The French national network dedicated to rare gynecological cancers diagnosis and management could improve the quality of surgery in daily practice of granulosa cell tumors. A TMRG and GINECO group Study.

OBJECTIVE: The French national rare gynecological tumor network has been established to improve the quality of care through offering expertise in double reading histological diagnosis, reviewing cases and guiding management of these tumors through specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards and online clinical guidelines (www.ovaire-rare.com). The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the development and implementation of this network by assessing the conformity of medical practice with the guidelines concerning the granulosa cell tumors (GCTs). METHODS: This is a French nationwide study, including 463 patients (out of the 639 identified patients) with a definitive diagnosis of GCT between 2011 and 2016. Surgical practices were analyzed for conformity with the current guidelines (www.ovaire-rare.org). Medical records, surgical and pathological reports were systematically analyzed. Total conformity was defined by a conservative (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) or radical surgery (hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) including surgical staging (omentectomy, peritoneal biopsies and peritoneal cytology) according to the FIGO stage. Partial conformity referred to a conservative or radical surgery without surgical staging and non-conformity was defined as a non-optimal surgery as recommended by the guidelines. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 49 years old (range 10-89). The median size of tumor was 94 mm (range 5-400). Radical surgery was performed in 240 patients (52%); while a fertility-sparing surgery was performed in 98 cases (21%). A surgical staging was performed in 76 cases (16%) and an evaluation of the endometrium in 289 cases (62%). Surgery was fully compliant with the guidelines in 65 patients (14%), partially compliant in 213 patients (46%), non-compliant in 137 patients (30%) and not assessable in 48 cases (10%). A statistically significant difference for compliance was observed in restaging surgery (p < 0,001), radical surgery (p = 0,017) and the period (before or after) of the implementation of the network (p < 0,001). Survival analyses did not allow us to demonstrate a significant difference in overall survival nor in PFS although there was a trend in favor of optimal surgery compared to incomplete/non optimal surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgical management's conformity to the guidelines increases over time from 2011 to 2016. According to this study, the implementation of a national network dedicated to rare gynecologic tumors seems to significantly improve the surgical management of the patients with ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

Prospective Assessment of First-Year Quality of Life After Pelvic Exenteration for Gynecologic Malignancy: A French Multicentric Study.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic exenteration remains one of the most mutilating procedures, with important postoperative morbidity, an altered body image, and long-term physical and psychosocial concerns. This study aimed to assess quality of life (QOL) during the first year after pelvic exenteration for gynecologic malignancy performed with curative intent. METHODS: A French multicentric prospective study was performed by including patients who underwent pelvic exenteration. Quality of life by measurement of functional and symptom scales was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and the EORTC QLQ-OV28 questionnaires before surgery, at baseline, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: The study enrolled 97 patients. Quality of life including physical, personal, fatigue, and anorexia reported in the QLQ-C30 was significantly reduced 1 month postoperatively and improved at least to baseline level 1 year after the procedure. Body image also was significantly reduced 1 month postoperatively. Global health, emotional, dyspnea, and anorexia items were significantly improved 1 year after surgery compared with baseline values. Unlike younger patients, elderly patients did not regain physical and social activities after pelvic exenteration. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic decision on performing a pelvic exenteration can have a severe and permanent impact on all aspects of patients' QOL. Deterioration of QOL was most significant during the first 3 months after surgery. Elderly patients were the only group of patients with permanent decreased physical and social function. Preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up evaluation should include health-related QOL instruments, counseling by a multidisciplinary team to cover all aspects concerning stoma care, sexual function, and long-term concerns after surgery.

