Immunomodulation of Pancreatic Cancer via Inhibition of SUMOylation and CD155/TIGIT Pathway.

Unlabelled: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the deadliest major cancer and has a profoundly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Previous studies have shown that inhibition of the E1 enzyme, which catalyzes the small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO), with the small molecule TAK-981, can reprogram the TME to enhance immune activation and suppress tumor growth. We found that the CD-155/TIGIT pathway, a key regulator of immune evasion in PDAC, is influenced by SUMOylation.

Revealing mental representations of arithmetic word problems through false memories: New insights into semantic congruence.

What can false memories tell us about the structure of mental representations of arithmetic word problems? The semantic congruence model describes the central role of world semantics in the encoding, recoding, and solving of these problems. We propose to use memory tasks to evaluate key predictions of the semantic congruence model regarding the representations constructed when solving arithmetic word problems. We designed isomorphic word problems differing only by the world semantics imbued in their problem statement.

Uncovering the interplay between drawings, mental representations, and arithmetic problem-solving strategies in children and adults.

There is an ongoing debate in the scientific community regarding the nature and role of the mental representations involved in solving arithmetic word problems. In this study, we took a closer look at the interplay between mental representations, drawing production, and strategy choice. We used dual-strategy isomorphic word problems sharing the same mathematical structure, but differing in the entities they mentioned in their problem statement.

Refined prognostic staging for resected pancreatic cancer by modified stage grouping and addition of tumour grade.

Background: With changes in T and N categories the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system for pancreatic cancer resulted in improved prognostic staging, but inconsistencies were observed with specific stage groups. Tumour grading remains disregarded in prognostic staging. We aimed to validate the current staging system and to investigate the possibility of further optimization by integration of grading.

What we count dictates how we count: A tale of two encodings.

We argue that what we count has a crucial impact on how we count, to the extent that even adults may have difficulty using elementary mathematical notions in concrete situations. Specifically, we investigate how the use of certain types of quantities (durations, heights, number of floors) may emphasize the ordinality of the numbers featured in a problem, whereas other quantities (collections, weights, prices) may emphasize the cardinality of the depicted numerical situations. We suggest that this distinction leads to the construction of one of two possible encodings, either a cardinal or an ordinal representation.

When masters of abstraction run into a concrete wall: Experts failing arithmetic word problems.

Can our knowledge about apples, cars, or smurfs hinder our ability to solve mathematical problems involving these entities? We argue that such daily-life knowledge interferes with arithmetic word problem solving, to the extent that experts can be led to failure in problems involving trivial mathematical notions. We created problems evoking different aspects of our non-mathematical, general knowledge. They were solvable by one single subtraction involving small quantities, such as 14 - 2 = 12.

[Establishment and one-year evaluation of an internal medicine consultation in a maternity].

Objective: In the obstetric medicine movement and in response to requests for appointments in internal medicine by obstetricians and midwives, we created an internal medicine consultation within the maternity ward of our General Hospital, and provide feedback after 1 year.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study took place at the Robert Ballanger Intercommunal Hospital Center in Aulnay-sous-Bois in Seine-Saint-Denis (France) between 3rd March 2016 and 9th March 2017, the first year of the internal medicine consultation, one afternoon every 15 days, in the maternity level 2b.

Results: Out of 121 appointments, 93 consultations were conducted for 63 patients.

Symbolic violence and disempowerment as factors in the adverse impact of immigration detention on adult asylum seekers' mental health.

Objectives: The first objective of this qualitative component of a mixed-methods study is to provide a descriptive account of adult asylum seekers' experience of detention in Canadian immigration detention centers. The second objective is to identify the main underlying factors accounting for their reported feelings of distress.

Methods: Researchers interviewed 81 adult asylum seekers held in two Canadian immigration detention centers concerning their experience of detention.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus: a French general hospital experience].

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease requiring long-term follow-up. Most studies published in the literature concerned teaching hospitals. We wanted to study a population of SLE patients, their follow-up and therapeutic modalities in a general hospital in order to evaluate professional practices.

[Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: A report of two familial cases].

Introduction: The histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease is characterized by a lymph node inflammation whose similarity with systemic lupus is generally admitted.

Case Report: Our description of two familial cases aims at raising the hypothesis of the existence of a genetic background in this disease following the example of what is observed in the autoimmune diseases.

Conclusion: Pathophysiology of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease is probably multifactorial and may include predisposing genetic background and a possible infectious triggering event.

[Epileptic seizures and hematemesis in a young patient with sickle cell disease].

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is a multi-faceted disease, which can affect all organs. Here, we report the case of a young woman whose clinical presentation was confusing.

Case Report: An 18-year-old patient from Martinique in Caribbean area presented to the emergency room with widespread pain, as part of a vaso-occlusive crisis.

The prothrombotic paradox of severe obesity after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Obesity is suggested to reduce postoperative bleeding in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) but perioperative hemostasis variations have not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥35kg/m(2)) on chest tube output (CTO) and hemostasis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively investigated 2799 consecutive patients who underwent coronary and/or valve surgery using CPB between 2008 and 2012.

Atovaquone-proguanil in the treatment of imported uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a prospective observational study of 553 cases.

Background: Each year, thousands of cases of uncomplicated malaria are imported into Europe by travellers. Atovaquone-proguanil (AP) has been one of the first-line regimens used in France for uncomplicated malaria for almost ten years. While AP's efficacy and tolerance were evaluated in several trials, its use in "real life" conditions has never been described.

Impact of a multidisciplinary staff meeting on the quality of antibiotherapy prescription for bone and joint infections in orthopedic surgery.

Introduction: We studied the impact of a weekly multidisciplinary staff meeting (MSM) on the quality of antibiotherapy for bone and joint infections in orthopedic surgery, as part of professional practice assessment.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively studied the file of patients hospitalized for bone and joint infection. We compared antibiotherapy compliance to good use (bacteriology, dose, length of treatment, length of adaptation to microbiology), and outcome at six months for patients with bone and joint infections, before (March 2007 to March 2009) and after (March 2009 to March 2011) implementation of the multidisciplinary staff meeting.

Positive blood culture in hospital: notification methods and impact of recommendations by an infectious disease specialist.

Objective: The study's objective was to describe the notification methods of positive blood cultures and analyse the impact of recommendations made by an infectious disease specialist on the appropriateness of antibiotherapy.

Method: We included all patients with positive blood cultures, from 12 different hospitals (including six with mobile infectious disease teams: MIDT) during a seven-day period. Medical records were retrospectively analysed to determine the delivered antibiotic treatment and the notification method of positive blood culture.

Validation of a model of itch induction for brain positron emission tomography studies using histamine iontophoresis.

Skin-brain signalling in itch reactions has been demonstrated with neuroimaging techniques showing specific brain activation. With positron emission tomography (PET), the itch model used must be adapted to technical and practical constraints. The technique of itch induction by histamine iontophoresis enables modulation of the sensation via the electrical charge applied.

Good recovery from aphasia is also supported by right basal ganglia: a longitudinal controlled PET study. EJPRM-ESPRM 2008 award winner.

Aim: It has long been a matter of debate whether recovery from aphasia after left perisylvian lesion is mediated by perilesional left hemispheric regions or by right homologous areas. To investigate the neural substrates of aphasia recovery, a longitudinal study in patients after a left single perisylvian stroke was performed.

Methods: Thirteen aphasic patients were H2(15)O PET-scanned twice at a one year interval during a word generation task.

Neural substrates of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation during movement in healthy subjects and acute stroke patients. A PET study.

The aim of the study was to investigate, with an rTMS/PET protocol, the after-effects induced by 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of the primary motor cortex (M1) contralateral to that stimulated during a movement. Eighteen healthy subjects underwent a baseline PET scan followed, in randomized order, by a session of Real/Sham low-frequency (1 Hz) subthreshold rTMS over the right M1 for 23 min. The site of stimulation was fMRI-guided.