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P Jacquet

Publications and source records attributed to P Jacquet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Melatonin has dose-dependent effects on folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation capacity and steroidogenesis.

Chemo and/or radiotherapy applied to young cancer patients most often have severe effects upon female fertility. Today, few options are available to protect ovarian function in females. However, these options are either ineffective, belong to the field of experimental research or/and are not applicable to all patients. Drugs that could protect the oocyte and its surrounding feeder cells from damage can be of great importance. Melatonin, being an important indirect antioxidant and a powerful direct free radical scavenger could be such a reagent. This paper reports the direct effects of different melatonin concentrations (range: 1 nM to 2 mM) on folliculogenesis and oogenesis of in vitro cultured mouse ovarian follicles. Early secondary mouse follicles were cultured in vitro for 12 days under different melatonin regimes. Every fourth day, survival rates were scored, follicles were morphologically evaluated and medium was collected for steroid analyses. On day 12, in vitro ovulation was induced by hCG/EGF. Eighteen hours later, oocytes were measured, oocyte maturation was evaluated and normality of spindle and chromosomes ascertained. Results obtained in this study indicated that 2mM melatonin is toxic. One mM negatively influenced oocyte maturation capacity. In the presence of 100 microM melatonin, androstenedione and progesterone were increased whereas estradiol was not influenced. Lower melatonin concentrations had no effect on the evaluated parameters. These data indicate an effect of melatonin on theca cell steroidogenesis. For prophylactic use, a dose of 10 microM could be suitable to reduce oxidative stress in cultured follicles.

Androstenedione↗

Scleredema adultorum of Buschke: an under recognized skin complication of diabetes.

Scleredema of Buschke or scleredema diabetorum is a skin complication of diabetes with deposits of collagen and aminoglycans in the dermis. This disease characterized by thickening and hardening of the skin, is usually localized in nape, back and shoulder areas. Consequences could be a decrease in motility of the shoulders and an impairment of respiratory function. Other possible complications are sleep apnoea syndrome and monoclonal gammapathy. Type 1 or type 2 diabetes may be associated with scleredema of Buschke in more than 50% of cases. Diabetes-related risk factors are long duration of the disease, presence of microangiopathy, overweight and need of insulin. Various specific treatments proposed in the literature are poorly validated. In most severe cases, radiation therapy may be useful.

Adult↗

Cytogenetic studies in mouse oocytes irradiated in vitro at different stages of maturation, by use of an early preantral follicle culture system.

In vivo studies on X-irradiated mice have shown that structural chromosome aberrations can be induced in female germ cells and that the radiation-induced chromosomal damage strongly depends on the stage of maturation reached by the oocytes at the time of irradiation. In the present study, the sensitivity of oocytes to induction of chromosome damage by radiation was evaluated at two different stages, by use of a recently developed method of in vitro culture covering a crucial period of follicle/oocyte growth and maturation. A key feature of this system is that growth and development of all follicles is perfectly synchronized, due to the selection of a narrow class of follicles in the start-off culture. This allows irradiation of well-characterized and homogenous populations of follicles, in contrast to the situation prevailing in vivo. Follicles were X-irradiated with either 2 or 4 Gy, on day 0 of culture (early preantral follicles with one to two cell layers) or on day 12, 3h after hormonal stimulation of ovulation (antral Graafian follicles). Ovulated oocytes, blocked in metaphase I (MI) by colchicine, were fixed 16 h after hormonal stimulation and analyzed for chromosome aberrations. The results confirm the high radiosensitivity of oocytes at 2 weeks prior to ovulation and the even higher radiosensitivity of those irradiated a few hours before ovulation, underlining the suitability of the in vitro system for further studies on the genetic effects of ionising radiation in female mammals.

Animals↗

Effect of curcuma on radiation-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells.

There have been considerable efforts to search for naturally occurring substances for the intervention of carcinogenesis. Many components from dietary or medicinal plants have been identified that possess substantial chemopreventive properties. Curcuma, a yellow pigment from Curcuma longa, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidative properties. Although its precise mode of action has not been elucidated so far, studies have shown that chemopreventive action of curcuma might be due to its ability to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. This original study was conducted in order to estimate whether curcuma enhances the radiation sensitivity of cancer cells. For this purpose, curcuma (concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 microM) was applied to human cancer cell cultures (HeLa, K-562 and IM-9) with or without X-irradiation (doses comprised between 0 and 8 Gy). Cell proliferation was monitored by trypan blue exclusion. For the estimation of apoptosis, changes in cell morphology and flow cytometry analysis (DNA content and presence of the sub-G1 peak) were performed. Microscopic examination of the curcuma-treated cells (with concentrations above 100 microM) showed a characteristic morphology of apoptosis. Furthermore, cells treated with curcuma exhibited a sub-G1 peak from which the magnitude was proportional to the concentration of curcuma. X-irradiation alone induced polyploidisation and apoptosis of the three cell lines, proportional to the doses of irradiation with a marked difference in radiation sensitivity between the cell lines (IM-9 < K-562 < HELA). However, when radiation and curcuma were applied together, our results showed that in HELA, K-562 and IM-9, curcuma showed a radiation sensitising effect only at the dose of 200 micro M. This result may open a perspective of synergical therapy at the condition to also address the intrinsic toxicity of curcuma on normal cells.

