Sustained increase of HDL cholesterol over a 72-week period in HIV-infected patients exposed to an antiretroviral regimen including lopinavir/ritonavir.

Metabolic disorders are a major concern during antiretroviral therapy, especially for their potential to increase cardiovascular disease risk. In a multicenter, prospective study conducted in patients exposed to an antiretroviral regimen including lopinavir boosted with ritonavir, an early and sustained increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed over a 72-week period. This increase was positively correlated with the exposure to lopinavir/ritonavir during the first 24 weeks.

[Evaluation of the health inpact of the floods in the Gard on respiratory health of disaster victims].

In 2002 the Gard was subjected to exceptional flooding, as much by their size as by the number of affected community victims, more than the Nimes floods in October 1988. No community was spared and more than 800 families had to be rapidly re-located. As the medical bibliography of the impact of the floods on respiratory heath was not conclusive we have proposed to the CHU of Nimes a hospital clinical research project undertaken by the members of RNSA, the Institute of Public Health of Brussels and the European Centre for Medical Bioclimate Research and Teaching, who have accepted to share their knowledge with the Gard.

Magnetic field (50 Hz) increases N-acetyltransferase, hydroxy-indole-O-methyltransferase activity and melatonin release through an indirect pathway.

Purpose: To examine whether magnetic fields (MF) affect N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxy-indole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) activity directly or exert their effect through a cellular pathway that indirectly regulates the activity of these enzymes and melatonin release.

Materials And Methods: The pineal glands from Wistar rats were isolated at 10:00 h and exposed to MF (50 Hz, 1 mT) for 4 h in vitro, with or without 1 micro M norepinephrine. An additional group of pineals was exposed to MF 30 min before norepinephrine addition.

[Creation and validation of the SPRING Internet site].

The Internet SPRING site has been created by five pollen european nets in relation with the spanish telephony firm: SADIEL. The aim of this project is to propose different services for persons concerned by pollen allergy (patients, scientists, pharmaceutical firms..

The role and therapeutic potential of 5-HT-moduline in psychiatry.

The endogenous neuropeptide, 5-HT-moduline, selectively and allosterically interacts with 5-HT(1B) receptors. By binding at a site distinct from that bound by 5-HT, 5-HT-moduline induces structural changes in 5-HT(1B) receptors or stabilizes a particular conformation of these receptors. These conformational changes ultimately lead to the prevention of 5-HT binding resulting in desensitization of these receptors and reduction of the serotonergic function.

Interaction of lithium with 5-HT(1B) receptors in depressed unipolar patients treated with clomipramine and lithium versus clomipramine and placebo: preliminary results.

Lithium is commonly used in combination with antidepressant drugs as a treatment for refractory depression; less often, it is used in non-resistant depression. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of lithium with 5-HT(1B) receptors in 10 non-resistant unipolar depressed patients treated with clomipramine+lithium (C+L) vs. clomipramine+placebo (C+P).

[Poaceae pollens. Comparison of Poaceae pollens in 1999 among Marseille, Gap, and Briançon 2000 meters].

Pollens of Poaceae remain the major concern of all those which are concerned with the allergies. The grasses in question are ubiquitaires, but the variations due to climate and the relief influence much on the statements. Our country, from its geographical richness and by the number of sites of collecting, allows an interesting synthesis and a better comprehension of the metabolism of the plant.

Magnetic field desensitizes 5-HT(1B) receptor in brain: pharmacological and functional studies.

It was previously suggested that exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) could generate dysfunction of the CNS. The physiological manifestations described lead us to postulate that these symptoms might be related to a dysfunction of the serotonergic system and particularly of the 5-HT(1B) receptors. Accordingly, MFs could modify the conformation of these receptors altering their functional activities.

Structural requirements of 5-hydroxytryptamine-moduline analogues to interact with the 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptor.

5-Hydroxytryptamine-moduline is an endogenous cerebral tetrapeptide that regulates the activity of 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptors. Direct binding of 5-[3H]hydroxytryptamine-moduline on rat brain homogenate evidenced the existence of two interacting sites for the peptide, very likely corresponding to different conformations of the 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptor: The peptide first binds to a low-affinity state of the receptor (pIC50 = 7.68+/-0.

5-HT1B receptors: a novel target for lithium. Possible involvement in mood disorders.

Lithium ion is widely used to treat depressive patients, often as an initial helper for antidepressant drugs or as a mood stabilizer; however, the toxicity of the drug raises serious problems, because the toxic doses of lithium are quite close to the therapeutic ones. Thus, precise characterization of the target(s) involved in the therapeutic activity of lithium is of importance. The present work, carried out at molecular, cellular, and in vivo levels, demonstrates that 5-HT1B receptor constitutes a molecular target for lithium.

5-HT1B receptors modulate release of [3H]dopamine from rat striatal synaptosomes.

The effect of the selective r5-HT1B agonist 3-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro)-4-pyridil-5-pyrrolo [3,2-b] pyril-5-one (CP93,129) on the K(+)-evoked overflow of [3H]dopamine was studied in rat striatal synaptosomes loaded with [3H]dopamine. The aim of the study was to investigate the participation of 5-HT1B receptors in the serotonergic modulation of striatal dopaminergic transmission. The Ca2(+)-dependent, tetrodotoxin-resistant K(+)-evoked overflow of [3H]dopamine was inhibited by CP93,129 (0.

Molecular, cellular and physiological characteristics of 5-HT-moduline, a novel endogenous modulator of 5-HT1B receptor subtype.

