French mobile neurosurgical unit: a retrospective analysis of 22 years of mission.

INTRODUCTION: The French mobile neurosurgical unit (MNSU) is used to provide specific support to remote military medicosurgical units deployed in foreign theatres. If a neurosurgical casualty is present, the Role 2 team may request the MNSU to be deployed directly from France. The deployed neurosurgeon can then perform surgery in Role 2 or decide to evacuate the casualty and perform surgery in Role 4 in France. We provide an epidemiological analysis of MNSU missions between 2001 and 2023 and investigate the value of the MNSU for the French Armed Forces. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case series that included patients managed by the MNSU from 1 January 2001 to 31 January 2023. We collected epidemiological data (eg, age, military or civilian status, delay between transmission and takeoff, origin of the injury and mission location), clinical records (aetiologies of the injury and disease), data on surgical intervention (operator nature and type of surgery) and data on postoperative outcomes recorded at the time of discharge from hospital. RESULTS: 51 patients were managed by the MNSU. 36 (70.5%) and 3 (5.8%) patients underwent surgery on Role 2 and Role 4, respectively. 39 (76.9%) interventions were due to traumatic injury, 4 (7.8%) due to hydrocephalus, 4 (7.8%) due to vascular causes, 3 (5.9%) due to tumour and 1 (2%) due to spine degeneration. In 30 (76.9%) of these cases, the first operator was a neurosurgeon from the MNSU, whereas in the remaining 9 (23.1%) cases, procedures were initially performed by a non-neurosurgeon. CONCLUSION: The MNSU contribution to D1 casualties' strategic evacuation (STRATEVAC) is important. The MNSU provides additional support for STRATEVAC during the reorganisation of French Armed Forces engaged in several fronts. With the return of high-intensity wars, the French MNSU must develop and adjust for the management of massive influxes of casualties.

Appearance of the bladder on initial voiding cystogram in boys with PUV and its relation to pre and postnatal findings.

Introduction: Bladder profile in boys with Posterior Urethral Valves can be very varied with a spectrum going from high pressure, unstable, hypocompliant small bladders to hypercompliant, large acontractile bladders, with some being near-normal. Our question was whether appearance, specifically of the bladder, on initial VCUG was correlated to prenatal features and whether it could predict early postnatal outcome. Method: We used a prospectively gathered database of boys with prenatally suspected PUV. We analyzed whether the appearance, specifically of the bladder, was related to date of prenatal diagnosis, presence of a megacystis on prenatal ultrasound, presence of vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR), presence of abnormal DMSA scan, nadir creatinine or presence of febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) during the first two years of life. Results: The database comprised 90 cystograms. 15% of bladders were judged normal/regular, 54 % were small/diverticular and 31% were large/diverticular. Bladder appearance was not associated with presence of prenatal megacystis, abnormal DMSA scan, VUR, nor rate of fUTI. The only significant associations were normal/regular bladder and early prenatal diagnosis (p = 0.04) and normal/regular bladder and elevated nadir creatinine (>75µmol/l) (p = 0.01). Discussion: We believe that when focusing solely on the appearance of the bladder, excluding information about the urethra and presence of reflux, the cystogram alone is insufficient to inform on future bladder function. This could be used as an argument in favor of performing early urodynamics in this population.

Surgical management of orbital implant exposures after evisceration or enucleation: Retrospective study - Limoges University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Implant exposure is the most frequent complication after evisceration or enucleation, and multiple surgical techniques for the management of orbital implant exposure. The goal of our study is to investigate the success rate and risk factors for failure of various surgical procedures. METHODS: This was a retrospective study performed at the University Hospital of Limoges. We collected data from the files of every patient operated on for implant exposure between January 2005 and December 2020. The main criterion was the percentage of success for each procedure. Secondary objectives were to identify risk factors for failure of Müller's muscle flaps and to determine the incidence of post-enucleation socket syndrome depending on whether the orbital implant was maintained. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were included: 26 patients who underwent Müller's muscle flap, 16 dermis-fat graft, 3 conjunctival flap, 2 amniotic membrane graft, 1 temporalis fascia graft, 1 buccal mucosa graft, 1 implant rotation, and 1 implant exchange. The dermis-fat grafts were more successful (87.5%) than the Müller's muscle flaps (52.2%) (P=0.0213). The study highlighted the importance of good vascularization of the implant (OR=32.00, P-value=0.0245) for the success of Müller's muscle flaps, and we found no statistically significant difference between the patients who maintained their implants and those who did not (P=0.3865) with regard to the incidence of post-enucleation socket syndrome. CONCLUSION: Müller's muscle flap may remain a reasonable option in the management of medium-sized implant exposures of well-vascularized implants confirmed on MRI in patients with no systemic healing disorders. Dermis-fat graft remains the option of choice in other cases, especially in large exposures or complicated orbits.

Comparison of homogenization with the GentleMacs Dissociator vs conventional methods for routine tissue processing.

Tissue specimens are valuable materials for microbiological diagnosis. The method of tissue processing can have a significant effect on sensitivity. This study aimed to compare different biopsy processing methods in terms of efficacy and standardization. Pork tissue artificially inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and samples of infected human tissue were processed by different methods before culture, and the results compared. Bacterial recovery from artificially inoculated pork tissue was significantly higher by homogenization with GentleMacs Dissociator than with sonication. No significant difference was observed between the GentleMacs Dissociator and manual treatment with a scalpel and vortexing. The microbial yield from homogenized human tissues was significantly higher after homogenization with GentleMacs Dissociator than with the conventional method. Homogenization with the GentleMacs Dissociator retrieves bacteria from tissue effectively. Tissue homogenization with the Dissociator is easy and fast to perform and allows for a high degree of standardization.

[Congenital nasolacrymal duct obstruction: pulled monocanalicular intubation (Monoka) versus pushed monocanalicular intubation (Masterka)]. / Imperméabilité lacrymonasale simple de l'enfant : comparaison entre une intubation monocanaliculaire « tirée ¼ type Monoka versus intubation monocanaliculaire « poussée ¼ type Masterka.

INTRODUCTION: The primary cause of congenital epiphora, congenital nasolacrymal duct obstruction (CNLDO) affects 5 to 20% of newborns. In children over 12 months, it is currently recommended to treat with primary probing and intubation of the nasolacrymal duct under general anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to compare "pulled" monocanalicular intubation (Monoka) versus "pushed" monocanalicular intubation (Masterka). METHODS: This retrospective study included 73 children between 2014 and 2017 who presented with CNLDO with membranous (mucosal) obstruction. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Children with CNLDO underwent either monocanalicular silicone intubation (Monoka) with classic nasal recovery or pushed monocanalicular intubation (Masterka) inserted via the canthus. Treatment success was defined as complete resolution of epiphora at two months after the procedure. RESULTS: Surgical outcomes were assessed in 53 eyes with Monoka and 20 eyes with Masterka intubation. The mean age at treatment was 25 months (range, 12-69 months) for the two groups. Treatment success was achieved in 19 of 20 eyes (95.0%) in the Masterka group compared with 50 of 53 eyes (94.0%) in the Monoka group. A tube loss occured in 14% of cases in both groups. CONCLUSION: In children over 12 months of age, the Masterka "pushed" monocanalicular intubation technique is an effective treatment for congenital nasolacrymal duct obstruction.

The use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in evaluation of punctal stenosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the applicability of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for objective diagnosis of punctal stenosis. METHODS: We report the use of AS-OCT in 3 cases of epiphora related to punctal stenosis. We followed the methodology described in previous studies. The examination was performed by a single technician using a single Spectralis OCT with the AS-OCT module. Three patients with complaints of epiphora (mean age=80 years) were examined. The external punctal diameter was measured on both infrared (IR) and OCT images. The internal diameter was measured on OCT images at a depth of 500µm. The diagnosis was confirmed by clinical examination. RESULTS: The external punctal diameters were 159µm in the right eye (Cases 1 and 2) and 195µm in the left eye (case 2; mean: 171µm). All measurements were lower than cadaveric measurements (200-500µm), as well as previously described average diameters, thus confirming the diagnosis of punctal stenosis. The AS-OCT diameter correlated moderately with the punctal diameter estimate on the IR photos (mean: 183µm). In addition, the mean internal diameter of the punctum at 500µm (cases 1 and 2) was 58µm, which is consistent with the mean diameter at 500µm described in previous studies. Case 3 involved an 88-year-old man who complained of chronic epiphora. Slit lamp examination showed total punctal stenosis associated with cicatricial ectropion in the left eye due to a cutaneous tumor treated with radiotherapy. AS-OCT confirmed the presence of total punctual stenosis and the absence of associated canalicular stenosis. LIMITATIONS: Our study is obviously limited by its small study population. The decision to resort to surgery was made by 2 different surgeons. There was thus no homogeneity in terms of stenosis. There is difficulty in everting the lid without applying pressure to the globe or changing the punctal or canalicular morphology. This maneuver was difficult in the postoperative setting after ectropion repair. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that AS-OCT can be a rapid, non-invasive method in diagnosing punctal stenosis. Further studies are necessary to assess the use of AS-OCT in punctal stenosis.

