The Evidence Behind the Treatment of Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy

Oral phenobarbital and imepitoin in particular, followed by potassium bromide and levetiracetam are likely to be effective for the treatment of canine idiopathic epilepsy. There is strong evidence supporting the use of oral phenobarbital and imepitoin as ‘first line’ medications. However, there remains a lack of evidence for targeted treatment for the various individual epileptic phenotypes and quite limited evidence on direct comparisons of the efficacy between various anti-epileptic drugs

The Evidence Behind the Diagnostic Investigation of Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy

<p><strong>Clinical bottom line</strong></p><p>There remains until recently an overall lack of clarity for the practical criteria for the diagnosis of canine idiopathic epilepsy. Signalment and an interictal neurological examination are vital for the diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy. Despite the current insufficient evidence, the emerge of new diagnostic methods, such as cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum biomarkers, advanced functional neuroimaging techniques and electroencephalography, is likely to change the diagnostic approach in canine epilepsy in the near future.</p

Disorder induced Coulomb gaps in graphene constrictions with different aspect ratios

We present electron transport measurements on lithographically defined and etched graphene nanoconstrictions with different aspect ratios including different lengths (L) and widths (W). A roughly length-independent disorder induced effective energy gap can be observed around the charge neutrality point. This energy gap scales inversely with the width even in regimes where the length of the constriction is smaller than its width (L<W). In very short constrictions, we observe both resonances due to localized states or charged islands and an elevated overall conductance level (0.1-1e2/h), which is strongly length-dependent in the gap region. This makes very short graphene constrictions interesting for highly transparent graphene tunneling barriers.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Star Decompositions of the Complete Split Graph

A graph is a discrete mathematical structure that consists of a set of vertices and a set of edges between pairs of vertices. A problem of interest in graph theory is that of graph decomposition, partitioning the set of edges into disjoint sets, producing subgraphs which are isomorphic to each other. Here we consider the problem of decomposing a class of graphs called complete split graphs into stars of a fixed size. We present conditions for the decomposition as well as an algorithm for the decomposition when it is possible

Paramètres prédictifs de l'apparition des coliformes dans les réseaux de distribution d'eau d'alimentation

L'isolement sporadique de coliformes sur certains réseaux de distribution en période chaude et en absnce de tout épisode décelable de contamination (défaut de traitement, post-contamination) laisse supposer que la présence de ces germes dans l'eau pourrait être associée à la présence d'un biofilm important à la surface des canalisations.Cette hypothèse a pu être vérifiée lors de cette étude, réalisée sur différents réseaux de la banlieue parisienne.Ce travail a mis en évidence une relation entre la fréquence d'observation des coliformes sur les sites du réseau et le dépassement de seuils critiques pour quatre paramètres:- le niveau de salissure bactériologique de l'eau évalué par le dénombrement de la flore bactérienne planctonique totale par microscopie en épifluorescence - la température - la consommation de matière organique biodégradable (CODB) - la concentration en chlore libre résiduel. Le degré d'exposition des sites d'un réseau de distribution a pu être estimé par comptabilisation des dépassements des seuils critiques pour ces quatre paramètres. Trois niveaux de risques croissants (sans risque, faiblement exposé et exposé) ont été établis correspondant à des fréquences de plus en plus importantes d'apparition des coliformes sur les sites du réseau de distribution.Pour une semaine donnée, le calcul de la moyenne des dépassements simultanés des seuils critiques enregistrés sur l'ensemble des sites a permis de définir quatre niveaux de risques moyens d'apparition des coliformes sur l'ensemble des sites (minimum, non négligeable, critique et maximum) en relation avec des observations de coliformes de plus en plus fréquentes sur le réseau.Il a aussi été possible de définir un taux de chlore à appliquer sur un site afin de diminuer le niveau de contamination bactérienne de l'eau et par conséquent réduire le risque d'apparition des coliformes sur ce site.Coliform occurrences in drinking water in the absence of known breaches of treatment barriers are still a problem inthe drinking water industry. The purpose of this study was to define threshold values for different bacteriological, chemical and physical parameters, beyond which coliforms occurred more frequently along a full scale distribution system in a northern suburb of Paris. A predictive model of coliform occurrence at different sites of a distribution network was produced (AL COL model).This study consisted of two stages. The first one involved following coliform occurrences, epifluorescent counts, temperature, biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC), and residual chlorine level in the treatment plant effluent and at five distribution sampling sites. Each site was sampled once a week for one year (n=47 ; February 1991 - February 1992). This first stage of study showed that the occurrence of coliforms in the network could be associated with temperatures greater than a threshold value of 15°C, a BDOC consumption greater than 0.15 mg/l, a logarithm of the epifluorescent counts higher than 5.2 and a residual chlorine lower than 0.10 mg/l. Graduation of coliform occurrences was possible by the combination ofoverstepped thresholds for these four parameters. Three levels of risk associated with an increasing frequency of coliform occurrence were defined : site with no risk when no or only one threshold value was exceeded, slightly exposed site when 2 or 3 threshold values were exceeded and exposed site when 4 threshold values were exceeded.The second stage of the study concerned the application of this predictive model. It consisted of following weekly the same parameters as in the first stage at 7 and 10 distribution sites situated on two difrerent distribution systems (Nortlrern and Eastern suburbs of Paris) for 21 weeks (April - September 1992). The threshold values determined were similar for the two distribution systems. They were 15°C for temperature ; 0.10 - 0.15 mg/l for BDOC consumption, 5 - 5.2 for the logarithm of epifluorescent counts and 0.10 mg/l for residual chlorine. The frequency of coliform occurrences was about 60 % at sampling points assessed as exposed sites, 5 % at sampling points assessed as slightly exposed sites and 1 % at sites considered with no risk.Moreover, it was possible to define a model of mean risk of coliform ocurrences over all sites (corresponding to the mean of overstepped thresholds at the different studied sites for a given week). Four levels of mean risk (minimum, non negligible, critical, and maximum) were associatcd with increasing frequencies of coliform observations in the distribution network.The AL COL model could be an efficient and simple tool to control and limit occunences of coliforms in drinking water. When a site is assessed as exposed, disinfection treatments have to be performed in order to reduce this risk and to prevent coliform occurrences during the weeks following this risk. Moreover, it was also possible to define a chlorine level in the water to reduce the bacterial contamination and subsequently decrease the risk of coliform occurrences at the sites of the network

