Interferon β-1a in relapsing multiple sclerosis: four-year extension of the European IFNβ-1a Dose-C omparison Study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease requiring long-term monitoring of treatment. Objective: To assess the four-year clinical efficacy of intramuscular (IM) IFNb-1a in patients with relapsing MS from the European IFNb-1a Dose-C omparison Study. Methods: Patients who completed 36 months of treatment (Part 1) of the European IFNb-1a Dose-C omparison Study were given the option to continue double-blind treatment with IFNb-1a 30 mcg or 60 mcg IM once weekly (Part 2). Analyses of 48-month data were performed on sustained disability progression, relapses, and neutralizing antibody (NA b) formation. Results: O f 608/802 subjects who completed 36 months of treatment, 493 subjects continued treatment and 446 completed 48 months of treatment and follow-up. IFNb-1a 30 mcg and 60 mcg IM once weekly were equally effective for up to 48 months. There were no significant differences between doses over 48 months on any of the clinical endpoints, including rate of disability progression, cumulative percentage of patients who progressed (48 and 43, respectively), and annual relapse rates; relapses tended to decrease over 48 months. The incidence of patients who were positive for NAbs at any time during the study was low in both treatment groups. Conclusion: C ompared with 60-mcg IM IFNb-1a once weekly, a dose of 30 mcg IM IFNb-1a once weekly maintains the same clinical efficacy over four years

Low urine pH and acid excretion do not predict bone fractures or the loss of bone mineral density: a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The acid-ash hypothesis, the alkaline diet, and related products are marketed to the general public. Websites, lay literature, and direct mail marketing encourage people to measure their urine pH to assess their health status and their risk of osteoporosis.</p> <p>The objectives of this study were to determine whether 1) low urine pH, or 2) acid excretion in urine [sulfate + chloride + 1.8x phosphate + organic acids] minus [sodium + potassium + 2x calcium + 2x magnesium mEq] in fasting morning urine predict: a) fragility fractures; and b) five-year change of bone mineral density (BMD) in adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Design: Cohort study: the prospective population-based Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between acid excretion (urine pH and urine acid excretion) in fasting morning with the incidence of fractures (6804 person years). Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations between acid excretion with changes in BMD over 5-years at three sites: lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip (n = 651). Potential confounders controlled included: age, gender, family history of osteoporosis, physical activity, smoking, calcium intake, vitamin D status, estrogen status, medications, renal function, urine creatinine, body mass index, and change of body mass index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no associations between either urine pH or acid excretion and either the incidence of fractures or change of BMD after adjustment for confounders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Urine pH and urine acid excretion do not predict osteoporosis risk.</p

Evolution of GPR regulation in the control of spindle positioning for two Caenorhabditis species embryos

International audienceno abstrac

A beat-by-beat cardiovascular index, CARDEAN, to titrate opioid administration in the setting of orthopaedic surgery: a prospective randomized trial

International audienc

The Study of a European Neutrino Factory Complex

The Neutrino Factory is a new concept for an accelerator that produces a high-intensity, high-energy beam of electron and muon neutrinos - the ultimate tool for neutrino oscillation studies and the only machine conceived up today that could help detect CP violation of leptons. The basic concept of the Neutrino Factory is the production of neutrinos from the decay of high-energy muons. Due to their short lifetime, these muons have to be accelerated very fast. Several new accelerator techniques, like a high-intenstiy proton linac, high-power targets, ionization cooling or recirculating muon linacs are required. This paper presents a snapshot of the accelerator design at CERN. Although some aspects of this European Neutrino Factory Scheme have been optimised for the CERN site, the basic principle is site-independent

Prédication en chapitre général et réforme pontificale de la vita religiosa au XIIIe siècle. À propos des sermons aux chapitres généraux des moines noirs d’Eudes de Châteauroux et Jacques de Furnes

International audienceÀ partir de l’analyse de sermons respectivement donnés par Eudes de Châteauroux et Jacques de Furnes aux chapitres généraux des moines noirs des provinces de Sens et de Reims, l’occasion est offerte de confronter le point de vue de deux acteurs (un gradué séculier ayant la faveur de la papauté et un abbé bénédictin au cœur de la mêlée) sur les réformes monastiques du pape Grégoire IX (1235-1237) et de tenter de cerner les stratégies discursives et les méthodes de gouvernement mises en œuvre par la papauté dans son dessein global de contrôle centralisé de tous les membres de l’Ecclesia. Un sermon de chaque prédicateur est édité en annex