French validation of the sexual complaints screener (SCS) for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Sexual dysfunctions are frequent in the general population and even more frequent in individuals with chronic neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS). Several studies indicate that patients would like healthcare workers to address sexual problems. Indeed, such complaints are not currently sufficiently detected and treated.

Alexithymia in radiologically isolated syndrome.

Background: Alexithymia refers to difficulty identifying (DIF) and describing (DDF) feelings and externally oriented thinking (EOT). Its prevalence remains unknown in the radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS), the preclinical multiple sclerosis (MS) phase.

Methods: Alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) in 29 RIS and age and gender-matched healthy controls and relapsing-remitting (RR) MS with an EDSS <3.

French consensus procedure for neuropsychological assessment in multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment is one of the invisible symptoms of Multiple sclerosis (MS), which could be associated with depression, unemployment, reduced social interaction, inability to drive, and compromised quality of life. Moreover, the presence of cognitive impairment can be considered as a long-term prognostic factor and in the follow-up of disability. So, cognitive assessment is a crucial element in clinical follow-up of patients with MS (pwMS).

Using the FIB-4, automatically calculated, followed by the ELF test in second line to screen primary care patients for liver disease.

The objective of our work was to evaluate the screening of hepatic fibrosis in primary care using the FIB-4 score, automatically calculated. When the FIB-4 was ≥ 1.3, it was defined as positive, and ELF Test was performed.

Facial emotion impairment in multiple sclerosis is linked to modifying observation strategies of emotional faces.

Background: Facial emotion recognition (FER) may be impaired in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, the literature is heterogeneous, with studies not highlighting this kind of impairment. Moreover, most studies have not explored differences between MS spectrum disorders (radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS), clinically-isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting (RRMS), and progressive (primary - (PPMS) and secondary - (SPMS)).

Prospective screening for significant liver fibrosis by fibrosis-4 in primary care patients without known liver disease.

Background: Fibrosis-4 test (FIB-4) is one of the simplest, free of charge, noninvasive scoring tests. We aimed to prospectively measure the prevalence of liver fibrosis in adults with no previously known liver disease and who consulted a general practitioner by FIB-4 score; compare this test to an NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) and Fibrometer (FM); explore the prevalence of risk factors (obesity, diabetes, alcohol, and hypertension) and reconsider a possible cause of liver disease in patients recognized as FIB-4-positive.

Methods: Over a 6-month period, 40 general practitioners (GPs) offered all their consecutive adult primary care patients with no previously known liver pathology and a liver fibrosis screening via a blood test of three scores.

Atypical twin atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia in a congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries patient with a surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect: a case report.

Background: Twin atrioventricular (AV) nodal tachycardia is a rare mechanism of supraventricular arrhythmia, only seen in some specific congenital heart defects (CHD). It consists of a re-entrant circuit between two distinct AV nodes (anterior and inferior). Since both nodes have antegrade and retrograde conduction, there is usually two QRS morphologies in sinus rhythm.

Functional and dysfunctional impulsivities changes after subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation in Parkinson disease.

Objectives: We investigated changes of impulsivity after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, distinguishing functional from dysfunctional impulsivity and their contributing factors.

Methods: Data of 33 PD patients treated by STN-DBS were studied before and 6 months after surgery: motor impairment, medication (dose and dopaminergic agonists), cognition, mood and occurrence of impulse control disorders. Impulsivity was assessed by the Dickman Impulsivity Inventory, which distinguishes functional impulsivity (FI), reflecting the potential for reasoning and rapid action when the situation requires it, and dysfunctional impulsivity (DI), reflecting the lack of prior reasoning, even when the situation demands it.

Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: Clinical and radiological correlations.

Background: Alexithymia, meaning no words for emotions is a common problem that could affect up to 53% of patients in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To determine the frequency of alexithymia in MS and investigate MS-related abnormalities in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their associations with fatigue and cognitive functions.

Methods: Ninety-five patients at all stages of the disease were examined: 21 with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), 30 with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 21 with primary (PP) and 23 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS).

Thalamic atrophy correlates with dysfunctional impulsivity in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Recent studies highlight the central role of thalamic atrophy in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) related disorders. Behavioural aspects of (MS) are rarely explored but their investigation is of high interest. Dickman's Impulsiveness Inventory (DII) allows distinguishing functional impulsivity (FI) which is the ability to react fast and properly when necessary, from dysfunctional impulsivity (DI) which is a behavioural symptom corresponding to the tendency to miss forethought before acting.

Video-oculography in multiple sclerosis: Links between oculomotor disorders and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Background: Eye movement abnormalities (EMA) are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, type and severity according to the MS stage are poorly known, especially in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) and in Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS). Although MRI has been included in the MS diagnostic criteria, there may be clinical-radiological dissociation.

