Atypical Foveal Hypoplasia in Best Disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of foveal hypoplasia (also called fovea plana) in patients with Best disease using spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A). DESIGN: A retrospective observational study including patients diagnosed with Best disease. SUBJECTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine eyes of thirty-two patients (fifteen females (46.9%) and seventeen males (53.1%), p = 0.9) diagnosed with Best disease were included. Patients' eyes were categorized into two groups: Eyes with a fovea plana appearance ('FP group') and eyes without fovea plana appearance ('no FP group'), based on the foveal appearance on B-scan SD-OCT. METHODS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cross-sectional OCT images were assessed for the persistence of inner retinal layers (IRL) and OCT-A was analyzed for the presence of a foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the size of which was determined when applicable. RESULTS: Overall, 16 eyes (27.1%) of 9 patients had a fovea plana appearance ('FP group') with the persistence of IRL, and 43 eyes (72.9%) of 23 patients did not have fovea plana appearance ('no FP group'). Among FP eyes, OCT-A performed in 13 eyes showed bridging vessels through the FAZ in 100% of eyes with OCT-A. Using Thomas classification, 14 out of the 16 eyes with fovea plana (87.5%) had atypical foveal hypoplasia, and the 2 others (12.5%) had a grade 1b fovea plana. CONCLUSION: In our series, foveal hypoplasia was present in 27.1% of patients with Best disease. OCT-A showed bridging vessels through the FAZ in all eyes. These findings highlight the microvascular changes associated with Best disease, which can be an early sign of the disease in patients with a family history.

Effect of an individualized versus standard blood pressure management during mechanical thrombectomy for anterior ischemic stroke: the DETERMINE randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypotension and blood pressure (BP) variability during endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to an anterior large vessel occlusion (LVO) is associated with worse outcomes. However, the optimal BP threshold during EVT is still unknown given the lack of randomized controlled evidence. We designed the DETERMINE trial to assess whether an individualized BP management during EVT could achieve better functional outcomes compared to a standard BP management. METHODS: The DETERMINE trial is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, blinded endpoint clinical trial (PROBE design). AIS patients with a proximal anterior LVO are randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to an experimental arm in which mean arterial pressure (MAP) is maintained within 10% of the first MAP measured before EVT, or a control arm in which systolic BP (SBP) is maintained within 140-180 mm Hg until reperfusion is achieved or artery closure in case of EVT failure. The primary outcome is the rate of favorable functional outcomes, defined by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) between 0 and 2 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes include excellent outcome and ordinal analysis of the mRS at 90 days, early neurological improvement at 24 h (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), final infarct volume, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rates, and all-cause mortality at 90 days. Overall, 432 patients will be included. DISCUSSION: DETERMINE will assess the clinical relevance of an individualized BP management before reperfusion compared to the one size fits all approach currently recommended by international guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04352296. Registered on 20th April 2020.

Auricular Neuromodulation for Mass Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Insights From SOS COVID-19 a Multicentric, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind French Pilot Study.

Importance: An exacerbated inflammatory response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is believed to be one of the major causes of the morbidity and mortality of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Neuromodulation therapy, based on vagus nerve stimulation, was recently hypothesized to control both the SARS-CoV-2 replication and the ensuing inflammation likely through the inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway and could improve the clinical outcomes as an adjunct treatment. We proposed to test it by the stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, i.e., auricular neuromodulation (AN), a non-invasive procedure through the insertion of semipermanent needles on the ears. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of AN on the clinical outcomes in patients affected by COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial included 31 patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. Within 72 h after admission, patients received either AN (n = 14) or sham neuromodulation (SN, n = 15) in addition to the conventional treatments. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary endpoint of the study was the rate of a clinical benefit conferred by AN at Day 14 (D14) as assessed by a 7-point Clinical Progression Scale. The secondary endpoint of the study was the impact of AN on the rate of transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) and on the survival rate at D14. Results: The AN procedure was well-tolerated without any reported side effects but with no significant improvement for the measures of both primary (p > 0.3) and secondary (p > 0.05) endpoints at the interim analysis. None of the AN-treated patients died but one in the SN group did (81 years). Two AN-treated patients (73 and 79 years, respectively) and one SN-treated patient (59 years) were transferred to ICU. Remarkably, AN-treated patients were older with more representation by males than in the SN arm (i.e., the median age of 75 vs. 65 years, 79% male vs. 47%). Conclusion: The AN procedure, which was used within 72 h after the admission of patients with COVID-19, was safe and could be successfully implemented during the first two waves of COVID-19 in France. Nevertheless, AN did not significantly improve the outcome of the patients in our small preliminary study. It is pertinent to explore further to validate AN as the non-invasive mass vagal stimulation solution for the forthcoming pandemics. Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [NCT04341415].

