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R Vranckx

Publications and source records attributed to R Vranckx.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Various sero-epidemiological characteristics of viral hepatitis in general medicine: results of a pilot survey performed in Belgium].

A study was made of 110 cases of viral hepatitis diagnosed by general practitioners between 31 May 1982 and 30 June 1984. Hepatitis A was diagnosed in 53 patients, hepatitis B in 18 patients, hepatitis of both types A and B in one patient, and--by exclusion--hepatitis non-A non-B in 38 patients. Hepatitis A appears to be generally acquired by contact with infected persons or by travelling in endemic regions. In more than 50% of the hepatitis B cases, a hospital stay and/or ambulatory treatment were mentioned. All patients with hepatitis A became negative for anti-HA/IgM within 9 months after the diagnosis. 30% of the patients with hepatitis B remained positive for HBs Ag 9 months after diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of anti-delta antibodies in pregnant women in Bandung, Indonesia.

Knowledge of the epidemiology of hepatitis D virus (HDV)-infection is very scarce in many parts of the world. The endemicity of delta-infection is believed to be maintained and spread through the network of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers in the community. In the Far East and the Pacific area, the prevalence of chronic HBsAg carriers is mostly high. Markers of HDV infection are very frequent in some regions (e.g. parts of China, Fiji Isles, Samoa), in other regions they are almost absent (e.g. Taiwan, Thailand, parts of China). In the Bandung region (West Java, Indonesia) we found 26 (2.8%) HBsAg carriers among 926 pregnant women. Most of them are chronic carriers (anti hepatitis B core (HBc) IgM negative). Although HBsAg is frequent in this Indonesian population, we could not find any anti-HD positive. This data warrants the conclusion that HDV infection has not yet been introduced in that densely populated area of Indonesia.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1987

A thyroxine binding globulin (TBG)-like protein in the sera of developing and adult rats.

We report evidence based on equilibrium binding, electrophoretic, autoradiographic studies, that the rat possesses a major high affinity thyroid hormone binding protein, with an electrophoretic mobility and binding properties similar to those of the human thyroxine binding globulin (TBG). We show that in the sera of postnatal developing animals, the thyroxine and the triiodothyronine binding activities increase up to 10 times over adult or foetal levels, due to a high transient post-natal surge of the rat TBG. In the adult serum, the TBG persists in decreased amounts: it then yields the predominant role as thyroxine carrier to the thyroid binding prealbumin, but retains the major role as binder of triiodothyronine i.e. of the biologically active thyroid hormone.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

alpha-Fetoprotein and transcortin behave as acute phase reactants in the maternal and fetal compartments of the inflammatory pregnant mouse.

Immunological and binding methods have been used to demonstrate that acute inflammation induced in the pregnant mouse by a single sc turpentine injection elicits plasma protein responses in the fetal as well as in the maternal compartment. The maternal response involves, along with the classical pattern of positive and negative acute phase reactants seen in the inflammatory nonpregnant animal, a highly specific approximately 2-fold increase of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations. In addition, the high pregnancy-associated corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) levels drop dramatically (2-3 times) in response to inflammation. The fetal response is characterized by small (10-25%) but statistically significant declines of AFP, CBG, and albumin concentrations, without any increase in levels of the positive classical acute phase reactants. The divergent responses of the estrophilic mouse AFP on the two sides of the placental barrier result in a 3- to 4-fold enrichment of the maternal serum vs. an approximately 20% impoverishment of the fetal serum in high affinity estrogen binding sites. The similar decrease in levels of CBG in mother and fetus leads to marked losses of high affinity corticosteroid sites for both. Neither the affinity constants for the estrogen-AFP interactions nor those for the corticosterone-CBG interactions are affected by inflammation. This is the first report of AFP as a positive marker of acute inflammation, of AFP as a pregnancy-specific inflammatory reactant in the mouse, and of a plasma protein response of the fetus in utero to an inflammatory stress undergone by the mother.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Demonstration and ontogenesis in the rat of a serum protein analogous to human thyroxine binding globulin].

It has been reported evidence based on equilibrium binding, electrophoretic, immunoelectrophoretic studies, that the rat possesses a major high affinity thyroid hormone binding protein, with an electrophoretic mobility and binding properties similar to those of the human thyroxine binding globulin (TBG). It is shown that in the sera of postnatal developing animals, between 3 and 21 days, the thyroxine (T4) and the triiodothyronine (T3) binding activities increase up to 10 times over adult or foetal levels, due to a high transient post-natal surge of the rat TBG. In the adult serum, the TBG persists in decreased amounts: it then yields the predominant role as T4 carrier to the thyroid binding prealbumin (TBPA), but retains the major role as binder of T3, i.e. of the biologically active thyroid hormone.

