Stateless Rhythms, Transnational Steps: Embodying the Assyrian Nation through Sheikhani Song and Dance

Interrogating the close connection between expressive culture and ethnic identity, this article examines the practice and polysemy of the traditional Assyrian line dance and song genre sheikhani in the performance context of a community twice made transnational — first in the homeland, second in diaspora. Such an expressive embodiment is integral to the articulation of a stateless national identity of the modern Assyrian peoples — an ethnic and religious minority that is indigenous to the border nexus of Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. As a result of violence and conflict, the majority of Assyrians have fled their homeland through processes of forced migration and refugee flight, resulting in a transnational diaspora with significant populations in the global north. This article considers sheikhani as a topographical and historical articulation of both Assyrian ethnic and national identity that is composed through the body politic.En questionnant le lien étroit qui existe entre l’expression d’une culture et l’identité ethnique, cet article examine la pratique et la polysémie de la danse en ligne traditionnelle assyrienne et du chant sheikhani dans le contexte de la performance d’une communauté devenue transnationale à deux reprises — dans sa terre natale, puis en tant que diaspora. Cette personnification éloquente est cruciale pour exprimer l’identité nationale apatride des peuples assyriens d’aujourd’hui — une minorité ethnique et religieuse indigène aux régions frontalières de la Syrie, l’Irak, la Turquie, et l’Iran. Suite aux conflits et à la violence, la majorité des Assyriens ont fui leur terre natale par des migrations et un exode forcés, créant une diaspora transnationale avec des populations importantes dans l’hémisphère nord. Cet article considère le sheikhani comme une articulation topographique et historique de l’identité assyrienne ethnique et nationale à travers le corps politique.Este artículo interroga el estrecho vínculo entre cultura expresiva e identidad étnica, examinando la práctica y la polisémica del estilo sheikhani de danza y canción tradicional asirio en el contexto de una comunidad dos veces transnacional: primero en la tierra natal, segundo en la diáspora. Dicha expresiva representación forma parte integral de la articulación de una identidad nacional sin estado de los pueblos asirios modernos, una minoría étnica y religiosa originaria del nexo fronterizo de Siria, Irak, Turquía e Irán. Como resultado de la violencia y el conflicto, la mayor parte de la población asiria ha huido de su tierra natal mediante procesos de migración forzada y de huida como refugiados, lo que resulta en una diáspora transnacional con una presencia importante en el norte global. Este artículo considera al sheikhani como una articulación topográfica e histórica de la identidad asiria tanto étnica como nacional que se compone a través del cuerpo político

Contrast-associated transient cortical blindness: three cases with MRI and electrophysiology findings.

Transient cortical blindness (TCB) is a rare but striking complication following contrast agent injection. TCB might be secondary to a direct toxicity of the contrast agent, leading to an osmotic disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), with a preferential involvement of the posterior circulation and occipital cortex. We report a series of three patients with contrast medium-associated TCB (intra-arterial injection of non-ionic contrast agent during diagnostic cerebral angiography for two of them and coronary angioplasty for the other one). In two patients, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable; in the other patient, typical MRI findings were observed, with FLAIR hyperintensities in the right occipital cortex and decreased apparent diffusions coefficient (ADC). Interestingly, this patient also presented posterior rhythmic epileptiform activities on electroencephalogram during the first 36 h. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) showed normal retinal potential, but a massive destructuration of the later potentials of the cortical origin. To our knowledge, this is the first time that VEPs acquired during TCB are reported. We discuss these findings with respect to the pathophysiology of TCB

