Evaluation of the efficacy of endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome

AbstractAimTo assess the efficacy of venous embolization treatment for the pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS).Patients and methodsRetrospective study of 33 female patients undergoing pelvic venous embolization between January 2008 and May 2012 in Bordeaux. The inclusion criteria were clinical symptoms of PCS documented by transabdominal Doppler ultrasound and/or pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with pelvic varicose veins feeding saphenous varicose veins were excluded. The efficacy of treatment was assessed on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).ResultsThirty-three patients were included and the mean follow up period was 26months (3–59months). The VAS was 7.37 (standard deviation: 0.99) before embolization and 1.36 (standard deviation: 1.73) after embolization (P<0.0001). Twenty patients reported that their symptoms had completely disappeared, 11 had partially disappeared and two had gained no improvement. A significant fall was found in the number of patients with dyspareunia (P<0.0001). A single technical embolization failure was reported.ConclusionOur series demonstrates the efficacy of embolization treatment with a significant fall in the VAS in patients with PCS

Genetic basis for variation in plasma IL-18 levels in persons with chronic hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus-1 infections

Inflammasomes are multi-protein complexes integrating pathogen-triggered signaling leading to the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-18 (IL-18). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are associated with elevated IL-18, suggesting inflammasome activation. However, there is marked person-to-person variation in the inflammasome response to HCV and HIV. We hypothesized that host genetics may explain this variation. To test this, we analyzed the associations of plasma IL-18 levels and polymorphisms in 10 genes in the inflammasome cascade. About 1538 participants with active HIV and/or HCV infection in three ancestry groups are included. Samples were genotyped using the Illumina Omni 1-quad and Omni 2.5 arrays. Linear regression analyses were performed to test the association of variants with log IL-18 including HCV and HIV infection status, and HIV RNA in each ancestry group and then meta-analyzed. Eleven highly correlated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (r²=0.98–1) in the IL-18-BCO2 region were significantly associated with log IL-18; each T allele of rs80011693 confers a decrease of 0.06 log pg ml⁻¹ of IL-18 after adjusting for covariates (rs80011693; rs111311302 β=−0.06, P-value=2.7 × 10⁻⁴). In conclusion, genetic variation in IL-18 is associated with IL-18 production in response to HIV and HCV infection, and may explain variability in the inflammatory outcomes of chronic viral infections

Family Business Restructuring:A Review and Research Agenda

Although business restructuring occurs frequently and it is important for the prosperity of family firms across generations, research on family firms has largely evolved separately from research on business restructuring. This is a missed opportunity, since the two domains are complementary, and understanding the context, process, content, and outcome dimensions is relevant to both research streams. We address this by examining the intersection between research on business restructuring and family firms to improve our knowledge of each area and inform future research. To achieve this goal, we review and organize research across different dimensions to create an integrative framework. Building on current research, we focus on 88 studies at the intersection of family firm and business restructuring research to develop a model that identifies research needs and suggests directions for future research

Nonlinear exchange rate pass-through: Does business cycle matter?

© 2018-Center for Economic Integration, Sejong Institution, Sejong University, All Rights Reserved. This paper investigates the nonlinear dynamics in the Exchange Rate Pass-Through of the Euro area. We implement the class of logistic smooth transition models to explore the role of the business cycle in driving nonlinearity. Using quarterly data over the period of January 1980 ~ April 2015, our results provide strong evidence of nonlinearity in 7 out of 10 Eurozone countries. We show that the exchange rate transmission to inflation respond to the economic activity in the nonlinear manner, that is, exchange rate pass-through is higher during expansion than recession periods. By monitoring the different patterns of growth and exchange rate pass-through, European monetary authorities could enhance inflation convergence within the Euro area

3D visual-based tension control in strip-like deformable objects using a catenary model

International audienceIn recent years, there has been a growing interest in robotic manipulation of deformable objects. In order to perform certain tasks, the robot must control the shape of the object while taking care not to apply excessive stresses so as not to deform it irreversibly. This is the case when extracting elasto-plastic objects in strips from an industrial reel. In order to control the mechanical stresses within the object, we propose a vision-based control scheme to minimize tension by regulating the angular velocity of a motorized reel on which they are wound. In this paper, we propose a method, based on a catenary model and visual feedback from a low-cost RGB-D camera, to estimate the tension distribution along a rubber strip. Thus, the control strategy aims to achieve a desired tension value by varying the length of the suspended portion of the manipulated strip. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed approach for strip-like objects of various dimensions

Redundant singularities versus constraint singularities in parallel mechanisms

The paper discusses the redundant singularities versus constraint singularities in relation to the main structural parameters of parallel mechanisms. The formulae of mobility, connectivity, overconstraint and redundancy of parallel mechanisms, recently proposed by the second author of this paper, are used to characterise these singularities and the transition phase between them. By using these formulae, the main properties of three types of singularity are identified. A new combined constraint-redundant singularity is defined and characterised, in connection with constraint and redundant singularities. A reconfigurable eight-bar single-loop mechanism is used to illustrate the three types of singularities. This mechanism has an interesting property to continually transit from one type of singularity to another by remaining always in a singular configuration. The properties of the redundant and constraint-redundant singularities are defined in this paper in relation to the four main structural parameters of a mechanism. </jats:p

Lack of effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-308 G/A polymorphism on severity of liver fibrosis in Tunisian hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients

International audienceObjectives. - Tumor necrosis factor alpha (INF-alpha) plays a key role in the immune response. An elevated plasma level of INF-alpha was repeatedly observed in patients with active liver injury or cirrhosis regardless of the aetiology. The G/A transition at position -308 in the promoter region have been shown to influence TNF-alpha expression. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of TNF-alpha -308 G/A functional polymorphism on fibrosis severity in Tunisian Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-infected patients. Methods. - TNF-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method in 53 chronic hepatitis C patients Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies were compared with regard to liver fibrosis severity as assessed by the METAVIR scoring system (F1-F2; n=22 versus F3-F4; n=31). Results. - The genotype distribution of the INF-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism among the HCV-infected patients was as follows : GG : 67.9%, GA: 32.1%, AA: 0%. With regard to fibrosis score, no significant differences in TNF-alpha genotype distribution were observed between F1-F2 and F3-F4 patients (p=0.15) Conclusion. - No significant association between TNF-alpha -308 polymorphism and and the severity of liver fibrosis was found in our Tunisian cohort