Prospective Associations between Emotion Dysregulation and Fear-Potentiated Startle: The Moderating Effect of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia

Background: Emotion dysregulation has been implicated in the negative outcomes following trauma exposure. A proposed biomarker of emotion dysregulation, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), has demonstrated associations with trauma-related phenomena, such as the fear-potentiated startle (FPS) response. The current study aimed to examine the prospective association between emotion dysregulation and RSA and FPS several years following trauma exposure. Methods: Participants were 131 women exposed to a campus mass shooting on February 14, 2008. Pre-shooting emotion dysregulation was assessed in 2006-2008. Startle response, measured by orbicularis oculi electromyography (EMG), and RSA were gathered during an FPS paradigm conducted from 2012-2015. Results: No significant associations among emotion dysregulation, RSA, and FPS emerged among the full sample. However, emotion dysregulation predicted FPS during both acquisition ( = .54, p = .03) and extinction ( = .75, p <.01), but only among individuals with high resting RSA. Conclusions: Findings suggest that pre-shooting emotion dysregulation is a potent predictor of FPS several years following potential trauma exposure, and this association varies by RSA level. Results emphasize the importance of examining autonomic regulation in the association between emotion dysregulation and recovery from trauma exposure

Prophylactic plasma exchange in CD46-associated atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome

Patients with atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) with a mutation in the gene encoding membrane cofactor protein (CD46) are known to have a better prognosis than those with mutations in factor H (CFH) or factor I (CFI), but a small number of the former still proceed to end-stage renal failure. Plasma therapy (PE) is the recommended approach to treat both acute episodes and prevent recurrences in aHUS, but studies have yet to show PE efficacy in aHUS associated with a CD46 mutation. The factors determining failure to treatment are not clear and may be related to the mutation involved or to insufficient treatment. Our experience of PE in a family of three sisters with CFH-associated aHUS suggests that intensive and prophylactic PE allows renal function to be maintained in both native kidneys and allografts. The success of this strategy has led us to use it in all cases of aHUS. Here, we describe the effect of this strategy in a child with aHUS and a CD46 mutation. The initial episode was treated with daily PE, resulting in the recovery of renal function. However, over the next 4 years, there was a progressive decline in renal function to end-stage renal failure, with evidence of an on-going thrombotic microangiopathy despite continuous prophylactic PE. Prophylactic PE does not influence the natural course of aHUS and CD46 mutation

Insufficient protection by Neisseria meningitidis vaccination alone during eculizumab therapy

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A randomized clinical trial indicates that levamisole increases the time to relapse in children with steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Levamisole has been considered the least toxic and least expensive steroid-sparing drug for preventing relapses of steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (SSINS). However, evidence for this is limited as previous randomized clinical trials were found to have methodological limitations. Therefore, we conducted an international multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial to reassess its usefulness in prevention of relapses in children with SSINS. The efficacy and safety of one year of levamisole treatment in children with SSINS and frequent relapses were evaluated. The primary analysis cohort consisted of 99 patients from 6 countries. Between 100 days and 12 months after the start of study medication, the time to relapse (primary endpoint) was significantly increased in the levamisole compared to the placebo group (hazard ratio 0.22 [95% confidence interval 0.11-0.43]). Significantly, after 12 months of treatment, six percent of placebo patients versus 26 percent of levamisole patients were still in remission. During this period, the most frequent serious adverse event (four of 50 patients) possibly related to levamisole was asymptomatic moderate neutropenia, which was reversible spontaneously or after treatment discontinuation. Thus, in children with SSINS and frequent relapses, levamisole prolonged the time to relapse and also prevented recurrence during one year of treatment compared to prednisone alone. However, regular blood controls are necessary for safety issues

Drug resistance, AmpC-β-lactamase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from fish and shrimp

ABSTRACT The present study aims to detect the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) by enterobacteria isolated from samples of fresh shrimp and fish obtained from the retail trade of the city of Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil. All bacterial isolates were submitted to identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using aminopenicillin, beta-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenem, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, and monobactam. Three types of beta-lactamases - ESBL, AmpC and KPC - were investigated. 103 strains were identified, and the most frequent species in shrimp and fish samples was Enterobacter cloacae (n = 54). All the strains were resistant to penicillin and more than 50% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and cephalothin. Resistance to three 3rd generation cephalosporins (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime) and one fourth generation cephalosporin (cefepime) was detected in two isolates of E. cloacae from shrimp samples. Phenotypic detection of AmpC was confirmed in seven strains. The ESBL was detected in two strains of E. cloacae from shrimp samples. No strain showed KPC production. These data can be considered alarming, since food (shrimp and fish) may be carriers of enterobacteria resistant to drugs of clinical interest

Julien green et le mal d'exister. (l'autobiographie et le journal). 2 vol.

Thèse de doctorat -- Université catholique de Louvain, 197

Cultivating Creativity: Implications of transformational changes on creative process engagement

The study aims to develop a deeper understanding of how transformational changes can affect employees’ creative process engagement. By conducting a single case study at a technology organization that has been undergoing several transformational changes over the last decade, we have tried to reach our aim. Adopting an interpretive approach, we have investigated our research problem by conducting semi-structured interviews with 17 employees at our case organization. These interviews have let us capture the employees’ perception and experience of their situation. Our findings suggest that the change has led to a perceived psychological contract breach, that has decreased some employees’ engagement, while others still engage in creative processes. Challenging the theory, we suggest two explanations for why employees are still inclined to engage. Firstly, the creative process engagement seems to lie outside of their psychological contract with the organization, thus their engagement is not affected when the focal contract is breached. Secondly, employees’ who still engage seem to have a high level of creative self-efficacy, indicating that when creative self-efficacy is high, it is more influential on creative process engagement than a psychological contract breach. The suggested explanations both challenge and add to current theory on creative process engagement. We end by suggesting relevant further research on the subject of creative process engagement