. However, Western blotting (immunoblotting) experiments indicated that the duplicated segment of CipA was able to bind to a set of C. thermocellum proteins which are different from those recognized by the duplicated segment of CelD. These results argue against the hypothesis that ORF3p interacts with the duplicated segment of CipA. More probably, ORF3p binds to individual cellulases and hemicellulases harboring duplicated segments.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Subcellular localization of Clostridium thermocellum ORF3p, a protein carrying a receptor for the docking sequence borne by the catalytic components of the cellulosome.

The ORF3 gene of Clostridium thermocellum encodes a polypeptide (ORF3p) which contains a receptor domain for the docking sequence borne by the catalytic subunits of the cellulosome and a triplicated domain related to some bacterial cell surface proteins. It was thus surmised that ORF3p is a surface protein. In this study, this hypothesis was confirmed. Subcellular fractionation, Western blotting (immunoblotting), and electron microscopy of immunocytochemically labeled cells indicated that ORF3p produced by C. thermocellum was located in the outer surface layer of the bacterium. This layer appeared to consist of a soft matrix shedding off particulate fragments. Nonsedimenting ORF3p derived from sonicated cells was associated with high-molecular-mass fractions (> 20 MDa), probably corresponding to fragments of the outer cell layer. The same high-molecular-mass fractions also contained the cellulosomal marker CipA. Contrary to CipA, however, ORF3p was not associated with 2- to 4-MDa fractions corresponding to individual cellulosomes, and a significant fraction of ORF3p failed to bind to cellulose. It is proposed that ORF3 and ORF3p be renamed olpA and OlpA, respectively (for outer layer protein).

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Enhancement of the intestinal absorption of a cyclosporine derivative by milk fat globule membrane.

A cyclosporine derivative, dihydrocyclosporine D, was used for the evaluation of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) as an emulsifier of lipophilic cyclopeptides. As compared with olive oil formulation, MFGM emulsion significantly enhanced the blood and lymphatic fluid concentrations of the cyclosporine derivative after intraduodenal dosing in rats. Thus, it was suggested that MFGM can be used as an intestinal absorption enhancer of cyclosporines.

Animals↗

Chromosome aberrations after treatment with radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer.

The study aimed to investigate whether the determination of chromosome aberrations in circulating blood lymphocytes could be useful to assess whole-body exposure from radioactive iodine released accidentally. Ten patients treated with two doses of 1850 MBq of 131I given 24 h apart for thyroid cancer were studied for chromosome aberrations (dicentrics) in blood samples taken before and at various times after exposure. The increase in the yield of aberrations caused by the exposure to iodine was small but statistically significant. Compared to published values for whole-body doses after such treatment, this increase appears to be somewhat smaller than expected from dose-effect relationships obtained for an acute exposure of lymphocytes in vitro or in vivo, a fact which could be explained by the low dose rate of the 131I exposure. Thus, in situations where a population was exposed as a result of the release of radioactive iodine, a determination of chromosome aberrations in blood lymphocytes would not appear to be very useful to determine exposure from iodine.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Altered synaptic plasticity and memory formation in nitric oxide synthase inhibitor-treated rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a messenger molecule that is produced in the brain from the metabolism of L-arginine to L-citrulline. Growing evidence suggests a physiological role for NO in long-term potentiation (LTP). Since LTP is a form of synaptic plasticity thought to be involved in learning and memory, we have tested whether inhibition of endogenous NO production affects memory capacities of rats. We found that the NO synthase [L-arginine, NADPH:oxygen oxidoreductase (nitric oxide-forming), EC 1.14.13.39] inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine, at doses blocking LTP in hippocampal slices, impairs spatial learning in a radial arm maze and olfactory memory in a social recognition test. In contrast, N omega-nitro-L-arginine left shock-avoidance learning unaffected. These results indicate that NO is involved in some but not all forms of memory and further support the existence of a causal link between LTP and spatial learning.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole in patients with renal or liver disease of varying severity.

The pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole (L) after a single oral dose of 30 mg was determined in 18 healthy volunteers, 17 renal failure patients and 24 hepatic failure patients; 8 hepatitis and 16 with compensated (CC) or uncompensated (UCC) cirrhosis. In renal failure, the absorption of L was unchanged, its half-life being similar to that in healthy subjects; a small change seen in mild renal failure patients (creatinine clearance between 40 and 60 ml/min) was attributed to the age of the patients. Urinary elimination, essentially as metabolites of lansoprazole, was decreased, in relation to the degree of renal impairment. In hepatitis patients, the AUC and t1/2 of L were doubled, without any change in Cmax. In cirrhotics tmax was prolonged, the AUC was increased (P < 0.001) and there was prolongation of t1/2 (6.1 h in CC and 7.2 h in UCC compared to 1.4 h in healthy subjects). These changes resulted from a decrease in the clearance of L. There was also an increase in its sulphone metabolite (Cmax, Rm) and a decrease in the hydroxylated metabolite (Cmax, Rm) in relation to the degree of liver disease, and reflecting a decrease in hydroxylation and biliary elimination. Thus, renal failure had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of L, but severe hepatic failure caused marked changes. A repeated dosing study would be necessary to evaluate the repercussions of the possible accumulation in cirrhotic patients.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Comparison of fluvastatin and lovastatin blood-brain barrier transfer using in vitro and in vivo methods.

We measured the permeability of fluvastatin, lovastatin, and its pharmacologically active hydroxy acid (HA) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with three different techniques. The brain uptake index (BUI) technique yielded values for fluvastatin and HA below the limit of detection of this method; in contrast, brain extraction of lovastatin was high: 57 and 7% with addition of buffer and human plasma, respectively. Brain perfusion studies in rats indicated that when fluvastatin and HA were exposed for a longer time to the BBB, small but measurable brain uptake occurred, with permeability coefficients of 2.5 x 10(-4) and 1.4 x 10(-4) cm/min, for fluvastatin and HA, respectively, whereas the permeability coefficient of lovastatin was 2.3 x 10(-2) cm/min. An in vitro BBB model consisting of a primary culture of confluent monolayers of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells yielded very similar values: 7.2 x 10(-4) cm/min for fluvastatin and 1.3 x 10(-3) cm/min for HA and a permeability coefficient of 1.1 x 10(-2) cm/min for lovastatin. The results of the different methods show that lovastatin crosses the BBB to a much greater extent than does fluvastatin or HA. Although lovastatin undergoes hydrolytic conversion to HA, it subsists in blood for sufficient time to cross the BBB. Therefore, lovastatin and fluvastatin are expected to be different in their central side effect profile, as was observed in patients treated for hypercholesterolemia. This finding supports the hypothesis that sleep disturbances due to some cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors might be correlated with their abilities to cross the BBB.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Nucleotide sequence of the celG gene of Clostridium thermocellum and characterization of its product, endoglucanase CelG.

The nucleotide sequence of the celG gene of Clostridium thermocellum, encoding endoglucanase CelG, was determined. The open reading frame extended over 1,698 bp and encoded a 566-amino-acid polypeptide (molecular weight of 63,128) similar to the C. thermocellum endoglucanase CelB (51.5% identical residues). The N terminus displayed a typical signal peptide, followed by a catalytic domain. The C terminus, which was separated from the catalytic domain by a 25-amino-acid segment rich in Pro, Thr, and Ser, contained two conserved stretches of 22 amino acids closely similar to those previously described in other cellulases from the same organism. Expression of the gene in Escherichia coli was increased by fusing the fragment coding for the catalytic domain in frame with the start of the lacZ' gene present in the vector. A low- and a high-M(r) form of the protein were purified. The two forms displayed identical enzymatic properties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that both forms consist of a major polypeptide of M(r) 50,000 and two minor polypeptides of M(r)s 49,000 and 48,000, resulting from heterogeneous proteolytic cleavage at the C terminus. An antiserum raised against the forms purified from E. coli reacted with an immunoreactive polypeptide of M(r) 66,000, which was associated with the extracellular cellulolytic complex of C. thermocellum known as the cellulosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

From somatostatin to Sandostatin: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.

