Measurement of contact impedance of electrodes used for deep brain stimulation

High frequency electrical stimulation by means of electrodes implanted into the brain has become an accepted technique for treatment of Parkinson's disease. The electrical field distribution normally inserted into the sub thalamic nucleus minimise abnormal brain activity. Square wave pulses of 1–3.6 V with duration of 60–90 μs at a frequency range of 130–185 pps are generally used. Every electrode unit consists of four cylindrical electrodes positioned in a row and can be switched on independently. This paper determines the contact impedance of the electrodes for different frequencies and proposes improvement to reduce the contact impedance between the electrodes and the brain. Measurements were performed by placing the electrodes in a tank filled with saline. Different frequencies were applied on two electrodes via a resistor. The current was measured through the resistor and the voltage was registered between one of the electrodes and a third non current carrying electrode. The obtained values were used to calculate the contact impedance. The result shows large contact impedance for the used frequency compared to the impedance of the treated tissue, which means that variation in contact impedance can result in variation in the electrical field applied to the tissue.     

Les formes psychiatriques de la maladie de Niemann-Pick de type C

Niemann-Pick type C disease diagnosed in adult neurology departments may be infantile or juvenile forms with prolongated life spans or forms starting at adolescence or adulthood. Psychomotor retardation is practically constant. In some cases, a psychosis may be the only manifestation for several years. The diagnosis is often made when extrapyramidal symptoms appear as well as cerebellar ataxia and ophtalmoplegia in the vertical gaze. The treatment with psychotropic drugs raises the question of a superimposition of a drug induced lipidosis. Hepatosplenomegaly is often discrete contrary to classical infantile cases. Foam cells as well as sea blue histiocytes are features of the disease. The filipin test evidences the lysosomal storage of cholesterol.     

Le suicide par saut et les stratégies de prévention

The topic of this article is to probe into the specificities of suicide by jumping. This means of suicide hasn't been studied much and isn't well known yet.We reviewed the international scientific literature so as to take an in-depth look at this type of auto-aggressive action and highlight the characteristics of the subjects likely to commit suicide by jumping. We thus focus on the available epidemiological data and risk factors associated to suicide jumping. We also describe the prevention strategies most often evoked to deal with this public health issue, which are respectively about improving safety on the identified suicide sites and providing medical and psychological care to individuals likely to commit suicide by jumping.This meta-analysis presents our critical analysis of the methodological limits in the studies exposed. We provide further hints for researching this field of study; they're based on both the taking into account of variables that could be risk factors for this particular means of suicide and the evaluation of the efficiency for the preventive measures used.     

Virion-bound ICAM-1 and activated LFA-1: a combination of factors conferring resistance to neutralization by sera from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals independently of the disease status and phase

The role of the supplementary interaction between virion-bound host ICAM-1 and LFA-1 on target cells in sensitivity to neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is poorly studied. Serum samples from four long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) and sequential sera from one progressor were used to assess neutralization sensitivity of isogenic ICAM-1-negative and ICAM-1-bearing HIV-1(NL4-3), a prototype of T-cell-line-adapted viruses. We found that virus neutralization sensitivity to the studied sera is not modified by the additional interaction between virally embedded ICAM-1 and LFA-1 under an inactive state. However, expression on the target cell surface of an activated LFA-1 form renders ICAM-1-bearing virus particles, but not viruses devoid of ICAM-1, more refractory to neutralization by sera from three out of four LTNPs and all sequential sera from the person who has experienced a progression of the HIV-1-associated disease. Although no conclusive correlation could be drawn between virus susceptibility to neutralization and the disease status or stages of HIV-1 infection, these findings demonstrate that other nonspecific virus-cell interactions mediated by virion-anchored host proteins and their normal cognate ligands on target cells represent factors that can affect the mechanism of HIV-1 neutralization.     

Blepharophimosis sequence and de novo balanced autosomal translocation [46, XY,t(3;4)(q23;p15.2)]: Possible assignment of the trait to 3q23

We report on a boy with the blepharophimosis sequence and de novo, apparently balanced reciprocal translocation between 3q23 and 4p15.2 [46, XY,t(3;4)(q23;p15.2)de novo]. Possible assignment of this autosomal dominant disorder is discussed. A 3q23 band is a more preferable gene locus of the blepharophi mosis sequence, based on the comparison of clinical manifestations between 4p- and 3q-syndromes.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in patients with retinoblastoma

Spontaneous and mitomycin C(MMC)-induced sisyer chromatid exchanges were studied in 11 patients with retinoblastoma and 7 normal controls. Spontaneous rates were similar in patients and in controls. The MMC-induced rate was found to be significantly higher in bilaterally affected patients than in controls. It is suggested that this increase may be due to a DNA repair deficiency. However, it is not possible to clarify wether this abnormality is associated with the retinoblastoma gene or with another factor acting on the degree of expressivity of the disease in gene carriers.     

Initiation of mouse-killing behavior following amygdaloid lesions in the rat(author's transl)]

Long-Evans hooded rats were tested for emotionality and observed by pairs in an open field for 6 consecutive days. Postoperative observations indicated that both emotionality and social cohesiveness were dramatically altered by ventromedial and anterolateral hypothalamic lesions. Tegmental, interpeduncular and habenular lesions were shown to have no effect on these behaviors. Alterations in behavior observed following hypothalamic ablations were related to septal and amygdaloid effects, and the possibility of separate projection systems for emotionality and social cohesiveness was discussed.     

Cell-mediated immunity in leprosy and transfer of delayed hypersensitivity reactions

Eighty-nine patients with leprosy, 65 classified as lepromatous and 24 as tuberculoid, were examined in this study. Skin test responses to protein antigens and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were depressed in lepromatous patients compared to controls. Tuberculoid patients did not exhibit a significant depression to microbial antigens, but they showed a definite depression in the ability to be sensitized with DNCB. The transfer of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to tuberculin, trichophytin, and lepromin (Fernandez and Mitsuda reactions) was accomplished in lepromatous and indeterminate leprosy patients using viable lymphocytes from donors presenting positive reactions to these antigens. The lepromin reaction was also transferred to patients with South American blastomycosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The positive reactions of adoptive immunity were confirmed by histologic examination of skin biopsies.     

Factors that affect genetic interaction during mixed infection with temperature-sensitive mutants of simian rotavirus SA11

A number of factors that affect genetic interaction during mixed infection with temperature-sensitive mutants of simian rotavirus SA11 have been examined. (1) Statistical analyses of recombination frequency (RF) indicated that (a) the variability noted in RF was not related to variations in experimental conditions and (b) a linear map of the mutations could not be drawn. (2) The wild phenotype of recombinant progeny was stable on passage. (3) Aggregates of progeny virus or heterozygous progeny virus particles did not contribute significantly to the observed RF. (4) RF increased in parallel with multiplicity of infection. (5) A maximal, or near maximal, RF was obtained at the earliest time significant recombinants could be detected. (6) Recombination was efficient at nonpermissive temperature. (7) Complementation did not occur or was inefficient. (8) Mutants from all recombination groups interfered with the growth of wild-type virus at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures.