The Angers CT Score is a Risk Factor for the Failure of the Conservative Management of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: A Prospective Observational Multicentric Study.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the 30% of adhesive small bowel obstructions (aSBO) for which conservative management will require surgery is essential. The association between the previously described radiological score and failure of the conservative management of aSBO remains to be confirmed in a large prospective multicentric cohort. Our aim was to assess the risk factors of failure of the conservative management of aSBO considering the radiological score. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective observational study took place in 15 French centers over 3 months. Consecutive patients experiencing aSBO with no early surgery were included. The six radiological features from the Angers radiological computed tomography (CT) score were noted (beak sign, closed loop, focal or diffuse intraperitoneal liquid, focal or diffuse mesenteric haziness, focal or diffuse mesenteric liquid, and diameter of the most dilated small bowel loop > 40 mm). RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy nine patients with aSBO were screened. Sixty patients (21.5%) underwent early surgery, and 219 (78.5%) had primary conservative management. In the end, 218 patients were included in the analysis of the risk factors for conservative treatment failure. Among them, 162 (74.3%) had had successful management while for 56 (25.7%) management had failed. In multivariate analysis, a history of surgery was not a significant risk factor for the failure of conservative treatment (OR = 0.11; 95%CI = 0-1.23). A previous episode of aSBO was protective against the failure of conservative treatment (OR = 0.36; 95%CI = 0.15-0.85) and an Angers CT score ≥ 5 as the only individual risk factor (OR = 2.39; 95%CI = 1.01-5.69). CONCLUSION: The radiological score of aSBO is a promising tool in improving the management of aSBO patients. A first episode of aSBO and/or a radiological score ≥5 should lead physicians to consider early surgical management.

[Therapeutic alliance and cognitive behavioral group therapy]. / Alliance thérapeutique et thérapie cognitivo-comportementale de groupe.

In cognitive-behavioral group therapy, the therapeutic alliance with the psychotherapists and between the patients in the group, allows patients to develop coping strategies. These include cognitive and behavioral efforts aimed to control, reduce or tolerate specific demands, whether internal or external, experienced as threatening, exhausting or exceeding the patient's resources. This adaptive mechanism lowers the intensity of anxiety, favors control of fear and reinforces the motivation and energy invested in the process of change. We describe the importance of therapeutic alliance in group therapy with patients suffering from chronic pain. These processes will be illustrated with clinical vignettes.

Lors de thérapie cognitivo-comportementale de groupe, l'alliance thérapeutique, avec les psychothérapeutes et entre les patients, permet à ces derniers de développer leurs capacités de coping, c'est-à-dire l'ensemble des efforts cognitifs et comportementaux destinés à maîtriser, réduire ou tolérer des demandes spécifiques internes et/ou externes, vécues par le sujet comme menaçantes, épuisantes ou dépassant ses ressources. Cette alliance fonctionne en tant que mécanisme adaptatif permettant de diminuer l'intensité de l'anxiété, favoriser le contrôle des peurs et renforcer la motivation et l'énergie investies dans le processus de changement. Nous décrivons l'importance de cette alliance thérapeutique dans le processus groupal réunissant des thérapeutes et des patients souffrant de douleurs chroniques. Ces mouvements seront illustrés par des vignettes cliniques.

[When the discontinuation of psychotropic drugs is necessary: clinical manifestations and therapeutic approach]. / Quand la discontinuation des psychotropes s'impose : manifestations cliniques et approche thérapeutique.

The reduction or suspension of psychotropic treatment may be necessary for various medical reasons. This can have serious consequences for patients, including clinical manifestations, both physical and psychological. These manifestations, which are often unpleasant, can compromise care during hospitalization and undermine the therapeutic alliance. Their early detection, readjustment of treatment, when necessary, as well as regular communication with the patient and among specialists are important tips to take into account from caregivers.

La diminution ou mise en suspens d'un traitement psychotrope peut être imposée par des raisons médicales diverses. Cela peut avoir d'importantes conséquences pour les patients, notamment des manifestations cliniques, tant physiques que psychologiques. Elles sont souvent désagréables, peuvent compromettre l'adhésion aux soins lors d'une hospitalisation et mettre à mal le lien thérapeutique. Leur détection précoce, le réajustement du traitement quand nécessaire, ainsi que la communication régulière avec le patient et entre spécialistes sont des éléments importants à prendre en compte lors de ces prises en charge.

