Search

Summary Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus toothbrush contamination in cystic fibrosis (CF) is unknown. This pilot study aimed to determine their prevalence and the potential involvement of toothbrushes in pulmonary infection. Methods Toothbrush bacteriological analysis for children aged 8–18 years was conducted on 27 CF patients, 15 healthy siblings, and 15 healthy children from the general population. Results S. aureus was detected on 22% of the patients’ toothbrushes, and 13% of healthy children's toothbrushes and P. aeruginosa on 15% of patients’ toothbrushes and 0–13% of healthy children's toothbrushes. There was no statistical correlation between pulmonary colonization and toothbrush contamination. P. aeruginosa genotyping showed two identical clones on the patients’ toothbrushes and in their sputum, and between one patient's sputum and his sibling's toothbrush. Conclusion S. aureus and P. aeruginosa can colonize CF patients’ toothbrushes. The impact on pulmonary colonization remains unknown. Toothbrush decontamination methods need to consider these bacteria in CF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objectives: The treatment of sore throat, considered to be essentially due to viral infection, does not require the use of antibiotics. The recommended treatment is therefore based on the use of topical anaesthetics and antiseptics. Throat lozenges play a leading role in topical treatment by allowing immediate, massive and persistent release of the active molecule at the site of infection. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the short-term and long-term in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of Drill® lozenges in relation to the main pathogens responsible for upper respiratory tract infections. Material and method: The bactericidal and virucidal activity in relation to the main microorganisms responsible for upper respiratory tract infections, including the H1N1 influenza virus, was evaluated after short (5minutes) and long (3h) contact times, according to a methodology complying with European standards for the evaluation of chemical antiseptics and disinfectants. In parallel, the global antibacterial activity was determined on 30 strains representative of the resident flora by determination of maximum inhibitory dilutions (MID) and maximum bactericidal dilutions (MBD). Results: Drill® lozenges presented an antibacterial activity inducing significant (>90%) destruction of the main upper respiratory tract pathogens after a 5-minute contact time at high concentration and after a 3-hour contact time after dilution. Drill® lozenges also exerted an antiviral activity inducing 2 log (99%) destruction of the H1N1 virus after a 5-min contact time at high concentration, with maintenance of this activity after dilution (3h). A homogeneous antibacterial activity was observed on the resident flora. Conclusion: These in vitro tests confirm the value of chlorhexidine lozenges in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections such as sore throat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, there is a growing interest in the research and development of injectable biomaterials especially for orthopedic applications. In a view to enhance the overall surgery benefits for the patient, the BIOSINJECT project aims at preparing a new generation of mineral-organic composites for bone regeneration exhibiting bioactivity, therapeutic activity and easiness of use to broaden the application domains of the actual bone mineral cements and propose an alternative strategy with regard to their poor resorbability, injectability difficulties and risk of infection. First, a physical-chemical study demonstrated the feasibility of self-setting injectable composites associating calcium carbonate-calcium phosphate cement and polysaccharides (tailor-made or commercial polymer) in the presence or not of an antibacterial agent within the composite formulation. Then, bone cell response and antimicrobial activity of the composite have been evaluated in vitro. Finally, in order to evaluate resorption rate and bone tissue response an animal study has been performed and the histological analysis is still in progress. These multidisciplinary and complementary studies led to promising results in a view of the industrial development of such composite for dental and orthopaedic applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Mycology / Journal de Mycologie Médicale is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Amphiphilic copolymers based on the copolymerization of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties offer versatility in various biomedical material applications. Here, a new biocompatible copolymer of dextran-graft-polybutylmethacrylate is synthesized for the coating of metallic endovascular stents. Coating of metallic surfaces is performed and analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy before and after deformation corresponding to stent deployment by a balloon catheter. In the conditions described here, the resulting coating is smooth and uniform with neither cracks nor detachment after stent expansion. Interestingly, surfaces coated with the copolymer greatly improve in vitro adhesion and growth of endothelial cells. This copolymer provides new opportunities for implanted biomaterials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Mycology / Journal de Mycologie Médicale is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of EMC-Odontologie is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Analgesic electrotherapy is now based on more consistent scientific data; the biological action of the electric current, of the electromagnetic radiations and of the mechanical vibrations is better approached. But the randomized control trials still provide contradictory results concerning the analgesic efficiency of the cryotherapy, the TENS, the pulsed electro-magnetic fields, the ultrasound and laser therapy, the shock waves; iontophoresis, short waves, microwaves, infrasound vibrations are very few investigated. The analgesic electrotherapy cannot be recommended nor prohibited; physical agents represent only therapeutic options. On the basis of the scientific data and of their personal experience, the therapists can use them. More controlled clinical investigations of higher methodological levels are still required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lobular emphysema and soft-tissue emphysema can exceptionally complicate malnutrition. We report the case of a teenager presenting malnutrition with cystic fibrosis and anorexia nervosa with soft-tissue emphysema. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lactic acid bacteria, in particular Lactococcus lactis , play a decisive role in the cheese making process and more particularly in lactic cheeses which are primarily produced on goat dairy farms. The objective of this study was therefore to identify the main lactic acid bacteria found in raw goats' milk from three different regions in France and evaluate if certain farming practices have an effect on the distribution of species of lactic acid bacteria in the various milk samples. Identification at genus or species level was carried out using phenotypic tests and genotypic methods including repetitive element REP-PCR, species-specific PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The distribution of the main bacterial species in the milk samples varied depending on farms and their characteristics. Out of the 146 strains identified, L. lactis was the dominant species (60% of strains), followed by Enterococcus (38%) of which Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium . Within the species L. lactis , L. lactis subsp lactis was detected more frequently than L. lactis subsp cremoris (74% vs. 26%). The predominance of L. lactis subsp cremoris was linked to geographical area studied. It appears that the animals' environment plays a role in the balance between the dominance of L. lactis and enterococci in raw goats' milk. The separation between the milking parlor and the goat shed (vs no separation) and only straw in the bedding (vs straw and hay) seems to promote L. lactis in the milk (vs enterococci). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Coccidioïdomycose; Zone non endémique; Transplantation EN Coccidioïdomycose Zone non endémique Transplantation 455 458 4 07/29/20 20200801 NES 200801 1 Introduction O. Lortholary et al. ont décrit, en 2007, un cas de coccidioïdomycose pulmonaire non compliquée chez une femme non immunodéprimée après un voyage en Californie. Nous voudrions souligner ici l'intérêt d'évaluer le risque de coccidiodomycose chez le donneur en zone non endémique [5], en recherchant, par exemple, un historique de voyages dans les zones endémiques de Coccidioides. Néanmoins, à 8 mois post transplantation, Coccidioïdes est à nouveau isolé dans les prélèvements respiratoires et des sphérules sont observées à l'examen direct (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

La cure thermale est connue pour améliorer la qualité de vie et diminuer la douleur. Nous avons évalué l'efficacité (Questionnaire d'impact de la fibromyalgia – QIF) et la tolérance à 6 mois d'un programme d'éducation thérapeutique du patient (ETP) spécifique de la fibromyalgie, ajouté à la cure thermale standardisée (SST) adaptée à la fibromyalgie, comparé à la SST seule, dans un essai contrôlé randomisé de supériorité. Nous avons recruté 157 patients, majoritairement des femmes, fréquentant des centres thermaux du Sud-Ouest de la France en 2015–2016, et nous les avons randomisés en SST + ETP (79) ou SST (78). L'analyse en intention de traiter, avec les valeurs manquantes considérées comme des échecs, a montré une tendance en faveur d'un bénéfice plus élevé, quoique non significatif, avec l'ETP plutôt que sans, avec un FIQ (−9 vs −3 ; p = 0,053) et sur l'intensité de la douleur (−1,1 vs −0,9 ; p = 0,58). Le soulagement de la douleur (+4,3 vs +3,2 ; p = 0,03) et la fatigue (échelle de Pichot : −3,7 vs −1,6 ; p = 0,02) étaient significativement améliorés, et 87 % des patients du bras SST + TPE pratiquaient encore régulièrement, à 6 mois, les exercices physiques qui leur avaient été enseignés. Nous expliquons le défaut de bénéfice significatif de l'ETP, évalué à partir du FIQ, par le fait que nos participants, appartenant à des associations de patients fibromyalgiques, étaient déjà bien informés et bien encadrés. À noter, la bonne tolérance des cures thermales avec peu d'effets indésirables. On retiendra une amélioration significative et durable grâce à la cure thermale, que l'ajout d'une cure thermale à un programme d'ETP augmente l'efficacité de l'ETP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reef environments are generally recognized as being the most threatened of marine ecosystems. However, it is extremely difficult to distinguish the effects of climate change from other forcing factors, mainly because it is difficult to study ecosystems that are isolated from human pressure. The five Iles Eparses (Scattered Islands) are located in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and can be considered to be “pristine” ecosystems not subject to anthropogenic pressure. This study characterized their plankton assemblages for the first time, by determining the abundances of microbial (virus, bacteria, heterotrophic protists and phytoplankton) and metazooplankton communities in various lagoon and ocean sites around each island. The Europa lagoon has extensive, productive mangrove forests, which have the highest nutrient concentrations (nitrogen forms, dissolved organic carbon) and whose microbial communities present a peculiar structure and functioning. By means of bioassay experiments, we observed that bacterial production and growth rates are higher in Europa than those reported for the other islands. Tromelin, which lies outside the Mozambique Channel, had the lowest biological productivity, nutrient concentrations, and bacterial growth rates. Multivariate