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BACKGROUND: Persistent airflow limitation (PAL) occurs in a subset of patients with asthma. Previous studies on PAL in asthma have included relatively small populations, mostly restricted to severe asthma, or have no included longitudinal data. The aim of this post-hoc analysis was to investigate the determinants, clinical implications, and outcome of PAL in patients with asthma who were included in the ATLANTIS study.METHODS: In this post-hoc analysis of the ATLANTIS study, we assessed the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and implications of PAL across the full range of asthma severity. The study population included patients aged 18-65 years who had been diagnosed with asthma at least 6 months before inclusion. We defined PAL as a post-bronchodilator FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than the lower limit of normal at recruitment. Asthma severity was defined according to the Global Initiative for Asthma. We used Mann-Whitney U test, t test, or χ2 test to analyse differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without PAL. Logistic regression was used for multivariable analysis of the associations between PAL and baseline data. Cox regression was used to analyse risk of exacerbation in relation to PAL, and a linear mixed-effects model was used to analyse change in FEV1 over time in patients with versus patients without PAL. Results were validated in the U-BIOPRED cohort.FINDINGS: Between June 30, 2014 and March 3, 2017, 773 patients were enrolled in the ATLANTIS study of whom 760 (98%) had post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC data available. Of the included patients with available data, mean age was 44 years (SD 13), 441 (58%) of 760 were women, 578 (76%) were never-smokers, and 248 (33%) had PAL. PAL was not only present in patients with severe asthma, but also in 21 (16%) of 133 patients with GINA step 1 and 24 (29%) of 83 patients with GINA step 2. PAL was independently associated with older age at baseline (46 years in PAL group vs 43 years in non-PAL group), longer duration of asthma (24 years vs 12 years), male sex (51% vs 38%), higher blood eosinophil counts (median 0·27 × 109 cells per L vs 0·20 × 109 cells per L), more small airway dysfunction, and more exacerbations during 1 year of follow-up. Associations between PAL, age, and eosinophilic inflammation were validated in the U-BIOPRED cohort, whereas associations with sex, duration of asthma, and risk of exacerbations were not validated.INTERPRETATION: PAL is not only present in severe disease, but also in a considerable proportion of patients with milder disease. In patients with mild asthma, PAL is associated with eosinophilic inflammation and a higher risk of exacerbations. Our findings are important because they suggest that increasing treatment intensity should be considered in patients with milder asthma and PAL.FUNDING: Chiesi Farmaceutici and Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (by means of the public-private partnership programme).

Background The role of IL-17 immunity is well established in patients with inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease, but not in asthmatic patients, in whom further study is required. Objective We sought to undertake a deep phenotyping study of asthmatic patients with upregulated IL-17 immunity. Methods Whole-genome transcriptomic analysis was performed by using epithelial brushings, bronchial biopsy specimens (91 asthmatic patients and 46 healthy control subjects), and whole blood samples (n = 498) from the Unbiased Biomarkers for the Prediction of Respiratory Disease Outcomes (U-BIOPRED) cohort. Gene signatures induced in vitro by IL-17 and IL-13 in bronchial epithelial cells were used to identify patients with IL-17–high and IL-13–high asthma phenotypes. Results Twenty-two of 91 patients were identified with IL-17, and 9 patients were identified with IL-13 gene signatures. The patients with IL-17–high asthma were characterized by risk of frequent exacerbations, airway (sputum and mucosal) neutrophilia, decreased lung microbiota diversity, and urinary biomarker evidence of activation of the thromboxane B2 pathway. In pathway analysis the differentially expressed genes in patients with IL-17-high asthma were shared with those reported as altered in psoriasis lesions and included genes regulating epithelial barrier function and defense mechanisms, such as IL1B, IL6, IL8, and β-defensin. Conclusion The IL-17–high asthma phenotype, characterized by bronchial epithelial dysfunction and upregulated antimicrobial and inflammatory response, resembles the immunophenotype of psoriasis, including activation of the thromboxane B2 pathway, which should be considered a biomarker for this phenotype in further studies, including clinical trials targeting IL-17.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is the main limitation for long-term survival after lung transplantation. Some specific B cell populations are associated with long-term graft acceptance. We aimed to monitor the B cell profile during early development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation. The B cell longitudinal profile was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and patients who remained stable over 3 years of follow-up. CD24

