[Renal Trauma]. / Traumatismes du rein.

INTRODUCTION: Renal traumas are common, observed in 10% of patients with abdominal trauma. Most renal traumas are blunt, resulting from a direct hit or from an abrupt deceleration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We realized a synthesis of renal trauma management for nurses. RESULTS: Clinical presentation often encompasses gross hematuria and lumbar pain. The best diagnostic tool is computed tomography (CT) urogram. Based on CT urogram images, renal traumas are classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification in five grades of increasing severity. The management is conservative in the vast majority of cases and has been largely simplified over the past few years, being now mostly based on observation. Radiological interventional and endoscopic procedures are used only in very selected cases and surgical exploration has become extremely rare. CONCLUSION: The prognosis has also considerably improved and renal trauma rarely result in death or loss of the kidney nowadays.

Radical prostatectomy for locally advanced and high-risk prostate cancer: A systematic review of the literature.

CONTEXT: The role of radical prostatectomy (RP) in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) is increasing. PURPOSE: To review the existing literature and determine the value of RP in high-risk and locally advanced PCa. DOCUMENTARY SOURCE: MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 01/2000 through 05/2016 according to the PRISMA guidelines. SELECTION OF STUDIES: Forty-two studies describing outcomes of RP among 52,546 patients with high-risk and locally advanced PCa. RESULTS: Mortality was approximately 0-1% and Clavien≥3 complications ranged from 1.8% to 12%. Biochemical recurrence-free and metastasis-free survival ranged from 40 to 94% and 90 to 96.1% at 5 years and from 27 to 68% and 64.4 to 85.1% at 10 years, respectively. Overall and cancer specific survival ranged from 55.2 to 98.6% and 89.8 to 100% at 5 years and from 58 to 84% and 65 to 96% at 10 years, respectively. The 12-mo continence rates ranged from 32% to 96.2% and the erectile function recovery ranged from 60% to 64%. LIMITS: Studies were heterogeneous especially regarding the definition of high-risk disease and the use of adjuvant treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of RP in high-risk and locally advanced PCa is increasing. Existing data support the advantages of RP in this group of patients. However, uniformity in definitions and indications are a prerequisite in order to establish its role as an important therapeutic arm in a multimodality management strategy.

Holmium laser enucleation versus laparoscopic simple prostatectomy for large adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate with another minimally invasive technique, the laparoscopic simple prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared outcomes of a series of 40 patients who underwent laparoscopic simple prostatectomy (n=20) with laser enucleation of the prostate (n=20) for large adenomas (>100 grams) at our institution. Study variables included operative time and catheterization time, hospital stay, pre- and post-operative International Prostate Symptom Score and maximum urinary flow rate, complications and economic evaluation. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student t test and Fisher test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient age, preoperative prostatic size, operating time or specimen weight between the 2 groups. Duration of catheterization (P=.0008) and hospital stay (P<.0001) were significantly less in the laser group. Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement in functional variables at 3 months post operatively. The cost utility analysis for Holmium per case was 2589 euros versus 4706 per laparoscopic case. In the laser arm, 4 patients (20%) experienced complications according to the modified Clavien classification system versus 5 (25%) in the laparoscopic group (P>.99). CONCLUSION: Holmium enucleation of the prostate has similar short term functional results and complication rates compared to laparoscopic simple prostatectomy performed in large glands with the advantage of less catheterization time, lower economic costs and a reduced hospital stay.

[French resident's performance on laparoscopic surgery box trainer: 7-year results of pelvitrainer contests]. / Performance des internes français sur simulateur de chirurgie laparoscopique : les résultats de 7 ans d'olympiades du pelvitrainer.

OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to analyze the resident's laparoscopic surgery performance in order to build a self-assessment data set, to identify discriminatory exercises and to investigate the suturing time changes. METHODS: From 2007 to 2014, the French Association of Urologist in Training (AFUF) organized 7 pelvitrainer contests. Participant scores on 11 laparoscopic surgery exercises were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-six residents participated to these contests and performed 11 exercises each. Twenty-two (33.3 %) participants were beginners, 26 (39.4 %) intermediates et 18 (27.3 %) experienced. The participant scores were gathered into a data set including the average time per exercise. We found a time scoring improvement related to the resident experience for all exercises. A significant decline in time was noted for exercise 8 and 9 between beginners and intermediates (139s [±71]), (173.9s [±118.3]) and between beginners and experienced (80.6s [±26.7]), (94,1s [±42.7]) with a P<0.05. The correlation coefficient for the exercise 11 duration (vesico-uretral anastomosis) was 0.04 over a 7-year period (P=0.44). CONCLUSION: The study provided a data set on 11 laparoscopic surgery tasks which can be consulted by all residents as a reference in a self-assessment process. Two exercises (8 and 9) discriminated beginners from intermediates and experienced groups and could be used as a benchmark ahead of an operating room procedure. The vesico-uretral anastomosis duration (exercise 11) did not improve significantly between 2006 and 2014. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

[Long term biochemical recurrence free survival after radical prostatectomy for cancer: comparative analysis according to surgical approach and clinicopathological stage]. / Survie sans récidive biologique à long terme après prostatectomie totale pour cancer: analyse comparative selon la voie d'abord et le stade clinico-pathologique.

OBJECTIVE: To assess long term biochemical recurrence free survival after radical prostatectomy according to open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical approach and clinicopathological stage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort study of 1313 consecutive patients treated by radical prostatectomy for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer between 2000 and 2013. Open surgery (63.7%), laparoscopy (10%) and robot-assisted laparoscopy (26.4%) were performed. Biochemical recurrence was defined by PSA>0,1ng/mL. The biochemical recurrence free survival was described by Kaplan Meier method and prognostic factors were analysed by multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 57 months (IQR: 31-90). Ten years biochemical recurrence free survival was 88.5%, 71.6% and 53.5% respectively for low, intermediate and high-risk D'Amico groups. On multivariable analysis, the worse prognostic factor was Gleason score (P<0.001). Positive surgical margins rate was 53% in pT3 tumours and 24% in pT2 tumours (P<0.001). Biochemical recurrence free survival (P=0.06) and positive surgical margins rate (P=0.87) were not statistically different between the three surgical approaches. CONCLUSION: Biochemical recurrence free survival in our study does not differ according to surgical approach and is similar to published series. Ten years biochemical recurrence free survival for high-risk tumours without hormone therapy is 54% justifying the role of surgery in the therapeutic conversations in this group of tumours. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

[Predictable access to the fellowship of urology in France till 2016: an update of the AFUF]. / Accessibilité prévisible au post-internat d'urologie en France jusqu'en 2016: une mise à jour de l'AFUF.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictable accessibility to the fellowship of urology for residents expecting to accomplish their residentship from November 2013 to November 2016. MATERIAL: Between September and November 2013, the representants of the residents ongoing for the residentship of urology in each region of France were reached to participate to the study. A questionnaire was given in aim at reporting all the local residents expecting to accomplish their residentship between November 2013 and 2016, and the number and the expected availability of fellow and specialist assistant posts in the region during the same period. RESULTS: In November 2013, our study listed 334 junior urologists (197 residents, 81 fellows, 56 assistants). Fifty-five residents were ending their internship by November 2013, whereas 67, 50, 77 residents were expecting to accomplish their residentship from November 2014 to 2016 respectively. The predictable accessibility to the fellowship of urology was 96.4%, 82.1%, 90.0%, 74.0% respectively for the residents accomplishing their residentship from November 2013 to November 2016. The predictable deficit of fellow and assistant posts were -2, -12, -5, -20 posts from November 2013 to November 2016 respectively. CONCLUSION: The predictable number of fellow and assistant post in Urology remains insufficiently available for the 2013-2016 period. By reason of the unstable number of residents accomplishing their residentship from 2014 to 2016, the fellowship accessibility was measured at 82.1%, 90.0%, 74.0% from 2014 to 2016 respectively.

[Current state of compensation of on-duty and on-call urologists in France: a study from AFUF]. / État des lieux des rémunérations des gardes et astreintes d'urologie en France: une étude de l'AFUF.