Antibiomania: a case report of clarithromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid induced manic episodes separately.

BACKGROUND: Antibiomania is a rare but recognized side effect with yet unclear definite pathogenesis although multiple hypotheses have been proposed. The novelty of this case is the suspected pharmacodynamic drug-drug interaction between clarithromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the occurrence of a brief manic episode concerning a 50-year-old man with no psychiatric history, first started on amoxicillin-clavulanic acid therapy and then switched to clarithromycin for left basal pneumonia. Shortly after the antibiotic prescription, he presented psychiatric symptomatology (logorrhea, elevated mood, irritability, increase in physical activity and delusions). The antibiotic was stopped and the patient received lorazepam (2.5 mg p.o.) to treat psychomotor agitation. Approximately 12 h after clarithromycin cessation, amelioration was already observed, supporting the diagnosis of a clarithromycin-induced manic episode. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was then reintroduced because of the pneumonia and psychiatric symptoms reemerged. This second antibiotic was also stopped, and 1 week later, the patient was symptom-free. CONCLUSION: The emergence of psychiatric side effects related to antibiotherapy, which is a common treatment, can greatly impact a patient's quality of life. Early recognition and intervention could substantially influence the administered medical care and recovery. Moreover, given the widespread use of antibiotics including in combination, we thought our case report might be clinically useful as a clinical reminder relevant to the use of antibiotic combinations.

[Activity, decentration and cognitive restructuring in cognitive-behavioural therapy - practice-based aspects]. / Activité, décentration et restructuration cognitive dans la thérapie cognitivocomportementale - Éléments pour la pratique clinique.

Decentration and cognitive restructuring are used in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) with patients suffering from chronic pain and are reinforced by group work. They can also be useful to the general practitioner. Clinical vignettes summarize the role of group CBT in identifying realistic and meaningful activities. They stress decentration and cognitive restructuring as key therapeutic tools in group CBT. Using them with patients suffering from chronic pain is complex and challenging when it comes to allow the patients to overcome the impossibility to function 'as before' while figuring out how to cope 'as for now'.

La décentration et la restructuration cognitive sont utilisées dans les thérapies cognitivocomportementales (TCC) chez les patients souffrant de douleurs chroniques et sont renforcées par le travail en groupe. Elles peuvent également être utilisées par les praticiens dans leurs cabinets. Des vignettes cliniques résument leur rôle dans l'identification d'activités réalistes et significatives et posent la décentration et la restructuration cognitive en tant qu'outils d'intérêt pour la TCC de groupe. Leur utilisation avec des patients douloureux chroniques peut permettre aux patients de surmonter l'impossibilité à faire « comme avant ¼ pour s'imaginer parvenir à gérer « comme maintenant ¼.

[About the use of ketamine in emergency psychiatric settings]. / À propos de l'utilisation du traitement de la kétamine aux urgences psychiatriques.

Ketamine and its S-enantiomer, esketamine, have shown to be promising molecules for use in psychiatry. Widely investigated for the treatment of drug-resistant depression, they could be used in emergency conditions, due to their rapid onset of action, in two main conditions : 1) psychomotor agitation, and 2) acute suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidal crisis). In particular, intranasal administration offers a non-invasive, safe and very easy to administer option. An effect begins a few hours to a day after intake and lasts for about a week. These molecules present an innovative option for the future and their specific use in psychiatric emergencies.

La kétamine et son énantiomère S, l'eskétamine, se sont révélés être des molécules prometteuses pour leur utilisation en psychiatrie. Largement étudiées pour le traitement de la dépression pharmacorésistante, elles pourraient être utilisées dans des conditions d'urgence et, grâce à leur rapidité d'action, dans deux situations : 1) l'agitation psychomotrice, et 2) l'idéation et le comportement suicidaire aigus (crise suicidaire). En particulier, l'administration par voie intranasale offre une option non invasive, sûre et facile à utiliser. On observe un effet quelques heures à un jour après la prise, qui perdure pendant environ une semaine. Ces molécules représentent une option innovatrice pour le futur et pour une utilisation spécifique aux urgences psychiatriques.