Background Homeostatic turnover of the extracellular matrix conditions the structure and function of the healthy lung. In lung transplantation, long-term management remains limited by chronic lung allograft dysfunction, an umbrella term used for a heterogeneous entity ultimately associated with pathological airway and/or parenchyma remodeling. Objective This study assessed whether the local cross-talk between the pulmonary microbiota and host cells is a key determinant in the control of lower airway remodeling posttransplantation. Methods Microbiota DNA and host total RNA were isolated from 189 bronchoalveolar lavages obtained from 116 patients post lung transplantation. Expression of a set of 11 genes encoding either matrix components or factors involved in matrix synthesis or degradation (anabolic and catabolic remodeling, respectively) was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Microbiota composition was characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and culture. Results We identified 4 host gene expression profiles, among which catabolic remodeling, associated with high expression of metallopeptidase-7, -9, and -12, diverged from anabolic remodeling linked to maximal thrombospondin and platelet-derived growth factor D expression. While catabolic remodeling aligned with a microbiota dominated by proinflammatory bacteria (eg, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Corynebacterium), anabolic remodeling was linked to typical members of the healthy steady state (eg, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Veillonella). Mechanistic assays provided direct evidence that these bacteria can impact host macrophage-fibroblast activation and matrix deposition. Conclusions Host-microbes interplay potentially determines remodeling activities in the transplanted lung, highlighting new therapeutic opportunities to ultimately improve long-term lung transplant outcome., Graphical abstract

Background: Meadows are regularly mown in order to provide fodder or litter for livestock and to prevent vegetation succession. However the time of year at which meadows should be first mown in order to maximize biological diversity remains controversial and may vary with respect to context and focal taxa. We carried out a systematic review and meta analysis on the effects of delaying the first mowing date upon plants and invertebrates in European meadowlands. Methods: Following a CEE protocol ISI Web of Science Science Direct JSTOR Google and Google Scholar were searched. We recorded all studies that compared the species richness of plants or the species richness or abundance of invertebrates between grassland plots mown at a postponed date (treatment) vs plots mown earlier (control). In order to be included in the meta analysis compared plots had to be similar in all management respects except the date of the first cut that was (mostly experimentally) manipulated. They were also to be located in the same meadow type. Meta analyses applying Hedges’d statistic were performed. Results: Plant species richness responded differently to the date to which mowing was postponed. Delaying mowing from spring to summer had a positive effect while delaying either from spring to fall or from early summer to later in the season had a negative effect. Invertebrates were expected to show a strong response to delayed mowing due to their dependence on sward structure but only species richness showed a clearly significant positive response. Invertebrate abundance was positively influenced in only a few studies. Conclusions: The present meta analysis shows that in general delaying the first mowing date in European meadowlands has either positive or neutral effects on plant and invertebrate biodiversity (except for plant species richness when delaying from spring to fall or from early summer to later). Overall there was also strong between study heterogeneity pointing to other major confounding factors the elucidation of which requires further field experiments with both larger sample sizes and a distinction between taxon specific and meadow type specific responses.

With the emergence of new information and communication technologies (NICT) in the daily practice of medicine, personal medical data have become exportable. Certainly, they represent an interesting source for epidemiologists who were often lacking complete data sets all the way through to morbidity data; but once these data leave the confines of the structure of a medical office, they must be protected in order to respect the fundamental ethical principles which form the basis of the doctor-patient relationship. Given the fact that medical data are not considered merchandise, there is the need to lead a process of reflection which aims to adapt the existing ethical rules and regulations to norms which conform to this new environment. There is also a need to compile a report on the overall European situation, and more specifically the French case.

Thirty-two centres from nine European countries participated in a research programme about eating disorders. This study presents results of patients aged 17–26 years suffering from anorexia (N = 418) and bulimia nervosa (N = 650) according to DSM-IV criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Patients' personality profiles were assessed with the revised version of the Freiburger Personality Inventory (FPI-R). Compared to the comparison subjects, the eating-disordered patients showed lower life satisfaction, health concern and extraversion and higher social orientation, inhibition, irritability, strain, somatic complaints, frankness and emotionality. Anorexic patients had similar scores to the comparison group on achievement orientation and aggressiveness scales. Non-purging bulimic patients were not different from comparison subjects in aggressiveness and purging bulimic patients showed no difference for extraversion. Differences in the diagnostic subgroups are discussed in light of the literature in this area. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Platinum catalysts supported on gamma-alumina and on a variety of zeolites have been characterized and evaluated for activity in the transfer hydrogenation of propylene using butanes as the hydrogen source. Zeolite supports evaluated include both aluminosilicates and borosilicates having the ZSM-5 and beta structures. Platinum on acid zeolites shows enhanced activity for the hydrogen transfer, compared to platinum supported on alumina. However, with platinum on acidic zeolites, propylene hydrogenation is accompanied by a number of competing, acid-catalyzed reactions which lower the selectivity to propane and butenes. Of the acid zeolites studied, low aluminum, borosilicates were found to be more selective than the corresponding aluminosilicates of similar structure. Partial neutralization of the zeolitic acidity with alkali cations lowered the nonselective acid catalysis. Metal-catalyzed hydrogen transfer activity was not diminished by this partial neutralization so that hydrogen transfer selectivity increased. In the case of the borosilicate-supported catalysts, maximum activity near 90% conversion of propylene to propane and selectivity for hydrogen transfer greater than 95% were obtained when sufficient alkali was added to neutralize the acidity associated with framework aluminum while maintaining the acidity associated with boron. Feed studies with an optimized catalyst provide additional mechanistic insights.

