[Primary genital herpes with sacral meningoradiculitis]. / Les primo-infections herpétiques génitales avec méningoradiculite sacrée.

Herpetic genital infection is a common sexually transmitted disease, caused in most cases by type 2 Herpes simplex virus (HSV2). This virus is characterized by its neurotropic properties and its ability to establish latency in sacral sensory ganglions. Some cases of genital primo-infection are complicated by viral replication dissemination to neigbhoring nerve structures like meninges and radicular terminations. In such cases muco-cutaneous manifestations are associated with peripheral neurological impairment in the form of meningo-radiculitis. Physicians should be familiar with these neurological symptoms knowing that they always regress completely. The present report illustrates these complications and reviews the potential neurological implications described in the literature.

Combined screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and squamous intra-epithelial lesions using a single liquid-based cervical sample.

BACKGROUND: Cervicitis is believed to alter cytological interpretation and could compromise a combined screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) cervicitis and squamous intra-epithelial lesions (SIL). Liquid-based cytological methods have been shown to limit obscuring factors and permit the detection of infectious agents by DNA amplification techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate a combined screening for SIL and CT cervicitis with a single liquid-based cervical sample. METHODS: Two cervical samples were obtained from each of 590 women considered at high risk for CT. The modified Ligase chain reaction (LCR) procedure for CT detection using specimens collected in the AutoCyte's preservative fluid was compared with the conventional Abbott LCx method using cervical swabs. We have also compared the percentage of inflammatory specimens and adequacy of cellular material in the populations of CT+ and CT- women. RESULTS: The results show total agreement for 588 of 590 cervical samples using the two LCR protocols (Kappa = 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.00). The quality of cervical cytology was not compromised by CT cervicitis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the feasibility of combined screening for CT and SIL with a single liquid-based cervical sample.

Infusional ECarboF in patients with advanced breast cancer: a very active and well-tolerated out-patient regimen.

We performed a trial using the combination of epirubicin 50 mg/m2/day 1, carboplatinum AUC 5/day 1 and continuous 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 200 mg/m2/day (every 4 weeks for 6 months) to confirm the efficacy and low toxicity profile of this regimen in breast cancer. In 51 patients with metastatic (n = 33) or locally advanced (n = 18) breast cancer the overall response rate was 86% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 73%-94%): 94% in locally advanced and 81% metastatic disease. Grade 3-4 toxicity was low: 4% of patients presented with febrile neutropenia, 16% with severe palmar-plantar syndrome, 10% with Port-a-cath thrombosis. This study confirms the high efficacy of infusional 5-FU-based regimens and justifies further research into novel promising oral 5-FU derivatives.

[Spontaneous abortion. Etiologic survey. Results]. / Avortements spontanés. Enquête étiologique. Résultats.

The definition of repeated spontaneous abortions is subject to caution. For some, it corresponds to at least three repeated spontaneous abortions with no normal previous pregnancy; for others, it comprises the repeated spontaneous abortions occurring after a normal pregnancy. It is a frequent problem, especially if one tries to give a wider definition. The authors studied the frequency of repeated spontaneous abortions in a continuous series of 14,857 pregnancies which took place between January 1982 and December 1988. In the study of the aetiology of the repeated spontaneous abortions in the various groups of women defined according to the number of previous pregnancies and abortions, they find the classical causes of repeated spontaneous abortions in all the categories: therefore, it seems legitimate to them that a wider definition be given for repeated spontaneous abortions.