[Why using antidepressants in chronic pain†? Practical prescription recommendations]. / Antidépresseurs dans la douleur chronique†: pourquoi les utiliser, comment les prescrire en pratique†?

The use over the last 50 years of antidepressants having both serotonergic and noradrenergic properties, as the first line for the management of neuropathic pain or chronic pain syndromes, is based on a twofold rationale: on the one hand, a plausible analgesic mechanism of action independent of the effect on mood, on the other hand, efficacy data in humans and animals. Their prescription should be part of a multimodal approach to pain. The dose to reach the analgesic effect, which on average occurs within four weeks after the initiation of treatment, is sometimes lower than the dose required to achieve the antidepressant effect. The choice of antidepressant will rely on the profile of adverse effects and other expected secondary benefits in the case of comorbidities.

L'utilisation depuis 50 ans d'antidépresseurs ayant à la fois une action sérotoninergique et noradrénergique comme première ligne pour la prise en charge de douleurs neuropathiques ou de syndromes douloureux chroniques est basée sur les deux raisons suivantes : d'une part, un mécanisme d'action antalgique plausible et indépendant de l'effet thymique, d'autre part, des données d'efficacité chez l'humain et l'animal. Leur prescription doit s'inscrire dans une approche multimodale de la douleur. La dose nécessaire pour atteindre l'effet antalgique, qui survient en moyenne dans les 4 semaines après l'introduction du traitement, est parfois moins importante que celle qui permet d'obtenir l'effet antidépresseur. Le choix de la molécule se fera en fonction du profil d'effets indésirables et d'autres bénéfices secondaires éventuels attendus.

[Drug management of behavioral disorders in people with developmental and intellectual disability]. / Gestion médicamenteuse des troubles du comportement de la personne en situation de handicap mental.

Behavioral disorders in people with developmental and intellectual disability are frequent but their management is rarely taught. This article is to help primary physicians prescribe drug treatment. We will also discuss the key elements of two of the most commonly used classes of drugs, taking into account the patient's co-morbidities, contraindications and the main side effects.

Les troubles du comportement chez la personne en situation de handicap mental sont fréquents, mais leur prise en charge est peu enseignée aux médecins de premier recours. Cet article a pour objectif d'aider à la prescription d'un traitement médicamenteux. Nous discutons des éléments clés des deux classes de médicaments les plus utilisés, en tenant compte des comorbidités du patient, des contre-indications et des principaux effets secondaires.

[Suicidal crisis and suicide prevention†: psychopharmacological aspects]. / Crise suicidaire et prévention du suicide†: aspects psychopharmacologiques.

Suicide is a common cause of death in Switzerland. It often occurs during a period of crisis marked by a disruption of the subject's intrapsychic, interpersonal or social balance. The management of this crisis is crucial and essentially psychotherapeutic. Drug therapy may be necessary for the management of acute symptoms or for the prevention of long-term suicidal risk. Benzodiazepines and atypical antipsychotics are often used for acute symptoms such as anxiety or sleep disorders while other molecules are recognized in reducing long-term suicidal risk. Some disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, account for more frequent suicidal behaviors. The pharmacological management of these specific situations is discussed.

Le suicide est une cause de mortalité fréquente en Suisse. Il survient souvent durant une période de crise marquée par une perturbation de l'équilibre intrapsychique, interpersonnel ou social du sujet. La prise en charge de cette crise est cruciale et essentiellement psychothérapeutique. Un traitement médicamenteux peut s'avérer nécessaire pour la gestion des symptômes aigus ou la prévention du risque suicidaire à long terme. Les benzodiazépines et les antipsychotiques atypiques sont souvent utilisés pour les symptômes aigus comme l'anxiété ou les troubles du sommeil. D'autres molécules sont reconnues dans la diminution du risque suicidaire à long terme. Certains troubles, comme le trouble borderline, rendent compte de comportements suicidaires plus fréquents. La prise en charge pharmacologique de ces situations spécifiques est discutée.

Natural history of liver adenomatosis: A long-term observational study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Liver adenomatosis (LA) is characterized by the presence of at least 10 hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs), but the natural history of this rare liver disorder remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to reappraise the natural history and the risk of complications in a cohort of patients with at least 10 HCAs. METHODS: We analyzed the natural history of 40 patients with LA, excluding glycogen storage disorders, in a monocentric cohort. Pathological examination was performed, with immunostaining and molecular biology carried out on surgical specimens or liver biopsies. RESULTS: Forty patients (36 female) were included with a median follow-up of 10.6 (1.9-26.1) years. Six (15%) patients had familial LA, all with germline HNF1A mutations. Median age at diagnosis was 39 (9-55) years. Thirty-three (94%) women had a history of oral contraception, and 29 (81%) women had a pregnancy before LA diagnosis. Overall, thirty-seven (93%) patients underwent surgery at diagnosis. Classification of HCAs showed 46% of patients with HNF1A-mutated HCA, 31% with inflammatory HCA, 3% with sonic hedgehog HCA, 8% with unclassified HCA. Only 15% of the patients demonstrated a "mixed LA" with different HCA subtypes. Hepatic complications were identified in 7 patients: 1 patient (3%) died from recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation; 6 (15%) had hemorrhages, of which 5 occurred at diagnosis, with 1 fatal case during pregnancy, and 2 occurred in male patients with familial LA. Four patients (10%) had repeated liver resections. Finally, 4 (10%) patients developed extrahepatic malignancies during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The diversity in HCA subtypes, as well as the occurrence of bleeding and malignant transformation during long-term follow-up, underline the heterogeneous nature of LA, justifying close and specific management. In patients with germline HNF1A mutation, familial LA occurred equally frequently in males and females, with a higher rate of bleeding in male patients. LAY SUMMARY: Liver adenomatosis is a rare disease characterized by the presence of 10 or more hepatocellular adenomas that may rarely be of genetic origin. Patients with liver adenomatosis have multiple adenomas of different subtypes, with a risk of bleeding and malignant transformation that justify a specific management and follow-up.

A case report of cholinergic rebound syndrome following abrupt low-dose clozapine discontinuation in a patient with type I bipolar affective disorder.

BACKGROUND: Rebound cholinergic syndrome is a rare, but well known unwanted phenomenon occurring after abrupt clozapine discontinuation. There have been previous reported cases of cholinergic rebound in the literature; however, these reports described cholinergic rebound following cessation of high doses of clozapine in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Here, we report a case of rebound cholinergic syndrome and catatonia in a male patient three days after abrupt discontinuation of 50 mg of clozapine prescribed for type I bipolar affective disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year old male of Spanish origin, treated for type I bipolar affective disorder for 15 years and for Crohn disease, was brought to the emergency department because of a sudden onset of mutism, dysphagia and trismus. He was described catatonic and presented hypertension, tachycardia and tachypnea. His body temperature was normal and the laboratory tests were unremarkable at presentation. A head CT and an EEG were in the normal range. While reviewing his history, it appeared the he was on clozapine 50 mg a day, first introduced 2 months ago, during a previous hospitalization for a manic episode resistant to other mood stabilizers. For an unknown reason, the patient's psychiatrist stopped clozapine three days before the admission and replaced it by risperidone 5 mg and quetiapine 200 mg daily. A cholinergic rebound syndrome was then evoked. The patient's ability to speak recovered dramatically and fast after the intravenous administration of 2.5 mg of biperiden supporting the diagnosis. Risperidone and quetiapine were also stopped. The patient fully recovered in 20 days after the reintroduction of 50 mg of clozapine and 2.5 mg of biperiden daily. CONCLUSIONS: This case report underscores that cholinergic rebound syndrome may occur in patients suffering from bipolar affective disorders, being on clozapine as a mood stabilizer. The low dose clozapine does not preclude severe manifestations of the phenomenon. Progressive tapering should therefore be adopted in any case.

Glial lipid droplets and neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of complex I deficiency.

