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BACKGROUND AND AIMS Reported rates of cannabis use among Canadian females are increasing. Female cannabis users progress to cannabis use disorder more rapidly than males (telescoping) and have higher rates of emotional disorder comorbidity. Addictive behaviors may change, along with mood and motivations, across the menstrual cycle (MC), particularly for females with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This study aimed to determine whether increases in depressed mood and coping motives would predict increased cannabis use pre-menstrually/menstrually, particularly among females with PMDD. We also assessed positive mood and enhancement motive ratings to establish specificity of predicted depressed mood and coping motive results. DESIGN Observational study using data collected across 32 days using electronic daily diary methods. SETTING Nova Scotia, Canada. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-nine naturally cycling female cannabis users (Mean (M) age = 29.25, Standard Deviation (SD) = 5.66) with and without retrospectively identified PMDD (via structured clinical interview) and prospectively identified PMDD (via elevated pre-menstrual depressed mood). Self-reported MC phase was validated using salivary progesterone concentrations. MEASUREMENTS Depressed/positive mood, coping-/enhancement-motivated cannabis use, and cannabis use quantity. FINDINGS Coping motives explained heightened cannabis use pre-menstrually/menstrually in those with retrospectively identified PMDD. Depressed mood explained increased cannabis use menstrually in those with retrospectively/prospectively identified PMDD. Moreover, prospectively identified PMDD significantly moderated the relationship between depressed mood and cannabis use quantity menstrually. In those with prospectively identified PMDD, positive mood and enhancement motives were associated with decreased cannabis use during the follicular/ovulatory phases. Females with versus without retrospectively identified PMDD also displayed greater overall cannabis use quantity (M [SD] = 3.44[2.84] standard joint equivalents versus 1.85[1.82], respectively; U = 277.50, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Depressed mood may explain heightened cannabis use menstrually in females with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder. Coping motives may explain heightened cannabis use pre-menstrually/menstrually in females with retrospectively identified with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder.

In the absence of established best practice standards in the probiotic field for reducing the risk of bacterial transfer between experimental groups, we developed protocols and methods to ensure the highest quality and interpretability of results from animal studies, even when performed in non-conventional animal care facilities. We describe easily implementable methods for reducing cross-contamination during animal housing, behavioural testing, and euthanasia, along with highlighting protocols for contamination detection in experimental subjects and laboratory areas using qPCR. In light of the high cross-contamination risks between animals during experiments involving probiotics, constant vigilance in animal care and research protocols is critical to ensure valid and reliable research findings.

Endocarditis due to Legionella spp. is uncommon but presumably underestimated given the prevalence of Legionellae in the environment. We report a first and unusual case of chronic native valve endocarditis due to L. anisa and advocate that the diagnosis of endocarditis be made collaboratively between the cardiologist, surgeon, microbiologist and pathologist.

Radial and longitudinal strain assessment in the carotid artery wall using speckle tracking

Résumé Les outils traditionnels du diagnostic virologique comprennent la recherche antigénique directe par immunofluorescence (IF) ou test immunoenzymatique (EIA), et l’isolement en culture. Les techniques d’IF ou EIA ont une sensibilité en général légèrement inférieure à celle de la culture, mais elles permettent de détecter également une fraction d’échantillons faussement négatifs en culture. Les résultats de plusieurs équipes, utilisant des techniques de reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), montrent que les méthodes moléculaires détectent plus d’échantillons positifs que les méthodes traditionnelles. Le travail est en cours pour élargir le nombre de virus identifiés par des RT-PCR multiplex et découvrir de nouveaux virus, tels le métapneumovirus humain, en cause dans les atteintes respiratoires de l’enfant. En conclusion, afin de concilier rapidité, contrôle des coûts et un fort taux de détection des virus respiratoires, l’utilisation combinée de l’IF et de la RT-PCR multiplex semble ce jour la meilleure façon de progresser dans le diagnostic des maladies respiratoires de l’enfant.