Validation of a rapid and easy-to-perform screening test for neurocognitive impairment in HIV+ patients.

Objective: Information Processing Speed (IPS) is one of the earliest cognitive domains impaired in both multiple sclerosis (MS) and HIV-infected patients. Our aim was to study whether the Computerized Speed Cognitive Test (CSCT), an ultra-rapid tool which detects IPS impairment and is already used in MS subjects, could also be useful to screen for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).

Methods: The Neuracog study was an open-label prospective trial conducted in Nice and Cannes hospitals.

Outcomes of Newborns with Prenatal Ventricular Asymmetry not Requiring Neonatal Surgical Intervention: a 22-Year Retrospective Single-Center Study.

To assess the outcomes of neonates prenatally diagnosed with ventricular asymmetry and not operated on within the neonatal period and to determine the risk factors for left heart obstruction occurrence at follow-up. All neonates with prenatal asymmetry of the ventricles, diagnosed from August 1993 to July 2015, not operated on within the neonatal period, were retrospectively included in the study. Left heart echocardiographic measurements at birth and at last follow-up were collected and compared.

Evolution of almond genetic diversity and farmer practices in Lebanon: impacts of the diffusion of a graft-propagated cultivar in a traditional system based on seed-propagation.

Background: Under cultivation, many outcrossing fruit tree species have switched from sexual reproduction to vegetative propagation. Traditional production systems have persisted, where cultivar propagation is based on a mixed reproductive system. For millenia, almond, Prunus dulcis, has been propagated by seeds.

Aluminum Atom Activation of C-S Bonds: An EPR Study of the Intermediates Formed in the Reaction Between Aluminum Atoms and Dialkyl Sulfides.

The major mononuclear aluminum species obtained in the reaction of aluminum atoms with dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and diethyl sulfide (DES), under cryogenic conditions, are the C-S insertion products, CHAlSCH and CHCHAlSCHCH, respectively, showing that aluminum atoms can activate C-S bonds. The magnetic parameters were extracted from the EPR spectrum. Support for the spectral assignment was obtained by repeating the experiments with C-labeled dimethyl sulfide yielding CHAlSCH.

Cognition and quality of life in clinically isolated syndrome patients starting a disease modifying therapy in the QUALICIS study may not predict treatment response at one year.

Cognition and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are early involved in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of QUALICIS study was to monitor cognition and HRQoL prospectively in a cohort of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients starting a treatment with subcutaneous beta-1b interferon as a first disease modifying treatment (DMT), and to assess their correlation with the clinical outcome 6years later. Relapse history, EDSS and yearly standardized brain MRI data were also collected.

A decreasing CD4/CD8 ratio over time and lower CSF-penetrating antiretroviral regimens are associated with a higher risk of neurocognitive deterioration, independently of viral replication.

Persistent immune activation is one of the suspected causes of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in cART era. The CD4/CD8 ratio has been recently showed as a marker of immune activation and HAND. Our aim was to analyze if a decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio over time could have an impact on neurocognitive deterioration.

Amount of Testosterone on Laundered Clothing After Use of Testosterone Topical 2% Solution by Healthy Male Volunteers.

Introduction: Testosterone 2% solution (Axiron) applied to armpit(s) is used for replacement therapy in men with a deficiency of endogenous testosterone.

Aim: To determine the amount of testosterone on subjects' T-shirts 12 hours after applying testosterone solution, the residual testosterone on subjects' T-shirts after laundering, and the testosterone transferred to unworn textile items during laundering with worn T-shirts.

Methods: Healthy males ≥18 years old applied 2 × 1.

The HV3 Score: A New Simple Tool to Suspect Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis in Clinical Practice.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is common even in the early stages of the disease. Our objective was to improve early detection of cognitive impairment in MS.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with relapsing remitting (RR) MS and 20 controls were enrolled.

Demonstration of a lexical access deficit in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

The commonly used test to evaluate naming ability in multiple sclerosis (MS) is the Boston Naming Test (BNT). In previous studies the BNP has not shown any specific deficit in MS patients. The BNT score is obtained by adding spontaneously correct answers to correct answers obtained after semantic and phonological clues are given.

Add-on peg-interferon leads to loss of HBsAg in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis and HBV DNA fully suppressed by long-term nucleotide analogs.

Background And Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate whether the addition of peg-IFN to a stable NA regimen leads to loss of HBsAg in HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis and HBV DNA fully suppressed by long-term NA treatment.

Study Design: We analyzed HBsAg levels in 10 HBsAg-positive, HBeAg-negative patients who received peg-IFN alpha-2a in addition to a NA regimen. Treatment lasted a maximum of 96 weeks, according to changes in the HBsAg titer.