Development and validation of self-reported line drawings of the modified Beighton score for the assessment of generalised joint hypermobility

Background: The impracticalities and comparative expense of carrying out a clinical assessment is an obstacle in many large epidemiological studies. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a series of electronic self-reported line drawing instruments based on the modified Beighton scoring system for the assessment of selfreported generalised joint hypermobility.Methods: Five sets of line drawings were created to depict the 9-point Beighton score criteria. Each instrument consisted of an explanatory question whereby participants were asked to select the line drawing which best represented their joints. Fifty participants completed the self-report online instrument on two occasions, before attending a clinical assessment. A blinded expert clinical observer then assessed participants’ on two occasions,using a standardised goniometry measurement protocol. Validity of the instrument was assessed by participant observeragreement and reliability by participant repeatability and observer repeatability using unweighted Cohen’s kappa (k). Validity and reliability were assessed for each item in the self-reported instrument separately, and for the sum of the total scores. An aggregate score for generalised joint hypermobility was determined based on a Beighton score of 4 or more out of 9.Results: Observer-repeatability between the two clinical assessments demonstrated perfect agreement (k 1.00; 95%CI 1.00, 1.00). Self-reported participant-repeatability was lower but it was still excellent (k 0.91; 95% CI 0.74, 1.00). Theparticipant-observer agreement was excellent (k 0.96; 95% CI 0.87, 1.00). Validity was excellent for the self-report instrument, with a good sensitivity of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81, 0.91) and excellent specificity of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98, 1.00).Conclusions: The self-reported instrument provides a valid and reliable assessment of the presence of generalisedjoint hypermobility and may have practical use in epidemiological studie

Kinetics of T4, T3, thyroglobulin and endogenous TSH after bovine TSH i.v. injection in man

SCOPUS: NotDefined.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Central neural blockade in patients with a drug-induced alteration of coagulation. Third edition of the belgian Association for Regional Anaesthesia (BARA) Guidelines.

0Journal ArticlePractice GuidelineSCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Thyroglobulin and thyroid hormone release after intravenous administration of bovine thyrotropin in man

To elucidate the mechanism of thyroglobulin (Tg) release in man, the effects of an iv injection of a submaximal dose of bovine TSH (bTSH) on the serum levels of Tg were compared with the effects on serum T3 and T4. After the administration of bTSH, short term kinetics (0-4 h) were studied in eight subjects receiving 0.5 IU bTSH and seven subjects receiving 1 IU bTSH. Serum Tg did not significantly increase in either of the short term studies. By contrast, serum T3 increased significantly and linearly after the administration of 0.5 and 1 IU bTSH; serum T4 also rose but only after 1 IU bTSH. Long term kinetics (0-120 h) were studied in seven additional subjects after the iv administration of 1 IU bTSH; serum bTSH was no longer detectable after 8 h. Maximum serum concentrations of T3 were obtained at about 4 h; maximum serum concentrations of T4 were obtained between 4-8 h. Serum Tg levels increased linearly with time during the first 24 h. Maximum serum Tg levels correlated well with basal serum Tg values (r = 0.97; P < 0.001). The maximal increment in Tg correlated inversely with the maximal increment in T3 (r = 0.71; P < 0.05). The half-life of Tg was estimated to be approximately 4 days by measuring the disappearance rate of Tg after its peak level was attained.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Occupational exposures and fluorescent oxidation products in 723 adults of the EGEA study

No commentInternational audienc

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor inhibition is deleterious for high-fat diet-induced cardiac dysfunction.

AimsDevelopment of metabolic syndrome is associated with impaired cardiac performance, mitochondrial dysfunction and pro-inflammatory cytokine increase, such as the macrophage migration inhibitory factor MIF. Depending on conditions, MIF may exert both beneficial and deleterious effects on the myocardium. Therefore, we tested whether pharmacological inhibition of MIF prevented or worsened metabolic syndrome-induced myocardial dysfunction.Methods and resultsC57BL/6J mice were fed for ten weeks with 60% fat-enriched diet (HFD) or normal diet (ND). MIF inhibition was obtained by injecting mice twice a week with ISO-1, for three consecutive weeks. Then, triglycerides, cholesterol, fat mass, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, ex vivo cardiac contractility, animal energetic substrate utilization assessed by indirect calorimetry and mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis were evaluated. HFD led to fat mass increase, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. ISO-1 did not alter these parameters. However, MIF inhibition was responsible for HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction worsening. Mouse capacity to increase oxygen consumption in response to exercise was reduced in HFD compared to ND, and further diminished in ISO-1-treated HFD group. Mitochondrial respiration was reduced in HFD mice, treated or not with ISO-1. Compared to ND, mitochondrial biogenesis signaling was upregulated in the HFD as demonstrated by mitochondrial DNA amount and PGC-1α expression. However, this increase in biogenesis was blocked by ISO-1 treatment.ConclusionMIF inhibition achieved by ISO-1 was responsible for a reduction in HFD-induced mitochondrial biogenesis signaling that could explain majored cardiac dysfunction observed in HFD mice treated with MIF inhibitor

© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. Spread of exotic cordgrasses and hybrids (Spartina sp.) in the

Four species of exotic cordgrass (Spartina sp.) occur in the San Francisco estuary in addition to the California native Spartina foliosa. Our goal was to map the location and extent of all non-native Spartina in the estuary. Hybrids of S. alterniflora and S. foliosa are by far the most numerous exotic and are spreading rapidly. Radiating from sites of deliberate introduction, S. alterniflora and hybrids now cover ca. 190 ha, mainly in the South and Central Bay. Estimates of rate of aerial increase range from a constant value to an accelerating rate of increase. This could be due to the proliferation of hybrid clones capable of rapid expansion and having superior seed set and siring abilities. The total coverage of 195 ha by hybrids and other exotic cordgrass species is slightly less than 1 % of the Bay’s tidal mudflats and marshes. Spartina anglica has not spread beyond its original 1970s introduction site. Spartina densiflora has spread to cover over 5 ha at 3 sites in the Central Bay. Spartina patens has expanded from 2 plants in 1970 to 42 plants at one site in Suisun Bay. Spartina seed floats on the tide, giving it the potential to export this invasion throughout the San Francisco estuary, and to estuaries outside of the Golden Gate. We found isolated plants of S. alterniflora and S. densiflora in outer coast estuaries north of the Bay suggesting the likelihood for the San Francisco Bay populations to found others on the Pacific coast

Gallium nitride based plasmonic multilayer operating at 1.55µm

International audienceIn this Letter, we have designed and fabricated a III-V semiconductor multilayer based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) operating at the telecom wavelength. Optimization of the optogeometrical parameters and the metal/semiconductor layers required for this novel structure was conducted accurately by theoretical tools using the Maxwell equations. Technological fabrication of the device and its experimental characterizations using an evanescent coupling configuration was performed: the results have confirmed the existence of SPR associated to a sharp width response. This study could be a first step in the design of new plasmonic-semiconductor-based optical devices such as modulators and switches