Does heightened stress sensitivity predispose an individual toward disease? Our Society for Neuroscience mini-symposium examines the link between stress and disease onset, exploring sex differences and whether there is an increased female predisposition. This session specifically addresses the

The BFI † (Bowel Function Index) is a 3-item questionnaire for assessing opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The aim of this study was to contribute to the validation of the psychometric properties of the BFI by confirming a constipation threshold, and through correlation with other validated tools: KESS (Knowles Eccersley Scott Symptom) score and generic (12-Item Short Form Health Survey, SF-12) and specific (Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life, PAC-QoL *) quality-of-life scores.A survey on opioid-requiring cancer-patients was carried out in France. A questionnaire was filled out for all patients that recorded their demographic characteristics, an assessment of their constipation using BFI and KESS scores, and included a self-assessment of quality-of-life using PAC-QoL and SF-12. Correlation of BFI with KESS, PAC-QoL, and SF-12 was investigated.Five hundred and twenty patients participated in the entire data collection with no loss. BFI was shown to be statistically correlated (r = 0.571; p 0.0001) with the KESS score and matches up with PAC-QoL and to a lesser extent with the SF-12 generic quality-of-life questionnaire. A BFI threshold of 27-29 to discriminate constipated from non-constipated patients was confirmed.This cross-sectional study in a selected population of cancer pain patients has validated the psychometric properties of the BFI. Further confirmation of the validity of the BFI could be sought through the use of longitudinal studies, and larger populations, such as non-cancer pain patients treated with opioids.This study contributes to the validation of the psychometric properties of the BFI. It confirms the BFI as an easy-to-use tool to assess constipation and its impact on quality-of-life in chronic pain patients.

Resume La maladie de Still de l'adulte pose dans la majorite des cas des problemes therapeutiques, compte tenu des effets indesirables des traitements necessaires. C'est pourquoi nous avons teste en ouvert l'action des immunoglobulines intraveineuses, une therapeutique a faible risque iatrogene qui a ete reconnue efficace dans d'autres maladies multisystemiques. Sept malades atteints de maladie de Still de l'adulte ont recu une a huit cures d'immunoglobulines par voie intraveineuse a la dose de 1g/kg/j 2 jours de suite. Une reponse definie par le passage en remission clinique a ete obtenue chez les sept patients. Elle a dure de 1 a 90 jours chez trois patients qui ont ensuite rechute; elle se poursuit actuellement depuis en moyenne 13 mois (2 a 24 mois) chez les quatre autres. Aucun parametre clinique ne permettait de caracteriser a posteriori les bons repondeurs aux immunoglobulines intraveineuses. Ces donnees, qui doivent etre confirmees par une etude controlee, laissent esperer un progres therapeutique pour la moitie des patients atteints de maladie de Still de l'adulte qui repondent bien aux immunoglobulines intraveineuses.

3D Integration of miniaturized systems at wafer level generates new needs of metrology and defects inspection for the control of temporary or permanent wafer bonding, of wafer thinning, of via interconnects technology and of wafer/die stacks. In this paper we demonstrate the capabilities of a versatile optical measurement system combining several microscopy and interferometry techniques in the visible and near infrared wavelength range.

This paper presents test results of vibration forces in a normal triangular tube bundle subjected to air-water cross-flow. The dynamic lift and drag forces were measured with strain gage instrumented cylinders. The array has a pitch-to-diameter ratio of 1.5, and the tube diameter is 38 mm. A wide range of void fraction and fluid velocities were tested. The experiments revealed significant forces in both the drag and lift directions. Constant frequency and quasi-periodic fluid forces were found in addition to random excitation. These forces were analyzed and characterized to understand their origins. The forces were found to be dependent on the position of the cylinder within the bundle. The results are compared with those obtained with flexible cylinders in the same tube bundle and to those for a rotated triangular tube bundle. These comparisons reveal the influence of quasi-periodic forces on tube motions.Copyright © 2011 by ASME

The attractive properties of coplanar waveguides with or without ferrite thin films are presented in this article.The microwave characteristics are measured from 1 to 55 GHz. Also, analytical calculations and simulations are performed. The influence of ferrite thin film with remanent magnetization in-plane or out-of-plane is studied. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 2007–2010, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.25393

