[Pseudoseptical myositis ossificans in spinal cord injuried patients].

Context: Neurogenic myositis ossificans or para-osteo-arthropathy are part of heterotopic ossifications. They concern mostly spinal cord injured or cerebral injured patients. They mostly target the hip and can lead to local or general inflammatory signs which can mimic severe sepsis.

Evidence for a link between TNFRSF11A and risk of breast cancer.

Intracellular signaling mediated by the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB [Rank, encoded by the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 11a (Tnfrsf11a) gene] is fundamental for mammary gland development in mice, regulating the expansion of stem and progenitor cell compartments. Conversely, Rank overexpression in mice promotes abnormal proliferation and impairs differentiation, leading to an increased incidence of tumorigenesis. Here, we show that a common genetic variant near the 5'-end of TNFRSF11A, rs7226991, is associated with breast cancer risk in the general population and among carriers of mutations in the breast cancer 2, early onset (BRCA2) gene.

Meningoencephalitis Due to HIV Replication Despite Plasmatic Viral Control.

We report a symptomatic case of HIV replication in CSF (Cerebro Spinal Fluid) despite low plasmatic viral load. The patient, known HIV positive since 3 years, under HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy), presented an acute meningoencephalitis which was improved by optimization of treatment for a better CNS (Central Nervous System) penetration according to the CHARTER's (CNS HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effects Research) score. CNS can be considered as a specific compartment for HIV replication and can be involved in acute or chronic neurologic impairment.

A Canadian economic analysis of U.S. Oncology Adjuvant Trial 9735.

Objectives: Recent results of the U.S. Oncology Adjuvant Trial 9735 demonstrated significant disease-free survival and overall survival benefits for docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (tc) compared with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (ac) in the adjuvant treatment of operable invasive breast cancer.

Exploring the link between MORF4L1 and risk of breast cancer.

Introduction: Proteins encoded by Fanconi anemia (FA) and/or breast cancer (BrCa) susceptibility genes cooperate in a common DNA damage repair signaling pathway. To gain deeper insight into this pathway and its influence on cancer risk, we searched for novel components through protein physical interaction screens.

Methods: Protein physical interactions were screened using the yeast two-hybrid system.

Noninfectious wound complications in clean surgery: epidemiology, risk factors, and association with antibiotic use.

Background: Noninfectious wound complications are frequent and often are confused with and treated as infection.

Methods: We assessed the epidemiology, impact, risk factors, and associations with antibiotic use of noninfectious wound complications in clean orthopedic and trauma surgery. We report a single-center, prospective, observational study in an orthopedic department.

Duration of post-surgical antibiotic therapy for adult chronic osteomyelitis: a single-centre experience.

Purpose: The optimal duration of concomitant antibiotic therapy after surgical intervention for implant-free chronic osteomyelitis is unknown. No randomized data exist. Available recommendations are based on expert's opinion.

Routine use of coronary computed tomography as initial diagnostic test for angina pectoris.

Background: Coronary computed tomography (CCT) detects coronary obstruction with high sensitivity and might be useful for diagnosis of angina pectoris.

Aim: In this pilot study, we sought to prospectively evaluate the performance of CCT as initial work up and determine the significance of this strategy according to the pretest likelihood of having coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: One hundred and eighty patients with chest discomfort and suspected angina were prospectively referred for CCT with a 64-slice CT scan.

Bisphenol A induces otolith malformations during vertebrate embryogenesis.

Background: The plastic monomer and plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA), used for manufacturing polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, is produced at over 2.5 million metric tons per year. Concerns have been raised that BPA acts as an endocrine disruptor on both developmental and reproductive processes and a large body of evidence suggests that BPA interferes with estrogen and thyroid hormone signaling.

The potential role of cobalt ions released from metal prosthesis on the inhibition of Hv1 proton channels and the decrease in Staphyloccocus epidermidis killing by human neutrophils.

Infection by Staphylococcus epidermidis is a devastating complication of metal-on-metal (MM) total hip arthroplasty (THA). Neutrophils are the first line of defense against infection, and these innate immune cells are potentially exposed to Co(2+) ions released in the peri-prosthetic tissue by the wear of MM THA. The toxicity of Co(2+) is still debated, but Co(2+) is a potential inhibitor of the Hv1 proton channel that sustains the production of superoxide by neutrophils.

Postoperative serum pro-calcitonin and C-reactive protein levels in patients with orthopedic infections.

Questions Under Study / Principles: The value of postoperative pro-calcitonin (PCT) in the follow-up of patients with localised infections in the orthopaedic domain is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study comparing postoperative ultra-sensitive serum PCT (upper normal level 0.25 µg/l) and C-reactive protein (CRP; upper normal level 10 mg/l) levels in adult patients with localised non-bacteremic orthopaedic infections.

Neural correlates of interference control in adolescents with traumatic brain injury: functional magnetic resonance imaging study of the counting stroop task.

