Experimental co-infections of calves with Bluetongue virus serotypes 1 and 8

in Veterinary Microbiology (2013)

Dictionnaire toponymique de la Wallonie liégeoise. A.

Book published by CRTD (2013)

L'Hypotension orthostatique: 1ere partie: definition, symptomatologie, evaluation et physiopathologie.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2013), 68(2), 65-73

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is defined by a drop in arterial blood pressure (BP) of at least 20 mmHg for systolic BP and 10 mmHg for diastolic BP after standing. Symptoms are generally quite typical, but ... [more ▼]

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is defined by a drop in arterial blood pressure (BP) of at least 20 mmHg for systolic BP and 10 mmHg for diastolic BP after standing. Symptoms are generally quite typical, but may also be rather vague. Diagnosis may be easily made by the physician in his/ her office, and confirmed, if necessary, by more sophisticated measurements. Pathophysiology is generally rather complex, but mostly involves a defect in the autonomic nervous system, in its sympathetic component. Failure of peripheral vasoconstriction seems to play a more important role than the defect in reflex tachycardia. Causes of OH are multiples. OH may occur in healthy subjects, when exposed to exceptional circumstances, but is more generally associated with various diseases, either neurological disorders or pathologies characterized by hypovolemia. Medications can also aggravate the risk of OH, among which some antihypertensive or psychotropic agents. Elderly people, especially frailty subjects, are exposed to a high risk of OH, whose origin is often multifactorial, and this complication may have serious medical consequences. [less ▲]

Efficacy and safety of Jentadueto(R) (linagliptin plus metformin).

in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety (2013), 12(2), 275-89

INTRODUCTION: Metformin is the first-choice drug in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, most patients require a combined therapy to reach and/or maintain targets of glucose control. Dipeptidyl ... [more ▼]

INTRODUCTION: Metformin is the first-choice drug in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, most patients require a combined therapy to reach and/or maintain targets of glucose control. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors offer new options for combined therapy with metformin. Linagliptin shares a similar pharmacodynamic (PD) profile with other gliptins, but has a unique pharmacokinetic (PK) profile characterized by negligible renal excretion. AREAS COVERED: An extensive literature search was performed to analyze the potential PK/PD interactions between linagliptin and metformin. They are not prone to PK drug-drug interactions. The two compounds may be administered together, either separately or using a fixed-dose combination (FDC) as shown by bioequivalence studies. The addition of linagliptin in patients not well controlled with metformin alone has proven its efficacy in improving glucose levels with a good safety profile. Initial co-administration of linagliptin plus metformin improves glucose control more potently than either compound separately, without hypoglycemia, weight gain or increased metformin-related gastrointestinal side effects. EXPERT OPINION: The linagliptin plus metformin combination may offer some advantages over the classical sulfonylurea-metformin combination. Even if linagliptin is safe in patients with renal impairment, the use of metformin (and thus of the linagliptin plus metformin FDC) is still controversial in this population. [less ▲]

Role limite des medicaments hypoglycemiants oraux dans le diabete de type 1.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2013), 68(1), 16-21

Management of type 1 diabetes essentially relies upon intensive insulin therapy adjusted according to careful home blood glucose monitoring. The potential role of oral antidiabetic agents is controversial ... [more ▼]

Management of type 1 diabetes essentially relies upon intensive insulin therapy adjusted according to careful home blood glucose monitoring. The potential role of oral antidiabetic agents is controversial and what so ever is limited in type 1 diabetes. Nevertheless, metformin may still be useful in the presence of obesity and/or insulin resistance while acarbose could reduce the amplitude of glycaemic fluetuations, namely postprandial hyperglycaemia and late postmeal glycaemic nadir. Both drugs may also minimize weight gain that results from intensive insulin therapy. Finally, inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (glitpins), by inhibiting glucagon secretion, and inhibitors of renal SGLT2 cotransporters, thus promoting glucosuria independently of insulin, might also be beneficial in type 1 diabetes, although specific studies are still ongoing to verify this hypothesis. [less ▲]

