Suboccipital injection with a mixture of rapid- and long-acting steroids in cluster headache: A double-blind placebo-controlled study

in Pain (2005), 118(1-2), 92-96

Oral steroids can interrupt bouts of cluster headache (CH) attacks, but recurrence is frequent and may lead to steroid-dependency. Suboccipital steroid injection may be an effective 'single shot ... [more ▼]

Oral steroids can interrupt bouts of cluster headache (CH) attacks, but recurrence is frequent and may lead to steroid-dependency. Suboccipital steroid injection may be an effective 'single shot' alternative, but no placebo-controlled trial is available. The aim of our study was to assess in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial the preventative effect on CH attacks of an ipsilateral steroid injection in the region of the greater occipital nerve. Sixteen episodic (ECH) and seven chronic (CCH) CH outpatients were included. ECH patients were in a new bout since no more than I week. After a one-week run-in period, patients were allocated by randomization to the placebo or verurn arms and received on the side of attacks a suboccipital injection of a mixture of long- and rapid-acting betamethasone (n=13; Verum-group) or physiological saline (n=10; Plac-group). Acute treatment was allowed at any time, additional preventative therapy if attacks persisted after I week. Three investigators performed the injections, while four others, blinded to group allocation, followed the patients. Follow-up visits were after I and 4 weeks, whereafter patients were followed routinely. Eleven Verum-group patients (3 CCH) (85%) became attack-free in the first week after the injection compared to none in the Plac-group (P=0.0001). Among them eight remained attack-free for 4 weeks (P=0.0026). Remission lasted between 4 and 26 months in five patients. A single suboccipital steroid injection completely suppresses attacks in more than 80% of CH patients. This effect is maintained for at least 4 weeks in the majority of them. (c) 2005 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Une Approche des Musiques Africaines-Américaines (gospel,blues,jazz) et leurs influences sur les musiques occidentales

Conference given outside the academic context (2005)

EXploration des processus inhibiteurs dans le vieillissement normal et la maladie d'Alzheimer

Conference (2005, November)

Campagne de mesure des odeurs sur le CET et la zone de compostage de Habay Estimation des nuisances olfactives

Report (2005)

The study is conducted in the frame of a programme of monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia. The "odour" part is assigned to ULg. The present report concerns more particularly the landfill and ... [more ▼]

The study is conducted in the frame of a programme of monitoring of all landfill sites in Wallonia. The "odour" part is assigned to ULg. The present report concerns more particularly the landfill and composting site of Habay. Besides the usual field inspection technique, the research group has used GC-MS to estimate the chemical composition of the atmosphere over the composting area. [less ▲]

Effect of nutritional status on oxidative stress in an ex vivo perfused rat liver

in Anesthesiology (2005), 103(5), 978-986

Background: Normothermic ischemia-reperfusion is a determinant in liver injury occurring during surgical procedures, ischemic state, and multiple organ failure. The preexisting nutritional status of the ... [more ▼]

Background: Normothermic ischemia-reperfusion is a determinant in liver injury occurring during surgical procedures, ischemic state, and multiple organ failure. The preexisting nutritional status of the liver might contribute to the extent of tissue injury and primary nonfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the role of starvation on hepatic ischemia-raperfusion injury in normal rat livers. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into two groups: one had free access to food, the other was fasted for 16 h. The portal vein was cannulated, and the liver was removed and perfused in a closed ex vivo system. Two modes of perfusion were applied in each series of rats, fed and fasting. In the ischemia-reperfusion mode, the experiment consisted of perfusion for 15 min, warm ischemia for 60 min, and reperfusion during 60 min. In the nonischemia mode, perfusion was maintained during the 135-min study period. Five rats were included in each experimental condition, yielding a total of 20 rats. Liver enzymes, potassium, glucose, lactate, free radicals, ie., dienes and trienes, and cytochrome c were analyzed in perfusate samples. The proportion of glycogen in hepatocytes was determined in tissue biopsies. Results: Transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, potassium, and free radical concentrations were systematically higher in fasting rats in both conditions, with and without ischemia. Cytochrome c was higher after reperfusion in the fasting rats. Glucose and lactate concentrations were greater in the fed group. The glycogen content decreased in both groups during the experiment but was markedly lower in the fasting rats. Conclusions: In fed rats, liver injury was moderate, whereas hepatocytes integrity was notably impaired both after continuous perfusion and warm ischemia in fasting animals. Reduced glycogen store in hepatocytes may explain reduced tolerance. [less ▲]

