Prediction of overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with Y-90 radioembolization by imaging response criteria.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential of imaging criteria in predicting overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after a first transcatheter arterial yttrium-90 radioembolization (TARE) MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2013 to July 2017, 37 patients with HCC were retrospectively included. There were 34 men and 3 women with a mean age of 60.5±10.2 (SD) years (range: 32.7-78.9 years). Twenty-five patients (68%) were Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) C and 12 (32%) were BCLC B. Twenty-four primary index tumors (65%) were>5cm. Three radiologists evaluated tumor response on pre- and 4-7 months post-TARE magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography examinations, using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, modified RECIST (mRECIST), European Association for Study of the Liver (EASL), volumetric RECIST (vRECIST), quantitative EASL (qEASL) and the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System treatment response algorithm. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare responders and non-responders for each criterion. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) analysis were used to identify covariates associated with overall survival. Fleiss kappa test was used to assess interobserver agreement. RESULTS: At multivariate analysis, RECIST 1.1 (HR: 0.26; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.09-0.75; P=0.01), mRECIST (HR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.08-0.59; P=0.003), EASL (HR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.63; P=0.005), and qEASL (HR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.80; P=0.02) showed a significant difference in overall survival between responders and nonresponders. RECIST 1.1 had the highest interobserver reproducibility. CONCLUSION: RECIST and mRECIST seem to be the best compromise between reproducibility and ability to predict overall survival in patients with HCC treated with TARE.

Efficacy of cefoxitin versus carbapenem in febrile male urinary tract infections caused by extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli: a multicenter retrospective cohort study with propensity score analysis.

Cefoxitin has demonstrated good in vitro activity against extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) and is regarded as a carbapenem-sparing beta-lactam alternative in urinary tract infections. Its efficacy has never been compared to carbapenems in male UTIs. Our study aimed to compare the clinical and microbiological efficacy of cefoxitin (FOX) and carbapenems (CP) in febrile M-UTI due to ESBL-Ec (F-M-UTI). We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients with F-M-UTI treated with FOX or CP as definitive therapy, between January 2013 and June 2015, in six French acute care teaching hospitals. The clinical and microbiological efficacies of FOX and CP were compared using multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for propensity scores. Of the 66 patients included, 23 patients in FOX group and 27 in CP group had clinical assessment at follow-up. Median follow-up after end of treatment was 63 days (interquartile range 26-114). Clinical success was observed for 17/23 (73.9%) and 22/27 (81.5%) patients and microbiological success for 11/19 (57.9%) and for 6/12 (50.0%) patients in FOX and CP groups respectively. We did not find any significant difference for clinical (OR = 0.90, 95% CI [0.12; 6.70]) neither microbiological (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.05; 14.00]) success between CP and FOX groups in univariate and multivariable models. In the FOX group, high dose with use of continuous infusion was associated with clinical success. These results add evidence that FOX is an effective alternative treatment to carbapenems for M-UTI caused by ESBL-Ec, particularly when high doses and continuous infusion are used.

Trends in hospitalization rates for psoriasis flares since the introduction of biologics: a time series in France between 2005 and 2015.

BACKGROUND: In the late 2000s, the introduction of biologics transformed the prognosis for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. We hypothesized that treatment with biologics may associate with a reduction in the hospitalization rate for psoriasis flares. OBJECTIVE: To analyse changes over time in the hospitalization rate for psoriasis flares. METHODS: We included inpatient stays in any of nine French hospitals between 2005 and 2015 for a psoriasis flare, as documented in the national inpatient database. In two centres, we also analysed data from the individual patients' electronic medical records. RESULTS: A total of 3572 stays were included. The introduction of biologics was not associated with a decrease in the number of hospitalizations for a psoriasis flare; on the contrary, we observed a non-significant increase in the number of hospitalizations (13 hospitalizations for psoriasis flares per quarter per 10 000 beds). In the two-centre study, the introduction of biologics was associated with a significant increase in the hospitalization of patients receiving topical treatments only (520 hospitalizations per year per 10 000 beds) and those with a first psoriasis flare. CONCLUSION: The number of hospitalizations for a psoriasis flare tended to increase between 2005 and 2015. The availability of additional treatment options might have increased patient demand and/or broadened the indications in clinical practice.

Screening for frailty in community-dwelling elderly subjects: Predictive validity of the modified SEGA instrument.