INTRODUCTION: The French Association of Urologists-in-training (AFUF) aimed to assess the current state of remunerations of on-call and on-duty residents, assistants and lecturers in urology in France. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from February to May 2013 through a questionnaire sent to all members of the AFUF (327 members). Remunerations were given in gross values. RESULTS: Forty-three residents took part in the study, 16 assistants and 16 lecturers, representing 62 % of the whole centers (54 hospitals out of the 92 centers practicing urology in France). Most of responders were on security or operational on-call. Twenty hospitals were practicing multi-organ removal. Median remunerations of residents were about 59.51€ per on-call when moving at hospital for work and about 119.02€ per onsite duty. Assistants and lecturers were paid a flat fee rate for 37.5 % of them (140€ for assistants [with variability from 40 to 195€] and 130€ for lecturers [42.5-180]) or an hourly rate depending on the hours spent at hospital for the others (62.5 %): first, second move or move<3h were paid 100€ for assistants and 65€ for lecturers, 233.5€ and 236€ respectively for the third one or above 3h, 365€ and 473€ respectively above 8h. Multi-organ removals were paid a flat fee rate (60 %) or an hourly rate (40 %) as well. Beyond a threshold of 2-3hours, the hourly rate was more interesting than the flat fee rate. CONCLUSION: There were disparities in remuneration of on-call and on-duty urologists. Greater variability affected on-call flat fee rate remuneration beyond a certain threshold of hours and remuneration of multi-organ removal. These disparities should be considered in order to get a national harmonization.

[Research fellowship in the curriculum of French urologists-in-training: a study by the French Association of Urologists-in-training (AFUF)]. / Place du Master 2 recherche dans la formation des jeunes urologues français : une étude de l'AFUF.

OBJECTIVES: To assess motivations, the practical organization and the funding of a research fellowship in the training curriculum of French urologists-in-training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent to members of the AFUF and to participants of a research training seminar "Graines et Sol" organised by the AFU, between July and September 2013. Results are presented as the median (interquartile range). RESULTS: Sixty answers out of 115 research fellows (response rate 52%) were computed. Median age was 29 years (28-30) during the research year and male proportion 75%. The AFU grant was obtained by 57.4% of applicants, 56.4% for various grants and 47.6% for the research fellowship university grant. The annual gross amount was 29,870€ (22,710-30,195), without any significant difference between residency subdivisions. Financial supplements were obtained by being on-duty (26.2%), on-call (28.6%) and replacements (25%). The research fellowship year was done between 4th and 5th years of residency (53%), for a one-year length (96.7%) and in France (86.6%). Urologic cancerology was the thematic the most studied (60%). The research fellowship was done in view of an academic career (31.7%) or was done to wait for a post-residency position (20.8%). About a quarter was being proposed a chief-residency position before the beginning of the research year. During this year, 76.7% published. About 63% were interested in pursuing with a PhD. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the interest for a research fellowship by French urologists-in-training. Financial support thanks to grants facilitated the conduct of a research fellowship in the aim of an academic career for most of them.

[The role of simulation in the curriculum of French urologists-in-training: a study by the French Association of Urologists-in-Training (AFUF)]. / Évaluation de l'utilisation de la simulation dans la formation des jeunes urologues français : une enquête de l'association française des urologues en formation (AFUF).

OBJECTIVES: To study the place of simulation in the training curriculum of French urologists-in-training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent to all residents and fellows members of the AFUF between February and May, 2013. Results are presented as the median (interquartile range). RESULTS: The answers of 125 urologists-in-training were computed (response rate 38%). They were residents in 90 cases (72%), and fellows in 35 cases (28%). Median age was 29 (27-30), male proportion 77%. All French academic urology departments were represented. Ninety of them (72%) had access to a pelvi-trainer and 66 (53%) to animal or cadaveric models, although they never used them or less than once a month in 83 and 97% of cases, respectively. Seventy-two (58%) had used a virtual-reality based simulator at least once and 38 (30%) had regular access to one, but without supervision in 64% of cases. Factors limiting simulation-based training were the lack of available simulators (70%), the lack of time (58%), the absence of incitement (34%) and supervision (20%). If these conditions were met, 86% of urologists-in-training would be ready to spend more than one hour a-week training on a simulator. CONCLUSION: This study revealed among the sample of respondents a limited use of simulation tools for skills aquisition. This was explained by a limited availability of these tools but also by an insufficient use of the tools when available.

