Retrospective analysis of Belgian experience with intestinal transplantation

Conference (2013, March 21)

Aim: The only alternative to Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) for complicated intestinal failure is Intesti- nal Transplantation (ITx) which is perceived as a high-risk procedure with inferior results ... [more ▼]

Aim: The only alternative to Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) for complicated intestinal failure is Intesti- nal Transplantation (ITx) which is perceived as a high-risk procedure with inferior results compared to other organ Tx. Therefore ITx has been rarely applied in Belgium. In a multicenter retrospective review, we analyzed the overall Belgian experience with ITx. Methods: The Belgium Liver Intestine Committee organized a survey among all Belgian Tx centers, based on the patient-specific data form of the international ITx registry. Overall activity and indications were reviewed. Patient/graft survival was calculated (Kaplan-Meier). Nutritional (TPN) independence and Quality of Life (QoL) (Karnofsky score) were analyzed. Results: 21 ITx were performed in 20 patients (03/99-11/12), distributed among 5 centers: KUL (12), ULg (5), UZG (2), UCL (1), UZA (1). Median age was 38y(8mo-56y). Male/female ratio was 10/10. 5 were pediatrics (<18y) and 15 adults. Indications were anatomical or functional short bowel syndrome: intestinal ischemia(5), volvulus(5), Crohn(2), chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction(2), splanchnic thrombosis(2), Churg-Strauss(1), necrotizing enterocolitis(1), microvillus inclusion(1), intestinal atresia(1) and chronic rejection of a first ITx(1). Most patients also suffered from TPN-associated com- plications (infection/shortage of venous access or liver failure). An isolated small bowel was trans- planted in 9 patients (plus kidney Tx in 2; plus pancreas Tx in 1); 10 received a combined liver and ITx; 2 received a multivisceral Tx. At time of Tx, 11 patients were hospitalized and 10 at home. 20 grafts were procured from deceased donors; one segmental intestinal graft was procured from a living donor. ABO blood group was identical in 63%, compatible in 37%. Median cold ischemia time was 5h30 ́(3h17 ́-9h31 ́). All patients received tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Basiliximab (anti-IL2 receptor antibody) induction was administered in 16 patients. In 11 patients donor specific blood was transfused as part of an immunomodulatory protocol. 5-year patient and graft survival is 59% and 55.6%, respectively. 8 patients died: 6 to sepsis, 1 to intracerebral hemorrhage; 1 sudden death re- mained unexplained. 1 patient developed postTx lymphoma. 2 chronic rejections occured for which one reTx was performed. Of 12 survivors (median follow-up 1870 days), 11 are nutritionally independent (TPN-free) and 10 have a Karnofsky score >90%. Conclusions: ITx has come of age in Belgium. During the last 13 years, 21 ITx were performed in 5 centers. A 5-year patient/graft survival of 59%/55.6% is achieved, which is similar to results reported by the International ITx registry. In Belgium, awareness should grow that ITx represents a life-saving (and QoL improving) treatment in selected patients with reduced life expectancy due to significant complica- tions from TPN and intestinal failure. [less ▲]

Médias et communication politique : la presse, l'Open Vld et l'impôt sur la fortune

E-print/Working paper (2013)

Contribution à l'étude du rôle des protéases de Microsporum canis dans les premières étapes du processus infectieux et caractérisation d'un nouveau facteur potentiel de virulence

Doctoral thesis (2013)

Hot stars in the whole CoRoT mission

Conference (2013, March 20)

Les problèmes cutanés liés aux médicaments

Conference (2013, March 19)

Les problèmes cutanés liés aux médicaments

Valorisation de l'épeautre dans l'alimentation des bovins

Scientific conference (2013, March 19)

Highly non-classical symmetric states of an N-qubit system

Poster (2013, March 19)

Self-Defining Memories and Identity in Schizophrenia: Preliminary Results.

