Competition between Allowed and First-Forbidden ß Decay: The Case of

The ß decay of ^{208}Hg into the one-proton hole, one neutron-particle _{81}^{208}Tl_{127} nucleus was investigated at CERN-ISOLDE. Shell-model calculations describe well the level scheme deduced, validating the proton-neutron interactions used, with implications for the whole of the N>126, Z<82 quadrant of neutron-rich nuclei. While both negative and positive parity states with spin 0 and 1 are expected within the Q_{ß} window, only three negative parity states are populated directly in the ß decay. The data provide a unique test of the competition between allowed Gamow-Teller and Fermi, and first-forbidden ß decays, essential for the understanding of the nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei in the rapid neutron capture process. Furthermore, the observation of the parity changing 0^{+}→0^{-}ß decay where the daughter state is core excited is unique, and can provide information on mesonic corrections of effective operators.

Detection of the serogoups and serotypes causing bacterial meningitidis in Bangui, 2012.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the serogroup and serotypes causing bacterial meningitidis and to determine their prevalence in Bangui, Central African Republic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with suspected meningitis were collected and tested with cell counts, Gram staining, cultures, the latex agglutination test (LAT), and real-time PCR that used specific primers and probes for S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Patients were eligible if they had a CSF sample as well as information about cell counts, Gram staining, the culture, the LAT, and the PCR. Antibiotic detection disks from Bio-Rad laboratory were used to test for the presence of antibiotic activity in the CSF. An uncorrected Chi2 test was used for comparisons. RESULTS: Of the 216 CSF samples collected, 71 were analyzed: 17 Gram stains were positive, as were 6 cultures, 15 LATs, and 33 PCRs. Among the latter, the serogroup distribution was highest for S. pneumoniae, which accounted for 82% (27/33) of the positive cases; H. influenzae type b accounted for 12% (4/33), and N. meningitidis A for 6% (2/33) positive cases. N. meningitidis No W135, N. meningitides B, N. meningitides X, or Streptococcus C serogroups were isolated. CONCLUSION: One year after the introduction of the PCV 13 vaccine, S. pneumoniae was identified as the predominant disease-causing strain. This study demonstrated the essential role of laboratory confirmation of meningitis cases to assess changes in disease epidemiology.

[Integrated screening for HIV, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in the Central African Republic]. / Dépistage intégré du VIH, de la syphilis et de la toxoplasmose chez les femmes enceintes en Centrafrique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of syphilis and toxoplasmosis infection in pregnant women in the Central African Republic who were and were not HIV-infected, in the framework of HIV surveillance. METHODS: This case-control study included 270 HIV(+) and 217 HIV(-) pregnant women among 4 750 women who attended prenatal-care clinics throughout the Central African Republic from November 2011 through January 2012. Blood specimens were collected and serological evidence of HIV1/2 was analyzed by ELISA1 and ELISA2. The Toxoplasma gondii antibody was detected with the Toxo-Hai Fumouze(®) diagnostic kit. A VDRL test was performed to screen for syphilis in all study participants. RESULTS: Of the 434 samples tested, 33 (7.60%) were positive for syphilis: 21 (9.7%) among HIV(+) and 12 (5.5%) among HIV(-) women (p = 0.1031); 221 (50.90%) were positive for toxoplasmosis: 117 (53.9%) among HIV(+) and 104 (47.9%) among HIV(-) women (p = 0, 2119). Coinfection with HIV, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis was found in 6.00%. No association was found between coinfection and age, parity, and residence area. The rate of syphilis infection was very high in pregnant women living in rural areas (ORcrude = 4.37; 95% CI = 2,11, 9.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis and syphilis in pregnant women in the Central African Republic, regardless of their HIV infection status. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in pregnant women living in rural areas. It may be appropriate to include routine serological screening tests to determine of toxoplasmosis, syphilis and HIV in pregnant women in this country.

Deficient alpha smooth muscle actin expression as a cause of intestinal pseudo-obstruction: fact or fiction?

