Cecal distension on non-tumoral left colonic obstacle: Management strategy in two cases.

Diastatic damage of the caecum is only described in left colon neoplastic obstructions. However, diverticular sigmoid stenosis can likely cause cecal diastatic distention. In emergency, ileo-cecal resection removing the area of diastatic damage or externalizing the cecal perforation can be an interesting alternative to subtotal colectomy. The left colonic stenosis is treated later so the colon can be spared with better long-term functional outcome than after subtotal colectomy.

Stabilising lamellar stacks of lipid bilayers with soft confinement and steric effects.

Structure and interactions stabilising the lamellar stack of mixed lipid bilayers in their fluid state are investigated by means of small-angle X-ray scattering. The (electrically neutral) bilayers are composed of a mixtures of lecithin, a zwitterionic phospholipid, and Simulsol, a non-ionic cosurfactant with an ethoxylated polar head. The soft confinement of the bilayer hydrophilic components is varied by changing hydration and bilayer composition, as well as the length of the cosurfactant polar head. Structural transitions are observed at low hydration, in the stacking order for the longer cosurfactant, and in the mixed bilayers for the shorter one. At higher hydration, the swelling of the lamellar stacks occurs with a significant, but continuous evolution in the mixed bilayer structure. The bilayer structural changes are discussed in analogy with the so-called "brush-to-mushroom" transition induced by lateral confinement, relevant for long linear polymers grafted onto rigid surfaces, taking also into account the role of vertical confinement.

[Unilateral acute pulmonary edema and ischemic myocardial process: a case report]. / OEdème aigu pulmonaire unilatéral droit et processus ischémique myocardique. A propos d'un cas.

Unilateral acute pulmonary oedema (APO) is a rare radioclinical finding. It occurs secondary to multiple specific and rare pathological processes. Functional ischemic mitral regurgitation (FIMR) secondary to myocardial necrosis is one of the rare aetiologies involved in its pathogenesis. This concerns a 94-year-old male patient with a history of myocardial infarction who presented with a clinical picture of unilateral APO secondary to functional mitral regurgitation as a complication of myocardial necrosis. In addition to the clinical presentation and unilateral radiological findings, the diagnosis was based essentially on the electrocardiographic tracing, as well as changes in cardiac enzyme levels and transthoracic echocardiogram coupled with Doppler tissue imaging. This resulted after ruling out many differential diagnoses. Unilateral APO secondary to functional mitral regurgitation often presents diagnostic challenges and problems of initial management for the clinician. There are multiple aetiologies of acute unilateral pulmonary oedema, namely mechanical (re-expansion), lesional, vascular, bronchial obstructions, as well as iatrogenic causes, as is the case with some lung transplantations. As with all cases of APO, the treatment is based mainly on diuretics with high-flow oxygen therapy in association with an anticoagulant, which is usually effectively combined with a platelet aggregation inhibiting drug and sometimes with vasodilators and beta-blockers. Surgical treatment with valvuloplasty or valvular replacement appears to be the most effective means for preventing relapse.

[Paradoxical lymphadenopathy following treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. A rare condition with controversial management]. / Adénopathie paradoxale à la fin du traitement d'une tuberculose pulmonaire.

INTRODUCTION: The appearance of a peripheral lymph node tuberculosis in end of anti-tuberculosis treatment of a pulmonary tuberculosis is a rare phenomenon whose assumption of responsibility, particularly therapeutic, is not reproduced on the recommendations of WHO. CLINICAL CASE: It is about a case of a 36 years old patient who presented, in end anti-TB treatment for ulcéroinfiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis, a left axillary adenopathy of important size. The treatment consisted with a puncture aspiration with the fine needle as well as the prolongation of the duration of the anti-TB treatment from 6 to 9 months. The evolution was favourable on radio-clinical and bacteriological level. CONCLUSION: The puncture-aspiration of a paradoxical adenopathy in end of the anti-TB treatment as well as the prolongation of the duration of the treatment is effective and could constitute an alternative to the surgical excision.

A new method for the quantitative analysis of endodontic microleakage.

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the apical seal obtained with three commonly used root canal sealing cements: Sealapex, AH Plus or Topseal, and Sealite, using a new method based on the quantitative analysis of 125I-radiolabeled lysozyme penetration. One hundred thirteen teeth with straight single root canals were instrumented to master apical point #25/30. These were divided into three groups: (i) negative control (4 roots) covered with two layers of nail polish, (ii) test group (105 roots) obturated by laterally condensed guttapercha with the three cements; and (iii) positive control (4 roots) obturated without cement. The groups were then immersed in 125I lysozyme solution for a period of 1, 7, 14, or 28 days. After removal, six sections of 0.8 mm length each were made of each root with a fine diamond wire. Each section was analyzed for activity by a gamma counter, corrected for decay, and used to quantify protein penetration. Leakage was high in the positive control and almost negligible in the negative control. AH Plus (Topseal) and Sealapex showed similar leakage behavior over time, with AH Plus (Topseal) performing better. Sealite showed acceptable leakage up until day 14, after which a large increase occurred, presumably due to three-dimensional instability.

Kinetics of the homogeneous exchange of alpha-lactalbumin adsorbed on titanium oxide surface.

The homogeneous exchange process whereby alpha-lactalbumine molecules adsorbed on hydrophilic titanium oxide particles are replaced by alpha-lactalbumine molecules in solution has been investigated by means of a 125I radio-labeling technique, alpha-lactalbumine is a compact and highly negatively charged protein, making this study complementary to previous work devoted to the general understanding of the exchange mechanisms of adsorbed proteins on solid surfaces. The isotherm of alpha-lactalbumine exhibits bimodal adsorption shape, and the exchange process whereby adsorbed proteins are replaced by new incoming ones from the bulk solution has been studied at both the upper and the lower plateau of the isotherm. In the upper plateau the exchange process was found to be of first order with respect to the bulk molecules, and the release rate constant was equal to 0.914 L. mol-1.s-1. This behavior is identical to what has been observed with other proteinic systems. In the lower plateau domain, in contrast, the protein release process is independent of the concentration of proteins in the bulk, but the release rates are higher than the pure desorption rates. This constitutes, to our knowledge, a behavior that never before has been observed and that remains to be explained.