Olanzapine induced hyponatremia and rhabdomyolysis.

Rapid-onset hyponatremia and rhabdomyolysis are rare, but potential, complications of olanzapine treatment. Hyponatremia, secondary to atypical antipsychotic use, has been reported in many case reports and is thought to be associated with an inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion syndrome. We report a case of sudden-onset hyponatremia associated with a severe rhabdomyolysis resulting in a coma-necessitating intensive care unit admission. His evolution was favorable after correction of all his metabolic disorders and olanzapine suspension.

[Suicide prevention: How to act?] / Prévention du suicide : comment agir ?

Although being complex, suicide is a phenomenon considered as preventable, and its prevention has been made as a public health priority. Some interventions to prevent suicide have been evaluated, such as the education of the healthcare workers, especially in the suicidal assessment (suicidal risk and suicidal emergency/dangerousness), the diagnosis and management of common mental disorders, the care provided after a suicide attempt, the restriction access to common means of suicide, the use of websites to educate the public, or the appropriate reports of suicide in media. Other interventions, even not rigorously evaluated, are implemented in France as in many parts of the world. It is the case of interventions among identified high-risk groups. To be efficient, prevention programs should simultaneously include different strategies targeting several known risk factors for suicide. Clinicians play a crucial role in the suicide prevention strategies.

SEVERE REFRACTORY HYPOTHYROIDISM IN A 48-YEAR-OLD FEMALE: ROLE OF LOW-DOSE THYROXINE ABSORPTION TEST IN ESTABLISHING DIAGNOSIS OF NONCOMPLIANCE.

A 48-year-old female presented with severe chronic hypothyroidism despite progressively increasing doses of levothyroxine. Poor adherence was suspected based on previous laboratory investigations. A low dose thyroxine absorption test using 400 µg of levothyroxine taken orally was performed. FT4 increased by 4.7 pmol/L at 3 hours and 6.6 pmol/L at 5 hours, following ingestion, effectively ruling out malabsorption. Her cardiac hemodynamic profile, measured noninvasively, also improved following levothyroxine intake, further supporting our diagnosis. Poor adherence was successfully managed by implementing twice weekly visits by a registered nurse and an improvement in both thyroid function tests and cardiac parameters was seen at the one-month follow-up visit. We suggest using a lower dose thyroxine absorption test, owing to its efficacy in establishing diagnosis and a safer alternative compared to higher doses in particular in high-risk cardiac patients.

Characterization of staphylococci sampled from diabetic foot ulcer of Jordanian patients.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize staphylococcal isolates from diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in Jordanian patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Selected aerobic pathogens recovered from DFU specimens and patients' nares with a focus on staphylococci were investigated. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) were determined. SCCmec types and toxigenic characteristics were analysed and spa typing was performed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. The relationship between toxigenic characteristics of MRSA and the Wagner ulcer grading system was statistically analysed. A total number of 87 DFU patients were recruited for the study. The DFU cultures were polymicrobial. Members of the genus Staphylococcus were the most common among DFU-associated isolates found in 48·3% (n = 42) of all patients enrolled. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) comprised 63·3% of staphylococci isolated from DFUs predominated by Staphylococcus epidermidis in both DFU (7·6%) and nares (39·2%). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from DFUs and nares in 14·2 and 9·8%, respectively, while 93 and 70% of these isolates were MRSA. Most of MRSA carried SCCmec type IV (76·2%) while SCCmec elements were non-typeable in most methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) (61·9%). The most frequent MRSA spa type was t386 (23·8%). Most MRSA and MR-CoNS exhibited resistance towards aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and macrolides and susceptibility towards vancomycin, mupirocin and linezolid. No association was found between the possession of pvl, tst, sea and hlg toxins and Wagner ulcer grading system (P value >0·05). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of Jordanian DFU culture demonstrated its polymicrobial nature with predominance of Staphylococcus sp. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first of its type to assess the microbiology of DFU among Jordanian patients. The results will help in the appropriate application of antimicrobial chemotherapy in the management of DFU.

