Nefrectomía parcial laparoscópica off-clamp tras la embolización del tumor en sala híbrida frente a nefrectomía parcial convencional: un análisis de pares emparejados por puntuación de propensión / Off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a hybrid room after tumor embolization versus conventional partial nephrectomy: A propensity score matched pair analysis

Objetivo: La nefrectomía parcial laparoscópica off-clamp tras la embolización arterial superselectiva (NPLh) en un quirófano híbrido es un abordaje mínimamente invasivo prometedor. En este estudio comparamos los resultados quirúrgicos perioperatorios de esta técnica innovadora con los de la técnica estándar de nefrectomía parcial laparoscópica convencional (NPLc).Pacientes y métodos: En total se incluyeron 86 y 127 pacientes tratados con NPLh y NPLc, respectivamente. Las dos técnicas se compararon en términos de complicaciones quirúrgicas, pérdida de sangre estimada (PSE), tiempo quirúrgico, duración de la estancia hospitalaria (DEH), márgenes quirúrgicos y tasa de consecución de la Trifecta (definida como duración de isquemia caliente <25min, márgenes quirúrgicos negativos y ausencia de complicaciones). Se utilizó una puntuación de propensión basada en la edad, el sexo, el índice de masa corporal (IMC), la tasa de filtración glomerular estimada (TFGe) preoperatoria y el tamaño tumoral para un emparejamiento 1:1 de los pacientes de cada grupo. Tras el emparejamiento, se obtuvieron dos grupos de 67 pacientes con características similares.Resultados: La tasa de conversión a cirugía abierta, las complicaciones y la PSE fueron similares entre ambos grupos. Por el contrario, el tiempo quirúrgico, la DEH y las tasas de Trifecta favorecieron la NPLh. El análisis multivariante demostró que la NPLh tenía un 70% más de probabilidades de lograr la Trifecta que la NPLc en todos los grupos de edad y para cualquier tamaño tumoral en toda la población del estudio.Conclusión: En comparación con el abordaje convencional, la nefrectomía parcial laparoscópica sin clampado después de la embolización arterial superselectiva en una sala híbrida mostró resultados quirúrgicos satisfactorios inmediatos y alcanzó una mayor tasa de consecución de la Trifecta. Se necesitan resultados funcionales y oncológicos a medio y a largo plazo para establecer esta

Objective: Off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a hybrid operating room after superselective arterial embolization (hLPN) is a promising minimally invasive approach. In this study, we compared the perioperative surgical outcomes of this innovative technique with the conventional standard of care laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (cLPN) technique.Patients and methods: Overall, 86 and 127 patients treated with hLPN and cLPN, respectively, were included. These two techniques were compared in terms of surgical complications, estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, length of stay (LOS), surgical margins, and Trifecta achievement rate (defined as warm ischemia duration <25min, negative surgical margins and absence of complications). A propensity score based on age, gender, BMI, preoperative eGFR and tumor size was used for a 1:1 matching of patients of each group. After matching, two groups of 67 patients with similar characteristics were obtained.Results: Conversion rate to open surgery, complications and EBL were similar in both groups. Conversely, operative time, LOS and Trifecta rates favored hLPN. The multivariate analysis showed that hLPN had a 70% higher chance of Trifecta achievement than cLPN in all age groups and for all tumor size across the study population.Conclusion: Compared to a conventional approach, off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a hybrid room after superselective arterial embolization showed satisfying immediate surgical outcomes and reached a higher rate of Trifecta achievement. Mid and long-term functional and oncological results are needed to establish this minimally invasive surgical alternative (AU)

Off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a hybrid room after tumor embolization versus conventional partial nephrectomy: A propensity score matched pair analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a hybrid operating room after superselective arterial embolization (hLPN) is a promising minimally invasive approach. In this study, we compared the perioperative surgical outcomes of this innovative technique with the conventional standard of care laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (cLPN) technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Overall, 86 and 127 patients treated with hLPN and cLPN, respectively, were included. These two techniques were compared in terms of surgical complications, estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, length of stay (LOS), surgical margins, and Trifecta achievement rate (defined as warm ischemia duration <25 min, negative surgical margins and absence of complications). A propensity score based on age, gender, BMI, preoperative eGFR and tumor size was used for a 1:1 matching of patients of each group. After matching, 2 groups of 67 patients with similar characteristics were obtained. RESULTS: Conversion rate to open surgery, complications and EBL were similar in both groups. Conversely, operative time, LOS and Trifecta rates favored hLPN. The multivariate analysis showed that hLPN had a 70% higher chance of Trifecta achievement than cLPN in all age groups and for all tumor size across the study population. CONCLUSION: Compared to a conventional approach, off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a hybrid room after superselective arterial embolization showed satisfying immediate surgical outcomes and reached a higher rate of Trifecta achievement. Mid and long-term functional and oncological results are needed to establish this minimally invasive surgical alternative.