[Nursing coordination in chronic diseases: The situation of activities in the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris adult medicine units]. / Coordination infirmière et maladies chroniques : état des lieux des activités en médecine adulte à l'Assistance Publique-hôpitaux de Paris.

INTRODUCTION: The transformation of nurse's profession can be an opportunity for the organization of personalized care pathways for patients with chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to identify and describe the activities of the coordinating nurses (IDEC) working with patients with chronic diseases in adult medicine services at the Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP). METHOD: An e-mail survey of department heads identified the IDEC. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with IDEC and referring physicians in order to know IDEC's activities « in practice ¼. RESULTS: Forty-eight IDEC were identified in 115 adult medicine departments contacted at AP-HP. IDEC mainly engaged in expertise and coordination activities. IDEC help to free up medical time, patients are satisfied to have a dedicated contact to whom to turn in case of problems. DISCUSSION: IDEC are involved in many chronic diseases. Their expertise serves primarily patients but also health professionals who intervene in the course of care. This work will feed reflection on the transformation of nursing professions, especially since the recognition of nursing practice in advanced practice.

[Consultations of hospital physicians in community health centers: Actors' identified impacts and difficulties]. / Consultations avancées de médecins hospitaliers en centres de santé : impacts et difficultés identifiées.

OBJECTIVE: In 2016 different types of cooperation were identified between "Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris" and community-based healthcare professionals, including consultations from hospital practitioners in community health centers. This work aims to study the advantages and difficulties of this type of cooperation. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with hospital physicians, heads of hospital units and of community health centers. Data were collected by physicians for seven consultations. RESULTS: Regarding patients, these consultations gave access to specialists' expertise in deficit areas at no extra cost; the community health center is a more human-size structure and appointments were sometimes more quickly attributed. For physicians, consulting in the community health center afforded a more diversified activity and permitted to discover community practice. For the hospital unit, it could bring new patients and lead some patients living closer to the community health center to delocalize the follow-up consultations. This type of cooperation strengthened the relation between hospital and community-based practitioners but the relations remained informal. Amongst mentionable difficulties: the lack of information systems interoperability, the struggle in raising the interest of some physicians and an increased workload. CONCLUSION: If this type of consultation can be a first step in organizing hospital-community relations, it does not enable by itself a territorial coverage. Partnerships should include several community health centers but also physicians in independent practice. Larger partnerships can integrate the formalization of care pathways refocusing each actor on its field of expertise.

[Cooperation between hospital teams and community-based healthcare professionals]. / Coopération des équipes hospitalières avec les médecins et paramédicaux de ville.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and classify hospital-community cooperation activities between Greater Paris University Hospitals (GPUH) and community health professionals. METHODS: A declarative survey was conducted in GPUH clinical departments, which were asked to describe their activities with community health professionals, the type of community professionals involved (e.g. general practitioners, nurses) and a full description of the activity. Activities were classified by the three authors with consistency checks. RESULTS: 261 activities were reported by 138 departments (39 medical specialties). Paediatrics, psychiatry and geriatrics reported the highest number of activities. 37% of activities covered access to hospital care, 25% concerned training of health professionals, 22% concerned continuity of care after hospitalization, 13% shared follow-up and 3% corresponded to public health interventions in the general population. Access to hospital care included facilitating appointments, access to hospital expertise and specific organizations. Continuity of care included either information transmission or patient referral. Follow-up was shared over specific patients or over a predefined patient population. Training was organized by hospital professionals, community health professionals or as a collaborative initiative. CONCLUSION: The proposed classification can be used for research studies, or to define a strategy for hospitals initiating collaborations with community health professionals. It describes the concept of "hospital-community medical relations" from a pragmatic health professional point of view.

