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Reference values for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) in children and young adults are scarce. This leads to risk stratification of patients with congenital heart diseases being based on volumes indexed to body surface area (BSA). We aimed to produce cMRI Z score equations for ventricular volumes in children and young adults and to test whether indexing to BSA resulted in an incorrect assessment of ventricular dilation according to sex, body composition, and growth.We retrospectively included 372 subjects aged26 years with either normal hearts or conditions with no impact on ventricular volumes (reference group), and 205 subjects with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) aged26 years. We generated Z score equations by means of multivariable regression modelling. Right ventricular dilation was assessed with the use of Z scores and compared with indexing to BSA in TOF subjects.Ventricular volume Z scores were independent from age, sex, and anthropometric measurements, although volumes indexed to BSA showed significant residual association with sex and body size. In TOF subjects, indexing overestimated dilation in growing children and underestimated dilation in female compared with male subjects, and in overweight compared with lean subjects.Indexed ventricular volumes measured with cMRI did not completely adjust for body size and resulted in a differential error in the assessment of ventricular dilation according to sex and body size. Our proposed Z score equations solved this problem. Future studies should evaluate if ventricular volumes expressed as Z scores have a better prognostic value than volumes indexed to BSA.

Prediction of coronary events remains elusive. Carotid atherosclerosis may be a surrogate for coronary risk, as carotid and coronary diseases occur simultaneously — albeit at times with a weak association — depending on clinical presentation. We investigated carotid and coronary atherosclerosis in men with new-onset unstable coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) vs. long-standing severe chronic stable angina (CSA). Bilateral carotid artery and 3-vessel coronary artery atherosclerosis burdens were measured within 1 month, respectively, by 3D-volumetric carotid magnetic resonance imaging and coronary angiography-derived modified CASS-50 score. Men with STEMI (n = 50) and long-standing CSA (n = 50), matched for age, were enrolled (58.6 ± 8.8 years). All of them had carotid atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis burden was greater in the carotid arteries of STEMI vs. CSA (wall volume: 196.2 ± 44.4 vs. 169.2 ± 38.0 mm3/4 mm, p = 0.002), but greater in the coronary arteries of CSA vs. STEMI (modified CASS-50 score: 3 vs. 1, p < 0.0001). Normalized wall index (NWI) of internal carotid was associated with modified CASS-50 score in STEMI (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.022) and in CSA (ρ = −0.39, p = 0.031). Carotid atherosclerosis was observed in all CAD patients, and atherosclerosis burden in carotid and in coronary arteries varied according to clinical presentation.

Introduction: Visceral adiposity increases the level of atherogenic lipoproteins and is linked to sex-related differences in cardiovascular risk. Hypothesis. Atherogenic lipoproteins could mediate the relationship between visceral fat and sex-related differences in atherosclerosis burden and composition, including the lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC). Methods: This study included 294 women (39.4 ± 15.0 years) and 324 men (39.5 ± 13.8 years), matched for age and risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, smoking). Carotid atherosclerosis, visceral abdominal fat (VAT) and cardiac fat (CAT) were studied by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: For similar age and risk profile, women had less VAT ( p p p p p =0.23), men had a greater LRNC volume ( p p =0.025). There was also an interaction between sex, VAT, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL-C) on LRNC volume ( p =0.012), beyond age and risk factors ( p =0.011). Only 8.6% of men and none of the women were classified at high risk (presence of LRNC) by the Framingham Risk Score while 35.4% of men and 14.0% of women were classified at high risk by the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) risk score (risk of advanced atherosclerosis). Elevated TC/HDL-C (≥3) and/or WHR (≥0.8 in women, ≥0.9 in men) were superior to the PDAY risk score, identifying 62.2% of women (Net Reclassification Improvement [NRI]=1.85, p p Conclusions: Women had less visceral adiposity, carotid atherosclerosis burden and LRNC volume, independently of age and risk profile. Carotid LRNC volume varied with sex, VAT, and atherogenic lipoproteins. WHR and TC/HDL-C improved the identification of high-risk carotid atherosclerosis features in women as well as men. This evidence supports the clinical potential of the atherogenic lipoprotein profile and of adiposity distribution in atherosclerosis risk evaluation of both women and men.

