UHB demonstrator interior noise control flight tests and analysis

The measurement and analysis of MD-UHB (McDonnell Douglas Ultra High Bypass) Demonstrator noise and vibration flight test data are described as they relate to passenger cabin noise. The analyses were done to investigate the interior noise characteristics of advanced turboprop aircraft with aft-mounted engines, and to study the effectiveness of selected noise control treatments in reducing passenger cabin noise. The UHB Demonstrator is an MD-80 test aircraft with the left JT8D engine replaced with a prototype UHB engine. For these tests, the UHB engine was a General Electric Unducted Fan, with either 8x8 or 10x8 counter-rotating propeller configurations. Interior noise level characteristics were studied for several altitudes and speeds, with emphasis on high altitude (35,000 ft), high speed (0.75 Mach) cruise conditions. The effectiveness of several noise control treatments was evaluated based on cabin noise measurements. The important airborne and structureborne transmission paths were identified for both tonal and broadband sources using the results of a sound intensity survey, exterior and interior noise and vibration data, and partial coherence analysis techniques. Estimates of the turbulent boundary layer pressure wavenumber-frequency spectrum were made, based on measured fuselage noise levels

Towards norms for accreditation of biobanks for human health and medical research:Compilation of existing guidelines into an ISO certification/accreditation norm-compatible format

In recent years, biobanks have evolved into professional infrastructures that acquire, validate, process, store, manage and distribute biological material of human origin to public or private end-users/researchers. This article (a) highlights the importance of quality assurance for both the biobank basic processes and sample annotation in order to ensure reliable results of research based on these samples, (b) suggests that certification according to international standards can contribute to the organization of the biobanking processes while accreditation can contribute to the organization of sample characterization/validation, and (c) provides a compilation of all existing guidelines against an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) format.</p

Omeprazole in the Treatment of Patients With Severe Reflux Esophagitis Not Responding To H-2-receptor Antagonists and Ineligible for Surgery

In 42 patients (25 men, 17 women, mean age 62 years) with severe erosive or ulcerative oesophagitis not responding to H-2-receptor antagonist treatment over at least 3 months and ineligible for surgery, omeprazole was administered at an initial dose of 40 mg/day, subsequently reduced to 20 mg after healing of the lesions. Patients had monthly clinical, endoscopic, histological and laboratory assessment over the healing period, then were reevaluated 3-monthly over one year, then 6-monthly, during the maintenance treatment. Stages of oesophagitis were based on the Savary-Miller classification, modified for stage 1 (erosions must be present). With 40 mg omeprazole, healing was observed in 71 %, 83 % and 90 % of the patients after 1, 2 and 3 months of treatment, respectively. After one month of treatment, a complete healing was less frequently observed in patients with stage IV oesophagitis pre-trial (55 %) than in the patients with stages I, II and III pre-trial (90 %) (p < 0.05). Ninety per cent of the patients healed at one month were asymptomatic whereas 50 % of the patients with incomplete healing still had symptoms, most often dysphagia, rarely heartburn. Maintenance treatment with 20 mg was sufficient in most patients, with a probability of remaining healed of 69 % from 9 to 24 months after starting this dosage. In 9 patients with Barrett's oesophagus, the lengths of the circumferential metaplasia were found to be reduced after one year of treatment compared to pre-trial lengths (p < 0.005). There was no further significant reduction of length after 2 years of treatment. Fasting gastrin was increased in most of the patients, although great interpatient variability was observed; 50 % of the patients had levels not exceeding 5 times the upper limit of normal. There was no consistent increase of enterochromaffinlike cell density in 29 patients investigated up to nearly 2 years of omeprazole administration. The treatment was well tolerated. By inducing a profound and sustained inhibition of acid secretion, as confirmed by pH monitoring, omeprazole promotes healing of the lesions of severe oesophagitis and prevents recurrence of lesions and symptoms. Omeprazole is therefore a valuable treatment for patients ineligible for surgery, particularly in the elderly

Omeprazole in the treatment of patients with severe reflux oesophagitis not responding to H2-receptor antagonists and ineligible for surgery.