analysis indicated that distinct microbial assemblages occur in association to varying nutrient concentrations. Molecular fingerprinting showed clear discrimination of the structure of the archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes community between the sites. Our results suggest that the geographical distance can influence the diversity of dominant microbial taxa in the WIO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective There is no standard protocol for the evaluation of antiseptics used for skin and mucous membranes in the presence of interfering substances. Our objective was to suggest trial conditions adapted from the NF EN 13727 standard, for the evaluation of antiseptics used in gynecology and dermatology. Methods Three antiseptic solutions were tested in vitro: a chlorhexidine-benzalkonium (CB) combination, a hexamidine-chlorhexidine-chlorocresol (HCC) combination, and povidone iodine (P). The adaptation of trial conditions to the standard involved choosing dilutions, solvent, and interfering substances. The activity of solutions was assessed on the recommended strains at concentrations of 97% (pure solution), 50%, and 10% (diluted solution), and 1%. A logarithmic reduction ≥ 5 was expected after 60 seconds of contact, to meet requirements of bactericidal activity. Results HCC did not present any bactericidal activity except on P. aeruginosa at a concentration of 97%. P was not bactericidal on E. hirae at any concentration and on S. aureus at 97%. CB had the most homogeneous bactericidal activity with a reduction > 5 log on the 4 bacterial strains at concentrations of 97%, 50% and 10%. Conclusion Adapting the NF EN 13727 standard allowed assessing the 3 tested solutions: only CB was bactericidal in dirty conditions. This study proved the possibility of validating antiseptic choice in vitro, in current practice conditions, for adjunctive treatment of skin and mucous membranes disorders, primarily of bacterial origin or with a potential of superinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine whether the addition of spa therapy to home exercises provides any benefit over exercises and the usual treatment alone in the management of generalised osteoarthritis associated with knee osteoarthritis. Methods This study was a post-hoc subgroup analysis of our randomised multicentre trial ( www.clinicaltrial.gov : NCT00348777 ). Participants who met the inclusion criteria of generalized osteoarthritis (Kellgren, American College of Rheumatology, or Dougados criteria) were extracted from the original randomised controlled trial. They had been randomised using Zelen randomisation. The treatment group received 18 days of spa treatment in addition to a home exercise programme. Main outcome was number of patients achieving minimal clinically important improvement at six months (MCII) (≥ −19.9 mm on the VAS pain scale and/or ≥ −9.1 points in a WOMAC function subscale), and no knee surgery. Secondary outcomes included the “patient acceptable symptom state” (PASS) defined as VAS pain ≤ 32.3 mm and/or WOMAC function subscale ≤ 31 points. Results From the original 462 participants, 214 patients could be categorized as having generalised osteoarthritis. At sixth month, 182 (88 in control and 94 in SA group) patients, were analysed for the main criteria. MCII was observed more often in the spa group ( n = 52/94 vs. 38/88, P = 0.010). There was no difference for the PASS ( n = 19/88 vs. 26/94, P = 0.343). Conclusions This study indicates that spa therapy with home exercises may be superior to home exercise alone in the management of patients with GOA associated with knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although nitrate export in agricultural catchments has been simulated using various types of models, the role of groundwater in nitrate dynamics has rarely been fully taken into account. We used groundwater dating methods (CFC analyses) to reconstruct the original nitrate concentrations in the groundwater recharge in Brittany (Western France) from 1950 to 2009. This revealed a sharp increase in nitrate concentrations from 1977 to 1990 followed by a slight decrease. The recharge concentration curve was then compared with past chronicles of groundwater concentration. Groundwater can be interpreted as resulting from the annual dilution of recharge water in an uncontaminated aquifer. Two aquifers were considered: the weathered aquifer and the deeper fractured aquifer. The nitrate concentrations observed in the upper part of the weathered aquifer implied an annual renewal rate of 27 to 33% of the reservoir volume while those in the lower part indicated an annual renewal rate of 2–3%. The concentrations in the deep fractured aquifer showed an annual renewal rate of 0.1%. The river concentration can be simulated by combining these various groundwater reservoirs with the recharge. Winter and summer waters contain i) recharge water, or water from the variably saturated zone with rapid transfer and high nitrate concentrations, and ii) a large contribution (from 35 to 80% in winter and summer, respectively) from the lower part of the aquifer (lower weathered aquifer and deep fractured aquifer). This induces not only a relatively rapid response of the catchment to variations in agricultural pressure, but also a potential inertia which has to be taken into account. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The results of long-term follow-up of surgical site infection (SSI) after aesthetical breast surgery are reported. 205 consecutive patients operated from 1/2000 to 3/2002 were followed for at least one year. Postoperative incidents were observed in 26 (12.7%) patients, including SSI in six (2.9%) patients. After surgery, the mean time to SSI was 113 days, with only two cases in the first postoperative month. In all SSI cases, no antibiotic prophylaxis had been given. The causative role of infectious agents in breast implant capsule occurrence is under investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]