Background Subclinical atherosclerosis identification remains challenging; abdominal visceral adiposity may improve risk stratification beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertriglyceridemic waist, a visceral adiposity marker combining elevated triglycerides (≥2 mmol/L) and waist circumference (≥90 cm), has been related to carotid atherosclerosis, although associations with high‐risk features, including lipid‐rich necrotic core (LRNC), remain unknown. We tested the hypothesis that hypertriglyceridemic waist is an independent marker of high‐risk atherosclerosis features. Methods and Results In this cross‐sectional study including 467 white men (mean age, 45.9±14.8 years; range 19.4–77.6 years), carotid atherosclerosis characteristics were examined by magnetic resonance imaging and associations with hypertriglyceridemic waist and benefits beyond Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) were determined. Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis was present in 61.9% of participants, whereas 50.1% had LRNC. Hypertriglyceridemic waist was associated with carotid maximum wall thickness ( P =0.014), wall volume ( P =0.025), normalized wall index ( P =0.004), and Carotid Atherosclerosis Score (derived from wall thickness and LRNC; P =0.049). Hypertriglyceridemic waist was associated with carotid LRNC volume beyond FRS ( P =0.037) or PDAY ( P =0.015), contrary to waist circumference alone (both P >0.05). Although 69.7% and 62.0% of participants with carotid atherosclerosis and/or LRNC were not high‐risk by FRS or PDAY, respectively, hypertriglyceridemic waist correctly reclassified 9.7% and 4.5% of them, respectively. Combining hypertriglyceridemic waist with FRS (net reclassification improvement=0.17; P P =0.003) was superior to each score alone in identifying individuals with carotid atherosclerosis and/or LRNC. Conclusions Hypertriglyceridemic waist is an independent marker of carotid high‐risk atherosclerosis features in men, improving on FRS and PDAY risk score.

Cette recherche quantitative a pour objectif de vérifier l’influence du clavardage sur la maîtrise du français écrit des élèves du premier cycle du secondaire au regard des caractéristiques de la langue codée et de la psychologie cognitive. À cet effet, nous avons montré que le clavardage n’a pas d’influence défavorable sur la maîtrise du français écrit de ces élèves, cela par l’intermédiaire d’une dictée et d’un questionnaire sur les habitudes de clavardage. Ainsi, il semble que le clavardage, qui est en plein essor, ne soit pas néfaste pour la langue écrite. Ce constat ouvre d’ailleurs la voie à l’utilisation du clavardage pédagogique., The quantitative research presented in this paper explores the influence of chatting on the French written proficiency of first-year high school students. This empirical study focuses on the characteristics of the coded language associated with online chatting and cognitive psychology. To verify this, we demonstrate that chatting does not have a negative influence on the proficiency of students of this level to write proper French, as shown by a dictation test and a questionnaire on the subject’s computer habits. The authors conclude that chatting, a rapidly growing activity, is not harmful for proficiency in written language. This conclusion leads to suggestions for using chatting for pedagogical objectives., Esta investigación cuantitativa tiene por objetivo comprobar la influencia del chat sobre el dominio del francés escrito de alumnos de primer ciclo de secundaria respecto a las características de la lengua codificada y a la psicología cognitiva. A tal efecto, hemos demostrado que el chat no tiene influencia desfavorable sobre el dominio del francés escrito de estos alumnos, tratándose de un dictado o de un cuestionario, sobre los hábitos de chat. Así, parece ser que el chat, lo cual se encuentra en pleno auge, no sea nefasto para la lengua escrita. Esta constatación abre camino a la utilización del chat pedagógico.

