[Simulation training for French obstetrics and gynecology residents: A national survey in 2022]. / Formation initiale par la simulation pour les internes français de gynécologie et obstétrique : état des lieux en 2022.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of simulation among French Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs. METHODS: A survey was conducted with all 28 French residency program directors. The questionnaire covered equipment and human resources, training programs, types of simulation tools and time spent. RESULTS: Of the cities hosting a residency program, 93% (26/28) responded regarding equipment and human resources, and 75% (21/28) responded regarding training program details. All respondents declared having at least one structure dedicated to simulation. A formal training program was reported by 81% (21/26) of cities. This training program was mandatory in 73% of the cases. There was a median number of seven senior trainers involved, three of whom had received a specific training in medical education. Most of declared simulation activities concerned technical skills in obstetrics and surgery. Simulations to practice breaking bad news were offered by 62% (13/21) of cities. The median number of half-days spent annually on simulation training was 55 (IQR: 38-83). CONCLUSION: Simulation training is now widely available among French residency programs. There remains heterogeneity between centers regarding equipment, time spent and content of simulation curricula. The French College of Teachers of Gynecology and Obstetrics has proposed a roadmap for the content of simulation-based training based on the results of this survey. An inventory of all existing "train the trainers" simulation programs in France is also provided.

Role of chromosomal imbalances in the pathogenesis of DSD: A retrospective analysis of 115 prenatal samples.

Differences of sex development (DSDs) are a group of congenital conditions characterized by a discrepancy between chromosomal, gonadal, and genital sex development of an individual, with significant impact on medical, psychological and reproductive life. The genetic heterogeneity of DSDs complicates the diagnosis and almost half of the patients remains undiagnosed. In this context, chromosomal imbalances in syndromic DSD patients may help to identify new genes implicated in DSDs. In this study, we aimed at describing the burden of chromosomal imbalances including submicroscopic ones (copy number variants or CNVs) in a cohort of prenatal syndromic DSD patients, and review their role in DSDs. Our patients carried at least one pathogenic or likely pathogenic chromosomal imbalance/CNV or low-level mosaicism for aneuploidy. Almost half of the cases resulted from an unbalanced chromosomal rearrangement. Chromosome 9p/q, 4p/q, 3q and 11q anomalies were more frequently observed. Review of the literature confirmed the causative role of CNVs in DSDs, either in disruption of known DSD-causing genes (SOX9, NR0B1, NR5A1, AR, ATRX, …) or as a tool to suspect new genes in DSDs (HOXD cluster, ADCY2, EMX2, CAMK1D, …). Recurrent CNVs of regulatory elements without coding sequence content (i.e. duplications/deletions upstream of SOX3 or SOX9) confirm detection of CNVs as a mean to explore our non-coding genome. Thus, CNV detection remains a powerful tool to explore undiagnosed DSDs, either through routine techniques or through emerging technologies such as long-read whole genome sequencing or optical genome mapping.

[Smoking and Breastfeeding - CNGOF-SFT Expert Report and Guidelines on the management for Smoking Management During Pregnancy]. / Tabagisme et allaitement ­ Rapport d'experts et recommandations CNGOF-SFT sur la prise en charge du tabagisme en cours de grossesse.

INTRODUCTION: The consequences of smoking have been studied more during pregnancy than during breastfeeding. There is a passage of nicotine and other substances in breast milk and some modifications of milk composition. The objectives of this chapter are to study the benefits of breastfeeding in women who smoke, and the adaptation of smoking, medication and behavioral habits in case of incomplete withdrawal to better guide women. METHODS: The Medline database, the Cochrane Library and foreign guidelines from 1999 to 2019 have been consulted. RESULTS: The conservation of the benefit of breastfeeding in smokers with regard to the prevention of respiratory infections, infantile colic, cognitive deficits, obesity, sudden infant death, is not known to date. It is therefore not recommended to include smoking status in the choice of feeding mode for the newborn (professional agreement). However, since breastfeeding is a factor associated with a reduction in smoking and/or withdrawal (NP2), it is recommended to promote breastfeeding in non-weaned women in order to limit smoking (grade B). The use of nicotine replacement therapy is possible during breastfeeding (professional agreement). In the absence of data, bupropion (Zyban®) and varenicline (Champix®) are not recommended for women who are breastfeeding (professional agreement). A free interval between smoking and breastfeeding reduces the concentration of nicotine in milk (NP4). For non-weaned women who are breastfeeding, it is therefore recommended not to smoke just before breastfeeding (professional agreement). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that breastfeeding is possible in smokers, although less often initiated by them. If the conservation of its benefits for the child is not demonstrated to date, breastfeeding allows the mother to limit smoking.

