[Malnutrition is an independent risk factor of early complications following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy]. / La dénutrition est un facteur de risque indépendant de complications précoces après pose d'une gastrostomie percutanée endoscopique.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between malnutrition and complications occuring in hospitalized patients is debated. AIM: To assess prospectively the relationship between nutritional status and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-related complications and to determine the respective role of malnutrition and confounding variables on clinical outcome. METHODS: Ninety seven patients were followed up for 30 days after PEG insertion and complications were prospectively recorded. Patients were classified as malnourished when they met one of the following criteria: body mass index<20 kg/m(2) and/or weight loss > 5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for age, sex, diagnoses, functional status, antibiotic treatment and duration of hospital stay before PEG insertion. RESULTS: Sixty eight (70.1%) patients were malnourished. A significantly higher number of complications was seen in malnourished than in non malnourished patients (54.4% vs 31%; odds-ratio (OR): 2.65 [CI 95%: 1.06-6.66]; P=0.04). One-month mortality did not significantly differ between malnourished and non malnourished patients. Multivariate analysis showed that malnutrition (OR: 3.15 [1.21-8.24]; P=0.02) and > 10-day hospital stay (OR: 2.77 [1.13-6.82]; P=0.03) were significantly associated with early complications. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that malnutrition increases the risk of early complications after PEG insertion, independently of the underlying diseases and functional status of the patients.

Naphthalene and donor cell density influence field conjugation of naphthalene catabolism plasmids.

We examined transfer of naphthalene-catabolic genes from donor microorganisms native to a contaminated site to site-derived, rifampin-resistant recipient bacteria unable to grow on naphthalene. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) was demonstrated in filter matings using groundwater microorganisms as donors. Two distinct but similar plasmid types, closely related to pDTG1, were retrieved. In laboratory-incubated sediment matings, the addition of naphthalene stimulated HGT. However, recipient bacteria deployed in recoverable vessels in the field site (in situ) did not retrieve plasmids from native donors. Only when plasmid-containing donor cells and naphthalene were added to the in situ mating experiments did HGT occur.

[Pancreatic necrosis infection by Candida parapsilosis associated with fungemia]. / Infection de nécrose pancréatique à Candida parapsilosis associée à une fungémie.

Pancreatic necrosis infection is the most common complication affecting mortality of severe acute pancreatitis (death rate 80%). Bacterial infections particularly with coliforms or anaerobes account for the majority of cases of infected necrosis. Fungal pancreatic infections with Candida species are rare and often nosocomial. We report herein the first case of pancreatic necrosis infection with Candida parapsilosis associated with fungemia confirmed by molecular typing.

Two-dimensional visualization of liquid layers on transparent walls.

A new two-dimensional visualization technique based on laser-induced fluorescence for investigation of liquid-fuel films on transparent walls was applied in an SI engine. For optical access the upper part of the engine cylinder is replaced with a quartz ring. An UV laser beam is coupled into the ring, forcing total reflection at quartz-air interfaces. Because of the similar indices of refraction of quartz and fuel, laser light penetrates into the liquid. The corresponding fluorescence signal visualizes areas where wall film is present. It is shown that the technique is an excellent tool for investigation of wall-film development in combustion engines.