A pedagogical introduction to the replica method for fragile glasses

In this note I present a simplified version of the recent computation (Mezard and Parisi 1998, 1999) of the properties of glasses in the low temperature phase in the framework of the replica theory, using an extension of the tools used in liquid theory. I will only consider here the case of the internal energy at T=0, which can be studied in a simple way without introducing replicas.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure Talk given at Andalo, March 1999; minor errors have been correcte

Le paludisme urbain côtier à Cotonou (République du Bénin) : étude entomologique

Une étude de la transmission du paludisme à Cotonou, ville côtière, a été réalisée au cours d'une surveillance entomologique de 12 mois dans trois quartiers représentatifs de différents aspects de la ville. La densité du vecteur (#A. gambiae$ s.l.) varie selon le degré d'urbanisation des quartiers. Le nombre moyen annuel de piqûres est égal à 1179 au centre de la ville, 3666 dans les quartiers périphériques et 3363 en zones intermédiaires. L'indice sporozoïtique moyen est de 1,7 %. Au centre de la ville, la transmission est saisonnière et dure 3 mois pendant lesquels 33 piqûres infectées sont reçues par homme. L'indice sporozoïtique maximum observé est de 12 % avec un taux quotidien d'inoculation de 1,02. En ceinture autour de la ville, la transmission est également saisonnière mais dure huit mois pendant lesquels 58 piqûres d'anophèles infectés sont reçues par homme. Contrairement à d'autres villes continentales d'Afrique intertropicale, l'intensité de la transmission à Cotonou est élevée et est de 46 piqûres infectées/homme/an. (Résumé d'auteur

Lennard-Jones binary mixture: a thermodynamical approach to glass transition

We study the liquid-glass transition of the Lennard-Jones binary mixture introduced by Kob and Andersen from a thermodynamic point of view. By means of the replica approach, translating the problem in the study of a molecular liquid, we study the phase transition due to the entropy crisis and we find that the Kauzmann's temperature \tk is $\sim 0.32$. At the end we compare analytical predictions with numerical results.Comment: 24 pages, 11 postscript figures. Revised version accepted for pubblication on J. Chem. Phys. Numerical precision of the computations improve

Molecular evidence of incipient speciation within Anopheles gambiae s.s. in West Africa

We karyotyped and identified by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis Anopheles gambiae s.s. samples collected in several African countries. The data show the existence of two non-panmictic molecular forms, named S and M, whose distribution extended from forest to savannahs, Mosquitoes of the S and M forms are homosequential standard for chromosome-2 inversions in forest areas. In dry savannahs, S is characterized mainly by inversion polymorphisms typical of Savanna and Bamako chromosomal forms, while M shows chromosome-2 arrangements typical of Mopti and/or Savanna and/or Bissau, depending on its geographical origin. Chromosome-2 inversions therefore seem to be involved in ecotypic adaptation rather than in mate-recognition systems. Strong support for the reproductive isolation of S and M in Ivory Coast comes from the observation that the kdr allele is found at high frequencies in S specimens and not at all in chromosomal identical M specimens. However, the kdr allele does not segregate with molecular forms in Benin

Naldemedine. A new option for OIBD

Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) is a common complication in long-term opioid users and abusers. It is a burdensome condition, which significantly limits quality of life and is associated with increasing health costs. OIBD affects up to 60% of patients with chronic non-cancer pain and over 80% of patients suffering from cancer pain and is one of the conditions of the most common symptoms associated with opioid main-tenance. Given the continued use of opioids for chronic pain management in appropriate patients, OIBD is likely to persist in clinical practice in the coming years. We will herein review its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and the available treatments. In the last years, pharmaceutical research has focused on the opportunity of targeting peripheral mu-opioid receptors without affecting their analgesic activity in the central nervous system, and several peripherally acting mu-opioid receptors antagonists (PAMORAs) drugs have been approved. We will mainly focus on naldemedine, discussing its pharmacological properties, its clinical efficacy and side effects. Head-to-head comparisons between naldemedine and the other PAMORAs are not available yet, but some considerations will be discussed based on the pharmacological and clinical data. As a whole, the available data suggest that naldeme-dine is a valid treatment option for OIBD, as it is a well-tolerated drug that alleviates constipation without affecting analgesia or causing symptoms of opioid withdrawal

Tapentadol. An effective option for the treatment of back pain

Back pain, including low back pain and neck pain, is the leading cause of disability worldwide. This type of pain is challenging to treat, since it presents both a nociceptive and a neuropathic component. The latter also contributes to the evolution of pain toward chronification. Treatment selection should therefore consider the ability to prevent this event. Tapentadol is characterized by a unique and innovative peculiar mechanism of action that makes it the first representative of a new class of central strong analgesics referred to as MOR-NRI. This molecule acts both on the nociceptive and neuropathic components of pain, and it can therefore be effective in the treatment of a mixed pain condition such as back pain. This narrative review discusses the rationale for the use of tapentadol in both low back pain and neck pain and presents available clinical data. Overall, data show that tapentadol prolonged release is a well-grounded treatment for chronic back pain, sustained by a strong mechanistic rationale and robust evidence. Given also the availability of long-term efficacy and safety data, we believe that this molecule should be considered as an elective therapy for chronic back pain

The challenge of perioperative pain management in opioid-tolerant patients

The increasing number of opioid users among chronic pain patients, and opioid abusers among the general population, makes perioperative pain management challenging for health care professionals. Anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurses should be familiar with some pharmacological phenomena which are typical of opioid users and abusers, such as tolerance, physical dependence, hyperalgesia, and addiction. Inadequate pain management is very common in these patients, due to common prejudices and fears. The target of preoperative evaluation is to identify comorbidities and risk factors and recognize signs and symptoms of opioid abuse and opioid withdrawal. Clinicians are encouraged to plan perioperative pain medications and to refer these patients to psychiatrists and addiction specialists for their evaluation. The aim of this review was to give practical suggestions for perioperative management of surgical opioid-tolerant patients, together with schemes of opioid conversion for chronic pain patients assuming oral or transdermal opioids, and patients under maintenance programs with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone