The Role of Imaging in the Detection of Non-COVID-19 Pathologies during the Massive Screening of the First Pandemic Wave

peer reviewedDuring the COVID-19 pandemic induced by the SARS-CoV-2, numerous chest scans were carried out in order to establish the diagnosis, quantify the extension of lesions but also identify the occurrence of potential pulmonary embolisms. In this perspective, the performed chest scans provided a varied database for a retrospective analysis of non-COVID-19 chest pathologies discovered de novo. The fortuitous discovery of de novo non-COVID-19 lesions was generally not detected by the automated systems for COVID-19 pneumonia developed in parallel during the pandemic and was thus identified on chest CT by the radiologist. The objective is to use the study of the occurrence of non-COVID-19-related chest abnormalities (known and unknown) in a large cohort of patients having suffered from confirmed COVID-19 infection and statistically correlate the clinical data and the occurrence of these abnormalities in order to assess the potential of increased early detection of lesions/alterations. This study was performed on a group of 362 COVID-19-positive patients who were prescribed a CT scan in order to diagnose and predict COVID-19-associated lung disease. Statistical analysis using mean, standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR), logistic regression models and linear regression models were used for data analysis. Results were considered significant at the 5% critical level (p < 0.05). These de novo non-COVID-19 thoracic lesions detected on chest CT showed a significant prevalence in cardiovascular pathologies, with calcifying atheromatous anomalies approaching nearly 35.4% in patients over 65 years of age. The detection of non-COVID-19 pathologies was mostly already known, except for suspicious nodule, thyroid goiter and the ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. The presence of vertebral compression or signs of pulmonary fibrosis has shown a significant impact on inpatient length of stay. The characteristics of the patients in this sample, both from a demographic and a tomodensitometric point of view on non-COVID-19 pathologies, influenced the length of hospital stay as well as the risk of intra-hospital death. This retrospective study showed that the potential importance of the detection of these non-COVID-19 lesions by the radiologist was essential in the management and the intra-hospital course of the patients

Molecular Level Characterization of the Structure and Interactions in Peptide-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks

We use density functional theory, newly parameterized molecular dynamics simulations, and last generation N-15 dynamic nuclear polarization surface enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) to understand graft-host interactions and effects imposed by the metal-organic framework (MOF) host on peptide conformations in a peptide-functionalized MOF. Focusing on two grafts typified by MIL-68-proline (-Pro) and MIL-68-glycine-proline (-Gly-Pro), we identified the most likely peptide conformations adopted in the functionalized hybrid frameworks. We found that hydrogen bond interactions between the graft and the surface hydroxyl groups of the MOF are essential in determining the peptides conformation(s). DNP SENS methodology shows unprecedented signal enhancements when applied to these peptide-functionalized MOFs. The calculated chemical shifts of selected MIL-68-NH-Pro and MIL-68-NH-Gly-Pro conformations are in a good agreement with the experimentally obtained (NNMR)-N-15 signals. The study shows that the conformations of peptides when grafted in a MOF host are unlikely to be freely distributed, and conformational selection is directed by strong host-guest interactions

Automatized lung disease quantification in patients with COVID-19 as a predictive tool to assess hospitalization severity

peer reviewedThe pandemic of COVID-19 led to a dramatic situation in hospitals, where staff had to deal with a huge number of patients in respiratory distress. To alleviate the workload of radiologists, we implemented an artificial intelligence (AI) - based analysis named CACOVID-CT, to automatically assess disease severity on chest CT scans obtained from those patients. We retrospectively studied CT scans obtained from 476 patients admitted at the University Hospital of Liege with a COVID-19 disease. We quantified the percentage of COVID-19 affected lung area (% AA) and the CT severity score (total CT-SS). These quantitative measurements were used to investigate the overall prognosis and patient outcome: hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU admission, ICU LOS, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death. Both CT-SS and % AA were highly correlated with the hospital LOS, the risk of ICU admission, the risk of mechanical ventilation and the risk of in-hospital death. Thus, CAD4COVID-CT analysis proved to be a useful tool in detecting patients with higher hospitalization severity risk. It will help for management of the patients flow. The software measured the extent of lung damage with great efficiency, thus relieving the workload of radiologists

