Underlying Asymmetry within Particle Size Segregation.

We experimentally study particle scale dynamics during segregation of a bidisperse mixture under oscillatory shear. Large and small particles show an underlying asymmetry that is dependent on the local particle concentration, with small particles segregating faster in regions of many large particles and large particles segregating slower in regions of many small particles. We quantify the asymmetry on bulk and particle scales, and capture it theoretically. This gives new physical insight into segregation and reveals a similarity with sedimentation, traffic flow, and particle diffusion.

[Operative fertiloscopy results. About 67 cases]. / Résultats de la fertiloscopie opératoire. À propos de 67 cas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of operative fertiloscopy on fertility. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study over a period of 3 years of 67 consecutive patients who received operative fertiloscopy and were followed over an 18 months period. RESULTS: The patients average age was 34 years (24-42) with a 3-year average infertility duration (1-15). We obtained 34 pregnancies (50.7%) (spontaneous or after intrauterine insemination) with 27 live births (38.8%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The operative fertiloscopy seems to give good results. It is reserved for minimal or moderate endometriotic lesions and adhesions. These results must be confirmed by largest prospective controlled studies.

Current practice in tubal surgery and adhesion management: a review.

The diminished role of tubal surgery in infertile women following widespread access to IVF is now being reviewed as more patients and surgeons today consider tubal surgery as an effective alternative to assisted reproduction treatment in certain circumstances. The limitations of and lack of patient acceptance of assisted reproduction treatment for ethical and moral reasons have contributed to this change as well as advances in surgical techniques and instrument technology, notably developments in endoscopic surgery. Strategies in tubal surgery are largely unchanged but the mini-invasive nature of the endoscopic approach has added value because of less tissue trauma, better visualization of the operative field and more rapid healing, which make surgery using today's techniques an integral part of the treatment strategy in infertile couples.

A giant planet imaged in the disk of the young star beta Pictoris.

Here, we show that the approximately 10-million-year-old beta Pictoris system hosts a massive giant planet, beta Pictoris b, located 8 to 15 astronomical units from the star. This result confirms that gas giant planets form rapidly within disks and validates the use of disk structures as fingerprints of embedded planets. Among the few planets already imaged, beta Pictoris b is the closest to its parent star. Its short period could allow for recording of the full orbit within 17 years.

[Preoperative radio-chemotherapy of stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer: results of a pilot study]. / Radio-chimiothérapie préopératoire des cancers bronchiques non à petites cellules au stade III inopérables d'emblée: résultats d'une étude pilote.

Prognosis of Stage III NSCLC remains dismal, particularly when mediastinal nodal involvement is present. In order to improve local control and to reduce early distant failures, we have treated Stage III patients with concurrent chemoradiotherapy since 1989. From September 1989 to February 1994, 140 patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Among these, 24 initially inoperable patients became operable after induction chemoradiotherapy. Characteristics: median age 51 years (35-70); squamous: 45.8%; non squamous: 41.7%; median tumor size: 8 cm; T3 (79.2%); T4a (12.5%); N2 (62.5%) and N3 (8.3%). Preoperative radiotherapy was delivered at a dose of 45 Gy (25 f) over 5 weeks to the mediastinum. Concurrent chemotherapy was continuous infusion cisplatin (n = 10) or cisplatin plus etoposide (n = 14). Five weeks later, radical surgery was carried out (lobectomy n = 14, pneumonectomy n = 10), followed by additional chemotherapy (n = 12) and/or radiotherapy (n = 6), according to histological response. Pathological CR rate was 29.2%. Grade III toxicities were digestive (12.5%), hematologic (8.3%) and infectious (4.2%). Three patients had severe non-lethal postoperative complications with one hemorrhage and two pneumothorax (12.5%). With a median follow-up of 41 months, overall survival at 2 and 5 years was 77.5%, and 72%, respectively. Actuarial local control at 5 years was 82.4%. Nine patients presented with distant metastases, including six with isolated brain metastases. This preoperative chemoradiotherapy regimen appears feasible without overwhelming toxicity and with an acceptable rate of postoperative complications. Despite a significant incidence of isolated brain metastases (25%), 5-year survival is highly encouraging since and appears substantially better than primary surgery.

[Giant tumoral hemangioma of the mediastinum. Apropos of a case]. / Hémangiome tumoral malformatif géant du médiastin. A propos d'une observation.

The originality of this case report of malformed tumoral hemangioma of the mediastinum apart from its rarity (105 cases reported in the literature), concerns the patient's age (76 years old), when these tumors are predominantly observed in children and babies. The huge tumor size (800 gr), authorized the designation of giant tumor. The posterior mediastinal localization, when the usual site is in the anterior mediastinum. As in the majority of cases reported in the literature, total excision was possible. The tumor always has a benign character in the case of pure hemangioma, therefore the results are generally satisfactory.

[Anesthesia with perfused methohexital-fentanyl combination]. / Anesthésie par association de méthohexital-fentanyl en perfusion.

A methohexitone-fentanyl association in perfusion has been studied in 53 patients. A description of the anaesthetic technique is given. Induction is quick and haemodynamic changes are moderate. Spontaneous ventilation is possible with the lesser dosage of fentanyl. A quick and rapidly complete awakening authorizes early extubation. Complications were few and minor ones. Two peroperative respiratory depressions followed overdosage.

[Surgical treatment of caustic esophagogastric stenosis in the chronic phase]. / Traitement chirurgical des sténoses Caustiques oeso-gastriques a la phase chronique.

The authors report the results of 26 oesophagoplasties carried out using the descending colon for oesophageal stenosis as a result of a caustic lesion. Superior: in 5 cases the anastomosis being made to the pharynx. Inferior: 8 associated gastric lesions being treated either by resection or by short circuit. The remaining oesophagus was removed in two cases. There were two postoperative deaths. In all the remaining patients a satisfactory functional result was obtained.

[Early complications after pleuro-pulmonary surgery. Study based on 217 operated patients]. / Les complications précoces apres chirurgie pleuro-pulmonaire. Etude portant sur 217 opérés.

In a study involving 217 patients who had undergone thoracotomy, the authors noted 85 complications in 77 patients with a mortality of 2.5 per cent. Respiratory complications were the most common but never ended in death. By contrast, cardiac complications are the most severe. The absence of mortality of respiratory origin is certainly the result of regourous pre-operative selection based upon overall and separate pulmonary function studies. The great rarity of pulmonary embolism is related to routine postoperative preventive heparin therapy.

[Respiratory signs of surgical complications after abdominal operations]. / Les manifestations respiratoires des complications chirurgicales après interventions abdominales

The authors present 29 cases of post-operative respiratory complications in abdominal surgery in subjects without any past history of respiratory disorders. They stress the diagnostic value of these cases of acute respiratory failure shown in a third of the cases of surgical complications.