Mitochondrial defects associated with respiratory chain complex I deficiency lead to heterogeneous fatal syndromes. While the role of NDUFS8, an essential subunit of the core assembly of the complex I, is established in mitochondrial diseases, the mechanisms underlying neuropathology are poorly understood. We developed a Drosophila model of NDUFS8 deficiency by knocking down the expression of its fly homologue in neurons or in glial cells. Downregulating ND23 in neurons resulted in shortened lifespan, and decreased locomotion. Although total brain ATP levels were decreased, histological analysis did not reveal any signs of neurodegeneration except for photoreceptors of the retina. Interestingly, ND23 deficiency-associated phenotypes were rescued by overexpressing the glucose transporter hGluT3 demonstrating that boosting glucose metabolism in neurons was sufficient to bypass altered mitochondrial functions and to confer neuroprotection. We then analyzed the consequences of ND23 knockdown in glial cells. In contrast to neuronal knockdown, loss of ND23 in glia did not lead to significant behavioral defects nor to reduced lifespan, but induced brain degeneration, as visualized by numerous vacuoles found all over the nervous tissue. This phenotype was accompanied by the massive accumulation of lipid droplets at the cortex-neuropile boundaries, suggesting an alteration of lipid metabolism in glia. These results demonstrate that complex I deficiency triggers metabolic alterations both in neurons and glial cells which may contribute to the neuropathology.

A maternal Western diet during gestation and lactation modifies offspring's microbiota activity, blood lipid levels, cognitive responses, and hippocampal neurogenesis in Yucatan pigs.

A suboptimal early nutritional environment (i.e., excess of energy, sugar, and fat intake) can increase susceptibility to diseases and neurocognitive disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate in nonobese Yucatan minipigs (Sus scrofa) the impact of maternal diet [standard diet (SD) vs. Western diet (WD)] during gestation and 25 d of lactation on milk composition, blood metabolism, and microbiota activity of sows (n = 17) and their piglets (n = 65), and on spatial cognition (n = 51), hippocampal plasticity (n = 17), and food preferences/motivation (n = 51) in the progeny. Milk dry matter and lipid content, as well as plasma total cholesterol and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations (P < 0.05) were higher in WD than in SD sows. Microbiota activity decreased in both WD sows and 100-d-old piglets (P < 0.05 or P < 0.10, depending on short-chain FAs [SCFAs]). At weaning [postnatal day (PND) 25], WD piglets had increased blood triglyceride and FFA levels (P < 0.01). Both SD and WD piglets consumed more of a known SD than an unknown high-fat and -sucrose (HFS) diet (P < 0.0001), but were quicker to obtain HFS rewards compared with SD rewards (P < 0.01). WD piglets had higher working memory (P = 0.015) and reference memory (P < 0.001) scores, which may reflect better cognitive abilities in the task context and a higher motivation for the food rewards. WD piglets had a smaller hippocampal granular cell layer (P = 0.03) and decreased neurogenesis (P < 0.005), but increased cell proliferation (P < 0.001). A maternal WD during gestation and lactation, even in the absence of obesity, has significant consequences for piglets' blood lipid levels, microbiota activity, gut-brain axis, and neurocognitive abilities after weaning.-Val-Laillet, D., Besson, M., Guérin, S., Coquery, N., Randuineau, G., Kanzari, A., Quesnel, H., Bonhomme, N., Bolhuis, J. E., Kemp, B., Blat, S., Le Huërou-Luron, I., Clouard, C. A maternal Western diet during gestation and lactation modifies offspring's microbiota activity, blood lipid levels, cognitive responses, and hippocampal neurogenesis in Yucatan pigs.

[Psychotropic and liver enzyme's perturbation, conduct to hold]. / Psychotropes et perturbation des tests hépatiques : conduite à tenir.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) represents a complex clinical problem, both in terms of diagnosis and of therapeutic approach. When the suspected treatment is a psychotropic drug, the role of the liaison psychiatrist is not limited to the re-adaptation of the drug treatment. In this article, with a clinical case as an example, we will discuss the issues to deal with facing a perturbation of liver enzymes in a patient on psychotropic treatment. The risk and benefit assessment of a therapeutic window, as well as the overall care of the patient at the general hospital will be detailed.

