[Clinical characteristics and follow-up of 60 patients with recent diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, NEWTON study]. / Caractéristiques et profils évolutifs des patients avec un diagnostic récent d'artérite à cellules géantes, étude NEWTON.

INTRODUCTION: The management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) has evolved with the arrival of tocilizumab (TCZ) and the use of PET/CT. Our objective is to describe the characteristics and followup of patients with recent diagnosis of GCA in current care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The NEWTON cohort is a monocentric retrospective cohort based on data collected from 60 GCA patients diagnosed between 2017 and 2022 according to the ACR/EULAR 2022 criteria. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 73 [68.75; 81] years old. At diagnosis, the main manifestations were unusual temporal headaches in 48 (80 %) and an inflammatory syndrome in 50 (83 %) patients. Temporal artery biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in 49/58 (84 %) patients. Doppler of the temporal arteries found a halo in 12/23 (52 %) patients. The PET/CT found hypermetabolism in 19/43 (44 %) patients. Prednisone was stopped in 17.5 [12.75; 24.25] months. During follow-up, 22 (37 %) patients received TCZ. At least one complication of corticosteroid therapy was observed in 22 (37 %) patients. After a median follow-up of 24 [12; 42] months, 25 (42 %) patients relapsed. At the end of the follow-up, 29 (48.3 %) patients were weaned from corticosteroid therapy and 15 (25 %) were on TCZ. CONCLUSION: Despite the increasing use of TCZ in the therapeutic arsenal and of the PET/CT in the imaging tools of GCA patients, relapses and complications of corticosteroid therapy remain frequent, observed in more than a third of patients.

High oxygen affinity hemoglobins.

High oxygen affinity hemoglobins are responsible for rare and heterogeneous autosomic dominant genetic diseases. They cause pure erythrocytosis, sometimes accountable for hyperviscosity and thrombosis, or hemolysis. Differential diagnoses must be first ruled out. The diagnosis is based on the identification of a decreased P50, and their possible characterization by cation exchange-high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Finally, genetic studies of the responsible globin chain gene will confirm the mutation. The prognosis mainly relies on the P50 decrease rate and on the hemoglobin cooperativity impairment. Disease management should be personalized, and it should primarily depend on smoking cessation and physical activity. Phlebotomy and platelet aggregation inhibitors' prescriptions can be discussed. There is no contraindication to flights, high-altitude conditions, or pregnancy. Nevertheless, blood donation must be prohibited.

[Inventory of training of internal medicine in France: Results of a national survey]. / État des lieux de l'enseignement théorique et pratique de 3e cycle de médecine interne en France : résultats d'une enquête nationale.

OBJECTIVE: To make an inventory of training of Internal Medicine in France. METHOD: This study was conducted between May and September 2015 with coordinators (interviews of 45minutes) of local Internal Medicine training and fellows (online questionnaire). RESULTS: All coordinators (n=28) responded to the interviews. Local training of Internal Medicine exists in 86% of regions (3.1±3.1hours/month) and an interregional training in all interregions (34.7±13.9hours/year). When excluding Île-de-France, no correlation between the number of teachers and the amount of lessons was noted (P=0.61). Of the 550 fellows in Internal Medicine in 2014-2015, 223 (41%) responded to the online questionnaire. Mean level was 5.5±2.7 semesters. The rate of satisfaction (1=very dissatisfied and 5=very satisfied) was 3.0±1.0 and 3.8±0.8 for regional and interregional teaching, respectively (P<0.0001). Regional teaching satisfaction was correlated with the perceived expanse of diseases covered into the program (P<0.0001). In addition, 89% of fellows wish to evaluate themselves online, 66% wish to have a practical evaluation at the bedside and 70% in simulation centers. Finally, 91% of fellows support the establishment of a national program for the training of Internal Medicine. CONCLUSION: This survey states for the first time an inventory of training of Internal Medicine dedicated to fellows in France. This report highlights that fellows wish to have a national program, be further evaluated and have access to more interactive approach of teaching.

[Use of Twitter(®) in a congress: First experience for French internal medicine]. / Utilisation de Twitter(MD) en congrès : une première pour la médecine interne française.

INTRODUCTION: Twitter(®) is a social "microblogging" network in which users can send and receive updates of up to 140 characters. Nowadays its use in medicine has become common in the United Kingdom and in the USA, particularly in scientific meetings where attendees tweet relevant information from the various lectures. Then, the tweeted information is relayed by followers who may be present or not at the lectures. RESULTS: Using Twitter(®) on the 70th Congress of French Society of Internal Medicine with @MielLorraine and @secretaireMIEL accounts was the first time in internal medicine in France. In total, 825 tweets were posted by both accounts and 59% were original. The two accounts were followed by respectively 12 and 10 followers. People outside the congress were able to get information and to start discussion on many topics. CONCLUSION: This experience emphasizes the fact that Twitter(®) improves interactions during congresses. Therefore, we should continue on a going forward basis to develop this tool.

Mediastinitis due to Gram-negative bacteria is associated with increased mortality.

The aim of this study was to describe the features of a large cohort of patients with postoperative mediastinitis, with particular regard to Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), and assess their outcome. This bicentric retrospective cohort included all patients who were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit with mediastinitis after cardiac surgery during a 9-year period. Three hundred and nine patients developed a mediastinitis with a mean age of 65 years and a mean standard Euroscore of six points. Ninety-one patients (29.4%) developed a GNB mediastinitis (GNBm). Of the 364 pathogens involved, 103 GNB were identified. GNBm were more frequently polymicrobial (44% versus 3.2%; p <0.001). Being female was the sole independent risk factor of GNBm in multivariate analysis. Initial antimicrobial therapy was significantly more frequently inappropriate with GNBm compared with other microorganisms (24.6% versus 1.9%; p <0.001). Independent risk factors for inappropriateness of initial antimicrobial treatment were GNBm (OR = 8.58, 95%CI 2.53-29.02, p 0.0006), and polymicrobial mediastinitis (OR = 4.52, 95%CI 1.68-12.12, p 0.0028). GNBm were associated with more drainage failure, secondary infection, need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and/or use of vasopressors. Thirty-day hospital mortality was significantly higher with GNBm (31.9 % versus 17.0%; p 0.004). GNBm was identified as an independent risk factor of hospital mortality (OR = 2.31, 95%CI 1.16-4.61, p 0.0179).