Dedicated software to harmonize the follow-up of oncological patients.

Objective: To test and evaluate a sofware dedicated to the follow-up of oncological CT scans for potential use in the Radiology department. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, 37 oncological patients with baseline and follow-up CT scans were reinterpreted using a dedicated software. Baseline CT scans were chosen from the imaging reports available in our PACS (picture archiving and communicatin systems). Follow-up interpretations were independently assessed with the software. We evaluated the target lesion sums and the tumor response based on RECIST 1.1 (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors). Results: There was no significant difference in the target lesion sums and the tumor response assessments between the PACS data and the imaging software. There was no over or underestimation of the disease with the software. There was a sigificant deviation (progression versus stability) in three cases. For two patients, this difference was related to the evaluation of the response of non-target lesions. The difference in the third patient was due to comparison with a previous CT scan than to the baseline exam. There was a miscalculation in 13 % of the reports and in 28 % of the cases the examination was compared to the previous CT scan. Finally, the tumor response was not detailed in 43 % of the follow-up reports. Conclusion: The use of dedicated oncology monitoring software could help in reducing intepretation time and in limiting human errors.

Entre santé et science : littératie en santé et perception de la recherche médicale.

OBJECTIVE: Biomedical innovation plays an important role in health care pathways and public debates. Nevertheless, existing measures of health literacy take little account of medical research. In this article, we explore the relationship between health literacy and attitudes toward medical research, from clinical trials to more general attitudes toward science. METHODS: We analyze the results of two self-administered questionnaires conducted on samples of the French adult population in 2020 and 2021 (N=2003 and N=2022). A series of twelve questions assessed health literacy (HLS19-Q12-EN) and ten questions addressed attitudes to clinical trials, medical research, and science in general. The analyses characterize the population’s perception of medical research issues and its association with health literacy. RESULTS: There is a significant association between health literacy and perception of research. A low level of literacy is associated with lower knowledge of clinical trials and a more negative attitude toward them, less confidence in science and its contributions to society. CONCLUSIONS: Given the continuity between care and research, health literacy is likely to be a relevant measure for characterizing disparity in attitudes toward clinical trials and improving access to innovation.

Health Literacy and Health Care System Confidence as Determinants of Attitudes to Vaccines in France: Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy involves individuals' knowledge, personal skills, and confidence to take action to evaluate and appraise health-related information and improve their health or that of their community. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the association between health literacy and attitude toward vaccines, adjusted with other factors. METHODS: We used the SLAVACO Wave 3, a survey conducted in December 2021 among a sample of 2022 individuals, representative of the French adult population. We investigated factors associated with the attitude toward vaccines using respondents' different sociodemographic data, health literacy levels, and the health care system confidence levels using a multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the participants, 440.4 (21.8%) were classified as "distrustful of vaccines in general," 729.2 (36.1%) were "selectively hesitant," and 852.4 (42.2%) were "nonhesitant." In our model, the level of health literacy was not statistically different between the "distrustful of vaccines in general" and the "selectively hesitant" (P=.48), but it was associated with being a "nonhesitant" (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.86, 95% CI 1.25-2.76). The confidence in the health care system was a strong predictor for a "nonhesitant" attitude toward vaccines (aOR 12.4, 95% CI 7.97-19.2). We found a positive correlation of 0.34 (P<.001) between health literacy and confidence in the health care system, but the interaction term between health literacy and health care system confidence was not significant in our model. CONCLUSIONS: Health literacy was associated with a "nonhesitant" attitude toward vaccines. The findings demonstrated that health literacy and confidence in the health care system are modestly correlated. Therefore, to tackle the subject of vaccine hesitancy, the main focus should be on increasing the population's confidence and on increasing their health literacy levels or providing vaccine information addressing the needs of less literate citizens.

Socioeconomic and cultural factors associated with pap smear screening among French women living in Réunion Island.

