Mueller–Hinton agar is superior to PDM blood agar for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The aim of this study was to compare the expression of oxacillin resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on Paper Disc Method agar supplemented with 5% defibrinated blood (PDM blood agar) and Mueller–Hinton agar supplemented with 2% NaCl (MH NaCl agar) using different susceptibility tests. Fifty mecA- containing isolates of S. aureus, exhibiting 46 different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns, were comparatively tested using the E test, the single disk diffusion test, and the multipoint inoculation technique, under various culture conditions. The E test incubated at 35 °C for 24 h (breakpoint of resistance ≥2.0 mg/L) detected 94% of the isolates on MH NaCl agar, compared with 28% for PDM blood agar ( P  < 0.05). The disk diffusion test (breakpoint ≤ 10 mm in diameter) under these incubation conditions detected resistance in 100% of the isolates on MH NaCl agar and in 80% of the isolates on PDM blood agar ( P  < 0.05). The multipoint technique (breakpoint ≥1 mg/L), applied at 35 °C for 24 h, detected 100% on MH NaCl agar and 46% on PDM blood agar ( P  < 0.05). Irrespective of the method of susceptibility testing evaluated, MH NaCl agar was superior to PDM blood agar for the detection of oxacillin resistance in mecA -containing S. aureus .     

Le Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) améliore-t-il le Diagnostical and Statistical Manual IV-R (DSM-IV-R) pour la classification des pathologies des adultes ? L’exemple des troubles psychotiques et des personnalités schizoïdes et paranoïdes

The Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM), published in 2006 by the Alliance of Psychoanalytic Organisations, had for goal to complement the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association. The main complement brought by the PDM is the addition of psychological and psychodynamic dimensions into the DSM's diagnostics. These addictions are all empirically based, and for this latter reason the PDM seems a sound attempt to articulate the richness of psychodynamic point of view and the reliability of empirically based researches. The goal of this article is, first: present to French professionals the PDM, and, second: to discuss his theoretical and technical choices and his articulation with DSM-IV-R. These discussions are illustrated by the diagnostic of psychotic disorders and the schizoid personality disorders. The PDM's limits are discussed too, specifically the ambiguity of his relation with the DSM: complement or concurrent? A discussion about the evolution of the DSM-V (publication planned for 2013), some of these evolutions take into account the psychodynamic point of view of the PDM, and their consequences on PDM conclude this article.     

多通道可植入神经刺激器的设计和实现

目的：主要设计和实现人工电子耳蜗的植入部分，即多通道可植入神经刺激器。方法：利用硬件描述语言，基于可编程逻辑器件（Programable Logic Device，PLD），采用“脉冲持续调制（PDM）解码和外部定时控制（ETC）码控制”及其改进的方案进行硬件电路设计。结果：实现的多通道可植入神经刺激器可提供多达8个通道的输出，具有较高的分辨率。结论：该多通道可植入神经刺激器体积小，便于携带，效率高，而且包含比较完善的错误纠正机制，其产生的刺激波形能满足电荷平衡、电流限制和电荷限制等安全要求。     

Do static and dynamic insulin resistance indices perform similarly in predicting pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes?

Aims

We designed a study to compare the predictive power of static and dynamic insulin resistance indices for categorized pre-diabetes (PDM)/type 2 diabetes (DM).

Methods

Participants included 1134 adults aged 18–60 years old with normal glucose at baseline who completed both baseline and 6-years later follow-up surveys. Insulin resistance indices from baseline data were used to predict risk of PDM or DM at follow-up. Two static indices and two dynamic indices were calculated from oral glucose tolerance test results (OGTT) at baseline. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AROC) analysis was used to estimate the predictive ability of candidate indices to predict PDM/DM. A general estimation equation (GEE) model was applied to assess the magnitude of association of each index at baseline with the risk of PDM/DM at follow-up.

Results

The dynamic indices displayed the largest and statistically predictive AROC for PDM/DM diagnosed either by fasting glucose or by postprandial glucose. The bottom quartiles of the dynamic indices were associated with an elevated risk of PDM/DM vs. the top three quartiles. However, the static indices only performed significantly to PDM/DM diagnosed by fasting glucose.

Conclusions

Dynamic insulin resistance indices are stronger predictors of future PDM/DM than static indices. This may be because dynamic indices better reflect the full range of physiologic disturbances in PDM/DM.     

Suprachiasmatic nucleus projection to mesencephalic central grey in the woodmouse (Apodemus sylvaticus L.).