n -Butene was isomerized to isobutene over fresh and used ferrierite catalysts. Activity and selectivity for skeletal isomerization and biproduct formation were measured and changes following extended use were related to changes in ferrierite′s aluminum distribution. In its fresh form, ferrierite exhibited high activity for n -butene conversion and high selectivity for non-C 4 products with reduced selectivity for isobutene. With time on feed, side-product formation decreased and isobutene yields reached a maximum, then declined with further time on feed. After several run/regeneration cycles, a marked drop-off in the maximum achievable isobutene yield was observed and selectivity for non-C 4 products increased. MAS-NMR of the deactivated catalyst showed a decrease in zeolitic, tetrahedral aluminum and an increase in octahedral aluminum. In order to understand changes occurring following extended use, ferrierite powders were modified by steam and by steam plus acid-wash treatments. A steamed ferrierite catalyst exhibited lower initial n -butene conversion; however, selectivity to non-C 4 , products increased relative to that of the fresh catalyst. XRD peak areas and gravimetric adsorption data indicated excellent crystallinity retention following steam treatment; XRD unit cell determination, and FTIR and NMR analysis suggested significant framework dealumination and the creation of a nonframework aluminum phase. TEM suggested that at least a portion of this phase exists in mesopores created by steam treatment. A steamed-acid-washed ferrierite catalyst also exhibited reduced initial n -butene conversion but high isobutene selectivity throughout the run. Biproduct formation was greatly reduced. Characterization indicated that acid-wash treatment after steaming had no effect on framework aluminum but partially reduced the amount of nonframework aluminum. Steamed-acid-washed ferrierite was much less sensitive to subsequent hydrothermal treatments than was the starting ferrierite. The study suggests a catalytic role for nonframework alumina, generated upon extended use of unmodified ferrierite and present in steamed ferrierite. Catalytically active, nonframework sites contribute to the production of non-C 4 products and reduced isobutene selectivity. Steamed-acid-washed ferrierite with the active nonframework phase removed exhibits excellent isobutene selectivity and catalytic stability.

To a large extent, the depletion of tolyltriazole (TTZ) observed in several field tests may be attributed to the formation of a protective copper-triazole layer. Laboratory aging studies, shown to correlate with field experience, reveal that copper-TTZ layer formation depletes coolant TTZ levels in a fashion analogous to changes observed in the field. XPS and TPD-MS characterization of the complex formed indicates a strong chemical bond between copper and the adsorbed TTZ which can be desorbed thermally only at elevated temperatures. Electrochemical polarization experiments indicate that the layer provides good copper protection even when TTZ is absent from the coolant phase. Examination of copper cooling system components obtained after extensive field use reveals the presence of a similar protective layer.

In schizophrenia, alteration in the prefrontal cortex can induce some deficiencies of the executive functions, and among them errors in inhibition of prepotent responses. This type of inhibitory processes was called "restraint function" by Hasher et al. It implies a conscious and voluntary inhibition which demands attentional resources. Among the tasks exploring this function, the Hayling completion sentence task (Burgess and Shallice) appears to be the most specific. Moreover, healthy subjects performing this task in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show activation of the prefrontal cortex. In this study, we investigated inhibitory processes in schizophrenic patients using two versions of the Hayling completion sentence task, a behavioural version and an fMRI version in order to assess both performance levels and brain correlates of inhibitory processes.Forty-eight schizophrenic participants according to DSM-IV, (mean age: 32.8, S.D. 7.7), stabilized for at least one month, receiving antipsychotic medication and with IQ higher than 70 (mean: 96.86, S.D. 20.67) and education level (mean: 11.15, S.D. 3.26) participated in the behavioural study. They were matched on age (mean: 33.8, S.D. 7.6) and education level (mean: 12.28, S.D. 2.87) with thirty-two healthy controls. Nineteen of schizophrenic participants (mean age: 33, S.D. 6.9 and IQ: 99, S.D. 10.74) were assessed by an fMRI adaptation of the Hayling task, matched with 12 controls (mean: 33.9, S.D. 7.3). All the participants had to perform the Hayling task and a speed accuracy task. The Hayling task consists in sentences for which the last word is missing. In the initiation condition, the participants had to complete the sentence with the appropriate word, whereas in inhibition condition the participants had to complete the sentence with inappropriate and unrelated words.Compared to controls, schizophrenics showed an increased number of errors in the inhibition of prepotent responses associated with increased reaction times, even when considering information processing speed. fMRI results showed fairly similar frontal activations in both groups. Nevertheless, schizophrenic patients presented principally large activations in dorsolateral and ventrolateral frontal cortex, the superior frontal sulcus, the frontal pole and the premotor cortex, and stronger activations (bilateral) in the posterior parietal cortex. Control subjects demonstrated a network of deactivated brain regions whereas the schizophrenics did not.Our results are in favour of poorer efficacy of restraint function, sometimes comprising impairment of inhibitory processes inducing errors in schizophrenics. This deficiency might be considered as insufficiency in attentional resources and/or in working memory. Hence patients cannot simultaneously restrain prepotent response and find appropriate controlled strategy for correct completion of the task. Moreover, bilateral patterns of parietal hyperactivation and absence of patterns of deactivation seem also in favour of an attentional hypothesis. The Hayling task might be interesting for assessment of inhibitory processes in schizophrenia.