Genomic alterations and radioresistance in breast cancer: an analysis of the ProfiLER protocol.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) patients with comparable prognostic features have heterogeneous outcomes, party related to a possible radiotherapy resistance leading to local-regional recurrences (LRR). The objective of the present study was to identify predictive molecular biomarkers of LRR of BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Genetic profile of 146 BC patients' tumours included in the ProfiLER clinical trial (NC01774409) between 2013 and 2016 were analysed using next-generation-sequencing and comparative-genomic-hybridization tests. Patients and tumour characteristics were retrospectively collected and analysed for association with genomic rearrangements (mutations, amplification, deletions). Only gene alterations observed in >3% of the tumours were selected. RESULTS: A total of 193 genomic rearrangements were identified, and 16 were observed in >3% of tumours. One was statistically correlated to the risk of local relapse. A median loco-regional progression-free survival (LRPFS) of 23.6 years was reported for PIK3CA mutation carriers (n = 31, 21.2%) versus 9.9 years for PIK3CA wild-type patients (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.12-0.65, P = 0.002 in univariate analysis). PIK3CA mutation was identified as an independent protective factor on LRR using multivariate analysis (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.99, P = 0.047). All other mutations, amplifications or deletions were not found associated with LRPFS. CONCLUSION: PIK3CA mutation was associated with a lower risk of local relapse in this population of BCs. This is consistent with recent studies suggesting PIK3CA to be part of biological pathways impacting the radiosensitivity.

Development of a noninvasive HIFU treatment for breast adenocarcinomas using a toroidal transducer based on preliminary attenuation measurements.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among women. For the last fifteen years, treatments that are less invasive than lumpectomy, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, have been developed, with encouraging results. In this study, a toroidal HIFU transducer was used to create lesions of at least 2 cm in diameter within less than one minute of treatment. The toroidal HIFU transducer created two focal zones that led to large, fast and homogeneous ablations (10.5 cc/min). The experiments were conducted in 30 human samples of normal breast tissues recovered from mastectomies to measure acoustic attenuation (N = 30), and then, HIFU lesions were created (N = 15). Eight HIFU ablations were performed to evaluate the reproducibility of the lesions. HIFU lesions were created in 45 s with a toroidal HIFU transducer working at 2.5 MHz. The longest and shortest axes of the HIFU lesions were 21.7 ± 3.1 mm and 23.5 ± 3.3 mm respectively, corresponding to an average volume of 7.3 ± 1.4 cm3. These HIFU lesions were performed at an average depth of 19.0 ± 1.5 mm, while the integrity of the skin was preserved. The HIFU-treated breast tissues had a higher level of attenuation (0.57 ± 0.11 Np.cm-1.MHz-1) when compared to the untreated tissues (0.21 ± 0.04 Np.cm-1.MHz-1). This study shows the feasibility of a fast and fully noninvasive treatment using a toroidal transducer for breast tumors measuring up to 15 mm in diameter.

Lack of prognostic impact of sentinel node micro-metastases in endocrine receptor-positive early breast cancer: results from a large multicenter cohort☆.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic impact of lymph node micro-metastases (pN1mi) has been discordantly reported in the literature. The need to clarify this point for decision-making regarding adjuvant therapy, particularly for patients with endocrine receptor (ER)-positive status and HER2-negative tumors, is further reinforced by the generalization of gene expression signatures using pN status in their recommendation algorithm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 13 773 patients treated for ER-positive breast cancer in 13 French cancer centers from 1999 to 2014. Five categories of axillary lymph node (LN) status were defined: negative LN (pN0i-), isolated tumor cells [pN0(i+)], pN1mi, and pN1 divided into single (pN1 = 1) and multiple (pN1 > 1) macro-metastases (>2 mm). The effect of LN micro-metastases on outcomes was investigated both in the entire cohort of patients and in clinically relevant subgroups according to tumor subtypes. Propensity-score-based matching was used to balance differences in known prognostic variables associated with pN status. RESULTS: As determined by sentinel LN biopsy, 9427 patients were pN0 (68.4%), 546 pN0(i+) (4.0%), 1446 pN1mi (10.5%) and 2354 pN1 with macro-metastases (17.1%). With a median follow-up of 61.25 months, pN1 status, but not pN1mi, significantly impacted overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and breast-cancer-specific survival. In the subgroup of patients with known tumor subtype, pN1 = 1, as pN1 > 1, but not pN1mi, had a significant prognostic impact on OS. DFS and MFS were only impacted by pN1 > 1. Similar results were observed in the subgroup of patients with luminal A-like tumors (n = 7101). In the matched population analysis, pN1macro, but not pN1mi, had a statistically significant negative impact on MFS and OS. CONCLUSION: LN micro-metastases have no detectable prognostic impact and should not be considered as a determining factor in indicating adjuvant chemotherapy. The evaluation of the risk of recurrence using second-generation signatures should be calculated considering micro-metastases as pN0.