[In Utero Exposure to Maternal Smoking: Impact on the Child from Birth to Adulthood - CNGOF-SFT Expert Report and Guidelines for Smoking Management during Pregnancy]. / Tabagisme pendant la grossesse : impact sur l'enfant, de la naissance à l'âge adulte ­ Rapport d'experts et recommandations CNGOF-SFT sur la prise en charge du tabagisme en cours de grossesse.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking during pregnancy leads to fetal passive smoking. It is associated with several obstetrical complications and is a major modifiable factor of maternal and fetal morbidity. Long-term consequences also exist but are less well known to health professionals and in the general population. METHODS: Consultation of the Medline® database. RESULTS: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated in the offspring with sudden infant death syndrome (NP2), impaired lung function (NP2), lower respiratory infections and asthma (NP2), overweight and obesity (NP2), cancers (NP3), risk of tobacco use, nicotine dependence and early smoking initiation (NP2). Unadjusted analyses show associations between in utero tobacco exposure and cognitive deficits (NP3), impaired school performance (NP3) and behavioral disorders in children (NP2), which are in a large part explained by environmental factors. There is a cross-generational effect of smoking during pregnancy. For example, an increased risk of asthma is observed in the grandchildren of smoking women (NP4). The respective roles of ante- and post-natal smoking remain difficult to assess. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of prevention measures against tobacco use in the general population, as well as screening measures and support for smoking cessation before or at the beginning of the pregnancy.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes and prognostic factors in acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To report complications of Acute Fatty Liver of pregnancy (AFLP), a rare liver disease of pregnancy, and identify prognostic factors for mothers and children. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study over 18 years in three French maternities. Demographic, clinical, biological data, and outcomes of patients and their infants were reviewed. RESULTS: 142,450 pregnancies from centers were studied. Eighteen patients with AFLP were identified The prevalence of AFLP was estimated as 1/7,914 pregnancies. Prolonged prothrombin time was identified as a risk factor of maternal complications (OR = 0.86, p = 0.0493). Gestational age at delivery was the only risk factor associated with fetal or neonate complications (OR = 0.37, p = 0.0417). One boy died of previously undiagnosed ß-oxidation deficiency at eight months. CONCLUSION: In AFLP, prothrombin time must be carefully monitored to anticipate major maternal complications. Infants born to mothers with ALFP should be screened as early as possible for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation deficiency.

Smoking and smoking cessation in pregnancy. Synthesis of a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To provide up-to-date evidence-based guidelines for the management of smoking cessation during pregnancy and the post-partum period. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of the international literature was undertaken between January 2003 and April 2019. MEDLINE, EMBASE databases and the Cochrane library were searched for a range of predefined key words. All relevant reports in English and French were classified according to their level of evidence ranging from 1(highest) to 4(lowest). The strength of each recommendation was classified according to the Haute Autorité de Santé (French National Authority for Health) ranging from A (highest) to C (lowest). RESULTS: "Counselling", including all types of non-pharmacological interventions, has a moderate benefit on smoking cessation, birth weight and prematurity. The systematic use of measuring expired air CO concentration does not influence smoking abstinence, however, it may be useful in assessing smoked tobacco exposure prior to and after quitting. The use of self-help therapies and health education are recommended in helping pregnant smokers quit and should be advised by healthcare professionals. Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) may be prescribed to pregnant women who have failed to stop smoking after trying non-pharmacological interventions. Different modes of delivery and dosages can be used in optimizing their efficacy. Smoking in the postpartum period is essential to consider. The same treatment options as during pregnancy can be used. CONCLUSION: Smoking during pregnancy concerns more than a hundred thousand women each year in France resulting in a major public health burden. Healthcare professionals should be mobilised to employ a range of methods to reduce or even eradicate it.

