Comparison of Characteristics of Neuropathic and Non-neuropathic Pruritus to Develop a Tool for the Diagnosis of Neuropathic Pruritus: The NP5

The diagnosis of neuropathic pruritus (NP) may be difficult. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of both neuropathic pruritus and non-neuropathic pruritus (NNP) in order to elaborate a tool to help the diagnosis of NP without clinical examination. One hundred and seven patients were included: Fifty three in the NP group and Fifty four in the NNP group. In multiple regression, presence of twinges, absence of burning, worsening with activity, no worsening with stress, and relief with cold ambient temperature were independent factors that were associated with NP. A score of two criteria out of five was optimal to discriminate NP from NNP with a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 77%. Alloknesis, hyperknesis, or the ice cube test were not included because their evaluation is based on clinical examination. Future high-powered studies are needed to confirm the results of the present study

Multi-disciplinary investigation of fluid seepage on an unstable margin: The case of the Central Nile deep sea fan

We report on a multidisciplinary study of cold seeps explored in the Central Nile deep-sea fan of the Egyptian margin. Our approach combines in situ seafloor observation, geophysics, sedimentological data, measurement of bottom-water methane anomalies, pore-water and sediment geochemistry, and 230Th/U dating of authigenic carbonates. Two areas were investigated, which correspond to different sedimentary provinces. The lower slope, at ∼ 2100 m water depth, indicates deformation of sediments by gravitational processes, exhibiting slope-parallel elongated ridges and seafloor depressions. In contrast, the middle slope, at ∼ 1650 m water depth, exhibits a series of debris-flow deposits not remobilized by post-depositional gravity processes. Significant differences exist between fluid-escape structures from the two studied areas. At the lower slope, methane anomalies were detected in bottom-waters above the depressions, whereas the adjacent ridges show a frequent coverage of fractured carbonate pavements associated with chemosynthetic vent communities. Carbonate U/Th age dates (∼ 8 kyr BP), pore-water sulphate and solid phase sediment data suggest that seepage activity at those carbonate ridges has decreased over the recent past. In contrast, large (∼ 1 km2) carbonate-paved areas were discovered in the middle slope, with U/Th isotope evidence for ongoing carbonate precipitation during the Late Holocene (since ∼ 5 kyr BP at least). Our results suggest that fluid venting is closely related to sediment deformation in the Central Nile margin. It is proposed that slope instability leads to focused fluid flow in the lower slope and exposure of ‘fossil’ carbonate ridges, whereas pervasive diffuse flow prevails at the unfailed middle slope

Déformation récente à actuelle et argilo-cinèse associée au sein de la ride méditerranéenne (Méditerranée Orientale)

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocCentre Technique Livre Ens. Sup. (774682301) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Sci.Terre recherche (751052114) / SudocSudocFranceF

La ride méditerranéenne (Méditerranée orientale) : apports de la cartographie multifaisceaux à l’analyse morphologique d’un prisme en accrétion-collision

La ride méditerranéenne, en Méditerranée orientale, est un prisme d’accrétion résultant de la convergence progressive entre la marge continentale mésozoïque africaine et la marge active égéenne. Longtemps restée énigmatique, la morphostructure de ce prisme en accrétion-collision est aujourd’hui éclairée par l’interprétation de données de sondeurs multifaisceaux (bathymétrie et imagerie acoustique) issues de la campagne océanographique PRISMED II (1998). Les différentes provinces morphologiques le constituant sont ici définies et les variations latérales de leur style de déformation analysées. Un modèle de formation en deux phases est proposé et l’impact sur la morphogenèse du prisme de paramètres, tels que la géométrie de ses avants pays, la présence de dépôts évaporitiques messiniens et l’expulsion active de fluides, sont discutés.In the eastern Mediterranean, the Mediterranean Ridge represents a tectono-sedimentary accretionary prism, formed by progressive convergence between the passive continental margin of Africa and the southern border of Europe. Long considered enigmatic, the morphostructure of this accretion-collision wedge was recently clarified through interpretation of multibeam data (bathymetry and backscatter) recorded during the PRISMED II cruise (1998). The various morphostructural provinces are defined here and the lateral variations of the deformation patterns analysed. A two stage evolutionary model is proposed and the relative impact of parameters such as geometry of the neighbouring domains, presence of Messinian evaporites or active fluid expulsions is discussed

Looking beyond kinematics: 3D thermo-mechanical modelling reveals the dynamics of transform margins

International audienceTransform margins represent ∼ 30 % of nonconvergent margins worldwide. Their formation and evolution have traditionally been addressed through kinematic models that do not account for the mechanical behaviour of the lithosphere. In this study, we use high-resolution 3D numerical thermo-mechanical modelling to simulate and investigate the evolution of intra-continental strain localization under oblique extension. The obliquity is set through velocity boundary conditions that range from 15˚ (high obliquity) to 75˚ (low obliquity) every 15˚ for rheologies of strong and weak lower continental crust. Numerical models show that the formation of localized strike-slip shear zones leading to transform continental margins always follows a thinning phase during which the lithosphere is thermally and mechanically weakened. For low-(75˚) to intermediate-obliquity (45˚) cases, the strike-slip faults are not parallel to the extension direction but form an angle of 20˚ to 40˚ with the plate motion vector, while for higher obliquities (30˚ to 15˚) the strike-slip faults develop parallel to the extension direction. Numerical models also show that during the thinning of the lithosphere, the stress and strain reorient while boundary conditions are kept constant. This evolution, due to the weakening of the lithosphere, leads to a strain localization process in three major phases: (1) initiation of strain in a rigid plate where structures are sub-perpendicular to the extension direction; (2) distributed deformation with local stress field variations and formation of transtensional and strikeslip structures; (3) formation of highly localized plate boundaries stopping the intra-continental deformation. Our results call for a thorough re-evaluation of the kinematic approach to studying transform margins

A concise three-component synthesis of α-amino esters derived from phenylglycine and phenylalanine

International audienc