Sterile Neutrino Constraints from the STEREO Experiment with 66 Days of Reactor-On Data.

The reactor antineutrino anomaly might be explained by the oscillation of reactor antineutrinos toward a sterile neutrino of eV mass. In order to explore this hypothesis, the STEREO experiment measures the antineutrino energy spectrum in six different detector cells covering baselines between 9 and 11 m from the compact core of the ILL research reactor. In this Letter, results from 66 days of reactor turned on and 138 days of reactor turned off are reported. A novel method to extract the antineutrino rates has been developed based on the distribution of the pulse shape discrimination parameter. The test of a new oscillation toward a sterile neutrino is performed by comparing ratios of cells, independent of absolute normalization and of the prediction of the reactor spectrum. The results are found to be compatible with the null oscillation hypothesis and the best fit of the reactor antineutrino anomaly is excluded at 97.5% C.L.

Final Results of the OPERA Experiment on ν_{τ} Appearance in the CNGS Neutrino Beam.

The OPERA experiment was designed to study ν_{µ}→ν_{τ} oscillations in the appearance mode in the CERN to Gran Sasso Neutrino beam (CNGS). In this Letter, we report the final analysis of the full data sample collected between 2008 and 2012, corresponding to 17.97×10^{19} protons on target. Selection criteria looser than in previous analyses have produced ten ν_{τ} candidate events, thus reducing the statistical uncertainty in the measurement of the oscillation parameters and of ν_{τ} properties. A multivariate approach for event identification has been applied to the candidate events and the discovery of ν_{τ} appearance is confirmed with an improved significance level of 6.1σ. |Δm_{32}^{2}| has been measured, in appearance mode, with an accuracy of 20%. The measurement of the ν_{τ} charged-current cross section, for the first time with a negligible contamination from ν[over ¯]_{τ}, and the first direct evidence for the ν_{τ} lepton number are also reported.

Compressible lattice Boltzmann method with rotating overset grids.

The numerical instability of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) at high Mach or high Reynolds number flow is well identified, and it remains a major barrier to its application in more complex configurations such as moving geometries. This work combines the compressible lattice Boltzmann model with rotating overset grids (the so-called Chimera method, sliding mesh, or moving reference frame) for high Mach flows. This paper proposes to use the compressible hybrid recursive regularized collision model with fictitious forces (or inertial forces) in a noninertial rotating reference frame. Also, polynomial interpolations are investigated, which allow fixed inertial and rotating noninertial grids to communicate with each other. We suggest a way to effectively couple the LBM with the MUSCL-Hancock scheme in the rotating grid, which is needed to account for thermal effect of compressible flow. As a result, this approach is demonstrated to have an extended Mach stability limit for the rotating grid. It also demonstrates that this complex LBM scheme can maintain the second-order accuracy of the classic LBM by appropriately using numerical methods like polynomial interpolations and the MUSCL-Hancock scheme. Furthermore, the method shows a very good agreement on aerodynamic coefficients compared to experiments and the conventional finite-volume scheme. This work presents a thorough academic validation and error analysis of the LBM for simulating moving geometries in high Mach compressible flows.

A decade (2001-2010) of genetic testing for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

The identification of 9 susceptibility genes for paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma between 2001 and 2010 has led to the development of routine genetic tests. To study the evolution in genetic screening for paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma over the past decade, we carried out a retrospective study on the tests performed in our laboratory from January 2001 to December 2010. A genetic test for paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma was assessed for 2 499 subjects, 1 620 index cases, and 879 presymptomatic familial genetic tests. A germline mutation in a PGL/PCC susceptibility gene was identified in 363 index cases (22.4%): 269 in SDHx genes (137 in SDHB, 100 in SDHD, 30 in SDHC, 2 in SDHA), 64 in VHL, 23 in RET, and 7 in TMEM127. A presymptomatic paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma test was positive in 427 subjects. Advances in molecular screening techniques led to an increase in the total number of mutation-carriers diagnosed each year. Overall, during the last decade, our laboratory identified a germline mutation in 44.7% of patients with a suspect hereditary PGL/PCC and in 8% of patients with an apparently sporadic PGL/PCC. During the past decade, the discoveries of new paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma susceptibility genes and the subsequent progress of molecular screening techniques have enabled us to diagnose a hereditary paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma in about 22% of patients tested in routine practice. This genetic testing is of major importance for the follow-up of affected patients and for the genetic counselling of their families.