Difficulty in inhibition or cognitive control is a common and significant sequela of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study used functional MRI to examine one specific inhibitory function, interference control, in 11 adolescents, aged 12-16 years, (mean age, 15.7 years) with TBI who were at least 1 year postinjury and 11 age-matched typically developing control participants (TC) (mean age, 15.

Regional myocardial function and response to acute afterload increase in chronically anemic fetal sheep: evaluation by two-dimensional strain echocardiography.

We hypothesized that in chronic fetal anemia, remodeling of the myocardium is related to abnormalities in regional wall motion and acutely increased afterload further disturbs myocardial strain. Chronic anemia was induced in one fetus of each of seven sheep twin pregnancies. The fetuses were studied by two-dimensional (2-D) strain echocardiography at baseline and during increased afterload via angiotensin II (AT II) infusion.

Predicting the pathogen of diabetic toe osteomyelitis by two consecutive ulcer cultures with bone contact.

In this study, we investigate the accuracy of two consecutive ulcer cultures with bone contact compared to bone biopsy for the diagnosis of diabetic toe osteomyelitis. The same nurse and orthopaedic surgeon obtained all samples: sample A-1: bone contact swabbing through the ulcer; sample A-2: a second culture swabbing from the bone surface within 24 h; sample B: surgical bone biopsy in the operating theatre. The kappa statistic measure between samples A-1 and A-2 (bone contact swabs) indicated 82.

Occurrence of fever in the first postoperative week does not help to diagnose infection in clean orthopaedic surgery.

Postoperative fever is often misinterpreted as a sign of infection, especially when occurring after the third postoperative day. We assessed the epidemiology of postoperative fever in adult orthopaedic patients and its association with infection. Among 1,073 patients participating in a prospective observational study, 198 (19%) had a postoperative fever (>38°C).

Measuring the stoichiometry of functional PspA complexes in living bacterial cells by single molecule photobleaching.

We report a general method based on wide-field fluorescence imaging of single molecule photobleaching and the Chung-Kennedy algorithm to measure the stoichiometry of functional protein complexes in living bacterial cells.

Outcome of orthopedic implant infections due to different staphylococci.

Background: Comparisons of different staphylococci in orthopedic implant infections have rarely been reported. In this study we assessed total joint arthroplasty infections and other orthopedic implant infections due to methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS).

Methods: This was a retrospective study performed at the Geneva University Hospitals for the period January 1996 to June 2008.

[Lyme borreliosis: census of adult patients hospitalized in Indre-et-Loire (France), from the Hospital Discharge Data (1999-2006)].

Background: To describe the clinical forms and epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis, in French adult patients hospitalized in Indre-et-Loire (Centre region).

Methods: Patients were recruited from standardized discharge summaries collected in the hospital database. All adult patients, hospitalized in public hospitals of the Indre-et-Loire administrative district, over a period of 8 years (1999-2006), who satisfied the European diagnostic criteria of Lyme borreliosis, were included.

Pulmonary metastasis of struma ovarii: a case report.

We report the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with multiple pulmonary nodules. Surgical resection of 3 nodules revealed differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid and neck ultrasound was normal.

Fetal ventricular diastolic filling characteristics in a primate model: the role of fetal heart rate and pulmonary vascular impedance.

Objectives: We hypothesized that fetal ventricular diastolic filling characteristics are related to fetal heart rate (FHR) and pulmonary vascular impedance.

Methods: Rhesus monkeys underwent Doppler ultrasonography at near-term gestation. Tricuspid (TV) and mitral valve (MV) blood velocity waveforms were used to calculate maximum velocity (V-max) and velocity time integral (VTI) E/A ratios (early filling/ventricular filling during atrial contraction) at baseline and during maternal hyperoxygenation.

Role of trans fatty acids in the nutritional regulation of mammary lipogenesis in ruminants.

Fat is an important constituent contributing to the organoleptic, processing and physical properties of ruminant milk. Understanding the regulation of milk fat synthesis is central to the development of nutritional strategies to enhance the nutritional value of milk, decrease milk energy secretion and improve the energy balance of lactating ruminants. Nutrition is the major environmental factor regulating the concentration and composition of fat in ruminant milk.

Underestimation of vancomycin and teicoplanin MICs by broth microdilution leads to underdetection of glycopeptide-intermediate isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Broth microdilution was compared with tube macrodilution and a simplified population analysis agar method for evaluating vancomycin and teicoplanin MICs and detecting glycopeptide-intermediate isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Modal vancomycin and teicoplanin MICs recorded by tube macrodilution and the agar plate assay, which both used inocula of 10(6) CFU, were significantly higher (2 microg/ml) against a panel of borderline glycopeptide-susceptible and glycopeptide-intermediate methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bloodstream isolates compared to broth microdilution (1 microg/ml).

Six weeks of antibiotic treatment is sufficient following surgery for septic arthroplasty.

Objectives: In the treatment of prosthetic joint infections (PJI), the benefit of antibiotic therapy for more than 6 weeks after surgery is uncertain. We compared PJI cure rates according to the duration of antibiotics, 6 versus 12 weeks.

Methods: A prospective observational non-randomized study in Geneva University Hospitals 1996-2007.