Colonization of the Americas, 'Little Ice Age' climate, and bomb-produced carbon: their role in defining the Anthropocene

A recently published analysis by Lewis and Maslin (Lewis SL and Maslin MA (2015) Defining the Anthropocene. Nature 519: 171–180) has identified two new potential horizons for the Holocene−Anthropocene boundary: 1610 (associated with European colonization of the Americas), or 1964 (the peak of the excess radiocarbon signal arising from atom bomb tests). We discuss both of these novel suggestions, and consider that there is insufficient stratigraphic basis for the former, whereas placing the latter at the peak of the signal rather than at its inception does not follow normal stratigraphical practice. Wherever the boundary is eventually placed, it should be optimized to reflect stratigraphical evidence with the least possible ambiguity

Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Anthropocene Series: Where and how to look for potential candidates

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Dynamic Three‐Dimensional Virtual Environment to Improve Learning of Anatomical Structures

International audienceIncreasing number of medical students and limited availability of cadavers have led to reduction of anatomy teaching through human cadaveric dissection. These changes triggered the emergence of innovative teaching and learning strategies in order to maximize students learning of anatomy. An alternative approach to traditional dissection was presented in an effort to improve content delivery and student satisfaction. Study objective was to acquire three-dimensional (3D) anatomical data using structured-light surface scanning to create a dynamic four-dimensional (4D) dissection tool of four regions: neck, male inguinal and femoral areas, female perineum, and brachial plexus. At each dissection step, identified anatomical structures were scanned using a 3D surface scanner (Artec Spider™). Resulting 3D color meshes were overlaid to create a 4D (3D+time) environment. An educational interface was created for neck dissection. Its implementation in the visualization platform allowed 4D virtual dissection, by navigating from surface to deep layers and vice versa. A group of 28 second-year medical students and 17 first-year surgery residents completed a satisfaction survey. Majority of of medical students (96.4%) and 100% of surgery residents said they would recommend this tool to their colleagues. According to surgery residents, main elements of this virtual tool were the realistic high-quality of 3D acquisitions and possibility to focus on each anatomical structure. As for medical students, major elements were the interactivity and entertainment aspect, precision and accuracy of anatomical structures. This approach proves that innovative solutions to anatomy education can be found to help to maintain critical content and student satisfaction in anatomy curriculum

Response to the letter to the editor concerning: “Change in shoulder external rotation strength and motion after lower trapezius transfer to the infraspinatus in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy”

International audienceNo abstract availabl

Change in shoulder external rotation strength and motion after lower trapezius transfer to the infraspinatus in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy

International audienceQuantifying changes in shoulder external rotation range of motion and strength after lower trapezius transfer in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP).Methods. This prospective study included five children with sequelae of OBPP, with a mean age of 6.4 years (range: 4–12 years) who underwent lower trapezius tendon transfer to restore active external rotation (ER) of the shoulder. Pre-operatively and at a 12-month follow-up assessment, we analyzed the passive and active shoulder ER, the modified Mallet score, and the shoulder rotator muscles strength using an isokinetic device.Results. Clinical parameters improved significantly after trapezius transfer pre-operative passive ER from −8° (range: −20–0°) to 37° (range: 15–50°) (p = 0.035), the modified Mallet score from 13 (range: 10–15) to 18 (range: 17–19) (p = 0.035). Strength testing revealed improved ER muscle strength in all five cases; the mean Peak Torque increased from 1.95 to 4.46 N·m, albeit non-significantly (p = 0.062). Two patients exhibited a winged scapula post-operatively.Conclusion. Lower trapezius transfer seems encouraging to restore shoulder external rotation in OBPP children but with non-significant strength improvement

Vertebral Body Tethering in AIS Management—A Preliminary Report

Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) is a recently developed surgical technique for the treatment of progressive and severe scoliosis in patients with significant growth potential. It has been used since the first exploratory series, which showed encouraging results on the progressive correction of the major curves. This study reports on a retrospective series of 85 patients extracted from a French cohort, with a follow-up at a minimum of two years after a VBT with recent screws-and-tether constructs. The major and compensatory curves were measured pre-operatively, at the 1st standing X-ray, at 1 year, and at the last available follow-up. The complications were also analyzed. A significant improvement was observed in the curve magnitude after surgery. Thanks to growth modulation, both the main and the secondary curves continued to progress over time. Both the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis remained stable over time. Overcorrection occurred in 11% of the cases. Tether breakage was observed in 2% of the cases and pulmonary complications in 3% of the cases. VBT is an effective technique for the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with residual growth potential. VBT opens an era of a more subtle and patient-specific surgical management of AIS that considers parameters such as flexibility and growth

