Return to work of professional drivers after cardiac rehabilitation]

This study analysed the possibilities of returning to work of professional drivers after a cardiac event and rehabilitation. The population comprised 94 consecutive patients, all men, average age 48.8 years (range 30 to 63 years) referred after coronary bypass surgery (N = 39), myocardial infarction (N = 38), angina (N = 4) or valve replacement surgery (N = 13). Advice on professional reinsertion was given after the rehabilitation program, authorization to drive being given in the absence of cardiac symptoms, residual myocardial ischaemia, severe left ventricular dysfunction and serious ventricular arrhythmias. After 35 months, 4 patients were lost to follow-up; of the 90 remaining patients, the frequency of return to work (maximal at the 9th month) was 65.6% with 84.7% obtaining a renewal of their driving licence. In this series, 81% of patients were asymptomatic, 2 died, 16.7% had further cardiovascular complications. The morbidity and mortality were significantly greater in the group who had to stop driving (N = 40) (32.5% vs 8%, p < 0.001). Non complications occurred during work in those who resumed driving. This study confirms the safety of allowing low risk professional drivers, identified during cardiac rehabilitation by simple, reliable clinical and paraclinical criteria, to return to work.     

Southern blot detection of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) DNA sequences in gingival tissues.

The highly sensitive and specific methods of molecular biology emphasize the frequency of subclinical infections in the genital tract tissues by the human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The purpose of this work was to investigate occult viral infections by the HPV type 6, 11, 16, and 18 in the gingival tissues. The Southern blot method with 32P-radiolabeled DNA probes applied under stringent conditions to 20 interproximal gingival papilla specimens revealed homologous viral sequences in 1 of 6 cases of adult periodontitis (HPV 16), 1 of 2 cases of rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) (HPV 6/HPV 11), 2 of 2 cases of acute gingivitis in psychiatric institutionalized patients (HPV 6; HPV 6/HPV 11), and 2 of 10 cases of acute gingivitis in AIDS patients (HPV 6/HPV 11/HPV 16; HPV 6). No periodontal or extra-periodontal specimen hybridized with the HPV 18 probe. Simultaneous hybridization with two or three HPV types was common (3/6 cases). The present detection of HPV 6, 11, 16 DNAs or related-DNAs in periodontal tissues without obvious clinical signs of viral infection suggests that the gingival epithelium may act as a reservoir.     

Benzodiazepine poisoning in a neonate: clinical and toxicokinetic evaluation following enterodialysis with activated charcoal]

CASE REPORT: A pregnant woman who was a regular user of anxiolytics was admitted to the maternity ward at 38 weeks and 4 days amenorrhea after a massive overdose of clorazepate dipotassium, a benzodiazepine. The exact quantity ingested was undetermined. The infant, born at 39 weeks, presented no spontaneous breathing and tracheal intubation was necessary in the delivery room. The neonatal blood concentrations of the clorazepate metabolites were very high at delivery (26 mg/l nordiazepam and 3.5 mg/l oxazepam) and showed little change over the next 5 days (16 mg/l nordiazepam and 2.1 mg/l oxazepam, with an apparent half-life of 168 h for nordiazepam and 160 h for oxazepam). By day 6, the infant was still dependent on ventilator support and enterodialysis was begun with repeated doses of activated charcoal (1 g/kg every 6 h by gastric tube). Treatment was continued for 5 days and a spectacular diminution in the serum concentrations of the two metabolites was noted on day 11: 1.5 mg/l nordiazepam and less than 0.1 mg/l oxazepam. The nordiazepam and oxazepam half-lifes were reduced to 42 h and 30 h respectively. The concomitant clinical improvement authorized the weaning from ventilation on day 12. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the use of enterodialysis to treat severe benzodiazepine poisoning in a neonate. Depuration of the toxin was accelerated and the duration of intensive care was shortened thanks to this technique.     

Importance of magnesium depletion with hypofunction of the biological clock in the pathophysiology of headhaches with photophobia, sudden infant death and some clinical forms of multiple sclerosis.

Mg depletion is a type of Mg deficit due to a dysregulation of the Mg status. It cannot be corrected through nutritional supplementation only, but requires the most specific correction of the dysregulating mechanism. Among those, Biological Clock (BC) dysrhythmias are to be considered. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical forms of Mg depletion with hypofunction of the Biological Clock (hBC). hBC may be due to either Primary disorders of BC [Suprachiasmatic Nuclei (SCN) and pineal gland (PG)] or Secondary with homeostatic response [reactive Photophobia (Pphi] to light neurostimulating effects [Nervous Hyper Excitability (NHE)]. The symptomatology is mainly diurnal and observed during fair weather (Spring,Summer). The elective marker of hBC is represented by a decrease in melatonin and in its metabolites in various fluids. The clinical forms of NHE due to Mg depletion with hBC are central and peripheral. The central forms associate anxiety, headaches and dyssomnia. The peripheral manifestations are neuromuscular: photosensitive epilepsia mainly. Three chronopathological forms of Mg depletion with hBC have been highlighted: 1. Headaches with Pphi: mainly migraine; 2. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); 3. Multiple Sclerosis (MS).- Headaches with Pphi, migraine particularly. These cephalalgias are diurnal with Pphi and are aggravated during the fair seasons (particularly during midnight sun-summer). Migraine is their typical form with its dishabituation to visual stimuli and its occipital cortex hyperexcitability. Comorbidity with anxiety is frequent. In 2/3 of the cases, it appears first.- SIDS might be linked to an impaired maturation of both photoendocrine system and brown adipose tissue. MS may be associated with primary disorders of BC Clinical forms of Mg depletion with hBC in MS present diurnal exacerbations and relapses during fair seasons. They have been underestimated because they disagree with the dogma of the < latitude gradient >, presently questioned. Comorbidities with anxiety and migraine are frequent.hBC may be treated by using darkness therapy with a balanced Mg status. Absolute light deprivation should only be used only in acute indications and is time-limited. Partial substitutive therapy and chromatotherapy have not been validated yet and are still uncertain.     