[CNGOF-SFT Expert Report and Guidelines for Smoking Management during Pregnancy-Short Text]. / Rapport d'experts et recommandations CNGOF-SFT sur la prise en charge du tabagisme en cours de grossesse­texte court.

OBJECTIVES: To provide up-to-date evidence-based guidelines for the management of smoking cessation during pregnancy. METHODS: Systematic review of the international literature. We identified papers published between January 2003 and April 2019 in Cochrane PubMed, and Embase databases with predefined keywords. All reports published in French and English relevant to the areas of focus were included and classified according the level of evidence ranging from 1 (highest) to 4 (lowest). The strength of the recommendations was classified according to the Haute Autorité de santé, France (ranging from A, highest to C, lowest). RESULTS: "Counseling", involving globally all kind of non-pharmacological interventions, has a modest benefit on smoking cessation, birth weight and prematurity. Moderate physical activity did not show a significant effect on smoking cessation. The systematic use of feedback by measuring the expired air carbon monoxide concentration do not influence smoking abstinence but it may be used in establishing a therapeutic alliance. The use of self-help interventions and health education are recommended in helping pregnant smokers quit. The prescription of nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) may be offered to any pregnant woman who has failed stopping smoking without medication This prescription can be initiated by the health care professional taking care of the pregnant woman in early pregnancy. There is no scientific evidence to propose the electronic cigarette for smoking cessation to pregnant smokers; it is recommended to provide the same advice and to use methods that have already been evaluated. The use of waterpipe (shisha/narghile) during pregnancy is associated with decreased fetal growth. It is recommended not to use waterpipe during pregnancy. Breastfeeding is possible in smokers, but less often initiated by them. Although its benefit for the child's development is not demonstrated to date, breastfeeding allows the mother to reduce or stop smoking. The risk of postpartum relapse is high (up to 82% at 1 year). The main factors associated with postpartum abstinence are breastfeeding, not having a smoker at home, and having no symptoms of postpartum depression. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking during pregnancy concerns more than hundred thousand women and their children per year in France. It is a major public health burden. Health care professionals should be mobilized for reducing or even eradicating it.

Perinatal grief following neonatal comfort care for lethal fetal condition.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to assess perinatal grief experienced after continuing pregnancy and comfort care in women diagnosed with lethal fetal condition compared with termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFA). METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study which included women who chose to continue their pregnancy after the diagnosis of lethal fetal condition with comfort care support at birth at the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Rennes Hospital from January 2007 to January 2017. Women were matched with controls who underwent TOPFA for the same type of fetal anomaly, gestational age at diagnosis and year. Women were evaluated by a questionnaire including the Perinatal Grief Scale. RESULTS: There were 28 patients in the continuing pregnancy group matched with 56 patients in the TOPFA group. Interval between fetal loss and completion of questionnaire was 6±3 years. Perinatal grief score was similar at 61±22 vs 58±18 (p = 0.729) in the continuing pregnancy and TOPFA groups, respectively. Women in the TOPFA group expressed more guilt. The cesarean-section rate in the continuing pregnancy group was 25%. CONCLUSION: Perinatal grief experienced by women opting for continuing pregnancy and comfort care after diagnosis of a potentially lethal fetal anomaly is not more severe than for those choosing TOPFA.