Sleep Deprivation and Its Contribution to Mood and Performance Deterioration in College Athletes.

Sleep deprivation is very common among collegiate student athletes, resulting in impacts on mood, physiology, and performance. There are multifactorial contributions to sleep deprivation, but resulting alterations in sleep architecture explain impacts on learning, vigilance, mood, and athletic performance. Recognition of the physical impacts is key. Clinical inquiry is warranted. Medication can be helpful short term but should be used with caution due to effects on sleep cycle and the potential for addiction. Education is an effective intervention to increase sleep time, improve mood, and improve long-term sleep habits. Sleep extension, particularly in the setting of chronic partial sleep deprivation improves mood, vigilance, and athletic performance in the college setting.

Cost analysis of single-use (Ambu® aScope™) and reusable bronchoscopes in the ICU.

BACKGROUND: Flexible optical bronchoscopes are essential for management of airways in ICU, but the conventional reusable flexible scopes have three major drawbacks: high cost of repairs, need for decontamination, and possible transmission of infectious agents. The main objective of this study was to measure the cost of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) using reusable bronchoscopes and single-use bronchoscopes in an ICU of an university hospital. The secondary objective was to compare the satisfaction of healthcare professionals with reusable and single-use bronchoscopes. METHODS: The study was performed between August 2009 and July 2014 in a 16-bed ICU. All BAL and PT procedures were performed by experienced healthcare professionals. Cost analysis was performed considering ICU and hospital organization. Healthcare professional satisfaction with single-use and reusable scopes was determined based on eight factors. Sensitivity analysis was performed by applying discount rates (0, 3, and 5%) and by simulation of six situations based on different assumptions. RESULTS: At a discount rate of 3%, the costs per BAL for the two reusable scopes were 188.86€ (scope 1) and 185.94€ (scope 2), and the costs per PT for the reusable scope 1 and scope 2 and single-use scopes were 1613.84€, 410.24€, and 204.49€, respectively. The cost per procedure for the reusable scopes depended on the number of procedures performed, maintenance costs, and decontamination costs. Healthcare professionals were more satisfied with the third-generation single-use Ambu® aScope™. CONCLUSIONS: The cost per procedure for the single-use scope was not superior to that for reusable scopes. The choice of single-use or reusable bronchoscopes in an ICU should consider the frequency of procedures and the number of bronchoscopes needed.

Targeting colorectal cancer-associated bacteria: A new area of research for personalized treatments.

Most cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) are sporadic, and numerous studies have suggested that gut microbiota may play a crucial role in CRC development. Escherichia coli is a member of the gut microbiota frequently associated with colorectal tumors. CRC-associated E. coli strains frequently harbor the pks genomic island. This genomic island is responsible for the synthesis of colibactin genotoxin, which increases tumor numbers in CRC mouse models. We recently showed that targeting ClbP, a key enzyme involved in colibactin synthesis, blocks the deleterious effect of this toxin in vitro and leads to a significant decrease in tumor numbers in vivo. Altogether, our results suggest that the personalized treatment of CRC should also take into consideration the bacteria associated with the tumor in order to limit their deleterious effects.

