Gabapentin-induced coma: A MR-spectrometry analysis

As for the majority of antiepileptic drugs, encephalopathy, manifested by transient somnolence, mood and motor disorders, is a possible side-effect. To our knowledge, there is little information about gabapentin-induced coma. We report a third case of gabapentin-induced coma where magnetic resonance-spectrometry was performed in diagnosis assessment.     

Positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR of a nasal swab spot after 30 days of conservation on filter paper at room temperature

We tested the use of nasal swabs spotted onto filter paper (Whatman 3M) for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Spots of a positive nasal swab in conservation medium (B.1.177 strain, 21Ct) were still positive (duo E-gene/IP4) after 10, 20, and 30 days of conservation at room temperature, with Ct values of 28, 27, and 26, respectively. Direct spotting of the swab at bedside (omicron strain) still gave a positive result after 10 days in two RT-qPCR systems: 33.7 Ct using duo E-gene/IP4, and 34.8 using a specific Omicron system. Spotting of a dilution range of media spiked with the Delta (strain 2021/FR/0610, lineage B 1.617.2) and Omicron strains (strain UVE/SARS-CoV-2/2021/FR/1514) showed a threshold of 0.04 TCID₅₀ after 10 days of conservation. We show, for the first time, that this simple and low-cost conservation method can be used to store samples for RT-qPCR against SARS-CoV-2 for up to at least 1 month.     

Intra-Operative Direct Electrical Stimulations of the Central Nervous System: The Salpêtrière Experience With 60 Patients

Indications of surgical treatment for lesions in the central nervous system depend on the risk of a definitive neurological deficit, related to the benefit of resection. Detection of eloquent areas is then necessary because of major individual variability. Neuro-imaging functional techniques are in development and are beginning to be efficient for cortical sensorymotor mapping, but still lack sensitivity and specificity for language mapping, and remain unable to give real-time data during surgery and to perform sub-cortical mapping. The more precise and reliable method of functional mapping is represented by the intra-operative direct electrical stimulations (DES), which allow identification and preservation of essential pathways for motricity, sensibility and language, at each level of the central nervous system (cortico-subcortical). We report our experience of DES in the surgery of tumours and vascular malformations located in supra-tentorial brain eloquent areas, with a consecutive series of 60 patients operated on under general or local anaesthesia, from November 1996 until May 1999 in our department at La Salpêtrière Hospital. Presenting symptoms in the 60 subjects (39 males, 21 females, mean age: 45 years) were seizures in 37 cases with normal clinical examination, and mild neurological deficit in 29 cases. MRI showed 60 supra-tentorial brain lesions: 30 precentral, 12 postcentral, 14 perisylvian in the dominant hemisphere, 4 deep-seated. All subjects underwent surgical resection using DES, with supratentorial cortico-subcortical mapping under general anaesthesia for motor areas detection in 43 cases and under local anaesthesia for sensori-motor and/or language tasks in 17 cases. The final histological diagnosis was 44 gliomas (31 low-grade and 13 high-grade), 9 metastasis, 3 cavernomas, 4 arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Resection was total or subtotal in 52 cases (87%) and partial in 8 cases (13%). 29 patients had no post-operative deficit, while the other 31 patients were impaired post-operatively, with in all cases, except 3, a complete recovery delayed for 15 days to 3 months (overall morbidity: 5%). The median follow up was 14 months. Intra-operative direct electrical stimulations of the central nervous system constitute a reliable, precise and safe method, allowing the realization of a functional mapping useful for all operations of lesions located in eloquent areas. This technique allows a minimization of definitive post-operative neurological deficit, and concurrently an improvement in the quality of resection.     

Pulmonary artery aneurysms in Behçet's disease: contribution of imaging in 5 cases

Pulmonary involvement in Beh?et's disease is an uncommon condition (12%). Thromboembolism of the superior vena cava and/or other mediastinal veins, aneurysms of the aorta and pulmonary arteries are the main vascular manifestations in addition to pulmonary infarct and intrathoracic hemorrhage. Despite their scarcity, respiratory symptoms may be life-threatening. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of thoracic imaging for one of the most serious aspects of the disease: pulmonary artery aneurysm. We report five patients with pulmonary artery aneurysms (mean age: 39.5 years). Hemoptysia revealed Beh?et's disease in three. Initially explored by conventional radiography, computed tomography and angiography, pulmonary artery aneurysms are currently investigated well with helicoidal computed tomography, digital angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angio-MRI. These imaging techniques provide helpful information for the diagnosis of Beh?et's disease.     

The Impact of Six Annual Rounds of Mass Drug Administration on Wuchereria bancrofti Infections in Humans and in Mosquitoes in Mali

Wuchereria bancrofti prevalence and transmission were assessed in six endemic villages in Sikasso, Mali prior to and yearly during mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole and ivermectin from 2002 to 2007. Microfilaremia was determined by calibrated thick smear of night blood in adult volunteers and circulating filarial antigen was measured using immunochromatographic card test in children < 5 years of age. Mosquitoes were collected by human landing catch from July to December. None of the 686 subjects tested were microfilaremic 12 months after the sixth MDA round. More importantly, circulating antigen was not detected in any of the 120 children tested, as compared with 53% (103/194) before the institution of MDA. The number of infective bites/human/year decreased from 4.8 in 2002 to 0.04 in 2007, and only one mosquito containing a single infective larva was observed 12 months after the final MDA round. Whether this dramatic reduction in transmission will be sustained following cessation of MDA remains to be seen.     

Age identity, self-rated health, and life satisfaction among older adults in Dakar, Senegal

The objectives of this quantitative study were to (1) ascertain to what extent older adults aged 50 and above feel and desire to be younger than their age, and classify themselves as young versus old; (2) compare these patterns with those found among other cross-cultural populations; and (3) assess the extent to which self-rated health and life satisfaction predict age identities. This study was carried out on a sample of 500 dwellers of the Senegalese capital aged 50 and older. This sample was constructed using the quota method to strive for representativeness. Most of the respondents wanted to be younger than their chronological age (51.8 %), but only 27.8 % felt younger than they were. Moreover, 80 % of the sample claimed to be old. Self-rated health predicted felt age and the feeling of being old. Furthermore, the less-satisfied Dakar residents were with their life, the younger they wanted to be. We first discuss our results in a comparative perspective focused on how orientations toward individualism and collectivism could be related to age identity, and on demographic characteristics of the Senegalese population—where life expectancy is 59.3 years old. We then analyze the relevance of age identity dimensions as indicators of successful aging in Dakar.