Lymphovascular invasion has a significant prognostic impact in patients with early breast cancer, results from a large, national, multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We determined the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in a large, national, multicenter, retrospective cohort of patients with early breast cancer (BC) according to numerous factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data on 17 322 early BC patients treated in 13 French cancer centers from 1991 to 2013. Survival functions were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate survival analyses were carried out using the Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for significant variables associated with LVI or not. Two propensity score-based matching approaches were used to balance differences in known prognostic variables associated with LVI status and to assess the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in LVI-positive luminal A-like patients. RESULTS: LVI was present in 24.3% (4205) of patients. LVI was significantly and independently associated with all clinical and pathological characteristics analyzed in the entire population and according to endocrine receptor (ER) status except for the time period in binary logistic regression. According to multivariate analyses including ER status, AC, grade, and tumor subtypes, the presence of LVI was significantly associated with a negative prognostic impact on overall (OS), disease-free (DFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in all patients [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.345, HR = 1.312, and HR = 1.415, respectively; P < 0.0001], which was also observed in the propensity score-based analysis in addition to the association of AC with a significant increase in both OS and DFS in LVI-positive luminal A-like patients. LVI did not have a significant impact in either patients with ER-positive grade 3 tumors or those with AC-treated luminal A-like tumors. CONCLUSION: The presence of LVI has an independent negative prognostic impact on OS, DFS, and MFS in early BC patients, except in ER-positive grade 3 tumors and in those with luminal A-like tumors treated with AC. Therefore, LVI may indicate the existence of a subset of luminal A-like patients who may still benefit from adjuvant therapy.

[Borderline Ovarian Tumours: CNGOFS Guidelines for Clinical Practice - Hormonal Contraception and MHT/HRT after Borderline Ovarian Tumour]. / Tumeurs frontières de l'ovaire. Recommandations pour la pratique clinique du CNGOF ­ Contraception hormonale et THM/THS après tumeur frontière de l'ovaire.

Contraceptive options and menopause management are frequent clinical issues among women previously treated for a borderline ovarian tumour (BOT). OBJECTIVES: To synthesize knowledge on BOT and risk related to hormonal contraception and to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and to propose recommendations on contraception and MHT after BOT treatment. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature about hormonal contraception and BOT and on MHT and BOT was conducted on PubMed/Medline and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: There are no data concerning hormonal contraception after BOT. Current or previous oral contraception is associated with a trend towards decreased risk of serous BOT. Mucinous BOT risk is not or slightly decreased by oral contraception. Hormonal contraception is thus not contraindicated in women previously treated for a BOT (grade C). MHT is associated with a trend towards increased risk of serous BOT. No relation was found between MHT and risk of mucinous BOT. Serous BOTs with high-risk histological criteria (micropapillary pattern, stromal microinvasion or peritoneal implants) are at high-risk of invasive potentially hormone-sensitive recurrence. Hence, caution is needed in the decisions of using MHT after serous BOT with one of these high-risk histological criteria, and MHT should be discussed on a case to case basis. MHT can be prescribed without restriction in women previously treated for mucinous and serous BOT without high-risk histological criteria (grade C). CONCLUSION: Hormonal contraception can be used after BOT. The histological characteristics of the tumour must be taken into account when deciding on the use of HRT/THM.

