Temporal dynamics of Chaoborus larvae (Diptera : Chaoboridae) in the tropical ecosystem (lake Ayamé I ; Côte d’Ivoire).

Chaoborus larvae are voracious predators of zooplankton able to change their specific composition and size structure. Thus they appear as competitors of fish. They also represent food for planktophage fish. The temporal dynamics of Chaoborus larvae was studied (from january to october 1997) in the fishery of Bakro (5°33’N and 3°15’W) situated in lake Ayamé I (Côte d’Ivoire). Two peaks of density were observed : the most pronouced in March (end of the major dry season) with 747 ind./m2, and another, less pronouced in June (end of the major rainy season), with 280 ind./m2. Differences between densities may well be explained by the advent of the rainy season which leads to a decline in trophic resources (zooplankton) and exposes Chaoborus larvae to predation by fish.Key-words : Chaoborus larvae, Dynamics, lake Ayamé I, Côte d’Ivoire,West Africa

Imaging the posterior mediastinum: A multimodality approach

The posterior mediastinum contains several structures that can produce a wide variety of pathologic conditions. Descending thoracic aorta, esophagus, azygos and hemiazygos veins, thoracic duct, lymph nodes, adipose tissue, and nerves are all located in this anatomical region and can produce diverse abnormalities. Although chest radiography may detect many of these pathologic conditions, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are the imaging modalities of choice for further defining the relationship of posterior mediastinal lesions to neighboring structures and showing specific imaging features that narrow the differential diagnosis. This review emphasizes modality-related answers to morphologic questions, which provide precise diagnostic information

Discontinuous Galerkin method for multifluid Euler equations

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106454/1/AIAA2013-2595.pd

Thoracic CT findings of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in immunocompromised patients

The goal of this study is to describe the spectrum of initial and follow-up CT findings of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in a series of immunocompromised patients. Eight immunocompromised patients with documented novel influenza A (H1N1) had CT imaging at our institution between May 2009 and August 2009. A total of 20 CTs (initial and follow-up) were reviewed for the presence, severity, and distribution of the following: ground glass opacity, consolidation, interlobular septal thickening, mosaic perfusion, airway wall thickening, airway dilatation, nodules, cysts, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, lymphadenopathy, and air trapping. The most common findings were airway thickening/dilatation, peribronchial ground glass opacity, centrilobular nodules, and tree-in-bud opacities. Peripheral consolidation involving the lower lobes was also a common pattern. Findings frequently involved all lobes and were closely associated with either large or small airways. Two patients presented with atypical CT findings including focal lobar consolidation and patchy lower lobe consolidation with soft tissue centrilobular nodules. Most survivors showed near complete resolution of findings within 35 days. CT scans in immunocompromised patients with novel influenza H1N1 commonly show a strong airway predominance of findings or peripheral areas of consolidation involving the lower lobes. A subset of patients with novel influenza A (H1N1) will show findings not typical of viral infection

Klebsiella pneumoniae related community-acquired acute lower respiratory infections in CAMBODIA: clinical characteristics and treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In many Asian countries, <it>Klebsiella pneumoniae </it>(KP) is the second pathogen responsible for community-acquired pneumonia. Yet, very little is known about <it>KP </it>etiology in ALRI in Cambodia, a country that has one of the weakest medical infrastructures in the region. We present here the first clinico-radiological description of <it>KP </it>community-acquired ALRI in hospitalized Cambodian patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Through ALRI surveillance in two provincial hospitals, <it>KP </it>was isolated from sputum and blood cultures, and identified by API20E gallery from patients ≥ 5 years-old with fever and respiratory symptoms onset ≤14 days. Antibiotics susceptibility testing was provided systematically to clinicians when bacteria were isolated. We collected patients' clinical, radiological and microbiological data and their outcome 3 months after discharge. We also compared <it>KP</it>-related with other bacteria-related ALRI to determine risk factors for <it>KP </it>infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From April 2007 to December 2009, 2315 ALRI patients ≥ 5 years-old were enrolled including 587 whose bacterial etiology could be assigned. Of these, 47 (8.0%) had <it>KP </it>infection; their median age was 55 years and 68.1% were females. Reported prior medication was high (42.5%). Patients' chest radiographs showed pneumonia (61.3% including 39% that were necrotizing), preexisting parenchyma lesions (29.5%) and pleural effusions alone (4.5%) and normal parenchyma (4.5%). Five patients had severe conditions on admission and one patient died during hospitalization. Of the 39 patients that were hospital discharged, 14 died including 12 within 1 month after discharge. Only 13 patients (28%) received an appropriate antibiotherapy. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) - producing strains were found in 8 (17.0%) patients. Female gender (Odds ratio (OR) 2.1; <it>p </it>= 0.04) and diabetes mellitus (OR 3.1; <it>p </it>= 0.03) were independent risk factors for <it>KP</it>-related ALRI.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>KP </it>ALRI in Cambodia has high fatality rate, are more frequently found in women, and should be considered in diabetic patients. The extremely high frequency of ESBL-producing strains in the study is alarming in the context of uncontrolled antibiotic consumption and in absence of microbiology capacity in most public-sector hospitals.</p

Diagnostic value of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 and C-reactive protein for patients with lung infiltrates: an observational study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Differential diagnosis of patients with lung infiltrates remains a challenge. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 is a neutrophil and monocyte receptor up-regulated during infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of TREM-1 and of C-reactive protein (CRP) from patients with lung infiltrates to discern community acquired lung infections.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>68 patients admitted to a medical ward with acute respiratory illness were enrolled in the study. Neutrophil and monocyte TREM-1 expression were measured by flow cytometry, sTREM-1 by an enzyme immunoassay and C-reactive protein by nephelometry. Clinical pulmonary infection score was recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>34 patients were diagnosed with bacterial community acquired pneumonia (group A) and 34 with non-bacterial pulmonary disease (group B). Median serum TREM-1 concentration was 102.09 pg/ml in group A and lower than 15.10 pg/ml (p < 0.0001) in group B. Mean±SE neutrophil TREM-1 expression was 4.67 ± 0.53 MFI in group A and 2.64 ± 0.25 MFI (p = 0.001) in group B. Monocyte TREM-1 expression was 4.2 ± 0.42 MFI in group A and 2.64 ± 0.35 MFI (p = 0.007) in group B and mean±SE CRP was 18.03 ± 2 mg/ml in group A and 7.1 ± 1.54 mg/ml (p < 0.001) in group B. A cut-off of 19.53 pg/ml of sTREM-1 with sensitivity 82.6% and specificity 63% to discriminate between infectious and non-infectious pulmonary infiltrates was found. sTREM-1 at admission greater than 180 pg/ml was accompanied with unfavourable outcome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TREM-1 myeloid expression and sTREM-1 are reliable markers of bacterial infection among patients with pulmonary infiltrates; sTREM-1 is a predictor of final outcome.</p

Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

Peer reviewe