Significance of serum CA125 and TPS antigen levels for determination of overall survival after three chemotherapy courses in ovarian cancer patients during long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate the prognostic significance for overall survival rate for the marker combination TPS and CA125 in ovarian cancer patients after three chemotherapy courses during long-term clinical follow-up. METHODS: The overall survival of 212 (out of 213) ovarian cancer patients (FIGO Stages I-IV) was analyzed in a prospective multicenter study during a 10-year clinical follow-up by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In patients with ovarian cancer FIGO Stage I (34 patients) or FIGO Stage II (30 patients) disease, the univariate and multivariate analysis of the 10-year overall survival data showed that CA125 and TPS serum levels were not independent prognostic factors. In the FIGO Stage III group (112 patients), the 10-year overall survival was 15.2%; while in the FIGO Stage IV group (36 patients) a 10-year overall survival of 5.6% was seen. Here, the tumor markers CA125 and TPS levels were significant prognostic factors in both univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.0001). In a combined FIGO Stage III + FIGO Stage IV group (60 patients with optimal debulking surgery), multivariate analysis demonstrated that CA125 and TPS levels were independent prognostic factors. For patients in this combined FIGO Stage III + IV group having both markers below respective discrimination level, 35.3% survived for more than ten years, as opposed to patients having one marker above the discrimination level where the 10-year survival was reduced to 10% of the patients. For patients showing both markers above the respective discrimination level, none of the patients survived for the 10-year follow-up time. CONCLUSION: In FIGO III and IV ovarian cancer patients, only patients with CA 125 and TPS markers below the discrimination level after three chemotherapy courses indicated a favorable prognosis. Patients with an elevated level of CA 125 or TPS or both markers after three chemotherapy courses showed unfavorable prognosis.

Why antiplectic metachronal cilia waves are optimal to transport bronchial mucus.

The coordinated beating of epithelial cilia in human lungs is a fascinating problem from the hydrodynamics perspective. The phase lag between neighboring cilia is able to generate collective cilia motions, known as metachronal waves. Different kinds of waves can occur, antiplectic or symplectic, depending on the direction of the wave with respect to the flow direction. It is shown here, using a coupled lattice Boltzmann-immersed boundary solver, that the key mechanism responsible for their transport efficiency is a blowing-suction effect that displaces the interface between the periciliary liquid and the mucus phase. The contribution of this mechanism on the average flow generated by the cilia is compared to the contribution of the lubrication effect. The results reveal that the interface displacement is the main mechanism responsible for the better efficiency of antiplectic metachronal waves over symplectic ones to transport bronchial mucus. The conclusions drawn here can be extended to any two-layer fluid configuration having different viscosities, and put into motion by cilia-shaped or comb-plate structures, having a back-and-forth motion with phase lags.

[Solitary ulcer of the colonic hepatic flexure]. / Ulcère solitaire de l'angle colique droit.

The nonspecific colon ulcer is a not a well-known disorder. A case of ulcer of the colic hepatic flexure is described. It was a case of pseudotumor and the pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The precise diagnosis of colon ulcer is useful for conservative treatment with coloscopic surveillance and to prevent a hemorrhagic complication or peritonitis after perforation. Contrary to diverticulitis, this pathology is most dominant on the right colon and particularly on the cecum. This explains the frequency of pseudoappendicular syndromes.

Thermo-physical properties of synthetic mucus for the study of airway clearance.