Poster (2013, March 18)

The reciprocal relationship between autobiographical memory (AM) and identity is well known. In schizophrenia, there is evidence that both identity and AM are impaired. Indeed, identity has been described ... [more ▼]

The reciprocal relationship between autobiographical memory (AM) and identity is well known. In schizophrenia, there is evidence that both identity and AM are impaired. Indeed, identity has been described as fragmented, instable or still discontinuous in these patients (Boulanger et al., submitted; deBonis et al., 1995; Nieznanski, 2004). Further, schizophrenia patients’ (SCh) AM impairments were described as difficulties to retrieve specific memories (Cuervo-Lombard et al., 2007; D’argembeau et al., 2008; Neumann et al., 2007; Wood et al., 2006). SCh have specificity impairment for mill run autobiographical memories (AMs) and also, for AMs particularly important for construction and continuity to identity as self-defining memories (SDMs; Benounna-Greene, 2001; Raffard et al., 2009, 2010; Robinson and Taylor, 1998). SDMs have been particularly relevant in understanding the relationship between the identity and AM. Identity emerges during late adolescence and early adulthood period called “remimiscence bump period” because, it is characterized by a profusion of recalled memories in comparison to others periods of life span. Possibly, many memories from this period are of SDMs (Singer & Salovey, 1993) and have a powerful effect in binding the identity to a specific reality. Consequently, we supposed that identity impairments showed by SCch are related to SDMs deficits. 19 SCh and 19 healthy controls paired participated to this study. They were asked to give ten enduring “I am” statements that they felt “defined their identity.” Then, they selected the three statements among the ten, which are the “most personally significant to their sense of identity”. They were asked to recall three SDMs by each of three statements selected. Afterwards, they were asked to give: (1) their age for each statement when they felt it was a significant part of their identity, (2) their age at the time that the remembered event occurred. In parallel, the participants were completed neuropsychological measures, BDI-II, PANSS and, an identity stability measure. The results are discussed on the light of previous research [less ▲]

Evaluation of the Energy Performance of an Organic Rankine Cycle-Based Micro Combined Heat and Power System Involving a Hermetic Scroll Expander

in Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines & Power (2013), 135(4),

Interactions de glycolipides avec des membranes biomimétiques

Scientific conference (2013, March 18)

Les surfactants à base de sucre sont des composés d’intérêt pour les domaines alimentaire, cosmétique et pharmaceutique de par leur origine naturelle, leur biodégradabilité élevée et leur biocompatibilité ... [more ▼]

Les surfactants à base de sucre sont des composés d’intérêt pour les domaines alimentaire, cosmétique et pharmaceutique de par leur origine naturelle, leur biodégradabilité élevée et leur biocompatibilité. Récemment, certains ont également montré un potentiel dans le domaine de la protection des plantes. Depuis quelques années, les surfactants de type bolaforme ont reçu une attention particulière surtout pour leur potentiel d’exploitation en tant qu’agent d’encapsulation ou de vectorisation de médicaments. Leur structure est composée de deux têtes polaires connectées par un bras espaceur hydrophobe. Parmi les bolaamphiphiles, ceux à base de sucre offrent l’avantage de fournir une hydrosolubilité importante et une cytotoxicité réduite. Une connaissance approfondie des propriétés tensioactives et membranaires de ces nouveaux tensioactifs est une clef importante dans la compréhension de leurs mécanismes, d’une part, et d’autre part, dans l’optique d’une démarche prédictive dans la conception d’agents tensioactifs ciblant une application précise, du domaine physico-chimique ou biologique. Les outils tels que la technique de la cuve de Langmuir, la calorimétrie de titration isotherme, la spectroscopie de fluorescence et la spectroscopie infra-rouge ont été exploités afin de mettre en évidence l’influence de la longueur du bras hydrophobe, de la présence d’insaturation, de la stéréochimie des carbones anomères et de la nature des sucres sur les propriétés interfaciales et d’interaction/déstabilisation des membranes biologiques des bolaformes de sucre. [less ▲]