Activity of 9-acridanone-hydrazone drugs detected at the pre-postural phase, in the experimental schistosomiasis mansoni

The compound Ro-15.5458/000, derivative in the class of 9-acridanone-hydrazones, was found to be effective against Schistosoma mansoni in mice, killing almost all the skin schistosomules (24 hr after infection), when administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg. In experiments carried out with Cebus monkeys, the drug was shown to be fully effective at 25 mg/kg, 7 days after infection. These data, associated with the good results obtained earlier at the post-postural phase of schistosomiasis, allow the inference that this promising compound may be important in the set of antischistosomal drugs, depending on further toxicological and clinical tests.

Nonvitamin-k-antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess whether the combined analysis of all phase III trials of nonvitamin-K-antagonist (non-VKA) oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack shows a significant difference in efficacy or safety compared with warfarin. METHODS: We searched PubMed until May 31, 2012, for randomized clinical trials using the following search items: atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation, warfarin, and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack. Studies had to be phase III trials in atrial fibrillation patients comparing warfarin with a non-VKA currently on the market or with the intention to be brought to the market in North America or Europe. Analysis was performed on intention-to-treat basis. A fixed-effects model was used as more appropriate than a random-effects model when combining a small number of studies. RESULTS: Among 47 potentially eligible articles, 3 were included in the meta-analysis. In 14 527 patients, non-VKAs were associated with a significant reduction of stroke/systemic embolism (odds ratios, 0.85 [95% CI, 074-0.99]; relative risk reduction, 14%; absolute risk reduction, 0.7%; number needed to treat, 134 over 1.8-2.0 years) compared with warfarin. Non-VKAs were also associated with a significant reduction of major bleeding compared with warfarin (odds ratios, 0.86 [95% CI, 075-0.99]; relative risk reduction, 13%; absolute risk reduction, 0.8%; number needed to treat, 125), mainly driven by the significant reduction of hemorrhagic stroke (odds ratios, 0.44 [95% CI, 032-0.62]; relative risk reduction, 57.9%; absolute risk reduction, 0.7%; number needed to treat, 139). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the significant limitations of combining the results of disparate trials of different agents, non-VKAs seem to be associated with a significant reduction in rates of stroke or systemic embolism, hemorrhagic stroke, and major bleeding when compared with warfarin in patients with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack.

L'image de la Suisse à l'étranger

L'image qu'un pays a dans le monde est importante à plusieurs titres. Elle peut soutenir la commercialisation de biens et de services exportés, elle revêt un caractère tout particulier dans le cadre des promotions touristique et économique et elle peut aussi être de nature à contribuer aux relations qu'un pays entretient avec d'autres pays aux niveaux politique, économique ou culturel. L'image de la Suisse a fait l'objet d'études dans de nombreux pays, dont les Etats-Unis, l'Allemagne et la Chine, auprès d'échantillons représentatifs de la population ainsi qu'auprès de groupes de leaders d'opinion et cet ouvrage présente de manière synthétique les principaux résultats de ces études. Après une description de l'image globale de la Suisse auprès des personnes interrogées et une analyse des associations faites à l'évocation de la Suisse, une partie importante est consacrée aux dimensions qui caractérisent l'image du pays en différenciant notamment entre les dimensions liées à la Suisse en tant qu'espace socioculturel et les dimensions liées aux aspects économiques. Pour terminer, un dernier chapitre analyse l'impact de faits ayant marqué l'actualité helvétique, comme le grounding de Swissair, sur l'image de la Suisse dans les pays étudiés.

Using a NPWE model observer to assess suitable image quality for a digital mammography quality assurance programme.