In this article, dynamic viscosity, surface tension, density, heat capacity and thermal conductivity, of a bronchial mucus simulant proposed by Zahm et al., Eur Respir J 1991; 4: 311-315 were experiementally determined. This simulant is mainly composed of a galactomannan gum and a scleroglucan. It was shown that thermophysical properties of synthetic mucus are dependant of scleroglucan concentrations. More importantly and for some scleroglucan concentrations, the syntetic mucus, exhibits, somehow, comparable thermophysical properties to real bronchial mucus. An insight on the microstructure of this simulant is proposed and the different properties enounced previously have been measured for various scleroglucan concentrations and over a certain range of operating temperatures. This synthetic mucus is found to mimic well the rheological behavior and the surface tension of real mucus for different pathologies. Density and thermal properties have been measured for the first time. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3025-3033, 2017.

Rethinking pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas from a genomic perspective.

Pheochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors of neural crest origin. These tumors are caused by germline or somatic mutations in known susceptibility genes in up to 70% of cases. Over the past few years, the emergence of high-throughput technologies has enabled the unprecedented characterization of genomic alterations in PCC/PGL, and has improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that distinguish the different tumor subtypes. Integrated genomic analyses have shown that the mutation status of PCC/PGL susceptibility genes strongly correlates with multi-omics data. These observations not only emphasize the role of the long-standing susceptibility genes as the main drivers of PCC/PGL tumorigenesis, but also illustrate the functional interdependence between genomic and epigenomic alterations. In this review, we discuss the genomic landscape underlying PCC/PGL, its functional consequences for tumorigenesis and tumor progression, and the potential clinical relevance of this knowledge for the application of precision medicine for patients with PCC/PGL.

[Premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen: theoretical recalls and practical modalities]. / Mélange équimolaire oxygène-protoxyde d'azote (MEOPA). Rappels théoriques et modalités pratiques d'utilisation.

The concept of premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen dated back to 1961 in England, where it is commercialised under the name Entonox. In France, after a so marginal use, premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen now knows such a revival since we first consider the pain provoked by the cure. To use correctly premixed 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen, we need to know the main properties of the nitrous oxide. The four commercial versions, now on the market, are presented (Kalinox, Medimix, Antasol, Oxynox. Except a few contraindications, these indications are large, as well at hospital as outside. In less than 10% of the cases, side effects are possible. Conditions of administration are given in details. The limits of the technic and the particular precautions of use are precised.

Cloning and expression pattern of EPAS1 in the chicken embryo. Colocalization with tyrosine hydroxylase.

EPAS1 is a hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, highly expressed in vasculature and recently shown to be necessary for catecholamine production during embryogenesis. We report here the cloning and detailed expression pattern of this factor in the chicken embryo. We show that chicken EPAS1 presents an overall identity of 76% with the human sequence and that it is strongly expressed in the blood vessel wall, mostly in endothelial cells, but also in vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, we report non-vascular expression sites: liver, kidney, and, quite interestingly, cells of the sympathetic nervous system where EPAS1 is coexpressed with one of its putative target genes, the tyrosine hydroxylase. EPAS1 could therefore represent the link between the vascular system and the sympathetic nervous system, both sensitive to hypoxia.

Intravenous anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex versus intravenous streptokinase in evolving myocardial infarction. Preliminary data from a randomised multicentre study.