Knowledge and application of the HAS recommendations concerning the diagnosis of undernutrition in people aged 70 and above: an international online survey among members of the "Société Française de Gériatrie et de Gérontologie".

editorial reviewed[en] OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge and the use in clinical practice of the "French National Authority for Health" (HAS) 2021 recommendations on the diagnosis of malnutrition in older adults aged 70 years and above. METHODS: An online survey was developed by the working Group on Geriatrics and Nutrition (GEGN) of the "Société Française de Gériatrie et de Gérontologie (SFGG)" and conducted among members of the SFGG. A self-administered questionnaire composed of 21 closed questions was used. RESULTS: A total of 132 (10.2 %) members of the SFGG responded to the survey. The respondents were aged 43.4 ± 9.94 years old and 97 (73.5 %) were women. Almost half of them were medical doctors (n = 53 ; 40.2 %). Of the respondents, 81 % had already heard of the HAS 2021 recommendations. This percentage is higher for doctors (96 %) than for other professions (74 %). French respondents were more likely to have heard of these -recommendations (84 %) than respondents from other countries (42.9 %). However, only 41.6 % of the respondents believe they know these recommendations in detail. On a visual analogue scale from 0 (never) to 100 (always), respondents use these recommendations in their professional practice at 76.8 ± 20.2 %. However, on a scale from 0 (never difficult) to 100 (always difficult), some barriers to their use in clinical practice were highlighted. These mainly concerned the measurement of muscle mass (84.4 ± 17.2 %) and muscle strength (79.5 ± 19.9 %) in patients. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of respondents use the HAS 2021 recommendations in their professional practice, they often have difficulties in measuring muscle strength and muscle mass of their patients. The assessment of sarcopenia still needs to be implemented in clinical routine. Until then, better communication about simple alternatives that do not require special equipment is needed.Objectifs : Évaluer la connaissance et l’utilisation en pratique clinique des recommandations de la Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) 2021 pour le diagnostic de la malnutrition chez la personne âgée de 70 ans et plus. Méthodologie : Enquête en ligne réalisée auprès des membres de la Société française de gériatrie et gérontologie (SFGG) entre juin et septembre 2022. Résultats : 132 (10,2 %) membres de la SFGG ont répondu à l’enquête. Parmi ces derniers, 81 % avaient connaissance des recommandations HAS 2021. Sur une échelle visuelle analogique de 0 (jamais) à 100 (toujours), les répondants à l’enquête utilisent ces recommandations dans leur pratique professionnelle à 76,8 ± 20,2 / 100. Toutefois, certaines barrières liées à leur application ont été mises en lumière sur une échelle allant de 0 (jamais difficile) à 100 (toujours difficile). Celles-ci concernent principalement l’obtention des informations relatives à la masse (84,4 ± 17,2 / 100) et à la force (79,5 ± 19,9 / 100) des patients. Conclusion : Bien que la majorité des répondants utilisent ces recommandations dans leur pratique professionnelle, ils éprouvent souvent des difficultés à recueillir la force et la masse musculaires des patients. Pour remédier à ces difficultés, il conviendrait de mieux communiquer sur l’utilisation d’alternatives simples et rapides

The Great Acceleration is real and provides a quantitative basis for the proposed Anthropocene Series/Epoch

International audienceThe Anthropocene was conceptualized in 2000 to reflect the extensive impact of human activities on our planet, and subsequent detailed analyses have revealed a substantial Earth System response to these impacts beginning in the mid-20 th century. Key to this understanding was the discovery of a sharp upturn in a multitude of global socioeconomic indicators and Earth System trends at that time; a phenomenon termed the 'Great Acceleration'. It coincides with massive increases in global human-consumed energy and shows the Earth System now on a trajectory far exceeding the earlier variability of the Holocene Epoch, and in some respects the entire Quaternary Period. The evaluation of geological signals similarly shows the mid-20 th century as representing the most appropriate inception for the Anthropocene. A recent mathematical analysis has nonetheless challenged the significance of the original Great Acceleration data. We examine this analytical approach and reiterate the robustness of the original data in supporting the Great Acceleration, while emphasizing that intervals of rapid growth are inevitably time-limited, as recognised at the outset. Moreover, the exceptional magnitude of this growth remains undeniable, reaffirming the centrality of the Great Acceleration in justifying a formal chronostratigraphic Anthropocene at the rank of series/epoch

Outcome after failure of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with acute leukemia: a study by the société Francophone de greffe de moelle et de thérapie cellulaire (SFGM-TC)

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