A method of objectively determining imaging performance for a mammography quality assurance programme for digital systems was developed. The method is based on the assessment of the visibility of a spherical microcalcification of 0.2 mm using a quasi-ideal observer model. It requires the assessment of the spatial resolution (modulation transfer function) and the noise power spectra of the systems. The contrast is measured using a 0.2-mm thick Al sheet and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) blocks. The minimal image quality was defined as that giving a target contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 5.4. Several evaluations of this objective method for evaluating image quality in mammography quality assurance programmes have been considered on computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR) mammography systems. The measurement gives a threshold CNR necessary to reach the minimum standard image quality required with regards to the visibility of a 0.2-mm microcalcification. This method may replace the CDMAM image evaluation and simplify the threshold contrast visibility test used in mammography quality.

Inversion prepared coronary MR angiography: direct visualization of coronary blood flow.

PURPOSE: Visualization of coronary blood flow by means of a slice-selective inversion pre-pulse in concert with bright-blood coronary MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the right coronary artery (RCA) was performed in eight healthy adult subjects on a 1.5 Tesla MR system (Gyroscan ACS-NT, Philips Medical Systems, Best, NL) using a free-breathing navigator-gated and cardiac-triggered 3D steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequence with radial k-space sampling. Imaging was performed with and without a slice-selective inversion pre-pulse, which was positioned along the main axis of the coronary artery but perpendicular to the imaging volume. Objective image quality parameters such as SNR, CNR, maximal visible vessel length, and vessel border definition were analyzed. RESULTS: In contrast to conventional bright-blood 3D coronary MRA, the selective inversion pre-pulse provided a direct measure of coronary blood flow. In addition, CNR between the RCA and right ventricular blood pool was increased and the vessels had a tendency towards better delineation. Blood SNR and CNR between right coronary blood and epicardial fat were comparable in both sequences. CONCLUSION: The combination of a free-breathing navigator-gated and cardiac-triggered 3D SSFP sequence with a slice-selective inversion pre-pulse allows for direct and directional visualization of coronary blood flow with the additional benefit of improved contrast between coronary and right ventricular blood pool.

Structured output SVM for remote sensing image classification

In the recent years, kernel methods have revealed very powerful tools in many application domains in general and in remote sensing image classification in particular. The special characteristics of remote sensing images (high dimension, few labeled samples and different noise sources) are efficiently dealt with kernel machines. In this paper, we propose the use of structured output learning to improve remote sensing image classification based on kernels. Structured output learning is concerned with the design of machine learning algorithms that not only implement input-output mapping, but also take into account the relations between output labels, thus generalizing unstructured kernel methods. We analyze the framework and introduce it to the remote sensing community. Output similarity is here encoded into SVM classifiers by modifying the model loss function and the kernel function either independently or jointly. Experiments on a very high resolution (VHR) image classification problem shows promising results and opens a wide field of research with structured output kernel methods.

Inexperienced sonographers can successfully visualize and assess a three-dimensional image of the fetal face using a standardized ultrasound protocol

Introduction: A standardized three-dimensional ultrasonographic (3DUS) protocol is described that allows fetal face reconstruction. Ability to identify cleft lip with 3DUS using this protocol was assessed by operators with minimal 3DUS experience. Material and Methods: 260 stored volumes of fetal face were analyzed using a standardized protocol by operators with different levels of competence in 3DUS. The outcomes studied were: (1) the performance of post-processing 3D face volumes for the detection of facial clefts; (2) the ability of a resident with minimal 3DUS experience to reconstruct the acquired facial volumes, and (3) the time needed to reconstruct each plane to allow proper diagnosis of a cleft. Results: The three orthogonal planes of the fetal face (axial, sagittal and coronal) were adequately reconstructed with similar performance when acquired by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist or by residents with minimal experience (72 vs. 76%, p = 0.629). The learning curve for manipulation of 3DUS volumes of the fetal face corresponds to 30 cases and is independent of the operator's level of experience. Discussion: The learning curve for the standardized protocol we describe is short, even for inexperienced sonographers. This technique might decrease the length of anatomy ultrasounds and improve the ability to visualize fetal face anomalies.

