In the back of your mind: Cortical mapping of paraspinal afferent inputs

Topographic organisation is a hallmark of vertebrate cortex architecture, characterised by ordered projections of the body's sensory surfaces onto brain systems. High-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has proven itself as a valuable tool to investigate the cortical landscape and its (mal-)adaptive plasticity with respect to various body part representations, in particular extremities such as the hand and fingers. Less is known, however, about the cortical representation of the human back. We therefore validated a novel, MRI-compatible method of mapping cortical representations of sensory afferents of the back, using vibrotactile stimulation at varying frequencies and paraspinal locations, in conjunction with fMRI. We expected high-frequency stimulation to be associated with differential neuronal activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) compared with low-frequency stimulation and that somatosensory representations would differ across the thoracolumbar axis. We found significant differences between neural representations of high-frequency and low-frequency stimulation and between representations of thoracic and lumbar paraspinal locations, in several bilateral S1 sub-regions, and in regions of the primary motor cortex (M1). High-frequency stimulation preferentially activated Brodmann Area (BA) regions BA3a and BA4p, whereas low-frequency stimulation was more encoded in BA3b and BA4a. Moreover, we found clear topographic differences in S1 for representations of the upper and lower back during high-frequency stimulation. We present the first neurobiological validation of a method for establishing detailed cortical maps of the human back, which might serve as a novel tool to evaluate the pathological significance of neuroplastic changes in clinical conditions such as chronic low back pain

Іншомовні аспекти фахової між культурної комунікації в сучасній вітчизняній і зарубіжній науковій літературі

У статті розглядаються основні напрямки сучасних вітчизняних і зарубіжних наукових досліджень з іншомовної фахової міжкультурної комунікації. Aspects of the professional foreign language of intercultural communication in modern domestic and foreign scientific literature. The paper discusses the main directions of current domestic and foreign scientific research in the field of professional foreign language intercultural communication

A phase II study of docetaxel in patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

This study was designed to evaluate the activity, safety and tolerance of docetaxel (D) in a selected population with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Twenty-four patients with no prior palliative therapy were enrolled and received D 100 mg m−2 by 1 h of infusion, every 3 weeks. All but two patients had been evaluated for efficacy on lung metastatic sites. No prophylactic administration of anti-emetics or growth factors was given. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in 22 patients. Twenty-one patients were assessable for response and 24 for toxicity. One hundred and four cycles were administered with a median of 4.5 (range 1–9) per patient. The median cumulative dose was 449 mg m−2. Partial responses were achieved in five patients with a median duration of 18.7 weeks (range 13.1–50.3). The overall response rate was 20.8% with a median duration of 11.0 weeks (range 2.4–52.6). The most frequent side-effect was neutropenia (79.2% grade IV) but with a short duration (median 4 days) and no febrile neutropenia. The incidence of moderate/severe fluid retention was 29.2% with one treatment discontinuation. Other toxicities (all grades) were common (skin 75%, asthenia 50%, infection 29.2%, nausea 16.7%, diarrhoea 12.5%, stomatitis 16.7%, vomiting 8.3% and HSR 8.3%). A mean clearance of 19.6 l h−1 m−2 and an area under the curve of 6.00 μg ml−1 h−1 was found in the pharmacokinetic analysis. Docetaxel is active in this selected population with metastatic SCCHN, with a good tolerance. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Éducation à la contraception chez l'adolescent (expérimentation au sein du Lycée St-John Perse de Pau)

TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Approche d'éducation thérapeutique à l'officine en matière de contraception chez la femme en âge de procréer

TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Mise en place de l'éducation thérapeutique du patient hypertendu à l'officine en collaboration avec le réseau HTA-GWAD (expérience dans une officine de la Guadeloupe)

TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocSudocFranceF

La prise en charge de la femme ménopausée à l'officine

La ménopause est un phénomène physiologique inéluctable qui touche la femme vers la cinquantaine. 10 millions de femmes sont ménopausées en France. La carence estrogénique est source de désagréments inconstants qui amèneront un fort pourcentage de femmes à consulter. Mais il existe des manifestations plus sournoises : risques cardiovasculaires accrus et ostéoporose post-ménopausique, à l'origine d'une importante morbidité et mortalité. La ménopause constitue donc un réel problème de santé publique, justifiant l'institution d'une prise en charge efficace. D'après les résultats obtenus lors d'une enquête réalisée auprès de la clientèle d'une officine, il apparaît clairement un manque d'informations et pourtant une réelle demande de la part de ces femmes pour améliorer leur qualité de vie et gérer au mieux leur ménopause. La mise en place de deux séances d'éducation a montré qu'en collaboration avec les autres professionnels de santé, le pharmacien (après une formation adaptée en matière pédagogique) avait potentiellement tous les atouts pour répondre à cette demande.TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Polyoma BK virus-associated nephropathy in kidney-transplant patients: Effects of leflunomide on T-cell functions and disease outcome

International audienc

Efavirenz and lopinavir levels in HIV-infected women and their nursing infants, in Mali

International audienceLimited data are currently available on antiretroviral pharmaco- kinetics in breast milk (BM) and in breastfed infants’ blood. To explore these parameters in patients in Mali, we measured plasma antiretroviral levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected mothers and their breastfed infants over 6 months. We specifically analyzed the concentrations of efavirenz (EFV) and lopinavir (LPV) in the plasma of mothers living with HIV and their breastfed infants. Blood samples were collected at delivery and at month 1, 3, and 6 postpartum. EFV and LPV concentra- tions were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. HIV-1 RNA load was measured by Abbott M2000RT RealTime System at delivery and 6 months post- partum for mothers, and at 3 and 6 months postbirth for infants. The median duration of antiretroviral therapy at study inclusion was 57 months [interquartile range (IQR), 0–168 months]. The median EFV ratios of infant plasma/maternal plasma (MP) were 0.057 at month 1, 0.072 at month 3, and 0.048 at month 6. During the study period, the median BM/MP ratio of EFV was 1.16 (IQR,0.96–20.62), which corresponds to a relative infant dose of 2.46% of the recommended weight-adjusted pediatric EFV dose at month 6. The apparent infant clearance of EFV was 0.146 l/h per kilogram at month 6. The LPV concentrations in the plasma of all infants were undetectable. No drug-related adverse reaction or toxicity was observed in any of the infants. The two women who presented a viral load of .50 copies/ml at month 6 had undetectable plasma drug concentrations at the same period.This study showed that breastfed infants received a low level of EFV but not LPV from their treated mothers