Respiratory activity of the cricopharyngeus muscle in the neonatal period.

While phasic electrical activity of the cricopharyngeus muscle (EAcp)-the main component of the upper esophageal sphincter-occurs with inspiration and forceful expiration in adults, no such data is available for newborns. In addition, the effect of nasal respiratory support commonly used in newborns is unknown. We aimed to describe the phasic respiratory EAcp and to assess the potential effect of nasal CPAP (nCPAP, 6 cmHO) or high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC, 7 L/min) in newborn lambs during 6-h recordings.

Asymptomatic SARS COV-2 carriers among nursing home staff: A source of contamination for residents?

Objectives: To show that circulation of SARS-COV-2 in nursing homes in France can come from staff as well as residents' families, whether they are known or not to have had COVID-19.

Methods: This study reports a screening campaign of asymptomatic staff working in elderly nursing homes in Paris where the virus had been circulating actively in March and April 2020.

Results: Before the screening campaign, the rate of symptomatic COVID-19 was 23.

Nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation inhibits gastroesophageal reflux in the neonatal period.

Nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) in neonates is increasingly considered due to enhanced alveolar ventilation, absence of patient-ventilator asynchrony and lessened ventilator-induced lung injury. Although any type of non-invasive respiratory support can lead to gastric distension via esophageal air passage and thus promote gastroesophageal refluxes (GERs), we have shown that nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP; 6 cmHO) and intermittent positive pressure ventilation (15/4 cmHO) conversely inhibit GERs in lambs. The current objective was to test the hypothesis that nHFOV also inhibits GERs compared to spontaneous ventilation without respiratory support.

Effects of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and High-Flow Nasal Cannula on Sucking, Swallowing, and Breathing during Bottle-Feeding in Lambs.

The use of prolonged respiratory support under the form of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is frequent in newborn infants. Introduction of oral feeding under such nasal respiratory support is, however, highly controversial among neonatologists, due to the fear that it could disrupt sucking, swallowing, and breathing coordination and in turn induce cardiorespiratory events. The recent observation of tracheal aspirations during bottle-feeding in preterm infants under nCPAP justifies the use of animal models to perform more comprehensive physiological studies on the subject, in order to gain further insights for clinical studies.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure influences bottle-feeding in preterm lambs.

BackgroundIn preterm infants, the time from initiation to full oral feeding can take weeks, which represents a very worrisome problem in neonatal medicine. Although current knowledge suggests that oral feeding should be introduced early, this is often delayed due to the need for prolonged nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP). Indeed, most caregivers fear that nCPAP could disrupt sucking-swallowing-breathing coordination and induce tracheal aspiration.

Inhibitory Effect of Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation on Gastroesophageal Reflux.

Non-invasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation can lead to esophageal insufflations and in turn to gastric distension. The fact that the latter induces transient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter implies that it may increase gastroesophageal refluxes. We previously reported that nasal Pressure Support Ventilation (nPSV), contrary to nasal Neurally-Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (nNAVA), triggers active inspiratory laryngeal closure.

Effects of Inspiratory Pressure Rise Time and Hypoxic or Hypercapnic Breathing on Inspiratory Laryngeal Constrictor Muscle Activity During Nasal Pressure Support Ventilation.

Objective: We previously reported the development of an active inspiratory laryngeal narrowing against ventilator insufflations when inspiratory pressure is increased during nasal pressure support ventilation in lambs. The present study aimed to further understand the factors involved in this inspiratory laryngeal narrowing. More specifically, we tested the hypothesis that a short inspiratory pressure rise time or a low PaCO2 level promotes inspiratory laryngeal narrowing observed in nasal pressure support ventilation.

Factors associated with hospital admission in hereditary angioedema attacks: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Acute attacks of hereditary angioedema are characterized by recurrent localized edema. These attacks can be life threatening and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To determine factors associated with hospital admission of patients with an acute attack of hereditary angioedema presenting at the emergency department.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure inhibits gastroesophageal reflux in newborn lambs.

Background: Using esophageal pHmetry, nasal CPAP (nCPAP) has been shown to decrease acid gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in adult humans. Although both GER (mainly non-acid) and nCPAP use are very frequent in newborns, the effect of nCPAP on GER in early life is unknown. Having recently shown that the newborn lamb is a unique model for studying neonatal GER, our main objective was to assess the effect of nCPAP on GER in newborn lambs.

Absence of effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on the esophageal phase of nutritive swallowing in newborn lambs.

Objectives: It is presently recommended that oral feeding be started in premature infants as soon as possible, often at an age at which nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is still required for ventilatory support. Our previous data showed that application of nCPAP up to 10 cmH2O in full-term lambs had no deleterious effect on cardiorespiratory safety, feeding efficiency, or on nutritive swallowing-breathing coordination. Besides fear of swallowing-breathing coordination disturbances, esophageal motility disruption by nCPAP could be a reason to delay oral feeding.

Measles immunity and measles vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in Paris, France.

Background: In Europe, including France, a measles outbreak has been ongoing since 2008. Unprotected healthcare workers (HCWs) may contract and spread the infection to patients.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate HCWs' measles immunity and vaccine acceptance in our setting.

[Metal fume fever, an almost forgotten disease].

Metal fume fever is an ancient and almost forgotten occupational disease found among welders. Diagnosis is made difficult by the frequency and the non-specific flue-like symptomatology. We present the cases of three patients admitted for developing the symptoms after being exposed to welding fumes.

Telemedicine diagnosis for fetal alcohol syndrome - The Manitoba experience.

The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome has been possible, with increasing precision, since the original descriptions in the 1970s. Multidisciplinary diagnostic approaches have been recognized as most appropriate, although they are often not available. Telemedicine has been used in Canada over the same time period for a variety of diagnositc applications.

Enhancement of modal feedback in unstable resonators using mirrors with a phase step.

Numerical calculations using the Prony method have shown that the feedback coefficient in unstable laser resonators can be increased by factors of as much as 5 over the geometrical value using a mirror with a phase step at its center. A phase shift of close to pi over an area of an equivalent Fresnel number of 0.5 leads to minimum output losses.

HPLC analysis of antioxidants.

Qualitative and quantitative HPLC methods are described for the analysis of mixtures of twelve antioxidants. For identification of the components present, gradient elution with a convex profile from 35:65 v/v water-methanol to pure methanol is used, on a Waters 5 mum C(18) Resolve column, with an ultraviolet detector. Propyl gallate and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate cannot be separated, however.

Phytotoxicity of orellanine, a mushroom toxin.

Orellanine, a toxic principle of Cortinarius orellanus Fr., efficiently inhibited the photosynthetic activity of duckweed, Lemna minor L., at a concentration of 0.