BACKGROUND: Réunion Island is a French overseas territory located in the southern Indian Ocean, with a challenging socioeconomic and multicultural context. Compared to mainland France, Réunion has an overincidence and overmortality of cervical cancer. In order to investigate these two issues, it is important to evaluate the barriers and potential levers to Pap smear screening among female inhabitants of the island. We aimed to identify the specific socio-demographic factors, cultural factors, and living conditions associated with Pap smear screening in Réunion, with a view to increasing uptake. METHODS: We conducted a Knowledge Attitude Behavior and Practices (KABP) survey on cervical cancer screening practices among women aged between 25 and 65 years old living in Réunion Island, selected using random digit dialing sampling. Data were collected using Computer Assistant Telephone Interviews. Weighted chi-squared tests and Student's t-tests were used to compare women who had up-to-date Pap smear screening with women who did not. Weighted logistic models were used to identify the factors associated with not having up-to-date screening. RESULTS: A total of 1000 women were included in the study. Of these, 88.1% had a Pap smear test during the previous three years. Factors independently associated with not being up to date were as follows: aged over 55 (AOR 2.3 [1.2-4.3]), no children (AOR 2.5 [1.4-4.3]), having free universal health coverage (AOR 1.7 [1.1-2.7]), an income per unit consumption lower than 1500€ per month (AOR 2.0 [1.1-3.7]), low health literacy (AOR 2.7 [1.7-4.1]), not consulting a general practitioner in the prior 12 months (AOR 3.6 [2.0-6.5]), and a BMI > 30 (AOR 2.6 [1.5-4.4]). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale survey focusing on recommended Pap smear screening uptake in Réunion Island. Although self-reported screening incidence was higher than in mainland France, national screening policies must take into account the island's diverse social and cultural characteristics (e.g., an ageing population, low health literacy), while implementing actions to fight against poverty and increase general access to healthcare.

Diaphragm movement sensor for phrenic nerve monitoring during cryoballoon procedures: the first clinical evaluation.

Background and aims: Right phrenic nerve palsy is the most frequent complication of cryoballoon procedures. The SMARTFREEZE™ console (Boston Scientific, St. Paul, MN, USA) has integrated a new tool for diaphragm monitoring-the Diaphragm Movement Sensor; however, it has not been evaluated in clinical practice. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of the Diaphragm Movement Sensor based on compound motor action potential data recorded simultaneously. Methods: Thirty consecutive patients (mean age 63.2 ± 10.2 years) were included. We simultaneously recorded the compound motor action potential and the Diaphragm Movement Sensor during cryoapplications in the right pulmonary veins. The right phrenic nerve was paced at 60 per minute, 12 V and 2.9 ms. Compound motor action potential monitoring with a 30% decrease cutoff for the diagnosis of phrenic nerve threatening was considered the gold standard. The Diaphragm Movement Sensor decrease threshold was also set at 30%. Results: Considering compound motor action potential monitoring, phrenic nerve threatening occurred 11 times (in seven patients) among 84 cryoapplications (13.1%) at the right pulmonary veins. The sensitivity and specificity of the Diaphragm Movement Sensor were, respectively, 33% (95% CI: 7%-70%) and 49% (95% CI: 38%-61%; P < 0.001). The predictive positive and negative values for the Diaphragm Movement Sensor were, respectively, 7% (95% CI: 2%-20%) and 86% (95% CI: 72%-95%). The Diaphragm Movement Sensor gave an erroneous diagnosis in 44/84 cryoapplications (52.4%). Conclusions: The diagnostic performance of the Diaphragm Movement Sensor is low, and the relevance of its use in clinical practice may be debated.

Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Decreases the Expression of Adenosine A2A Receptor and Lipid Rafts-Protein Flotillin-1: Insights on Cardiovascular Risk of Hypercholesterolemia.

High blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with atherosclerosis, mainly by promoting foam cell accumulation in vessels. As cholesterol is an essential component of cell plasma membranes and a regulator of several signaling pathways, LDL-C excess may have wider cardiovascular toxicity. We examined, in untreated hypercholesterolemia (HC) patients, selected regardless of the cause of LDL-C accumulation, and in healthy participants (HP), the expression of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), an anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory protein with cholesterol-dependent modulation, and Flotillin-1, protein marker of cholesterol-enriched plasma membrane domains. Blood cardiovascular risk and inflammatory biomarkers were measured. A2AR and Flotillin-1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was lower in patients compared to HP and negatively correlated to LDL-C blood levels. No other differences were observed between the two groups apart from transferrin and ferritin concentrations. A2AR and Flotillin-1 proteins levels were positively correlated in the whole study population. Incubation of HP PBMCs with LDL-C caused a similar reduction in A2AR and Flotillin-1 expression. We suggest that LDL-C affects A2AR expression by impacting cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cholesterol toxicity, and may have important clinical implication for assessment and treatment of cardiovascular risk in HC.

