Quantum Signature of Analog Hawking Radiation in Momentum Space.

We consider a sonic analog of a black hole realized in the one-dimensional flow of a Bose-Einstein condensate. Our theoretical analysis demonstrates that one- and two-body momentum distributions accessible by present-day experimental techniques provide clear direct evidence (i) of the occurrence of a sonic horizon, (ii) of the associated acoustic Hawking radiation, and (iii) of the quantum nature of the Hawking process. The signature of the quantum behavior persists even at temperatures larger than the chemical potential.

[Polynesian adaptation of the Mini-Mental State Examination]. / Adaptation polynésienne du Mini-Mental State Examination.

This study aimed to develop and validate a Polynesian version of the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination). For this study a sample (n=112) of healthy people were evaluated with the French version of the consensual version of the MMSE, to target and modify some inadequate items for French Polynesia. Subsequently, a second sample (n=112) with the same characteristics (age, educational level) as well as 46 healthy people aged 60 years and more were evaluated with the adaptive version of the MMSE (P-MMSE). This version was then applied to 17 participants with Alzheimer disease. The control subjects were selected according to their age and educational level. The variables gender and evaluation sites were checked. An analysis of the results showed a significant dissociation between the two versions as well as a meaningful effect on global performance of the variables age (r=-0.45) and educational level (r=-0.25). Cut-off scores taking into consideration these variables were defined. The sensitivity and specificity values of the new cut-off scores were much greater than 0.5. Various global cut-off scores were also analyzed. A general cut-off score (≤23) was defined and yielded 82 % sensitivity and 75 % specificity in detecting Alzheimer disease.

[Transient global amnesia: A descriptive study of 12 Polynesian patients]. / Ictus amnésique: étude descriptive de 12 patients polynésiens.

INTRODUCTION: According to the criteria of Hodges and Warlow, transient global amnesia is defined by sudden onset of isolated anterograde amnesia of spontaneous resolution within one to twenty-four hours. Its pathophysiological mechanisms are still uncertain. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we have analyzed epidemiological, clinical and MRI data from twelve patients admitted to the only neurological department of French Polynesia for transient global amnesia corresponding to the criteria of Hodges and Warlow between January 2010 and December 2013. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 61.5 (53-72), the sex ratio was 1. Ten patients had one or more cardiovascular risk factors, 3 had migraine headaches and 3 had anxiodepressive disorders. Among triggers found, the occurrence during the rest was noted in one case. Retrograde amnesia was observed in 42% of cases, repetitive questioning in 75% of cases, anxious bewilderment in 67% of cases and disorientation in 33% of cases. The median episode duration was 9 hours and the duration of hospitalization was 3 days. Three patients had a recurrence. MRI was abnormal in all patients and showed diffusion-weighted hyperintensities in right (n=8), left (n=3) and bilateral (n=1) hippocampi. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological, clinical and MRI data from our cohort are similar to those from the literature except for the highest prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the most frequent right hippocampus involvement. Transient global amnesia occurring exceptionally while sleeping was also observed in one of our patients.

Zika virus infection complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome--case report, French Polynesia, December 2013.

Zika fever, considered as an emerging disease of arboviral origin, because of its expanding geographic area, is known as a benign infection usually presenting as an influenza-like illness with cutaneous rash. So far, Zika virus infection has never led to hospitalisation. We describe the first case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurring immediately after a Zika virus infection, during the current Zika and type 1 and 3 dengue fever co-epidemics in French Polynesia.

[Guillain-Barré syndrome following type 4 dengue in Polynesia]. / Syndrome de Guillain-Barré compliquant une dengue de type 4 en polynésie.

Dengue fever is the most frequent arbrovirus infection in the world. It is endemic in French Polynesia where epidemic outbreaks sometimes occur. The most common clinical presentation is that of a flu-like illness but hemorrhagic dengue fever can be observed in severe cases. Association of dengue fever with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported in a few cases. The relationship between these two pathologies is unclear but autoimmune mechanisms are probably involved.

Reversible cerebral arteriopathy associated with the administration of ergot derivatives.

Three cases of intracranial arteriopathy associated with the administration of ergot derivatives are reported. In the first case, excessive doses of dihydroergotamine and of ergotamine tartrate seemed to be the cause, but simultaneous treatment with an antibiotic and the existence of a cytomegalovirus infection could have favoured the arteriopathic process. The second patient also received excessive doses of these two drugs, but in addition she was taking oestrogen and progesteron containing contraceptives. In the third case, an intravenous injection of methylergometrine in a dose of 0.2 mg seemed to have initiated the arteriopathy. Arteriograms were comparable in all three cases, with segmental stenosis of several cerebral arteries, whereas internal carotid and vertebral arteries remained normal. In the first case a control cerebral arteriography was normal one month later. These findings suggest that widespread cerebral arteriopathy can appear in subjects who chronically abuse ergotamine tartrate.