The Logarithmic Sobolev Constant of The Lamplighter

We give estimates on the logarithmic Sobolev constant of some finite lamplighter graphs in terms of the spectral gap of the underlying base. Also, we give examples of application

COVID-19 in adult acute myeloid leukemia patients: a long-term follow-up study from the European Hematology Association survey (EPICOVIDEHA)

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are at high risk of dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The optimal management of AML patients with COVID-19 has not been established. Our multicenter study included 388 adult AML patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 2020 and October 2021. The vast majority were receiving or had received AML treatment in the preceding 3 months. COVID-19 was severe in 41.2% and critical in 21.1% of cases. The chemotherapeutic schedule was modified in 174 patients (44.8%), delayed in 68 and permanently discontinued in 106. After a median follow-up of 325 days, 180 patients (46.4%) had died; death was attributed to COVID-19 (43.3%), AML (26.1%) or to a combination of both (26.7%), whereas in 3.9% of cases the reason was unknown. Active disease, older age, and treatment discontinuation were associated with death, whereas AML treatment delay was protective. Seventy-nine patients had a simultaneous AML and COVID-19 diagnosis, with better survival when AML treatment could be delayed (80%; P<0.001). Overall survival in patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 between January 2020 and August 2020 was significantly lower than that in patients diagnosed between September 2020 and February 2021 and between March 2021 and September 2021 (39.8% vs. 60% vs. 61.9%, respectively; P=0.006). COVID-19 in AML patients was associated with a high mortality rate and modifications of therapeutic algorithms. The best approach to improve survival was to delay AML treatment, whenever possible

Impact of donor age over 70 years in donation after circulatory death liver transplantation: a 15 years of experience

peer reviewedBackground: Advanced donor age has been identified as a risk factor in donation after circulatory death (DCD 3) liver transplantation (LT), associated with poor graft function and development of ischemic cholangiopathy. In this study, we evaluated the results after DCD 3 LT using grafts from donors over 70 years compared to younger grafts (<70 years). Methods: We retrospectively analysed outcome after DCD 3 LT (n=228), comparing donors 70 years (n=53) and <70 years (n=175) from our center between 2003 and 2020. The two age groups were compared in terms of graft and patient survivals at 1, 3 and 5 years, in terms of donor and recipient demographics, transplant conditions and labora- tory values. Results: The overall graft survivals at 1, 3 and 5 years were 88, 75, 70 per cent respectively. Graft survival rates were not significantly diffe- rent at 5 years between the two groups (P = 0,536). No difference was noted in incidence of acute rejection, biliary strictures, hepatic artery thrombosis or retransplantation rates between the two groups. The time of cold ischemia was significatively lower in the older group (mean 235 min; SD 72) than in younger donor (mean 258 min; SD 72) (p=0.012). The posttransplant AST peak was significatively higher in the advanced age donor group than the second group with 2201±2703 U/L vs 1561U/L (SD 2151±2151 U/L), respectively (p= 0.04).Conclusions: Results for DCD LT from 70-yr-old grafts were similar to those from younger donors. Advanced donors should not be discarded for liver donation if other donor risk factors (such as cold ischemia time and graft quality) are limited

Corticosteroid therapy is associated with a decrease in mortality in a multicenter cohort of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients

peer reviewedRetrospectively analyzing the data of a multicenter cohort, we observed that mortality of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumoniatreated with mechanical ventilation was as high as 45% and median survival time was 82 days. In this series, the risk factors for mortality included age, renal and circulatory dysfunction, lymphopenia and the absence of corticosteroid use during the first week of mechanical ventilation. Corticosteroid therapy during the first week of mechanical ventilation was associated with a lower mortality (34% vs 48%) (p = 0,01)

Vers une nouvelle érudition : numérisation et recherche en histoire du livre

En décembre 1999, à l\u27Enssib, s’est déroulé le colloque "Vers une nouvelle érudition : numérisation et recherche en histoire du livre", organisé dans le cadre des 12e Entretiens du Centre Jacques Cartier sous la responsabilité de Dominique Varry (enssib), Annie Charon (école nationale des chartes) et Guylaine Baudry (Université de Montréal)