AIMS: To test the hypothesis that deficient alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA) expression in intestinal smooth muscle, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, is specifically associated with clinical evidence of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. METHODS: Seventeen archival, formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded samples of small intestine and 12 samples of large intestine were studied. Two of the small bowel samples and one large bowel sample were from patients with symptoms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. The controls were longitudinal surgical margins from hemicolectomies performed for carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed using primary antibodies to ASMA, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), and desmin. The relative intensities of immunohistochemical expression in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the muscularis propria were assessed in each sample, for all three markers. RESULTS: All samples showed strong SMMHC and desmin expression in the inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of the muscularis propria. Both small intestinal samples from the cases and 11 of 15 controls showed no or minimal ASMA expression in the inner circular layer, with the remaining four controls also showing ASMA labelling in this layer that was weaker than within the longitudinal muscle. In contrast, intense ASMA expression was seen in both muscle layers within the large intestine in the remaining case, and in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence from this study to support the hypothesis that ASMA deficiency in intestinal smooth muscle, as determined by immunohistochemistry on archival tissues, is specifically associated with intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

[Reactivity differences between serums of patients infected with HIV-2 and HIV-1 antigens according to the patients' geographic origin]. / Différence de réactivité des sérums de patients infectés par le VIH-2 sur les antigénes VIH-1 en fonction de leur origine géographique.

We tested 98 sera from HIV-2-infected patients for cross-reactivity with HIV-1 antigens in a competitive EIA test and western blotting. The sera were obtained during epidemiological surveys in Cape Verde Islands (n = 47) and Mali (n = 51). There were significantly more cross reactions with sera from Mali. Similar results were obtained with sera from African patients resident in France. Samples from HIV-2-infected patients from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Mali were more often reactive with HIV-1 antigens than were those from HIV-2-infected patients from the western Atlantic coast (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Senegal). These data underline the importance of using specific tests for HIV-2 sero-positivity, and the need to include a panel of HIV-2-positive sera of different geographic origins in quality control kits.

Cellular and plasma viral load in patients infected with HIV-2.

OBJECTIVE: To determine circulating viral load in HIV-2-infected individuals. METHODS: Viral load was determined in 40 HIV-2-infected adults using standardized quantitative cell and qualitative plasma viraemia assays. We also tested for proviral HIV-2 DNA using single and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in fresh lymphocytes from 27 subjects. The results were compared, on the basis of the CD4+ lymphocyte count, with our published data for HIV-1 infection. RESULTS: HIV-2 was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 19 individuals and plasma from four patients. The rate of cell and plasma viraemia positivity correlated with the CD4+ cell count and HIV-2 virus load increased as the CD4+ cell count fell. The cellular HIV-2 load in the patients with a CD4+ count < 200 x 10(6)/l was similar to reported values for HIV-1, but the HIV-2 isolation rate from the plasma of these individuals was significantly lower than for HIV-1. When the CD4+ count was between 200 and 500 x 10(6)/l, the rate of HIV-2 isolation from plasma and the cellular virus load were both significantly lower than for HIV-1. When the CD4+ count was > 500 x 10(6)/l, HIV-1 and HIV-2 were undetectable in plasma and HIV-1 was isolated from PBMC in significantly more cases than HIV-2. By single PCR, amplification were positive in 14 out of 27 subjects and there was a correlation between positivity and CD4+ cell count. By nested PCR, only four of the 27 subjects, all with a high CD4+ count, remained negative. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in viral load between individuals infected with HIV-2 and those infected with HIV-1 could partly account for reported differences in the pathogenicity of the two viruses.

[A ergonomic chair on an oscillating pivot with an electrical motor for the prevention of occupational lumbar pathology due to the seated posture]. / Sedia ergonomica oscillante a bascula, mediante movimentazione elettrica, per la prevenzione della patologia professionale lombare da posizione assisa.

It is described an ergonomic chair of new conception, because it is not a static one, but slowly swinging in all planes, with a motion activated by an electrical engine. This chair is patented. The clinical experimentation on cases of "minor" lumbar pathology, as it is found more and more frequently in prolonged seated working situations, confirm the benefit of this instrument, already tested in cases of manifest lumbar pathology.