On the multiplicity of the non-thermal radio emitters 9 Sgr and HD 168112

in Massive Stars and High-Energy Emission in OB Associations (2005, November)

We discuss the first results of our ongoing optical spectroscopic monitoring campaign of the two O-type stars 9 Sgr and HD 168112. Both objects display a non-thermal radio emission and were considered as ... [more ▼]

We discuss the first results of our ongoing optical spectroscopic monitoring campaign of the two O-type stars 9 Sgr and HD 168112. Both objects display a non-thermal radio emission and were considered as single stars. Based on a large set of high-resolution spectra, we find that 9 Sgr is clearly an eccentric SB2 binary with an orbital period of several years. On the other hand, no evidence for radial velocity variations attributable to binary motion is found in our spectra of HD 168112. [less ▲]

Affective valence and the self-reference effect: influence of retrieval conditions

in British Journal of Psychology (2005), 96(Pt 4), 457-466

Positive trait information is typically better recalled than negative trait information when encoded in reference to the self, but not when encoded in reference to someone else or when processed for ... [more ▼]

Positive trait information is typically better recalled than negative trait information when encoded in reference to the self, but not when encoded in reference to someone else or when processed for general meaning. This study examined whether this influence of affective meaning is modulated by retrieval conditions. Participants encoded positive and negative trait adjectives in reference to themselves or to a celebrity. They were then presented with either a free-recall task (Experiment 1) or a recognition memory task (Experiment 2). Positive adjectives were better recalled than negative adjectives, but only when they were encoded in reference to the self. In contrast, encoding condition and valence did not interact in the recognition memory task. Taken together, these findings suggest that the difference in memory between positive and negative self-referent information is due, at least in part, to a control exerted on memory retrieval. [less ▲]

Les obligations juridiques de cohérence du droit ou comment le droit se protège contre lui-même

in Biquet, Christine; Deliège, Alain; Lecocq, Pascale (Eds.) et al Liber Amicorum Paul Delnoy (2005)

Belgian surveillance plans to assess changes in Salmonella prevalence in meat at different production stages

in Journal of Food Protection (2005), 68(11), 160-168

From 1997 to 1999, the prevalence of Salmonella was assessed at different stages through the pork, poultry, and beef meat production chains. Different dilutions of the initial sample suspension were ... [more ▼]

From 1997 to 1999, the prevalence of Salmonella was assessed at different stages through the pork, poultry, and beef meat production chains. Different dilutions of the initial sample suspension were analyzed to provide a semiquantitative evaluation of Salmonella contamination and to determine the most representative dilution necessary to detect a reduction in prevalence. An average of 300 samples for each type of meat were analyzed. According to Fisher's exact test, the dilution to be used to detect a reduction in prevalence was chosen based on an initial prevalence of 20 to 26%. Based on this introductory study, a new sampling plan representative of the nationwide Belgian meat production process was used from 2000 through to 2003. This study confirmed the consistently high rate and level of contamination of poultry meat: broiler and layer carcasses were the most contaminated samples followed by broiler fillets and poultry meat preparations. A constant and significant decrease in Salmonella prevalence was observed for pork carcasses, trimmings, and minced meat and for beef minced meat. Less than 3% of beef carcasses and trimming samples were positive for Salmonella. The Belgian plan, as utilized from 2000 to 2003, was suitable for monitoring of zoonoses because the sampling plan was representative of nationwide production processes, covered all periods of the year, and was executed by trained samplers and the analyses were carried out by recognized laboratories using an identical analytical method. [less ▲]

De "La Salle de bain" à "Fuir"

in Indications. La Revue des romans (2005), 62e série(5), 13-24

Description du parcours romanesque de Jean-Philippe Toussaint, centré sur son originalité et sur ses diverses évolutions stylistiques et narratologiques.