Management of work-related common mental disorders in general practice: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) often manage individuals with work-related common mental disorders (CMD: depressive disorders, anxiety and alcohol abuse). However, little is known about the ways in which they proceed. The aim of this study is to analyze GPs' management and patterns of referral to other health professionals of patients with work-related CMD and associated factors. METHOD: We used data from a cross-sectional study of 2027 working patients of 121 GPs in the Nord - Pas-de-Calais region in France (April - August 2014). Statistical analyses focused on patients with work-related CMD detected by the GP and examined the ways in which GPs managed these patients' symptoms. Associations between patient, work, GP and contextual characteristics and GPs' management were explored using modified Poisson regression models with robust variance. RESULTS: Among the 533 patients with work-related CMD in the study, GPs provided psychosocial support to 88.0%, prescribed psychotropic treatment to 82.4% and put 50.7% on sick leave. Referral rates to mental health specialists and occupational physicians were respectively 39.8 and 26.1%. Several factors including patients' characteristics (occupational and sociodemographic), GPs' characteristics and environmental data were associated with the type of management used by the GP. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the major and often lonesome role of the GP in the management of patients with work-related CMDs. Better knowledge of the way GPs manage those patients could help GPs in their practice, improve patients care and be a starting point to implement a more collaborative care approach.

Impact of synthesized metal oxide nanomaterials on seedlings production of three Solanaceae crops.

Prospective involvement of metal oxide nanomaterials as a prominent agriculture practice for improving existing crop production directed the present investigation for synthesizing of ZnO and TiO2 nanomaterials as an attempt to enhance the transplants production of some Solanaceae crops. The morphological characterizations of the prepared nanomaterials indicated that the hydrothermal synthesized ZnO was produced in nanorod structure with an average aspect ratio of 7. However, SEM and TEM micrographs of microwave prepared TiO2 evident that it has a nanoparticle structure with an average diameter of 43 nm. The BET results confirmed the high specific areas of the two prepared metal oxide nanomaterials. The two synthesized metal oxide nanomaterials were coated in gel and mixed with the seeds of eggplant, pepper and tomato crops at four concentrations 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L, whilst the control seeds were germinated in distilled water without gel-coating. The results pointed to the outstanding effect of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles on germination characters and seedlings growth. The maximum transplants lengths, fresh and dry weight were recorded at the level 100 mg/L whatever the crop plant used. Hastening germination operation of nanomaterials-gel coated seedlings compared to control plants may be ascribed to the reduction of mean germination time and coefficient variation of the germination process besides increasing the mean germination rate and the synchrony of germination traits. Overall, better performance of growing transplants has been accredited for nanoparticles-gel coated seedlings more than the control treatments which could be efficient for the safer production of transplants in an innovative way.

Biosafety assessment of graphene nanosheets on leaf ultrastructure, physiological and yield traits of Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L.

Due to limited knowledge of graphene nanosheets (GNS) on phyto-biological studies, GNS was sprayed to pepper and eggplants during the seasons 2016 and 2017 at doses 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 GNS g L-1 to assess their biosafety on leaf ultrastructure and agro-physiological traits. GNS was localized on plastids, cell walls and intercellular spaces of both plants. GNS-sprayed peppers characterized by giant chloroplasts with large starch granules and increment of mitochondrial number adjacent to chloroplasts. Whilst, chloroplast ultrastructure of GNS-treated eggplants appeared to be ellipsoidal-shaped with few normal sized-starch granules compared to control. The localization of GNS inside chloroplast may be activated photosynthetic pigments; thereby stimulation of fructose, sucrose and starch was displayed. The rising of hydrogen peroxide of GNS-treated leaves had beneficial role on triggering the activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. Furthermore, the reduction of hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion reflected the involvement of GNS in induction of antioxidant molecules and superoxide dismutase for modulating cell oxidative status. Thus, the lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage of GNS-treated plants were kept below the baseline of water-sprayed plants. Moreover, the promotions of health-promoting secondary metabolites via GNS aerosol were in close association to exacerbation of phenylalanine ammonialyase actvity. This study conclusively demonstrated that GNS did not have cytotoxic properties in pepper and eggplant cells rather healthy growth and promoted yield in the terms of number of branches plant-1, number of fruits plant-1 and fruit yield (ton hectare-1) were the net result of GNS-induced metabolic regulation of the leaves physiological status.