Cancer incidence and mortality trends in France over 1990-2018 for solid tumors: the sex gap is narrowing.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in cancer incidence and mortality (France, 1990-2018), with a focus on men-women disparities. METHODS: Incidence data stemmed from cancer registries (FRANCIM) and mortality data from national statistics (CépiDc). Incidence and mortality rates were modelled using bidimensional penalized splines of age and year (at diagnosis and at death, respectively). Trends in age-standardized rates were summarized by the average annual percent changes (AAPC) for all-cancers combined, 19 solid tumors, and 8 subsites. Sex gaps were indicated using male-to-female rate ratios (relative difference) and male-to-female rate differences (absolute difference) in 1990 and 2018, for incidence and mortality, respectively. RESULTS: For all-cancers, the sex gap narrowed over 1990-2018 in incidence (1.6 to 1.2) and mortality (2.3 to 1.7). The largest decreases of the male-to-female incidence rate ratio were for cancers of the lung (9.5 to 2.2), lip - oral cavity - pharynx (10.9 to 3.1), esophagus (12.6 to 4.5) and larynx (17.1 to 7.1). Mixed trends emerged in lung and oesophageal cancers, probably explained by differing risk factors for the two main histological subtypes. Sex incidence gaps narrowed due to increasing trends in men and women for skin melanoma (0.7 to 1, due to initially higher rates in women), cancers of the liver (7.4 to 4.4) and pancreas (2.0 to 1.4). Sex incidence gaps narrowed for colon-rectum (1.7 to 1.4), urinary bladder (6.9 to 6.1) and stomach (2.7 to 2.4) driven by decreasing trends among men. Other cancers showed similar increasing incidence trends in both sexes leading to stable sex gaps: thyroid gland (0.3 to 0.3), kidney (2.2 to 2.4) and central nervous system (1.4 to 1.5). CONCLUSION: In France in 2018, while men still had higher risks of developing or dying from most cancers, the sex gap was narrowing. Efforts should focus on avoiding risk factors (e.g., smoking) and developing etiological studies to understand currently unexplained increasing trends.

[Early outcomes following lung transplantation in patients aged 65 years and older]. / Résultats précoces de la transplantation pulmonaire chez les patients âgés de 65 ans et plus.

INTRODUCTION: The number of lung transplantations performed is increasing worldwide. With an improved experience and outcomes, the age of the recipient on its own has ceased to be an absolute contra-indication. We report our first experience with lung transplantation in patients aged 65 years or older. METHODS: From January 2014 to March 2019, the files of patients aged 65 years or older undergoing lung transplantation were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: During the study period, 241 patients underwent lung transplantation in Bichat hospital (Paris, France), including 25 recipients aged 65 years or older. Underlying diagnoses were interstitial (72%) and obstructive (28%) disease. The rate of single lung transplantation was 80%. Sixteen patients required ECMO assistance during the procedure. Early complications were mostly grade III primary graft dysfunction (12%) and cellular rejection (20%). Overall one-year survival rate was 76%. CONCLUSION: After a careful selection of the recipients, the early results of our retrospective single center series are encouraging. We continue to consider lung transplantation in rigorously selected recipients of aged 65 years and more.

[Impact of partial nephrectomy in a hybrid operating room on the activity of kidney cancer surgery]. / Évaluation de l'utilisation de la salle hybride sur l'activité de chirurgie en cancérologie rénale.

INTRODUCTION: Partial nephrectomy (NP) after embolization of tumor vessels (NPESH) in a hybrid room combines embolization of tumor vessels and enucleation of the tumor under laparoscopy in the same operative time. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the use of NPESH in the management of patients treated with surgery for a localized kidney tumor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using the uroCCR database, we included all consecutive patients operated in a university hospital for localized kidney tumor. From 2011 to May 2015, patients were treated by Standard Partial Nephrectomy (NPS) Laparoscopic or Open and from May 2015 to May 2019 by NPESH. We evaluated characteristics of patients, tumors, perioperative data and complications. These data were compared by Student and Khi2 tests. RESULTS: 87 NPS were performed during Period 1 and 137 NPS were performed during period 2. The ASA score of patients undergoing NPESH was higher than NPS (P<0.0001). The tumor complexity and median tumor size were similar in the two groups (P=0.852 and P=0.48). The complication rate for NPS and NPESH was 55.2% and 33.6% (P=0.002). There were less severe complications in the NEPSH group (P=0.012). The median length of stay was 8 and 4 days for the NPS and NPESH groups (P<0.0001). Positive surgical margins were 2 (2.3%) and 6 (4.6%) for the NPS and NPESH group (P=0.713). DISCUSSION: NPESH is an efficient technique compared to NPS. It seems to be an interesting alternative to limit renal ischemia, complication rate and length of stay for the management of localized kidney tumors.

