Imaging-based characterization of convective tissue properties.

Convective transport is an important phenomenon for nanomedicine delivery. We present an imaging-based approach to recover tissue properties that are significant in the accumulation of nanoparticles delivered via systemic methods. The classical pharmacokinetic analysis develops governing equations for the particle transport from a first principle mass balance. Fundamentally, the governing equations for compartmental mass balance represent a spatially invariant mass transport between compartments and do not capture spatially variant convection phenomena. Further, the parameters recovered from this approach do not necessarily have direct meaning with respect to the governing equations for convective transport. In our approach, a framework is presented for directly measuring permeability in the sense of Darcy flow through porous tissue. Measurements from our approach are compared to an extended Tofts model as a control. We demonstrate that a pixel-wise iterative clustering algorithm may be applied to reduce the parameter space of the measurements. We show that measurements obtained from our approach are correlated with measurements obtained from the extended Tofts model control. These correlations demonstrate that the proposed approach contains similar information to an established compartmental model and may be useful in providing an alternative theoretical framework for parameterizing mathematical models for treatment planning and diagnostic studies involving nanomedicine where convection dominated effects are important.

Respiratory syncytial virus-associated mortality in a healthy 3-year-old child: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequently identified pathogen in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection. Fatal cases have mainly been reported during the first 6 months of life or in the presence of comorbidity. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-month-old girl was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit following sudden cardiopulmonary arrest occurring at home. The electrocardiogram showed cardiac asystole, which was refractory to prolonged resuscitation efforts. Postmortem analyses detected RSV by polymerase chain reaction in an abundant, exudative pericardial effusion. Histopathological examination was consistent with viral myoepicarditis, including an inflammatory process affecting cardiac nerves and ganglia. Molecular analysis of sudden unexplained death genes identified a heterozygous mutation in myosin light chain 2, which was also found in two other healthy members of the family. Additional expert interpretation of the cardiac histology confirmed the absence of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSIONS: RSV-related sudden death in a normally developing child of this age is exceptional. This case highlights the risk of extrapulmonary manifestations associated with this infection, particularly arrhythmia induced by inflammatory phenomena affecting the cardiac autonomic nervous system. The role of the mutation in this context is uncertain, and it is therefore necessary to continue to assess how this pathogenic variant contributes to unexpected sudden death in childhood.

[Ecthyma gangrenosum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia in intensive care unit]. / Ecthyma gangrenosum et septicémie àPseudomonas aeruginosa en réanimation.

We report a case of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia complicated by a septic shock after chemotherapy for pulmonary cancer. Bilateral legs necrotic purpura corresponding to echtyma gangrenosum lesions (erythematous inflammatory halo, positive bacteriologic cutaneous biopsy) was noted 48 h previous to the shock. Echtyma gangrenosum manifestation should alert physician to P. aeruginosa septicemia risk and can be useful to guide probabilist antibiotherapy.

[Anticipatory Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ). Presentation and validation]. / Le questionnaire des cognitions anticipatoires (QCA). Présentation et validation.

The capacity of anticipation is fundamentally disturbed in depressed patients. These patients make negative predictions. Anticipation disturbances are reflected in different symptoms but also in the patient's cognitions. The cognitive approach is an operational way to deal with the concept of anticipation. The cognitive model of depression has been extensively studied and cognitive therapies have been validated as effective treatments of depression. A self-questionnaire has been elaborated, taking into account the different cognitive mechanisms disturbed in depressed patients. The "Anticipatory Cognitions Questionnaire" (ACQ) explores patient's cognitions in concrete daily life situations that require anticipation. The first version of this questionnaire contained 18 items. A previous study had led to reduce the number of items and to modify the form of the questionnaire. In its final version, the ACQ has 8 items. Each of them refers to a concrete situation (i.e. "I have no news from a loved one") and the patient is asked to say how a proposed cognition (i.e. "I will call him to get in touch") applies to him, choosing one of the four answers "true", "rather true", "rather wrong" and "wrong". The validation of this questionnaire has been carried out, in comparison with the MADRS and Pichot's QD2A. 151 subjects were included in this validation study, 72% of them meeting with the DSM III-R diagnostic criteria of clinical depression and 28% not having any psychiatric disorder. Statistical analysis shows that the ACQ is more sensible than the QD2A but less than the MADRS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Cognitive approach to anticipation in depression]. / Approche cognitive de l'anticipation dans les dépressions.