With the emergence of new information and communication technologies (NICT) in the daily practice of medicine, personal medical data have become exportable. Certainly, they represent an interesting source for epidemiologists who were often lacking complete data sets all the way through to morbidity data; but once these data leave the confines of the structure of a medical office, they must be protected in order to respect the fundamental ethical principles which form the basis of the doctor-patient relationship. Given the fact that medical data are not considered merchandise, there is the need to lead a process of reflection which aims to adapt the existing ethical rules and regulations to norms which conform to this new environment. There is also a need to compile a report on the overall European situation, and more specifically the French case.

This work deals with the comparative study of two standardised instruments, which can be used to diagnose personality disorders (PD): the SCID-II and the DIP. Each instrument used as a self-questionnaire followed by a semi-structured interview by the same clinician was applied to 21 patients suffering from PD. The DIP (DSM-IV and ICD-10 Personality), which is a recent instrument, consists of a self-questionnaire (DIP-Q) and a semi-structured interview (DIP-I), created by Bodlund and Ottosson. It makes it possible to evaluate PD from criteria based on the DSM-IV as well as the ICD-10. We translated it into French then evaluated it in comparison with another instrument, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II PD (SCID-II) whose validity was demonstrated by Bouvard.For the self-questionnaire (SCID-auto), we used CUNGI'S computerised version. The present version of the semi-structured interview SCID-E (French translation by Bouvard et al.) evaluates the 10 PD of the DSM-IV, the depressive personality and the passive-aggressive personality, included in the DSM-IV appendix B. The DIP-Q questionnaire is made up of 140 right/wrong items referring to the 10 PD of the DSM-IV and the eight disorders of the ICD-10. The DIP-I is the self-structured interview created by Ottosson et al. and it is built on the same pattern as the SCID-II. It provides diagnoses for all DSM-IV and/or ICD-10 PD as well as the schizotypic disorder. The DIP-I is usually preceded by a general "scan" interview in order to assess an existing personality disorder corresponding to Axis I of the DSM-IV or the ICD-10. In our study, we substituted a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) questionnaire for this interview. Twenty-four patients suffering from one or several PD were chosen among ambulatory or out-patients by clinicians from the Saint-Etienne Psychiatric University Hospital Center. The diagnosis was not revealed to the examiner during the study. The subjects filled in the DIP-I and the SCID-II self-questionnaires. The answers to each test were first processed through a computer, then the patients were seen over the following weeks for the DIP-I and SCID-II semi-structured interviews. For both questionnaires, we only explored the diagnostic categories reaching pathological level (as was recommended by the authors). Considering the small number of patients involved, we used nonparametric tests: Wilcoxon test, Mac Nemar test and the Kappa.As far as the self-questionnaire results are concerned, we noticed important differences for the schizoid and the schizotypic PD between the DIP-Q (ICD) and the DIP-Q (DSM). The most represented PDs are the paranoiac, borderline, avoiding and obsessional personalities. After the semi-structured interviews, it appears that only 30 to 50% of the diagnoses obtained through self-evaluation were confirmed (with the exception of the schizotypic personality and the antisocial personality for the SCID with perfect agreement between self and clinical evaluation). Globally, the agreement between diagnosis by self-evaluation and diagnosis by semi-structured interview is not very satisfactory. Finally, a cluster analysis of the results of the three semi-structured interviews put together reveals that five patients show at least one PD diagnosed in the three clusters, two have no diagnosis, six patients have one or several PDs in clusters B and C, three patients have some in clusters A and C, and five patients only have some in cluster C. Our results lead to several remarks: the size of our group is small, but it must be pointed out that the investigations for each patient took about three hours, which made it difficult for the patients to agree when the clinicians proposed the study; three patients originally included could not be evaluated because of suicidal behaviour. In their self-administered form, the SCID and the DSM version of the DIP-Q broadly diagnose a little more than three PDs per patient, whereas the ICD version of the DIP-Q diagnoses more than five. The administration of semi-structured interviews leads to an average of 1.3 diagnosis for the DIP-Q DSM-IV and 1.6 for the ICD against 1.9 PD for the SCID interview. These results correspond to the literature data. There are differences between the SCID and the DIP-I, as regards to the way they were used: the SCID-II makes it necessary to repeat the questions positively answered in the self-questionnaire, whereas the DIP-I explores all the criteria of the whole diagnosed PD, which may favour the inclusions. Concerning other instruments compared to the SCID-II in the international literature, our results with the DIP are globally satisfactory.The results must be interpreted with some care, considering the small number of patients. Important discrepancies were noticed between the diagnoses obtained through self-evaluation and the semi-structured interview, mainly for the A and C personality clusters of the DSM-IV, showing the tests to be extremely sensitive, but not specific enough for detection. However, the agreement between both instruments referring to the DSM-IV is satisfactory. The main interest of our work was to make the first French translation of the DIP known and to compare it to another instrument, which has often been evaluated previously.

