Corrected Scoliosis, Cholinesterase Deficiency, and Cesarean Section: A Case Report

We describe a patient with severe scoliosis for which corrective surgery was performed at the age of 12. During a previous caesarean section under general anaesthesia pseudocholinesterase deficiency was discovered. Ultrasound guided spinal anaesthesia was performed enabling a second caesarean section under loco-regional anaesthesia

Diagnosing Mechanisms of Decline and Planning for Recovery of an Endangered Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population

Background: The usual paradigm for translocations is that they should not take place in declining populations until the causes(s) of the decline has been reversed. This approach sounds intuitive, but may not apply in cases where population decline is caused by behavioral or demographic mechanisms that could only be reversed by translocation itself. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed a decade of field data for Pyrenean brown bears (Ursus arctos) from two small populations: the growing Central population- created from a previous translocation and the endemic Western population- believed to be declining because of excessive human-caused mortality. We found that adult survival rates for both populations were as high as those observed for most other protected brown bear populations. However, the Western population had much lower reproductive success than the Central population. Adult breeding sex ratio was male-biased in the Western population and female-biased in the Central population. Our results exclude high anthropogenic mortality as a cause for population decline in the West but support low reproductive success, which could result from sexually selected infanticide induced by a male-biased adult sex ratio or inbreeding depression. Using a stochastic demographic model t

Combined thromboxane A2synthase inhibition and prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor antagonism limits myocardial infarct size after mechanical coronary occlusion and reperfusion at doses enhancing coronary thrombolysis by streptokinase

AbstractObjectives. We sought to examine to what extent a combination of strong thromboxane A2, synthase inhibition and moderate endoperoxide receptor blockade enhances streptokinase-induced coronary thrombolysis and provides anti-ischemic activity independent from its thrombolytic activity.Methods. Coronary thrombi, induced by crush injury and stenosis of the coronary artery, were lysed with streptokinase, 10,000 IU/kg body weight over 90 min, in dogs receiving solvent (n = 11), ridogrel, 0.31 mg/kg intravenously, for thromboxane A2synthase inhibition (n = 7) or ridogrel, 5 mg/kg, for additional prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor antagonism in addition to thromboxane A2synthase inhibition (n = 7) 10 min before the administration of Streptokinase.Results. Thrombolytic efficacy was greatest in animals receiving both dual-acting ridogrel, 5 mg/kg intravenously, and streptokinase as evidenced by the highest incidence of high grade coronary reperfusion (solvent 3 of 11; ridogrel, 0.31 mg/kg, 5 of 7; ridogrel, 5 mg/kg, 7 of 7; p < 0.05 vs. solvent) within the shortest delay (solvent 210 min; ridogrel, 0.31 mg/kg, 85 min; ridogrel, 5 mg/kg, 37 min; p < 0.05 vs. solvent and ridogrel, 0.31 mg/kg) and the lowest incidence of reocclusion (solvent 5 of 7; ridogrel, 0.31 mg/kg, 2 of 7; ridogrel, 5 mg/kg, 1 of 7; p < 0.05 versus solvent).Myocardial infarct size after coronary artery figation (90 min) and subsequent reperfusion (150 min) in anesthetized dogs was 49.3 ± 4.5% venus 29 ± 3.9% (p < 0.05 vs. solvent) of the area of the left ventricle at risk in dogs receiving solvent (n = 9) or ridogrel, 5 mg/kg intravenously (n = 10), respectively, despite similar hemodynamic characteristics, collateral blood flow and area risk in both groups.Conclusions. Combined thromboxane A2synthase inhibition and endoperoxide receptor antagonism 1) upgrades thrombolysis with Streptokinase in canine coronary arteries, 2) limits myocardial infaret size after nonthrombotic coronary occlusion and reperfusion, and 3) may preserve ventricular function compromised by coronary occlusion through dual manipulation of the arachidonic acid cascade in blood and myocardial tissue, respectively

Orientation dependent modulation of apparent speed: a model based on the dynamics of feed-forward and horizontal connectivity in V1 cortex

AbstractPsychophysical and physiological studies suggest that long-range horizontal connections in primary visual cortex participate in spatial integration and contour processing. Until recently, little attention has been paid to their intrinsic temporal properties. Recent physiological studies indicate, however, that the propagation of activity through long-range horizontal connections is slow, with time scales comparable to the perceptual scales involved in motion processing. Using a simple model of V1 connectivity, we explore some of the implications of this slow dynamics. The model predicts that V1 responses to a stimulus in the receptive field can be modulated by a previous stimulation, a few milliseconds to a few tens of milliseconds before, in the surround. We analyze this phenomenon and its possible consequences on speed perception, as a function of the spatio-temporal configuration of the visual inputs (relative orientation, spatial separation, temporal interval between the elements, sequence speed). We show that the dynamical interactions between feed-forward and horizontal signals in V1 can explain why the perceived speed of fast apparent motion sequences strongly depends on the orientation of their elements relative to the motion axis and can account for the range of speed for which this perceptual effect occurs (Georges, Seriès, Frégnac and Lorenceau, this issue)

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P &lt; 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

L'insulinothérapie fonctionnelle contribue à améliorer la variabilité glycémique mesurée par l ADRR (Average Daily Risk Range) chez le diabétique de type I (étude VARIAFIT)

