Polymer Functionalization of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Using Controlled Radical Polymerization Techniques

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are widely studied and are an interesting material due to its application in wide range of areas, for example, in drug delivery, catalysis, in sensors, and in adsorption and separation. Specifically, MSNs contain high surface area and large pore volume, providing high drug loading capacity, tunable pore size, surface chemistry for accommodation of a variety of guest molecules, and versatile functionalization on the external and internal surface for a broad spectrum of applications. Many new strategies have been developed for the synthesis and functionalization of mesoporous silica-based materials. The functionalization of MSNs is highly important as it leads to the development of new chemical and physical properties. Thus, preparation of these organic/inorganic hybrid structures requires facile and controlled techniques to generate enhanced properties. The grafting of polymers using controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques has turned out to be the best suited method to synthesize these well-defined organic-inorganic hybrid MSNs. Most common polymerization techniques are atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP). This chapter will be highlighting the state-of-the-art techniques for the synthesis of variety of MSNs, its functionalization using CRP techniques, and application of polymer functionalized MSNs

Tétraplégie révélatrice d’une méningomyélite grave à pneumocoque: à propos d’un cas et revue de littérature

L'atteinte médullaire est une complication rare des méningites à streptocoque pneumoniae .notre observation clinique décrit le cas d'une Jeune femme immunocompétente qui s’est présentée au service d'accueil des urgences pour tétraplégie dont les investigations ont mis en évidence une méningite à pneumocoque. Le traitement était basé sur l'antibiothérapie plus une  corticothérapie concomitante. L'évolution était marquée par la persistance des séquelles neurologiques

Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer-Hetero Diels-Alder (RAFT-HDA) Chemistry as an Efficient Conjugation Technique for Macromolecular Surface Engineering

In the current study - to achieve the modification of solid substrates in an efficient fashion - the next generation of RAFT agents capable of rapidly undergoing HDA reactions under ambient conditions and in the absence catalyst were synthesized. In addition, a range of highly innovative protocols for the orthogonal modification of variety solid substrates were established. The microspheres were also studied to obtain information about the amount of accessible active sites and grafting densities

Communication interventriculaire post infarctus du myocarde: à propos d’un cas et revue de la litterature

La rupture septale secondaire à l'infarctus du myocarde est une complication aiguë redoutable dont la mortalité est non négligeable à la phase précoce. Nous rapportons le cas d'une rupture septale apicale chez un patient de 70 ans admis aux urgences pour prise en charge d'un post infarctus de myocarde antéro-septal. C'est une urgence extrême dont la prise en charge doit être multidisciplinaire. Nous mettons le point sur les facteurs de risque et sur le traitement à proposer pour ce type de complication.Mots clés: Infarctus du myocarde, communication interventriculaire, MarocEnglish Title: Interventricular defect after myocardial infarction: about a case and literature reviewEnglish AbstractVentricular septal rupture (VSR) after myocardial infarction is a fearsome acute complication whose mortality is not negligible in the early phase. We report the case of a 70-year old patient with apical septal rupture admitted to the Emergency Department with ventricular septal rupture after anteroseptal myocardial infarction. This disease is of the utmost urgency, so its management should be multidisciplinary. This study aims to focus on the risk factors and the treatment of this complication.Keywords: Myocardial infarction, inter-ventricular communication, Morocc

Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke by tenecteplase in the emergency department of a Moroccan hospital

Introduction: Thrombolysis has radically changed the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase is a modified form of rt-PA with greater specificity for fibrin and a longer half-life. We report the experience of a Moroccan tertiary hospital in thrombolysis using Tenecteplase. Methods: We conducted an open prospective study of all patients who were treated with Tenecteplase for an acute ischemic stroke admitted to our emergency department. Tenecteplase was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg single bolus. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients achieving significant early neurological recovery defined as an improvement of 4 or more points on the NIHSS score at 24h. Results: 13 patients had been treated by intravenous thrombolysis. 31% were women. Mean age was 63 years old. The mean NIHSS score at admission was 14.3 and 24h after was at 9.1. The right middle cerebral artery was involved in 69% of cases. The carotid atherosclerosis was predominant 63.3% and the cardio embolic etiology 27%. The mean time to the first medical contact after the onset of symptoms was 3h 30 min. One patient presented a capsulo-lenticular hematoma of 5 mm3 in the same side of the ischemic stroke. Conclusion: Tenecteplase is a more interesting thrombolytic than alteplase, it seems to be more suitable for thrombolysis in our center.Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke, thrombolysis, tenecteplas

Investigating the characteristics and needs of frequently admitting hospital patients : a cross-sectional study in the United Kingdom