In 42 patients (25 men, 17 women, mean age 62 years) with severe erosive or ulcerative oesophagitis not responding to H2-receptor antagonist treatment over at least 3 months and ineligible for surgery, omeprazole was administered at an initial dose of 40 mg/day, subsequently reduced to 20 mg after healing of the lesions. Patients had monthly clinical, endoscopic, histological and laboratory assessment over the healing period, then were reevaluated 3-monthly over one year, then 6-monthly, during the maintenance treatment. Stages of oesophagitis were based on the Savary-Miller classification, modified for stage I (erosions must be present). With 40 mg omeprazole, healing was observed in 71%, 83% and 90% of the patients after 1, 2 and 3 months of treatment, respectively. After one month of treatment, a complete healing was less frequently observed in patients with stage IV oesophagitis pre-trial (55%) than in the patients with stages I, II and III pre-trial (90%) (p less than 0.05). Ninety per cent of the patients healed at one month were asymptomatic whereas 50% of the patients with incomplete healing still had symptoms, most often dysphagia, rarely heartburn. Maintenance treatment with 20 mg was sufficient in most patients, with a probability of remaining healed of 69% from 9 to 24 months after starting this dosage. In 9 patients with Barrett's oesophagus, the lengths of the circumferential metaplasia were found to be reduced after one year of treatment compared to pre-trial lengths (p less than 0.005). There was no further significant reduction of length after 2 years of treatment. Fasting gastrin was increased in most of the patients, although great inter-patient variability was observed; 50% of the patients had levels not exceeding 5 times the upper limit of normal. There was no consistent increase of enterochromaffin-like cell density in 29 patients investigated up to nearly 2 years of omeprazole administration. The treatment was well tolerated. By inducing a profound and sustained inhibition of acid secretion, as confirmed by pH monitoring, omeprazole promotes healing of the lesions of severe oesophagitis and prevents recurrence of lesions and symptoms. Omeprazole is therefore a valuable treatment for patients ineligible for surgery, particularly in the elderly

Liver-injury Related To Amoxicillin-clavulanic Acid - Interlobular Bile-duct Lesions and Extrahepatic Manifestations

We report eight cases of liver injury related to amoxycillin-clavulanate, Liver biopsy performed in seven patients revealed varying degrees of injury to interlobular bile ducts in all cases. Lesions included irregularity of the nuclei, vacuolization of the cytoplasm, lymphocytic infiltration, destruction and endothelialization of the bile duct epithelium. Ductopenia was not observed. In two patients liver injury was accompanied by prominent extrahepatic manifestations (acute interstitial nephritis in one and acute lacrimal gland inflammation and sialadenitis with prolonged xerostomia in the other). We conclude that interlobular bile-duct lesions of varying severity are a common feature in liver injury related to amoxycillin-clavulanate, Side effects of the drug include acute interstitial nephritis and sialadenitis

Le Fâ. 5000 ans d’histoire. Barzan : un site archéologique sur l’estuaire de la Gironde (Vaux-sur-Mer 2009).

International audienc

Olmesartan-associated enteropathy: results of a national survey

BACKGROUND: Recently, a new enteropathy has been described: olmesartan-associated enteropathy. However, the association has been questioned: a phase 3 trial and a cohort study found no association between gastrointestinal events and olmesartan. AIM: To collect French cases of sartan-associated enteropathy to describe further this entity, confirm or refute causality, and determine if the association exists with other sartans. METHODS: French gastroenterologists were invited to report cases of sartan-associated enteropathy and collect clinical, biological and histological data. Patients with diarrhoea and histological duodenal abnormalities were included. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with olmesartan-associated enteropathy were reported, including 32 with villous atrophy and four without. There was only one patient with irbesartan-associated enteropathy. None of the patients died. Patients with villous atrophy had diarrhoea, vomiting, renal failure, hypokalaemia, body weight loss and hypoalbuminaemia. Thirty-one patients were hospitalised; four required intensive care. Anti-transglutaminase and anti-enterocyte antibodies were negative; anti-nuclear antibodies were positive (9/11). Endoscopic duodenal biopsies showed villous atrophy (32/32) and polyclonal intra-epithelial CD3+CD8+ lymphocytosis (11/11). Exactly, 14/15 patients responded to steroids and/or immunosuppressants, prescribed because of suspected autoimmune enteropathy. Ten olmesartan interruptions were followed by reintroductions before steroids or immunosuppressants. Interruptions were followed by remissions (9/10), but reintroductions were followed by relapses (9/9). Twenty-nine patients were in remission since olmesartan interruption, including 26 without immunosuppressants. Patients with normal villi had similar clinical characteristics, but mild histological abnormalities (intra-epithelial lymphocytosis and lamina propria lymphocytic infiltration). CONCLUSIONS: Olmesartan causes a severe and immune-mediated enteropathy, with or without villous atrophy. Enteropathy associated with other sartans seems to be very rare