[Incidence and impact of venous thrombosis in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of ovarian cancer]. / Incidence et impact de la maladie thrombo-embolique sur la prise en charge du cancer de l'ovaire.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), which worsens overall survival. The main objective of our study was to calculate the incidence of VTE in our population. We analyzed VTE impact on diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, monocentric study in ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer patients, divided into 2 groups (« Presence of VTE ¼ and « Absence of VTE ¼). A univariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with VTE was performed, and we compared delays of management in both groups. RESULTS: Among 157 patients included in the study, 22.9% presented a VTE, and 52.8% were asymptomatic. The VTE was diagnosed prior to any treatment in 61.1% of patients and revealed the ovarian cancer in 27.8% of cases. In multivariate analysis, tumor size (OR=1.1, 95% CI: 1-2.21, P=0.012), malnutrition (OR=3.79, 95% CI: 1.16-12,4, P=0.028) and Ddimer level above 1.5µg/mL (OR=13.8, 95% CI 1.2-152.8, P=0.02) were significantly associated with VTE. No significant difference was found between the two groups in diagnostic or therapeutic strategy, as well as in delays of management. CONCLUSION: We report a high incidence of VTE in ovarian cancer, including a lot of asymptomatic events. An early diagnosis with clinical examination and Ddimer level could improve its management and its prognosis.

[Human papillomaviruses vaccination: Parental awareness and acceptance of the vaccine for children in Lower Normandy schools and informative campaign during the 2015-2016 school year]. / Vaccination contre les papillomavirus humains : intentions vaccinales et connaissances de parents d'élèves bas-normands avant intervention au cours de l'année scolaire 2015­2016.

BACKGROUND: The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) can be administered starting at the age of 9 years. Parents thus play a major role in the choice of vaccination. The objective of this study was to investigate parental awareness about anti-HPV vaccination in Lower Normandy and to measure their vaccinal intentions before an informative campaign. METHODS: The study population included parents of children aged 10-11 years enrolled in school (2015-2016) in Lower Normandy, France. The initial study was observational and descriptive. With the agreement of the academic directors, 16 middle schools were selected. A questionnaire was delivered to the school children and collected in September 2015 by the school nurses. RESULTS: Within the selected middle schools, 1427 questionnaires were delivered. School nurses collected 1168 questionnaires (81.9%) among which 1155 could be analyzed because they contained answers (80.9%). Out of 575 girls aged 10-11 years, 523 (91.0%) were not vaccinated against HPV. Among parents of non-vaccinated schoolgirls who answered, 48.4% did not know if they intended to have their children vaccinated (251 of 519 questionnaires). There was a significant association between the socio-professional status of the parents who answered and their intention to vaccinate their daughters against HPV (P=0.03). Parents were significantly more likely to immunize their children when they previously knew about the vaccine (P<0.001) and when they had good knowledge about the vaccine (P<0.05). Parents who previously had their daughters vaccinated were also significantly more likely to have their sons vaccinated against HPV (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The significant association between knowledge about the vaccine and intentions to have their children vaccinated allows us to predict the effectiveness of information campaigns on vaccination rates.

[Case-control study of obstetrical outcomes of conisation]. / Étude cas-témoin des conséquences obstétricales de la conisation.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the obstetrical outcomes in the case of women with a history of conization. Determine the role of the cone length in the obstetrical issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case-control study including the patients (n=39) who had undergone a conization in a university hospital between January 2002 and January 2012. The obstetrical outcomes have been compared to those from a control group (n=78). Into the exposed group the obstetrical outcomes has been compared based on the cone length. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients delivered after a conization (39 deliveries). The obstetrical outcomes have been significantly increased in the exposed group: preterm delivery before 37 weeks gestation (25.6% vs 7.7%, P=0.01), before 32 weeks gestation (15.4% vs 1.3%, P=0.005) and between 28 weeks gestation (10.2% vs 0%, P=0.01), premature onset of labor before 32 weeks gestation (12.8% vs 1.3%, P=0.01) and before 28 weeks gestation (12.8% vs 0%, P=0.01) and preterm premature rupture of membranes before 37 weeks gestation (20.5% vs 1.3%, P<0.001). There was no significant difference for a length cone more than 1.5cm. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that a history of conization is an obstetrical risk factor to consider in the management of a subsequent pregnancy.