Entrevistant infants pre-escolars víctimes d’abús sexual i/o maltractament familiar : Eficàcia dels models d’entrevista forense

Entrevistant infants pre-escolars víctimes d’abús sexual i/o maltractament familiar: eficàcia dels models d’entrevista forense Entrevistar infants en edat preescolar que han viscut una situació traumàtica és una tasca complexa que dins l’avaluació psicològica forense necessita d’un protocol perfectament delimitat, clar i temporalitzat. Per això, s’han seleccionat 3 protocols d’entrevista: el Protocol de Menors (PM) de Bull i Birch, el model del National Institute for Children Development (NICHD) de Michel Lamb, a partir del qual es va desenvolupar l’EASI (Evaluación del Abuso Sexual Infantojuvenil) i l’Entrevista Cognitiva (EC) de Fisher i Geiselman. La hipòtesi de partida vol comprovar si els anteriors models permeten obtenir volums informatius diferents en infants preescolars. Conseqüentment, els objectius han estat determinar quin dels models d’entrevista permet obtenir un volum informatiu amb més precisions i menys errors, dissenyar un model d’entrevista propi i consensuar aquest model. En el treball s’afegeixen esquemes pràctics que facilitin l’obertura, desenvolupament i tancament de l’entrevista forense. La metodologia ha reproduït el binomi infant - esdeveniment traumàtic, mitjançant la visualització i l’explicació d’un fet emocionalment significatiu amb facilitat per identificar-se: l’accident en bicicleta d’un infant que cau, es fa mal, sagna i el seu pare el cura. A partir d’aquí, hem entrevistat 135 infants de P3, P4 i P5, mitjançant els 3 models d’entrevista referits, enfrontant-los a una demanda específica: recordar i narrar aquest esdeveniment. S’ha conclòs que el nivell de record correcte, quan s’utilitza un model d’entrevista adequat amb els infants en edat preescolar, oscil•la entre el 70-90%, fet que permet defensar la confiança en els records dels infants. Es constata que el percentatge d’emissions incorrectes dels infants en edat preescolar és mínim, al voltant d’un 5-6%. L’estudi remarca la necessitat d’establir perfectament les regles de l’entrevista i, per últim, en destaca la ineficàcia de les tècniques de memòria de l’entrevista cognitiva en els infants de P3 i P4. En els de P5 es comencen a veure beneficis gràcies a la tècnica de la reinstauració contextual (RC), estant les altres tècniques fora de la comprensió i utilització dels infants d’aquestes edats. Interviewing preschoolers victims of sexual abuse and/or domestic abuse: Effectiveness of forensic interviews models 135 preschool children were interviewed with 3 different interview models in order to remember a significant emotional event. Authors conclude that the correct recall of children ranging from 70-90% and the percentage of error messages is 5-6%. It is necessary to fully establish the rules of the interview. The present research highlights the effectiveness of the cognitive interview techniques in children from P3 and P4. Entrevistando niños preescolares víctimas de abuso sexual y/o maltrato familiar: eficacia de los modelos de entrevista forense Se han entrevistado 135 niños preescolares con 3 modelos de entrevista diferentes para recordar un hecho emocionalmente significativo. Se concluye que el recuerdo correcto de los niños oscila entre el 70-90% y el porcentaje de errores de mensajes es del 5-6%. El estudio remarca la necesidad de establecer perfectamente las reglas de la entrevista y se destaca la ineficacia de las técnicas de la entrevista cognitiva en los niños de P3 y P4.

Histoarchitecture of schistosomal granuloma development and involution: morphogenetic and biomechanical approaches

The authors present morphogenetic and biomechanical approaches on the concept of the Schistosoma mansoni granulomas, considering them as organoid structures that depend on cellular adhesion and sorting, forming rearrangement into hierarchical concentric layers, creating tension-dependent structures, aiming to acquire round form, since this is the minimal energy form, in which opposing forces pull in equally from all directions and are in balance. From the morphogenetic point of view, the granulomas function as little organs, presenting maturative and involutional stages in their development with final disappearance (pre-granulomatous stages, subdivided in: weakly and/or initial reactive and exudative; granulomatous stages: exudative-productive, productive and involutional). A model for the development of granulomas was suggested, according to the following stages: encapsulating, focal histolysis, fiber production, orientation and compacting and involution and desintegration. The authors concluded that schistosomal granuloma is not a tangled web of individual cells and fibers, but an organized structure composed by host and parasite components, which is not formed to attack the miracidia, but functions as an hybrid interface between two different phylogenetic beings.