Effects of zeolite pore structure on skeletal isomerization of 1-butenes are investigated. Three 10-member ring zeolites, ferrierite, ZSM-23, and ZSM-5, are studied and compared. Results show that ferrierite, with intersecting 10-MR and 8-MR channels, has better isomerization activity than ZSM-23, with monodirectional 10-MR channels, ZSM-5 with two intersecting 10-MR channels is not a selective isomerization catalyst.

The Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale SLDS published by Baker and Intagliata in 1982 and translated in French by Chambon and al. is one of the most used rating scales in the field of Subjective Quality of Life (SQL) for patients suffering from schizophrenia. It comprises 16 scales in 7 points and Likert format exploring the following fields: home/apartment/place of residence, neighbourhood, food, clothes, health, people they live with, friends, love life, relationships with their family, how they get on with other people, job/work day programming, spare time, what they do in the community for fun, services and facilities in their area, economic situation, general quality of life. In this study we present results on SLDS about 139 schizophrenic patients (108 males, 31 females) recruited in two centers Lyon (n = 41) and Saint-Etienne (n = 98). The SLDS was a part of more comprehensive studies including evaluation of needs for care, social support, delivery and costs of services. Diagnosis were confirmed using either the SCAN and CATEGO program (n = 108) or the list of the ICD-10 criteria (n = 31) applied at time of inclusion or on the basis of a representative episode of the illness. Patients were classified in two groups, the S group (S, n = 53) for those patients presenting clinical features at time of inclusion excepted residual forms (F 20.5) and the non S group (N-S, n = 86) for those patients free of symptoms at the time of assessment. Non parametric statistics (U test and Kendall test) were used for comparisons between groups. The field by field comparison of the scores shows the poorest level of SQL for love life (m = 4.2; sd = 1.8) and economic status (m = 4.4; sd = 1.8). Comparisons between S and non-S groups show an average range systematically higher for the non-S group and significant differences for the following fields: food, friends, how they get on with other people. The same comparisons between males and females show no significant differences excepted for the following fields: love life, economic situation. Principal components analysis with Varimax rotation were performed and a 4 factors solution was considered as the best one. Before rotation the first factor accounts for 31% of the variance and comprises all the items with loading higher than 0.4 allowing us to consider the possibility of a global score. This global score is normally distributed (m = 95.1 sd = 17.3) and shows a significant difference between S and non S-groups (S m = 92.2 sd = 20.1; non S m = 99.6 sd = 15.4 p = .02) but not between centers and between males and females. After rotation the first factor comprises relationships with family, how they get on with other people, job/work/day programming, spare time, what they do for fun and life in general. The hypothesis of unidimensionality of QV has to be tested using the RASCH model.