[Laparoscopy-assisted vaginal pelvic exenteration]. / Exentération pelvienne par abord laparoscopique et périnéal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility, morbidity and survival outcome of laparoscopy-assisted vaginal pelvic exenteration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 2000, 7 en-bloc pelvic exenteration combining a vaginal or perineal approach and laparoscopic approach have been performed in our cancer center associated with complex laparoscopic reconstruction. All patients but one received previous irradiation. Two patients underwent a total pelvic exenteration; three patients an anterior and middle exenteration; two patients a middle and posterior exenteration. Urinary system was reconstructed with an ileal loop in one case, with a hand-assisted laparoscopic Miami pouch in four cases. Reconstruction of the vagina was performed with an omental cylinder in three cases, with a gluteal thigh flap in one case. A colorectal anastomosis was performed in three patients, one patient had an end colostomy. A mini-laparotomy conversion was necessary in one case because of a pelvic side involvement to perform an intraoperative irradiation. RESULTS: Mean time of the procedure was 6.5 hours with peroperative bleeding less than 500 cm3. Four patients presented minor complications. No revision of the Miami pouch was necessary. Mean length of hospital stay was 27 days. The four patients with a Miami pouch were able to self catheterize at the time of discharge. Mean follow-up was 14 months. Four patients died of the disease (three were metastatic). One patient presented a local recurrence. Two patients are free of disease. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic or laparoscopy-assisted vaginal pelvic exenteration followed by reconstruction is feasible with curative intent in selected patients.

[Axillary lymph node dissection after breast reconstruction by pedicled Latissimus dorsi: Operative steps and outcomes]. / Curage axillaire après reconstruction mammaire par lambeau de grand dorsal: principes chirurgicaux et résultats.

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively reviewed all the cases of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) performed within a year after an immediate breast reconstruction procedure by a pedicled Latissimus dorsi, which is transferred to the anterior thoracic wall through an axillary funnel. Operative technical steps are described taking account of the new anatomical relationship of the axilla. METHODS: We assessed postoperative immediate complications and late sequelaes. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2013, 21 ALND were performed. Immediate postoperative period was free of complication in 85% of cases when following the operative steps described in this work. Partial or total necrosis of the reconstructed breast did not occur. With a median follow-up of 64 months, 6 patients (28% of the whole population) presented at least one sequelae like a feeling of heavy arm (n=2, 9%) or a lymphedema (n=3, 14%), a chronic neuropathic pain (n=4, 19%) or a limitation in the arm range of motion (n=2, 9%). CONCLUSION: ALND after immediate breast reconstruction by a pedicled Latissimus dorsi is feasible and safe, without any additional postoperative complication in comparison with a classic ALND.

[Axillary lymph node metastases with an occult breast: About 16 cases from a cohort of 7770 patients]. / Envahissement ganglionnaire axillaire sans tumeur primitive mammaire retrouvée : à propos de 16cas issus d'une cohorte de 7770patientes.

OBJECTIVES: Isolated axillary lymph node metastases is an unusual clinical presentation of breast carcinoma. We studied its different issues. METHODS: This study is a follow-up study of 16patients, treated between 1996 and 2012, presenting with axillary metastases with an occult breast carcinoma, which could not be identified by physical examination nor by a conventional imaging or a breast MRI. Clinical characteristics, histological analysis, treatment, monitoring and five-year survival rate were studied. RESULTS: The incidence of this kind of breast cancer was 0.20%. A breast MRI was performed in 75% of the patients. The histology of these tumors showed a rate of hormono-sensibility of 50% and an HER2 overexpression of 44%. Sixty-nine percent of the patients had no breast surgery or radiotherapy; global five-year survival rate for these women was 77.4%±11.5. CONCLUSION: The survival rates of this study should lead the practitioner to choose a less aggressive breast therapy. Moreover, the histological characteristics explain the high metastatic potential of these tumors, and relate them to the HER2+ subclass of gene expression patterns of breast carcinomas.

