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Biomedical subjects

M Piette

Publications and source records attributed to M Piette.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in belgian human adipose tissue samples.

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in 53 human adipose tissue samples. The samples consisted of adipose tissue from 31 men and 22 women having a mean age of 53 years. No information about diet or occupational exposure was collected. Cleanup was performed using a glass column containing acidified silica, deactivated alumina, and anhydrous sodium sulphate. Subsequently, samples were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. PBDE concentrations (sum of BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 154, 153, and 183) ranged between 1.23 and 57.2 ng g(-1) lipid weight and were comparable with levels in samples from other European countries. The sum of seven International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) indicator PCB congeners (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) ranged from 126 to 2090 ng g(-1) lipid weight. No age dependency was found for PBDEs (Pearson correlation -0.023, p = 0.873), whereas PCBs showed higher correlation coefficients with age (Pearson correlation 0.613, p < 0.0005). There was no relationship between PBDE and PCB levels (Pearson correlation -0.010, p = 0.943).

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2005

Automated method for the determination of a new matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor in ovine plasma and serum by coupling of restricted access material for on-line sample clean-up to liquid chromatography.

A fully automated liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of Ro 28-2653, a new synthetic inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in ovine serum and plasma. The method was based on the coupling of a pre-column packed with restricted access material, namely LiChrospher RP-8 ADS (alkyl diol silica), for sample clean-up to an analytical column containing octyl silica stationary phase. One hundred microl of biological sample, to which 2-propanol was automatically added, were injected onto the ADS pre-column, which was then washed with a washing liquid consisting of a mixture of 25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and acetonitrile (90:10; v/v) for 10 min. By rotation of the switching valve, the analyte was then eluted in the back-flush mode with the LC mobile phase composed of a mixture of acetonitrile and 25 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (57:43; v/v). The UV detection was performed at 395 nm. The main parameters likely to influence the sample preparation technique were investigated. The method was then validated over a concentration range from 17.5 to 1950 ng/ml, the first concentration level corresponding to the lower limit of quantitation. At this concentration level, the mean bias and the R.S.D. value for intermediate precision were -2.4% and 4.2%, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Monitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls in Belgian human adipose tissue samples.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored in Belgian human adipose tissue samples from deceased individuals (n=100). Their mean age was 52, ranging from 2 to 91 years. There were 57 men and 43 women. Other known variables were date of autopsy and place of residence. No information about diet or occupation was available. The seven marker congeners PCB 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 were analysed in the samples with a GC-MS/MS method validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Extracted fat was cleaned-up over a glass column filled with n-hexane, acid silica, deactivated alumina and anhydrous sodium sulfate. The whole procedure was subjected to a rigorous quality control programme with retention times, ion chromatograms and intensity ratios of the monitored product ions as identification criteria. The total PCB concentration ranged between 10 and 1640 ng g-1 fat, with a mean value of 658 ng g-1 fat. In the age groups of 0-9 (n=1), 10-19 (n=4), 20-29 (n=11), 30-39 (n=13), 40-49 (n=15), 50-59 (n=14), 60-69 (n=14), 70-79 (n=20), 80-89 (n=6) and 90-99 (n=2), the mean total PCB concentrations were 10, 134, 253, 445, 557, 687, 807, 962, 959, and 1191 ng g-1 fat, respectively. So, there was an increase of PCB body burden with age. For the male subjects (n=57; mean age of 53) the mean total PCB concentration was 633 ng g-1 fat. For the female subjects (n=43; mean age of 52) it was 690 ng g-1 fat. There was no significant sex-related difference in the concentrations of marker PCBs.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative determination of paraquat in a fatal intoxication by HPLC-DAD following chemical reduction with sodium borohydride.

A fatality due to a massive ingestion of paraquat is presented. Screening by enzyme-multiplied immunoassay of postmortem blood and urine disclosed the presence of tricyclic antidepressants (in urine only), benzodiazepines, cotinine, and caffeine. Further analysis of blood, urine, and stomach contents with thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography confirmed the results found in the preliminary routine screening. It also revealed the presence of paraquat in blood, urine, and stomach contents, of diethyl parathion in urine and stomach contents, and of mevinphos in blood and stomach contents. Quantitation of paraquat was performed using HPLC with diode-array detection. Sample preparation involved a protein-precipitation step using trichloroacetic acid (necessary only for blood and tissue homogenate), followed by a chemical reduction with sodium borohydride of the fully ionized paraquat to a diene, which is amenable to solvent extraction. Quantitative results were obtained for all postmortem matrices available: blood, 5.05 mg/L; urine, 6.00 mg/l; stomach contents, 17.2 g/L; liver, 4.86 mg/kg; and kidney, 80.6 mg/kg. The paraquat distribution in this case is compared with analytical findings reported in the literature. As would be expected, concentrations found in fatal paraquat intoxications display large differences. The data presented illustrate the outspoken lethal nature of the herbicide paraquat and the ongoing appearance of this compound in deadly accidental and suicidal poisonings.

