Search

Abstract: Background: We hypothesized that due to the absence of a dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, the essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency model leads to an overestimate of linoleic acid (LA) requirements. Methods: over 7wk, young rats consumed an EFA diet containing either 0en% linoleate (0LA) and 0en% α-linolenate (0LNA) or a diet containing 0.5en% LNA plus one of seven levels of added LA (0.12–4.0en%; n=6/group). Results: Rats consuming the 0LA–0LNA diet had the lowest final body weight, 34–68% lower LA and arachidonate in plasma and liver, 87% lower LA in epididymal fat, and an 8–20 fold higher eicosatrienoate in plasma, liver and muscle lipids. 0.5LNA completely prevented the lower growth and partly prevented the rise in eicosatrienoate seen in the 0LA–0LNA group. Conclusion: Providing dietary LNA at 0.5 en% reduces the rat''s physiological requirement for LA by an estimated factor of at least four (0.5en% instead of 2en%). Since LA requirements in humans are also based on the same flawed model of EFA deficiency, it is plausible that they too have been overestimated and should therefore be reinvestigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

All the patients hospitalised at Besanc¸on Hospital between October 2000 and December 2000 were included in a prospective study in order to determine the incidence of bloodstream infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), the prevalence of decreased susceptibility to glycopeptides and the molecular epidemiology of these pathogens. CNS isolates from bloodstream infections were collected and characterised by analysis of antibiotic susceptibility and restriction fragment length polymorphism using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Forty-five episodes of CNS bacteremia occurred in 43 patients. The crude incidence of infected patients was 0,51 per 1,000 days of hospitalisation. These 45 bacteremia represented 23.3% of the total number of bacteraemia. Forty three of 45 bacteremia were studied, 36 were positive with a single PFGE pattern, 5 bacteraemias with 2 PFGE patterns, and 2 bacteraemias with 3 PFGE patterns. We identified 52 distinct PFGE patterns and 42 major PFGE patterns (35 were isolated in a single patient, 5 in 2 patients and 2 in 3 patients). The dendrogram generated showed deep but limited branching, each large branch corresponding to a species. Of these CNS isolates, 28.8% and 25.0% showed decreased susceptibility to teicoplanin, with the reference method and E-test respectively. The 16 strains belonging to multiple PFGE patterns  were not more resistant to teicoplanin. Clonal dissemination did not seem to play a major role in the spread of glycopeptides resistance among CNS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We conducted a prospective study to identify predictors of inappropriateness of surgical prophylaxis. A total of 72 surgeon-anaesthesist pairs participated in data collection. We assessed practices by addressing 5 questions: did the surgical procedure justify the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis, and was it provided? Was the correct agent used? Was the timing of prophylaxis optimal? Was the duration of prophylaxis correct? Was the dose correct? We reviewed 687 procedures, 513 (74.7%) of which were included in the analysis. The proportion of these procedures with totally compliant prescriptions was 41.7%. Of the 156 patients who received an inappropriate drug, 133 (85.3%) received a drug with a broader spectrum than that recommended. Prophylaxis lasted too long in 81 (89.0%) of the 91 patients who received prophylaxis of incorrect duration. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear association between non-compliant prophylaxis and two operation-specific factors: prosthesis implantation (with a relative risk of 2.52) and clean-contaminated operations (with a relative risk of 4.19). More than 50% of patients received inappropriate surgical prophylaxis. Non-observance of guidelines was related to factors that did not influence the infectious potential of the flora. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To assess the practices of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in the Franche-Comte´ region of France before and after the implementation of information program.Study design: Prospective multicenter transversal study type before/after. The information program included a feedback on the observed results during the period before and a meeting with opinion leaders.Patients and methods: Data were collected by 28 pairs of surgeons/anaesthetists. Prescriptions were analysed to answer five questions about antibiotic prophylaxis practices in surgery: did the surgical procedure require antibiotic prophylaxis and was this carried out ? Was the appropriate antibiotic used ? Was the timing of the first injection optimal ? Was the total duration of the treatment correct ? Was the dose correct ? Our data were compared to national recommendations (updated in 1999).Results: The overall frequency of conformity was about 40% both before and after the implementation of an information/awareness campaign. Only the conformity of the total duration of the prophylaxis was significantly higher after the action, but only for interventions that lasted less than two hours. ⟦RR = 2.09 (1.32–3.31), p = 0.001〉. This improvement in the total duration of regulation seemed to be related to the more frequent use of written protocols in the surgical units.Conclusion: Our study confirms that information campaign have little effect within the framework of the good use of antibiotics. We agree with the experts who claim that only an overall strategy including organization, education and restriction will really improve the frequency of conformity of the practices of surgical prophylaxis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim – Apply the principles of elastic intra-medullary nailing developed by Metaizeau for children, to bone fixation of bones of the hand.Method – Retrospective