Objectifs : L HbA1c explique 20% seulement du risque de rétinopathie dans le DCCT. Le rôle de la variabilité glycémique (VG) a été suspecté. Chez le diabétique de type 2, cette dernière génère un stress oxydant. Chez le diabétique de type 1, l insulinothérapie fonctionnelle (IF) prétend réduire les fluctuations glycémiques. Notre objectif est a) de montrer que l IF permet de réduire la VG chez le DT1, b) d identifier un marqueur pertinent de VG, c) d évaluer l impact de la VG sur le stress oxydant et l inflammation. Matériels et méthodes : mesure de la VG d après la mémoire du lecteur glycémique selon 4 indicateurs (MAGE, LBGI, LI, ADRR) chez 30 patients DT1 stables, candidats à un stage d éducation thérapeutique à l IF, à 0, 3 et 6 mois ; dosage des 8-isoPGF2a, LTE4 et TXB2. Résultats : MAGE diminue à M3 dans le groupe excédant initialement 150 mg/dl (180 +- 10 vs 144 +- 39, p=0.016) sans persistance de l amélioration à M6. ADRR diminue entre M0 et M6 (30.6 +- 14.5 vs 23 +- 11.3, p=0.018) et entre M3 et M6 (28.7 +- 10.4 vs 23 +- 11.3, p=0.041). Dans le groupe excédant initialement 40, ADRR diminue à M3 (42.2 +- 9.7 vs 35.5 +- 5.6, p=0.018) avec persistance de l amélioration à M6. LI et LBGI s améliorent non significativement à M3, tandis que le BMI diminue à M6 (23.9 +- 3.2 vs 23.4 +- 2.9 kg/m2, p=0.003). Les TXB2 diminuent à M6 (832 +- 625 vs 633 +- 972 pg/mg, p=0.048), sans corrélation aux marqueurs de VG . La production des 8-isoPGF2a ne change pas, ni l HbA1c. Conclusion : A HbA1c stable, l IF est associée à une amélioration de la VG. L ADRR, principal indicateur à la mettre en évidence, et séduisant par son concept mathématique et sa période de recueil cliniquement pertinente (15 jours), se prête à une utilisation clinique plus large. Le retentissement physiopathologique de la VG chez le DT1 demeure équivoque.Objective: HbA1c explains only 20% of the retinopathy risk in the DCCT study. Glycemic variability (GV) has been suspected to be another factor. In type 2 diabetes patients, GV causes oxidative stress. In type 1 diabetes patients, functional insulinotherapy (FI) claims to reduce glycemic variations. Our objective is a) to prove that FI reduces GV in type 1 diabetes patients, b) to identify a relevant indicator of GV, c) to assess the impact of GV on oxidative stress and inflammation. Material and methods: Calculation of 4 glycaemia variability indicators (MAGE, LBGI, LI, ADRR) using the measures of GV from the glucose meter at 0, 3 months and 6 months, in 30 patients with type 1 diabetes, attending a functional insulinotherapy class. 8-isoPGF2a, LTE4 and TXB2 levels are also assessed. Results: MAGE decreases at M3 in patients initially over 150 mg/dl (180 +- 10 vs 144 +- 39, p=0.016) but this improvement is no longer observed at M6. ADRR decreases between M0 and M6 (30.6 +- 14.5 vs 23 +- 11.3, p=0.018) and between M3 and M6 (28.7 +- 10.4 vs 23 +- 11.3, p=0.041). ADRR decreases at M3 in patients initially over 40 (42.2 +- 9.7 vs 35.5 +- 5.6, p=0.018) and the change is still observed at M6. LI and LBGI are improved non-significantly at M3 while BMI decreases at M6 (23.9 +- 3.2 vs 23.4 +- 2.9 kg/m2, p=0.003). The level of TXB2 decreases at M6 (832 +- 625 vs 633 +- 972 pg/mg, p=0.048), but TBX2s are not correlated to GV indicators. No variation in 8-isoPGF2alpha or HbA1c occurred. Conclusion: In patients with stable HbA1c, FI is associated with an improvement of glycemic variability. ADRR is the most powerful indicator. Its enticing mathematical concept and its relevant data-collection phase (15 days) allow a broad range of clinical uses. The pathophysiological effects of GV in type 1 diabetes remain unclear.GRENOBLE1-BU Médecine pharm. (385162101) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

The dissolution of helium in La-doped UO2 as a surrogate of hypo-stoichiometric UO2

In this work the dissolution of helium in La-doped UO2 samples was studied by helium infusion in an autoclave followed by thermal desorption (laser heating) coupled to mass spectrometer systems for the determination of helium release rate and the total helium quantity. Lanthanum was chosen as a dopant in UO2 to study the effect of hypo-stoichiometry on helium solubility together with the impurity effect. Comparison of the dissolved He quantity from the samples with different La content showed that the dissolved He quantity slightly increases with increasing oxygen vacancy concentration in the samples.JRC.E.3-Materials researc

A Knudsen Cell-Mass Spectrometer Facility to Investigate Oxidation and Vaporisation Processes in Nuclear Fuel

See ABSTRACT in the attached articleJRC.E.3-Materials researc

Evaluation of classical NSAIDS on COX-1 and COX-2 purifies enzymes and prognosis of their effects on physiological responses.

peer reviewe