Current conventional wisdom argues that human-induced excesses in nutrient loadings to estuaries often stimulate ‘excess’ algal production leading to hypoxia, via bacterial pathways, and subsequent reduced recruitment/survival of finfish and shellfish. Why wouldn't such elevated production stimulate more animal production, rather than less? In a three-year study of Long Island Sound, U.S.A., a multitude of variables were quantified along a west to east gradient, to address the above question via the hypothesis that different successes among planktonic species experiencing eutrophication alter planktonic food web structure away from traditional pathways to microbial loop dominated ones. Variables studied included: nutrient concentrations and ratios (i.e. NO2, NO3, NH4, DON, PON, PO4, Silicate, N/P and N/Si), phytoplankton, protozooplanktonic ciliate, zooplankton, heterotrophic nanoplankton (HNAN), photosynthetic nanoplankton (PNAN), size-fractionated chlorophyll, larval fish and bacterial concentrations and/or species composition, and bacterial growth rates (as frequency of dividing cells, FDC). Results indicated that although current nitrogen and other nutrient loadings into the estuary are much higher than past inputs (especially in western waters), the average concentration of dissolved inorganic nutrients is similar (though slightly higher) to past values. Relative proportioning among chemical species does vary from west to east, with NH4 and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) at times more prevalent in the west, especially in bottom waters. Excess loadings of nitrogen and other nutrients into the estuary are converted to elevated biomass of both small ( 20 μm) phytoplankton in the west. Slightly enhanced bacterial densities and growth rates shadow the elevated chlorophyll levels, with distinctive Sound-wide seasonal patterns that follow not total chlorophyll, but rather PNAN concentrations. HNAN concentrations also are elevated in the west, and likely influence bacterial dynamics. Species composition of phytoplankton routinely differ west to east. Inorganic N/P are routinely low (i.e. below Redfield ratios), especially in the west, while total dissolved N/P (i.e. including DON) are similar among stations and typically are significantly higher than Redfield ratios. Associated with bacterial and

This paper reports on the selective hydroperoxidation of unsaturated elastomers by using singlet oxygen photochemically produced (sensitization by anthracene at 365 nm). Hydroperoxide groups were characterized by using derivatization by nitric oxide and dimethyl sulfide. Grafting was performed by decomposing of hydroperoxide groups in the presence of acrylate monomers or nitroxyl radicals. According to the substituents, in acrylate hindered amine stabilizers (HAS) can be obtained. In the last part, the effect of grafted HAS on photo and thermal ageing of the parent elastomer is reported.

Description Patients (P) : 64/97 patients ayant donne leur consentement, presentant des pathologies variees, admis consecutivement sur 15 jours ; 41 femmes (F : 47,6 ans sd : 14,3) ; 23 hommes (H : 50,4 ans sd : 14) ; 4 medecins (M). 33 refus ou dossiers non remplis. Evaluation : sur les 7 derniers jours et pendant la meme demi-journee. Patients et medecins : Douleur globale, maximale, minimale, gene quotidienne, satisfaction et resultats des soins (EVA). P : auto evaluation de l’anxiete et de la depression (HAD). M : Echelle d’anxiete (COVI), de depression (Raskin). Statistiques : test t, correlation, regression multiple. Resultats Trente trois patients sont susceptibles de presenter un episode depressif majeur (Raskin > 6) ou un trouble anxieux (COVI > 6). Pas de difference significative pour la douleur globale (M = 4,4 sd : 1,7 ; P = 4,5 sd : 2,3 p = .88) maximale (M = 6,65 sd : 3,9 ; P = 7,26 sd : 6,18 p = .13), minimale (M = 2,32 sd : 4,22 ; P 1,93 sd : 3,9 p = .24). Le handicap quotidien est cote plus haut par les patients (M = 4,74 sd : 5,21 ; P = 5,5 sd 6,3 p = .000). Les patients sont plus satisfaits des soins des medecins (M = 2,8 sd : .62 ; P = 3,6 sd : 1,5 p =.01) mais ils ne se differencient pas sur le resultat (M = 2,9 sd : .28 ; P = 2,9 sd : .95 p = .89). Les patients correlent la gene a la douleur (.5) et a la depression (.3) et les medecins principalement a la depression et a l’anxiete (.66 et .63). Conclusion Etude pilote non generalisable, la comorbidite psychiatrique n’a pas ete evaluee avec un entretien standardise.

Abnormalities of embodiment of the self and of self-object relations are recently described as a possible common component in schizophrenia. For these patients, the world can then appear as being deprived of practical meaning, which lays its foundation through sensory-motor experiences. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that schizophrenic patients could have a deficit in sensory-motor simulation. To investigate this question, we used two Stimulus Response Compatibility tasks, in schizophrenic and control subjects. When the stimuli and the responses share the same properties, it is well known that response times are shorter than when they do not (« SRC effect »). In experiment 1, we replicate a study from Tucker & Ellis (1998) in order to explore the hypothesis that schizophrenic patients could have a deficit in sensory-motor simulation during perception of graspable objects in contrast to healthy subjects (“Object-Affordance”). In experiment 2, we hypothesize that during a Simon task, the SRC effect would be efficient in both groups. Our results show that, in a schizophrenic group, the SRC effect appears only when stimuli and responses share a spatial localization but does not when they share motor characteristics. These results allow us to conclude that the visual asymmetry does not influence the implementation of the motor potentiation, as certain authors suggest in healthy subjects. Moreover, in schizophrenia, the sensory-motor simulation impairments could emerge from a lack of relation between the object and the subject's environment more than from a difficulty in orienting attention.

With a sample of 1,331 subjects we form three groups, considering the subjective somatic and psychic state of mind. The first group with a good state may represent the normal subjects N = 780. We else compare here the different groups.