The serotonergic transmission is considered as a neuromodulatory system in the Central Nervous System. 5-HT1B receptors play an important role in this modulatory activity. We have purified from mammalian brain an endogenous peptide, LSAL, we called 5-HT-moduline, interacting specifically with 5-HT1B receptors.

5-HT-moduline, a 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor endogenous modulator, interacts with dopamine release measured in vivo by microdialysis.

5-Hydroxytryptamine-moduline (5-HT-moduline) is an endogenous tetrapeptide (Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu) recently isolated and characterized from mammalian brain. This compound interacts with 5-HT1B receptors as a non-competitive, high-affinity antagonist and has the properties of an allosteric modulator. 5-HT-moduline could play an important role in the regulation of serotonergic transmission and also, through heteroreceptors, dopaminergic transmission.

Specific interaction of 5-HT-moduline with human 5-HT1b as well as 5-HT1d receptors expressed in transfected cultured cells.

5-HT1B receptors are the predominant auto- and heteroreceptors located on serotonergic and non-serotonergic terminals where they regulate the neuronal release of neurotransmitters. 5-HT-moduline (Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu) has been shown to specifically interact with a very high apparent affinity and in a non-competitive manner with 5-HT1B receptors (Massot et al. 1996; Rousselle et al.

Mapping of 5-HT-moduline binding sites in guinea-pig brain by film and digital autoradiography.

5-HT-moduline is a cerebral tetrapeptide [Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu] that was recently isolated from bovine brain tissue and shown to interact specifically with 5-HT1B receptors, particularly in rodents. The pharmacological properties of 5-HT1B receptors in rodents are different from those in other species. In order to better understand the role of this peptide in non-rodent species, we determined the distribution of 5-HT-moduline binding sites in guinea-pig brain using both the film autoradiography and digital autoradiography with a newly developed high resolution beta-imaging techniques.

Autoradiographic characterization of [3H]-5-HT-moduline binding sites in rodent brain and their relationship to 5-HT1B receptors.

5-HT-moduline is an endogenous tetrapeptide [Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu (LSAL)] that was first isolated from bovine brain tissue. To understand the physiological role of this tetrapeptide, we studied the localization of 5-HT-moduline binding sites in rat and mouse brains. Quantitative data obtained with a gaseous detector of beta-particles (beta-imager) indicated that [3H]-5-HT-moduline bound specifically to rat brain sections with high affinity (Kd = 0.

Immunocytochemical localization of neurons expressing 5-HT-moduline in the mouse brain.

The localization of 5-HT-moduline, an endogenous cerebral tetrapeptide (LSAL) which specifically interacts with 5-HT1B receptors (Rousselle et al., 1996; Massot et al., 1996) was examined in mouse brain using an immunocytochemistry technique with a polyclonal anti-peptide antibody highly specific for this tetrapeptide.

5-hydroxytryptamine-moduline, a new endogenous cerebral peptide, controls the serotonergic activity via its specific interaction with 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/1D receptors.

The serotonergic system controls the activity of neurotransmissions involved in numerous physiological functions. It is also thought to be crucially implicated in various pathologies, including psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and aggressiveness. The properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-moduline, a novel endogenous peptide, have been tested in vitro and in vivo.

Isolation and characterization of an endogenous peptide from rat brain interacting specifically with the serotonergic 1B receptor subtypes.

The existence of endogenous compounds interacting with the serotonergic system was previously postulated. In the present work, rat brain tissues were extracted by acidic and organic procedures. The resulting extract was tested for its capacity to interact with the binding of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT) to 5-HT1 receptors.

A new peptide, 5-HT-moduline, isolated and purified from mammalian brain specifically interacts with 5-HT1B/1D receptors.

5-HT-Moduline (Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu) is a new endogenous peptide purified from rat brain which interacts specifically with 5-HT1B/1D receptors. The binding interaction of 5-HT-Moduline with 5-HT1B/1D receptors appeared to be a non-competitive process, since the Bmax value of [125I] cyanopindolol binding on rat brain cortical membranes was decreased without modification of the Kd. This interaction was conserved on NIH 3T3 cells expressing the 5-HT1B receptor (IC50 = 10(-11)M) suggesting that the binding site for 5-HT-Moduline is localized on the 5-HT1B receptor protein.

Rapid isolation of human endothelial cells from whole blood using S-Endo1 monoclonal antibody coupled to immuno-magnetic beads: demonstration of endothelial injury after angioplasty.

The presence in whole blood of circulating endothelial cells (EC) has been a subject of debate for many years. It could represent a good marker of vessel injury. We demonstrate here that human endothelial cells can be directly isolated and identified in circulating blood by means of an endothelial cell specific monoclonal antibody, S-Endo1, coupled to micromagnetic beads.

Cytofluorometric detection of human endothelial cells in whole blood using S-Endo 1 monoclonal antibody.

It has long been debated whether endothelial cells are present at very low frequency in peripheral blood. Elevated concentrations of such circulating cells may represent a good marker of vascular injury. We have therefore designed an immunocytometric assay for the detection of rare endothelial cells in whole blood.

Estradiol increases the production of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in MCF7 and T47D human breast cancer cell lines.

alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin (Achy) is an antiprotease of the acute inflammation phase, which is also released by MCF7 human breast cancer cells in culture. Using a fluorimetric assay with the synthetic substrate L-Seryl-L-Tyrosyl-2-N-naphthylamide, we have shown that a medium conditioned by MCF7 cells treated by estradiol inhibits the activity of alpha-chymotrypsin. This inhibition increased when physiological concentrations of estradiol were added to the cells for 2 days.