Low frequency propagation through random polydisperse assemblies of cylindrical or spherical poroelastic obstacles.

The effective wavenumbers, moduli, and mass densities are found for polydisperse assemblies of poroelastic obstacles (considering fluid flow and solid deformation in the porous medium). The obstacles are infinite length cylinders and spheres. To achieve this, recent formulas for the effective wavenumbers, given by Linton and Martin [SIAM J. Appl. Math. 66(5), 1649-1668 (2006)] and Norris and Conoir [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129(1), 104-113 (2011)] in the dilute monodisperse case (obstacles of identical sizes in a fluid matrix), have been modified. Given the uncertainty in predicting the distribution in size of the obstacles, three quite different probability density functions are studied and compared: uniform, Schulz, and lognormal. Specifically, the Rayleigh approximation (low frequency regime) is considered, in which the wavelengths can be assumed very large compared to the size of the obstacles. Within this limit, simplified formulas are provided for the concentrations depending on the parameter characterizing the size dispersion.

ESTES guidelines: acute mesenteric ischaemia.

PURPOSE: Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) accounts for about 1:1000 acute hospital admissions. Untreated, AMI will cause mesenteric infarction, intestinal necrosis, an overwhelming inflammatory response and death. Early intervention can halt and reverse this process leading to a full recovery, but the diagnosis of AMI is difficult and failure to recognize AMI before intestinal necrosis has developed is responsible for the high mortality of the disease. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the goals of modern therapy, but there are no randomized controlled trials to guide treatment and the published literature contains a high ratio of reviews to original data. Much of that data comes from case reports and often small, retrospective series with no clearly defined treatment criteria. METHODS: A study group of the European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) was formed in 2013 with the aim of developing guidelines for the management of AMI. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) thesaurus keywords "mesenteric ischaemia", "bowel ischaemia" and "bowel infarction". The bibliographies of relevant articles were screened for additional publications. After an initial systematic review of the literature by the whole group, a steering group formulated questions using a modified Delphi process. The evidence was then reviewed to answer these questions, and recommendations formulated and agreed by the whole group. RESULTS: The resultant recommendations are presented in this paper. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of these guidelines is to provide recommendations for practice that will lead to improved outcomes for patients.

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to 5-fluorouracil: urinary α-fluoro-ß-alanine assay by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in health care personnel.

A new sensitive and specific HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of α-fluoro-ß-alanine (FBAL), the main metabolite of the antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in urine for the biological monitoring survey of health care workers exposed to 5-FU is described. This procedure is characterized by a pre-column FBAL derivatization by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene followed by solid phase extraction sample clean-up. The chromatographic separation was achieved by hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) on a ZIC HILIC column (Sequant) and the quantification was performed by tandem mass spectrometry. The method offers high sensitivity with a quantification limit of 1 µg/l, which is an improvement on those previously reported. The within- and between-day precisions were less than 13% and 15% respectively at the LOQ and no significant relative matrix effect was observed for FBAL. The validated method was applied to the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to 5-FU in a French hospital. Pre- and post-shift urine samples were collected from 19 workers in a hospital pharmacy and an oncology ward over a period of 5 days. On a total of 121 analysed samples, measurable amounts of FBAL were detected in up to 29%, the concentrations range from LOQ to 22.7 µg/l, yielding evidence of occupational exposure to 5-FU. Such data are scarce and represent a step forward in assessing the occupational health risks associated with handling antineoplastic drugs.

[Serologic markers used for hepatitis B surveillance in Togo: status report and action proposals]. / Marqueurs sérologiques utilisés dans la surveillance de l'infection par le virus de l'hépatite B au Togo: état des lieux et propositions.

UNLABELLED: The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the only marker used for diagnosis and follow-up of hepatitis B infection in Togo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of HBsAg testing for follow-up of hepatitis B infection. This study was conducted in 230 patients referred to the National Institute of Hygiene for HBsAg testing. In all cases the requested test was performed and the request and results were evaluated. RESULTS: The study group included 159 women (69%) and 71 men (31%). The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 10.87%. Prevalence was higher in men than in women. Highest prevalence rates were observed in the age groups 20 to 50, which corresponds to the peak period of sexual activity. The indication for testing was often not clearly specified by Laboratory engineers (85.71%), Clinical officers (73.68%) and physicians (61.24%). When mentioned, the indication was suspicion of hepatitis B (20.87%), work-up for pregnancy (8.70%), testing prior to vaccination (8.26%) and surveillance of an infected patient (1.30%). The prevalence of HBsAg was 0.00% in prevaccination tests, 5% in pregnancy workup tests, and 10.42% in hepatitis B suspicion tests. Test results were negative in one infected patient referred for follow-up. None of the patients with positive results returned for therapeutic follow-up testing and no marker other than HBsAg was requested regardless the indication. CONCLUSION: the laboratory of serology is under-used for hepatitis B surveillance. Hepatitis B follow-up using antigen HBsAg alone is inadequate and the equipment required for testing other markers is the same.