[Fertility and risk of recurrence after surgical treatment of an ectopic pregnancy (EP): Salpingostomy versus salpingectomy]. / Fertilité et risque de récidive après traitement chirurgical d'une grossesse extra-utérine : salpingotomie versus salpingectomie.

UNLABELLED: Two surgical techniques can be performed for the treatment of an ectopic pregnancy (EP): a conservative one called salpingostomy and a radical one called salpingectomy. We compared both techniques to find differences about fertility or risk of recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all the women who underwent a surgical treatment for an ectopic pregnancy in the university's hospital of Caen between 2008 and 2011. We compared the results of both techniques. The primary end-point was the rate of intra-uterine pregnancy and the second end-point was the rate of recurrence of the EP. We also try to identify other risk factor of infertility. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two patients have been listed initially. Ninety-eight patients still attempt to become pregnant after the EP. In the conservative group, the rate of intra-uterine pregnancy was 88% (n=22) and the rate of recurrence was 8% (n=2). In the radical group, the rate of intra-uterine pregnancy was 68% (n=50) and the rate of recurrence was 5% (n=3). We could not identify any significant difference in the subsequent fertility or in the recurrence's risk between conservative and radical surgery. The age of the patient has been identified as a significative risk factor of infertility. CONCLUSION: To choose the surgical technique of an EP, the wish of pregnancy, the risk factor of infertility of the patient and the laparoscopic observations have to be taken into account. It seems that there is no difference between the two surgical techniques.

[Is vaginal delivery possible for patients with myomectomy? Results of a monocentric study]. / Après myomectomie, les patientes ont-elles le droit d'accoucher par voie basse ? Résultats d'une étude monocentrique.

OBJECTIVE: To compare delivery outcomes according to the scar: myomectomy versus low-segment transverse cesarean. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in a university type 3 service between 1st January 2006 and 1st January 2012. We compared 18 women who gave birth after myomectomy (exposed group) to 72 women who gave birth after cesarean section (non-exposed group). Women younger than 43 years who underwent laparotomy or laparoscopic myomectomy were included. The primary endpoint was the rate of vaginal delivery. The route of delivery, the rate of uterine rupture, complications of delivery and neonatal outcome were studied. RESULTS: The acceptance rate of vaginal delivery was 55.6% after myomectomies versus 84.7% after cesarean section (P=0.005). The success of vaginal birth was 88.9% after myomectomy versus 73.9% after cesarean (NS). No uterine rupture has occurred after myomectomy against three sub-peritoneal rupture after cesarean. The occurrence of post-partum hemorrhage was not significantly different between the 2 groups (11.1% among exposed group versus 6.9% in the non-exposed group). The cesarean section rate was even higher than the number of hysterotomy was great (P=0.0047). CONCLUSION: This study seems to show that vaginal birth after myomectomy is possible with a success rate similar to vaginal birth after cesarean section.

[Risk of uterine synechiae following uterine compression sutures during postpartum haemorrhage]. / Risque de synéchie utérine après capitonnage utérin pour hémorragie du post-partum.

OBJECTIVES: Uterine compression sutures are highly successful conservative surgical techniques used to treat severe postpartum haemorrhage. These methods can induce subsequent uterine synechiae. To determine this risk of synechiae after conservative uterine compression sutures, which may induce further fertility problems. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and pathological records of the patients who underwent uterine compression sutures for severe postpartum haemorrhage between January 2003 and March 2013 in a French University Hospital. The Cho's, the B-Lynch's and the Hayman's techniques have been used. The results of the hysteroscopies were detailed. RESULTS: Among the 25 patients included, the B-Lynch or the Hayman's techniques have been used in 13 cases (52%). The Cho's technique has been performed alone for 5 patients (20%) and both techniques have been practiced in 7 situations (28%). In 17 cases (68%), some vascular sutures have been associated and, for 7 patients (28%), a vascular embolisation had been performed before the uterine compressive sutures. Only 19 patients underwent a diagnostic hysteroscopy and among them 13 had a normal uterine cavity (68%), 3 of them had uterine synechiae (16%) and 3 had placental retention (16%). Synechiae and retention have all been successfully removed by operative hysteroscopy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The compressive techniques can induce uterine synechiae, which may impair subsequent fertility.

Human-associated Staphylococcus aureus strains within great ape populations in Central Africa (Gabon).