[Is the orientation of patients suffering from depressive disorder to the psychiatric emergencies by a general practitioner associated with the decision to hospitalize?] / L'orientation des patients souffrant d'un trouble dépressif aux urgences psychiatriques par le médecin traitant est-elle associée à la décision d'hospitalisation : étude observationnelle.

INTRODUCTION: Depressive disorders affect nearly 350 million people worldwide and are the world's leading cause of incapacity. Patients who are depressed preferentially approach their general practitioner (GP), who is their first point of contact, in 50-60% of cases. The aim of our study is to assess whether the orientation of patients suffering from anxiety-depressive disorder towards a GP in a general emergency is a factor associated with hospitalization when compared to patients who present themselves spontaneously for the same disorders. Our secondary objective was to identify the different profiles of patients who were hospitalized for these disorders as an emergency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study for the year 2015, targeting patients who presented as general emergencies at the centre hospitalier de Troyes and who had received a psychiatric diagnosis in the context of an anxiety or depressive disorder. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty four patients were included. A univariate analysis showed that referral by the attending physician was associated with hospitalization in 57.9% vs. 42.1% cases (P=0.007), at an odds ratio at 1.98 [1.22-3.21] by multivariate analysis. Analysis by ascending hierarchical classification made it possible to identify 3 profiles for hospitalized patients: 1) patients with a known psychiatric history, a history of past or current follow-ups directed by a psychiatrist, with at least one psychotropic treatment, the presence of psychotic symptoms and a low suicidal risk compared to the rest of the study population; 2) patients without a psychiatric history, or a history of past or ongoing psychiatric follow-up and the absence of ongoing psychotropic treatment. These patients were referred by a GP (67% vs 23%, P<0.001) and their suicidal risk was higher (59% vs 26%, P<0.001); 3) patients about whom the psychiatrist had little information at the time of the emergency consultation. CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of GPs in orientation towards emergencies pleads in favor of a partnership and an early exchange between treating physicians and the psychiatrists.

Work intensity in men and work-related emotional demands in women are associated with increased suicidality among persons attending primary care.

BACKGROUND: A large proportion of persons died by suicide are employed at the time of death and work-related factors partly contribute to suicide risk. Our aim was to examine the association between multiple aspects of work organization and suicidal ideation in a study conducted in primary care. METHODS: Data came from a study of 2027 working patients attending a GP representative of patients in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region in France (April-August 2014). Suicidality was assessed using the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview). Six emergent worked-related factors were explored (work intensity, emotional demands, autonomy, social relationships at work, conflict of values, insecurity of work). Several covariates were considered: patient's and GP's characteristics, and area-level data (material and social deprivation, psychiatrist and GPs' density, suicide attempts and suicide rates). RESULTS: 8.0% of participants reported suicidal ideation in the preceding month (7.5% of men and 8.6% of women, p = .03). In multivariate analyses adjusted for covariates, suicidality was significantly associated with work intensity (OR = 1.65; 95%CI [1.18-2.31]) in men and with work-related emotional demands (OR = 1.35; 95%CI [1.01-1.80]) in women. Area-level data were not associated. LIMITATIONS: Our cross-sectional study cannot assess the direction of the relationships under study. CONCLUSION: Our results emphasise a central role for GPs in suicide prevention among workers and highlight the importance of work-related factors with regard to suicidality in primary care.