Objectives: This study forms the user requirements phase of the OPTIMAL project, which, through a predictive model and supportive intervention, aims to decrease early hospital readmissions. This phase aims to investigate the needs and characteristics of patients who had been admitted to hospital ≥2 times in the past 12 months. Setting This was a cross-sectional study involving patients from Croydon University Hospital (CUH), London, UK. Participants: A total of 347 patients responded to a postal questionnaire, a response rate of 12.7%. To meet the inclusion criteria, participants needed to be aged ≥18 and have been admitted ≥2 times in the previous 12 months (August 2014–July 2015) to CUH. Primary and secondary outcomes: To profile patients identified as frequent admitters to assess gaps in care at discharge or post-discharge. Additionally, to understand the patients’ experience of admission, discharge and post-discharge care. Results: The range of admissions in the past 12 months was 2–30, with a mean of 2.8. At discharge 72.4% (n=231/347) were not given a contact for out-of-hours help. Regression analysis identified patient factors that were significantly associated with frequent admissions (>2 in 12 months), which included age (p=0.008), being in receipt of care (p=0.005) and admission due to a fall (p=0.01), but not receiving polypharmacy. Post-discharge, 41.8% (n=145/347) were concerned about being readmitted to the hospital. In the first 30 days after discharge, over half of patients (54.5% n=189/347) had no contact from a healthcare professional. Conclusion: Considering that social care needs were more of a determinant of admission risk than medical needs, rectifying the lack of integration, communication and the under-utilisation of existing patient services could prevent avoidable problems during the transition of care and help decrease the likelihood of hospital readmission

Orthogonal surface functionalization through bioactive vapor‐based polymer coatings

Reactive chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization provides a substrate‐independent platform for effective functionalization of virtually any solid substrates, flat, or curved, even with complex geometries. This article reviews bioactive surface functionalization strategies based on CVD polymerization and highlights commonly used surface chemistries. These reactions include alkyne–azide “click” chemistry, reactions of active esters with amine, aldehydes/ketones with hydrazides and alkoxyamines, thiols with alkenes and alkynes and surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The resulting biofunctional surface coatings can facilitate orthogonal immobilization of more than one type of ligand on a substrate. CVD polymer coatings with nanoscale thicknesses are widely applicable in biomedical applications and can be easily integrated into micro‐ and nanodevice fabrication. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40315.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106951/1/app40315.pd

Une nouvelle approche de modélisation et d'adaptation contextuelle des systèmes pervasifs : la plateforme COALA (COntext Adaptation Platform)

The study of the literature proves that context-awareness has become a key element for the implementationof adaptive services in pervasive interactive applications. In fact, the present work focuseson the context of modeling issues for the adaptation of services provided by the invective pervasiveapplications to the sensitivity of context situations. The context is no longer a pre-established and predefinedtemplate when designing interactive applications systems but rather a dynamic description ofthe common situations that can be discovered in the context data and can dynamically be changedwhen changing user’s requirements and preferences. The systems of pervasive applications must beavailable in different contexts of use according to the user’s environment, the terminal being used, location. . .. The major challenge of these systems accordingly relates to the adaptation of the servicesoffered by interactive applications to the user context. In Order to respond to different requirementsof dynamic adaptation to changes in contextual situations, following the changes in usage patternsas well as the dynamics of the pervasive environment and the heterogeneity of context data sources,we propose mechanisms used to provide the traceability of the context as Virtual contextual Cards(VCOC). These works were carried out and applied as part a PhD under joint supervision betweenTunisia and France.L’ étude de la littérature montre que la sensibilité au contexte est devenue un élément primordial pourla mise en place des services adaptatifs dans les applications interactives pervasives. Le contexten’est plus un modéle préétabli et prédéfini au moment de la conception des systèmes des applicationsinteractives mais plutôt une description dynamique des situations courantes qui peuvent êtredécouvertes dans les données de contexte et qui peuvent changer dynamiquement en fonction deschangements des exigences et des préférences des utilisateurs. Les applications pervasives doiventpouvoir s’exécuter dans différents contextes d’utilisation selon l’environnement de l’utilisateur, sonprofil, le terminal qu’il utilise, sa localisation, . . . Afin de répondre aux différentes exigences d’adaptationaux changements dynamiques des situations contextuelles, nous proposons des m´ecanismespermettant de fournir la trac¸abilitéde contexte sous la forme de Cartes de Visite COntextuelles(CVCO). Ces mécanismes s’appuient sur la technique de Mapping OWL afin de donner des modèlesontologiques de trac¸abilité de contexte. Les différentes ontologies créées pendant ce travail sontintégrées au sein de l’architecture de notre nouvelle plateforme d’adaptation de contexte COALA(COntext Adaptation Platform), afin de permettre l’adaptation automatique des services offerts parles application interactives pervasives. Ces travaux ont été r éalis ´es et appliqu éés dans le cadre d’unethèse en co-tutelle entre la Tunisie et France