Apoptosis↗

Mouse one-cell embryos undergoing a radiation-induced G2 arrest may re-enter S-phase in the absence of cytokinesis.

PCC (premature chromosome condensation) can be used for visualizing and scoring damage induced by radiation in the chromatin of cells undergoing a G1 or G2 arrest. A method involving the fusion of irradiated single embryonic cells with single MI oocytes was used to induce PCC in mouse zygotes of the BALB/c strain, which suffer a drastic G2 arrest after X-irradiation (dose used 2.5 Gy). Other G2-arrested embryos were exposed in vitro to the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A. Both methods furnished excellent chromosome preparations of the G2-arrested embryos. The mean number of chromosome fragments did not change significantly during G2 arrest, suggesting that zygotes of this strain are unable to repair DNA damage leading to such aberrations. Forty to fifty percent of the irradiated embryos were unable to cleave after G2 arrest and remained blocked at the one-cell stage for a few days before dying. PCC preparations obtained from such embryos suggested that about 30% of them had undergone a late mitosis not followed by cytokinesis and had entered a new DNA synthesis. These results are discussed in the light of recent observations in irradiated human cells deficient in the p53/14-3-3sigma pathway.

Animals↗

Radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in guinea-pig growing oocytes, and their relation to follicular atresia.

The female guinea-pig has been shown to represent a good model to investigate the genetic hazard of ionizing radiation in humans. The sensitivity of the guinea-pig oocytes to radiation-induced chromosome aberrations was, therefore, studied at different stages of oocyte and follicular growth. The sensitivity of oocytes enclosed in small follicles (15 weeks before ovulation) was found to be low and comparable to that of immature oocytes present at birth. The sensitivity of growing oocytes remained low and almost constant until 3 weeks before ovulation, from which time it began to increase. The most dramatic increase of sensitivity occurred during the last week preceding ovulation: about 90% of oocytes X-irradiated with 4Gy, 2 days before ovulation showed one or more chromatid interchanges, as compared to 20% for those irradiated with the same dose 1 week earlier. A comparison of our results with those found by others in the mouse shows that considerable differences of sensitivity exist between oocytes of these two species irradiated at similar stages of development. The possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

Animals↗

Imprinting of the G(s)alpha gene GNAS1 in the pathogenesis of acromegaly.

Approximately 40% of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas have somatic mutations in the GNAS1 gene (the so-called gsp oncogene). These mutations at codon 201 or codon 227 constitutively activate the alpha subunit of the adenylate cyclase-stimulating G protein G(s). GNAS1 is subject to a complex pattern of genomic imprinting, its various promoters directing the production of maternally, paternally, and biallelically derived gene products. Transcripts encoding G(s)alpha are biallelically derived in most human tissues. Despite this, we show here that in 21 out of 22 gsp-positive somatotroph adenomas, the mutation had occurred on the maternal allele. To investigate the reason for this allelic bias, we also analyzed GNAS1 imprinting in the normal adult pituitary and found that G(s)alpha is monoallelically expressed from the maternal allele in this tissue. We further show that this monoallelic expression of G(s)alpha is frequently relaxed in somatotroph tumors, both in those that have gsp mutations and in those that do not. These findings imply a possible role for loss of G(s)alpha imprinting during pituitary somatotroph tumorigenesis and also suggest that G(s)alpha imprinting is regulated separately from that of the other GNAS1 products, NESP55 and XLalphas, imprinting of which is retained in these tumors.