Metformin revisited: A critical review of the benefit-risk balance in at-risk patients with type 2 diabetes.

in Diabètes & Métabolism (2013)

Metformin is unanimously considered a first-line glucose-lowering agent. Theoretically, however, it cannot be prescribed in a large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes because of numerous ... [more ▼]

Metformin is unanimously considered a first-line glucose-lowering agent. Theoretically, however, it cannot be prescribed in a large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes because of numerous contraindications that could lead to an increased risk of lactic acidosis. Various observational data from real-life have shown that many diabetic patients considered to be at risk still receive metformin and often without appropriate dose adjustment, yet apparently with no harm done and particularly no increased risk of lactic acidosis. More interestingly, recent data have suggested that type 2 diabetes patients considered at risk because of the presence of traditional contraindications may still derive benefit from metformin therapy with reductions in morbidity and mortality compared with other glucose-lowering agents, especially sulphonylureas. The present review analyzes the benefit-risk balance of metformin therapy in special populations, namely, patients with stable coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndrome or myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, renal impairment or chronic kidney disease, hepatic dysfunction and chronic respiratory insufficiency, all conditions that could in theory increase the risk of lactic acidosis. Special attention is also paid to elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, a population that is growing rapidly, as older patients can accumulate several comorbidities classically considered contraindications to the use of metformin. A review of the recent scientific literature suggests that reassessment of the contraindications of metformin is now urgently needed to prevent physicians from prescribing the most popular glucose-lowering therapy in everyday clinical practice outside of the official recommendations. [less ▲]

Preliminary data on Viséan (Carboniferous) corals and brachiopods from the strata between the Djebel Begaa and the Gara et Itima (Eastern Tafilalt, Morocco)

in Document de l'Institut Scientifique, rabat (2013), 27

Etude rétrospective de 438 salariés diabétiques dans un service interentreprises luxembourgeois de santé au travail - Enquête sur la relation entre la maladie diabétique et la survenue d'une décision d'inaptitude, d'un arrêt maladie prolongé ou d'un accident de travail.

in Archives des Maladies Professionnelles et de l'Environnement (2013), In press

A retrospective study was carried out from October 2004 until September 2006 in a Luxembourger occupational health service. The purposes of the medical checks performed during this period of time were ... [more ▼]

A retrospective study was carried out from October 2004 until September 2006 in a Luxembourger occupational health service. The purposes of the medical checks performed during this period of time were analysed as well as the related decision of occupational health practitioners. A total of 28244 persons attended the medical checks thereof 438 had diabetes (diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2). The risk of being declared unfit for a job was compared in workers populations with and without diabetes. The probabilities to consult an occupational practitioner after a long-time sick leave (more than 6 weeks long) or after an accident at work were also compared in both workers populations. The Woolf’s method was used to adjust all odds ratios for age and sex. The proportions of persons with diabetes appear similar to those found by age in the general population, however the risk of being declared unfit for a job was significantly higher for persons with diabetic than for non-diabetic persons (OR=3.14 ; 95% CI [2.30 - 4.28]). In 84% cases, diabetes wasn’t the only cause of unfitness (comorbidities, vascular complications…). Diabetes represented a higher risk of a long time sick leave (OR=1.99 ; 95% CI [1.44 - 2.77]), but it didn’t lead to an significant risk of accident at work (OR=1.92 ; 95% CI [0.94 - 2.26]). Our results suggest that several employees with diabetes seemed to be restricted from certain jobs or couldn’t maintain their jobs. Most often, the occupational practitioners decisions were not solely justified by the diabetes but by the coexistence of complications or comorbidities. This last argument, associated with an increased risk to be on sick leave for a long period, stresses the importance of the preventive actions in diabetes. However, the prejudice of a higher risk of occupational accidents due to diabetics seems unfounded. [less ▲]