Somatostatin and its octapeptide analogue octreotide (Sandostatin) have a similar high affinity for specific receptors with IC50s in the sub-nanomolar range. Hence, the striking superiority of octreotide in vivo, which includes duration of action, specificity, and potency, must originate from its different distribution, metabolism, and excretion behaviour. In animals and humans, investigations on their pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic relationship show plasma levels of 0.2-0.5 ng/ml (approximately 0.3 nM) to be therapeutically relevant for both peptides. The much lower clearance and improved metabolic stability in the circulation and in target organs of octreotide compared with somatostatin, result in much longer lasting, therapeutically relevant plasma and tissue levels and therefore in a longer duration of action. Their apparently specific inhibitory action of growth hormone when compared with that on insulin is pharmacodynamically based and may be exaggerated by physiological mechanisms of carbohydrate regulation. In summary, there is a distinct relationship between pharmacokinetic profiles and pharmacodynamic behaviour of somatostatin and its analogue Sandostatin.

Animals↗

Dose-response relationship of epirubicin-based first-line chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer: a prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: We compared prospectively the antitumor efficacy of two combination chemotherapy regimens with two different dose levels of epirubicin as first-line treatment for advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-one fully assessable patients were randomized to receive either our intensified schedule (group A, n = 71) of epirubicin 50 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 (every 3 weeks), or a non-intensified program (group B, n = 70) in which epirubicin was only administered on day 1. Both groups also received fluorouracil (5 FU) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 on day 1 of each course. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in response rate was observed (69% in group A v 41% in group B, P < .001) for both locally advanced (LA) and recurrent metastatic (RM) disease. Response duration (22 v 14 months, P < .01) and time to progression (TTP; 19 v 8 months, P < .02) were also significantly improved. Overall survival was similar in both groups. However, univariate and/or multivariate analyses showed a meaningful relationship between type of treatment allocated, dose-intensity (DI) of epirubicin, and response rate, as well as between TTP and survival. Ultimately, TTP and survival were also influenced by further treatment modalities, namely, hormonotherapy and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: This study validates prospectively the concept of a dose-response relationship for an anthracycline-based chemotherapy in previously untreated advanced breast cancer.

Actuarial Analysis↗

From somatostatin to sandostatin: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.

Somatostatin (SRIF) and its octapeptide analogue, octreotide (Sandostatin), have a similar high affinity for specific receptors with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) in the subnanomolar range. Hence, the striking superiority of octreotide in vivo, which includes duration of action, specificity, and potency, must originate from its different distribution, metabolism, and excretion behavior. In animals and humans, investigations of their pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic relationship show plasma levels of 0.2 to 0.5 ng/mL (approximately 0.3 nmol/L) to be therapeutically relevant for both peptides. The much lower clearance rates and improved metabolic stability in the circulation and in target organs of octreotide, compared with SRIF, result in much longer-lasting, therapeutically relevant plasma and tissue levels and therefore in a longer duration of action. Their apparently specific inhibitory action on growth hormone when compared with that on insulin is pharmacodynamically based, and may be exaggerated by physiological mechanisms of carbohydrate regulation. In summary, there is a distinct relationship between the pharmacokinetic profiles and pharmacodynamic behavior of SRIF and its analogue. Sandostatin.

Animals↗

Protection against aspirin-induced gastric lesions by lansoprazole: simultaneous evaluation of functional and morphologic responses.

The protective effect of lansoprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor, against aspirin-induced gastric lesions was studied in a double-blind crossover trial with a simultaneous measure of the functional capacities of the mucosal barrier (by a recording of the gastric potential difference) and of the morphologic changes in the mucosa (by gastric endoscopy). After 1 week of treatment with lansoprazole (30 mg per day) or placebo, each healthy volunteer received 1 gm aspirin by mouth. Recording of the gastric potential difference lasted for 3 hours and was followed by gastric endoscopy. Morphologic lesions induced by aspirin were effectively prevented by lansoprazole: Lanza score was 0.67 +/- 0.98 (mean +/- SD) versus 2.25 +/- 1.1 with placebo (p < 0.005, ANOVA). Conversely, the decrease in the gastric potential difference was similar. The inhibition of acid secretion induced by lansoprazole was therefore sufficient to prevent aspirin-induced mucosal lesions without reinforcing the defense capacities of the mucosa. This simple pharmacologic model makes it possible to simultaneously evaluate the functional and morphologic effects of aspirin intake on the gastric mucosa.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