Danses, musiques et (trans)nationalismes

Ce dossier prend pour objet les imbrications des dimensions locales, nationales et transnationales des appartenances qui se jouent au travers des pratiques musico-chorégraphiques. En s’appuyant sur des recherches ethnographiques et historiques à propos de la salsa, de la kizomba, du sabar, du séga, du sheikani, du fandango et de la danse contemporaine, les auteur.e.s saisissent leurs modes de circulation entre différents espaces (Afrique, Amérique centrale et du Nord, Europe, Proche et Moyen-Orient, Océan Indien), et analysent comment les expériences générées par la musique et la danse agissent sur l’articulation des registres d’identification. Ces ethnographies de performances en circulation produisent des lectures originales des phénomènes de globalisation culturelle, suggérant plusieurs outils (méthodologiques et conceptuels) pour dépasser le binarisme national/transnational et étudier conjointement les processus de (trans)nationalisation et de translocalisation. Le dossier permet alors de réinterroger la façon dont les registres d’identification se conjuguent dans un jeu d’ancrages et de circulations, mais aussi et surtout dans des instants de performances situées, où les imbrications d’échelles spatiales et identitaires sont mises en corps, en émotions, et en sensations

Leptomeningeal spread in glioblastoma: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

International audienceBackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor. Leptomeningeal spread (LMS) is a severe complication of GBM, raising diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in clinical routine.MethodsWe performed a review of the literature focused on LMS in GBM. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were queried from 1989 to 2019 for articles describing diagnosis and therapeutic options in GBM LMS, as well as risk factors and pathogenic mechanisms.ResultsWe retrieved 155 articles, including retrospective series, case reports, and early phase clinical trials, as well as preclinical studies. These articles confirmed that LMS in GBM remains (a) a diagnostic challenge with cytological proof of LMS obtained in only 35% of cases and (b) a therapeutic challenge with a median overall survival below 2 months with best supportive care alone. For patients faced with suggestive clinical symptoms, whole neuroaxis magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are both recommended. Liquid biopsies are under investigation and may help prompt a reliable diagnosis. Based on the literature, a multimodal and personalized therapeutic approach of LMS, including surgery, radiotherapy, systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy, and intrathecal chemotherapies, may provide benefits to selected patients. Interestingly, molecular targeted therapies appear promising in case of actionable molecular target and should be considered.ConclusionAs the prognosis of glioblastoma is improving over time, LMS becomes a more common complication. Our review highlights the need for translational studies and clinical trials dedicated to this challenging condition in order to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Descriptive and retrospective analysis of diffuse glioma patients with symptomatic SARS-CoV2 infection during the first wave of the pandemic

International audienceBackgroundLittle is known about diffuse glioma patients infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2).MethodsWe performed a descriptive and retrospective analysis of 41 diffuse glioma patients with symptomatic SARS-CoV2 infection during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsConfusion with or without fever was the most common neurological symptom (32%) supporting SARS-CoV2 testing in glioma patients with acute and unexplained confusion. Sixteen patients (39%) died after a median delay of 13 days. While multiple clinical, biological, and pathological features, COVID-19- or diffuse glioma-related, at hospital admission appeared to have a pejorative prognostic impact, none was significantly associated with death. Oncological treatments were interrupted at COVID-19 diagnosis and re-initiated with a median delay of 30 days after the end of COVID-19 symptoms.ConclusionsInterestingly, our retrospective study describes for the first time the characteristics of a cohort of diffuse glioma patients with symptomatic COVID-19. Diffuse glioma patients with poorly symptomatic COVID-19 did not come to the attention of physicians and were not enrolled in the study skewing the denominator for prognostic analysis. Further studies are warranted to specify prognosis of overall population of diffuse glioma patients with COVID-19, including asymptomatic patients, and interactions of prognostic factors of both COVID-19 and diffuse gliomas

Severe asthma exacerbation: Changes in patient characteristics, management, and outcomes from 1997 to 2016 in 40 ICUs in the greater Paris area