STABILISE (Stent-Assisted Balloon-Induced Intimal Disruption and Relamination in Aortic Dissection Repair) Is Associated With Good Anatomical Results on the Distal Thoracoabdominal Aorta at 2 Years.

PURPOSE: The aim of this comparative study was to evaluate the increased aortic diameter of the distal aorta after implementing the STABILISE technique in complicated type B aortic dissection (AD). DESIGN: This is a comparative monocentric retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent an STABILISE procedure for complicated AD between 2018 and 2020 were included and compared with a historic cohort treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) alone. Aortic diameters were measured at 6 different levels on the thoracic and abdominal aorta. The primary end point was an increased aortic diameter at 1 and 2 years. The exclusion criterion was the absence of a computed tomography (CT) scan at 1 or 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were included: 24 in the TEVAR group and 31 in the STABILISE group. At the level of the stent graft, there was a decrease in aortic diameters in both groups without significant differences. At the level of the distal aorta, there was an increase in aortic diameters in both groups without significant differences. There were significantly more patients in the TEVAR group with an unfavorable increase in aortic diameter >5 mm of the distal aorta at 2 years than in the STABILISE group: 8 (33%) vs 1 (3%) (p=0.01). For chronic ADs, a significantly greater increase in aortic diameters of the distal aorta was observed in the STABILISE group. CONCLUSIONS: The STABILISE technique is technically feasible and potentially leads to decreased longer re-intervention rates; indeed, more patients had an unfavorable increase in aortic diameter in the TEVAR group than in the STABILISE group at 2 years. The high rate of long-term distal aortic aneurysm progression and reintervention after TEVAR alone suggests that this option is not sufficient to definitively treat these complex patients. CLINICAL IMPACT: This article reported the results of stent assisted balloon induced intimal disruption and relamination (STABILISE) with a follow-up at 2 years. This is the first comparative study between STABILISE, which has emerged as a new technique inducing aortic remodeling and therefore better long-term outcome, and the standard technique TEVAR alone. STABILISE technique is associated with good results on the distal aorta at 2 years with a rate of patient with unfavorable aortic diameter evolution greater in TEVAR group compared to STABILISE group and could improve the long-term results on the distal aorta by inducing extensive aortic remodeling.

Rate of residual tumor after repeat surgery for positive margins in ductal carcinoma in Situ, and predictive factors.

AIMS: To evaluate the rate of residual tumor in re-excision specimen of patients with positive margins in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) following breast-conservative surgery, and to identify predictive factors of residual tumor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a monocentric, retrospective study, from January 2010 to December 2020. All 103 patients who underwent re-excision for positive margins in DCIS following breast-conservative surgery for in situ or invasive breast carcinoma were included. Positive margins were defined as inferior to 2 mm from the DCIS component. Two groups were defined, depending on the presence of residual tumor or not, and were compared on their clinical and histopathological characteristics to identify predictive factors of residual tumor. RESULTS: Residual tumor was found in re-excision specimen of 46 patients (44.7 %). The risk of residual tumor was increased in patients with more than 2 tumor foci (aOR: 12.4; 95 % CI: 1.2 -124.1; p = 0.032) and in those with extensive margin involvement (aOR: 3.2; 95 % CI: 1.3-8.2; p = 0.013). Finally, surgery performed after 2013 was associated with a lower risk of residual tumor (aOR: 0.23; 95 % CI: 0.09-0.058; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The rate of residual tumor in re-excision specimen of patients with positive margins in DCIS is high. Both the number of tumor foci and the extension of positive margins were identified as risk factors. Finally, the surgical learning curve for this procedure seems to be significantly correlated with the risk of residual tumor and needs to be considered.