Identifying Spatial Variation Along the HIV Care Continuum: The Role of Distance to Care on Retention and Viral Suppression.

Distance to HIV care may be associated with retention in care (RIC) and viral suppression (VS). RIC (≥ 2 HIV visits or labs ≥ 90 days apart in 12 months), prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART), VS (< 200 copies/mL at last visit) and distance to care were estimated among 3623 DC Cohort participants receiving HIV care in 13 outpatient clinics in Washington, DC in 2015. Logistic regression models and geospatial statistics were computed. RIC was 73%; 97% were on ART, among whom 77% had VS. ZIP code-level clusters of low RIC and high VS were found in Northwest DC, and low VS in Southeast DC. Those traveling ≥ 5 miles had 30% lower RIC (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.71, 95% CI 0.58, 0.86) and lower VS (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52, 0.94). Geospatial clustering of RIC and VS was observed, and distance may be a barrier to optimal HIV care outcomes.

Prevalence of work-related common psychiatric disorders in primary care: The French Héraclès study.

General practitioners (GP), on the frontline for individuals with mental health problems, often deal with work-related common psychiatric disorders. We aimed to determine the prevalence of work-related common psychiatric disorders in general practice and associated patients' and GPs' characteristics. HERACLES, a cross-sectional study among 2019 working patients of 121 GPs in the Nord - Pas-de-Calais region in France. Common psychiatric disorders were assessed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview, patient-perceived psychological distress and GP-diagnosed psychiatric disorders. The work-relatedness of common psychiatric disorders was ascertained by the GP and/or the patient. Prevalence rates adjusted on age were calculated by sex and associated characteristics were ascertained using multilevel Poisson regression models. The prevalence of work-related common psychiatric disorders ascertained using the MINI was estimated at 25.6% [23.7-27.5], 24.5% [22.6-26.4] for self-reported psychological distress and 25.8% [23.9-27.7] for GP-diagnosed psychiatric disorders. Age, history of psychiatric disorders, consultation for psychological purpose and GP's characteristics were associated with MINI-identified psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of work-related common psychiatric disorders among working adults seen in general practice is high but further studies are needed to support this results.

Validation of an Arabic version of an instrument to measure waterpipe smoking behavior.

OBJECTIVES: Reliable and valid measures of waterpipe smoking are essential to study its health effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of an Arabic translation of Maziak questionnaire that assesses various aspects of waterpipe smoking in epidemiological studies. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This questionnaire was translated, back translated, and culturally adapted to the local Arabic dialect. Construct and convergent validity were assessed in a sample of 119 daily waterpipe smokers (WPS) and 30 occasional WPS, defined as smoking at least one waterpipe per week but less than daily from Beirut and Doha (mean age = 52.4 years, males = 61.7%). Construct validity was assessed by comparing the smoking behavior of daily and occasional WPS. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating daily smoking intensity ('number of waterpipe smoked per day') with 'number of waterpipe smoked yesterday' and by correlating lifetime smoking exposure (waterpipe-year) calculated by multiplying number of waterpipe smoked per day × duration of waterpipe smoking with alternate measures obtained graphically (graphical waterpipe-year) or adjusted (adjusted waterpipe-year). Criterion validity was assessed by correlating daily smoking intensity and lifetime smoking exposure with serum cotinine level. Test-retest reliability was analyzed by re-administering the questionnaire to 30 daily and 30 occasional WPS after 2 weeks. RESULTS: Smoking intensity, patterns of use, and willingness to quit differed significantly between daily and occasional WPS. Daily smoking intensity correlated strongly with the number of waterpipe smoked yesterday (rs = 0.68, P < 0.001), but not in the occasional WPS (rs = 0.13, P = 0.70). Waterpipe-year correlated very strongly with adjusted waterpipe-year and graphical waterpipe-year (rs = 0.98, P < 0.001 and rs = 0.92, P < 0.001, respectively). Waterpipe-year, daily smoking intensity, and number of waterpipe smoked yesterday, correlated weakly but significantly with serum cotinine levels (rs = 0.243, P = 0.01; rs = 0.359, P < 0.01 and rs = 0.387, P < 0.01, respectively). The type and pattern of waterpipe use items showed high test-retest reliability with near perfect agreement (k > 0.9), the sharing and intention to quit waterpipe items had substantial agreement (k > 0.6), and the intent to quit item showed moderate agreement (k > 0.4). CONCLUSION: The questionnaire showed strong reliability, face validity, construct and convergent validity, and a weak but statistically significant criterion validity. Maziak questionnaire is valid and reliable for assessing waterpipe smoking patterns, intensity, and willingness to quit.

