Risk of digestive cancers in a cohort of 69 460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer in Europe: the PanCareSurFup study.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk of subsequent primary neoplasms (SPNs), but the risk of developing specific digestive SPNs beyond age 40 years remains uncertain. We investigated risks of specific digestive SPNs within the largest available cohort worldwide. METHODS: The PanCareSurFup cohort includes 69 460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer from 12 countries in Europe. Risks of digestive SPNs were quantified using standardised incidence ratios (SIRs), absolute excess risks and cumulative incidence. RESULTS: 427 digestive SPNs (214 colorectal, 62 liver, 48 stomach, 44 pancreas, 59 other) were diagnosed in 413 survivors. Wilms tumour (WT) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors were at greatest risk (SIR 12.1; 95% CI 9.6 to 15.1; SIR 7.3; 95% CI 5.9 to 9.0, respectively). The cumulative incidence increased the most steeply with increasing age for WT survivors, reaching 7.4% by age 55% and 9.6% by age 60 years (1.0% expected based on general population rates). Regarding colorectal SPNs, WT and HL survivors were at greatest risk; both seven times that expected. By age 55 years, 2.3% of both WT (95% CI 1.4 to 3.9) and HL (95% CI 1.6 to 3.2) survivors had developed a colorectal SPN-comparable to the risk among members of the general population with at least two first-degree relatives affected. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy surveillance before age 55 is recommended in many European countries for individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer, but not for WT and HL survivors despite a comparable risk profile. Clinically, serious consideration should be given to the implementation of colonoscopy surveillance while further evaluation of its benefits, harms and cost-effectiveness in WT and HL survivors is undertaken.

[Manual detorsion and elective orchiopexy as an alternative treatment for acute testicular torsion in children]. / Detorsión manual y cirugía diferida en la torsión testicular aguda.

AIM: To present our experience in pediatric patients with testicular torsion (TT) treated by manual detorsion (MD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients treated by MD in a 10-year period in a single center. Description of symptoms, detorsion technique, follow-up and complications. RESULTS: 76 patients diagnosed with TT were studied in a 10-year period. 16 patients were treated by MD. Mean age was 12 years (Range: 10-13 years) and time from onset of pain was 5.25 hours (±4,2). Left testicle was affected in 75% (n=12). Detorsion maneuver was performed by a pediatric surgeon at the radiology room, in counter-clockwise direction in the right testicle and clockwise direction in the left testicle in all cases. The success was defined as the relief of pain, normal physical examination and was confirmed by Doppler ultrasound performed immediately after MD. MD was effective in 75% (n=12) and orchiopexy was performed under elective conditions at median time of 2 weeks (0-5 weeks). MD was unsuccessful in 3 patients and emergency orchiopexy was performed with no testicular loss. 1 patient had a second MD maneuver for incomplete detorsion. No short or long term complication nor testicular atrophy was observed. CONCLUSION: MD and elective orchiopexy seems to be an efficient and reliable procedure in the treatment of TT in children. Further studies may be necessary to establish its safety and indications.

OBJETIVO: Presentar nuestra experiencia, protocolo e indicaciones de la detorsión testicular manual (DM) como tratamiento en la torsión testicular (TT). MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con TT tratados mediante DM en los últimos 10 años. Analizamos tiempo de evolución, técnica de detorsión, evolución y complicaciones. RESULTADOS: 76 pacientes diagnosticados de TT en los últimos 10 años, de los cuales 21% (n=16) fueron tratados mediante DM. Edad media de 12 años (rango: 10-13 años) y duración del comienzo del dolor de 5,25 horas (± 4,2 horas), mayor frecuencia en el testículo izquierdo (75%, n=12). La técnica de DM se realizó ecoguiada, en dirección horaria y antihoraria en el lado derecho e izquierdo, respectivamente. El éxito se definió como el alivio inmediato de los síntomas, hallazgos normales en el examen físico y comprobación de la recuperación del flujo mediante ecografía tras la maniobra de detorsión. Fue efectiva en el 75% (n=12), siendo dados de alta a las 24 horas, tras realizar nueva ecografía de control y comprobar normalidad en el flujo. Orquidopexia vía escrotal diferida a las 2 semanas (rango: 0-5,4 semanas). En tres pacientes (18,8%) se realizó cirugía urgente por insuficiente recuperación del flujo y en otro paciente (6,2%) fue necesario realizar una segunda maniobra de detorsión. No hubo complicaciones tras DM a corto/largo plazo, ningún caso de atrofia testicular. CONCLUSIONES: La DM ecoguiada y orquidopexia diferida es una opción terapéutica en pacientes con TT de corta evolución. Es necesario series más amplias y realizar estudios prospectivos para establecer su seguridad y eficacia.