Le discours comme image : énonciation et récit "mimétique" dans le "Timée-Critias" de Platon

Problématique: Pourquoi la mise en scène complexe du Timée-Critias avec ses contextes spatio-temporels emboîtés et ses narrations enchâssées? Quelle est la fonction (pragmatique et argumentative) du discours cosmogonique et anthropogonique de Timée intercalé entre le résumé du récit de l'Atlantide dans le prologue du Timée et la narration même de ce récit dans le Critias! Quel est le rapport entre les discours des deux protagonistes et celui de Socrate sur la cité idéale dans la République? Voilà les principales questions auxquelles cette thèse essaie de répondre. Grâce à une approche discursive et sémio-narrative, elle cherche à montrer la fonction pragmatique et la cohérence narrative et sémantique du double dialogue tout en tenant compte des visions du monde divergentes et même contradictoires des deux protagonistes. Elle essaie de comprendre comment les deux, l'un d'origine italique, l'autre Athénien, dans un contexte énonciatif donné et sur la base de leurs conceptions culturelles et «scientifiques» - sur l'homme et sur le monde - et de leurs idées «philosophiques» - sur l'être, le devenir et la connaissance - produisent des discours de signification différente mais traitant tous deux de la genèse, que ce soit celle du monde, de l'homme et des cités. Elle propose en outre de lire le Timée-Critias à la fois comme une continuation et une réécriture de la République: non seulement les trois dialogues ont le même sujet (la meilleure cité), mais ils se caractérisent par des parallèles dans la situation dramatique et énonciative et dans la manière dont se développe la narration. Plan: Les deux premiers chapitres examinent comment les performances discursives de Timée et de Critias se mettent en place dans le prologue, en prêtant une attention particulière aux aspects dramatiques et énonciatifs, mais aussi poétiques et narratifs (énonciateurs/narrateurs et leurs destinataires, fonction et genre des discours résumés et annoncés). Les troisième et quatrième chapitres, consacrés respectivement au long discours de Timée et à celui de Critias dans le dialogue homonyme, comparent d'abord les deux discours aux Hymnes homériques, à la Théogonie d'Hésiode et à la poésie généalogique afin de mieux saisir la fonction pragmatique et la composition de l'ensemble du Timée-Critias-, puis, à partir des principes ontologiques et épistémologiques explicités dans les proèmes, ils se proposent de dégager, en suivant de près la narration, les conceptions cosmologiques, anthropologiques et épistémologiques des deux protagonistes et de voir comment elles déterminent la production et l'énonciation de leurs discours. Enfin, le dernier chapitre reprend certains éléments essentiels étudiés précédemment en élargissant la perspective à la République et à son rapport intertextuel avec le Timée- Critias: il met en regard les contextes énonciatifs et dramatiques et la problématique des deux oeuvres (le rôle des personnages, la question de la réalisation de la meilleure cité), le discours de Timée et les livres six et sept (la khóra et Yagathón, le statut du discours vraisemblable et l'analogie de la ligne), ainsi que le Critias et les livres huit et dix (la dégénérescence de l'Atlantide et de la meilleure cité, la poésie «mimétique» de Critias et celle des poètes critiquée par Socrate).

Making Chronic Conditions Count: 2. Coronary Heart Disease (Angina and Heart Attack)

Chronic conditions are responsible for a significant proportion of early deaths. They reduce quality of life in many of the adults living with them, represent substantial financial costs to patients and the health and social care system, and cause a significant loss of productivity to the economy. This report contains estimates and forecasts of the population prevalence of coronary heart disease (angina and heart attack), and it shows how it varies across the island and what change is expected between 2007, 2015 and 2020.