Could mobile mammography reduce social and geographic inequalities in breast cancer screening participation?

Evaluation of mobile mammography for reducing social and geographic inequalities in breast cancer screening participation. We examined the responses to first invitations to undergo breast cancer screening from 2003 to 2012 in Orne, a French department. Half of the participants could choose between screening in a radiologist's office or a mobile mammography (MM) unit. We calculated the participation rate and individual participation model according to age group, deprivation quintile and distance. Among participants receiving an MM invitation, the preference was for MM. This was especially the case in the age group >70years and increased with deprivation quintile and remoteness. There were no significant participation trends with regard to deprivation or remoteness. In the general population, the influence of deprivation and remoteness was markedly diminished. After adjustment, MM invitation was associated with a significant increase in individual participation (odds ratio=2.9). MM can target underserved and remote communities, allowing greater participation and decreasing social and geographic inequalities in the general population. Proportionate universalism is an effective principle for public health policy in reducing health inequalities.

Abnormal Interhemispheric Synchrony in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Retrospective Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal interhemispheric synchrony has been described in many clinical compromises in brain function, but its prognostic value in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at describing the frequency of abnormal interhemispheric synchrony in infants with HIE and to explore its prognostic value. The main outcome was survival without major disabilities. METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study and enrolled 40 neonates with HIE who underwent hypothermia. RESULTS: Abnormal interhemispheric synchrony was observed in 23% of the patients with HIE. Sensitivity and specificity values for predicting survival without major disabilities were 90 and 67% for seizures, 50 and 97% for status epilepticus, 60 and 97% for highly abnormal EEG in the first 48 h, and 80 and 97% for EEG asynchrony, respectively. The prognostic value of asynchrony improved to 100% sensitivity, whereas specificity remained unchanged, when associated with highly abnormal EEG within the first 48 h of life. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal interhemispheric synchrony was observed in a quarter of the patients with HIE. This pilot study suggests that the prognostic value of asynchrony is excellent, especially when combined with EEG background analysis.