[Satisfaction in ambulatory patients with breast-conserving surgery and sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer]. / Satisfaction des patientes opérées par tumorectomie-ganglion sentinelle pour cancer du sein en ambulatoire.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate outpatient satisfaction for breast cancer surgery and compare with inpatient satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our observational prospective study included all patients who underwent breast cancer surgical procedure (breast-conserving surgery and sentinel node biopsy) between July and December 2013 in a cancer center. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire at discharge and 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-five patients (exclusively women) were included; the outpatient group comprised 102 patients and the inpatient group 53. The study showed no statistical difference in patients' satisfaction betweeen the two groups at discharge (P=0.20) and 30 days after surgery (P=0.30); 101 (99%) outpatients and 44 (95.7%) inpatients had very good or excellent level of satisfaction at discharge and 88 (92,7%) and 49 (98%), respectively 30 days after surgery. The overall mean satisfaction score was 9.1±1.2 [3-10] at discharge and 8.7±1.3 [3-10] 30 days after surgery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study found high degree of satisfaction after breast surgery for cancer both for outpatients and inpatients. This suggests that ambulatory surgery is possible and valid for this type of oncologic breast surgery.

[Postoperative morbidities after modified posterior pelvic exenteration for ovarian cancer]. / Complications après exentération pelvienne postérieure modifiée selon Hudson dans le cadre de tumeurs malignes ovariennes.

OBJECTIVE: Complication and survival analysis of cytoreduction surgery with modified posterior pelvic exenteration in the surgical treatment of the ovarian malignant tumor. METHODS: A retrospective monocentric study between 2000 and 2013 in Rhone-Alpes cancer treatment center. One hundred and fifty-two patients with ovarian cancer and treated by surgery with modified posterior pelvic exenteration were included. Complication in the 30 days after surgery was analysed by the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: In our study, rate of global complication was 62.5% with a morbidity rate of grave complication of 7.9%. Our rate of complete resection was 82.2%. Three fistulas (2.2%) were found. On average, there was 6.6±1.8 (2-11) surgery gesture associated with Hudson resection during surgery. In univariate analysis, there was a statistic significant association between complication from the rank II of Clavien-Dindo classification and supraradical surgery, post-chemotherapy surgery, recurrent surgery, the resection of a diaphragmatic dome, and the partial gastric resection. This association was also observed with the number of surgical gesture associated with Hudson resection. CONCLUSIONS: The main prognostic surgical factor in ovarian cancer is to obtain a no macroscopic residual disease. The modified posterior pelvic exenteration allowed to obtain it. Our study demonstrates a low rate of grave complication further to this type of surgery.

Excessive checking behavior during an image comparison task in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia display significant working memory and executive deficits. In patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), several studies suggest that working memory dysfunction may be one of the causes of compulsive checking behaviors. Hence, this study aimed at assessing whether patients with schizophrenia were impaired on an image comparison task used to measure checking behaviors, and whether the origin and profile of impairment on this task was different between schizophrenia and OCD. METHODS: Eye movement recordings were used to assess the checking behavior of 24 patients with schizophrenia and 24 control participants who had to decide whether two images were different or identical. The verbal and visuo-spatial components of participants' working memory were measured using the reading span and backward location span tests. RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients with schizophrenia had reduced working memory spans and showed excessive checking behavior when comparing the two images. However, the intensity of their checking behavior was not significantly related to their working memory deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Several recent studies demonstrated that the excessive checking behaviors displayed by patients with OCD were related to working memory dysfunction. The absence of a relationship between the excessive checking behavior of patients with schizophrenia and their working memory deficits suggests that checking behaviors do not have the same origin in the two disorders.