The aim of the present study was to quantify time-related modifications in μ and δ opioid binding sites in the superficial layers (laminae I and II) of the L4 lumbar segment in a rat model of mononeuropathy induced by loose ligation of the sciatic nerve. We have shown a 28% (P < 0.01) and 24% (P < 0.01) decrease in ipsi/contralateral side binding ratios for tritiated (Tyr*-d-Ala-Gly-NMe-Phe-Gly-ol) ([3H]DAMGO) and tritiated (Tyr*-d-Thr-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr) ([3H]DTLET) respectively, at two weeks postlesion which correspond to the delay of maximal hyperalgesia and of maximal alteration of fine diameter primary afferent fibers. In contrast, no change in [3H]U.69593 specific binding could be detected at this postlesion delay. For longer survival delays (four, eight and 15 weeks postlesion), μ and δ binding ratios return towards control values (approximately equal to 1), probably reflecting the occurrence of a long-term neuroplasticity (i.e. a new equilibrium in the metabolism of primary neurons, or collateral sprouting from intact primary afferents) following loose nerve ligation. In addition, a comparison of the results obtained in this model with those measured after sciatic nerve section and lumbar dorsal rhizotomy was performed in order to compare the degree of loss in opioid binding sites in these three types of lesion. The section of the sciatic nerve induced at eight days postlesion an 18% (P < 0.01) and 28% (P < 0.01) decrease in binding ratio for [3H]DAMGO and [3H]DTLET, respectively. At two weeks postlesion the loss was 24% (P < 0.01) for the two ligands, and at longer delays (four and 12 weeks), a progressive recovery in binding ratio was observed. Thus, it appears that both sciatic nerve lesions we have studied result in μ and δ binding modifications which have similar intensity and similar time course from two to 12–15 weeks postlesion. In contrast, the unilateral rhizotomy of nine consecutive dorsal roots (T13-S2), which is known to induce a massive degeneration of fine diameter primary afferent fibers, is followed by a dramatic decrease in binding ratios for [3H]DAMGO (53%, P < 0.001) and [3H]DTLET (45%, P < 0.001) at two weeks postlesion. These data suggest that the more deprived the dorsal horn is of fine diameter primary afferent fibers, the more dramatic is the opioid binding loss in the ipsilateral side as compared to the contralateral side. However, when considering specific binding concentration, it must be emphasized that regulation can occur independently of a direct alteration of primary afferent fibers. A significant up-regulation in μ binding sites was found at every postlesion delay following nerve loose ligation and only at eight days following nerve section. This up-regulation seems to be bilateral although, on the ipsilateral side, this effect could be masked by the fiber degeneration. We propose that this up-regulation in μ binding sites could result from the activation of endogenous opioid control systems due to the alteration of nociceptive sensory input. Our results are discussed in view of the recent controversy arising on the efficacy of opiates in neuropathic pains.

Objective:To develop evidence-based recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome.Methods:A multidisciplinary task force was formed representing 11 European countries. The design of the study, including search strategy, participants, interventions, outcome measures, data collection and analytical method, was defined at the outset. A systematic review was undertaken with the keywords “fibromyalgia”, “treatment or management” and “trial”. Studies were excluded if they did not utilise the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria, were not clinical trials, or included patients with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis. Primary outcome measures were change in pain assessed by visual analogue scale and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. The quality of the studies was categorised based on randomisation, blinding and allocation concealment. Only the highest quality studies were used to base recommendations on. When there was insufficient evidence from the literature, a Delphi process was used to provide basis for recommendation.Results:146 studies were eligible for the review. 39 pharmacological intervention studies and 59 non-pharmacological were included in the final recommendation summary tables once those of a lower quality or with insufficient data were separated. The categories of treatment identified were antidepressants, analgesics, and “other pharmacological” and exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, education, dietary interventions and “other non-pharmacological”. In many studies sample size was small and the quality of the study was insufficient for strong recommendations to be made.Conclusions:Nine recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome were developed using a systematic review and expert consensus.

This paper takes place in the field of passive microwave components. The requirements of mobile communication devices are today invariably associated with the miniaturization of microwave components. Aimed at this objective, DIOM laboratory (in collaboration with RADIALL Company and INL laboratory) works on the development of a miniature planar circulator. The circulator is designed with coplanar waveguides. The structure is analysed by using a three dimensional finite-element method. As a result, a 9 GHz device with insertion loss of 0.85 dB and isolation of 20.06 dB has been designed.

We report on five cases of associated systemic sclerosis and sarcoidosis (associated connective tissue diseases). The special peculiarities of this association are emphasized with a review of the literature (14 other cases reported). The clinical aspects, the prognosis, the role of silica, the likelihood of a chance association and the need (in our opinion) to reconsider the name 'sarcoidosis' are discussed.