Direct Screening of Blood by PCR and Pyrosequencing for a 16S rRNA Gene Target from Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit Patients Being Evaluated for Bloodstream Infection.

Here we compared the results of PCR/pyrosequencing to those of culture for detecting bacteria directly from blood. DNA was extracted from 1,130 blood samples from 913 patients suspected of bacteremia (enrollment criteria were physician-ordered blood culture and complete blood count [CBC]), and 102 controls (healthy blood donors). Real-time PCR assays for beta-globin and Universal 16S rRNA gene targets were performed on all 1,232 extracts. Specimens identified by Universal 16S rRNA gene PCR/pyrosequencing as containing staphylococci, streptococci, or enteric Gram-negative rods had target-specific PCR/pyrosequencing performed. Amplifiable beta-globin (melting temperature [Tm], 87.2°C ± 0.2°C) occurred in 99.1% (1,120/1,130) of patient extracts and 100% (102/102) of controls. Concordance between PCR/pyrosequencing and culture was 96.9% (1,085/1,120) for Universal 16S rRNA gene targets, with positivity rates of 9.4% (105/1,120) and 11.3% (126/1,120), respectively. Bacteria cultured included staphylococci (59/126, 46.8%), Gram-negative rods (34/126, 27%), streptococci (32/126, 25.4%), and a Gram-positive rod (1/126, 0.8%). All controls screened negative by PCR/pyrosequencing. Clinical performance characteristics (95% confidence interval [CI]) for Universal 16S rRNA gene PCR/pyrosequencing included sensitivity of 77.8% (69.5 to 84.7), specificity of 99.3% (98.6 to 99.7), positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.3% (86.8 to 97.3), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.2% (96.0 to 98.2). Bacteria were accurately identified in 77.8% (98/126) of culture-confirmed sepsis samples with Universal 16S PCR/pyrosequencing and in 76.4% (96/126) with follow-up target-specific PCR/pyrosequencing. The initial PCR/pyrosequencing took ∼5.5 h to complete or ∼7.5 h when including target-specific PCR/pyrosequencing compared to 27.9 ± 13.6 h for Gram stain or 81.6 ± 24.0 h for phenotypic identification. In summary, this molecular approach detected the causative bacteria in over three-quarters of all culture-confirmed cases of bacteremia directly from blood in significantly less time than standard culture but cannot be used to rule out infection.

Attempted and completed suicide in primary care: not what we expected?

BACKGROUND: General Practitioners (GPs) play a central role in suicide prevention. This study aims to compare the characteristics of individuals who attempt suicide to those who complete suicide in a same primary care setting. METHODS: We compared the characteristics and GP's management of all patients with attempted (N=498, SA) or completed suicide (N=141, SC) reported to the GPs'French Sentinelles surveillance system (2009-2013). RESULTS: Compared to patients who attempted suicide, those who completed suicide were more likely to be male, older and to have used a more lethal method; for men they were less likely to have a history of previous suicide attempt and prior contacts with their GP. In terms of GPs' management, we found no differences between the SA and SC groups in the identification of psychological difficulties and in the care, but GPs were more likely to provide psychological support to the SA group. During the last consultation, the SC group expressed suicidal ideas more frequently than the SA group (26.7% vs. 14.8%, p<0.01), only for women. LIMITATIONS: The network may have missed cases and selected more serious SA. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who commit suicide differ from those who attempt suicide in terms of demographic characteristics and by sex, of history of suicide attempt, previous contact and expressed suicidal ideas. We show that GPs do not act more intensively with patients who will commit suicide, as if they do not foresee them. Current prevention programs particularly in primary care should be tailored.