Communication and sexual function and frequency in breast cancer patients 2 years after diagnosis: results from the VICAN 2 study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer treatments may have impacts on several aspects of sexual health, including psychological, psychosexual, physiological, physical, and relational. AIM: In this study we sought to assess sexual function and sexual frequency in breast cancer patients 2 years after diagnosis. METHODS: We selected all breast cancer participants from the the French national VIe après le CANcer 2 (VICAN 2) longitudinal study. Data sources included patient and medical questionnaires, along with medico-administrative databases. OUTCOMES: Outcomes assessed were the dimensions of sexual function and frequency from the Relationship and Sexuality Scale and communication about sexuality with healthcare providers. RESULTS: Out of 1350 participating women, 60.2% experienced a decrease in sexual desire, 61.4% reported a lower frequency of intercourse, and 49.5% faced decreased ability to orgasm. In contrast, 64.8% had engaged in sexual intercourse in the previous 2 weeks, 89.5% were "Somewhat" to "Very much" satisfied with the frequency of intimate touching and kisses with their partner, and 81.6% expressed satisfaction with their intercourse frequency. However, a mere 15% of women discussed sexuality with the healthcare providers. Independent factors associated with increased communication about sexuality included age younger than 50 years (OR = 1.90 95% CI [1.28-2.82], P = .001), being in a partner relationship (OR = 2.53 95% CI [1.28-2.82], P = .003), monthly income above 1,500 euros (OR = 1.73 95% CI [1.15-2.60], P = .009), and absence of diabetes (OR = 6.11 95% CI [1.39-26.93], P = .017). CLINICAL TRANSLATION: The study findings underscore the need for continuing education in oncosexology and dedicated sexual health interventions that should involve a holistic approach that takes into consideration age, treatments, relationship status, and whether the patient has diabetes. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths of the study are the sample size, the national representativeness, and data reliability. However, the cross-sectional design could introduce potential recall, recency, or social desirability biases. Also, social determinants influencing sexual health, such as ethnicity or geographic locations, have not been considered in the analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that sexual disorders persist 2 years after a breast cancer diagnosis, with a noticeable communication gap regarding sexuality between patients and medical teams. These findings underscore the necessity for tailored sexual health interventions, particularly designed for women who are single, older aged, and diabetes patients.

Late clinical and echocardiographic results with the Magna Ease© pericardial aortic bioprosthesis.

OBJECTIVES: The population of candidates to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is evolving. The Perimount Magna Ease© bioprosthesis has been introduced relatively recently in the practice. We aimed at evaluating its long-term results. METHODS: This article describes a single-centre cohort of 1016 consecutive SAVRs with the Magna Ease© valve (2008-2014), consisting of an all-comers population. We performed a prospective collection of in-hospital data, systematic clinical and echocardiographic follow-up. Valve-related events were as follows: structural valve deterioration (SVD; according to modified definition criteria), nonstructural valve dysfunction, patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM). RESULTS: Age at SAVR was 73.4 ± 9.5 years; calcified aortic stenosis was the indication to surgery in 59.6%. A total of 974 patients entered the follow-up; 564 were alive at the last follow-up (median duration: 9.8 years) (up to 13.4 years). New York Heart Association class was I or II in 92.1%. Overall survival at 10 years was 56.8 ± 1.8%. Freedom from SVD at 10 was 96.5 ± 0.8% (Kaplan-Meier) and 97.4 ± 0.6% (competing risks) (28 SVD events after 6.9 ± 3.3 years). There were 15 reinterventions for SVD (redo-SAVR and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)); 10-year freedom from reintervention was 97.8 ± 0.6%. Moderate and severe PPM occurred in 26.8% and 5.4%, respectively, without association with late mortality (P = 0.12 for moderate and P = 0.70 for severe PPM). Freedom from valve-related mortality was 97.8 ± 0.5% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: In this follow-up of the Magna Ease bioprosthesis for SAVR, data indicate good late outcomes (30-day outcomes are excluded). Continued follow-up is required to further support its use in patients with life expectancy >10-12 years.