Use of a high-density DNA probe array for detecting mutations involved in rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A Mycobacterium high-density DNA probe array designed to detect rpoB mutations conferring rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated. The rpoB hybridisation patterns produced by 41 susceptible (RifS) and 59 rifampicin-resistant (RifR) clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis were compared with the results of conventional dideoxynucleotide sequencing of the rpoB gene. For all the RifR isolates, the rpoB hybridisation patterns correlated with the rpoB sequencing results. Among the 59 isolates, 11 distinct amino-acid changes were detected by the DNA probe array. Of these, 36 (61%) corresponded to replacement of the serine residue found in position 531 (S531L in 34 isolates and S531W in two isolates), 16 (27%) affected histidine 526 (five H526D, five H526Y, four H526L, one H526N and one H526R), four (6.8%) replaced aspartate 516 with a valine, and one (1.7%) replaced glutamine 513 with a leucine. Deletion of the asparagine residue at position 519 was detected in one isolate susceptible to rifampicin, but yielding c. 0.1% resistant colonies on rifampicin-containing medium. No mutation was detected in the rpoB region from one isolate yielding c. 5% of resistant colonies on rifampicin-containing medium. Finally, a D516Y substitution was detected in association with an unexpected mutation, G523W, not tiled on the DNA probe array, but which could be detected by analysing the hybridisation pattern obtained with the wild-type probes covering codon 523. In conclusion, the Mycobacterium probe array is a promising approach to rapid detection of mutations involved in rifampicin resistance in M. tuberculosis.

A test of a dual central pattern generator hypothesis for subcortical control of locomotion.

This study was designed to examine the nature of neural circuits involved in subcortical inter-limb coordination and reflex modulation mechanisms of locomotion. These circuits, called central pattern generators (CPGs), are believed to receive tonic input and generate rhythmically alternating sets of commands. Although CPGs have been theorized to exist in humans, their potential dual role in inter-limb coordination and reflex modulation is unclear. In the present study, nine participants walked on a treadmill, timing their heel-strikes to a metronome which varied the phase lag from 0.5 to 1.0 pi radians (0.1 pi intervals). A stimulus was delivered to the sural nerve and reflexes were measured in the ipsilateral and contralateral lower extremities through electromyography. The similarity between phase lag conditions for both temporal coordination (i.e., relative timing aspects between muscles and/or limbs) and reflex intensities suggested that they may be controlled by the same subcortical circuitry. Two plausible explanations exist: (1) a single CPG coordinates muscular contractions and phasically alters proprioceptive reflex modulation, as well as cutaneous input, using feed-forward control; (2) two separate circuits are strongly entrained, producing synchronous outputs for inter-limb coordination and reflex modulation. The out-of-phase task used in this study was limited in discerning such a difference, if it exists.

[Distribution of respiratory arrests in preterm and term infants (author's transl)]. / Pauses respiratoires du nouveau-né prématuré et a terme.

Incidence, distribution and periodicity of respiratory arrests larger than or equal to 2 seconds duration were studied in relation to age and sleep states by means of polygraphic recording in 61 tracing of 44 preterm and term infants free of pathologic conditions known to increase the risk of respiratory arrests. Respiratory arrests at any infant's age were found to be more frequent during active sleep. Incidence of respiratory arrests decreases with age in all sleep states. At any age the average duration of respiratory arrest is longer in quiet sleep. When restrictive definition is applied periodic breathing was found to be a rare and probably an abnormal phenomenon not in connection with any particular sleep state. Apneas of longer than 10 seconds duration were observed rather seldon, as well as cardiac slowing coinciding with respiratory arrest or apnea. Bradypnea and poor differenciation of breathing pattern according to sleep states represent a rare and presumably abnormal finding. The authors feel that the elements observed should be considered in estimating the risk of severe apnea in infants.