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Biomedical subjects

R Fior

Publications and source records attributed to R Fior.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytokines in HIV infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection leads to a deregulated production of a number of cytokines. Some of them (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma) are produced in increased amounts in vivo, whereas the production of IL-2 is decreased. This latter abnormality plays a pivotal role in the establishment of the immunodeficiency. Some cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha) stimulate the in vitro replication of HIV, whereas others (mainly the interferons) inhibit it. The effect of cytokines in vivo in the spreading of HIV remains, however, largely unknown. Cytokines may also be involved in the development of many clinical manifestations associated with HIV infection. IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha may play a role in tissue damages associated with opportunistic infections, in HIV-related encephalopathy and in cachexia. Cytokines, mainly IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13, may stimulate the growth of malignant cells during Kaposi sarcoma or lymphomas. Better knowledge of the role of cytokines during HIV infection should allow new therapeutic approaches based on the use of either recombinant cytokines or specific antagonists, with the aim of limiting both HIV spreading and the clinical manifestations of this infection.

Cytokines↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Developmental aspects of language articulation in preterm and small fullterm infants].

The data to be discussed in this paper are drawn from a study of three groups of infants: small (low birth weight less than 10 centile for gestational age), preterm (gestational age less than 37 weeks) and full term. The total population of this study consisted of 12 children (4 subjects for each group). The purpose of the study was to examine phonetic and lexical development in these three populations to determine both normal and delayed patterns of this development over the second year of life. The time sampled for early behaviors were 18, 19, 20, and 21 months, based on chronological age. The spontaneous verbal productions of the subjects were tape-recorded and transcribed using phonetic symbols (IPA). Comparison were made between preterm and full term infants based on both chronological and gestational age. The data resulting from the comparison of our subjects on these parameters provide us with evidence that there can be early indicators of later speech and lexical development of the group of preterm infants.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interleukin-13 gene expression by malignant and EBV-transformed human B lymphocytes.

Expression of the IL-13 gene in malignant tissues from 26 human B-cell lymphoid malignancies was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A positive signal was detected in 16 cases, which included high grade B lymphomas, follicular lymphomas and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias. IL-13 mRNA was also detected in the 9 malignant B cell lines and in the 6 lymphoblastoid cell lines tested, as well as in freshly isolated malignant B cells from 2 patients with a Burkitt's lymphoma. Two of 8 T-cell lymphomas and 2 of 4 T-cell lines expressed the IL-13 gene. In contrast, IL-13 gene expression was not detected in any of the 5 non-lymphoid cell lines tested. No specific binding of radiolabeled IL-13 was detected on B cell lines, suggesting an absence of IL-13 receptors on such cells. This conclusion was also supported by the inability of IL-13 or anti-IL-13 antibodies to affect the growth of malignant B cells. Taken together, these results show that both malignant and EBV-transformed B lymphocytes, either freshly isolated or maintained as cell lines, express the IL-13 gene. This raises the question of the role of B lymphocyte-derived IL-13, a B lymphocyte stimulating cytokine, on the in vivo function of normal B lymphocytes as well as on the in vivo behaviour of B lymphoid malignancies.

Animals↗