Nutritional and metabolic studies in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

A study was done of 15 children and adolescents, aged 2.5 to 17.5 years, who were treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for 6 to 24 months. Plasma albumin concentration decreased from 34.4 +/- 4.8 g/liter at the onset of therapy to 31.3 +/- 5.3 g/liter after 19 to 24 months. Children less than 6 years old had lower albumin levels (29.4 +/- 1.7 g/liter) than did the older group (36.3 +/- 4.2 g/liter). The lower plasma albumin was related to peritoneal protein loss but not to protein intake. Plasma free amino acid concentrations were not significantly modified. No changes occurred in the oral glucose tolerance test during the course of CAPD. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were abnormally high for age, with a correlation seen between cholesterolemia and peritoneal protein loss.

[Isoelectrofocusing in the study of the heterogeneity of immunoglobulins G in man with or without proliferative symptomatology]. / Apport de l'isoélectrofocalisation à l'étude de l'hétérogénéité des immunoglobulines G chez l'homme avec ou sans symptomatologie proliférative.

In the present investigation, the immunoglobulins G of human sera were studied after isoelectrofocusing using polyacrylamide flat bed gel. The heterogeneity of immunoglobulins was demonstrated in normal serum as well as in pathological situations. Isoelectrofocusing study was performed using the total serum or the immunoglobulin's preparations obtained after absorption and elution on staphylococcus protein A. These methods respect the integrity of immunoglobulins and allow the study of native immunoglobulins. Furthermore it was demonstrated the micro-heterogeneity of immunoglobulins (antibody) induced by antitetanic vaccination.

[Creatine kinase BB sera in neonatal injury children (author's transl)]. / Créatine kinase sérique BB dans la souffrance cérébral du nouveau-né.

The purpose of this study is to find, besides the determination of lactate in blood, a suitable and specific indicator of brain damage in newborn. Accordingly, we studied the total creatine kinase (CK) activity, by the method of Rosalki, and its subunit isoenzymes BB (CK BB) by fluorescence following electrophoresis on cellulose acetate. A first group (thirty newborns) without any disease represents our taest group. We havae found that the normal ranges for CK total were elevated (about 7 200 nkat/l). Electrophoresis of sera from these patients showed in addition to the normally migration isoenzyme (CK BB) was present in very small amounts, no sufficient for quantification. A second group was constituted to thirty ill newborns, with perinatal brain damage. In twenty-eight to thirty children, we find a significant correlation between the level of CK BB and brain insult. But, we have showed that it was necessary to take in consideration the time passed between the hypoxic insult and the blood puncture. Otherwise, we showed by immuno inhibition with specific antibody and by chromatography with gradient elution that identification of CK BB by electrophoresis cannot be misinterpreted. Furthermore, we demonstrated by this method, that position of CK 1 BB in blood is exactly the same that an purified human extract. This study concluded that a high level CK 1 BB in blood of newborn infants with perinatal brain damage has an accurately diagnosis value, if the blood puncture is done immediately during the severe CNS damage.

[Comparison by isoelectrofocusing between blood immunoglobulin G of the mother and her newborn. Value of the method (author's transl)]. / Comparaison des tracés d'isoélectrofocalisation en plaque des sérums de mère et de nouveau-né au niveau des immunoglobulines. Valeur de la méthode.

The present investigation deals with the study about immunoglobulins in blood of twenty six couples mother-newborn. The immunoglobulins G were determinated by radial immunodiffusion and we stated the profile of serum's proteins after isoelectrofocusing. The results obtained from this study, showed a really important percentage of very differents profiles between mother and newborn's proteins. These divergences are independently from the level of immunoglobulins. The purpose of this investigation is to show the very high analytical power of the method. But it is limited in interpretation of results. With conventional protein procedures, it is not possible to say if the newborn is able to synthetize immunoglobulins very early in life. On the contrary, with specific methods of revelation, isoelectrofocusing seems the better procedure of investigation for identity immunoglobulins in blood.

