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Résumé Objectifs Examiner les représentations de la population vis-à-vis du craquement associé aux manipulations vertébrales (MV) de haute vélocité et basse amplitude (« thrust ») et comparer les croyances des sujets avec ou sans antécédents de MV. Méthodes Cent participants ont été inclus dans cette étude : 60 (groupe « no-MV ») sans antécédent de MV (40 sujets asymptomatiques avec ou sans antécédents de douleurs rachidiennes et 20 patients souffrant de douleurs rachidiennes non spécifiques) et 40 (groupe « MV ») avec antécédent de MV (20 sujets asymptomatiques et 20 patients). Tous les participants ont été conviés à une séance individuelle au cours de laquelle ils ont été soumis à un questionnaire au sujet de leurs antécédents de MV et de leurs croyances concernant le bruit associé aux MV. Résultats La population était âgée en moyenne de 43,5 ± 15,4 ans. La question relative à l’origine du bruit a indiqué que 49 % des participants pensent que le bruit résulte de la « remise en place d’une vertèbre » ou du « frottement entre deux vertèbres » (23 %) ; seuls 9 % des participants ont évoqué, à juste titre, la formation d’une bulle de gaz. Quarante pour cent des sujets ont expliqué à tort que le bruit signifiait qu’une manipulation était réussie. Aucune différence en termes de croyances n’a été mise en évidence entre les groupes « MV » et « no-MV ». Conclusions Compte tenu des effets délétères démontrés de certaines croyances, celles-ci, très présentes en ce qui concerne les MV comme en témoigne la présente étude, devraient être davantage prises en considération par les thérapeutes et plus particulièrement par ceux effectuant des MV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine beliefs about cracking sounds heard during high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust spinal manipulation in individuals with and without personal experience of this technique.Methods: We included 100 individuals. Among them, 60 had no history of spinal manipulation, including 40 who were asymptomatic with or without a past history of spinal pain and 20 who had nonspecific spinal pain. The remaining 40 patients had a history of spinal manipulation; among them, 20 were asymptomatic and 20 had spinal pain. Participants attended a one-on-one interview during which they completed a questionnaire about their history of spinal manipulation and their beliefs regarding sounds heard during spinal manipulation.Results: Mean age was 43.5±15.4years. The sounds were ascribed to vertebral repositioning by 49% of participants and to friction between two vertebras by 23% of participants; only 9% of participants correctly ascribed the sound to the formation of a gas bubble in the joint. The sound was mistakenly considered to indicate successful spinal manipulation by 40% of participants. No differences in beliefs were found between the groups with and without a history of spinal manipulation.Conclusions: Certain beliefs have documented adverse effects. This study showed a high prevalence of unfounded beliefs regarding spinal manipulation. These beliefs deserve greater attention from healthcare providers, particularly those who practice spinal manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dupuytren disease (DD) is a hand-localized fibrotic disorder characterized by a scar-like, collagen-rich cord. Treatment usually comprises surgical removal of the cord, but is associated with a high relapse rate, in some cases requiring finger amputation. There is currently no consensual medical approach for treating DD. Numerous preclinical studies have highlighted antifibrotic properties of metformin, and the aim of this study was to assess a potential antifibrotic role of metformin in DD. Fibroblasts from DD cords (DF) and phenotypically normal palmar fascia (PF) were extracted from surgical specimens and cultured. The fibrotic status of DF and PF was compared at baseline, and under profibrotic (TGF-β stimulation) and antifibrotic (metformin stimulation) conditions, using quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, immunocytochemistry, and a functional fibroblast contraction assay. At baseline, DF showed higher levels of fibrotic markers and contraction capacity compared with PF. Both types of fibroblasts responded to TGF-β stimulation. Treatment of DF and PF with metformin did not affect basal levels of fibrotic markers and contraction but largely prevented their induction by TGF-β. In conclusion, our data show that metformin inhibits TGF-β-induced expression of fibrotic markers and contraction in hand-derived fibroblasts. This supports the case for a clinical trial to assess the repurposing of metformin as an adjuvant to surgery, to prevent, reduce, or delay recurrence in at-risk DD patients. [Display omitted] • Metformin cannot revert the fibrotic phenotype of myofibroblasts in DD patients. • Metformin can prevent TGF-β induced differentiation of hand fibroblast into myofibroblasts. • The role of metformin as an adjuvant treatment to surgery should be evaluated in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work reports light scattering measurements on DNA in aqueous solutions (100mM NaCl, 1mM EDTA and 10mM Tris–HCl buffer, pH 7.8) over a wide range of molecular weights (102–105 base pairs) and shows that, in the above standard solvent, shorter chains (<104 base pairs) behave as a “wormlike chain” and their diffusion coefficients as obtained by dynamic light scattering measurements, confirm the prediction of standard wormlike model, whilst longer chains (>104 base pairs) behave in a different manner. Dynamic and static light scattering and SEM analysis indicate that DNA molecules 105 base pairs long, condense into compact structures in our solvent conditions. Calculations done using a wormlike model are also presented and discussed in comparison both to our experimental data and to other data reported in the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present paper reports on the role of heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions in the MOCVD of Sr(hfac)2tetraglyme (H-hfac =1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone) and Ta(OC2H5)5 precursors.Hints of the precursor decomposition during MOCVD processes in hot wall reactors have been obtained through in situ FT-IR monitoring of the gas phase composition. Two different reaction pathways have been proposed for the MOCVD of Sr(hfac)2tetraglyme. A heterogeneous decomposition mechanism is the most relevant process at low temperatures and/or in the presence of reactive surfaces (metal), while a homogeneous decomposition leading to CF2O and acylketenes is evident at high temperature and/or adopting less reactive surfaces. In the case of Ta(OC2H5)5, the main pathway involves a heterogeneous process leading to C2H5OH, enhanced in presence of metallic surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports on deposition kinetics of SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) films grown with Sr(hfac)2tetraglyme (H-hfac=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone), Ta(OC2H5)5 and Bi(C6H5)3 precursors.The kinetics of MOCVD of SBT has been compared to the kinetics of single component films, to obtain information about mutual interactions among precursors. Deposition rate of SrF2 from Sr(hfac)2tetraglyme is determined by surface reactions below 350°C, whereas its mass transport limited above this temperature. For the other two precursors, the deposition processes involve surface reactions in the overall investigated temperature range (200–550°C). With respect to the multi-component process, it has been found that the deposition kinetics of Sr(hfa)2tetraglyme is not significantly affected by the presence of the other two precursors. In contrast, close relations have been observed between Bi and Ta precursors, since a direct dependence between relative growth rates has been found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]