The risk of serious infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus is well-known. However, most studies regarding the distribution of (clinically relevant) S. aureus among humans and animals took place in the western hemisphere and only limited data are available from (Central) Africa. In this context, recent studies focused on S. aureus strains in humans and primates, but the question of whether humans and monkeys share related S. aureus strains or may interchange strains remained largely unsolved. In this study we aimed to evaluate the distribution and spread of human-like S. aureus strains among great apes living in captivity. Therefore, a primate facility at the International Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (Gabon) was screened. We detected among the primates a common human S. aureus strain, belonging to the spa-type t148. It was isolated from three different individuals of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), of which one individual showed a large necrotizing wound. This animal died, most probably of a staphylococcal sepsis. Additionally, we discovered the t148 type among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) that were settled in the immediate neighbourhood of the infected gorillas. A detailed analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis showed that the gorilla and chimpanzee isolates represented two closely related strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a human-associated S. aureus strain causing disease in great apes. The simultaneous detection in gorillas and chimpanzees indicated an interspecies transmission of this S. aureus strain. Our results recommend that protection of wild animals must not only be based on habitat conservation, but also on the assessment of the risk of contact with human pathogens.

[Sixty-nine consecutive cases of eclampsia: prodromes and circumstances]. / Soixante-neuf éclampsies consécutives: signes annonciateurs et circonstances de survenue.

OBJECTIVE: To specify clinical and biological characteristics of patients developing eclampsia, and identify atypical eclampsia without prior signs and symptoms of severe preeclampsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study conducted from January 1996 to December 2008 in a maternity type IIB in French Guiana. Data of patients who experienced eclampsia were collected from obstetric records. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were selected among 21,525 patients who delivered during this period, corresponding to a prevalence of 3.2 ‰. The average patient age was 21 years (range from 12 to 45 years). Sixty-six percent of patients were nulliparous. The gestational age was greater than 37 weeks of gestation for 62% of patients, between 26 and 37 weeks of gestation for 36% and less than 26 weeks of gestation for 2% of patients. Two thirds of the patients had been examined less than a month before the eclamptic seizure, blood pressure was normal in 62% of cases. Seventy-four percent of patients had at least one Doppler study of the uterine and umbilical arteries velocimetry, the Dopplers studies were normal in 78% of cases. The eclampsia occurred in ante-, peri- and post-partum in 59, 6 and 35% of the cases, respectively 10% of patients were hospitalized for preeclampsia at the time of eclamptic seizure. Less than 10% of patients developed HELLP syndrome. One patient had died of aspiration pneumonia. Newborns had a mean birth weight over 2500 g in 88% of cases. During the follow-up period, 41% of the patients had subsequent pregnancies with 62% without hypertension, 24% complicated by recurrent gestational hypertension, 24% by preeclampsia and 4% by eclampsia. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In a majority of the patients in our study, eclampsia was the main manifestation, and only 10% were preceded by severe preeclampsia. These results are comparable to recent studies, which found in their series that 40 to 60% of eclampsia manifested without preeclamptic prodromi. Eclampsia can occur after an unremarkable pregnancy, in women without risk factors, and then it is hardly predictable. Prenatal follow-up must be very cautious paying attention to any markers such as intermittent hypertension, functional symptoms or appearance of proteinuria.

Microwave processing for denture relines, repairs, and rebases.

The microwave processing procedure has been shown to be an efficient and accurate method of polymerizing poly(methyl methacrylate) resin for the fabrication of dentures. This article describes procedures to expand the uses of the microwave technique. With standard laboratory procedures, the microwave technique can improve and simplify denture relines, repairs, and rebasing of partial dentures.

Direct measurement of dimensional accuracy with three denture-processing techniques.

The Michigan Computer-Graphics Coordinate Measurement System (MCGCMS) was used to determine the dimensional accuracy of dentures processed by three different techniques: conventional heat compression, microwave, and visible-light activation. Standardized dentures were fabricated from casts made in an RTV silicone mold. All casts were duplicated with hydrocolloid and 42 dentures were made (ie, 14 dentures for each technique). The MCGCMS measured 22 points on two frontal planes to compare master casts to dentures. The results showed no significant difference in overall dimensional accuracy. At specific sites, however, the visible-light-activated technique produced significantly more flange distortion than did either the conventional or microwave techniques.

Diphtheria among alcoholic urban adults. A decade of experience in Seattle.