Effects of a combination of evening primrose oil (gamma linolenic acid) and fish oil (eicosapentaenoic + docahexaenoic acid) versus magnesium, and versus placebo in preventing pre-eclampsia.

In a placebo controlled, partially double-blinded, clinical trial, a combination of evening primrose oil and fish oil was compared to Magnesium Oxide, and to a Placebo in preventing Pre-Eclampsia of Pregnancy. All were given as nutritional supplements for six months to a group of primiparous and multiparous pregnant women. Some of these women had personal or family histories of hypertension (21%). Only those patients who received prenatal care at the Central Maternity Hospital for Luanda were included in the study. Compared to the Placebo group (29%), the group receiving the mixture of evening primrose oil and fish oil containing Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) had a significantly lower incidence of edema (13%, p = 0.004). The group receiving Magnesium Oxide had statistically significant fewer subjects who developed hypertension of pregnancy. There were 3 cases of eclampsia, all in the Placebo group.

[Risk factors for the development of diarrhea in children of 6-36 months carrying enteropathogenic microbes (apropos of 130 cases observed in Lomé-Togo)]. / Etude des facteurs de risque diarrhéogène chez l'enfant de 6-36 mois porteur de germes entéropathogènes (à propos de 130 cas observés à Lomé-Togo).

Diarrhoea, an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality is a priority problem in developing countries. The diarrhoea is most often of infectious origin. This is an evaluation of the parameters susceptible of influencing the carrying of enteropathogenic agents and the apparition of diarrhoea in children 6-36 months of age living in urban and peri-urban areas in the tropics. The study concerns 130 children divided between well nourished and malnourished. To the parameter "nutritional status" most often used in the different studies one finds in the literature, we chose to add a combination of others regrouped under the categories of "type of feeding" and "environmental factors". In our socio-cultural context, these last two parameters are intimately linked to the mother who lives in symbiosis with her child at least until 36 months of age. At the end of the study we were able to put together the results of research on carriage of a large gamut of enteropathogenic agents (parasites, bacteria, viruses) with our chosen parameters. This allowed us observe all the interactions between these two variables, particularly relating to onset of diarrhoea. We were thus able to conclude that the factors characterizing "Food hygiene and environmental hygiene play the most important role whatever the nutritional status of child".

Intradiploic cerebrospinal fluid fistula. Report of two cases.

Two patients with asymptomatic osteolytic skull lesions were found to have cerebrospinal fluid diploic fistulas. The radiographic and operative findings have not been reported previously.

Joint position sense: the effects of muscle contraction.

The effects of isometric and isotonic force production on perceived static joint position were investigated in 12 adult subjects. The joint examined was the proximal interphalangeal joint of one index finger, and its perceived position was determined from matching movements of the equivalent joint on the other hand. When the perturbed joint was free to move, even when supporting substantial loads, the position was accurately estimated; however, when the subject was required to exert substantial isometric force against the device imposing the joint movement, significant errors occurred: these errors were in the direction of the increasing force. Similar effects were evident during increasing isometric flexion force in anaesthetized fingers. It is suggested that force-related afferent discharge from muscle, presumably originating in tendon organ receptors, contributes to static joint position sense. This force-feedback may allow the nervous system to accommodate for the effects of changing fusimotor bias, but it also appears to induce errors when afferent information of force and length provide potentially conflicting information.

[The dehydrogenation of butandiol by "vibrio parahaemolyticus" and other vibrios (author's transl)]. / La butanedioldéshydrogénase chez Vibrio parahaemolyticus et d'autres vibrions

The butandiol dehydrogenase was examined in 64 vibrios isolated in Togo 1970/71. This enzyme was found in all of the not halophilic strains and in the species Vibrio alginolyticus, whereas the species V. parahaemolyticus exhibited as well dehydrating as not dehydrating strains. The butandiol dehydrogenase could be a good marker for epidemiologic analysis in characterizing V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from different sources, especially if no antisera are available.