Nous avons interroge 157 patients atteints de polyarthrite rhumatoide consultants ou hospitalises dans un service de rhumatologie. Les patients ont ete questionnes sur leurs habitudes d’utilisation et leurs connaissances du maniement des antalgiques. Nous avons egalement consulte les patients prenant ou ayant pris des antalgiques sur leur appreciation de l’efficacite des antalgiques. Ainsi, il est apparu que pour la plupart des patients, la douleur est l’element principal a traiter, alors que les antalgiques sont consideres comme un element mineur du traitement. Les antalgiques centraux paraissent les plus efficaces, essentiellement sur les douleurs diurnes, a la dose de 2 comprimes par jour. La connaissance du maniement des antalgiques parait parcellaire et trop rarement precisee au patient. Si chez nos patients, les antalgiques sont souvent pris sur prescription medicale, ils sont le plus souvent pris insuffisamment, en fonction des poussees, a des horaires variables et sans connaissance des possibilites d’association entre antalgiques centraux et peripheriques ou aux anti-inflammatoires non steroidiens. Un effort d’education et de mise en place de regles de prescription des antalgiques dans la polyarthrite rhumatoide doit etre envisage.

The membrane technology appears as a convenient solution for high frequency applications. The development of low-cost millimeterwave antenna arrays is discussed in this paper, using polymer dielectric film as a membrane support. An original membrane aperture coupled antenna array is proposed and compared with a planar microstrip approach. Experimental and theoretical results are presented on several topologies.

Background Psoriasis is known to be associated with HLA component (HLA-B*13, B*17, Cw*06 and DRB1*07). However few data exist on HLA association with PsA especially using highly sensitive HLA-Cw, DR and DQ typing methods. Objectives The aim of this work was to study the distribution of HLA alleles in PsA patients in comparison with unrelated controls from the same geographic area. Methods 69 patients (35 males, 34 females) were included according to modified Avila criteria. A first control group was composed of 328 healthy individuals (random controls: RC). Because alleles at the B and Cw loci are in strong linkage disequilibrium, 60 control individuals matched with patients for HLA-B alleles were selected (matched controls: MC). All the individuals were typed for HLA-A and B by microlymphocytoxicity and for HLA-Cw, DRB1 and DQB1 by PCR-SSP after geno-mic DNA extraction of peripheral blood nucleated cells. The significance of differences in phenotype frequencies was determined by Fischer’s exact test. Results No significant difference in the HLA-B allele distribution exists between patients and MC. Disease expression of the PsA patients was as follows: skin psoriasis in 100%, axial PsA in 37.7%, asymmetric oligoarthritis in 15.9%, symmetric polyarthritis in 34.8% and asymmetric polyarthritis in 46.4% of the patients. HLA-A*01 (p = 0.0011), B*27 (p = 0.03), B*38 (p = 0.003) and B*57 (p = 0.03) were significantly increased, whereas HLA-A*11 (p = 0.017) and B*18 (p = 0.0019) were significantly decreased in PsA patients compared to RC. 34.4% of the PsA patients carried Cw*0602 compared to 11% in RC (p = 0.003). No difference of DRB1 and DQB1 allele frequencies could be evidenced. When PsA patients and MC were compared no difference of HLA class I and class II allele frequencies was shown except for a significant increase of Cw*0102 in patients (p = 0.0025). Early onset of PsA (as well as psoriasis) was significantly associated with Cw*0602 (p = 0.01) and DRB1*07 (p = 0.03). No association between spondilytis (axial PsA) with and B*27 was observed. Finally, although the sample size is small (10 patients), severe forms of disease were significantly associated with HLA-B*38 (p = 0.0035). Conclusion Taken together, these data show that alleles at class I loci are associated with the disease, although it is difficult to assess their specificity to PsA genetic susceptibility. No particular role of the HLA class II region could be demonstrated.