Image-defined risk factor assessment of neurogenic tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is useful for predicting intra-operative risk factors and the completeness of resection.

BACKGROUND: Patients with neuroblastoma are now stratified at diagnosis according to the presence and number of image-defined risk factors (IDRFs). We examined the added value of IDRF assessment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for predicting surgical resection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2009-2012, 39 out of 91 patients operated on in our institution for neuroblastic tumors received neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on ongoing SIOPEN protocols or treatment guidelines. IDRFs were assessed both at diagnosis and preoperatively on CT and/or MRI. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 30 months [range 2-191]. The tumor locations were adrenal (n = 20), paravertebral (n = 13) and perivascular (n = 6). INRGSS stages were L2 (n = 13), M (n = 25) and Ms (n = 1). Eleven tumors (28%) were MYCN-amplified. Chemotherapy reduced the number of IDRFs in 54% of patients overall (21/39): 61.5% (16/26) of M and Ms patients, and 38.5% (5/13) of non metastatic patients (P < 0.001). The number of IDRFs lost after chemotherapy was proportional to the degree of tumor shrinkage (P = 0.002), independent of the primary tumor location (P = 0.73), although the number was higher in patients with left versus right adrenal locations (P = 0.004). Patients with neuroblastoma on post-surgical histology lost more IDRFs (median: 1[0-9]) than patients with ganglioneuroblastoma (median: 0[0-4]) (P < 0.001). The completeness of resection was related only to the number of preoperative IDRFs (P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: IDRF assessment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is useful for predicting completeness of resection of neurogenic tumors. A larger international study is needed to confirm these results and to explore a possible correlation between preoperative IDRF status and survival.

Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Ultrasound Fusion Targeted Biopsies to Diagnose Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer in Enlarged Compared to Smaller Prostates.

PURPOSE: We assessed the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsies to diagnose prostate cancer according to gland size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 232 men with a first round biopsy, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging with a lesion, a Likert score of 2 or greater and prostate specific antigen less than 10 ng/ml. All men underwent a standard 12-core protocol plus a protocol of 2 or 3 targeted cores. Significant prostate cancer was defined as at least 1 core with a Gleason score of 7 (3 + 4) or 6 with a greater than 4 mm maximal cancer core length. RESULTS: Mean ± SD patient age was 64 ± 6.4 years, mean prostate specific antigen was 6.65 ± 1.8 ng/ml and mean prostate volume was 40 ± 24.3 ml. The overall detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer was 44%. The detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer by magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound fusion guided biopsy was 77% for prostate glands less than 30 cm(3), and 61%, 47% and 34% for glands 30 to less than 38.5, 38.5 to less than 55 and 55 to 160 cm(3), respectively (p = 0.001). Differences in prostate cancer detection rates between the standard and targeted protocols were not significant for patients with a prostate volume of 40 cm(3) or less (p = 0.8). Conversely 12 patients with a prostate volume greater than 40 cm(3) had clinically significant prostate cancer using the targeted but not the standard protocol and in 3 prostate cancer was detected by the standard but not the targeted protocol (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsies increased the yield of first round prostate biopsies in patients with a prostate volume greater than 40 cm(3).