Invasive cervical cancer in HIV-infected women: risk and survival relative to those of the general population in France. Results from the French Hospital Database on HIV (FHDH)-Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS) CO4 cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We examined trends in the incidence rates of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) and in the rate of survival after ICC among women living with HIV (WLHIV) in France and compared them to those of the general population. METHODS: Histologically validated incident cases of ICC in the period 1992-2009 from the French Hospital Database on HIV (FHDH-ANRS CO4) were included in the study. Age-standardized incidence rates were estimated for FHDH and the general population in France for 1992-1996 [pre-combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) period], 1997-2000 (early cART period), 2001-2004 (intermediate cART period), and 2005-2009 (late cART period). Age-standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated. Five-year survival was compared with that of the general population for ICC diagnosed in 2005-2009 after standardization for age. RESULTS: Among 28 977 WLHIV, 60 incident ICCs were histologically validated. There was a nonsignificant decreasing trend for the incidence across the cART periods (P = 0.07), from 60 to 36/100 000 person-years. The risk of ICC was consistently significantly higher in WLHIV than in the general population; the SIR was 5.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0-8.9] during the pre-cART period and 3.3 (95% CI 2.2-4.7) in 2005-2009. Survival after ICC did not improve across periods (log-rank P = 0.14), with overall estimated 5-year survival of 78% (95% CI 0.67-0.89%). Five-year survival was similar for WLHIV and the general population for women diagnosed with ICC in 2005-2009, after standardization (P = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: ICC risk is still more than three times higher in WLHIV than in the general population. Survival after ICC did not improve over time and was similar to that of the general population during the most recent period. Such results call for promotion of the uptake of screening in WLHIV.

Prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes and cervical-associated lesions in sexually active young French women following HPV vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of safe and effective HPV vaccines in France, more than 80% of girls remain unvaccinated. SETTING: A regional university hospital referral center in France. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the overall prevalence and distribution of HPV in vaccinated, sexually active young French women who were screened for cervical cancer by cytology and HPV testing. METHODS: High-risk HPV (HR-HPV) prevalence, genotype-specific prevalence and extent of multiple infections were assessed in 125 cervical samples from females with available vaccine data using hc2 assay and INNO-LiPA assay. HPV status was analyzed in accordance with cytological data. RESULTS: In our series, mean age was 23 years, overall prevalence of HR-HPV was 52% and was correlated with the lesion grade. The diversity of HPV genotypes was broad. Single HR-HPV infections were identified in 11%, 21% and 47% of women with NILM, ASC-US/-H and LSIL respectively. Multiple infections with HR-HPV were detected in 28% of the specimens. Only 24.5% of women with NILM presented infections with 2 genotypes or more, vs 28% of women with ASC-US/-H and 35% of women with LSIL. The overall prevalence of genotypes covered by the quadrivalent vaccine was low (5.9%); with 4.2%, 0%, 0.8% and 0.8% for HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 6 and HPV 11 respectively. CONCLUSION: Among HPV-vaccinated young women, HR-HPV are detected at a high rate, and an association with the grade of cytological abnormalities was observed. However, HPV 16 and 18, both targeted by the vaccines, are remarkably rare among young French women since program implementation.

[Hybrid operating room: For what?] / Salle hybride : pour quoi faire ?

Hybrid operating rooms (HOR) are rooms that mix interventional radiology and surgical equipments. They are usually used in heart, vascular, orthopedic and neurosurgery, and make it possible to consider new minimally invasive procedures in urology. Thanks to these, we developed a new partial nephrectomy technique without renal pedicle clamping and without ischemia. Renal cancer is now diagnosed at localized stage in most of the cases, and its treatment is mostly based on nephron sparing surgery. However, the hemorrhagic character of this intervention requires a renal pedicle clamping whose long-term consequences on renal function are discussed. It also exposes to a classical complication: the renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Therefore, we developed a new laparoscopic partial nephrectomy technique without clamping or approach of renal pedicle, by a selective embolization of tumor vessels through an endovascular route, immediately before the surgery. HOR allowed the combination of the two procedures in the same time and space unit. Tumor staining by Bleu Patenté also aids the surgeon in its spotting. HOR allow a new approach in localized renal cancer management, and should be used in many other urologic surgeries in years to come. They represent a technological advancement by combining interventional radiologists and surgeons' expertise.