Molecular B-cell clonality assay in minor salivary glands as a useful tool for the lymphoma risk assessment in Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) risk assessment is crucial in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). We studied the prevalence of clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in minor salivary glands (MSG) and their correlations with lymphoma occurrence and with previously established NHL predictors. METHODS: Molecular B-cell expansion was studied in fresh-frozen MSG of 207 patients with either suspected SS or with suspected lymphoma during SS, using a standardised multiplex PCR assay combined with heteroduplex analysis by microcapillary electrophoresis. The assignation of clonal cases was based on EuroClonality consortium guidelines. RESULTS: Among 207 studied patients, 31 (15%) had MSG monoclonal B-cell infiltration. Monoclonality was significantly more frequent in patients with SS (28/123, 22.8%) compared with patients without SS (3/84, 3.6%, P<0.001). Monoclonal B-cell infiltration in MSG of SS patients correlated significantly with ongoing salivary gland NHL, salivary gland swelling, CD4+ T-cell lymphopenia, rheumatoid factor (RF) activity, low complement levels and type 2 mixed cryoglobulinemia. The accumulation of biological risk factors was associated with a higher rate of MSG B-cell monoclonality given that patients with only positive RF had no probability of MSG B-cell monoclonality, RF-positive patients with 1 or 2 other risk factors had a 25.0% and 85.7% probability of MSG B-cell monoclonality, respectively. CONCLUSION: The detection of MSG monoclonal B-cell expansion by this easy-to-perform molecular assay is useful, both at the time of diagnosis and during the course of SS. Monoclonal B-cell expansion is associated with a subset of SS patients presenting either ongoing lymphoma or other established lymphoma predictive factors.

Adaptation and Implementation of Pictorial Conversation Aids for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: A Quality Improvement Study.

Purpose: After a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, women of lower socioeconomic position (SEP) report worse outcomes than women of higher SEP. A pictorial conversation aid was shown to improve decision outcomes in controlled contexts. No such intervention existed in France. In Phase 1, our aim was to adapt, for use in France, two pictorial conversation aids for breast cancer surgery and reconstruction. In Phase 2, our aim was to implement them in a regional cancer center serving a diverse population. Patients and Methods: In phase 1, we used iterative qualitative methods to adapt the conversation aids with a convenience sample of patients and health professionals. In phase 2, we tested their implementation using PDSA cycles with volunteer surgeons. Results: In phase 1, we interviewed 10 health professionals and 5 patients to reach thematic data saturation. They found the conversation aids usable and very acceptable (especially patients) and suggested small changes to further simplify the layout and content (including a glossary). In phase 2, three surgeons started the first PDSA cycle, for 4 weeks. Only one additional surgeon agreed to take part in the second cycle. The third cycle was cancelled since no new surgeon agreed to take part. Time was a barrier for 2 out of 4 surgeons, potentially explaining the difficulty recruiting for the third cycle. The evaluation was otherwise positive. The surgeons found the conversation aids very useful during their consultations and all intended to continue using them in the future. Conclusion: It was possible to adapt, for use in France, pictorial conversation aids proven to be effective elsewhere. While the adapted conversation aids were deemed usable by health professionals and very acceptable to patients, their implementation using PDSA cycles proved slow.

Porcine bioprostheses for surgical aortic valve replacement: very long-term performance of a third-generation device.

AIMS: We aimed at investigating the long-term durability of the Epic bioprosthesis for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a single-centre series of 888 implantations (2001-2018), expanding previous evaluations with shorter follow-up. METHODS: We retrieved prospectively collected in-hospital data and performed a systematic follow-up focusing on valve-related events (SVD, structural valve deterioration; PPM, patient-prosthesis mismatch; reoperation) (competing risks, CIF and Kaplan--Meier methods). We distinguished between SVD (permanent changes in valve function due to evolutive structural deterioration, ≥10 mmHg average gradient vs. reference echocardiography) and PPM. RESULTS: Average age at SAVR was 75.4 ±â€Š7 years; 855 (96.3%) bioprostheses entered the follow-up and 396 (46.4%) were alive at last assessment. Follow-up was 99.9% complete, median duration was 7.7 years (entire cohort) and 9.9 years (survivors). At 10 years, overall survival was 50% ±â€Š1.9, freedom from SVD was 99.4% ±â€Š0.3 (competing risks) (seven SVD events after 8.1 ±â€Š4.3 years). Freedom from SVD at 15 years was 98.4% ±â€Š0.8 (competing risks). Prevalence of severe PPM was higher in 19 mm (6.5%) and 21 mm (10.2%) size cohorts. PPM (severe or moderate/severe) had no significant impact on overall survival (log-rank P = 0.27 and P = 0.21, respectively). Freedom from any reintervention (reoperation or TAVI Valve-in-Valve) for SVD at 10 years was 99.4% ±â€Š0.3 (competing risks); freedom from any valve-related reintervention was 97.4% ±â€Š0.6 (competing risks). CONCLUSION: The Epic bioprosthesis for SAVR is limited by nonnegligible rates of PPM, which have nonetheless no impact on late survival. This device shows excellent durability and low rates of adverse valve-related events.