[Socio-demographic factors and use of health services for psychological reasons in young adults]. / Facteurs sociodémographiques et recours aux soins pour raisons psychologiques chez les jeunes adultes.

BACKGROUND: Although young adults exhibit a high rate of psychiatric disorders, their rate of access to mental health care is low compared with older age groups. Our study examined the relationship between socio-demographic factors and the use of health care services for psychological reasons. METHODS: We studied a community sample of 1103 French 22 to 35-year-old (TEMPO cohort study) who were surveyed by mailed questionnaire in 2009. Data were collected regarding participants' health (internalizing and externalizing psychological symptoms in 1991 and 2009), health care use (access to health professionals and psychotropic medications in case of psychological difficulties), and socio-demographic factors (sex, age, employment status, marital situation, social support). Parental history of depression was ascertained based on TEMPO participants' and their parents' reports (in the GAZEL cohort study). RESULTS: In the 12 months preceding the study, 16.7% of study participants saw a health professional and 12.8% took a psychotropic medication for psychological reasons. In multivariate regression, models adjusted for all socio-demographic and psychological characteristics, access to health professionals was associated with being unemployed/out of the labor force (OR=1.93; 95% CI=1.11-3.30), family situation (OR in participants living with a partner with no children: 2.16; 95% CI 1.26-3.72; OR in participants not living with a partner: 2.29; 95% CI=1.34-3.90), and having low social support (OR=1.75; 95% CI=1.21-2.54). The use of psychotropic medications was associated with female gender (OR=2.70; 95% CI=1.60-4.55), being unemployed/out of the labor force (OR=3.85; 95% CI=2.14-6.95), not living with a partner (OR=2.04; 95% CI=1.09-3.80) and having low social support (OR=1.65; 95% CI=1.05-2.59). Additionally, use of health services was associated with participants' and their parents' psychological difficulties.

Socioeconomic position predicts long-term depression trajectory: a 13-year follow-up of the GAZEL cohort study.

Individuals with low socioeconomic position have high rates of depression; however, it is not clear whether this reflects higher incidence or longer persistence of disorder. Past research focused on high-risk samples, and risk factors of long-term depression in the population are less well known. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that socioeconomic position predicts depression trajectory over 13 years of follow-up in a community sample. We studied 12 650 individuals participating in the French GAZEL study. Depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. These five assessments served to estimate longitudinal depression trajectories (no depression, decreasing depression, intermediate/increasing depression, persistent depression). Socioeconomic position was measured by occupational grade. Covariates included year of birth, marital status, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, negative life events and preexisting psychological and non-psychological health problems. Data were analyzed using multinomial regression, separately in men and women. Overall, participants in intermediate and low occupational grades were significantly more likely than those in high grades to have an unfavorable depression trajectory and to experience persistent depression (age-adjusted ORs: respectively 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.70 and 2.65, 95% CI 2.04-3.45 in men, 2.48, 95% CI 1.36-4.54 and 4.53, 95% CI 2.38-8.63 in women). In multivariate models, the socioeconomic gradient in long-term depression decreased by 21-59% in men and women. Long-term depression trajectories appear to follow a socioeconomic gradient; therefore, efforts aiming to reduce the burden of depression should address the needs of the whole population rather than exclusively focus on high-risk groups.

Dilation of the vaginal cuff using the Bakri Postpartum Balloon to extract the large uterus at the time of robotic hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma.