[Routine screening of splenic or portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy]. / Dépistage systématique d'une thrombose veineuse splénique ou portale après splénectomie.

BACKGROUND: Portal and/or splenic vein thrombosis (PSVT) is common after splenectomy. It can be a life-threatening complication, with a risk of bowel ischemia and portal hypertension. An early diagnosis allows an effective medical treatment and prevents life-threatening complications. There is no consensus regarding the benefit of systematic screening of patients after splenectomy for PSVT. We started in January 2012 a routine screening of PSVT after elective splenectomy. The aim of this study was to assess this policy. METHODS: Since January 2012, all patients undergoing an elective splenectomy had an abdominal CT-scan on postoperative-day 7. Demographic data, pathology, type of surgery, platelet counts before and after surgery, outcome, results of medical imaging, and management of PSVT and its results were recorded. RESULTS: Over 3 years, 52 patients underwent an elective splenectomy. All of them had a CT-scan at postoperative-day 7. A PSVT was found in 11 patients (21.2 %). They were all asymptomatic. Lymphoma and splenomegaly were the main factors associated with PSVT in the univariate analysis. All patients with PSVT were treated with anticoagulation and no complication of PSVT occurred. The follow-up CT confirmed the efficacy of anticoagulation therapy in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Routine screening of PSVT after elective splenectomy is warranted because it allows to start anticoagulant therapy and avoid further life-threatening complications. The incidence of PSVT is particularly high among patients operated on for lymphoma or with splenomegaly.

Primitive Solar System materials and Earth share a common initial (142)Nd abundance.

The early evolution of planetesimals and planets can be constrained using variations in the abundance of neodymium-142 ((142)Nd), which arise from the initial distribution of (142)Nd within the protoplanetary disk and the radioactive decay of the short-lived samarium-146 isotope ((146)Sm). The apparent offset in (142)Nd abundance found previously between chondritic meteorites and Earth has been interpreted either as a possible consequence of nucleosynthetic variations within the protoplanetary disk or as a function of the differentiation of Earth very early in its history. Here we report high-precision Sm and Nd stable and radiogenic isotopic compositions of four calcium-aluminium-rich refractory inclusions (CAIs) from three CV-type carbonaceous chondrites, and of three whole-rock samples of unequilibrated enstatite chondrites. The CAIs, which are the first solids formed by condensation from the nebular gas, provide the best constraints for the isotopic evolution of the early Solar System. Using the mineral isochron method for individual CAIs, we find that CAIs without isotopic anomalies in Nd compared to the terrestrial composition share a (146)Sm/(144)Sm-(142)Nd/(144)Nd isotopic evolution with Earth. The average (142)Nd/(144)Nd composition for pristine enstatite chondrites that we calculate coincides with that of the accessible silicate layers of Earth. This relationship between CAIs, enstatite chondrites and Earth can only be a result of Earth having inherited the same initial abundance of (142)Nd and chondritic proportions of Sm and Nd. Consequently, (142)Nd isotopic heterogeneities found in other CAIs and among chondrite groups may arise from extrasolar grains that were present in the disk and incorporated in different proportions into these planetary objects. Our finding supports a chondritic Sm/Nd ratio for the bulk silicate Earth and, as a consequence, chondritic abundances for other refractory elements. It also removes the need for a hidden reservoir or for collisional erosion scenarios to explain the (142)Nd/(144)Nd composition of Earth.

