Validation of the Preverbal Visual Assessment (PreViAs) questionnaire.

Background: Visual cognitive integrative functions need to be evaluated by a behavioral assessment, which requires an experienced evaluator. The Preverbal Visual Assessment (PreViAs) questionnaire was designed to evaluate these functions, both in general pediatric population or in children with high risk of visual cognitive problems, through primary caregivers' answers.

Aim: We aimed to validate the PreViAs questionnaire by comparing caregiver reports with results from a comprehensive clinical protocol.

Development of the Preverbal Visual Assessment (PreViAs) questionnaire.

Background: Visual cognitive functions of preverbal infants are evaluated by means of a behavioral assessment. Parents or primary caregivers may be appropriate to certify the acquisition of certain abilities.

Aims: To develop the PreViAs (Preverbal Visual Assessment) questionnaire to assess visual behavior of infants under 24 months of age and to assess the normative outcomes for each item at each age.

Design optimization of a self-cleaning moving-bed bioreactor for seawater denitrification.

The hydrodynamic behavior and denitrification capacity of a down flow self-cleaning moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) using floating packed-bed carriers were investigated. Water mixing in the MBBR was determined by tracer studies, which showed a completely stirred tank reactor. Eleven different types of patented plastic packed-bed carriers were selected based on their density, shape and specific surface area.

Dynamic evaluation of a fixed bed anaerobic digestion process in response to organic overloads and toxicant shock loads.

This paper details a dynamic evaluation of a 1 m3 fixed bed anaerobic digestion reactor in response to organic overloads and toxicant shock loads. Raw industrial wine distillery wastewater was used as a reference substrate and several disturbances were applied to the process: (i) organic overloads with and without pH regulation in the feeding line, (ii) adding of ammonia in the input wastewater. The purpose of this study was to assess, using on-line instrumentation, the robustness of a fixed bed anaerobic digester.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia and gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: The incidence and mortality rate for cancer in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases have increased greatly. Lymphomas constitute more than 50% of tumors identified in the Immunodeficiency Cancer Registry, but solid tumors are frequent in these patients, especially gastric carcinomas. In addition to immunologic impairment, other local conditions such as chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia and pernicious anemia, usually observed in these patients, may play an important role in the genesis of gastrointestinal tumors.

Safety and efficacy of fluconazole treatment for Candida oesophagitis in AIDS.

The efficacy and safety of fluconazole in the treatment of oesophageal candidiasis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was assessed in 36 patients. Fluconazole, 200 mg orally, was given on the first day, followed by 100 mg daily for 4 weeks. Clinical and mycological evaluation was performed in 31 patients at the end of treatment and 24 were also assessed after 8 weeks of starting treatment.