Les atteintes hépatiques d'origine médicamenteuse représentent une problématique clinique complexe tant sur le plan du diagnostic que sur celui de l'approche thérapeutique. Quand le médicament suspecté est un traitement psychotrope, le rôle du psychiatre de liaison ne se limite pas à la réadaptation du traitement médicamenteux. Dans cet article, et à partir d'un cas clinique adapté, nous aborderons la conduite à tenir face à une perturbation des enzymes hépatiques chez un patient sous traitement psychotrope. L'évaluation du rapport risque-bénéfice d'une fenêtre thérapeutique, ainsi que la prise en charge globale du patient à l'hôpital général seront discutées.

Screening for genotypic and phenotypic variations in CYP450 activity in patients with therapeutic problems in a psychiatric setting, a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study aimed to assess to what extent an adverse drug reaction (ADR), an abnormal therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) or a non-response, was attributable to an abnormal cytochrome P450 activity in a psychiatric setting. METHOD: We collected the results of investigations performed in these situations related to psychotropic drugs between January 2005 and November 2014. Activities of different cytochrome P450 were assessed by genotyping and/or phenotyping. Two experienced clinical pharmacologists assessed independently the possible association between the event and the results of the investigations. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty eight clinical or biological situations had a complete assessment of all major metabolic pathways of the target drug. A majority of clinical or biological situations were observed with antidepressants (n=93, 67.4%), followed by antipsychotics (n=28, 20.3%), benzodiazepines and hypnotics (n=13, 9.4%), and psychostimulants (n=4, 2.9%). Genotype and/or phenotype determination was mainly performed because of ADRs (n=68, 49.3%) or non-response (n=46, 33.3%). Inter-rate reliability of the scoring system between the pharmacologists was excellent (kappa=0.94). The probability of an association between ADR, TDM or non-response and metabolic status was rated as intermediate to high in 34.7% of all cases, with proportions of 30.4% and 36.7%, for non-response and ADR respectively. CONCLUSION: When indicated by clinical pharmacologists, ADR, TDM or non-response may be attributable to a variation of the metabolic status with an intermediate to high probability in 34.7% of patients, based on the congruent assessment made by two clinical pharmacologists. Further studies assessing the clinical relevance of prospective explorations and clarifying the appropriate method according to the clinical context are needed.

Experiences and lessons learned from 29 HPV vaccination programs implemented in 19 low and middle-income countries, 2009-2014.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the greatest cause of age-weighted years of life lost in the developing world. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with a high proportion of cervical cancers, and HPV vaccination may help to reduce the incidence of cancer. The aim of the study was to identify barriers, obstacles, and strategies and to analyze key concerns and lessons learned with respect to the implementation of HPV vaccination program in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: The Gardasil Access Program (GAP) is a donation program established to enable organizations and institutions in eligible low-resource countries to gain operational experience designing and implementing HPV vaccination programs. This study used an online survey to capture the experiences and insights of program managers participating in the GAP. Different factors related to HPV vaccination program management were collected. A mixed-method approach enabled the presentation of both quantitative measurements and qualitative insights. RESULTS: Twenty-nine programs implemented by 23 institutions in 19 low- and middle-income countries were included. Twenty programs managers (97.7 %) reported that their institution implemented sensitization strategies about vaccination prior to the launch of vaccination campaign. The most frequently reported obstacles to HPV vaccination by the program managers were erroneous perceptions of population related to the vaccine's safety and efficacy. Reaching and maintaining follow-up with target populations were identified as challenges. Insufficient infrastructure and human resources financing and the vaccine delivery method were identified as significant health system barriers. Coupling HPV vaccination with other health interventions for mothers of targeted girls helped to increase vaccination and cervical cancer screening. The majority of program managers reported that their programs had a positive impact on national HPV vaccination policy. The majority of institutions had national and international partners that provided support for human resources, technical assistance, and training and financial support for health professionals. CONCLUSION: Local organizations and institutions can implement successful HPV vaccination campaigns. Adequate and adapted planning and resources that support information sharing, sensitization, and mobilization are essential for such success. These results can inform the development of programs and policies related to HPV vaccination in low- and middle-income countries.

[It is not only about cost ... when it comes to generic medication]. / Le coût, ce n'est pas tout ... à propos des médicaments génériques.

