Croyances dysfonctionnelles liées au craving : évolution auprès des patients en post-cure d’alcoologie

Among patient with alcohol use disorders (AUD), cognitions (beliefs, thoughts, schemas) play an important role in alcohol abuse and in craving, defined as a strong and irresistible urge to consume a product. Various types of beliefs, said to be dysfunctional, were specifically identified among AUD patient as being able to favor a relapse. The aim of this research concerns the comorbidity (qualitative part of the research) and the dysfunctional beliefs relative to the craving (quantitative part of the research). The evolution of craving related beliefs are analyzed during a post-cure care. Ten French patients in post-cure care for AUD were received in clinical interview, and in structured interview (MINI). They also filled the French form of the Craving Beliefs Questionnaire at the two moments: At the beginning of post-cure care, then at the end. On the quantitative part, the results show that the irrational beliefs decrease among every patient. However, this evolution is not correlated with the number of post-cure care from which they benefit. A hypothesis is whether it is the global residential care in itself that influences the cognitions-beliefs.     

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force Report on omalizumab-associated anaphylaxis

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Executive Committees formed the Omalizumab Joint Task Force with the purpose of reviewing the Genentech Xolair (omalizumab) clinical trials and postmarketing surveillance data on anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions. Using the definition of anaphylaxis proposed at a 2005 multidisciplinary symposia, the Omalizumab Joint Task Force concluded that 35 patients had 41 episodes of anaphylaxis associated with Xolair (omalizumab) administration between June 1, 2003, and December 31, 2005. With 39,510 patients receiving Xolair (omalizumab) during the same period of time, this would correspond to an anaphylaxis-reporting rate of 0.09% of patients. Of those 36 events for which the time of reaction was known, 22 (61%) reactions occurred in the first 2 hours after one of the first 3 doses. Five (14%) of the events after the fourth or later doses occurred within 30 minutes. Considering the timing of these 36 events, an observation period of 2 hours for the first 3 injections and 30 minutes for subsequent injections would have captured 75% of the anaphylactic reactions. The OJTF report provides recommendations for physicians who prescribe Xolair (omalizumab) on (1) the suggested wait periods after administration and (2) patient education regarding anaphylaxis.     

Total hip replacement with a collarless polished cemented anatomic stem: clinical and gait analysis results at ten years follow-up

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine outcomes of total hip replacement (THR) with the Lemania cemented femoral stem.

Methods

A total of 78 THR patients were followed and compared to 17 “fit”, healthy, elderly and 72 “frail” elderly subjects without THR, using clinical outcome measures and a portable, in-field gait analysis device at five and ten years follow-up.

Results

Forty-one patients (53 %), mean age 83.4 years, available at ten years follow-up, reported very good to excellent satisfaction. Mean Harris Hip and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were 81.2 and 10.5 points, respectively, with excellent radiological preservation of proximal femur bone stock. Spatial and temporal gait parameters were close to the fit group and better than the frail group.

Conclusions

Lemania THR demonstrated very good, stable clinical and radiological results at ten years in an older patient group, comparable to other cemented systems for primary THR. Gait analysis confirmed good walking performance in a real-life environment.     

Collateral sensitivity of resistant MRP1-overexpressing cells to flavonoids and derivatives through GSH efflux

The multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) is involved in multidrug resistance of cancer cells by mediating drug efflux out of cells, often in co-transport with glutathione (GSH). GSH efflux mediated by MRP1 can be stimulated by verapamil. In cells overexpressing MRP1, we have previously shown that verapamil induced a huge intracellular GSH depletion which triggered apoptosis of the cells. That phenomenon takes place in the more global anticancer strategy called “collateral sensitivity” and could be exploited to eradicate some chemoresistant cancer cells. Seeking alternative compounds to verapamil, we screened a library of natural flavonoids and synthetic derivatives. A large number of these compounds stimulate MRP1-mediated GSH efflux and the most active ones have been evaluated for their cytotoxic effect on MRP1-overexpressing cells versus parental cells. Interestingly, some are highly and selectively cytotoxic for MRP1-cells, leading them to apoptosis. However, some others do not exhibit any cytotoxicity while promoting a strong GSH efflux, indicating that GSH efflux is necessary but not sufficient for MRP1-cells apoptosis. In support to this hypothesis, structure activity relationships show that the absence of a hydroxyl group at position 3 of the flavonoid C ring is an absolute requirement for induction of MRP1-cells death, but is not for GSH efflux stimulation. Chrysin (compound 8) and its derivatives, compounds 11 and 22, exhibit a high selectivity toward MRP1-cells with a IC₅₀ value of 4.1 μM for compound 11 and 4.9 μM for chrysin and compound 22, making them among the best described selective killer compounds of multidrug ABC transporter-overexpressing cells.     

The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Reading Program on the Reading Rate,Accuracy and Comprehension of Grade 3 Students: A Randomized Control Study

Background

Animal-assisted therapy has been widely used with students. This study is the first known investigation into the impact of an animal-assisted reading program on reading skills, employing an experimental pre-test/post-test control group design and controlling for the effects of extra attention to student’s reading.

Objective

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of an animal-assisted reading program on the reading rate, accuracy and comprehension of grade 3 students.

Method

Students identified by the ESSI Reading Test as poor readers (N = 102) were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group. Twenty-seven students read to a dog in the presence of a Pets as Therapy volunteer, 24 students read directly to an adult, while 26 students read to a teddy bear in the presence of an adult. Students in the control group (n = 25) were not part of the program and continued with their normal school activities. Data collection took place before the start of the program (Time 1), directly after completion of the 10-week reading program (Time 2), and again 8 weeks after the completion of the program (Time 3).

Results

Mixed method analysis of variance revealed significant interaction between group and time on the Neale reading comprehension scores with the “dog group” scoring higher than the three other groups.

Conclusion

The animal-assisted reading program had an impact on some of the reading skills of the students who read to a dog. The program is flexible and can be applied in a variety of settings.