The efficacy of a single intravenous bolus of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC 30U in 4 to 5 minutes) versus an intravenous infusion of streptokinase (1.5 X 10(6) U in 60 minutes) was assessed in 86 patients with evolving myocardial infarction of less than 6 hours duration in a cooperative randomised study. The patency of the infarct-related artery was assessed by coronary angiography at, on average, 90 minutes after therapy (mean time: APSAC 95 minutes, streptokinase 105 minutes). The treatment groups were similar with respect to sex, age, location of myocardial infarction and the delay from onset of pain to treatment. The 90-minute patency rate (grade 2 to 3) was 71.8% in the APSAC group and 55.8% in the streptokinase group; the difference was not statistically significant. There was no difference between the drop in fibrinogen concentrations in the 2 groups at 3 or 24 hours. The minimal concentration obtained at the first assessment was +/- 0.2 g/L in the streptokinase group and 0.5 g/L in the APSAC group. One patient in the APSAC group, who had a previous meningeal bleeding, had a non-fatal cerebrovascular accident. In a subgroup of 38 patients who had 3 control coronary angiograms at 90 minutes, 24 hours and 3 weeks, the patency rate was 63, 82 and 93%, respectively, in the APSAC group and 48, 88 and 92%, respectively, in the streptokinase group (the difference was not statistically significant). None of the patients in the APSAC group presented with reocclusion, whilst 3 patients in the streptokinase group had reocclusions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The interpretation of train-of-four monitoring in intensive care: what about the muscle site and the current intensity?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of current intensity and choice of the stimulated muscle group on train-of-four (TOF) interpretation in the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN AND SETTING: Intervention study in a surgical intensive care unit. PATIENTS: 13 ventilated patients requiring prolonged muscle relaxation. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Prior to blockade TOF responses of left and right orbicularis oculi, adductor pollicis, and plantar flexors were recorded by setting the current intensity at 20, 40, 60, and 80 mA. The minimal current intensity (MCI) providing a supramaximal response was then identified for each muscle. Cisatracurium was then infused aiming to continuously observe a TOF at 2/4 on the left orbicularis oculi at 40 mA. The responses to TOF on all the muscle sites were further recorded at 40, 60, and 80 mA when the endpoint was reached for the first time, and after a 48-h infusion. After cessation of infusion the delay to observe 4/4 responses at TOF was recorded at each site at 40 mA or at MCI if MCI was above 40 mA. MCI did not differ between muscle groups. When the fixed endpoint was reached for the first time on left orbicularis oculi, the TOF response at 40 mA on right orbicularis oculi differed significantly. In contrast, no difference was observed between left and right sides at 40 mA at the other sites, nor at any sites at 60 and 80 mA. The TOF response on orbicularis oculi (left and right sides together) was different at 40 mA, compared to 60 and 80 mA. TOF responses at orbicularis oculi at 60 or 80 mA significantly differed from responses on adductor pollicis or plantar flexor, orbicularis oculi being less sensitive to cisatracurium than adductor pollicis or plantar flexor. After a 48-h infusion the same differences in sensitivities were observed between the muscle groups. At any current intensity the recovery was slower at adductor pollicis than at orbicularis oculi or plantar flexor. CONCLUSIONS: For a good TOF interpretation in the ICU the current intensity should be tested before onset of blockade. The orbicularis oculi is less sensitive to cisatracurium than adductor pollicis and plantar flexor both at onset and after a prolonged infusion. The recovery from relaxation is faster on orbicularis oculi and plantar flexor than on adductor pollicis.

Brain specific gravity and CT scan density measurements after human head injury.

White matter specific gravity was measured using the microgravimetric method in 20 comatose patients with diffuse head injury who were undergoing intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, and in 19 patients with focal injuries who were undergoing evacuation of contusions or intracerebral hematomas. Computerized tomography (CT) density readings were obtained for each site of white matter sampling by locating the sampling site on the preoperative CT scan. A significant correlation was found between the specific gravity values and the CT density numbers (r = 0.775; p less than 0.001). Patients with focal injuries demonstrated reduced perifocal specific gravity, suggesting brain edema. The mean specific gravity in patients with diffuse injury was within the normal range. In 10 of 12 patients in whom the specific gravity was above the normal range, the CT density was also above the normal range. These data suggest that cerebral vascular engorgement is the cause of the high specific gravity. Six (60%) of this small subgroup of 10 patients also demonstrated a high ICP.

Serum levels of CA 125 and TPS during treatment of ovarian cancer.