Improving students' ability to perform a standardized foetal biometry plane using ultrasound simulators.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess progress made in the ultrasound (US) measurement of femur length (FL) by students after one hour of training on US obstetric simulators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical residents and midwives registered for the 2016 French national foetal US diploma were invited to a 1-hour US training course with simulators. The time to acquire the FL plane with changing foetal presentation was prospectively measured before and after the training. Every image was recorded, and quality criteria were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty new learners trained in foetal US were evaluated. The time needed to measure the FL was significantly shorter in the post-test versus the pre-test (86s versus 125, P=0.015). The quality criteria were statistically similar before and after training regarding the angle to horizontal (10.0° versus 9.6°, P=0.84) and FL (31.3mm versus 32.0mm, P=0.15). CONCLUSION: The time needed to obtain the FL plane was reduced by 30% after a 1-hour US simulation training session.

Improving the quality of transvaginal ultrasound scan by simulation training for general practice residents.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography (US) is an essential tool for the diagnosis of acute gynecological conditions. General practice (GP) residents are involved in the first-line management of gynecologic emergencies. They are not familiar with US equipment. Initial training on simulators was conducted.The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of simulation-based training on the quality of the sonographic images achieved by GP residents 2 months after the simulation training versus clinical training alone. METHODS: Young GP residents assigned to emergency gynecology departments were invited to a one-day simulation-based US training session. A prospective controlled trial aiming to assess the impact of such training on TVS (transvaginal ultrasound scan) image quality was conducted. The first group included GP residents who attended the simulation training course. The second group included GP residents who did not attend the course. Written consent to participate was obtained from all participants. Images achieved 2 months after the training were scored using standardized quality criteria and compared in both groups. The stress generated by this examination was also assessed with a simple numeric scale. RESULTS: A total of 137 residents attended the simulation training, 26 consented to participate in the controlled trial. Sonographic image quality was significantly better in the simulation group for the sagittal view of the uterus (3.6 vs 2.7, p = 0.01), for the longitudinal view of the right ovary (2.8 vs 1.4, p = 0.027), and for the Morrison space (1.7 vs 0.4, p = 0.034), but the difference was not significant for the left ovary (2.9 vs 1.7, p = 0.189). The stress generated by TVS after 2 months was not different between the groups (6.0 vs 4.8, p = 0.4). CONCLUSION: Simulation-based training improved the quality of pelvic US images in GP residents assessed after 2 months of experience in gynecology compared to clinical training alone.

Influence of collagen denaturation on the chemorheological properties of skin, assessed by differential scanning calorimetry and hydrothermal isometric tension measurement.

The curves obtained for skin samples of different ages and species by hydrothermal isometric tension ("HIT") measurement are compared to those obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under the same thermal conditions (for a rise in temperature at a rate of 1.0 degrees C/min). Collagen denaturation, observed by DSC, directly affects the kinetics of the tension variations in the first part of the "HIT" curves, including the early peak due to the presence and destruction of the heat-labile cross-links in the collagen network. The presence of cross-links is in term shown to delay collagen denaturation to an extent which depends in part on their heat-stability. The final part of the "HIT" curves reflecting the effects of heat in the stable polymeric collagen network is no longer affected by collagen denaturation. Thus, both "HIT" and DSC are useful methods to evaluate collagen reticulation in connective tissues.

Characterization of the collagen of human hypertrophic and normal scars.

The collagen produced in response to an injury of human skin is initially stabilized by a cross-link derived from hydroxyallysine, and characteristic of embryonic skin. In normal healing there is a change over with time to the cross-link derived from allysine, which is typical of young skin collagen. In contrast, hypertrophic scars fail to follow the time-related changes of normal skin, but retain the characteristics of embryonic collagen, indicating a continued rapid turnover of the collagen. This is further supported by the high proportion of the embryonic Type III collagen present in hypertrophic scars.

[Tissular collagen polymerization (author's transl)]. / Polymérisation du collagène tissulaire.