Cette synthèse des écrits traite du développement des compétences sociales des enfants à risque selon l’approche sociocognitive. D’après les études, les familles de milieux défavorisés seraient davantage affligées par certaines pratiques parentales préjudiciables au développement de l’enfant. Or, la négligence de l’enfant impliquerait des lacunes dans l’apprentissage du contrôle de soi, une faible stimulation intellectuelle et des déficits dans l’apprentissage de plusieurs compétences sociales. De plus, la peur suscitée par la violence pourrait induire chez lui un biais d’attribution hostile, tandis que l’expérience de rapports violents lui suggérerait que les relations sociales s’exercent dans la coercition. Des recommandations concluront cet article., This literature review deals with the development of social skills in children at risk, based on a sociocognitive approach. According to current studies, families living in underprivileged environments are further exposed to certain parental practices that are detrimental to the child’s development. Hence, neglecting a child seems to lead to shortcomings in acquiring self-control, poor intellectual stimulation and deficiencies in the acquisition of various social skills. Furthermore, violence-triggered fear could result in increasing hostile attribution bias, so experiencing violent relationships could suggest that social relationships are based on coercion. This article concludes by making several recommendations., Esta síntesis trata del desarrollo de las competencias sociales de los niños de riesgo mediante un enfoque sociocognitivo. Acorde con los estudios, las familias de medios desfavorecidos estarían más afligidas por ciertas prácticas parentales perjudicables al desarrollo del niño. Ahora bien, la negligencia del niño implica algunas carencias en el aprendizaje del autocontrol, una baja estimulación intelectual y deficiencias en el aprendizaje de varias competencias sociales. Además, el miedo suscitado por la violencia podría inducir en el niño una tendencia de atribución hostil, mientras la experiencia de vínculos violentos lo llevaría a sugerir que las relaciones sociales se ejercen en la coerción. Concluimos el artículo con algunas recomendaciones.

Dans cet article, l’auteur emet ses reflexions sur la precarite des liens d’attachement parent-enfant et homme-femme que semblent procurer les nouveaux modes de vie des societes modernes. Pour situer ses propos, l’auteur expose comment les comportements d’attachement auraient ete faconnes par la selection naturelle, pour ensuite etre minimises par la selection culturelle, ainsi que les consequences que cela pourrait avoir sur les individus et sur ces societes.

Plusieurs élèves de niveau primaire présentent des difficultés de lecture et d’écriture. Or, la recherche montre que les pratiques enseignantes efficaces ont une incidence favorable sur le succès des élèves dans leur apprentissage du lire-écrire. Suivant une recension des écrits sur les pratiques gagnantes au regard des théories de l’apprentissage socioconstructivistes, cet article présente les résultats d’une recherche portant sur les pratiques déclarées de l’enseignement du lire-écrire de quatre enseignantes de sixième année du primaire. Les résultats montrent que bien que les enseignantes interrogées utilisent encore des pratiques d’enseignement traditionnelles telles que la dictée, elles utilisent généralement des pratiques novatrices qui intègrent les enseignements de la lecture, de l’écriture et de la communication orale. Elles mettent également de l’avant des projets interdisciplinaires et transversaux. Les activités proposées sont de plus signifiantes, car connectées sur la réalité et les intérêts des élèves. En somme, les enseignantes interrogées révèlent que leur enseignement du français est décloisonné et constitue un tout, tel que le recommandent les études sur les pratiques efficaces., Many elementary school students have difficulties in reading and writing. However, researches showed that effective teaching practices have positive impacts in the success of students at school precisely in their reading and writing learning process. This paper presents results of a study on reported reading and writing teaching practices conducted on four sixth grade teachers by following a literature review on social constructivist theories winning practices. The results showed that they use innovative practices that incorporate reading, writing and oral communication teachings in class ; even if they still have traditional practices such as dictation. They also focused on interdisciplinary and cross-functional projects. Those activities are more significant because of their closeness with the children’s reality and interests. In sum, the interviews revealed the teachers’ methods as a whole and an open-plan, which many effective practices studies recommend.

Studies have shown that unilateral cochlear implant users who have residual hearing in the contralateral ear can benefit from combining a hearing aid in the nonimplanted ear with their cochlear implant. The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors influencing decision making by adults. Adults who had discontinued hearing aid use shortly after cochlear implantation were selected from one Canadian cochlear implant program. An examination of hearing aid use revealed that of 96 patients, who used hearing aids preimplant, 49 had discontinued hearing aid use. Patient perspectives on the decision and experience of combining a hearing aid and a cochlear implant were collected through 12 individual semistructured interviews. The interviews were analyzed qualitatively to identify key themes. Questionnaires, based on the interview findings, were developed and sent to the 49 adults to further explore the factors affecting hearing aid decisions. Interview and questionnaire findings from 28 adults indicated that three factors primarily influenced patients' decision to discontinue hearing aid use: their perceptions of the experience with hearing aids prior to implantation, their views of superiority of a unilateral cochlear implant in comparison with hearing aids, and their perceptions of interference with sound quality when a cochlear implant and hearing aid were combined. This study provides information about patient perceptions, experiences, and understanding of the potential difficulties of a bimodal fitting that may assist clinicians in pre- and postimplant counseling.