Excess risk of urinary tract cancers in patients receiving thiopurines for inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of urinary tract cancers, including kidney and bladder cancers, was increased in transplant recipients receiving thiopurines. AIM: To assess the risk of urinary tract cancers in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving thiopurines in the CESAME observational cohort. METHODS: Between May 2004 and June 2005, 19 486 patients with IBD, 30.1% of whom were receiving thiopurines, were enrolled. Median follow-up was 35 months (IQR: 29-40). RESULTS: Ten and six patients developed respectively kidney and bladder cancer. The incidence rates of urinary tract cancer were 0.48/1000 patient-years in patients receiving thiopurines (95% CI: 0.21-0.95), 0.10/1000 patient-years in patients who discontinued thiopurines (95% CI: 0.00-0.56) and 0.30/1000 patient-years in patients never treated with thiopurines (95% CI: 0.12-0.62) at entry. The standardised incidence ratio of urinary tract cancer was 3.40 (95% CI: 1.47-6.71, P = 0.006) in patients receiving thiopurines, 0.64 (95% CI: 0.01-3.56, P = 0.92) in patients previously exposed to thiopurines and 1.17 (95% CI: 0.47-12.42, P = 0.78) in patients never treated with thiopurines. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of urinary tract cancer between patients receiving thiopurines and those not receiving thiopurines was 2.82 (95% CI: 1.04-7.68, P = 0.04). Other significant risk factors were male gender (HR: 3.98, 95% CI: 1.12-14.10, P = 0.03) and increasing age (HR after 65 years (ref <50): 13.26, 95% CI: 3.52-50.03, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Patients with IBD receiving thiopurines have an increased risk of urinary tract cancers. Clinically relevant excess risk is observed in older men.

Epidemiology, Management, and Survival of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis from Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Modern chemotherapy aims to improve long-term survival for selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Publications suggest promising results, but the spread of these new aggressive treatment strategies in the general population is not well known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to draw a picture of epidemiology, management, and survival in synchronous and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer. DESIGN: The cumulative risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis was estimated in patients resected for cure. Net survival rates were calculated for synchronous and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis. SETTINGS: The study was conducted with the use of the Burgundy Digestive Cancer Registry. PATIENTS: Overall, 9174 primary colorectal cancers registered between 1976 and 2011 by the population-based digestive cancer registry were considered. RESULTS: In total, 7% of patients were diagnosed with synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis. The 5-year cumulative risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis was 6%, and the stage of the colorectal cancer at diagnosis was the major risk factor. Other independent risk factors were mucinous adenocarcinoma, ulceroinfiltrating tumors, and diagnosis after obstruction or perforation. The proportion of patients resected for cure was 11% and 9% for synchronous and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis, and 3-year overall net survival was 8% and 5%. The corresponding rates after resection for cure were 21% and 17%. There was a dramatic increase in the proportion of patients receiving systemic chemotherapy: from 11% before 1997 to 48% in 2011 for synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis and from 3% to 38% for metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis. LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective observational population-based study. CONCLUSION: Peritoneal carcinomatosis complicating colorectal cancer is a major reason for treatment failure. This study identified patients at a high risk of developing peritoneal carcinomatosis who may benefit from specific surveillance. New therapeutic modalities are also needed to improve the prognosis.

Radiological treatment of HCC: Interventional radiology at the heart of management.

Interventional radiology is involved practically at each stage in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, as recommended in the EASL-EORTC guidelines. It is even becoming more important as technological advances progress and as its long-term efficacy is assessed. Used curatively, thermoablation can obtain five-year survival rates of 40 to 70%, with a survival rate of 30% at 10years. As there are many tools available in order to be used, it requires a thorough pre-treatment assessment and discussion in a multidisciplinary team meeting. Regular patient reassessment is needed in order to be able to adjust treatment because of the complementarity of the treatments available and the course of the disease.

Imaging of thoracic aortic injury.

Isthmic aortic rupture or disruption should be systematically sought when there is high kinetic energy trauma to the thorax. This condition is extremely serious and life threatening. It needs to be diagnosed rapidly but diagnostic pitfalls must be avoided. CT angiography is the standard examination. The main CT signs of rupture or disruption of the thoracic aorta are periaortic hematoma, intimal flap, pseudo-aneurysm and contrast agent extravasation. There are three types of lesion: intimal, subadventitial or pseudo-aneurysmal, and complete rupture with lesion of the three tunicae, and it is important to grade them for better therapeutic management. The main diagnostic pitfalls of the CT scan are the presence of a ductus diverticulum and post-isthmic fusiform dilatation. Associated lesions must not be overlooked. The most common are ruptures of the aortic root and the thoracic aorta in the diaphragmatic hiatus.

IgM peak independently predicts treatment-free survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and correlates with accumulation of adverse oncogenetic events.