Two hundred and sixty ovarian cancer patients (including all FIGO stages) were enrolled in a prospective multicentre study. In this interim study we analyzed 206 patients receiving combined chemotherapy for at least 3 courses for two-year overall survival (OS). CA 125 and TPS were applied for monitoring treatment and the relationship between marker levels, marker changes and clinical assessments was established. Preoperative CA 125 or TPS levels were not correlated with OS in FIGO stage I and II patients. After 3 chemotherapy courses the marker levels were not correlated with OS in stage I and II. Partial debulking in stage II patients was a bad prognostic factor. CA 125 or TPS levels (using a CA 125 discrimination level of 25 kU/l and a TPS discrimination level of 100 U/l) after 3 courses of chemotherapy were highly significantly correlated with OS in FIGO stages III and IV patients: CA 125 two-year OS 67% versus 26% (p < 0.0001) and TPS two-year OS 55% versus 22% (p < 0.0001). The prognostic value of CA 125 levels after 3 chemotherapy courses could be further increased by combining CA 125 and TPS levels. When both CA 125 and TPS levels were below their respective discrimination levels, the two-year overall survival was 75%. When both levels were above the discrimination level, the two-year overall survival was only 17%.

Prognostic significance of CA 125 and TPS levels after chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients.

The analysis of survival data of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer proved that both CA 125 and TPS were good markers for clinical outcome prediction. Patients receiving chemotherapy were analyzed for 2-year overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed highly significant differences in OS between patients with stage I+II (survival for 2 years 68%) and stage III+IV (survival for 2 years 33%; p = 0.0008). CA 125 levels above or below 35 kU/I and TPS levels above or below 80 U/l after 3 chemotherapy courses were not significantly correlated with OS in stage I+II patients (p = 0.06 respectively 0.07). However, in the subgroup of patients with stage III+IV the cut-off levels of CA 125 and TPS were excellent discriminators of OS: With CA 125 levels below the cut-off 52% of the patients survived, while with CA 125 levels above the cut-off only 13% survived (p < 0.0001). With TPS levels below the cut-off 49% of the patients survived, while with levels above the cut-off only 19% of the patients survived (p < 0.0001). In the subset of patients with CA 125 levels less than 35 kU/I after 3 chemotherapy courses (n = 50) analysis of their TPS levels allowed further discrimination of the prognostic significance. With TPS levels below the cut-off 63% of the patients survived, while 35% of the patients survived with TPS levels above the cut-off. The sum value of CA 125 and TPS cut-off values (115) as discriminator correlated even better with survival rate: With levels below this sum value 63% of the patients survived, while this was only 17% with sum values above the summed cut-off level (p = 0.0004). The extent to which the tumor was removed at operation also correlated with the 2 years survival rate. None of the patients with a staging laparotomy (n = 10) showed a 2-years survival. The difference in OS between patients with complete debulking and partial debulking was significant: OS 51% versus 23% (p = 0.027). Prognosis was not significantly correlated with histological type.

Compact, open and general purpose cell of variable effective pathlength: direct absorption measurement of SO(4)(2-) in water.

The use of an optothermal window (OW) was proposed for the direct (no need for sample preparation) spectroscopic, non-destructive measurement of SO(4)(2-) in water at 1078 cm(-1). The presently determined limit of detection (LOD) of 1 mmol/L is comparable to that provided by CO(2) laser photoacoustic spectroscopy, but about one order of magnitude superior to that obtainable by the ATR method.

The optothermal approach to a real time monitoring of glucose content during fermentation by brewers' yeast.

During production of both normal and low-alcohol beers, sugar is fermented to ethanol, carbon dioxide and several flavour products. Tight control of fermentation is necessary in order to keep production costs low, and to prevent formation of excessive ethanol in low-alcohol beer. Several types of control devices based on, e.g., determination of carbon dioxide, ethanol, and extract have been developed so far; the main disadvantage of these devices is their unsuitability for on-line applications. Here, the optothermal window was used in a laboratory experiment as a new sensor for real time monitoring fermentation of glucose by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the results were compared to those obtained by conventional techniques.

Primitive pharyngeal dyskinesia associated with upper airway collapse in an infant.

We report a case of total collapse of the upper pharyngeal airway in a slightly premature baby, resulting in a noisy breathing disorder. Primary immaturity of the central nervous system contributing to pharyngeal muscle hypotonia has been implicated in association with the increase in nasal pressure. The infant experienced complete resolution of symptoms a few weeks after the placement of a nasopharyngeal tube. This case report demonstrates the difficulty in diagnosis and management. The developmental spectrum and exploration are reviewed.