Evaluation of computed tomography in the diagnosis of ultrasound-proven diaphragm dysfunction.

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) is routinely employed on the evaluation of dyspnea, yet limited data exist on its assessment of diaphragmatic muscle. This study aimed to determine the capability of CT in identifying structural changes in the diaphragm among patients with ultrasound-confirmed diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Methods: Diaphragmatic ultrasounds conducted between 2018 and 2021 at our center in Marseille, France, were retrospectively collected.

Insights into ascorbate regeneration in plants: investigating the redox and structural properties of dehydroascorbate reductases from Populus trichocarpa.

Dehydroascorbate reductases (DHARs), enzymes belonging to the GST superfamily, catalyse the GSH-dependent reduction of dehydroascorbate into ascorbate in plants. By maintaining a reduced ascorbate pool, they notably participate to H2O2 detoxification catalysed by ascorbate peroxidases (APXs). Despite this central role, the catalytic mechanism used by DHARs is still not well understood and there is no supportive 3D structure.

Glutathionyl-hydroquinone reductases from poplar are plastidial proteins that deglutathionylate both reduced and oxidized glutathionylated quinones.

Glutathionyl-hydroquinone reductases (GHRs) catalyze the deglutathionylation of quinones via a catalytic cysteine. The two GHR genes in the Populus trichocarpa genome, Pt-GHR1 and Pt-GHR2, are primarily expressed in reproductive organs. Both proteins are localized in plastids.

The still mysterious roles of cysteine-containing glutathione transferases in plants.

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) represent a widespread multigenic enzyme family able to modify a broad range of molecules. These notably include secondary metabolites and exogenous substrates often referred to as xenobiotics, usually for their detoxification, subsequent transport or export. To achieve this, these enzymes can bind non-substrate ligands (ligandin function) and/or catalyze the conjugation of glutathione onto the targeted molecules, the latter activity being exhibited by GSTs having a serine or a tyrosine as catalytic residues.

Structural and enzymatic insights into Lambda glutathione transferases from Populus trichocarpa, monomeric enzymes constituting an early divergent class specific to terrestrial plants.

GSTs represent a superfamily of multifunctional proteins which play crucial roles in detoxification processes and secondary metabolism. Instead of promoting the conjugation of glutathione to acceptor molecules as do most GSTs, members of the Lambda class (GSTLs) catalyse deglutathionylation reactions via a catalytic cysteine residue. Three GSTL genes (Pt-GSTL1, Pt-GSTL2 and Pt-GSTL3) are present in Populus trichocarpa, but two transcripts, differing in their 5' extremities, were identified for Pt-GSTL3.

Implantation of a foldable intraocular lens in dogs.

A 1-piece, tripod-shaped, acrylic intraocular lens was implanted in the posterior chamber after phacoemulsification to remove cataracts in 20 eyes of 16 dogs. Biomicroscopy and intraocular pressure measurements were performed at 1, 8, 30, and 90 days after surgery; retinoscopy was performed at day 30. Complications were not encountered during implantation of the lens.

Hepatitis C virus infection risk factors in patients admitted in hospital emergency departments in Picardy. Value of oriented screening based on recommendations of the 'Direction Générale de la Santé'.

Objective And Design: Oriented hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening on the basis of transfusion, previous or current parenteral drug addiction, invasive procedures, and in family members of patients with hepatitis C, was recommended in France by the 'Direction Générale de la Santé' (DGS). The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of these risk factors in patients admitted in hospital emergency departments in Picardy.

Methods: Between 1 June and 31 July 1996, physicians of the emergency units of seven hospitals in Picardy were asked to question admitted patients about risk factors mentioned in the DGS recommendations, and to suggest a screening test when at least one of these risk factors was present.

Microbiological evaluation of infected wounds of the extremities in 214 adults.

Objective: The aim of this multicentre prospective study was to analyse microbial pathogens cultured from an infected wound.

Methods: The study was performed in the emergency rooms of 10 public hospitals. All adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of cellulitis after a wound in the upper or lower extremities were included.

[Mixed endocrine tumor of the pancreas (vipoma, glucagonoma). Treatment by somatostatin followed by one of its long-acting analogs].

We describe the 4-year follow-up of an endocrine tumour of the pancreas (vipoma-glucagonoma) treated with chemotherapy. To control the endocrine syndrome we used somatostatin 14 by continuous subcutaneous infusion for 1 year, followed by the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 administered alone without antitumoral chemotherapy. Under SMS 201-995 (100 micrograms 12-hourly) the endocrine syndrome dramatically improved.

[Cardiac involvement in Lyme disease. 2 cases].

Lyme disease is a systemic bacterial infection involving several organs. Cardiac involvement predominantly consists of disorders of conduction which may be associated with pericarditis, although this rarely occurs. Cardiac lesions in Lyme disease (disorders of conduction, myocarditis, pericarditis) are usually observed during the second stage of the disease.

[Bacteriologic, clinical and kinetic evaluation of cefmenoxime (SCE 1365) in the treatment of 68 cases of septicemia. A multicenter trial].

Cefmenoxime (SCE 1365), a new broad-spectrum, third generation cephalosporin was used in the treatment of 68 patients with bacteremia. Cefmenoxime was given as monotherapy to 63 patients in a mean daily dosage of 3 g (range: 1 to 6 g). 63 successes were recorded.