Biomedical subjects

S Van Damme

Publications and source records attributed to S Van Damme.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Analyzing toxicity through electrophilicity.

The toxicological structure-activity relationships are investigated using conceptual DFT based descriptors like global and local electrophilicities. In the present work the usefulness of electrophilicity in predicting toxicity of several polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is assessed. The toxicity is expressed through biological activity data (pIC50) defined as molar concentration of those chemicals necessary to displace 50% of radiolabeled tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) from the arylhydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. The experimental toxicity values (pIC50) for the electron acceptor toxin like polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) are taken as dependent variables and the DFT based global descriptor electrophilicity index (omega) is taken as independent variable in the training set. The same model is then tested on a test set of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). A good correlation is obtained which vindicates the importance of these descriptors in the QSAR studies on toxins. These toxins act as electron acceptors in the presence of biomolecules whereas aliphatic amines behave as electron donors some of which are also taken into account for the present work. The toxicity values of the aliphatic amines in terms of the 50% inhibitory growth concentration (IGC50) towards ciliate fresh-water protozoa Tetrahymena pyriformis are considered. Since there is no global nucleophilicity we apply local nucleophilicity (omegamax+) as the descriptor in this case of training set. The same regression model is then applied to a test set of amino alcohols. Although the correlation is very good the statistical analysis reflects some cross validation problem. As a further check the amines and amino alcohols are used together to form both the training and the test sets to provide good correlation. It is demonstrated that the toxicity of several toxins (both electron donors and acceptors) in the gas and solution phases can be adequately explained in terms of global and local electrophilicities. Amount of charge transfer between the toxin and the biosystem, simulated as nucleic acid bases and DNA base pairs, indicates the importance of charge transfer in the observed toxicity. The major strength of the present analysis vis-à-vis the existing ones rests on the fact that it requires only one descriptor having a direct relationship with toxicity to provide a better correlation. Importance of using the information from both the toxin and the biosystem is also analyzed.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

The influence of PAX-14 on activated sludge systems and in particular on Microthrix parvicella.

The amount of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) dealing with solid separation problems has significantly increased since the new requirements of the EU Directive 271/91 on nutrient removal. In Flanders a number of the nutrient removal WWTP are affected by solid separation problems mostly attributed to Microthrix parvicella being the most common dominant species. The effect of dosing polyaluminium chloride (PAX-14) on activated sludge is illustrated for WWTP solids separation problems, in particular because of Microthrix parvicella. The effects of the addition of PAX-14 on the microbiology and the morphology of Microthrix parvicella were studied in 9 full-scale WWTP. PAX-14 succeeded in reducing high SVI-values and controlled foaming problems whenever caused by Microthrix parvicella. Laboratory trials have shown that the dosage of PAX-14 should be less than 150 microL/L or 7 g Al3+/kg MLSS. At a dosage higher than 250 microL/L, an increase of free bacteria and a decrease of the protozoa activity are observed. In full-scale, PAX-14 is dosed at a concentration of 1.5 to 4.5 g Al3+/kg MLSS. Before addition, the mixed liquor scum layer--if present--should be removed. In our experience, the dosing should last for at least 3 weeks. During the first week, no drastic changes occur. At the end of the first week, an increase of SS and SVI is possible. The SVI and scum start to decrease after 10 to 15 days. The amount of filaments is reduced after 3 to 3 1/2 weeks. The morphological properties of Microthrix parvicella change, while other filaments such as Nostocoida limicola and Nocardia spp. are not affected. This study proves that PAX-14 is effective in controlling bulking and foaming problems at WWTPs when they are due to Microthrix parvicella. Prediction of when the SVI will decrease and when addition should be stopped is possible.

Actinobacteria↗

PubMed2000

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and fat necrosis of the breast.

Fat necrosis of the breast is a well-known complication following trauma, surgery, or radiotherapy. The present paper describes a rare case of fat necrosis after heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The mammographic, sonographic, and MR evaluation and pathologic correlation after a 1-year follow-up period are reported.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

T-lymphoid extramedullary (lymphadenopathic) blast crisis in CML.

T-cells are only rarely involved in chronic myeloid leukemia. We report an unusual case of T-lymphoid extramedullary (lymphadenopathic) blast crisis in a 66-year-old patient with Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukemia. The lymph node morphological picture resembled that of a peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Immunohistochemical stainings showed most lymph node blasts to have T-phenotype (positivity for CD-2, CD-3 and CD-5). Flow cytometric phenotyping confirmed T-phenotype, with positivity for CD-7, CD-38 and TdT. Cytogenetic analysis of lymph node cells revealed Philadelphia chromosome with an additional chromosomal abnormality (add(6p)). The BCR-gene rearrangement in the lymph node blasts was identical to that in the bone marrow. This case adds to the growing evidence that CML may be a disorder of the common stem cell from which T-, B- and myeloid progenitors originate.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

A monoclonal antibody directed against a human cell membrane antigen prevents cell substrate adhesion and tumor invasion.

It was the aim of this study to design mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that can inhibit the invasion of breast cancer cells in the host tissue. Therefore, MAbs were raised against epitopes on the extracellular domain of SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cells, and biological assays were performed to test the capability of the MAbs to inhibit cell substrate adhesion. MAb 14C5 bound an extracellular plasma membrane antigen of SK-BR-3 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and inhibited the cell substrate adhesion of these cells in vitro. The MAb delayed the adhesion of MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells on precultured embryonic heart fragments (PHFS). It inhibited the destruction of the PHF by MCF-7 cells and the invasion of the PHF by SK-BR-3 cells. The MAb reacted with an epitope on the cell membrane of in situ and invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast in immunohistochemistry. Poorly differentiated, highly invasive ductal carcinomas show extensive staining of long plasma membrane extensions. Normal multilayered epithelia, normal connective tissue, and tumors derived from these tissues as well as normal breast tissue were negative. From both cell lines a protein complex consisting of two subunits with molecular weight of 50 and 90 kd, respectively, was immunoprecipitated. It is concluded that the 14C5 antigen plays a role in cell substrate adhesion and subsequently also in invasion of breast cancer cells. The 14C5 MAb was able to inhibit cell substrate adhesion and invasion in vitro of breast cancer cells.

Animals↗