The efferent connections of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus have been studied in the woodmouse using several techniques: the Nauta degeneration method, anterograde axoplasmic transport of tritiated proline, and retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase or Evans blue. Many degenerating nerve fibres resulting from the destruction of the suprachiasmatic nucleus converge on the ipsilateral ventrolateral segment of the mesencephalic central grey matter. Detailed analysis of autoradiographs after injection of [³H]proline in the suprachiasmatic nucleus agrees with these results. This projection is confirmed by injections of horseradish peroxidase or Evans blue into the mesencephalic central grey matter which result in a retrograde labelling of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Formed by very thin and diffusely distributed axons, this projection belongs, at least caudally, to the descending periventricular system and is partially mixed with fibres from the medial anterior hypothalamic area.It is suggested that the suprachiasmaticomesencephalic pathway may be the first link in the neuron chain that connects the suprachiasmatic nucleus with the peripheral nervous system.     

导管周围乳腺炎的中西医诊疗研究进展

目的:总结导管周围乳腺炎的中西医诊疗进展。方法:总结近年来国内外的相关文献,对导管周围乳腺炎的中西医病因病机、临床症状、诊断鉴别以及诊疗现状展开综述。结果:随着周围环境和生活条件的改善,导管周围乳腺炎的发病率却是逐年提升,中西医学者对于此病都高度重视,近年来的治疗越来越完善。现代医学治疗上方法较多,主要包括手术、手术联合激素、抗生素药物治疗等,中医治疗方法也有口服中药内治和针灸外治等诸多疗法。结论:导管周围乳腺炎的西医发病机制尚未明确,临床表现复杂多样,分型较多,初期起病较为隐匿,常被忽视,后期容易复发,病情迁延难愈,且须与乳腺癌等疾病鉴别,容易失治误治。临床医学目前对于导管周围乳腺炎(Periductal Mastitis,PDM)的治疗手段以手术治疗为主,手术治疗并不能从根源解决问题,所以容易影响乳房美观,更是容易复发,这就体现了中医治疗的优势。PDM的中医治疗,应遵循中医的辨证论治的基本原则内治联合外治,达到最佳治疗效果。     

A standardized conversion of IgG antibody to bispecific form with inversely altered affinities for Fcγ-receptors II and III

This work aims to enhance killing of antibody-coated human tumor cells by altering the antibody's affinity for two effector-cell Fcγ-receptors (FcγR). Affinity for the activating FcγRIII is raised, affinity for the inhibitory FcγRIIB is reduced, with the ratio between the two association constants increasing >1000-fold. We use as a standard tool the Fab′γ from a monoclonal antibody specific for human FcγRIII. This Fab′γ module is bonded to an IgG antibody by a tandem thioether link running between cysteine residues in the hinge vicinity of each protein, thus forming a bispecific FabIgG construct. Simultaneously, effector function of the IgG module is adjusted by leaving its hinge open and adding negative charges. FabIgG constructs derived from the chimeric IgG1 antibody rituximab show the following properties. (1) The titer for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is enhanced by 12-100-fold, reflecting the affinity of the Fab′γ module for effector-cell FcγRIII. (2) Two functions of the construct's Fcγ, activation of complement and prolonged metabolic survival, are moderately reduced. (3) In contrast, affinities of the Fcγ for all FcγR are severely reduced, with two anticipated consequences. First, attacks by macrophages on antibody-coated cells are favored by reduced engagement of the inhibitory FcγRIIB. Second, reduced engagement of activating FcγR by the Fcγ lowers the probability of untoward crosslinkings of FcγR, which have been shown to provoke toxicity. If the Fab′γ module possesses human constant regions, the linkage strategy requires prior genetic deletion of at least one cysteine residue. With both Fab′γ and IgG modules available, FabIgG can be prepared in 35 h.     

EIS characterization of tantalum and niobium oxide films based on a modification of the point defect model

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies were performed to analyze the passive properties of tantalum and niobium oxides films potentiostatically formed in a 0.1 M KOH solution. The quantitative characterization of these passive materials was carried out through a transfer function previously developed by our research group, which is based on the point defect model (PDM) framework considering the formation of molecular hydrogen. According to the PDM prediction criteria, Ta₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅ films exhibited an inherent n-type semiconductor behavior, which was confirmed by the parameters obtained from the fit to the transfer function. The diffusion coefficients of the oxygen vacancies were 0.53 ± 0.14 × 10⁻¹⁶ and 2.18 ± 0.14 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm² s⁻¹, for Ta₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅, respectively. And a slight increase of the corresponding hydroxyl vacancies diffusion (2.73 ± 0.02 and 2.23 ± 0.65 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm² s⁻¹) was obtained, suggesting the favorable diffusion of these defects due to the alkaline conditions.