Cases of anthrax into different animal species and human from 1997 to 2000 in France

Dubois Annie, Gazagne Jean-Marie, Menard M., Rothe , Maucci Éric, Gautier Dominique, Gerster-Marly Géraldine, Levy Martine, Mock Michèle, Le Doujet Claudine, Vaissaire Josée. Cas de charbon bactéridien dans les différentes espèces animales et chez l’homme de 1997 à 2000 en France . In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 154 n°1, 2001. p. 71

Functional and oximetric assessment of patients after lung reduction surgery

AbstractObjective: The goal of this study was to clarify the issue of functional oxygen requirement by regimented exercise oximetry in patients undergoing lung reduction surgery.Methods: Thirty-seven patients underwent lung reduction surgery and were followed up for at least 3 months. Patients routinely completed a 6-week program of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Preoperative and postoperative spirometry, dyspnea scores, 6-minute walk distances, respiratory mechanics, and exercise oximetry were recorded.Results: After the operation, patients had a 37% increase in forced vital capacity and a 59% increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Six-minute walk distance increased from 913 ± 310 feet before the lung reduction operation to 1202 ± 274 feet 6 months after the operation (p < 0.001). Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures were significantly increased in 16 patients after lung reduction surgery. Perceived dyspnea was significantly improved. Exercise pulse oximetry demonstrated that 83% of patients met American Thoracic Society criteria for supplemental oxygen use before lung reduction surgery. After the operation, 70% of patients continued to meet American Thoracic Society criteria for supplemental oxygen use. Notably, 10 patients with exertional desaturation while breathing room air discontinued supplemental oxygen use because of a reduction in dyspnea.Conclusions: These findings demonstrate significant subjective and functional improvements related to lung reduction surgery. Exercise-induced hypoxia was not reversed by lung reduction surgery. Discontinuance of supplemental oxygen use owing to reduction in dyspnea and improved physical performance may not be warranted in lieu of continued exertional desaturation. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;113:675-82

Threshold effect of urinary glycosaminoglycans and the walk test as indicators of disease progression in a survey of subjects with mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome)

A cross-sectional survey in individuals affected with the lysosomal storage disease Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI) was conducted to establish demographics, urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels, and clinical progression of the disease. The survey evaluated 121 bona fide MPS VI-affected individuals over the age of 4 years from 15 countries across the Americas, Europe, and Australasia representing greater than 10% of the estimated world prevalence of the disease. A medical history, complete physical exam, urinary GAG determination, and assessment of several clinical measures related to physical endurance, pulmonary function, joint range of motion, strength, and quality of life were completed for each participant. Although a wide variation in clinical presentation was observed, several general findings were obtained reflecting progression of the disease. Impaired physical endurance, as measured by the distance achieved in a 6-min walk, could be demonstrated across all age groups of MPS VI-affected individuals. High urinary GAG values (>200 mug/mg creatinine) were associated with an accelerated clinical course comprised of age-adjusted short stature and low body weight, impaired endurance, compromised pulmonary function, and reduced joint range of motion. An unexpected result was the predominance of urinary GAG values <100 mug/mg creatinine for those participants over the age of 20 years. Pending the collection of longitudinal data, these results suggest that urinary GAG levels predict clinical morbidity, and longer-term survival is associated with urinary GAG levels below a threshold of 100 mug/mg creatinine.Stuart J. Swiedler, Michael Beck, Manal Bajbouj, Roberto Giugliani, Ida Schwartz, Paul Harmatz, James E. Wraith, Jane Roberts, David Ketteridge, John J. Hopwood, Nathalie Guffon, M. Clara Sá Miranda, Elisa Leão Teles, Kenneth I. Berger, Cheri Piscia-Nichol