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This is not breaking news: copper acetylides, readily available polymeric rock-stable solids, have been known for more than a century to be unreactive species and piteous nucleophiles. This lack of reactivity actually makes them ideal alkyne transfer reagents that can be easily activated under mild oxidizing conditions. When treated with molecular oxygen in the presence of simple chelating nitrogen ligands such as TMEDA, phenanthroline or imidazole derivatives, they are smoothly oxidized to highly electrophilic species that formally behave like acetylenic carbocations and can therefore be used for the mild and practical alkynylation of a wide range of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon nucleophiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite a large carriage rate of Clostridium difficile among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is rather rare. In case of lung transplantation, the incidence and clinical aspects of CDAD in this patient population are not well known. Methods. We reviewed the medical files of all CF patients who presented with symptomatic C. difficile infection from January 1998 to December 2004 and compared the incidence, clinical aspects, severity of disease, and clinical outcome between non-transplanted and transplanted CF patients. Results. Between 1998 and 2004, 106 adult CF patients were followed at our clinic. Forty-nine patients underwent lung transplantation; 15 before 1998 and 34 after 1998. The incidence density of CDAD was higher in transplanted CF patients as compared with non-transplanted CF patients (24.2 vs. 9.5 episodes/100,000 patient-days; risk ratio: 2.93 [1.41–6.08]; P=0.0044). Diarrhea was a very frequent feature, but was notably absent in 20% of the cases. Rates of moderate and severe colitis were similar in both groups. However, only transplanted patients developed complicated colitis. CT scan and endoscopy were performed more frequently in the transplant group. Two transplant recipients died because of CDAD. Conclusion. CF patients who undergo lung transplantation are at a higher risk of developing CDAD and seem to present more often atypical and/or complicated disease. CDAD should be part of the differential diagnosis in case of digestive symptoms, even in the absence of diarrhea, and requires early treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodococcus equi is a rare human opportunistic pathogen that has been increasingly reported in recent decades. It mainly affects immunosuppressed patients, and in particular human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients, where it typically presents as cavitary pneumonia. Early treatment with combined and effective antimicrobials and antiretroviral therapy after prompt diagnosis is essential to ensure an optimal outcome. We present a case series of three human Rhodococcus equi infections in HIV‐infected patients with advanced immune suppression, treated at the University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Objectif: L’objectif de cette étude est de vérifier, au sein d’une équipe de handball féminin s’entraînant trois fois par semaine, si l’introduction de deux courtes séances de musculation hebdomadaires présente un impact positif sur les qualités physiques des joueuses au cours de l’année. Population et méthode: Dix-huit joueuses de handball du meilleur niveau belge ont été suivies au cours d’une saison entière. Dix de ces filles (groupe ű Muscu Ƈ) ont bénéficié, en plus de leur entraînement normal, de deux séances de musculation hebdomadaire d’une durée de 30minutes. Les autres (groupe ű Contrôle Ƈ) ont suivi le même entraînement, sans les séances de musculation. Une batterie de tests (puissance des jambes, puissance des bras, détente verticale, sprint, lancer, souplesse) a été mise en place, à quatre reprises au cours de la saison, afin d’examiner l’évolution des performances musculaires. Résultats: Conformément à la littérature, le groupe ű Contrôle Ƈ ne montre aucune modification de performance au cours de l’année. Les résultats du groupe ű Muscu Ƈ montre, en revanche, que les séances de musculation ont été bénéfiques, avec des améliorations significatives, pour la puissance des jambes (p <0,005) et le sprint (p <0,05). L’amélioration de la détente se rapproche du seuil de signification (p =0,06) et la puissance des bras apparaît supérieure en fin d’année comparativement au groupe ű Contrôle Ƈ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a paucity of information regarding cases of multi-victim sexual assault of children. The reported incidence suggests that these cases are rare. The aim of this paper is to provide practitioners with information about effective intervention strategies arising out of the direct experience of managing a case of multi-victim sexual assault in an Australian rural community. Method: A descriptive, case-report methodology summarizing the investigation and intervention in a case of multi-victim sexual assault is reported. A community based intervention arising out of the disclosures of 21 male children is described. The intervention occurred at an individual, group, and community level using a coordinated multi-disciplinary team and natural helping networks. Results: The coordination of police and welfare services increased the communication flow to victims, their families, and the community. The case also demonstrated the utility in regularly briefing political and bureaucratic authorities as well as local officials about emergent issues. Coordinating political and bureaucratic responses was essential in obtaining ongoing support and sufficient researching to enable the effective delivery of services. Conclusions: Interventions were focussed at an individual, group, and community level using a coordinated multi- disciplinary team and natural helping networks. This provided a choice of services which were sensitive to the case setting. Recommendations are offered for practitioners who are confronted with similar events. While this paper describes an approach for intervening in a case of multi-victim sexual assault, further empirical research is needed to enable service deliverers to efficaciously target interventions which offer choice to victims and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]