Stockage de carbone et flux de gaz à effet de serre en prairie (synthèse bibliographique)

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2013), 17(1), 103-117

Grassland carbon (C) sequestration can play an important role in mitigating total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock production systems. An accurate inventory of livestock production system ... [more ▼]

Grassland carbon (C) sequestration can play an important role in mitigating total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock production systems. An accurate inventory of livestock production system contribution to GHG emissions requires to think in terms of global budget, by considering both the GHG sources and the mitigation potential trough grassland soil carbon sequestration. There is a huge variability in C and GHG balances of grasslands that is mainly due to management practices and climatic conditions. The present article shows that, to reduce the uncertainties of the results, long term measurements at the field scale are necessary. Also, it shows the importance of taking the fluxes of the three main GHGs (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) into account when calculating the GHG budget. This article also highlights the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms driving the fluxes, in relation to environmental factors and management practices, in order to propose mitigation strategies able to enhance soil carbon sequestration in soils and to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions. [less ▲]

Preserved automatic inhibition effect after 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the supplementary motor area

Poster (2013)

Background: It is widely accepted that medial frontal regions are involved in voluntary action control. Indeed, Sumner et al. (2007) have recently suggested that one of the mechanisms through which the ... [more ▼]

Background: It is widely accepted that medial frontal regions are involved in voluntary action control. Indeed, Sumner et al. (2007) have recently suggested that one of the mechanisms through which the supplementary motor area (SMA) contributes to voluntary control is automatic and unconscious motor inhibition. In this study, they administered a visuo-motor subliminal masked prime task (Eimer & Schlaghecken, 2003) to two patients with micro-lesions of the SMA and demonstrated an absence of automatic and unconscious inhibition as evoked by masked prime stimuli. This finding has been supported by neuroimaging data (D'Ostilio et al., 2012). Here, the aim of our research was to corroborate this result by means of a “virtual lesion” approach. Methods: For this purpose, we examined the effects of 1 Hz rTMS (train of 20 min; stimulus intensity 120 % of resting motor threshold) over the SMA of ten healthy volunteers, previously localized by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), on reaction time (RT) performance in the subliminal masked prime task. The functional localizer experiment consisted of four blocks of sequential finger tapping and 15 s of rest after each block. Imaging data were analyzed with SPM 8 and then were imported into the Brainsight software version 2.1.5. With such system, we were able to navigate across the subjects’ brain. The peak voxel in the SMA for each subject (at a statistical threshold of p < 0.05 uncorrected) was used as a target point for the rTMS session. Results: The mean motor threshold was 50.9 % of maximal stimulator output (SD: ± 4.86 %). Wilcoxon tests showed a significant effect of compatibility on RTs (sham: Z = 2.7, p = 0.007; rTMS: Z = 2.8, p = 0.005) and accuracy rate (sham: Z = 2.5, p = 0.01; rTMS: Z = 2.1, p = 0.03), subjects being slower and making more errors in compatible trials (sham: 391.64 ± 52 ms, 87.3 % of accuracy; rTMS: 396.66 ± 37 ms, 86.3 % of accuracy) in comparison to incompatible trials (sham: 357.45 ± 36 ms, 92.5 % of accuracy; rTMS: 356.25 ± 28 ms, 92.7 % of accuracy), suggesting motor inhibition. However, this NCE was preserved after rTMS over the SMA (RTs: Z = 0.87, p = 0.39; accuracy rate: Z = 0.71, p = 0.47). Conclusions: We conclude that long trains of low intensity 1 Hz rTMS did not affect the modulation of RT by subliminal stimuli, suggesting that the SMA might not be mandatory for the implementation of this automatic process. The limitation of this study is relative to the neural efficacy argument because we are not sure that TMS was strong enough to disturb the redundant organizational processing in the SMA or that other regions were not able to compensate for the virtually lesioned area. [less ▲]