The French General Population's Perception of New Information and Communication Technologies for Medical Consultations: National Survey.

BACKGROUND: The development of telehealth and telemedicine, in the form of increased teleconsultation and medical telemonitoring, accelerated during the COVID-19 health crisis in France to ensure continued access to care for the population. Since these new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are diverse and likely to transform how the health care system is organized, there is a need better to understand public attitudes toward them and their relationship with peoples' current experience of health care. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the French general population's perception of the usefulness of video recording/broadcasting (VRB) and mobile Health (mHealth) apps for medical consultations in France during the COVID-19 health crisis and the factors associated with this perception. METHODS: Data were collected for 2003 people in 2 waves of an online survey alongside the Health Literacy Survey 2019 (1003 in May 2020 and 1000 in January 2021) based on quota sampling. The survey collected sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy levels, trust in political representatives, and perceived health status. The perceived usefulness of VRB in medical consultations was measured by combining 2 responses concerning this technology for consultations. The perceived usefulness of mHealth apps was measured by combining 2 responses concerning their usefulness for booking doctor appointments and for communicating patient-reported outcomes to doctors. RESULTS: The majority (1239/2003, 62%) of respondents considered the use of mHealth apps useful, while only 27.6% (551/2003) declared VRB useful. The factors associated with the perceived usefulness of both technologies were younger age (≤ 55 years), trust in political representatives (VRB: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.68, 95% CI 1.31-2.17; mHealth apps: aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.42-2.48), and higher (sufficient and excellent) health literacy. The period of the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, living in an urban area, and being limited in daily activities were also associated with perceiving VRB positively. The perceived usefulness of mHealth apps increased with the level of education. It was also higher in people who had 3 or more consultations with a medical specialist. CONCLUSIONS: There are important differences in attitudes toward new ICTs. Perceived usefulness was lower for VRB than for mHealth apps. Moreover, it decreased after the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also the possibility of new inequalities. Hence, despite the potential benefits of VRB and mHealth apps, people with low health literacy considered them to be of little use for their health care, possibly increasing their difficulties in accessing health care in the future. As such, health care providers and policy makers need to consider those perceptions to guarantee that new ICTs are accessible and beneficial to all.

The Left Outflow Tract in Fetal Cardiac Screening Examination: Introduction of Quality Criteria Is Not Always Associated With an Improvement of Practice When Supervised by Humans.

OBJECTIVES: Since 2016, the French CNEOF included the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) in the second and third trimester of pregnancy in addition to the four-chamber view and the parasagittal view of the right outflow tract. The objective of this study was to define quality criteria for fetal LVOT assessment and to perform a human audit of past and current practices, before and after the implementation of those quality criteria at a large scale. METHODS: Seven quality criteria were investigated and rated from 0 to 1 during three periods of interest. Files were randomly selected from three centers, and average total and specific scores were calculated. RESULTS: LVOT pictures were present in more than 94.3% of reports. The average quality score was 5.49/7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.36-5.62), 5.91/7 (95% CI: 5.80-6.03), and 5.70/7 (95% CI: 5.58-5.82) for the three centers in the three periods of interest. There was no significant difference following the introduction of the quality criteria, 2017 versus 2020, P = .054. CONCLUSION: Fetal LVOT images were present in most of ultrasound reports but the introduction of the proposed quality criteria under human supervision seems not associated with a significant change in practice.

What does the French public consider to be a conflict of interest for medical researchers?