The type of collagen reticulation exerts an influence on biological, physiological and mechanical properties of tissues, thus the utility of its study. Chemical techniques allow both localization and evaluation of levels and origin (Schiff base or aldol) of reducible bonds in collagen. Physical techniques allow evaluation of the thermolability or thermostability, as well as the degree of collagen reticulation in a given tissue for all collagen bridges. Results by these methods have shown that the mode of tissular collagen reticulation evolves from the embryonic phase to senescence, the rate varying as a function of the tissue and species of the donor. Thus, during tissular reparation, the newly formed collagen network itself undergoes transformations. Cicatricial tissue thus gives rise to an anisotropic zone in particular in terms of mechanical properties, in the organ. This can have grave pathological consequences. In addition to these wide areas of study, a certain number of specific diseases, frequently genetic, show pathological changes in collagen polymerization, the molecular mechanisms for which are now becoming better known.

Collagen in granulation tissues.

Collagen is abundantly synthesized in granulation tissues and reaches a concentration higher than in normal neighbouring tissues. Such newly formed collagen is characterized by an abnormally low solubility and an easy degradation by collagenases and collagenolytic cathepsins. The activities of these two types of enzymes are high (especially collagenases) in tissues of acute inflammations when the granuloma is resorbing. These activities are lower in sub-acute inflammation and the collagen content of the persistent granuloma remains high. The collagen synthesized in granulation tissues is cross linked by hydroxylysino-5-keto-norleucine, the stable cross-link of collagen in embryonic skin. It is progressively replaced by the two aldimine cross links of normal adult skin when the granuloma is resorbed (acute inflammations induced in rats; human normal scars). The cross link of embryonic skin, on the contrary, is permanently present in collagen of tissues of subacute, chronic inflammations (sponge implants in rats, human hypertrophic scars and keloids. Studies of the structure of alpha-chains revealed that type III collagen (embryonic collagen) is present in granulation tissues.

[Activity of specific collagenases in developing granulomatous tissues]. / Activité de collagénases spécifiques dans des tissus granulomateux en évolution

Specific collagenases are activated rapidly in inflamed tissues. This activity reaches a higher level in acute inflammation than in chronic inflammation. It appears to be related to an increased metabolic activity of the local fibroblasts.

Lipid composition of two types of chondrocytes in primary culture.

Chondrocytes from articular and growth plate cartilage were grown in primary culture. The lipid content, distribution into different types, as well as the fatty acid patterns of these lipids were compared when the cells had reached stationary phase and were synthesizing maximal amounts of proteoglycans. Numerous significant differences were observed, depending on the origin of the chondrocytes. In particular, growth plate chondrocytes showed increased dry weight, increased lipid content (phosphatides and triglycerides), and decreased cholesterol to phosphatide ratio when compared to articular chondrocytes; they also incorporated more of C18:1 and less C16:0 into their major lipid types. Whether these differences arise from specific metabolic regulation or are a consequence of chondrocyte organization in primary culture remains unclear.

Age related evolution of stable collagen reticulation in human skin.

The relaxation time of hydrothermal isometric tensions (HIT) was measured in different tissues during collagen hydrolysis. This hydrolysis was shown to have the same activation energy in all skin samples studied, whatever the species and age. Therefore, variations in the HIT relaxation half-time at the boiling point, exclusively reflected variations in the reticulation degree of the stable infinite network of denatured collagen. Stable collagen reticulation was studied in human skin from birth to 70 yrs of age in 113 biopsies, by measuring the relaxation half-time of hydrothermal isometric tension (HIT) at boiling point. This time was observed to vary in three different ways as a function of age: 1) from birth to eight or 10 yrs and from 14-15 yrs until adulthood, it increased constantly, and at the same rate; 2) during early puberty, the striking observation was the dramatic decrease of relaxation time value which remained low for 4-5 yrs thereafter, and 3) from adulthood to 70 yrs of age, relaxation time values were scattered along several plateaux, apparently separated by similar incremental steps. A parallel study on rat and pig skin showed a similar age-related evolution for collagen stable reticulation i.e., a sudden drop of reticulation at puberty, and low values for several months thereafter, followed by a linear increase, at the same rate as that observed for human skin. The study of collagen reticulation in various pathological situations may help to clarify and increase our understanding of the different mechanisms involved in collagen modifications during in vivo growth and aging.