The authors report a case of cardiac arrest occurring in a patient who had just entered the catheter laboratory for coronary angioplasty. Opacification of the left coronary artery revealed a proximal occluding double spasm unrelated to the distal stenoses for which angioplasty had been requested. Resuscitation and antispastic therapy with intracoronary injection of a nitrate derivative resulted in a complete recovery without any sequellae. The role of coronary spasm in sudden death and the value of the ergometrine test in patients with coronary stenosis are discussed.

Wet chemistry test methods have been developed to determine the level of alkyl carboxylate inhibition remaining in used OAT coolants. The test strategy of these methods depends on the known alkyl carboxylate ability to protect cooling system metals such as aluminum by forming insoluble metal soaps. Various test configurations make this test strategy suitable for the rapid analysis of used coolants in the field. This paper will document the initial test strategies and the development efforts that led to the first field test for alkyl carboxylate-based coolants. Test kit performance with laboratory and field samples is also discussed.

The conversion of normal olefins such as n-butylenes can be converted to branched olefin species such as isobutylene by skeletal isomerization over zeolite-based catalysts having pore sizes of at least about 4.5 Angstroms and a pore structure characterized by intersecting 10-MR and 8 MR channels. The zeolite-based catalysts have sufficient acidity to catalyze the skeletal isomerization of normal olefins. The catalysts can be used to produce isoolefins for reaction with alcohols in integrated processes to produce alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers such as MTBE.

SummaryThe authors report the case of a 45-yr-old male who presented from 1979 to 1986 with several severe depressive episodes. The patient fulfilled Feighner criteria for major depression, Newcastle criteria for endogenous depression: the depressive episodes were all classified as severe recurrent depression without melancholia according to DSM III. The patient was resistant to different types of treatment (ECT, tricyclic and MAOI drugs, lithium, sleep deprivation). With a treatment of 10 cg/day of fenetyline, reduced to 5 cg/day after 6 months, (atypical manic episode), the patient improved considerably for 20 rnonths. The therapeutic response decreased after this period but after a month of withdrawal, the patient again responded. The authors cannot explain the duration of this therapeutic response.

The effects of midbrain raphe stimulation and/or harmaline administration on cerebellar cell activities were examined in chloralosed rats. Cerebellar cortical cells were grouped into two categories. From a total sample of 68 cells, 48 were classified as Purkinje cells and the 20 others were unidentified. Midbrain raphe stimulation was found to inhibit for many sec the discharge of 40% of the Purkinje cells and 80% of the unidentified units. Other cells were unaffected, except 4 of them which were excited. Harmaline administration increased the CS firing rate of all Purkinje cells by inducing a rhythmic CS discharge at 7-12 Hz. Moreover, harmaline increased the discharge rate of unidentified units without inducing rhythmic activity. In both types of cerebellar cells a modulation of their firing pattern by periodical pauses at 0.1-0.4/s was noticed. These data are discussed in relation to the known influences of harmaline and cerebellar stimulation on raphe neurons. Taken in this context, results presented here confirm the existence of a modulatory influence of the raphe nuclei on the olivo-cerebellar circuitry. A general model of interactions is proposed.

The energy spectra of light nuclides ( 1 1 H, 1 2 H, 1 3 H, 2 3 He, 2 4 He) produced in the interaction of 600 MeV protons on various targets (Be, C, Na, Al, Ca, Fe, Au) have been measured at several laboratory angles (30°, 45°, 75°, 105°), by means of ΔE-E telescopes (semiconductor and scintillator detectors). The spectra are fitted with calculated curves derived both from a two-step model and a thermodynamical model of the p-nucleus interaction. Two ranges of nuclear temperature are found: the first one (about (20÷30) MeV) describes the high-energy part of the spectra, the second one (a few MeV) describes the low-energy part (de-excitation of the residual nucleus). These fits are used for the integration over energies and angles, which allows the computation of the total cross-sections and of the fragmentation probabilities. These probabilities are necessary for the study of2H and3He production in the propagation of galactic cosmic rays and their interaction with interstellar matter. We find that the 〈CNO〉 contribution for the production of cosmic He nuclei is not negligible and must be added to the4He contribution. The mean interstellar path length is about 4 g·cm−2. The results obtained with Na and Ca targets should present a biophysical interest.