Three outbreaks of Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection occurred in Seattle's Skid Road from 1972 through 1982. The first involved a single toxigenic, intermedius biotype clone, whereas the second and third outbreaks involved nontoxigenic mitis and gravis strains. Of 1100 total infections, 947 (86%) were cutaneous. The incidence was highest in winter and spring. In Skid Road, the estimated attack rate during 17 months in 1974 to 1975 was 5% for whites and 27% for native Americans. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from 73% of diphtheritic and 41% of nondiphtheritic skin lesions (P less than 0.001). Skin infection and environmental contamination by C. diphtheriae were correlated. Complications occurred in 21% of symptomatic nasopharyngeal and 3% of cutaneous toxigenic intermedius infections (P less than 0.001), and were significantly correlated with ages 60 years or more. Preferential use of erythromycin for diphtheria and pyodermas preceded plasmid-mediated resistance to erythromycin in C. diphtheriae. Diphtheria outbreaks in urban alcoholic persons are associated with poor hygiene, crowding, season, contaminated fomites, underlying skin disease, hyperendemic streptococcal pyoderma, and introduction of new strains from exogenous reservoirs.

[Latent and postpartum thyroiditis. Prospective study]. / Thyroïdite latente et post-partum. Etude prospective.

Thyroid evaluation was performed in 85 women at childbirth, then between 2 and 7 months, and 14 months later. Transient subclinical hypothyroidism was found in one woman; antithyroid antibodies were found in 10 and were persistent in 6, suggesting a late thyroiditis. For these 6 cases, 5 HLA typing showed 3 Locus DR4. The proportion of antithyroid antibody was the same in a reference population. This finding would be in agreement with the hypothesis of a latent thyroiditis, revealed by pregnancy. Relative iodine deficiency in France could explain the low frequency of post partum thyroiditis in the present study.

Clinical application of the newer beta-lactam antibiotics.

A variety of new beta-lactam antibiotics is in use today. A considerable number of new penicillins have extended spectra which include Pseudomonas and Klebsiella spp. and other important nosocomial organisms. In addition, clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, has been added to some of these compounds to enhance further their spectrum against Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria. The first-, second- and third-generation cephalosporins are described. Second-generation cephalosporins have an extended spectrum, covering Gram-negative organisms. Third-generation compounds have both improved beta-lactamase stability and better Gram-negative cover. Other types of beta-lactam antibiotics have recently been developed, such as imipenem and aztreonam, which also have broad activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

Microbiologic evaluation of cutaneous cellulitis in adults.

Fifty patients with cellulitis were evaluated prospectively using cultures of aspirates from the advancing edge of cellulitis, skin biopsy specimens, and blood. Potential microbial pathogens were isolated in 13 patients. Biopsy specimen cultures were positive in ten patients, while aspirate and blood cultures were positive in five and two, respectively. Aspirate, biopsy, or blood cultures were more often positive in patients with apparent primary lesions than in patients without such lesions. Apparent primary sites of infection were identified and cultured in 24 patients. beta-Hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 17 primary lesions, and coagulase-positive staphylococci were present in 13. Both organisms were isolated from ten primary lesions. Among patients with positive aspirate, biopsy, and/or blood cultures, the same pathogens were also isolated from primary sites in ten of ten patients. Clinical features, including temperature, white blood cell count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, were not predictive of positive aspirate, biopsy, or blood cultures. These cultures provided no microbiologic information that was not obtainable from culture of primary lesions.

Prospective pricing system and its effect on the principles and practice of infectious diseases.

The health care industry in general and hospitals in particular face an uncertain future as the federal government moved with unusual speed to enact sweeping Medicare legislation. These changing patterns of reimbursement reverse key economic incentives by which hospitals have been driven since the federal program for the elderly began 18 years ago. "Reasonable" cost reimbursement has been replaced by a policy that requires Medicare to establish and fix prices in advance, on a cost-per-case basis, using as a measure 467 categories called "diagnosis-related groups." These changes will present new challenges for the health care industry and will need innovative approaches to meet them. The prospective pricing system attempts to reverse the escalation of health care costs. Under this system, hospitals can realize greater profits only by reducing costs, not by incurring them. The prospective payment system will have profound effects on the practice of infectious diseases, and the potential impact on hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, physicians, and patients will have to be studied in detail.