review of 43 patients treated between 1995 and 1999 for fracture of one or more bones of the hand. Thirty five concerned the right hand, 11 the left; 54 involved metacarpal fractures and 2 fractures of the phalanx. Only those patients whose lesions were considered mended were taken into account in this study.Results – In 32 cases, bone fixation was completed with the use of a single pre-stressed pin, in 24 cases 2 pre-stressed pins forming a double arc were used. The delay in removal of material varied from between 35 days to 4 1/2 months. In three cases it required a dynamic splint treatment. Functional re-education was prescribed for two patients. Eight patients were lost for follow up. Fourty eight were followed with complete recovery of joint range of motion. We deplored one necrosis of the skin due to the contusion at the time of the initial trauma, one delayed healing after an animal bite required keeping the material in place for 4 months, one case of infection; in another case insufficient stabilization by the ECMES resulted in a 10° mal-union of the metacarpal diaphysis. Three times the site of a fracture had to be opened in order to perform bone fixation.Conclusion – The ECMES appears perfectly suitable for bone fixation of the diaphysis of bones of the hand and certain metaphyseal and epiphyseal fractures. Small incisions help to avoid unbecoming scars and adhesions and foster a rapid recovery of function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An active seismic experiment has been conducted across the southern Ryukyu margin east of Taiwan over the whole trench-arc-backarc system in May 2009. Twenty-four ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) were deployed from the Ryukyu trench to the southern Okinawa trough over the Ryukyu arc and forearc. Wide angle seismic data were recorded by the OBS array while coincident reflection seismic data were acquired using a 6km long streamer and a 6600 cubic inch seismic airgun array. Results from tomographic inversion of 21091 travel time picks along this line allowed us to image crustal structures of the Ryukyu margin down to a depth of 25km. The transect has been designed to provide a better seismic velocity structure of the subduction zone in a highly deformed area that has produced an M8 earthquake in 1920. The line crosses a seismic cluster of earthquakes which source mechanisms are still poorly understood. The subducting oceanic crust of the Huatung Basin is about 5–6km thick. The underlying mantle exhibits low seismic velocities around 7.8km/s suggesting some hydrothermal alterations or alteration of the upper mantle through faults generated by the flexure of the subducting plate as it enters the subduction. Low velocities, up to 4.5km/s, associated with the accretionary wedge are well imaged from the trench back to the Nanao forearc. A major result concerns the abrupt termination of the buttress at the rear of the accretionary wedge. Despite the low resolution of the tomographic inversion near the subduction interface, several lines of evidence supporting the presence of a low velocity zone beneath the toe of the forearc buttress could be established. The Moho beneath the Ryukyu non-volcanic arc is located at a depth around 25km depth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness are the main symptoms of the heterogeneous attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It has been suggested that ADHD is associated with an imbalance in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition, with abnormal low levels of the main n-3 PUFA, DHA (22: 6n-3). DHA is highly accumulated in nervous tissue membranes and is implicated in neural function. Animal studies have shown that diet-induced lack of DHA in the brain leads to alterations in cognitive processes, but the relationship between DHA and hyperactivity is unclear. We examined the membrane phospholipid fatty acid profile in frontal cortex of rats characterized for attention, impulsiveness and motricity in various environmental contexts to determine the relationship between brain PUFA composition and the symptoms of ADHD. The amounts of n-3 PUFA in the PE were significantly correlated with nocturnal locomotor activity and the locomotor response to novelty: hyperactive individuals had less n-3 PUFA than hypoactive ones. We conclude that spontaneous hyperactivity in rats is the symptom of ADHD that best predicts the n-3 PUFA content of the frontal cortex. This differential model in rats should help to better understand the role of PUFA in several psychopathologies in which PUFA composition is modified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A combination of statistical studies on present-day subduction zones and three-dimensional (3D) laboratory models is performed with the aim to clarify the way that plate kinematics control the geometry of the slab and the overriding plate deformation in subduction zones. In 3D laboratory models, the analogue of a two layer linearly viscous lithosphere–upper mantle system is achieved by means of silicon putty glucose syrup tank experiment. The subducting and overriding plate velocities are systematically changed by exploring the variability field of natural plate kinematics. Both statistical and modelling approaches recognize the importance of overriding plate motion on subduction process behavior: (1) trenches migrate at a rate close to the overriding plate motion, but always move slower than the overriding plates. The mechanism at work is a direct consequence of “slab anchoring” opposed by both lithosphere and mantle viscous resistance and is responsible for overriding plate deformation and slab geometry variability. (2) An overriding plate shortens when the overriding plate moves toward the trench and conditions that are favourable for overriding plate extension are created when the overriding plate moves away from the trench. (3) Shallow and steep dips are found if the overriding plate moves toward and away from the trench, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]