Système d'acquisition de réponses évoquées cérébrales et de pilotage de stimulation à base de microprocesseur

The microprocessor-based system is designed to study the cerebral responses (average evoked potentials) to sensory stimuli, and especially to auditory stimuli in real time. A stimulator with digital commands is controlled by the computer module. Up to eight different kinds of stimulations can be defined by the operator before the experiment. Their order and frequency may be fixed or random. Up to eight e.e.g. channels can be analysed simultaneously. While the data are being processed, the response on one of the eight channels is displayed on the screen of a cathode-ray tube. After the processing, all the responses can be drawn automatically on an analogXY plotting recorder, together with the relevant commentaries. The system also has other functions, such as automated calibration of each e.e.g. channel, checking of the quality of the signals before averaging, automated correction of the baseline shift and the possibility of extracting the short latency evoked-potential responses.     

Emotional reactivity and sympatho-adrenal activity in the rat (author's transl)

Using the open-field test, differences in emotional reactivity were shown in male rats of several albino strains. These behavioural differences were then investigated in relation to physiological differences. It was found that, under resting conditions, sympatho-adrenomedullary activity as estimated by urinary catecholamine excretion and adrenal catecholamine content is lower in the more emotionally reactive rats. The resting heart rate is correspondingly slower in these animals though they show the same noradrenaline cardiac concentration as the nonreactive rats. These data suggest that high defecating rats in the open-field exhibit a lower sympathetic tonus, possibly linked, however, with a higher parasympathetic tonus.     

Negative alliesthesia for sweet stimuli after varying ingestions of glucose (author's transl)

Ten normal fasted subjects received sucrose gustatory stimului before and after intragastric glucose loads. Each subject in 4 experiments received 0 g, 25 g, 50 g and 100 g glucose. Responses to sweet stimuli were recorded during the period following injection. Results show a negative alliesthesia (decreased pleasure to sweet stimuli) appearing in 15 min increasing up to a maximum at about 55 min, then decreasing. The more glucose ingested the bigger the effect. These results are compatible with a participation of negative alliesthesia to the conscious satiey perception.     

Une ulcération cutanée due à Rhodotorula mucilaginosa chez un enfant immunodéprimé

Human cutaneous infections due to Rhodotorula species as an emerged pathogens yeasts are rarely reported, particularly in skin folds, with the ability to infect immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent patient. In present case, we describe a fungal cutaneous infection due to Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in immunocompromised child, the patient has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma; the diagnosis was established by the cytological and clinical examination. However, the cytological examination found fungal forms. The diagnosis relies on the microbiological analysis of clinical samples but the interpretation of a positive culture should be part of and over all analysis that integrate clinical symptoms and risk factors. Most of cases of infection due to Rhodotorula were associated with central venous catheter in patients who were receiving immunosuppressors and cyotoxic drugs. The antifungal susceptibility testing was done; a fluconazol and ketoconazol showed susceptibles. The patient was treated by combinate antifungal therapy and empirical antimicrobial regimen for prophylaxis.     

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia investigation: Comparison between tube test and microcolumn agglutination (gel test) for the detection of drug-dependent antibodies in the presence of soluble drug

ObjectivesTesting for drug-dependent antibodies is traditionally performed with the tube method either with drug-treated red blood cells or with untreated red blood cells in the presence of soluble drug. Gel microcolumn agglutination method was compared to tube testing for the demonstration of drug-dependent antibodies in the presence of soluble drug.Materials and methodsPatient's samples were tested in parallel by tube and gel microcolumn agglutination method with untreated and/or enzyme-treated red blood cells in the presence of soluble drug.ResultsTwenty six different patient's samples were studied and thirty nine tests performed to investigate antibodies directed against fifteen different drugs. There was a good correlation between the results obtained by tube and gel method in terms of analytical sensitivity and specificity. Reactions appeared to be stronger with the gel test than seen with the conventional tube method for most of the drug antibodies investigated. Enzyme-treated cells should be used in addition to untreated cells to improve the sensitivity of the method for detecting drug-dependent antibodies especially those directed against drugs that do not bind firmly to red blood cells.ConclusionsGel method appeared to be sensitive, reliable, reproducible, and comparable to the conventional tube method for the detection of all the drug-dependent antibodies investigated in this study. Further studies need to be performed to evaluate gel testing for the detection of drug-dependent antibodies that only react with drug-treated red blood cells.