Acromegaly↗

CT in the selection of patients with abdominal or pelvic sarcoma for reoperative surgery.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal or visceral sarcoma may recur with disease limited to the abdomen and pelvis. In this clinical situation, further surgical treatments in an attempt to control the disease may be appropriate. CT is used to help select patients for additional surgical interventions. STUDY DESIGN: Preoperative abdominal and pelvic CT scans of 33 patients with recurrent sarcoma were reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent reoperative surgery and, when appropriate, perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups according to survival and disease status: alive with no evidence of disease (n = 7) and alive with disease or dead of disease (n = 26). Twenty-two CT indices were studied retrospectively for each patient and evaluated statistically. RESULTS: The presence of large (greater than 5 cm) tumor volume in 3 of the 13 abdominopelvic regions resulted in a significant difference in the prognosis between the groups of patients. These findings included tumor in the left lower quadrant (p = 0.032), tumor in the pelvis (p = 0.008), and tumor in the distal jejunum (p = 0.032). Two other CT indices that showed a significant difference in survival between the groups were involvement of five abdominopelvic regions or fewer (p = 0.008) and a peritoneal cancer index of 15 or less (p = 0.03). A statistical approach using a tree-structured diagram showed that patients with tumor diameter greater than 5 cm in the pelvis accompanied by tumor involvement of more than one segment of small bowel had a 0% probability of postoperative disease-free survival. In contrast, patients with tumor diameter less than 5 cm in the pelvis on CT had an 86% probability of disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with recurrent sarcoma, selection criteria were generated by a preoperative CT of the abdomen and pelvis. In this disease, CT was a reliable diagnostic test for predicting benefit from further surgical interventions and should be used in the future to help select patients for an aggressive versus a palliative approach.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Preimplantation development of giant triploid zygotes in the mouse.

Giant oocytes or two-cell embryos have been reported in various mammalian species. They may arise during multiplication of oogonia, after fusion of two oogonia or, more probably, when nuclear division is not accompanied by cytoplasmic division. The ultimate fate of these giant embryos is not well known. In our laboratory, giant two-cell mouse embryos have been occasionally observed. Recently, we observed two giant one-cell zygotes in the same species. Both showed two female pronuclei and one male pronucleus, as well as two second polar bodies localized at opposite poles of the embryo. These two giant zygotes showed normal viability and developmental capacity. Their triploid nature was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis. In order to study this interesting phenomenon in more detail, we produced giant oocytes containing two germinal vesicles by cell fusion and cultured them in vitro. About one third of them extruded two first polar bodies; in the second group only one polar body was observed, whilst the last group was without polar bodies. When parthenogenetically activated, the consistent answer analogical to that observed in "in vivo" oocytes was only observed when oocytes with two polar bodies were activated. The implication for IVF technologies is discussed.

Animals↗

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal doxorubicin: pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and tissue distribution in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: The cytotoxic effect of several anticancer agents, including doxorubicin, can be enhanced by hyperthermia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyperthermia on the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and tissue distribution of intraperitoneal (i.p.) doxorubicin in a rodent model. METHODS: Doxorubicin was given i.p. to 20 Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 2 mg/kg over 60 min. Rats were randomized into two groups according to the temperature of the peritoneal perfusate: group NT received normothermic (37 degrees C) i.p. doxorubicin; group HT received hyperthermic (43 degrees C) i.p. doxorubicin. During the course of i.p. chemotherapy, peritoneal fluid and blood were sampled every 10 min. At the end of the procedure, rats were sacrificed and tissue samples (liver, spleen, small bowel, omentum, bladder, diaphragm, abdominal wall, heart) were collected. Concentrations of doxorubicin and its aglycone metabolites were determined in peritoneal fluid, plasma, and tissues by HPLC. RESULTS: No significant differences in areas under the curve (AUC) of peritoneal fluid doxorubicin and plasma doxorubicin were found between group NT and group HT. AUC ratios (AUC peritoneal fluid/AUC blood) were 87.9 for group NT and 82.9 for group HT. Group HT exhibited increased doxorubicin concentrations for all intraabdominal tissues. These differences were significant for spleen (P = 0.03), small bowel (P = 0.03), and omentum (P = 0.03). Doxorubicin aglycone was detected in plasma of both groups within the first 10 min of the procedure. There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in plasma aglycone AUC for group HT when compared with group NT. Group HT exhibited increased aglycone concentration for all tissues. This difference was significant for liver (P < 0.001) and bladder (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hyperthermia did not affect significantly the pharmacokinetics of i.p. doxorubicin. Tissue concentrations of doxorubicin in small bowel, omentum, and spleen were significantly increased when the drug was administered by hyperthermic i.p. perfusion. Hyperthermia increased significantly the doxorubicin aglycone concentrations in plasma, liver, and bladder.

Animals↗

Absence of activating mutations in the GnRH receptor gene in human pituitary gonadotroph adenomas.