[Rationale for a diagnostic approach in non-Graves' orbital inflammation--Report of 61 patients]. / Établissement d'un arbre décisionnel diagnostique dans les orbitopathies inflammatoires non basedowiennes chroniques--à propos de 61 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Orbital inflammatory syndromes include a wide variety of inflammatory intraorbital processes which are very different in terms of clinical presentation and prognosis. We currently prefer to differentiate so-called "specific" inflammations, for which an etiology is able to be identified, from idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndromes (IOIS), for which the etiology remains unknown and the histology is nonspecific. PURPOSE: To propose an efficient diagnostic approach for clinicians managing patients with non-Graves' orbital inflammations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective and prospective study concerning 61 patients managed by the medical team for non-Graves' orbital inflammations between May, 1999 and May, 2013 in the ophthalmology departments of Nice and Limoges university hospitals in France. Seventeen specific inflammations, 19 orbital lymphomas and 25 idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndromes were included. Patients were divided into two groups. Thirty-six patients (group 1) underwent primary biopsy, while for the other 25 (group 2), therapy was begun empirically without biopsy. We could therefore compare both approaches in terms of diagnostic efficiency and time until identification of a specific etiology. RESULTS: Our statistical results show that an approach without primary biopsy leads to a number of specific diagnoses statistically much lower than that obtained by the approach with primary biopsy. Also, the risk of missing a specific inflammation (with as a consequence an inappropriate treatment and a risk of functional sequelae as well as a fatal risk of missing a lymphoproliferative pathology) is very clearly higher in the case of not performing primary biopsy. Finally, the average time elapsed between the initial consultation with the ophthalmologist and a specific diagnosis was one month in the case of the first approach, while this delay was almost three times higher with the second approach, with a mean of 2.91 months (P<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our study shows that biopsy should be the mainstay of diagnostic management. A trial of empiric treatment is only performed first in myositis or in locations where biopsy could jeopardize functional prognosis. It should only be done after biopsy in all other cases. Of course, in all cases of relapse or recurrence after treatment, biopsy should be performed or repeated. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic work-up of a patient with an orbital inflammatory process must of course include blood testing and orbital imaging, but also a systematic primary biopsy for histological examination in the vast majority of cases. It must be repeated at least in the case of any doubt about the diagnosis or in the case of any recurrence or resistance to treatment.

Genetic, biochemical characterization and mutagenesis of the chromosomal class A ß-lactamase of Raoultella (formerly Klebsiella) terrigena.

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal class A ß-lactamases have been characterized in Raoultella ornithinolytica and Raoultella planticola. The purpose of this study was to characterize that of Raoultella terrigena. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The blaTER-1 gene of R. terrigena strain ATCC33257(T) was cloned (pACter-1) and sequenced. It was then used to detect the bla gene of strains BM 85 01 095 and SB2796. The hypermutable Escherichia coli strain AB1157 mutS::Tn10 was transformed with pACter-1 and mutants growing on plates containing>2mg/L ceftazidime were studied. Notably, the impact of mutations only observed in the promoter region on ß-lactam resistance was assessed by site-directed mutagenesis experiments. RESULTS: R. terrigena strains ATCC33257(T) and BM 85 01 095 had the same bla gene and deduced protein (TER-1) whereas there were 3 substitutions in those of strain SB2796 (TER-2). Class A ß-lactamases TER showed 78%, 69.9% and 38.7% identity with PLA or ORN, TEM-1 and KOXY, respectively. Compared with TEM-1, TER-1 and TER-2 showed 2 particular substitutions, Leu75Pro and Glu240Asn demonstrated to be involved in the inherent ß-lactam resistance profile of R. terrigena. TER-1 (pI of 7.6) had a high activity against penicillin G and a significantly low one against amoxicillin. Substitution G/T observed in the -35 region of the blaTER gene harbored by strains growing in the presence of≥2mg/L ceftazidime was shown to be responsible for this growth. CONCLUSION: TER is a new class A ß-lactamase belonging to functional group 2b.

Repair of orbital implant exposure using Müller's muscle flap.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to analyse the 2-stage Müller's muscle flap technique for the treatment of orbital implant exposure and its results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed all patients undergoing surgery using this technique in our university hospital over a 14-year period (1999-2012) in terms of success (no re-exposure of the implant) or failure. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were managed using this 2-stage procedure. Orbital implant exposure occurred 94.4 months (2-240) after implantation. The success rate was 68.4% (13/19) and failure rate 31.6% (6/19). Risk factors for exposure were enucleation for melanoma followed by radiation therapy, acrylic implant, and early exposure probably due to excessive suture tension. DISCUSSION: Implant exposure is the most common complication after evisceration, enucleation or socket surgery. Several techniques to repair exposures have been described. Two-stage Müller's muscle flap is an interesting option, especially for patients presenting defects larger than 4mm(2) and without previous radiation therapy treatment. CONCLUSION: The two-stage Müller's muscle flap procedure allows for an autologous vascularized pedicle flap from the ipsilateral upper eyelid. It is a reliable technique with a success rate of 68% in our study.