Background Internet (IT) has become the second largest source of patient information, right after the physician and well before magazines. The information collected has a significant role in the patients relationship with their doctor. Objectives To determine why and how patients use IT for their health.To know the perception of IT by rheumatologists and what they tell their patients Methods Patients: a questionnaire was distributed to 25 consultants in three French Rheumatology Centers on May 16, 2011.It was also available on 2 sites dedicated to French patients suffering from rheumatical diseases (spondylarthrite-blog.com; polyarthrite-rhumatoide.fr). Demographic data were collected. The first question was: “Do you consult IT for your health?” Then, the questions explored the reasons why patients consulted IT and the type of information sought. Doctors: A questionnaire was sent via the website of the French Society of Rheumatology to its members and distributed to the participants of the Rheumatology National Congress in December 2011. It asked perception of IT by rheumatologists and the advice to patients concerning IT consultation. All the data were processed by Epi Data 3.1 and Epi info 3.5.3. Results Patients: 112 questionnaires were analyzed. 75% of respondants stated that they consult IT. 75,3% inform their doctor. 39.5% say they check the answers given by their doctor; 49.3% seek a second opinion; 50.6% consult IT because of the lack of time of their physician. 90.9% want information about their disease, 75% need information about its evolution, 82.1% need information about their treatment. 3/112 patients reported buying drugs online. 36.3% participate in the forums and 33% use Facebook. Doctors: 319 questionnaires were analyzed. There was no difference in responses by gender or practicing mode of the practitioner. 84.5% believe that patients use IT; 69.2% believe that their patients inform them of IT use; 42.9% ask patients about IT use. Physicians consider forums a waste of time, unnecessary, and dangerous for respectively 60.4%, 65.3% and 70%. 54.1% recommend sites because of lack of time (45%), or to complement information (91,5%),and as an educational support (84.7%). 23,8% of rheumatologists ask patients the question: “Do you use IT?” when aged between20 to 29 years and 45.1% when aged between 50 to 59 years. Conclusions Patients primarily use IT to seek additional information, without questioning the practitioner. Forums and Facebook are used by over one-third of patients, who underline the importance of sharing experiences via blogs. Doctors have integrated IT into their practice, but still too often consider it as a dangerous source of information, whereas all studies show self-regulatory data of the information published on IT (1). It seems that IT is a source of coping rather than sharing false or dangerous information. These results reflect a common trend with the UnitedKingdom (2), Austria (3) and Germany (4). References www.webscience.org Potts HW, Wyatt JC. J Med Internet Res, 2002 Jan-Mar;4(1):e5. Survey of doctors’ experience of patients using the IT. Gisela Bockenheimer,www.meduniwien.ac.at Hedy S. Wald et al. The impact of IT use on health care and the physician-patient relationship (Patient Education and Counseling 68 (2007) 218-224 Disclosure of Interest None Declared

SUMMARY Recent work in onr laboratory has revealed that enucleated patients produce large lateral and vertical head movements during visually guided grasping. These movements may allow them to maximise the use of retinal motion cues in planning and controlling their grasp. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the tendency to produce these adaptive head movements increases as a function of time since enucleation. We tested a group of 12 enucleated patients in whom the time between surgery and testing varied from 2 weeks to 35 years (mean = 11.2 years). These patients were required to reach out and grasp oblong blocks of different sizes at different distances. Correlational tests revealed an increase in the proportion of self-generated lateral and vertical head movements versus forward head movements as a function of post-enucleation time (r(s)(12) = 0.68, p

Aim:Prior to facing the challenges of FM management, an initial diagnosis must be made. To guide general practitioners (GPs) in the early detection of FM in Europe, we developed an easy-to-use screening tool specific to FM.Method:A European multidisciplinary expert group was constituted with the aim of providing clinical expertise, defining methodology, and identifying key issues around the detection of FM. Three conceptual models describing factors that may contribute to the identification of FM patients were derived from; a) a comprehensive literature review, 2) clinician focus groups (N=6), and 3) face-to-face interviews with German, French, and English-speaking patients (N=29) conducting by psychologists to explore their attitudes and perceptions of the disease. A FM screening tool was developed in all three languages and tested for comprehension and applicability in FM-diagnosed and FM-suspected patients.Results:The models derived from the literature, clinician focus groups, and FM patient interviews showed high consistency. The resulting FM screening tool is comprised of 14 questions that describe patients' pain, fatigue, associated symptoms, impact on everyday life, personal history, and attitudes towards their FM.Conclusion:Based on this qualitative study, the detection of FM is likely to require the assessment of multiple psychological factors in addition to symptoms, including patient reporting of personal history and patient behaviour. The quantitative validation of these findings is currently underway.

Four cases of association of hyperparathyroidism and vasculitis are presented. This association seems to be a forfuitus event, although in 2 cases, onset of both diseases was concomitant.