Impact of transesophageal electrophysiologic study to elucidate the mechanism of arrhythmia on children with supraventricular tachycardia and no preexcitation.

An electrophysiologic study (EPS) of children and teenagers with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and normal electrocardiography (ECG) in sinus rhythm was evaluated. Generally, EPS is performed only before paroxysmal SVT ablation in these patients. In this study, 140 patients (mean age, 15 ± 3 years) with normal ECG in sinus rhythm were studied for SVT by a transesophageal route in baseline state and after isoproterenol. Idiopathic left or right ventricular tachycardia was diagnosed in four patients (3 %). Anterograde conduction over an atrioventricular (AV) left lateral (n = 10) or septal (n = 9) accessory pathway (AP) was noted in 19 patients (13.5 %) at atrial pacing. Orthodromic AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) was induced in these children. Five of the patients had a high rate conducted over AP (>240 bpm in baseline state or >290 bpm after isoproterenol). Two of the patients (a 10-year-old girl with well-tolerated SVT and a 17-year-old with syncope-related SVT) had the criteria for a malignant form with the induction of atrial fibrillation conducted over AP at a rate exceeding 290 bpm in baseline state. Of the 140 patients, 74 (53 %) had typical AV node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), nine had atypical AVNRT (6 %), 1 had atrial tachycardia (0.7 %), and 33 (23.5 %) had AVRT related to a concealed AP with only retrograde conduction. Electrophysiologic study is recommended for children with paroxysmal SVT and normal ECG in sinus rhythm. The data are helpful for guiding the treatment. Ventricular tachycardia or atrial tachycardia can be misdiagnosed. Masked preexcitation syndrome with anterograde conduction through AP was present in 13.5 % of the patients, and 1.4 % had a malignant preexcitation syndrome.

Oesophageal perforation following ingestion of over-the-counter ibuprofen capsules.

OBJECTIVE: We present a rare case of oesophageal perforation following ingestion of over-the-counter ibuprofen capsules. METHOD: Case report and literature review of pill oesophagitis. CASE REPORT: A previously well, 18-year-old man presented with sudden onset, severe, retrosternal pain, dysphagia and odynophagia following ingestion of over-the-counter ibuprofen capsules. Plain X-ray films and a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan indicated the diagnosis. The patient was successfully treated with non-operative management. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world literature concerning oesophageal perforation with ibuprofen. We discuss pill-induced oesophageal injury and its prevention. Manufacturers, clinicians and patients can all take steps to avoid this potentially life-threatening complication.

Wide QRS complex tachycardia. Rapid method of prognostic evaluation.

UNLABELLED: A wide QRS complex tachycardia suggests a ventricular tachycardia (VT); but supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is also possible. Some authors reported on the electrocardiographic signs for the differential diagnosis of VT and SVT with aberrancy. Frequently these signs are debatable and the diagnosis is uncertain. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the interest of a non-invasive study by transesophageal route for the evaluation of the nature of a wide QRS complex tachycardia in which a reliable ECG algorithm does not permit to distinguish VT from SVT with aberrancy. METHODS: Esophageal electrophysiologic study (EPS) was performed in 53 patients, aged from 16 to 85 years without bundle branch block (BBB) in sinus rhythm, but with wide-QRS tachycardia. The protocol consisted of atrial pacing at progressively higher rates and then programmed stimulation with one and two extrastimuli in control state and after isoproterenol infusion. Intracardiac EPS was performed in 49 of them. RESULTS: (1) Study was negative in nine patients; intracardiac EPS remained negative in four of them, induced a VT in five; (2) clinical tachycardia was induced in 44 patients: (a) in 29 of them, atrial pacing induced a BBB similar to aberrancy noted in tachycardia and the diagnosis of SVT with aberrancy was made; (b) in 15 patients, QRS complex remained narrow during atrial pacing; the diagnosis of VT was made in presence of AV dissociation and confirmed by intracardiac study. VT was induced by atrial or ventricular stimulation or was spontaneous during isoproterenol infusion. VT mechanism were bundle branch reentry [Am. J. Cardiol. 65 (1990) 322], verapamilsensitive VT [Am. J. Cardiol. 65 (1990) 322], catecholamine-sensitive VT [J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 7 (1996) 2]. Two patients had tachycardias of both natures either supraventricular or ventricular. CONCLUSION: Esophageal EPS was a safe, rapid and economic means to evaluate the mechanism of wide QRS tachycardia in 84% of patients; atrial pacing at progressively higher rates is very simple to reproduce the aberrancy of similar morphology in those patients who had wide-QRS tachycardia related to a SVT with aberrancy. If atrial pacing did not exactly reproduce the aberrancy in tachycardia, a VT should be suspected.

