Refeeding Syndrome in Historical Perspective:Its First Description by Rodulfus Glaber (1033)

The refeeding syndrome refers to a potentially fatal situation hallmarked by sudden death and cardiac decompensation that can occur when amalnourished person is refeeded. Electrolyte disturbances are currently considered to play a role in its pathophysiology. In the absence of laboratorymeasurements, clinical descriptions of the refeeding syndrome so far date back to the early post world war II period, including anecdotal evidencefrom victims of the nazi concentration camps. Here we want to draw attention to a medieval description that fulfils the clinical description of therefeeding syndrome by the French monk, Rodolfus Glaber. He writes about people suffering from the Burgundy famine (1033) that “even when theyreceived food, they became distended and died immediately” (fourth book, chapter 4, 13). With this reference to medieval famine, we wish to paytribute to those who suffered from the holocaust 75 years after their liberation

A computational study of the flow in a transonic axial compressor using an inviscid, three-dimensional finite difference

May 1979Originally presented as the author's thesis, M.S., in the M.I.T. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1979Includes bibliographical references (leaf 82)A computational study of the flow in a Transonic Axial Compressor has been performed. This compressor has a tip Mach number of 1.2 and an inlet hub to tip ratio of 0.5. The numerical procedure used is a fully three-dimensional, inviscid, finite difference algorithm. MacCormack's two-step, explicit second order accurate scheme was used. A total of 30,600 mesh points were used. The results were compared to space and time resolved exit flow measurements, and to quantitative density visualization pictures. Among the most significant features resolved by the computation, was an unusual shock structure, which had earlier been observed in the experiments. The general agreement of the computation with The experiment is good, except in regions dominated by viscous flow. Many of the effects of viscosity can be anticipated from the inviscid flow field.Supported by the NASA Lewis Research Center under Grant NGL 22-009-38

From urolithiasis to pathological calcifications: A journey at the interface between physics, chemistry, and medicine. A tribute to Michel Daudon

International audienceMichel Daudon is a worldwide recognized biologist who performed several major breakthroughs in the field of urolithiasis. It is indeed difficult to address his outstanding personality and his great contributions to urolithiasis. Michel Daudon studied many aspects of urolithiasis, from urine crystals to kidney stone morphoconstitutional analysis. He is the author of more than 500 scientific articles on urolithiasis, and more generally on pathological calcifications, including several books and nice articles in the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Kidney International, among many others. Michel Daudon is not only a prolific writer; his broad fields of interests range from chemistry to biology or renal pathology, but also clinical bedside subjects explain his success and his attractive way of explaining pathophysiological processes. He has already given more than 300 lectures, in France as abroad

Prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in patients with urolithiasis in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Introduction: metabolic abnormalities are key factors in urolithiasis patients because they can be modified to prevent the risk of urinary stones. The objectives of this study were to estimate the frequency of metabolic abnormalities in the urine of patients with urolithiasis and to determine their possible link with the chemical composition of stones. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study evaluating 73 patients referred for urolithiasis in 8 clinics in Kinshasa, between January 2017 and September 2019. Twenty four-hour or early morning urine were collected and analyzed in the Tenon Hospital in Paris. Parameters analyzed included pH, specific gravity, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, phosphate, oxalate, citrate and magnesium. Chi square test or chi-square likelihood-ratio and student's t test were used as statistical tests. Results: overall, 89% (n=65) of patients with lithiasis had metabolic abnormalities. Mean (SD) age of patients was 47.0 (14.2) years with male to female ratio of 1.6:1. The mean (SD) 24-hour diuresis was 1836.4 (1216.9)ml; the mean (SD) urine density was 1.018 (0.007); and the mean (SD) pH was 6.1(0.8). Hypocitraturia was the most frequently observed metabolic abnormality and was found in 76.7% patients. Other significant metabolic abnormalities were low magnesuria (35.6%), hyperoxaluria (11%), and low sulphaturia (74%). Whewellite (73.5%) was the main chemical component. The mean pH was higher in patients with carbapatite and struvite stones (p=0.031). Conclusion: this study suggests that inadequate diuresis and hypocitraturia were important lithogenic factors. The population should be encouraged to increase water intake to limit the frequency of urine super saturation with crystals

Foreword to microcrystalline pathologies: combining clinical activity and fundamental research at the nanoscale

This contribution underlines the key role of physicochemical characterisation techniques in the area of medical research. The starting point centres on the Mid-InfraRed platform located at the Tenon hospital and dedicated to multidisciplinary functional investigations. In the last two decades, we have enhanced this platform by creating a network combining researchers from varied disciplines such as physicists, chemists, and clinicians. The resultant research dynamism is underscored by metrics such as 71 references in Pubmed and 129 in Web of Science, and the high impact of the journals in which we have published (New England Journal of Medicine, Kidney International, Chemical Review...). It is of paramount importance to disseminate these physicochemical techniques among young doctors, and to establish collaborations with appropriate private companies

Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation Accelerates Randall's Plaque Formation in a Murine Model

Most kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate crystals. Randall\u27s plaque, an apatite deposit at the tip of the renal papilla, is considered to at the origin of these stones. Hypercalciuria may promote Randall\u27s plaque formation and growth. We analyzed whether long-term exposure of Abcc6 mice (a murine model of Randall\u27s plaque) to vitamin D supplementation, with or without a calcium-rich diet, would accelerate the formation of Randall\u27s plaque. Eight groups of mice (including Abcc6 and wild type) received vitamin D alone (100,000 UI/kg every 2 weeks), a calcium-enriched diet alone (calcium gluconate 2 g/L in drinking water), both vitamin D supplementation and a calcium-rich diet, or a standard diet (controls) for 6 months. Kidney calcifications were assessed by 3-dimensional microcomputed tomography, μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Yasue staining. At 6 months, Abcc6 mice exposed to vitamin D and calcium supplementation developed massive Randall\u27s plaque when compared with control Abcc6 mice (P < 0.01). Wild-type animals did not develop significant calcifications when exposed to vitamin D. Combined administration of vitamin D and calcium significantly accelerates Randall\u27s plaque formation in a murine model. This original model raises concerns about the cumulative risk of vitamin D supplementation and calcium intakes in Randall\u27s plaque formation

Foreword to microcrystalline pathologies: combining clinical activity and fundamental research at the nanoscale

This contribution underlines the key role of physicochemical characterisation techniques in the area of medical research. The starting point centres on the Mid-InfraRed platform located at the Tenon hospital and dedicated to multidisciplinary functional investigations. In the last two decades, we have enhanced this platform by creating a network combining researchers from varied disciplines such as physicists, chemists, and clinicians. The resultant research dynamism is underscored by metrics such as 71 references in Pubmed and 129 in Web of Science, and the high impact of the journals in which we have published (New England Journal of Medicine, Kidney International, Chemical Review...). It is of paramount importance to disseminate these physicochemical techniques among young doctors, and to establish collaborations with appropriate private companies