Cystic fibrosis mortality trends in France.

BACKGROUND: In 1992 France set up a national cystic fibrosis observatory (Observatoire national de la mucoviscidose, ONM) to monitor the state of health of patients on an annual basis. Using the ONM data, this study estimates the main indicators for life expectancy and assesses the total number of cystic fibrosis patients. METHODS: The data for the years 1994 to 2003 are divided into 3-year periods. Life tables are drawn up for these periods, from which mean and median lengths of life are determined. Using the most recent life table, the number of births in 2003 and the incidence of the disease, the total population of patients can be estimated, assuming a stationary population. RESULTS: In 2001-2003, life expectancy at birth of patients registered with the ONM was 39.1 years and median length of life was 36.4 years. These results, substantially better than those of 1994-1996, are linked to improved conditions of patient inclusion in the ONM database, to improvements in their healthcare, but also to the limitations of the life tables. Based on the 2003 data, the total theoretical number of patients is 6490, and coverage by the ONM database is thus 63.2%. CONCLUSIONS: These provisional results demonstrate the need to convert the ONM observatory into a registry providing exhaustive coverage of all patients.     

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes Following Treatment of Actinic Keratosis with Imiquimod 5% Cream

BACKGROUND: The results from four phase III, randomized, vehicle-controlled studies showed that imiquimod 5% cream (imiquimod) was safe and effective in the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). Patients applied imiquimod or vehicle cream to AK lesions on the face or balding scalp, dosing three times per week or two times per week for 16 weeks. OBJECTIVE: To obtain long-term safety follow-up data and estimate AK recurrence in patients who completely cleared their AK lesions in the treatment area at the 8-week post-treatment visit in the phase III studies. METHODS: One hundred forty-six patients from 30 study centers in the United States were evaluated for clinical evidence of AK, and safety data were collected. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 16 months, 24.7% (19 of 77) of the patients administered imiquimod three times per week and 42.6% (23 of 54) of the patients administered imiquimod two times per week had a recurrence of AK (the appearance of at least one AK lesion) in the original treatment area. The median number of AK lesions present was one lesion for both patients receiving imiquimod three times and those receiving imiquimod two times per week compared with a median of six lesions at baseline in the combined three times per week and two times per week phase III studies. There were no long-term safety issues, and the skin quality seen in the imiquimod-treated patients at the end of the phase III studies was maintained. CONCLUSION: One and a half years following treatment, imiquimod continued to provide a long-term clinical benefit in a majority of patients who experienced complete clearance of their AK lesions.     

Séquelles fonctionnelles de la chirurgie carcinologique du rectum

The development of therapeutic options for rectal cancer strives to reach the ultimate goals of improved local control and overall survival. However, preserving continence, as well as genitourinary and sexual function, remains elusive in some patients. Loss of bowel control may be the most unsettling factor in terms of quality of life. Patients must be accurately informed about the surgery’s possible adverse effects, and surgeons must offer the best options (e.g. colostomy bag or sphincteroplasty) in order to minimize these complaints.     

Functional prognosis of stroke in countries in the process of development: Senegal]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional outcome in patients followed in the department of neurology of Dakar for stroke. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Prospective longitudinal observational study from August 2003 to May 2005 included inpatients or outpatients with stroke one month or less from entry confirmed by computed tomography scan. Patients were followed monthly for 12 months. At each visit, data on functional autonomy measured by the Barthel index and the treatments received were collected. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy patients aged 25 to 90 years (mean 61+/-13 years) were evaluated. The sex ratio was 0.68. A total of 64.7% of strokes involved ischemic cerebral vascular accidents and 35.3% hemorrhagic vascular accidents. Right hemiplegia was present in 55.9%, left hemiplegia in 42.9% and bilateral paresis in 1.2% of patients. A total of 28.8% of patients died between d0 and d30, 50.6% within one year. At entry, the Barthel score was greater than 60 in only 4.7% of patients. After one-year follow-up, 58.3% of the patients had a Barthel score greater than 60, 19.1% had a score between 20 and 40 and 22.6% a score between 40 and 60. Only 53.5% received rehabilitation care. The parameters significantly associated with a functional recovery were age less than 55 years (P<0.05), hemorrhagic vascular accident as opposed to ischemic vascular accident (P<0.05), and earlier rehabilitation care under qualified personnel (P<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our study shows an important rate of mortality during the first year following stroke and the rather young age of our population. The parameters associated with a better functional recovery are comparable to most of the data in the literature. The results of our study suggest that it is possible to improve functional prognosis after stroke by setting measures of prevention of the risk factors and rehabilitation in the early management of hemiplegia.