Transitory or permanent regular wide QRS complex tachycardia induced by atrial stimulation in patients without apparent heart disease. Significance.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequency of transitory or permanent bundle branch block (BBB) associated with a paroxysmal tachycardia induced by atrial stimulation in patients without heart disease and its significance. METHODS: Esophageal atrial stimulation was performed in 447 patients suspected to have supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). Sustained regular tachycardia was induced in all of them but three, either in control state (75%) or after administering isoproterenol. In 346 patients, only narrow complex SVTs were induced (77%); in 259 of them, the reentry occurred in the AV node and in remaining patients within a concealed accessory pathway. In 62 patients, a transitory functional BBB was recorded at the onset of the tachycardia (14%). In 33 of them, the reentry occurred in the AV node and in the remaining 29 patients within a concealed accessory pathway. In 36 patients (8%), a permanently wide QRS complex tachycardia was induced. Three patients had also inducible narrow complex SVT. Atrial pacing induced a BBB similar to the aberrancy in tachycardia in 22 patients: the reentry occurred in the AV node in 17 patients, within a concealed accessory pathway in three patients and in a Mahaim bundle in two patients. In other patients, QRS complex remained normal during atrial pacing: all 14 patients had a ventricular tachycardia (VT), either a verapamil-sensitive VT (n = 7) or catecholamine-sensitive VT (n = 4) or bundle branch reentry (n = 3). Followed from 2 to 12 years, the prognosis of these patients was excellent. CONCLUSION: Transitory BBB at the onset of an SVT is noted in 14% of the population, is more frequent in patients with accessory pathway reentrant tachycardia, but is helpful for this diagnosis in only 12% of cases. A regular tachycardia with permanent left or right bundle branch morphology induced by atrial stimulation in a patient without heart disease and without BBB during atrial pacing is due to a VT even if this patient has also narrow complex tachycardias. This mechanism does not affect the excellent prognosis of this population.

[Value of transesophageal programmed atrial stimulation in the evaluation of unexplained cerebrovascular accidents]. / Intérêt de la stimulation auriculaire programmée par voie transoesophagienne dans l'évaluation des accidents vasculaires cérébraux inexpliqués.

Certain embolic cerebrovascular accidents can be explained by the development of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. When noninvasive complementary investigations are negative, programmed atrial stimulation can be proposed to detect increased atrial vulnerability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of this method performed via a transoesophageal approach in 59 subjects presenting with an embolic cerebrovascular accident and who were in sinus rhythm at the time of the accident. Seven of these patients had a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial tachycardia (AT) (group I). Three of these seven patients also presented AV nodal reentrant junctional tachycardia. The other 52 patients had no history of arrhythmia and their Holter recording did not reveal any episodes of sustained atrial tachycardia (group II). Transoesophageal programmed atrial stimulation used up to 2 extrastimuli under baseline conditions and during Isuprel infusion. The following results were obtained: sustained atrial tachycardia (> 1 min) was induced in all patients of group 1, 3 of them also presented inducible junctional tachycardias. 14 patients of group II (27%) presented inducible supraventricular tachycardia: atrial tachycardia in 7 cases. Patients in group II with inducible AT presented either heart disease (n = 3) or minor abnormalities on the Holter recording (runs of atrial premature complexes or sinus pauses (n = 3). Two of these patients subsequently developed sustained atrial fibrillation during follow-up. In 25 patients with normal Holter recording and no heart disease, programmed atrial stimulation induced junctional tachycardia in 4 cases. In conclusion, transoesophageal electrophysiological investigation is a useful way to identify various forms of supraventricular tachycardia able to explain an embolic cerebrovascular accident. The considerable incidence of inducible AV nodal reentrant junctional tachycardia must be emphasized, while the incidence of atrial fibrillation is much lower than during intracardiac investigations.

