Anticardiolipin and anti‐beta 2‐glycoprotein I antibodies in patients with unexplained articular manifestations

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with unexplained articular manifestations.Material and MethodsThree hundred thirteen patients suffering from arthritis or arthralgia without evident cause and 266 healthy blood donors (HBD) were included in the study. Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti‐beta 2‐glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ2GPI) were measured by ELISA.ResultOut of the 313 patients, 250 were females and 63 were males. The mean age of patients was 49 ± 14 years (17–87 years). One hundred eleven patients have arthralgia and 202 have arthritis. The frequency of aCL and/or aβ₂GPI (24.9%) was significantly higher in patients than in HBD (10.9%). The frequency of aβ2GPI was 23.6% in patients and 9.4% in the control group (p < 10⁻³). aβ2GPI‐IgA was significantly more frequent in patients than in the control group (20.4% vs. 7.5%, p < 10⁻³). aβ2GPI was most commonly observed than aCL in patients (23.6% vs. 6.4%, p < 10⁻⁶). IgA isotype of aβ2GPI was the most frequent in 20.4% of patients while IgG and IgM were detected in 5.4% and 2.9% respectively.ConclusionThis study showed that aPL were common in patients with articular manifestations and were mainly directed against β₂GPI. The role of these antibodies remains to be specified.     

Mechanical Performance of Bio-Based FRP-Confined Recycled Aggregate Concrete under Uniaxial Compression

This research investigates the effectiveness of bio-sourced flax fiber-reinforced polymer in comparison with a traditional system based on carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy polymer in order to confine recycled aggregate concretes. The experimental investigation was conducted on two series of concrete including three mixtures with 30%, 50%, and 100% of recycled aggregates and a reference concrete made with natural aggregates. The concrete mixtures were intended for a frost environment where an air-entraining agent was added to the mixture of the second series to achieve 4% air content. The first part of the present work is experimental and aimed to characterize the compressive performance of confined materials. The results indicated that bio-sourced composites are efficient in strengthening recycled aggregates concrete, especially the air-entrained one. It was also found that the compressive strength and the strain enhancement obtained from FRP confinement are little affected by the replacement ratio. The second part was dedicated to the analytical modeling of mechanical properties and stress–strain curves under compression. With the most adequate ultimate strength and strain prediction relationships, the full behavior of FRP-confined concrete can be predicted using the model developed by Ghorbel et al. to account for the presence of recycled aggregates in concrete mixtures.     

Lichen amyloidosis successfully treated with fractional ablative laser CO2: A new alternative therapeutic

Lichen amyloidosis is a primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Different types of treatment have been used without complete resolution. Herein, we report a case of patient suffering from lichen amyloidosis successfully treated with fractional ablative laser CO₂. He was a 59-year-old man diagnosed lichen amyloidosis localized on the legs 10 years ago. He was treated with topical corticosteroids without any improvement. Then, we started treating the affected area with CO₂ laser (limmer*) at a setting of 5–8 J/cm² and 8 mm laser spot size. A considerable improvement was noticed after the first session. A total healing was reported after four sessions. To the best of our knowledge, only 11 reported cases of lichen amyloidosis have been successfully treated with laser CO₂. However, our clinical finding seems to be one of the best reported results.     

Cognitive impairment in celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity: review of literature on the main cognitive impairments,the imaging and the effect of gluten free diet

Celiac disease (CD) and non celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) can be responsible for neurological complications such as ataxia and peripheral neuropathies but also cognitive impairment. This cognitive involvement is variable in its expression, its duration and its prognosis ranging from transient and reversible subtle involvement to dementia itself. Through this article, we tried to achieve a review of the literature to better understand this topic. Several mechanisms were proposed to explain the deleterious influence of gluten-related pathologies on cognitive functions: nutritional deficiencies, elevation of circulating cytokine levels due to systemic inflammation, low brain serotonin levels… Several types of dementia such as Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia were reported in association with CD. Memory disorder, acalculia, inattention, visuospatial deficits and executive dysfunction must be sought systematically by a neuropsychological assessment in patients with CD or NCGS. As far as the cognitive impairment is concerned, there is no pathognomonic radiological lesion. Concerning therapeutic management; although its effect is controversial, gluten free diet should be introduced, as early as possible, because of its potentially protective effect.