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore patients' representations regarding generics in patients suffering from non-specific disabling chronic musculoskeletal pain, as these patients are confronted with the issue of the prescription and/or substitution of original formulations with generics. Patients' representations suggest that they might be confident in taking a generic medication: when the generic medication is prescribed by the physician and each prescription is discussed, i.e., the patient is prescribed the generic version of a given medication and not a generic medication. Economic arguments are not sufficient to accept substitution. Negative representations require attention and need be considered.

Baclofen-Associated Onset of Central Sleep Apnea in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Case Report.

A 61-year-old patient with alcohol use disorder (AUD) was referred for suspicion of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). He had incurred three road accidents attributed to sleepiness over the previous year, shortly after initiation of high-dose (100 mg b.i.d.) treatment with baclofen, a molecule increasingly used in the management of AUD. Polysomnography revealed a severe central SAS (CSAS) with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 81.6/h. Baclofen was suggested as a possible cause of the CSAS, and after its withdrawal, a second polysomnography was done, showing the disappearance of the central apneas and a shift to severe obstructive SAS (AHI 43.9/h), for which a positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment was initiated. A third polysomnography was performed under CPAP after reintroduction of baclofen (50 mg b.i.d.) by the patient, showing reappearance of the CSAS (AHI 42.1/h). This case report illustrates the deleterious effect of baclofen on breathing physiology during sleep. Since it is typically prescribed off label at high doses to a population of patients potentially using other substances that inhibit the ventilatory drive, this possible adverse effect is a major concern. When considering the use of baclofen in patients with AUD, the potential for sleep-disordered breathing should be weighed and carefully monitored.

[Prescription of antidepressants in the treatment of pain: role of pharmacogenetics]. / Prescription d'antidépresseurs dans le traitement de la douleur: rôle de la pharmacogénétique.

Antidepressants, mainly tricyclic and non-selective reuptake inhibitors of serotonin antidepressants, are part of the treatment of chronic pain. The management is complicated by a large interindividual variability of efficacy and tolerance. Important part of this variability is associated with nucleotide polymorphisms of genes encoding enzymes involved in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these molecules. Identification of these genetic variants could to predict clinical consequences and allowed individualized adjustments in medication or dosage. This article presents the current knowledge on the influence of genetics on the efficacy and adverse effects of antidepressants used in chronic pain treatment.

Performance of 21 HPV vaccination programs implemented in low and middle-income countries, 2009-2013.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide, with high incidence in lowest income countries. Vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) may help to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze HPV vaccination programs performance implemented in low and middle-income countries. METHODS: The Gardasil Access Program provides HPV vaccine at no cost to help national institutions gain experience implementing HPV vaccination. Data on vaccine delivery model, number of girls vaccinated, number of girls completing the three-dose campaign, duration of vaccination program, community involvement and sensitization strategies were collected from each program upon completion. Vaccine Uptake Rate (VUR) and Vaccine Adherence between the first and third doses (VA) rate were calculated. Multivariate linear regressions analyses were fitted. RESULTS: Twenty-one programs were included in 14 low and middle-income countries. Managing institutions were non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (n = 8) or Ministries of Health (n = 13). Twelve programs were school-based, five were health clinic-based and four utilized a mixed model. A total of 217,786 girls received a full course of vaccination.Mean VUR was 88.7% (SD = 10.5) and VA was 90.8% (SD = 7.3). The mean total number of girls vaccinated per program-month was 2,426.8 (SD = 2,826.6) in school model, 335.1 (SD = 202.5) in the health clinic and 544.7 (SD = 369.2) in the mixed models (p = 0.15). Community involvement in the follow-up of girls participating in the vaccination campaign was significantly associated with VUR. Multivariate analyses identified school-based (ß = 13.35, p = 0.001) and health clinic (ß = 13.51, p = 0.03) models, NGO management (ß = 14.58, p < 10(-3)) and duration of program vaccination (ß = -1.37, p = 0.03) as significant factors associated with VUR. CONCLUSION: School and health clinic-based models appeared as predictive factors for vaccination coverage, as was management by an NGO; program duration could play a role in the program's effectiveness. Results suggest that HPV vaccine campaigns tailored to meet the needs of communities can be effective. These results may be useful in the development of national HPV vaccination policies in low and middle-income countries.