Aging↗
PubMed1987

Immunogenicity of a recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine in neonates.

Infants of HBsAg-positive mothers (Group I) as well as those born to women without HBV markers (Group II) were vaccinated with a 10 micrograms dose of a recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours after birth according to a 0, 1, and 2 month schedule, with a booster dose planned 12 months later. Vaccination results in 14 (Group I) and 47 (Group II) neonates showed that at two months after the third dose of vaccine, 86% (6/7) and 100% (37/37), respectively, seroconverted, with anti-HBs geometric mean titres of 80 IU/l and 266 IU/l in the respective groups. No adverse reactions to the vaccine were observed. These preliminary results indicate that the recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine is safe and highly immunogenic in newborns.

Antigens↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence and determinants of hepatitis B virus markers in pregnant women in West Java, Indonesia.

In Bandung, West Java, 300 consecutive pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers at a prenatal consultation. The prevalence of HBsAg and of anti-HBs/anti-HBc was 4.7% (14/300) and 35.6% (107/300) respectively, while 59.7% (179/300) was sero-negative. Prevalence of HBV markers increased significantly with both age and parity. Women with less schooling and a low socioeconomic class seemed to be at higher risk for HBV infection (HBV-markers prevalence of 49.3% (35/71) and 58.3% (21/36) respectively). Among employed women, the subgroup of school-teachers had a significantly higher HBV-markers prevalence of 54.8% (23/42), with a HBsAg carrier rate of 11.9% (5/42). This could indicate an important nonparenteral transmission of HBV in schools. The prevalence of HBeAg in HBsAg positive women was 64.3% (9/14). Based on historical data on perinatal HBV transmission, this would lead to a HBV carriership in 2.4 to 3.5% of all newborns. Possible strategies of prevention of HBV infection in newborns are briefly discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Origin of corticosteroid-binding globulin in fetal rat. Comparative dynamics of corticosteroid-binding globulin, alpha-fetoprotein, and albumin secretion in primary cultures of fetal rat hepatocytes.

The origin of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and its evolution in comparison with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin synthesis, during early development of rat liver (days 13 and 15 of fetal life), have been investigated using cultured fetal hepatocytes. Synthesis and secretion of CBG, AFP, and albumin is evidence by cycloheximide-sensitive [14C]leucine incorporation into immunoprecipitable polypeptides secreted by cultured hepatocytes into the medium, two-dimensional immunoelectrophoretic and autoradiographic identification of newly synthesized labeled proteins, corticosterone and estradiol-17 beta binding to CBG and AFP, respectively, and indirect immunofluorescence localization of AFP, albumin, and CBG in cultured fetal hepatocytes. CBG, albumin, and AFP accounted for 6, 11, and 25% (in 13-day-old rat fetuses) and 5, 15, and 28% (15-day-old rat fetuses), respectively, of the total secreted proteins in the culture medium. The rates of CBG, AFP, and albumin (counts/minute of secretion [14C]leucine incorporated per milligram of cell protein/hour of culture) in the hepatocytes of 15-day-old rat fetuses were 1.48-, 2.1-, and 2.57-fold higher, respectively, than in the 13-day-old rat fetuses. These results indicate that fetal liver is also active in CBG synthesis, along with AFP and albumin, as early as day 13 of fetal life and that the synthetic rates of these secretory proteins depend upon the developmental stage of the fetal liver. This developmental related change in the rate of synthesis of CBG by the fetal hepatocytes may regulate the level of free (active) glucocorticoid in the fetal circulation and thereby the initiation and regulation of glucocorticoid-dependent processes during the crucial stages of the differentiation of fetal liver and other developing tissues.

Albumins↗
PubMed1986

Modifications of the properties of human sex steroid-binding protein by nonesterified fatty acids.

The effect of unsaturated and saturated nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) on the electrophoretic, immunological, and steroid-binding properties of human sex hormone-binding protein (SBP) were investigated. Tests were carried out on whole serum from pregnant women and on purified SBP using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, crossed immunoelectrophoresis with autoradiography, and equilibrium dialysis. All three methods showed that NEFAs influence the binding of sex steroids to SBP both in whole serum and with the purified protein. Saturated NEFAs caused a 1.5-2-fold increase in binding of dehydrotestosterone, testosterone, and estradiol to SBP, while unsaturated NEFAs, such as oleic (18:1) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids inhibited the binding of these steroids to SBP. Thus, unsaturated NEFAs in the concentration range 1-100 microM are more inhibitory for estradiol binding than for testosterone or dehydrotestosterone binding. In addition to these binding changes, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoretic studies revealed a shift in SBP from the slow-moving active native form to a fast-moving inactive one. There was also a reduction in the apparent SBP concentration by Laurell immunoelectrophoresis in the presence of unsaturated NEFA (5.5 nmol of NEFA/pmol of protein). These studies indicate that unsaturated NEFAs induce conformational changes in human SBP which are reflected in its electrophoretic, immunological, and steroid-binding properties. They suggest that the fatty acid content of the SBP environment may result in lower steroid hormone binding and thus increased free hormone levels.