RésuméLes auteurs ont étudié la possibilité de dépister les troublés psychiatriques rencontrés dans un service de médecine par auto-évaluation.Ils ont comparé les resultats d'une auto-évaluation utilisant la BFS et la HSCL 90 à ceux d'une hétéro-évaluation utilisant une échelle d'anxiété (Covi), une échelle de dépression (MADRS), une échelle de ralentissement dépressif (ERD) et les criteres du DSM III afin de détecter les faux-positifs et les faux-négatifs. La recherche a eu lieu pendant 6 mois dans une unité de soins, pendant 2 mois dans une autre. Les investigateurs ont été préalablement entrainés sur cassette vidéo. 635 patients ont été hospitalisés, 179 exclus d'après des critères fixés à l'avance. 229 ont été tirés au sort sur les 456 dossiers restant. 206 dossiers ont été retenus. 75 patients présentent des troubles psychiatriques avec 56 troubles depressifs (22 depressions majeures, 19 troubles dysthymiques, 9 troubles atypiques, 6 rémissions), 6 troubles anxieux, 10 troubles de l'adaptation, 3 troubles divers, aucun trouble psychotique. Les sujets anxieux et déprimés diffèrent de façon cohérente des normaux pour les variables continues (tableau I). Les cotateurs évaluent identiquement les patients sauf pour l'anxiété. Le tableau II montre l'existence de 13 faux négatifs (17.3 %), de 14 faux positifs et de 30 désaccords portant sur l'anxiété. Ces désaccords sont répartis entre les cotateurs sans différences significatives. Les faux negatifs sont essentiellement des troubles dysthymiques et atypiques, accessoirement des dépressions majeures (tableau III). Ces résultats démontrent l'intérêt d'un dépistage par auto-évaluation d'autant qu'une récente étude comparable rapporte 2/3 de troubles psychiatriques non diagnostiqués par les généralistes.

Responses of cerebellar Purkinje cells to mechanical stimulation of the Achilles' tendon were studied in unanesthetized decerebrate cats. Approximately two-thirds of the Purkinje cells tested were activated in response to stimulation through climbing fibers, i.e., they generated a complex spike. In half of these cells (group A) the probability of appearance of a complex spike to a blow on the tendon was from 0.5 to 0.9 and the latent period of response from 20 to 25 msec. Purkinje cells with a latent period of response of over 35 msec were characterized by low probability of response (under 0.5) to a tap (group B). Responses of Purkinje cells to excitation of mossy fibers were weaker and more varied.

RésuméCet article présente brièvement les résultats d’une étude épidémiologique unicentrique standardisée avec seulement deux cotateurs entraînés, de l’incidence et des facteurs de morbidité des épisodes dépressifs non psychotiques de la puerpéralité à partir de 483 dossiers standardisés de jeunes accouchées constituant un échantillon au tiers parmi les 1232 accouchements survenus durant une année à la maternité du CHRU de Saint-Etienne. Ce travail a permis de diagnostiquer au moyen d’évaluations psychométriques quantifiées 35 cas de “post partum blues” (incidence 6.6 %). Le dépouillement des réponses aux 35 items (Tableau 1) a permis d’isoler par segmentation non arborescente (figure 1) deux groupes: un de femmes non-à-risque et un de femmes à haut risque de pathologie dépressive post puerpérale défini par la présence de quatre facteurs prédisposants: la présence d’antécédants psychopathologiques personnels dépressifs, la survenue de manifestations anxiodépressives et de traumatismes psychologiques durant la grossesse, la séparation précoce d’avec l’enfant après l’accouchement. Quant aux “post partum blues”, seule la primiparité apparaît avec une plus grande fréquence. Néanmoins leur faible incidence dans notre échantillon peut conduire à s’interroger sur la définition des critères de morbidité de cette pathologie.

Zusammenfassung De l'analyse bibliographique des travauxe´lectrore´tinographiques publie´s sur le proble`me des interactions re´tinore´tiniennes, il apparaiˆt que certaines contradictions entre les re´sultats sont duesa`des erreurs me´thodologiques dont on recherche les causes: diffusion de la lumie`re de stimulation sur l'cil occlus, re´flexes iriens et palpe´braux consensuels; diffusion des champse´lectriques re´tiniens qui provoquent la contagion entre lese´lectrore´tinogene`ses enregistre´es sur les corne´es. Des solutions poure´viter ces erreurs sont propose´es.

The reduction of the dioxygen species [{RhCl(O2)(PPh3)2}2] with ethanol in the presence of 1 equivalent of a phosphine ligand, L, other than PPh3, gives a catalytically active mixture having a PPh3 : L ratio of 3 : 1. When the reduction is carried out under hydrogen, this mixture is composed of two species, [RhClH2(PPh3)2] and [RhClH2(PPh3)L]. A comparison is made of the rate and stereochemical data obtained using these mixtures for the hydrogenation of 1-methylene-4-t-butylcyclohexane with data obtained using the [RhClL2] complexes as catalysts. This comparison and others have shown that in the mixed-ligand species, [RhClH2(PPh3)L], the ligand L is present exclusively at the site trans to the position of olefin complexation prior to hydrogen transfer.