Removal of large uterine specimens during robotic or total laparoscopic hysterectomy poses surgical challenges, particularly in cases performed for gynecologic malignancy. A 23-year-old patient with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium underwent robotic total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The large uterine specimen was removed by dilating the colpotomy incision using the Bakri Postpartum Balloon™. Dilation of the colpotomy incision with the uterine tamponade balloon can allow for the intact removal of a large uterine specimen in cases of robotic or total laparoscopic hysterectomy performed for gynecologic malignancy when specimen morcellation is contraindicated.

[Retinal vasculitis. Epidemiological, clinical and etiological features]. / Les vascularites rétiniennes: profils épidémiologiques, cliniques et étiologiques.

PURPOSE: To study the epidemiological and clinical features of noninfectious retinal vasculitis (NIRV). METHODS: We analyzed 128 consecutive patients with NIRV, collected over 15 years (1993-2007) in an ophthalmological reference university hospital in Tunis, Tunisia. Data were analyzed regarding associated systemic disease, ocular syndromes, anatomic features (type and topography of vessel and type of capillaropathy), age and sex. The results of the etiologic work-up were based on the Levy-Clarke and Perez classification. RESULTS: A total of 240 cases of NIRV (128 patients) were collected (mean age: 32; sex ratio: 2.6). It was bilateral in 93.7% of cases. The mean visual acuity (VA) was 20/50 (range: 20/800-20/20). NIRV was mainly venous (84.1%), diffuse (57%), with a mixed capillaropathy (40.2%). There were complications in 56.25% of the cases, mainly macular edema (48.1%), vascular occlusion (25.9%), optic atrophy (22.2%) and cataract (19.2%). NIRV was idiopathic in 15.6% of the cases, characterized by a predominance of young subjects (mean: 38 years old), males (sex ratio: 4), VA at 20/25, and edematous periphlebitis in 100% of cases. There were ocular disorders in 12.5% of the cases and systemic disease in 72% of the cases, with a predominance of Behçet disease (BD): 53.9% of all patients and 81% of systemic disease with predominant venous features. In 48.3% of cases, VA was less than 20/200, due to BD in 48% of the cases. CONCLUSION: In NIRV, the etiologic work-up is oriented on anatomic presentation, based on fluorescein retinal angiography, and requires an interdisciplinary approach. In young adults with retinal phlebitis, BD is suggested first.

[Congenital glaucoma: future of vision and pressure. Results of an 11-year study]. / Glaucome congénital : devenir visuel et pressionnel. Résultats d'une étude sur 11 ans.

AIM: To study the future of vision and IOP in congenital glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 33 eyes from 20 separate patients divided into two groups: group one consisted of 19 eyes with isolated trabeculodysgenesis and group two 14 eyes associated with Sturge-Weber-Krabbe syndrome, angiomatosis, or Peters syndrome. All patients underwent filtering surgery between 1995 and 2006. We studied a number of different forms of surgery; visual acuity after amblyopia treatment (> or =5/10, good; 4/10-2/10, average; < or =1/10, poor), objective refraction, and intraocular pressure (<16 mmHg, good; > or =16 mmHg, poor). RESULTS: We found that 54.8% of the patients had visual acuity 5/10 or greater and 44.2% between 4 and the ability to perceive light. Objective refraction was emmetropic in 19.4% (group 1, 60%; group 2, 40%), myopic in 53.8% (group 1, 28.5%; group 2, 71%), and hyperopic in 26.9% of cases (100%, group 1). All patients underwent surgery (45.5% deep sclerectomy and 54.5% trabeculectomy); 39.4% of the patients underwent more than one type of surgery (the number of operations is a prognosis factor for visual acuity). IOP was less than 19 mmHg in 87.9% of eyes. DISCUSSION: Visual acuity, refractive errors, and IOP depend on the type of congenital glaucoma. Isolated trabeculodysgenesis seems to give a better prognosis. CONCLUSION: If early diagnosis and treatment occur, visual acuity that is 5/10 or less can be expected for more than 50% of patients; therefore their visual future seems to be better.