An Advanced Engineering Framework experimented on a R&AE Electric Vehicle case

International audienceThis article describes modeling activity experimented on an Advanced engineering case of Zero Emission Vehicles at Renault. A key advantage of our approach is that system architecture and requirements management at all the stages of the system life cycle are managed in a unique data model and unique database. It reviews conceptualization and production process of a complex system. It presents a spectrum of activity modeling techniques, ranging from a widely used systems engineering diagram, to continuous flow modeling. The techniques include use case definition, requirements elicitation, system architecture definition and finally Electric and Electronic architecture. The article also describes refinements of modeling activity using arKItect© tool

Skin fluorescence as a clinical tool for non-invasive assessment of advanced glycation and long-term complications of diabetes

Glycation is important in the development of complications of diabetes mellitus and may have a central role in the well-described glycaemic memory effect in developing these complications. Skin fluorescence has emerged over the last decade as a non-invasive method for assessing accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts. Skin fluorescence is independently related to micro- and macrovascular complications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with mortality in type 2 diabetes. The relation between skin fluorescence and cardiovascular disease also extends to other conditions with increased tissue AGE levels, such as renal failure. Besides cardiovascular complications, skin fluorescence has been associated, more recently, with other prevalent conditions in diabetes, such as brain atrophy and depression. Furthermore, skin fluorescence is related to past long-term glycaemic control and clinical markers of cardiovascular disease. This review will discuss the technique of skin fluorescence, its validation as a marker of tissue AGE accumulation, and its use as a clinical tool for the prediction of long-term complications in diabetes mellitus

[Diabetes and second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics]

International audienceSchizophrenia is a common psychiatric illness (1% of the general population), characterized by the association of positive and negative symptoms and cognitive disorders. Antipsychotics, typical or atypical, are known to induce in patients with schizophrenia weight gain and abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolisms. These modifications, in addition to metabolic risk factors, intrinsic to the psychiatric illness (physical inactivity, smoking, diabetes), increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. Some antipsychotics are associated with a higher risk of metabolic disorders. Before starting such a medication, all risk factors must be taken into account. In case of even effectiveness, one should consider the risk of inducing metabolic disorders, as well as the intrinsic risk factors of the patient, in order to prescribe the medication associated with the lower metabolic risk. Regarding iatrogenic diabetes, the risk of occurrence seems different, depending on the molecules, being more marked for clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quietapine then amisulpride, aripiprazole and finally ziprasidone. The physiopathology seems to involve both an increase in insulin resistance and an alteration of insulin secretion. Nevertheless, the benefit/risk often remains largely in favour of treatment, the atypical antipsychotics are at least equally effective and better tolerated on the cognitive and neurological functions than conventional antipsychotics being. They have particularly far fewer extrapyramidal effects. The reversibility of pathologies induced by atypical antipsychotics led to the formulation of guidelines, leading to regular clinical and biological follow-up

Elevated skin autofluorescence is strongly associated with foot ulcers in patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional, observational study of Chinese subjects

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the association between skin autofluorescence (AF), an indicator of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and foot ulcers in subjects with diabetes. Methods: In this study, 195 Chinese diabetic subjects were examined. Their feet were examined regardless of whether an ulcer was present or not. Skin AF was measured with an AGE reader. Demographic characteristics and blood data were recorded. Results: The mean values of skin AF were 2.29±0.47 for subjects without foot ulcers, and 2.80±0.69 for those with foot ulcers, a significant difference (P<0.05). Skin AF was strongly correlated with age and duration of diabetes. After adjusting for these factors, multivariate logistic regression showed that skin AF was independently associated with foot ulcerations. Conclusions: Skin AF is independently associated with diabetic foot ulcerations. It might be a useful screening method for foot ulceration risk of diabetic patients