Suspected community-acquired pneumonia in an ambulatory setting (CAPA): a French prospective observational cohort study in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have addressed the pragmatic management of ambulatory patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) using a precise description of the disease with or without chest X-ray (X-ray) evidence. AIMS: To describe the characteristics, clinical findings, additional investigations and disease progression in patients with suspected CAP managed by French General Practitioners (GPs). METHODS: The patients included were older than 18 years, with signs or symptoms suggestive of CAP associated with recent-onset unilateral crackles on auscultation or a new opacity on X-ray. They were followed for up to 6 weeks. Descriptive analyses of all patients and according to their management with X-rays were carried out. RESULTS: From September 2011 to July 2012, 886 patients have been consulted by 267 GPs. Among them, 278 (31%) were older than 65 years and 337 (38%) were at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. At presentation, the three most common symptoms, cough (94%), fever (93%), and weakness or myalgia (81%), were all observed in 70% of patients. Unilateral crackles were observed in 77% of patients. Among patients with positive radiography (64%), 36% had no unilateral crackles. A null CRB-65 score was obtained in 62% of patients. Most patients (94%) initially received antibiotics and experienced uncomplicated disease progression regardless of their management with X-rays. Finally, 7% of patients were hospitalised and 0.3% died. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients consulting GPs for suspected CAP had the three following most common symptoms: cough, fever, and weakness or myalgia. More than a third of them were at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. With or without X-rays, most patients received antibiotics and experienced uncomplicated disease progression.

First round of targeted biopsies using magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasonography fusion compared with conventional transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsies for the diagnosis of localised prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) fusion to guide first-round biopsies in the diagnosis of localised prostate cancer (PCa) in men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤10 ng/mL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on men who met the following criteria: first-round biopsy, multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) showing a lesion with a Likert score ≥2 and a PSA <10 ng/mL. All men underwent a extended 12-core protocol plus a protocol of two or three targeted cores on the mpMRI index lesion. The UroStation (Koelis, Grenoble, France) and a V10 ultrasound system with an end-fire three-dimensional TRUS transducer were used for the fusion imaging procedure. Significant PCa was defined as: at least one core with a Gleason score of 3 + 4 or 6 with a maximum cancer core length ≥4 mm. RESULTS: A total of 152 men, whose median PSA level was 6 ng/mL, were included in the study. The proportion of positive cores was significantly higher with the targeted-core protocol than with the extended 12-core protocol (P < 0.001). The proportion of men with clinically significant PCa was higher with the targeted-core protocol than with the extended 12-core protocol (P = 0.03). The proportion of patients having at least one positive biopsy (targeted-core protocol) was significantly different among the Likert score categories (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For the first round of biopsies, MRI/TRUS-fusion targeted biopsies detected more men with clinically significant PCa than did standard extended 12-core biopsy alone.

Comparison of oncologic outcomes after radical prostatectomy in men diagnosed with prostate cancer with PSA levels below and above 4 ng/mL.

PURPOSE: To assess whether the PSA level (threshold 4 ng/mL) is a prognostic factor in biochemical recurrence-free survival in men with prostate cancer (PCa) with an initial PSA level <10 ng/mL who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARLP). METHODS: We prospectively recruited data for consecutive patients treated by RARLP for PCa with an initial PSA level below 10 ng/mL between 2003 and 2011 at our institution. We divided the population into two groups: patients with a PSA level below 4 ng/mL (G1; n = 53) and patients with a PSA level between 4 and 10 ng/mL (G2; n = 371). Biochemical recurrence was defined as a single increase in PSA greater than 0.2 ng/mL after surgery. Multivariate analysis was used to assess prognostic factors of recurrence-free survival. RESULTS: Overall, 424 patients were included, and the median age was 62 (58-67) years. The median PSA was 5.8 ng/mL (4.8-7.7 ng/mL). Overall, 6 patients from G1 and 34 patients from G2 experienced a biochemical recurrence. Overall, the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 86.6 %. The PSA level at diagnosis (under or over 4 ng/mL) was not significantly linked to recurrence-free survival (HR = 0.59, p = 0.25). However, positive margins and a Gleason score >7 on the specimen were significantly linked to recurrence-free survival with respective hazard ratios of 4.30 (p < 0.0001) and 6.18 (p < 0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSION: A PSA level <4 ng/mL alone appears to be obsolete as a cut-off to define a population of men likely to have indolent disease.