Histological Changes in Pancreatic Islets of Animals with Experimental Diabetes Caused by Xanthurenic Acid under Condition of Suppression of Its Endogenous Synthesis.

Long-term administration of pyridoxine to rats kept on a diabetogenic diet stimulating endogenous synthesis of xanthurenic acid resulted in minimal glycemia, less pronounced decrease in insulin content in ß-cells, and more intensive excretion of xanthurenic acid with urine. Histological changes were observed in 23% pancreatic islets, whereas in rats not treated with pyridoxine, destruction and necrosis of 40-45% ß-cells were found in 38% of studied islets.

[Experience feedback committees (CREX) in French radiotherapy departments in 2019]. / Comités de retour d'expérience (CREX) dans les centres de radiothérapie français en 2019.

Ten years after the beginning of CREX in radiotherapy departments we wanted to know about users' feeling. We sent a survey to 168 centers in the whole country and a hundred of them answer. The time, top management's involvement and professionals' training seem to be the key success factors. Systemic analysis methods and mainly the Orion© one are not identified as an issue. The main challenge for the next years will be the effectiveness check of actions.

Probing particle structure in waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives with atomic force microscopy.

There is a need to know the nanostructure of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) films obtained from waterborne polymer colloids so that it can be correlated with properties. Intermittent-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) of an acrylic waterborne PSA film identifies two components, which can be attributed to the polymer and the solids in the serum (mainly surfactant). It is found that when the average AFM tapping force, F(av), is relatively low, the polymer particles appear to be concave. But when F(av) is higher, the particles appear to have a convex shape. This observation is explained by a height artefact caused by differences in the indentation depths into the two components that vary with the tapping amplitude and F(av). To achieve the maximum contrast between the polymer and serum components, F(av) should be set such that the indentation depths are as different as possible. Unlike what is found for the height images, the phase contrast images of the PSA do not show a reversal in contrast over the range of tapping conditions applied. The phase images are thus reliable in distinguishing the two components of the PSA according to their viscoelastic properties. At the surface of films dried at room temperature, the serum component is found in localized regions within permanent depression into the film.

[Abscess of the atrium: a complication of central venous catheters]. / L'abcès de l'oreillette: une complication des cathéters veineux centraux.

A 27-year-old female patient was admitted for parenteral feeding and treatment of an acute episode of her steroid dependent Crohn's disease. An intravenous catheter was inserted, the tip being located in the right atrium. This central line was accidentally removed ten days later and replaced with another one also ending in the right atrium. The patient's condition improved over a four-week period. Thereafter, she suddenly became confused and complained of abdominal pain with contracture. She displayed renal failure, coagulation disorders, and decreased blood cell counts. This was followed by a septic shock requiring mechanical ventilation and adrenaline. Laparotomy failed to reveal a cause for the patient's condition. She improved and was extubated four days later. From then on, she had fever (39 degrees C) again. Her catheter was replaced, the tip of this third one being inside the superior vena cava. Staphylococcus epidermidis was obtained from the catheter tip, as well as from four consecutive blood cultures. Despite administration of three different antibiotics, the high fever persisted (40 degrees C). Finally, the occurrence of a systolic murmur led to the discovery, with cardiac ultrasonography, of a mobile right atrial abscess, which engaged into the tricuspid valve at every contraction. Surgery to remove this mass was rapidly carried out. The bacterium was the same as that which had been isolated from the catheter. The patient improved and was able to return home a fortnight later. The diagnosis and prevention of this complication is discussed. The tip of central venous catheter should not be kept inside the atrium.