Validation of the French translation-adaptation of the impact of cancer questionnaire version 2 (IOCv2) in a breast cancer survivor population

Background: The Impact of Cancer version 2 (IOCv2) was designed to assess the physical and psychosocial health experience of cancer survivors through its positive and negative impacts. Although the IOCv2 is available in English and Dutch, it has not yet been validated for use in French-speaking populations. The current study was undertaken to provide a comprehensive assessment of the reliability and validity of the French language version of the IOCv2 in a sample of breast cancer survivors. Methods: An adapted French version of the IOCv2 as well as demographic and medical information were completed by 243 women to validate the factor structure divergent/divergent validities and reliability. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the IOCv2 scales with measures from the SF-12, PostTraumatic Growth Inventory and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory. Results: The French version of the IOCv2 supports the structure of the original version, with four positive impact dimensions and four negative impact dimensions. This result was suggested by the good fit of the confirmatory factor analysis and the adequate reliability revealed by Cronbach's alpha coefficients and other psychometric indices. The concurrent validity analysis revealed patterns of association between IOCv2 scale scores and other measures. Unlike the original version, a structure with a Positive Impact domain consisting in the IOCv2 positive dimensions and a Negative Impact domain consisting in the negative ones has not been clearly evidenced in this study. The limited practical use of the conditional dimensions Employment Concerns and Relationship Concerns, whether the patient is partnered or not, did not make possible to provide evidence of validity and reliability of these dimensions as the subsets of sample to work with were not large enough. The scores of these conditional dimensions have to be used with full knowledge of the facts of this limitation of the study. Conclusions: Integrating IOCv2 into studies will contribute to evaluate the psychosocial health experience of the growing population of cancer survivors, enabling better understanding of the multi-dimensional impact of cancer

Encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease in patients with Graves' disease: clinical manifestations, follow-up, and outcomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (EAATD) is characterized by neurological/psychiatric symptoms, high levels of anti-thyroid antibodies, increased cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration, non-specific electroencephalogram abnormalities, and responsiveness to the corticosteroid treatment in patients with an autoimmune thyroid disease. Almost all EAATD patients are affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), although fourteen EAATD patients with Graves' disease (GD) have been also reported.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have recorded and analyzed the clinical, biological, radiological, and electrophysiological findings and the data on the therapeutic management of all GD patients with EAATD reported so far as well as the clinical outcomes in those followed-up in the long term.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twelve of the fourteen patients with EAATD and GD were women. The majority of GD patients with EAATD presented with mild hyperthyroidism at EAATD onset or shortly before it. Active anti-thyroid autoimmunity was detected in all cases. Most of the patients dramatically responded to corticosteroids. The long term clinical outcome was benign but EAATD can relapse, especially at the time of corticosteroid dose tapering or withdrawal. GD and HT patients with EAATD present with a similar clinical, biological, radiological, and electrophysiological picture and require an unaffected EAATD management.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>GD and HT equally represent the possible background condition for the development of EAATD, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients with encephalopathy of unknown origin and an autoimmune thyroid disease, regardless of the nature of the underlying autoimmune thyroid disease.</p

Response shift in patient-reported outcomes:definition, theory, and a revised model

International audiencePurpose The extant response shift definitions and theoretical response shift models, while helpful, also introduce predicaments and theoretical debates continue. To address these predicaments and stimulate empirical research, we propose a more specific formal definition of response shift and a revised theoretical model. Methods This work is an international collaborative effort and involved a critical assessment of the literature. Results Three main predicaments were identified. First, the formal definitions of response shift need further specification and clarification. Second, previous models were focused on explaining change in the construct intended to be measured rather than explaining the construct at multiple time points and neglected the importance of using at least two time points to investigate response shift. Third, extant models do not explicitly distinguish the measure from the construct. Here we define response shift as an effect occurring whenever observed change (e.g., change in patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) scores) is not fully explained by target change (i.e., change in the construct intended to be measured). The revised model distinguishes the measure (e.g., PROM) from the underlying target construct (e.g., quality of life) at two time points. The major plausible paths are delineated, and the underlying assumptions of this model are explicated. Conclusion It is our hope that this refined definition and model are useful in the further development of response shift theory. The model with its explicit list of assumptions and hypothesized relationships lends itself for critical, empirical examination. Future studies are needed to empirically test the assumptions and hypothesized relationships

Disruption of Yarrowia lipolytica TPS1 Gene Encoding Trehalose-6-P Synthase Does Not Affect Growth in Glucose but Impairs Growth at High Temperature

We have cloned the Yarrowia lipolytica TPS1 gene encoding trehalose-6-P synthase by complementation of the lack of growth in glucose of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae tps1 mutant. Disruption of YlTPS1 could only be achieved with a cassette placed in the 3′half of its coding region due to the overlap of its sequence with the promoter of the essential gene YlTFC1. The Yltps1 mutant grew in glucose although the Y. lipolytica hexokinase is extremely sensitive to inhibition by trehalose-6-P. The presence of a glucokinase, insensitive to trehalose-6-P, that constitutes about 80% of the glucose phosphorylating capacity during growth in glucose may account for the growth phenotype. Trehalose content was below 1 nmol/mg dry weight in Y. lipolytica, but it increased in strains expressing YlTPS1 under the control of the YlTEF1promoter or with a disruption of YALI0D15598 encoding a putative trehalase. mRNA levels of YlTPS1 were low and did not respond to thermal stresses, but that of YlTPS2 (YALI0D14476) and YlTPS3 (YALI0E31086) increased 4 and 6 times, repectively, by heat treatment. Disruption of YlTPS1 drastically slowed growth at 35°C. Homozygous Yltps1 diploids showed a decreased sporulation frequency that was ascribed to the low level of YALI0D20966 mRNA an homolog of the S. cerevisiae MCK1 which encodes a protein kinase that activates early meiotic gene expression