[Evaluation of a new commercial kit for emergency determination of serum myoglobin]. / Evaluation d'une nouvelle trousse commerciale pour le dosage en urgence de la myoglobine sérique.

The usefulness of a nephelometric-based serum myoglobin assay kit in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was assessed in 92 consecutive patients admitted within 24 hours of the onset of spontaneous chest pain lasting > or = 20 minutes. The discharge diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction in 37 patients (40.2%), myocardial infarction lasting > or = 6 hours in 10, and no myocardial infarction in 45 (48.9%). The characteristic curve showed that the best differential diagnostic value was a serum myoglobin > or = 130 micrograms/l (sensitivity, 75.6%; specificity, 91.7%; positive-predictive value, 88%; negative-predictive value, 82%). The initial diagnosis was doubtful in 33 patients (36%) because of an inconclusive electrocardiogram. A serum myoglobin value of > or = 130 micrograms/l would have identified 9 of the 13 patients with acute myocardial infarction and all of the 20 patients without myocardial infarction, giving an accuracy of 84.8%. These results suggest that this new rapid, quantitative serum myoglobin assay would be useful in the evaluation of suspected myocardial infarction, especially in patients with an inconclusive electrocardiogram.

[Deep pelvic endometriosis: management and proposal for a "surgical classification"]. / L'endométriose pelvienne profonde: prise en charge thérapeutique et proposition d'une << classification chirurgicale >>

Deep pelvic endometriosis presents essentially in the form of a painful syndrome dominated by deep dyspareunia and painful functional symptoms that recur according to the menstrual cycle, with the semiology directly correlated with the location of the lesions (bladder, rectum). It is essential to investigate these deep endometriosis lesions and draw up a precise map, which is the only way to be sure that exeresis will be complete. The treatment of first intention remains surgery, and medical treatment is only palliative in the majority of cases. Success of treatment depends on how radical surgical exeresis is. Based on analysis of the anatomical distribution of deep pelvic endometriosis lesions, a "surgical classification" is proposed with the aim of establishing standard modes for surgical treatment. Further studies are required to clarify the place and modes for pre- and postoperative medical treatment.

[Validation of the French version of a pleasure scale for children (The Pleasure Scale for Children, PSC, Kazdin, 1989) in 214 hospitalized children in pediatrics]. / Etude de validation de la version française de l'échelle de plaisir pour infants (EPE) de Kazdin (the pleasure scale for children, PSC, Kazdin, 1989) chez 214 enfants hospitalisés en pédiatrie.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to determine the metrological parameters of a french version of the Pleasure Scale for Children (PSC): 214 (121 males and 93 females) with a mean age of 8.69 years (sd: 1.95) ranging from 6 years to 12 years were included in the study. The children were inpatients presenting various somatic disorders. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: First a principal component analysis was done on the 39 items of the correlation matrix. Several guidelines were used to limit the number of factors (Kaiser criteria, Cattell scree test, Horn parallel analysis). Secondly the construct validity was studied using the alpha Cronbach coefficient and by calculing the Pearson correlation coefficient between each item and the total score. Thirdly the concurrent validity was determinated using two items of the Children Depression Rating Scale--Revised (CDRS-R) measuring pleasure (social withdrawal and enjoyment capacity). Fourthly the discriminant validity of the PSC was studied by comparing non depressive children (score lower than 30 to the CDRS-R) and depressive children (score higher than 30 to the CDRS-R). RESULTS: The principal component analysis showed a one factor solution with 33 items among the 39 having a higher than 0.3 saturation. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.84. All the items correlated with the total score. The mean value was 0.37. The correlations between the total score of the scale and the CDRS-R enjoyment capacity and social withdrawal items were respectively -0.37 (p < 0.01) and -0.38 (p < 0.01). PSC score were significantly lower in depressive children (m = 86.96; sd = 8.33) than in non depressive children (m = 94.67; sd = 10) (t = 5.32; df = 212; p < 0.001).