La mesure du CODB : un index du potentiel de reviviscence bactérienne des eaux

La mesure de la matière organique biodégradable dans l'eau est déterminée à partir de tests biologiques qui reposent sur deux concepts.Le premier est basé sur le suivi de la croissance de souches pures ou d'une population bactérienne mixte dans un échantillon d'eau. Le maximum de croissance obtenu est converti en Carbone Organique facilement Assimilable (COA) et exprimé en µg de C eq. acétate/l en tenant compte du rendement de croissance de ces bactéries dans des solutions d'acétate de sodium.Le second repose sur le suivi de la décroissance du Carbone Organique Dissous (COD) dans un échantillon d'eau ensemencé par une flore bactérienne indigène des eaux (flore en suspension ou flore fixée sur des particules de sable). La matière organique biadégradée est exprimée sous forme de Carbone Organique Dissous Biodégradable (CODB).Des essais ont été réalisés sur différents types d'eau (eaux de rivière de la Seine, de l'Oise et de la Marne, eaux en cours de traitement de.potabilisation, eaux distribuées et eaux distillées) afin de mettre en évidence la relation existant entre la mesure du CODB en présence de bactéries fixées sur du sable et le maximum de croissance bactérienne enregistré dans les mêmes échantillons stérilisés puis réensemencés par des souches pures (Pseudomonas fluorescens P17, Pseudomonas fluorescens P17 + Spirillum NOX) ou par un inoculum mixte de bactéries indigènes de l'eau.Les résultats de cette étude mettent en évidence :- une relation entre le CODB et le maximum de croissance (Pseudomonas fluorescens P17) médiocre (r = 0,716 ; n = 28) pour des échantillons d'eau ensemencés par Pseudomonas fluorescens P17 seul (dénombrement en gélose);- une relation entre le CODB et le maximum de croissance (Pseudomonas fluorescens P17) améliorée (r = 0,850, n = 31) pour des échantillons ensemencés simultanément avec un mélange de Pseudomonas fluorescens P17 et Spirillum NOX (dénombrement en gélose);- une relation entre le CODB et le maximum de croissance (Spirillum NOX) très faible (r = 0,264 n = 31; corrélation non significative) pour des échantillons ensemencés simultanément avec un mélange de P17 + NOX (dénombrement en gélose);- le coefficient de corrélation entre le CODB et le COA (Pseudomonas fluorescens P17 + Spirillum NOX) est de 0.769 (n = 31) avec une équivalence de 140 µg de COA (eq. acétate) par mg de CODE lorsque P17 est utilisé isolément et 90 µg de COA (eq. acétate) par mg de CODB lorsque P17 et NOX sont utilisés simultanément;- la relation entre le CODB et le maximum de croissance (flore naturelle mixte) est par contre très satisfaisante (r = 0,943; e = 30) lorsque les dénombrements bactériens sont effectués par microscopie en épifluorescence (coloration à l'acridine orange).Le rendement de croissance est alors de 1,7.109 cellules pour 1 mg de CODB mesuré en présence de sable biologique.En conclusion, la mesure du CODB au moyen de bactéries fixées, originellement décrite pour évaluer l'efficacité des filières de traitement de potabilisation vis-à-vis de l'élimination de la Matière Organique Biodégradable permet aussi de prédire le potentiel de recroissance bactérienne (bactéries indigènes) de différents types d'eau.Some attempts have been made to obtain an assessment of either the easily Assimilable Organic Carbon (AOC) or the total amount of Biodegradabte Dissolved Organic Carbon (BDOC) in