[A pharmacologic approach to treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease]. / Analyse pharmacologique du traitement des pneumopathies à Mycobacterium abscessus.

Mycobacterium abscessus is a fast-growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria complex causing pulmonary infections, comprising the subspecies abscessus, massiliense and bolletii. Differences are based predominantly on natural inducible macrolide resistance, active in most Mycobacterium abscessus spp abscessus species and in Mycobacterium abscessus spp bolletii but inactive in Mycobacterium abscessus spp massiliense. Therapy consists in long-term treatment, combining multiple antibiotics. Prognosis is poor, as only 40% of patients experience cure. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data on M. abscessus have recently been published, showing that therapy ineffectiveness might be explained by intrinsic bacterial resistance (macrolides…) and by the unfavorable pharmacokinetics of the recommended antibiotics. Other molecules and inhaled antibiotics are promising.

A new 3D center of mass control approach for FES-assisted standing: First experimental evaluation with a humanoid robot.

This paper proposes a new control framework to restore the coordination between upper (functional) and lower (paralyzed) limbs in the context of functional electrical stimulation in completely paraplegic individuals. A kinematic decoupling between the lower and upper limbs controls the 3D whole-body center of mass location and the relative foot positions by acting only on the lower-limb joints. The upper limbs are free to move under voluntary control, and are seen as a perturbation for the lower limbs. An experimental validation of this paradigm using a humanoid robot demonstrates the real-time applicability and robustness of the method. Different scenarios mimicking the motion of a healthy subject are investigated. The proposed method can maintain bipedal balance and track the desired center of mass trajectories under movement disturbances of the upper limbs with an error inferior to 0.01 m under any conditions.

[The spiritual needs at the end of life of patients suffering from lung cancer]. / Les besoins spirituels des personnes atteintes de cancer bronchique en fin de vie.

BACKGROUND: Theoretically this subject seems remote from the role of doctors or paramedical staff caring for these patients. The supporting treatments themselves, identified in the Cancer Plan, include symptomatic treatment, social and psychological support, physiotherapy but not clearly spiritual care. The advice is patchy and the definition of roles imprecise. VIEWPOINTS: One could envisage that spirituality is the awareness of, or the search for, the meaning of life and the relationship with others, and of transcendence. The spiritual needs of patients, based on the question of meaning, are not remote from the therapeutic process. The recognition and taking into account of the fundamental role of spiritual aspects in the decision making process is a measure of the liberty of the patient and of respect for his individuality. Spiritual needs are characteristic of the human condition and constitute the foundation of schemes of shared care, that is to say meaningful for both patients and carers.