The monoclonal origin of gonadotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas has been well demonstrated but only few molecular abnormalities have so far been recognized in these tumors. For many years, several authors have suggested a role for GnRH and/or GnRH receptors (GnRH-R) in the development of these pituitary adenomas. To test the hypothesis that mutant genes encoding a constitutively activated GnRH-R might be involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors, the sequence of the GnRH-R gene was analyzed in tumoral pituitary tissue obtained from ten patients (six female, four male). The pituitary gonadotropin-secreting adenoma was associated with in vivo hypersecretion of FSH, LH and/or free alpha-subunit (n = 7) or was clinically silent (normal plasma levels of gonadotropins or free alpha-subunit, n = 3). In all cases, immunocytochemical studies of the removed adenoma confirmed their gonadotroph nature by revealing positivity for FSH, LH and/or alpha-subunit. Genomic DNA was extracted from the pathological tissue obtained at neurosurgery. Eight sequencing primers were used to amplify the three exons of the GnRH-R gene from tumoral DNA. The entire coding sequence of the GnRH-R gene was sequenced in the ten adenomas. No mutation was found in any of the tumor specimens examined. In conclusion, mutations in the GnRH receptor coding sequence occur infrequently if at all in gonadotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Adenoma↗

Cytogenetic effects of X-rays in the guinea pig female germ cells. II. The maturing oocyte.

In a previous study, we showed that the guinea pig constitutes one of the best models to evaluate the genetic risk associated with an irradiation of the human female germ cells. Herewith, experiments were undertaken to evaluate the chromosomal radiosensitivity of oocytes of this species at two different stages of follicular development, separated by only 1 week. Female guinea pigs were X-irradiated on the ovaries, at either the beginning (day 3) or the middle (day 10) of the 17-day oestrous cycle. The doses delivered were 1 or 2 Gy. Meiotically competent oocytes were collected 1 week after irradiation (day 3) or immediately thereafter (day 10), and they were cultured to the metaphase of the first meiosis (MI) and examined for the presence of chromosome aberrations. Our data demonstrated a dramatic increase in the radiosensitivity of the oocyte during this short time interval: oocytes irradiated at the beginning of the oestrous cycle had a low frequency of chromosome aberrations, while those irradiated at the middle of the oestrous cycle (when growing Graafian follicles are clearly visible at the surface of the ovaries) exhibited heavy chromosome damage. However, we also found that oocytes irradiated at the middle of the oestrous cycle were eliminated from the ovaries in a few days, after their evolution to the MII stage. The stimulation of the first meiotic division by radiation required less than 24 h after doses of 1 or 2 Gy and was probably due to a rapid atresia of the large follicles containing the oocytes. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that the radiosensitivity of the nearly mature guinea pig oocyte (1 week before ovulation) is clearly much higher than that of the corresponding stage in the mouse, both in terms of sensitivity to killing and to induction of chromosome aberrations.

Animals↗

Cytogenetic effects of X-rays in the guinea pig female germ cells. I. The immature oocyte.

In female mammals, the immature oocyte is the germ cell most at risk, from the genetic point of view. We have previously shown that ovaries of newborn guinea pigs contain a great majority of immature oocytes and small numbers of maturing oocytes. At this time, all immature oocytes are in a typical diplotene stage, comparable to that of the human resting oocyte. Furthermore, the LD50 of the guinea pig oocytes is about 4 Gy, like that of human oocytes. Consequently, performing genetic studies on guinea pig oocytes irradiated just after birth constitutes a very useful approach to predict the mutational response of the human resting oocyte. Female guinea pigs were X-irradiated with 1 or 2 Gy within 24 h of birth, and their meiotically competent oocytes were collected and cultured to the metaphase I stage, 1 year after treatment, ensuring that all oocytes were at the immature stage at the time of irradiation. The proportion of oocytes that showed chromosome aberrations (breaks, fragments or interchanges) was only 1-2% Gy(-1). Although not definitive, these results provide support for a low risk in women from an exposure of the immature oocyte to low doses of radiation.