Borohydrides↗
PubMed1998

Effects of the antiestrogens tamoxifen, toremifene, and ICI 182,780 on endometrial cancer growth.

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen has been shown to promote the growth of human endometrial tumors implanted in athymic mice, and it has been associated with a twofold to threefold increase in endometrial cancer. Toremifene, a chlorinated derivative of tamoxifen, and ICI 182,780, a pure antiestrogen, are two new antiestrogens being developed for the treatment of breast cancer. The effects of these drugs on endometrial cancer are currently unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of toremifene and ICI 182,780 on the growth of human endometrial cancer in athymic mice. METHODS: Athymic, ovariectomized mice were implanted with human endometrial tumors and treated with estrogen, tamoxifen, or the new antiestrogens. RESULTS: The effects of tamoxifen and toremifene on the growth of either tamoxifen-stimulated or tamoxifen-naive endometrial tumors in athymic mice were not substantially different. ICI 182,780 inhibited the growth of tamoxifen-stimulated endometrial cancer, in both the presence and the absence of estrogen. CONCLUSIONS: Toremifene and tamoxifen produce identical effects in our endometrial cancer models. Therefore, it is possible that toremifene, like tamoxifen, may be associated with an increased incidence of endometrial cancer. In contrast, ICI 182,780 inhibited tamoxifen-stimulated endometrial cancer, both in the presence and in the absence of estrogen, suggesting that this drug may be safe with regard to the endometrium, even if it is used following tamoxifen, and that it may not result in an increased incidence of endometrial cancer. Indeed, it is even possible that ICI 182,780 may prove useful as an adjuvant agent in early stage endometrial cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Determination of strontium in human whole blood by ICP-AES.

The determination of strontium in human blood samples by ICP-AES is described. For the analysis no chemical separations were required after microwave destruction. A mean value of 11.4 +/- 0.83 micrograms/l is found for normal whole blood. The limit of detection of the method is 0.3 microgram/l. As a possible application the enhancement of the strontium level in blood of human beings who died from drowning is examined.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1990

Sudden death in idiopathic giant cell myocarditis.

A rare case of idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis fatally affecting a middle-aged woman is presented. The circumstances of the fulminant and unexpected death were witnessed and reported by a relative. The confusing aspects of the 'Fiedler's myocarditis', the relation with more common forms of viral myocarditis and finally the medico-legal importance in the context of the sudden and natural death are mentioned.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The effect of the post-mortem interval on the level of creatine in vitreous humour.

By means of 103 medico-legal autopsies it was established that a rise in the creatine level occurs in the vitreous humour after death. In view of the satisfactory correlation between the post-mortem interval and the creatine level in the vitreous humour (r = 0.84, p less than 0.001) investigations were undertaken as to whether the creatine level in vitreous humour can serve in current medico-legal practice as an indication for the post-mortem interval, especially for the later period (more than three days). On balance this creatine determination is only useful when combined with all other medico-legal parameters that establish the time of death, remembering that the confidence-interval in the investigations was rather wide.

Creatine↗
PubMed1989

Serum strontium estimation as a medico-legal diagnostic indicator of drowning.

In order to corroborate the medico-legal diagnosis of vital submersion we reviewed the appropriate literature and tested Icard's initial hypothesis, already expressed in 1932, that Strontium might be a good indicator of sea-water drowning. Therefore, we examined all the bodies found either in fresh or in sea-water, and also non-drowned control cases. Strontium concentrations in both cardiac cavities and in a peripheral blood-vessel were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The statistical evaluation of the results is hereby presented. We come to the conclusion that this determination can be a valuable additional proof for sea-water drowning diagnosis, whilst freshwater drowning would be more difficult to assess. Further investigations are being undertaken.

Drowning↗
PubMed1986

Is zinc a reliable biochemical marker of chronic alcoholism in the overall context of a medico-legal autopsy?

The purpose of our investigation is to appreciate the usefulness of zinc determination in the human body with regard to the tracing of chronic alcoholism at forensic autopsies. The analysis of zinc was performed in vitreous humour and in skeletal muscle. Our results tend to prove that, in post-mortem material, zinc is not a suitable marker of chronic alcoholism. Furthermore one has to take into account the frequent contamination during collection and storage of the samples and also the post-mortem increase of zinc in the vitreous humour due to autolysis.

Alcoholism↗