Traumatismo grave del pie / Severe foot trauma

Se presenta un caso de avulsión grave de pie izquierdo con amputación de los 4 últimos dedos, que se resuelve con un colgajo libre de dorsal ancho, mencionándose las distintas ventajas en cuanto a las dimensiones, longitud del pedículo, recuperación de la sensibilidad y cobertura que este colgajo aporta, así como la disminución en la cantidad de intervenciones quirúrgicas necesarias para su total restablecimiento funcional y estético

[Complete atrioventricular block, a possible complication of radiofrequency ablation of reciprocating nodal tachycardia]. / Le bloc auriculo-ventriculaire complet, complication possible de l'ablation par radiofréquence des tachycardies par rythme réciproque nodal.

Radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway of the reentry circuit is the usual radical treatment of nodal tachycardia. It is, however, possible to create atrioventricular conduction defects, the significance of which is not known. The aim on this study was to report the history of these conduction defects created during ablation of the slow pathway of the intranodal reentry circuit. Four cases were observed in a series of 27 patients. In one female patient, complete atrioventricular block was observed for 5 minutes before conduction returned to normal followed by recurrence of the tachycardias. Three other women developed complete atrioventricular block one to four days after the ablation. The block regressed after a maximum delay of 7 days. Six months to one year after the procedure, these three patients remain free of tachycardia and have only first degree atrioventricular block on the surface ECG. These patients were not implanted with a pacemaker. The authors conclude that complete atrioventricular block after ablation of the slow pathway may be treated conservatively, providing it is well tolerated. It normally regresses within few days.

[Diagnostic value of methods of ventricular and auricular stimulation in the evaluation of tachycardia]. / Valeur diagnostique des méthodes de stimulation auriculaire et ventriculaire dans le bilan des tachycardies.

The diagnostic value of programmed pacing in the investigation of tachycardia (greater than 5 premature complexes) was studied in 155 patients admitted for evaluation of dizzy attacks and/or tachycardia by determining a relationship between the induction of tachycardia by endocavitary pacing and the presence of spontaneous attacks on ECG and/or 24 hour Holter monitoring. Right atrial and ventricular programmed pacing comprised: an extrastimulus during sinus rhythm (method I), during paced rhythm (method II), 2 extrastimuli during sinus rhythm (method III) and paced rhythm (method IV). The protocol was applied in 20 cases of spontaneous atrial tachycardia (AT) and 40 patients without tachycardia, and in 20 cases of spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia (VTS) (Group A), 15 cases of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VTNS) (Group B), 20 cases of ventricular doublets or triplets on Holter monitoring (Group C) and 40 patients without ventricular arrhythmias. The following results were obtained: At atrial level, method I was associated with a 75% sensitivity and a 62.5 p. 100 specificity when the triggering of atrial echos was considered. It was difficult to induce AT with methods I, II and III (sensitivity 15, 20 and 45 p. 100 - but they were very specific (greater than 90 p. 100). The induction of echos with methods II, III and IV was very sensitive but not specific and could not be retained as a pathological criterion. Using method IV, only the triggering of sustained AT could be considered to have a good specificity (90 p. 100), but sensitivity remained low (30 p. 100). At ventricular level, more aggressive methods were needed to induce an arrhythmia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of maternal immunity, age at vaccination and doses or live vaccines on immune response to Newcastle disease.

The short life span of domestic fowls necessitates the use of early vaccination, but the response is affected by the immaturity of the immune mechanism and by the presence ofmaternal immunity: this results in an uneven immunity of the large and continually changing poultry population. This paper compares the response of groups of chicks from vaccinated and non-vaccinated hens after vaccination at various ages with Newcastle Disease vaccines of different pathogenicity (lentogenic and mesogenic strains). The results show that: 1. maternal immunity has a great effect on the pathogenicity of the vaccine viruses and the subsequent immune response; 2. the older the chicks are at the time of vaccination, the better is their immune response; 3. for vaccines of low pathogenicity the immune response can be enhanced by increasing the dose of the virus irrespective of the presence of maternal immunity.