Animals↗

Analysis of morbidity and mortality in 60 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis treated by cytoreductive surgery and heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal carcinoma has been regarded as a uniformly lethal clinical entity. A treatment plan combining cytoreductive surgery and heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIIC) was devised and tested to treat such patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and mortality associated with this treatment approach. METHODS: Sixty patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from adenocarcinoma of the colon or appendix were included in the study. Extensive cytoreductive surgery was combined with heated intraperitoneal mitomycin in an intraoperative lavage technique followed by one cycle of early postoperative intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil. Eleven clinical variables were selected and statistically correlated with morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Twenty-five complications occurred in 21 patients (morbidity = 35%). Morbidity related to gastrointestinal function included anastomotic leak (n=6), bowel perforations (n=5), bile leak (n=3), and pancreatitis (n=2). Four patients presented with severe hematologic toxicity (Grade 3 or 4). There were three cases of postoperative bleeding, one case of abdominal wound dehiscence, and one case of pulmonary embolism. Morbidity was significantly associated with three clinical factors: male sex, high intraabdominal temperature during HIIC, and duration of the surgical procedure. Enteral complications (bowel fistula and anastomotic leak) occurred in patients with a significantly higher number of peritonectomy procedures and a significantly longer operation. Three patients died within 8 weeks after the procedure (mortality = 5%). Mortality was significantly associated with age and intraabdominal temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Cytoreductive surgery combined with HIIC is associated with a 35% morbidity rate and a 5% mortality rate. Extensive surgery (duration and number of peritonectomy procedures) and high intraabdominal temperature represent the major risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality of patients treated with this new therapeutic approach.

Adult↗

Effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy and fibrinolytic therapy on tumor implantation in wound sites.

Failure of surgical treatment for gastrointestinal cancers is often caused by recurrence of the tumor in traumatized peritoneal surfaces. This study examined the effect of intraperitoneal administration of doxorubicin and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), a fibrinolytic agent, on incidence and volume of postoperative tumor implants in peritoneal wounds. Prior to randomization, a surgical wound was created on the right parietal peritoneum of 110 BDIX rats and 6 x 10(5) DHD/K12 colon cancer cells were inoculated intraperitoneally (ip). The control group was given an intraperitoneal injection of saline. Five groups received 1 mg/kg of ip doxorubicin at different times postoperatively: at the end of surgery (D0), 3 hr after surgery (D + 3), postoperative day 1 (D1), postoperative day 3 (D3), and postoperative day 7 (D7). In a second set of experiments, five groups of rats received, in addition to postoperative doxorubicin, 5 mg/kg of intraoperative ip rt-PA. Incidence and volume of tumor implants in peritoneal wounds were assessed for each group 20 days after the tumor inoculation. All rats of the control group (incidence = 100%) developed tumor implants in peritoneal wounds. Mean (SD) volume was 16.2 (4.7) mm3. When administered at D0, D + 3, and D1 intraperitoneal doxorubicin reduced significantly the incidence and volume of tumor implants in wounds. Postoperative administration of doxorubicin at D3 and D7 did not affect significantly the incidence and the volume of tumor implants in peritoneal wounds. When rt-PA was administered intraoperatively, ip injection of doxorubicin at any postoperative timing decreased significantly the incidence and volume of tumor implants. In conclusion, ip doxorubicin administered before postoperative D3 may act on tumor cell implanted in peritoneal wounds. Delayed (D3, D7) ip administration of doxorubicin does not prevent the development of tumor implants in peritoneal wounds. Intraoperative administration of rt-PA may significantly increase the efficacy of delayed ip chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Strategies to decrease the incidence of intra-abdominal recurrence in resectable gastric cancer.

Two main approaches are suggested to improve treatment results in resectable gastric cancer: extended lymphadenectomy and adjuvant antitumour therapy. Progress is to some extent stalled by the perception of gastric cancer as a pathophysiologically uniform disease; it has been demonstrated, however, that there are variants of gastric cancer associated with predominantly intra-abdominal spread or with haematogenous metastases. Recent clinicopathological studies have provided information about the mechanisms of this metastatic diversity. A review of clinical trials suggests that no single method of treatment can efficiently address all variants of gastric cancer spread, but new treatment strategies may be based on defining the pathophysiological variant of gastric cancer and selecting adjuvant therapy according to the most probable mode of tumour spread. Treatment should start with surgery which includes a 'reasonably' extended lymphadenectomy aimed at achieving an increased rate of curative resection and more accurate staging. Risk factors for peritoneal spread of tumour require the perioperative use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Subsequent adjuvant therapy may be indicated in patients at high risk of further cancer spread or occult metastases, as determined by pathological examination of the resected specimen.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Effects of postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy on peritoneal wound healing and adhesion formation.

The relatively low incidence of abdominal adhesions following the use of postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy should not restrict the indications of these treatments. However, some drugs appear to have a documented sclerotic effect on the peritoneum causing intraabdominal adhesions. Studies should be conducted on drug dosage, drug scheduling, and the use of additional treatments such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory or fibrinolytic drugs that could reduce adhesion formation after intraperitoneal infusion of vesicant drugs.

Antineoplastic Agents↗