[Influence of dose and modalities of administration of BIM 23014 on growth hormone secretion in patients with acromegaly]. / Influence de la dose et des modalités d'administration du BIM 23014 sur la sécrétion d'hormone de croissance de l'acromégale.

Somatostatin analogs, with prolonged half-lives have been proposed for the treatment of acromegalics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the short term efficacy of different doses and modalities of administration of the new somatostatin analog, BIM 23014 (BIM), on GH secretion in acromegalics. Ten acromegalics, with evolutive disease, who previously had had transsphenoidal surgery (and pituitary radiotherapy in 8) were evaluated in a three step study. The first part included four patients who received in a random order either vehicle or 500, 1000 and 1500 micrograms BIM for a day as a continuous s.c. infusion using programmable pumps at one-week interval for 24 hours to measure plasma GH levels. The second part included six patients who received in a random order either vehicle or 1500 micrograms/24h BIM as 500 micrograms x 3 s.c. injections, 750 micrograms x 2 s.c. injections and a continuous s.c. infusion using programmable pumps at one-week interval. During each period of the study blood was sampled at 4 hour intervals for 24 hours in order to measure plasma GH and BIM levels by radioimmunoassays. The third part of the study included the same 6 patients as the second part, who received 30 mg IM of a long acting formulation of BIM. Blood was sampled before and thereafter on days 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 following the injection for measurement of plasma GH and BIM levels. In first group 500 micrograms BIM slightly decreased plasma GH levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of public participation in public health initiatives: an analysis of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

This is a content analysis of 489 written documents and 142 hearing testimonies, submitted to the World Health Organisation (WHO), regarding the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) during the comment period of 2000. Our aim was to consider the benefits and limitations of inviting public participation. We found that, overall, those who offered commentary were in support of the FCTC and any ensuing treaty, especially if it protected children. The minority who opposed the treaty argued that restrictions on tobacco trade would further damage the economies of poor nations that are financially dependent upon tobacco. The FCTC that was adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 2003 addressed many of the concerns raised by the public in written commentary and hearing testimony: children and youth; advertising and sponsorship; tobacco product labelling; second-hand smoke; taxes; smuggling; liability; tobacco product regulation; and the involvement of non-government organisations (NGOs). We conclude that the benefits of public participation in public health policy formation are numerous, including levelling the playing field for public health activists and NGOs, building the expertise of advocates that can be generalised to other public health efforts, giving the political process legitimacy and credibility, as well as coalition building and grassroots momentum.

Pharmacokinetic study and effects on growth hormone secretion in healthy volunteers of the new somatostatin analogue BIM 23014.

We have studied the pharmacokinetics and the effects of BIM 23,014 (BIM), a new, long-acting octapeptide somatostatin analogue, on basal and stimulated GH secretion in normal men. BIM 250 micrograms sc significantly reduced a GHRH-induced increase in plasma GH. The continuous sc administration of BIM for 24 h dramatically blunted spontaneous GH secretion; 2000 and 3000 micrograms daily reduced GH secretion to a greater extent than 1000 micrograms daily. During these experiments a significant negative correlation (r - 0.66) was found between plasma GH and BIM levels. Acute sc administration of 1000 micrograms BIM significantly reduced the rise in plasma GH observed in the second part of the oral glucose tolerance test. Plasma BIM levels peaked around 30 min, and the elimination half life was 90 min. Plasma BIM levels were below 1 ng/ml 6 h after the injection of 1000 micrograms BIM, and at that time GH started to rise again. We conclude that BIM 23,014 250 to 1000 micrograms sc is able to reduce the plasma GH response to GHRH or to the fall in glucose following an oral glucose tolerance test; a constant infusion of BIM, in doses 1000 micrograms daily, dramatically suppresses spontaneous GH secretion; 2000 micrograms/day by chronic subcutaneous infusion was the most effective dose of BIM in the suppression of GH secretion, and was associated only with minor adverse effects.

[Comparison of three techniques for the enumeration of Aspergillus fumigatus spores in the hatcher as part of an epidemiologic survey of Aspergillosis risks in hatchery houses]. / Comparaison de trois techniques de numeration des spores d'Aspergillus fumigatus en eclosoir, dans le cadre de la surveillance epidemiologique au couvoir des risques d'aspergillose.

Methods of enumerating Aspergillus fumigatus spores on the down of hatching chicks in swabs of hatcher walls and in lungs of hatching chicks were compared under field conditions as part of an official survey of hatchery houses. Correlations and agreements between the results were studied. Their lack of accuracy is stressed, especially with the swab technique. This impels the aspergillosis risk to be evaluated from the average of the enumerations obtained simultaneously in a set of 10 hatchers.

Effects of the new somatostatin analogue (BIM 23014) on blood glucose homeostasis in normal men.

Changes in blood glucose homeostasis induced by the new somatostatin analogue BIM 23014 (BIM) were studied. Eight normal men (study 1) received either vehicle or 1000, 2000 and 3000 micrograms BIM as a 24 h s.c. infusion. Blood glucose, plasma insulin, C-peptide, glucagon and growth hormone (GH) were measured before treatment and then hourly for 24 h. In five normal men (study 2) an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed during vehicle infusion and then on days 1 and 7 of a continuous s.c. infusion of 2000 micrograms BIM daily for 7 days. The same biological parameters as in study 1 were measured before OGTT and then twice-hourly for 5 h. Dose-dependent and transient glucose intolerance was observed in the first half of study 1. Except for glucagon, BIM significantly (P < 0.01) reduced plasma insulin, C-peptide and GH levels. In study 2 BIM infusion induced glucose intolerance and a drop in plasma insulin and C-peptide on day 1 which disappeared on day 7 of infusion. Higher on day 7 than on day 1, plasma GH secretion was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced throughout BIM infusion. In contrast plasma glucagon levels were not modified at any time. Side-effects were abdominal cramps and diarrhoea which were observed in most subjects when increasing BIM daily dose. In conclusion, BIM infusion induced transient changes in glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in normal men. By contrast, plasma GH levels remained reduced throughout the treatment. BIM appears to be a useful tool to selectively inhibit GH secretion.