Temporal features of imagined locomotion in normal aging

Motor imagery is the ability to mentally simulate a movement without executing it. Previous investigations have reported a deterioration of this ability during complex arm movements in aged adults. In the present study, we aimed to extend these findings by investigating the temporal features of imagined precision gait in healthy elderly adults. Locomotion is a unique example of imagined movement because it involves simulated full-body movement and the concurrent updating of environmental spatial information. Nine young and nine older adults actually or mentally walked (walking distance: 5 m) along three paths having different widths (15 cm, 25 cm, and 50 cm). The narrowest path required balance control and accurate foot placement. We used the mental chronometry paradigm, notably the temporal similarity between actual and imagined movements, as an indicator of the accuracy of the motor imagery process. Our findings indicated that while motor imagery ability was preserved in the young group whatever the width of the path, it was significantly deteriorated in the elderly group. Aged adults systematically overestimated the duration of imagined movements with respect to those of executed movements. Moreover, paths width negatively influenced the motor imagery performances in the elderly group. We assume that motor imagery decline may reflect functional changes in the aging brain, and could be a clinical tool to detect deteriorations in motor planning and prediction in aged adults.     

An Atypical Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Diagnosed by 18F-FDG PET/CT

ABSTRACT: Extramedullary relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after stem-cell transplant is very rare and often remains a diagnostic challenge. Although the diagnostic value of PET/CT has not been evaluated thoroughly in leukemia, it might be useful for detecting these focal localizations. We presented a case of a 58-year-old man, with a prior history of localized bladder cancer and a secondary AML, referred to our hospital with important thoracic backaches. PET/CT revealed the presence of meningeal carcinomatosis at the thoracic level, as well as lymph nodes, and muscular and bone metastases. Immunophenotyping of the cerebrospinal fluid aspirate showed a relapse of AML.     

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of pre-counseling telephone interviews before face-to-face genetic counseling in cancer genetics

One of the main challenges in cancer genetics is responding to the exponential demand for genetic counseling, especially in patients with breast and/or ovarian cancer. To address this demand, we have set up a new procedure, based on pre-genetic counseling telephone interviews (PTI) followed by routing of patients: D1, a PTI is scheduled within 14 days; D7–D14, genetic counselors perform a 20 min PTI in order to establish a pre-genetic counseling file, by collecting personal and family medical history via a structured questionnaire and; D10–17, routing: pre-genetic counseling appointment files are analyzed by a cancer geneticist with 3 possible conclusions: (a) priority face-to-face genetic counseling (FTFGC) appointment with a cancer geneticist, if the genetic test results have an immediate therapeutic impact; (b) non-priority FTFGC with a genetic counselor, or (c) no FTFGC required or substitution by a more appropriate index case. In the context of breast and/or ovarian cancer, 1012 patients received PTIs, 39.1% of which did not lead to FTFGC. The mean delay for non-priority FTFGC was maintained at 18 weeks and priority FTFGC appointments were guaranteed within 8 weeks. The required resources for 1012 patients was estimated at 0.12 FTE secretaries, 0.62 FTE genetic counselors and 0.08 FTE cancer geneticists and the procedure was shown to be cost-effective. This new procedure allows the suppression of up to 1/3 of appointments, guarantees priority for appointments with therapeutic impact and optimizes the interaction and breakdown of tasks between genetic counselors and cancer geneticists.     

Absence of evidence for the participation of the macrophage cellular prion protein in infection with Brucella suis

Brucella spp. are stealthy bacteria that enter host cells without major perturbation. The molecular mechanism involved is still poorly understood, although numerous studies have been published on this subject. Recently, it was reported that Brucella abortus utilizes cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) to enter the cells and to reach its replicative niche. The molecular mechanisms involved were not clearly defined, prompting us to analyze this process using blocking antibodies against PrP(C). However, the behavior of Brucella during cellular infection under these conditions was not modified. In a next step, the behavior of Brucella in macrophages lacking the prion gene and the infection of mice knocked out for the prion gene were studied. We observed no difference from results obtained with the wild-type control. Although some contacts between PrP(C) and Brucella were observed on the surface of the cells by using confocal microscopy, we could not show that Brucella specifically bound recombinant PrP(C). Therefore, we concluded from our results that prion protein (PrP(C)) was not involved in Brucella infection.     

Analysis of cellular DNA content by flow cytometry in epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus]

Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed in 35 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The aim of this study was a) to establish a tumoral DNA pattern, b) to determine an objective parameter correlating with tumoral response to chemotherapy (5 FU-cisplatin). DNA analysis was performed in perendoscopic ranged tumoral biopsy specimens to determine the DNA ploidy (DNA index) and S phase fraction. Tumor diameter and length were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) before and after chemotherapy in 24 patients. The relative variation of this product determined a CT index. Before chemotherapy, 82 percent (76/93) of the specimens were available for assessment; 72 percent (26/36) of the tumors were aneuploid. In these tumors, the DNA index ranged from 1.23 to 2.80. Five tumors had two distinct and simultaneous aneuploid populations. CT index values were not significantly different according to the ploidy (diploid, aneuploid), the S phase fraction (low, high), the DNA content modification after chemotherapy (absent, present). In this study, DNA analysis did not allow to select patients with higher response to chemotherapy. The inter- and intratumoral phenotypic heterogeneity may be one of the responsible factors.