Emotional Facial Expression Detection in the Peripheral Visual Field

BACKGROUND: In everyday life, signals of danger, such as aversive facial expressions, usually appear in the peripheral visual field. Although facial expression processing in central vision has been extensively studied, this processing in peripheral vision has been poorly studied. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using behavioral measures, we explored the human ability to detect fear and disgust vs. neutral expressions and compared it to the ability to discriminate between genders at eccentricities up to 40°. Responses were faster for the detection of emotion compared to gender. Emotion was detected from fearful faces up to 40° of eccentricity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the human ability to detect facial expressions presented in the far periphery up to 40° of eccentricity. The increasing advantage of emotion compared to gender processing with increasing eccentricity might reflect a major implication of the magnocellular visual pathway in facial expression processing. This advantage may suggest that emotion detection, relative to gender identification, is less impacted by visual acuity and within-face crowding in the periphery. These results are consistent with specific and automatic processing of danger-related information, which may drive attention to those messages and allow for a fast behavioral reaction

COVID-19 infection in adult patients with hematological malignancies:a European Hematology Association Survey (EPICOVIDEHA)

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are at high risk of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19). A better understanding of risk factors for adverse outcomes may improve clinical management in these patients. We therefore studied baseline characteristics of HM patients developing COVID-19 and analyzed predictors of mortality. Methods: The survey was supported by the Scientific Working Group Infection in Hematology of the European Hematology Association (EHA). Eligible for the analysis were adult patients with HM and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 observed between March and December 2020. Results: The study sample includes 3801 cases, represented by lymphoproliferative (mainly non-Hodgkin lymphoma n = 1084, myeloma n = 684 and chronic lymphoid leukemia n = 474) and myeloproliferative malignancies (mainly acute myeloid leukemia n = 497 and myelodysplastic syndromes n = 279). Severe/critical COVID-19 was observed in 63.8% of patients (n = 2425). Overall, 2778 (73.1%) of the patients were hospitalized, 689 (18.1%) of whom were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Overall, 1185 patients (31.2%) died. The primary cause of death was COVID-19 in 688 patients (58.1%), HM in 173 patients (14.6%), and a combination of both COVID-19 and progressing HM in 155 patients (13.1%). Highest mortality was observed in acute myeloid leukemia (199/497, 40%) and myelodysplastic syndromes (118/279, 42.3%). The mortality rate significantly decreased between the first COVID-19 wave (March–May 2020) and the second wave (October–December 2020) (581/1427, 40.7% vs. 439/1773, 24.8%, p value < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, age, active malignancy, chronic cardiac disease, liver disease, renal impairment, smoking history, and ICU stay correlated with mortality. Acute myeloid leukemia was a higher mortality risk than lymphoproliferative diseases. Conclusions: This survey confirms that COVID-19 patients with HM are at high risk of lethal complications. However, improved COVID-19 prevention has reduced mortality despite an increase in the number of reported cases

Age, Successive Waves, Immunization, and Mortality in Elderly COVID-19 Haematological Patients: EPICOVIDEHA Findings

Introduction: elderly patients with haematologic malignancies face the highest risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. The infection impact in different age groups remains unstudied in detail. Methods: We analysed elderly patients (age groups: 65-70, 71-75, 76-80 and &gt;80 years old) with hematologic malignancies included in the EPICOVIDEHA registry between January 2020 and July 2022. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were conducted to identify factors influencing death in COVID-19 patients with haematological malignancy. results: the study included data from 3,603 elderly patients (aged 65 or older) with haematological malignancy, with a majority being male (58.1%) and a significant proportion having comorbidities. The patients were divided into four age groups, and the analysis assessed COVID-19 outcomes, vaccination status, and other variables in relation to age and pandemic waves.tThe 90-day survival rate for patients with COVID-19 was 71.2%, with significant differences between groups. The pandemic waves had varying impacts, with the first wave affecting patients over 80 years old, the second being more severe in 65-70, and the third being the least severe in all age groups. factors contributing to 90-day mortality included age, comorbidities, lymphopenia, active malignancy, acute leukaemia, less than three vaccine doses, severe COVID-19, and using only corticosteroids as treatment. Conclusions: These data underscore the heterogeneity of elderly haematological patients, highlight the different impact of COVID waves and the pivotal importance of vaccination, and may help in planning future healthcare efforts

Aspects cliniques et radiologiques des mucormycoses

Les mucormycoses sont des infections à champignons filamenteux de l’ordre des Mucorales. Elles surviennent en général chez des patients sévèrement immunodéprimés mais se voient également au cours des acidocétoses diabétiques et chez des patients immunocompétents après un traumatisme ou une brûlure. Les localisations primitives touchent principalement les voies aériennes supérieures (sinus avec une extension locorégionale jusqu’au niveau cérébral) et inférieures et, à un moindre degré, le tube digestif et la peau. Les Mucorales ont une forte aptitude à l’angioinvasion causant dissémination hématogène et thromboses vasculaires et, de ce fait, une nécrose des lésions. Les aspects radiocliniques sont proches de ceux des autres infections invasives à champignons filamenteux, dont les aspergilloses