We examined the significance of IgM peaks in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including its association with newly reported MYD88, BIRC3, NOTCH1 and SF3B1 mutations. A total of 27, 25, 41 and 57 patients with monoclonal IgM or IgG peaks (IgM and IgG groups), hypogammaglobulinemia (Hypo-γ group) and normal immunoglobulin serum levels (normal-γ group) were, respectively, included. IgM peaks were mainly associated with Binet stage C and the del(17p). Biased usage of IGHV3-48 was shared by both IgM and IgG groups. IGHV3-74 and IGHV4-39 gene rearrangements were specific for IgM and IgG peaks, respectively. SF3B1, NOTCH1, MYD88 and BIRC3 mutation frequencies were 12%, 4%, 2% and 2%, respectively, being over-represented in IgM, IgG and Hypo-γ groups for SF3B1, and being equal between normal-γ and IgM groups for MYD88. Overall, 76%, 87%, 49% and 42% of cases from IgM, IgG, Hypo-γ and normal-γ groups had at least one intermediate or poor prognosis genetic marker, respectively. By multivariate analysis, IgM peaks were associated with shorter treatment-free survival independently from any other univariate poor prognosis biological parameters, including IgG peaks, Hypo-γ, IGHV status, SF3B1 mutations, cytogenetics and lymphocytosis. Therefore, as with IgG peaks, IgM peaks aggravated the natural course of CLL, with increased accumulation of adverse genetic events.

The influence of geographical access to health care and material deprivation on colorectal cancer survival: evidence from France and England.

This article investigates the influence of distance to health care and material deprivation on cancer survival for patients diagnosed with a colorectal cancer between 1997 and 2004 in France and England. This population-based study included all cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1997 and 2004 in 3 cancer registries in France and 1 cancer registry in England (N=40,613). After adjustment for material deprivation, travel times in England were no longer significantly associated with survival. In France patients living between 20 and 90min from the nearest cancer unit tended to have a poorer survival, although this was not statistically significant. In England, the better prognosis observed for remote patients can be explained by associations with material deprivation; distance to health services alone did not affect survival whilst material deprivation level had a major influence, with lower survival for patients living in deprived areas. Increases in travel times to health services in France were associated with poorer survival rates. The pattern of this influence seems to follow an inverse U distribution, i.e. maximal for average travel times.

Abdominal binders after laparotomy: review of the literature and French survey of policies.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The use of abdominal binders after laparotomy is a question of habit. Scientific evidence of their usefulness is limited. The aims of this work were to review the scientific literature and to depict the practices of French surgeons regarding the use of these devices. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature about the use of abdominal binders after laparotomy was conducted. In order to depict surgeons' habits, an anonymous questionnaire was sent to all surgical departments affiliated to the FRENCH network (Federation of Surgical Research) and their surgical contacts. They were all asked about their use of binders, the type of binders they ordered, the expected benefit, the cost and the need for a randomized trial in this field. RESULTS: Only four trials have been published regarding the use of abdominal binders after laparotomy, all with a small number of patients. Some authors suggested that wearing binders procured a benefit in terms of postoperative comfort, but no significant difference was found. One study also suggested an improvement in respiratory volumes. No study focused on incisional hernia. Regarding the survey of practices, 50 questionnaires were retained for the final analysis (one questionnaire per department of surgery). The use of this device is really very frequent in France (94 % of surgeons order them), a habit usually acquired during the training in surgery. The main expected benefit is the prevention of abdominal wall dehiscence (83 %), but also an improvement in patients' postoperative comfort and pain (66 %). Although some surgeons order an abdominal binder for all their patients, most use them in selected patients (according to the operation and the patients' characteristics). CONCLUSION: Abdominal binders are frequently ordered by French surgeons after laparotomy. The expected benefit is the prevention of abdominal-wall complications, even though no data actually support this practice. Binders might have a benefit in terms of postoperative pain relief, but this needs to be analyzed. A prospective randomized trial is warranted.

Inferred cosmic-ray spectrum from Fermi large area telescope γ-ray observations of Earth's limb.

Recent accurate measurements of cosmic-ray (CR) species by ATIC-2, CREAM, and PAMELA reveal an unexpected hardening in the proton and He spectra above a few hundred GeV, a gradual softening of the spectra just below a few hundred GeV, and a harder spectrum of He compared to that of protons. These newly discovered features may offer a clue to the origin of high-energy CRs. We use the Fermi Large Area Telescope observations of the γ-ray emission from Earth's limb for an indirect measurement of the local spectrum of CR protons in the energy range ∼90 GeV-6 TeV (derived from a photon energy range 15 GeV-1 TeV). Our analysis shows that single power law and broken power law spectra fit the data equally well and yield a proton spectrum with index 2.68±0.04 and 2.61±0.08 above ∼200 GeV, respectively.