Background: Despite advances in asthma treatments, severe asthma exacerbation (SAE) remains a life-threatening condition in adults, and there is a lack of data derived from adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) for SAE. The current study investigated changes in adult patient characteristics, management, and outcomes of SAE over a 20-year period in 40 ICUs in the greater Paris area. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, admissions to 40 ICUs in the greater Paris area for SAE from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2016 were analyzed. The primary outcome was the proportion of ICU admissions for SAE during 5-year periods. Secondary outcomes were ICU and hospital mortality, and the use of mechanical ventilation and catecholamine. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess factors associated with ICU mortality. Results: A total of 7049 admissions for SAE were recorded. For each 5-year period, the proportion decreased over time, with SAE accounting for 2.84% of total ICU admissions (n=2841) between 1997 and 2001, 1.76% (n=1717) between 2002 and 2006, 1.05% (n=965) between 2007 and 2011, and 1.05% (n=1526) between 2012 and 2016. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 32–59 years), 55.41% were female, the median Simplified Acute Physiology Score II was 20 (IQR: 13–28), and 19.76% had mechanical ventilation. The use of mechanical ventilation remained infrequent throughout the 20-year period, whereas the use of catecholamine decreased. ICU and hospital mortality rates decreased. Factors associated with ICU mortality were renal replacement therapy, catecholamine, cardiac arrest, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Non-survivors were older, had more severe symptoms, and were more likely to have received IMV. Conclusion: ICU admission for SAE remains uncommon, and the proportion of cases decreased over time. Despite a slight increase in symptom severity during a 20-year period, ICU and hospital mortality decreased. Patients requiring IMV had a higher mortality rate

T2‐Fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) pseudoprogression in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas treated with procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy alone

Abstract Background Pseudoprogression in gliomas has been extensively described after radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, but not after chemotherapy alone. Here we describe the occurrence of pseudoprogression in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas treated with postoperative procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy alone. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical and radiological files of patients with 1p/19q codeleted, IDH‐mutant anaplastic oligodendrogliomas treated with PCV chemotherapy alone who presented magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modifications suggestive of tumour progression and in whom the final diagnosis was a pseudoprogression. Results We identified six patients. All patients underwent a surgical resection and were treated with PCV chemotherapy without radiotherapy. After a median of 11 months following the initiation of chemotherapy (range: 3–49 months), the patients developed asymptomatic white matter MRI modifications around the surgical cavity leading to the suspicion of a tumour progression. These modifications appeared as hyperintense on T2‐fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence, hypointense on T1 sequence, and lacked mass effect (0/6), contrast enhancement (0/6), restriction on diffusion‐weighted imaging (0/4), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) increase on perfusion MRI (0/4), and hypermetabolism on 18 F‐fluoro‐L‐dopa positron emission tomography ( 18 F‐DOPA PET) scan (0/3). One patient underwent a surgical resection demonstrating no tumour recurrence; the five other patients were considered as having post‐therapeutic modifications based on imaging characteristics. After a median follow‐up of 4 years all patients were progression‐free. Conclusions Anaplastic oligodendroglioma patients treated with postoperative PCV chemotherapy alone occasionally develop T2/FLAIR hyperintensities around the surgical cavity that can wrongly suggest tumour progression. Multimodal imaging and close follow‐up should be considered in this situation

Danses, musiques et (trans)nationalismes

Ce dossier prend pour objet les imbrications des dimensions locales, nationales et transnationales des appartenances qui se jouent au travers des pratiques musico-chorégraphiques. En s’appuyant sur des recherches ethnographiques et historiques à propos de la salsa, de la kizomba, du sabar, du séga, du sheikani, du fandango et de la danse contemporaine, les auteur.e.s saisissent leurs modes de circulation entre différents espaces (Afrique, Amérique centrale et du Nord, Europe, Proche et Moyen-Orient, Océan Indien), et analysent comment les expériences générées par la musique et la danse agissent sur l’articulation des registres d’identification. Ces ethnographies de performances en circulation produisent des lectures originales des phénomènes de globalisation culturelle, suggérant plusieurs outils (méthodologiques et conceptuels) pour dépasser le binarisme national/transnational et étudier conjointement les processus de (trans)nationalisation et de translocalisation. Le dossier permet alors de réinterroger la façon dont les registres d’identification se conjuguent dans un jeu d’ancrages et de circulations, mais aussi et surtout dans des instants de performances situées, où les imbrications d’échelles spatiales et identitaires sont mises en corps, en émotions, et en sensations