OBSERVATION DES DISLOCATIONS LORS DE LA DÉFORMATION EN COMPRESSION DE MONOCRISTAUX DE RUTILE TiO2,

On dispose d'éprouvettes monocristallines de rutile TiO2, élaborées par méthode de Verneuil. Des lames découpées dans ces éprouvettes et amincies par bombardement ionique ont été observées par microscopie électronique en transmission. Des échantillons stœchiométriques ont été déformés par compression uniaxiale parallèlement à l'axe [00l], entre 600 et 1 400 °C. Les courbes effort-déformation obtenues sont caractéristiques d'une forte interaction dislocations-impuretés (phénomène Portevin-Le Châtelier). Dans les plans de glissements actifs {101} on a essentiellement observé de longues dislocations coins de vecteur de Burgers formant fréquemment des dipôles. Des interactions sessiles entre les différents systèmes de glissement ont été également mises en évidence, interactions qui conduisent à la formation de réseaux pseudo-hexagonaux à hautes températures. Dans une première étape on a observé également les défauts accommodant différents écarts à la stœchiométrie (TiO2-x) dans des monocristaux non déformés. Il semble que les shear-structures ne se développent pas dans des échantillons refroidis rapidement.Rutile (TiO2) samples are cut from single crystal boules prepared by the Verneuil method. Foils are sliced from these samples and thinned by ion bombardement for transmission electron microscope observations. Stoichiometric samples are deformed by compression along the [001] direction between 600 and 1 400 °C. The stress-strain curves show a strong interaction between dislocations and impurities (Portevin-Le Châtelier effect). Long edge dislocations with Burgers vector, commonly arranged in dipoles, are observed in the active {101} glide planes. Sessiles reactions appear as a result of interactions between dislocations in the different glide systems ; these reactions lead to the formation of pseudo-hexagonal networks at high temperatures. The study of non-stoichiometric TiO2-x crystals are under way. First results with undeformed samples do not show up any shear-structure in quenched crystals

PLASTIC DEFORMATION OF SLIGHTLY REDUCED RUTILE

Des monocristaux de rutile ont été réduits à la température de 1323 K sous faible pression partielle d'oxygène à différentes compositions dans l'intervalle TiO2,0000 - TiO1,9965 puis déformés plastiquement en compression uniaxiale à la même température, tout en maintenant la composition. La variation de la limite élastique en fonction de l'écart à la stoechiométrie montre qu'il existe deux régimes dans le comportement mécanique de TiO2-x en fonction de la valeur de x. Dans le premier régime c'est à dire pour de faibles degrés de réduction (O/Ti > 1,9985), la limite élastique diminue quand l'écart à la stoechiométrie augmente. Pour des degrés de réduction plus important (O/Ti ≤ 1,9985), on observe un fort effet de durcissement : la limite élastique augmente quand l'écart à la stoechiométrie augmente. Des mesures du volume d'activation dans ces deux régimes suggèrent que le comportement mécanique du rutile réduit à 1323 K peut être analysé en termes d'interaction entre dislocations et défauts ponctuels : défauts ponctuels intrinsèques (titane interstitiel) aux forts degrés de réduction et impuretés extrinsèques pour des compositions se rapprochant de TiO2.Rutile single crystals were reduced at the temperature of 1323 K under low oxygen pressure to different compositions in the range TiO2.0000 - TiO1.9965 and plastically deformed under uniaxial compression at the same temperature while maintaining the composition. The dependence of the flow stress on the departure from stoichiometry suggests that two regimes of mechanical behavior exist for TiO2-x depending on the value of x. In the first regime, i.e. for slight degrees of reduction (O/Ti > 1.9985), the flow stress decreases when O/Ti decreases. For larger degrees of reduction (O/Ti ≤ 1.9985) a marked hardening effect is observed and the flow stress increases as the departure from stoichiometry increases. Measurements of the activation volume in these two regimes suggest that the plastic behavior of rutile reduced at 1323 K could be explained in terms of interaction between dislocations and point defects, i.e. intrinsic point defects (titanium interstitials) at the largest departures from stoichiometry and extrinsic impurities for compositions close to TiO2

Compression à hautes températures et sous atmosphère oxydante de monocristaux de rutile TiO2

An apparatus for high temperatures (up to 1 800 K) compression tests under oxygen atmosphere has been built in an INSTRON machine. A special device is used for accurate measurements of the strain in the specimen. Constant strain rate deformation tests were performed on stoichiometric rutile TiO2 single crystals between 800 and 1 700 K. The two slip systems { 110 } and { 101 } were active above 900 K. The stress-strain curves for this last system may be explained in terms of interaction between dislocations and extrinsic point defects.Un appareillage pour effectuer des essais de compression à hautes températures (jusqu'à 1 800 K) sous balayage d'oxygène pur a été adapté sur une machine INSTRON. Ce montage permet de mesurer la déformation réelle de l'échantillon. Il a été utilisé pour déformer à vitesse constante des monocristaux stœchiométriques de rutile TiO 2 entre 800 et 1 700 K. On a ainsi mis en évidence l'activation des systèmes de glissement { 110 } et { 101 } à partir de 900 K. Les courbes contrainte-déformation relatives au second système peuvent être interprétées en termes d'interactions dislocations-défauts ponctuels extrinsèques