Dihydrotestosterone↗
PubMed1986

Acute phase plasma proteins in kininogen-deficient Brown Norway rats.

We examined whether Brown Norway rat plasma (BN/May Pfd f) contains alpha 1-cysteine proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-CPI), also called major acute phase alpha 1-protein or T-kininogen. T-kininogen is a low molecular weight kininogen from which kinin can be released by trypsin but not by kallikreins. The BN plasma reacted with rabbit anti-alpha 1-CPI gamma globulins. Purified alpha 1-CPI released a kinin-like activity with trypsin and with homogenate of salivary glands, as Brown Norway rat plasma did. High concentration of added rat urine induced a small release (10%) of kinin from alpha 1-CPI. Preincubation of Brown Norway rat plasma with rabbit anti-rat alpha 1-CPI gamma-globulins nearly suppressed the kinin-forming substrate of trypsin in this plasma. These results indicated that plasma of our Brown Norway rats contains only alpha 1-CPI as kinin-forming substrate. This plasma contains low amount of alpha 2-macroglobulin, while its content in orosomucoid and haptoglobin was a little larger than that of Wistar rat plasma.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1986

[Effect of alpha-fetoprotein on isolated mouse oocytes].

Data are presented which indicate a possible action of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on female germinal cells. The in vitro maturation of mature mice oocytes was significantly inhibited when mouse AFP replaced albumin in the culture medium. In addition, the degenerative aspect of oocytes cultured with AFP seemed to indicate that this meïotic inhibition was caused by a premature degeneration of oocytes rather than by a blockage at a specific stage of maturation. Thus AFP, perhaps through its ligands, may play a role in the reduction of germinal cells during fetal and immediate post-natal life rather than in the arrest of meïosis at the diplotene stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Effects of alphafetoprotein on isolated mouse oocytes.

The supposition of an effect of alphafetoprotein (AFP) on female germinal cells is put forward. The spontaneous in vitro maturation of adult mouse oocytes is significantly inhibited when mouse AFP replaces albumin in culture medium. Furthermore, the very unusual degenerative appearance of the cells subjected to AFP seems to indicate that this meiotic inhibition is linked to a premature degeneration of the oocytes rather than to a blockage of the cells at an earlier stage of maturation. Accordingly AFP, perhaps through its ligands, may play a role in reducing the number of gonocytes during fetal and immediate post-natal life rather than in stopping oocyte meiosis at the diplotene stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

AIDS in Indonesia.

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

A simplified method for the preparation of rat thyroxine-binding prealbumin. Factors influencing its circulating level.

Rat thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) was isolated in three simple steps by means of a serum precipitation by a 5% phenol solution and two consecutive semi-preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses. The overall yield was 15% and the TBPA preparation contained less than 1% impurities. In addition a monospecific antiserum was raised in the rabbit. In polyacrylamide gel, rat TBPA, as with its human counterpart, migrated anodally to albumin while in agarose gel, its electrophoretic mobility was similar to that of albumin. Serum TBPA measured in adult male Wistar rats did not exhibit a circadian rhythm. However, a significant 13% decrease was observed between 9 and 15 h, followed by the restoration of the initial value by 21 h. TBPA concentration was measured in 1-, 15- and 28-day-old male and female pups as well as in adult rats. The level of this protein increased from 1 to 28 days of age and did not display any sexual difference. Yet, while TBPA concentrations in adult males were similar to those recorded in the 28-day-old pups, for adult females, they returned to the levels measured in the 1-day-old pups.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Alpha-fetoprotein expression in intra- and extraembryonic fluids of developing chick embryo.

The ontogeny of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been studied in the chicken (from 7 days of incubation until 2 days after hatching) using (1) the two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis technique, (2) the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and (3) the high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of AFP was estimated at 71,000. AFP was seen as a heterogeneous population composed of four isoforms which slightly differ by their isoelectric points. Up to the 18th day of development, qualitative changes in AFP heterogeneity do not occur. Only traces of the two alkaline isoforms were observed in plasma of 2 days post-hatching chickens. AFP has been identified in allantoic and cerebrospinal fluids but is not present in amniotic fluid. At 7 days of embryonic age, all the plasma AFP species are present in cerebrospinal fluid.

Allantois↗