The first wave of COVID-19 in Intensive care

In December 2019, in Wuhan, a new human infectious pathology was born, COVID-19, consisting above all in pneumoniae, induced by the coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 because of the respiratory distress it caused (SARS for severe acute respiratory syndrome, and CoV for Coronavirus). A real health and planetary crisis has appeared, much more substantial than that linked to SARS-CoV-1 in 2002-2004 and to MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) in 2012. In addition to respiratory damage that can be dramatic, this pathology is complicated by the frequency of cardiovascular, renal and coagulation diseases. Health care systems have had to adapt urgently, in the absence of hindsight from the patho- logy, and without effective therapeutic weapons. Through this review of the literature, we detail our local practices for the overall management of patients hospitalized in Intensive care

Activité physique et vieillissement cognitif : effets modulateurs du gène du facteur neurotrophique dérivé du cerveau

International audienceOld age is generally associated with functional and structural changes in the central nervous system (CSN). Among all the strategies used to maintain the autonomy of the elderly, practicing regular physical activity seems to be an effective way of slowing down the deleterious effects of brain aging, in particular by improving the efficacy of neuroplasticity mechanisms. According to this neurotrophic hypothesis, several neurotrophins released during exercise, including the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), contribute to preserving the integrity of the CSN during the aging process. However, secretion of these neurotrophins is also controlled by genes. For example, one of the variations of the gene regulating the secretion of BDNF leads to reduced cerebral secretion of the protein and to poorer cognitive performance. The main objective of this review is to assess the studies that show the moderating effect of the BDNF gene on cognitive performance. The second objective is to explain the importance of a genetic approach in understanding the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical activity and cognition. Finally, the paper puts forward some future research avenues based on an interdisciplinary approach, combining genetics, cognitive neuroscience, exercise psychology, and human physiology.Le vieillissement s’accompagne généralement d’une altération fonctionnelle et structurale de notre système nerveux central. Parmi les stratégies de préservation de l’autonomie des seniors, la pratique régulière d’activités physiques semble être un moyen efficace pour ralentir les effets délétères du vieillissement cérébral, notamment grâce à une amélioration de l’efficacité des mécanismes de neuroplasticité. Selon cette hypothèse neurotrophique, plusieurs neurotrophines libérées au cours de l’exercice, dont le facteur neurotrophique dérivé du cerveau (BDNF), participeraient au maintien de l’intégrité du système nerveux au cours du vieillissement. Cependant, le taux de sécrétion de ces neurotrophines est aussi sous le contrôle de gènes. Par exemple, une des formes du gène régulant la sécrétion du BDNF induit une moindre sécrétion cérébrale de la protéine et conduit à une moins bonne performance cognitive. Cette revue de questions a pour principal objectif de faire le bilan des études ayant montré un effet modulateur du gène du BDNF sur la cognition. Elle cherche également à montrer tout l’intérêt d’une approche génétique dans la compréhension des mécanismes qui sous-tendent la relation entre activité physique et cognition. Elle propose enfin quelques voies de recherches futures en s’appuyant sur cette approche interdisciplinaire combinant génétique, neurosciences cognitives, psychologie de l’exercice et physiologie humaine

Le circuit du thermomètre au C.H.U. de Caen (évaluation du risque infectieux)

CAEN-BU Médecine pharmacie (141182102) / SudocLYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocSudocFranceF

The image of the month. Portal venous gas.

peer reviewedPortal venous gas is a rare radiological symptom related to several possible causes. Its severity is only correlated with the severity of the primary disease. We report the case of a portal pneumatose. The diagnosis was made by ultrasound and CT scan