Infrared skin damage thresholds from 1319-nm continous-wave laser exposures

A series of experiments were conducted in vivo using Yucatan miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) to determine thermal damage thresholds to the skin from 1319-nm continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser irradiation. Experiments employed exposure durations of 0.25, 1.0, 2.5, and 10 s and beam diameters of ∼0.6 and 1 cm. Thermal imagery data provided a time-dependent surface temperature response from the laser. A damage endpoint of fifty percent probability of a minimally visible effect was used to determine threshold for damage at 1 and 24 h postexposure. Predicted thermal response and damage thresholds are compared with a numerical model of opticalthermal interaction. Resultant trends with respect to exposure duration and beam diameter are compared with current standardized exposure limits for laser safety. Mathematical modeling agreed well with experimental data, predicting that though laser safety standards are sufficient for exposuress, they may become less safe for very long exposures. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. [DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.18.12.125002

Prise en charge de la douleur des patients atteints de cancer par les médecins généralistes de Paris en 2012

Introduction En 1995, la prise en charge de la douleur cancéreuse par le médecin généraliste montrait un défaut d évaluation des douleurs et une mauvaise utilisation des opioïdes. En 2002, on observait une amélioration des pratiques. Objectif D une part caractériser la prise en charge actuelle des douleurs cancéreuses par les médecins généralistes de Paris ; et d autre part voir si le sentiment d efficacité, la formation, la collaboration avec un réseau, ainsi que l année d installation influent cette prise en charge. Matériels et Méthode Une enquête de pratique a été réalisée grâce à un questionnaire adressé aux 2484 médecins généralistes retrouvés. Les questions portaient sur leurs caractéristiques socio-professionnelles et sur leur pratique de prise en charge. Résultats 90,9% des médecins réévaluent la douleur à chaque consultation, et 84,5% prescrivent la morphine orale pour les douleurs nociceptives. La formation, collaborer avec un réseau et le sentiment d efficacité sont liés avec de plus grandes fréquences de réévaluation de la douleur, de pratique de la rotation d opioïdes, de prescription de morphine orale ou de traitement anti-douleurs neuropathiques, et de prémédication. Les médecins ont principalement recours au kinésithérapeute et au psychologue. Discussion Cette étude semble montrer une amélioration des pratiques, trois critères apportant chacun leur pierre à l édifice. Un manque de temps et une défiance vis-à-vis des médecines complémentaires freinent encore l'optimisation des pratiques. Conclusion Il est indispensable de fournir aux médecins la formation nécessaire, de les rapprocher d'un réseau de soin, et de leur faciliter l accès aux consultations spécialiséesRésumé françaisPARIS12-CRETEIL BU Médecine (940282101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Diagnostic moléculaire de l'hématochromatose génétique

POITIERS-BU Médecine pharmacie (861942103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Podocin Inactivation in Mature Kidneys Causes Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and Nephrotic Syndrome

Podocin is a critical component of the glomerular slit diaphragm, and genetic mutations lead to both familial and sporadic forms of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. In mice, constitutive absence of podocin leads to rapidly progressive renal disease characterized by mesangiolysis and/or mesangial sclerosis and nephrotic syndrome. Using established Cre-loxP technology, we inactivated podocin in the adult mouse kidney in a podocyte-specific manner. Progressive loss of podocin in the glomerulus recapitulated albuminuria, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and renal failure seen in nephrotic syndrome in humans. Lesions of FSGS appeared after 4 wk, with subsequent development of diffuse glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage. Interestingly, conditional inactivation of podocin at birth resulted in a gradient of glomerular lesions, including mesangial proliferation, demonstrating a developmental stage dependence of renal histologic patterns of injury. The development of significant albuminuria in this model occurred only after early and focal foot process effacement had progressed to diffuse involvement, with complete absence of podocin immunolabeling at the slit diaphragm. Finally, we identified novel potential mediators and perturbed molecular pathways, including cellular proliferation, in the course of progression of renal disease leading to glomerulosclerosis, using global gene expression profiling

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A case report

The authors report a case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, in whom massive pulmonary embolism occurred in spite of heparin anticoagulation. Successful pulmonary thrombectomy was carried out under cardiopulmonary bypass, with limitation of platelet clumping during bypass by aggregation inhibitors. This report is a comprehensive contribution to a better understanding of this rare immunoallergic complication of heparin administration, with a high incidence of serious thromboembolic events. The optimal management for cases of unavoidable reexposure to heparin is discussed

CFTR -France, a national relational patient database for sharing genetic and phenotypic data associated with rare CFTR variants

International audienceMost of the 2,000 variants identified in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator) gene are rare or private. Their interpretation is hampered by the lack of available data and resources, making patient care and genetic counseling challenging. We developed a patient-based database dedicated to the annotations of rare CFTR variants in the context of their cis- and trans-allelic combinations. Based on almost 30 years of experience of CFTR testing, CFTR-France (https://cftr.iurc.montp.inserm.fr/cftr) currently compiles 16,819 variant records from 4,615 individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) or CFTR-RD (related disorders), fetuses with ultrasound bowel anomalies, newborns awaiting clinical diagnosis, and asymptomatic compound heterozygotes. For each of the 736 different variants reported in the database, patient characteristics and genetic information (other variations in cis or in trans) have been thoroughly checked by a dedicated curator. Combining updated clinical, epidemiological, in silico, or in vitro functional data helps to the interpretation of unclassified and the reassessment of misclassified variants. This comprehensive CFTR database is now an invaluable tool for diagnostic laboratories gathering information on rare variants, especially in the context of genetic counseling, prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. CFTR-France is thus highly complementary to the international database CFTR2 focused so far on the most common CF-causing alleles

Performance of Repeated Measures of (1–3)-β-D-Glucan, Mannan Antigen, and Antimannan Antibodies for the Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis in ICU Patients: A Preplanned Ancillary Analysis of the EMPIRICUS Randomized Clinical Trial

International audienceBackground. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of repeated measurements of serum (1-3)-β-D-glucan (BDG), mannanantigen (mannan-Ag), and antimannan antibodies (antimannan-Ab) for the occurrence of invasive candidiasis (IC) in a high-risk nonimmunocompromised population. Methods. This was a preplanned ancillary analysis of the EMPIRICUS Randomized Clinical Trial, including nonimmunocompromised critically ill patients with intensive care unit-acquired sepsis, multiple Candida colonization, and multiple organ failure who were exposed to broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. BDG (>80 and >250 pg/mL), mannan-Ag (>125 pg/ mL), and antimannan-Ab (>10 AU) were collected repeatedly. We used cause-specific hazard models. Biomarkers were assessed at baseline in the whole cohort (cohort 1). Baseline covariates and/or repeated measurements and/or increased biomarkers were then studied in the subgroup of patients who were still alive at day 3 and free of IC (cohort 2). Results. Two hundred thirty-four patients were included, and 215 were still alive and free of IC at day 3. IC developed in 27 patients (11.5%), and day 28 mortality was 29.1%. Finally, BDG >80 pg/mL at inclusion was associated with an increased risk of IC (CSHR[IC], 4.67; 95% CI, 1.61-13.5) but not death (CSHR[death], 1.20; 95% CI, 0.71-2.02). Conclusions. Among high-risk patients, a first measurement of BDG >80 pg/mL was strongly associated with the occurrence of IC. Neither a cutoff of 250 pg/mL nor repeated measurements of fungal biomarkers seemed to be useful to predict the occurrence of IC. The cumulative risk of IC in the placebo group if BDG >80 pg/mL was 25.39%, which calls into question the efficacy of empirical therapy in this subgroup