AIMS: To study the capacity of the SEGAm instrument to predict loss of independence among elderly community-dwelling subjects. METHODS: The study was performed in four French departments (Ardennes, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse). Subjects aged 65 years or more, living at home, who could read and understand French, with a degree of autonomy corresponding to groups 5 or 6 in the AGGIR autonomy evaluation scale were included. Assessment included demographic characteristics, comprehensive geriatric assessment, and the SEGAm instrument at baseline. Subjects had follow-up visits at home at 6 and 12 months. During follow-up, vital status and level of independence were recorded. Logistic regression was used to study predictive validity of the SEGAm instrument. RESULTS: Among the 116 subjects with complete follow-up, 84 (72.4%) were classed as not very frail at baseline, 23 (19.8%) as frail, and 9 (7.8%) as very frail; 63 (54.3%) suffered loss of at least one ADL or IADL at 12 months. By multivariable analysis, frailty status at baseline was significantly associated with loss of independence during the 12 months of follow-up (OR=4.52, 95% CI=1.40-14.68; p=0.01). We previously validated the SEGAm instrument in terms of feasibility, acceptability, internal structure validity, reliability, and discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: This instrument appears to be a suitable tool for screening frailty among community-dwelling elderly subjects, and could be used as a basis to plan early targeted interventions for subjects at risk of adverse outcome.

Lack of stability at more than 12 months of follow-up after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using all-inside quadruple-stranded semitendinosus graft with adjustable cortical button fixation in both femoral and tibial sides.

INTRODUCTION: The use of the semitendinosus tendon alone for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction keeps the gracilis muscle intact and decreases anterior pain in comparison with the use of the patellar tendon. Recently, Lubowitz described a new all-inside technique with an ST4 tendon fixed with a cortical button in both femoral and tibial sides. We hypothesized that this type of graft with cortical button fixation provides well-controlled residual anterior tibial translation (<3mm). The aim of this study was to assess the results obtained with this technique in terms of laxity and IKDC score at more than 1 year of follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective single-center study to evaluate the results with this procedure with at least 1 year of follow-up. The primary endpoint was the objective IKDC score and side-to-side anterior tibial translation difference. The secondary endpoint was the subjective assessment using the subjective IKDC and Lysholm scores. Tunnel positioning was assessed using the Aglietti criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included and reviewed with a mean follow-up of 19.7 months. Sixty-three percent of the patients were male and the mean age at the procedure was 28 years. The IKDC score was A or B in 43% of the patients and C or D in 57%; 54% of the patients had a residual side-to-side anterior tibial translation difference less than 3mm and 29% presented significant pivot shift (grade C or D). Five patients underwent revision surgery, including one for rupture of the ACL reconstruction. The meniscal status did not influence postoperative laxity and the IKDC grade. DISCUSSION: Our hypothesis was not verified and the postoperative stability of the knee was insufficient. Postoperative side-to-side anterior tibial translation difference remained greater than 3mm for 16 patients and the analysis seems to indicate that the distal cortical fixation of the graft with an adjusted loop is insufficient. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective study - Level IV.

Screening for frailty in elderly subjects living at home: validation of the Modified Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment (SEGAm) instrument.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the modified version of the Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment (SEGAm) frailty instrument in elderly people living at home. DESIGN: Longitudinal, prospective, multicentre study. SETTING: Four departments (Ardennes, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse) in two French Regions (Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine). PARTICIPANTS: Subjects aged 65 years or more, living at home, who could read and understand French, with a degree of autonomy corresponding to groups 5, or 6 in the AGGIR autonomy evaluation scale. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment included demographic characteristics, comprehensive geriatric assessment, and the SEGAm instrument. Psychometric validation was used to study feasibility and acceptability, internal structure validity, reliability, and discriminant validity of the SEGAm instrument. RESULTS: Between July 1st 2012 and March 31st 2013, 167 patients were included in the study. Averaged age was 77±7 years, the majority were women (70.7%). Feasibility and acceptability of the SEGAm instrument were excellent: we observed no refusal to participate, no drop-out during administration, no missing items, no ceiling or floor effects, and the administration time was short (5.0±3.5 min). By factor analysis, the instrument proved to be unidimensional. It showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient: 0.68) and good test-retest (intra-class correlation: 0.88) at 7 days interval. Discriminant validity showed a significant difference, mainly for nutritional status, fall risk, dependency, mood and depression risk, and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Based on these psychometric properties, the SEGAm appears to be an easy-to-use instrument that is particularly suitable for use in the community to identify frail elderly people who could benefit from early targeted interventions.