drinking water.The first approach was developed in several methods.One of these methods consists of seeding pasteurized samples of water with pure cultures of bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens P17, P17 + Spirillum NOX). The growth of bacteria is monitored by a spread plate technique. AOC is expressed as equivalent amount of carbon (µg C eq. acetate/l) by using known yield coefficients of these strains in acetate or in oxalate.In the second approach, the BDOC content of water is evaluated by the reduction of Dissolved Organic Carton (DOC) in a water sample incubated up to 30 days with suspended indigenous bacteria or 5-7 days with bacteria fixed on sand-particles.This work was undertaken to determine the existing relationship between values of BDOC recorded by using fixed bacteria on sand and :- the maximum growth of a pure strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens P17. Water samples (60 ml) were pasteurized and inoculated with a subculture of Pseudomonas fluorescens (initial concentration = 500 CFU/ml). The maximum growth M 20 °C ± 1 °C was recorded by a pour plate method in PCA agar alter 3-4 days of incubation.- the maximum growth of strains P17 and NOX inoculated simultaneously in pasteurized water samples (40 ml) (500-1000 CFU/ml for each species). Each maximum growth at 20 °C ± 1 °C after seven, eight and vine days of incubation was recorded (spread plate method on R2A agar) and converted in AOC (growth constants : 4.1 106 CFU per µg C for P17, 1.2 107 CFU per µg C for NOX).- the maximum growth of a mixed indigenous population of bacteria. Water samples (500 ml) were filtered (0,2 µm filter) and reinoculated with one percent of river water. The maximum growth was recorded alter 3-4 days of incubation at 20 °C ± 1 °C by microscopic epifluorescent counts (acridin orange coloration).Comparisons were done with different types of water including river water (Seine, Oise and Marne), partially treated water (conventional treatments), fully treated water, ground water, mineral water and distilled water.The study bas demonstrated :- a pour correlation (r = 0.716; n = 28) between BDOC values and the maximum growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens. This observation can be explained by the limited spectrum of activity and the low affinity of Pseudomonas fluorescens for organic molecules. Under these conditions, the growth yield was 5.9 108 CFU per mg C (BDOC).- a better correlation (r = 0,850; n = 31) between BDOC and the maximum growth of P17 for water samples seeded simultaneously with P17 and NOX. Under these conditions, no correlation (r = 0.264 n = 31) was found between values of BDOC and maximum growth of NOX, demonstrating varying affinities of the NOX strain for ozonation by-products. In spite of this limit, the relation between BDOC and AOC values remained relatively good (r = 0.769; n = 31) with a factor of conversion of 1 mg BDOC for 90 µg C eq. acetate.- a significative correlation (r = 0.943; n = 30) between values of BDOC (fixed bacteria on sand) and the maximum growth of indigenous bacteria by direct microscopic examination epifluorescent counts. The growth yield was then 1,7 109 cells per mg of BDOC.In conclusion, the rapid estimation of BDOC by the technique using indigenous bacteria fixed on sand particles can be considered as a good predictor of the potential bacteria regrowth for different types of water