[Cerebral and pulmonary nocardiosis to Nocardia abscessus in an immunocompetent Algerian patient]. / Nocardiose cérébrale et pulmonaire à Nocardia abscessus chez un patient algérien immunocompétent.

Nocardial brain abscess is often occurring in immunocompromised patients. It is uncommon in immunocompetent individuals. Here, the authors describe a case of cerebral and pulmonary nocardiosis mimicking a metastatic tumor in an apparently health 40-year-old Algerian male. The patient presented multiple brain abscess revealed by inaugural epileptic seizure. He was afebrile and presented with left hemiparesis. Staging imaging showed a nodular lung lesion in the apical segment of the right lower lobe. The patient underwent double craniotomy for resection of the lesion. Culture of the resected specimen isolated Nocardia abscessus. The patient was initially started on intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and intravenous amikacine. He was switched to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. He finished seven months of antibiotic therapy with a good clinical response. Imaging revealed reduction in the brain abscess and a complete resolution of the lung lesion. Cotrimoxazole was stopped after twelve months of therapy. After two years, the health status of our patient improves day after day. He is however regularly under medical supervision for control exams.

Forced oscillations dynamic tribometer with real-time insights of lubricated interfaces.

This paper presents an innovative forced oscillations dynamic tribometer, the CHRONOS tribometer, with a lubricated ball-on-flat contact configuration fitted out with an in situ optical visualization system and a triggered high-speed camera. The CHRONOS tribometer generates controlled oscillating kinematics by means of a shaker with a range of strokes from 5 µm to 2.5 mm and an oscillation frequency which can be adjusted from 5 Hz to 250 Hz. Displacement and velocity are measured using a vibrometer. The ball-on-flat mean contact pressure is set between 200 MPa and 600 MPa. During motion, the instantaneous normal and friction forces and the interfacial film thickness distribution (in the nanometer scale) are simultaneously measured. In addition to this instantaneous approach, a more macroscopic approach is developed in terms of moving averages of friction and velocity. Another parameter, the friction-velocity tilt angle, is also introduced. This last parameter may give information on the friction-velocity dependence. Eventually, the experiments performed on the CHRONOS device lead to the representation of synchronized temporal signals of displacement/velocity, friction, and lubricant central film thickness. This superimposition of key parameters reveals time effects introduced by the periodical fluid squeeze and flow in the contact.

X-ray computed tomography system for laboratory small-object imaging: Enhanced tomography solutions.

A portable X-ray tomography system has been installed and actually being tested at our medical imaging laboratory. This tomography system employs a combination of scintillator screen and CCD camera as image detector. The limit of spatial resolution of 290 µm of this imaging system is determined by the establishment of its modulation transfer function (MTF). In this work, we present attempts to address some issues such as limited resolution and low contrast through the development of affordable post-acquisition solutions based on the application of super-resolution method (projection onto convex sets, POCS) to create new projections set enabling the reconstruction of an improved 3D image in terms of contrast, resolution and noise. In addition to small-object examination, this tomography system is used for hands-on training activities involving students and scientists.

[Unverricht-Lündborg disease: clinical and electrophysiologic study of 19 Maghreb families]. / Maladie d'Unverricht-Lündborg: étude clinique et électrophysiologique de 19 familles maghrébines.

We describe clinical, electrophysiological and genetic features in 44 patients with Unverricht-Lündborg disease from 19 families living in North African countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco). The mean age of patients was 25.3 years; mean age was at onset 11.3 years. The disease began more frequently with seizures (91 per cent) or myoclonus (80 p. 100) than ataxia (16 p. 100). Subsequently myoclonus and generalized seizures were present in all patients, cerebellar signs were absent in four cases. EEG findings included normal background activity (90 p. 100), spontaneous fast generalized spikes (93 p. 100) and photosensitivity (70 p. 100). Antiepileptic polytherapy (clonazepam and/or phenobarbital and/or valporic acid) was used in 84 per cent of cases. Antiepileptic drugs were more effective in controlling epileptic seizures (less than one seizure/month in 60 p. 100) than myocloni which persisted daily in 64 p. 100 of cases. Mean duration of the disease was 13.5 years. One patient died of status epilepticus. Consanguinity was noted in 17 families (first degree in 15 families). Linkage to chromosome 21q 22.3 was confirmed in 11 families. We noted an inter and intrafamilial variability of clinical signs and disease course.

[Coxitis in ankylosing spondylo-arthritis. Results of treatment with total arthroplasty. Apropos of 162 cases]. / Les coxites de la spondylarthrite ankylosante (SPA). Résultats du traitement par arthroplastie totale. A propos de 162 cas.

Excellent results were seen when 100 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who had undergone total replacement arthroplasty of the hip were reviewed 5 years after operation. One hundred and sixty hips had been replaced; 92.5% were painfree, 78% had flexion of greater than 90 degrees and 80% walked well without a stick. Using the scale of Merle d'Aubigné and Postel, 86% of the results were classed as satisfactory. The Muller and Charnley prostheses were very reliable. The outcome in hips with marked degenerative or hypertrophic changes were better than in those which were ankylosed. Operation is best carried out early before the joints are grossly damaged.