There is an extensive philosophical and humanistic literature concerning anticipation. Behavioural and cognitive theories have approached the concept of anticipation and have led to therapeutic solutions. The Lewinsohn model enables prediction and restoration of the activities of mastery and pleasure. The social psychology model (Bandura) forms the basis of training in assertiveness, using role-playing in order to be able to produce the relational situations which the patient will encounter. Learned helplessness for action (Seligman), teaches the reattribution of failures or successes, which leads the depressed patient to once again become involved in the action concerned. Exposure to feared situations (Marks) modifies catastrophic anticipations. The social reinforcement model (Liberman) enables prediction by functional analysis of factors involved in the persistence of problems and their modification. The mechanisms of anticipation have been reviewed since Bartlett and Ellis and up to the work of Beck. Structured patterns during existence determine thought processes in face of the circumstances which provoke them. Thus, in the opinion of the authors, our past affects our future in terms of the manner in which these patterns deal with information and determine our thoughts (cognitive events) and our vision of the future. The experimental basis of the cognitive model and the validation of these therapeutic approaches are described. The depressed patient makes negative predictions. Negative cognitions vary in conjunction with mood. Modification of these cognitions changes mood. Numerous studies are presented. They establish the effectiveness of this model, comparable to the action of antidepressant drugs and appearing to have a prolonged effect. The evaluation and cognitive treatment of anticipation are described: cognitive rating scales and analysis are proposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The perimetric score in Bjerrum's area]. / Le score périmétrique dans l'aire de Bjerrum.

The authors have examined a protocole in automatic perimetry. On glaucoma they have measured, with different instruments, deficits in visual fields in Bjerrum's area. The perimetric score gives them a numeric data which determines rapidly the patient's state. This data may be used on graphics.

[A new therapeutic approach: the behavioral prescription of anxiolytics]. / Une nouvelle approche thérapeutique: la prescription comportementale de l'anxiolytique.

Nowadays, two major therapeutic approaches (pharmacological and behavioural) have proven their efficiency and efficacy in the treatment of anxious disorders. These two methods have been used separately, alternatively or simultaneously. The prescription of benzodiazepines is necessary, because they are efficient and fast-acting. But this is not enough and may be hazardous for a prolonged period. Behavioural methodology and therapeutics improve the assessment of anxious disorders and offer a large variety of specific techniques to the physician. The innovative and integrative behavioural prescription (BP) is pragmatic and reliable. For instance, drugs are markers for assessment of anxious behaviours, in an agenda and may be used both to support functional analysis, and as agents of therapeutic contracts. The synergic action of behavioural prescription is clear in three dimensions: BP deepens muscle relaxation and gives better self-control and self-regulation of arousal level. BP alleviates social inhibition by developing social skills. BP modifies cognitions and affective disorders, which is necessary for permanent results and drug withdrawal. Other applications of BP will be considered in the future.

[Contribution of enzyme-linked immuno-electrotransfer blot assay for the diagnosis of human neurocysticercosis]. / Apport de l'enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay au diagnostic de la neurocysticercose humaine.

An enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) is developed for immunodiagnosing human neurocysticercosis. The assay's efficacy is evaluated in 71 neurocysticercotic patients whose diagnosis of the disease and evaluation of disease activity is based on CT scan findings. We identified eight bands (molecular weigh less than 35 000) that evaluate the disease activity: active disease, calcification in progress, inactive disease. All samples patients with active disease recognized 14 000 band. This band is missing in the others parasitic diseases and in serum of the patients with inactive diseases or calcification in progress. The enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot is simple to perform and may be used in sero-epidemiology.