Conflicts of interests have been at the core of public debate over health and medicine for decades. Social scientists have analysed the diversity of definitions of this label as well as the policies put in place to regulate the relationships between medical researchers and various actors such as private corporations. But little attention has been paid to the way the public define and use this label. In this article, we assess what the French public consider to be a conflict of interest for medical researchers. We draw on the data from a questionnaire-based survey conducted with a representative sample of the French population in December 2021 (n = 2022) where we asked respondents to decide whether different situations constituted a conflict of interest or not. These situations concerned medical researchers' relationships with economic actors but also with politicians and the media, with or without financial compensation for the researcher. We identified three main group profiles in terms of respondents' conception of what counts as a conflict of interest: i) considering that only money matters in the labelling of a given situation as a conflict of interest, ii) considering that any relationship with economic, media and political actors constitutes a conflict of interest (i.e., that medical research should be an ivory tower), and iii) indecision as to what constitutes a conflict of interest. These three groups differed in terms of social composition as well as respondents' relationships to science, politics, and the health care system.

Quality of life in older French long-term lung cancer survivors: VICAN5 national survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe quality of life (QoL) five years after diagnosis, in a representative sample of lung cancer (LC) survivors, to compare the QoL of survivors aged 70 years or older with that of younger ones, and to identify factors associated with poorer long-term QoL in both age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study sample consists of all individuals with a LC diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2011, who participated in the French national survey VICAN 5. RESULTS: A total of 371 participants had LC. At the time of the survey, 21.3% of the participants were 70 years or older. In this older age group, feeling self-conscious about appearance and suspected neuropathic pain were independently associated with physical QoL impairment and lower Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory score, and suspected neuropathic pain was associated with impaired mental QoL. In younger patients, impaired physical QoL was independently associated with male gender, metastatic cancer, suspected neuropathic pain, report of severe after-effects of LC and difficulty breathing at rest in the past 7 days, and impaired mental QoL was independently associated with male gender, impaired ECOG-PS, and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Factors associated with an impaired QoL in LC survivors, varied according to patient age. In both populations, psychological support and adapted physical activity can be offered to improve mental QoL and physical symptomatology. For older survivors with neuropathic pain, analgesic therapies can be discussed to improve long-term QoL.

Physicians' Opinion on Intraoperative Radiotherapy as a Therapeutic De-Escalation Option in Older Women with Early Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is a therapeutic de-escalation option in older women with low-risk early breast cancer (EBC). A qualitative study was implemented to describe EBC physicians' points of view on IORT as a de-escalation option. METHODS: Recorded face-to-face and telephone semi-structured interviews were conducted among diverse physicians from seven French comprehensive cancer centers. Interview transcripts were grouped as corpus to construct a typology. Thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Positions toward IORT were contrasted between the 16 participating physicians. Five fully supported IORT as a de-escalation option, four were not in favor, and seven had a more reserved or neutral opinion. Points of divergence concerned treatment efficacy, treatment duration, side effects and sequelae, psychological impact, compliance with adjuvant endocrine therapy, logistical constraints, financial cost, and availability of other techniques of partial breast irradiation. Physicians in favor of IORT emphasized direct benefits for the patient, and those against pointed the lack of specific guidelines, risk of lost opportunity in older women with long life expectancy, and challenges of shared decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Despite national policies to preserve cancer patients' quality of life and increase their participation in medical decision making, therapeutic de-escalation using IORT is not consensual among physicians. Further efforts are needed to promote patient-centered care.

Information overload in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: A repeated cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the psychometric properties of the Coronavirus Information Overload scale (CovIO) and explore relationships between CovIO, its predictors and several health behaviours related to the COVID-19 pandemic, using Cancer Information Overload (CIO) scale results as a reference for comparison. METHODS: 2003 participants representative of the French adult population answered a self-administered questionnaire over two waves of polling (N1(June 2020)= 1003, N2(January 2021)= 1000). Respondents were randomized to fill CovIO or CIO scale. Psychometric properties of scales were evaluated with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Predictors were assessed using multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: CovIO scale showed satisfactory psychometric properties (α=0.86, ω=0.86, RMSEA=0.050) without any measurement invariance issue. CovIO increased between waves of sampling and was significantly linked to education, health literacy and trust in institutions among other variables. A negative relationship between information overload and preventive behaviours was also observed. CONCLUSION: The CovIO scale is a valid tool for assessing COVID-19 information overload. The dynamical formation of information overload and links with theorised predictors, especially, health literacy are confirmed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Longitudinal designs could help better understand the potential detrimental effect of information overload and improving public health campaigns. Interventions to reduce the degree of overload are needed.