Long-term results of radio-surgical treatment of operable carcinoma of the cervix uteri

Four hundred and fifteen women, treated in our institution from 1961 to 1987 for operable carcinoma of the cervix stage I or II, had a radical hysterectomy with pelvic node dissection. Radiotherapy was associated with this surgery in most cases: 90% of the patients received endocavitary radiation, and 30% external radiotherapy, either pre- or post-operatively, in the case of bad prognostic factors. Median follow up was 7 years; overall survival was 77% at 10 years; the rate of local failure is low (36 cases/415 = 8.7%). Multifactorial analysis, using the Cox model, assessed the following independent prognostic factors, significant for the risk of local recurrence (size of the tumor, N +/- , FIGO stage) and for the risk of metastases and death (parametrium invasion, stage, tumor size). Post-operative mortality was 1.2%. Early surgical iatrogeny was easily treated with no long-term sequela, whereas severe complications, due to the association with pelvic irradiation, occurred in 24 out of 124 patients, leading to 7 "illegitimate" deaths.     

Survival effect of systemic therapy on patients developing metastatic breast carcinoma

A multivariate analysis was performed to assess the effect of post-relapse systemic therapy on a series of patients with metastatic breast cancer who at initial presentation had no detectable metastases (M), were 70 years of age, presented with unilateral localized disease and no other associated malignancy, and were treated between 1965 and 1984 with successive protocols for primary disease and subsequently developed distant metastasis. All 760 patients analyzed relapsed with at least one metastasis, and were studied retrospectively with no selection criteria according to any specific protocol. All had recorded clinical data on menopause, stage, clinical tumor aggressiveness (PEV), initial chemo or hormonal therapy, and time to relapse, and had ongoing follow up at our Center, with salvage chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy having been given to some but not all patients.A brief metastasis-free survival (p < 0.000001), and factors associated with electing pre-relapse chemotherapy (p < 0.000001) were associated with shortened post-relapse survival, while post-relapse therapy (chemo p < 0.0001, and hormonal p < 0.00001, replacing chemotherapy in the model) apparently increased post-relapse survival in the group overall. This result was similar in the inoperable patient group [with inflammatory breast carcinoma an additional risk factor (p < 0.0005)], as well as the operable group. However, in the operable group, when the pathologic criteria of histologic grade and nodal status were introduced into the analysis, post-relapse therapy was not seen to be an important factor for survival in any subgroup. Histograde (p < 0.000001), nodal status (p < 0.0001), metastasis-free survival (p < 0.001), and menopausal status (p = 0.03) were the only significant factors for post-relapse survival.     

Factors associated with insomnia symptoms: A cross-sectional study during a Covid-19 fully restrictive lockdown

Insomnia is the most frequent sleep disorder and a public health concern that increased during the Covid 19 pandemic. Fully restrictive lockdowns during Covid are interesting periods to examine the impact of environmental and behavioural changes on the emergence of insomnia symptoms. In this cross-sectional study we aimed to (1) determine the main factors associated with insomnia symptoms during a Covid-19 fully restrictive lockdown examining the associated daily life alterations and (2) create a predictive model of insomnia symptoms. We used the data drawn from the “Covid-RythmE” study that reached volunteers from the general French population through an online survey during the last 2 weeks of the 2 month full lockdown. Associations with insomnia symptoms were tested and significant associations were entered in a Backward Stepwise Logistic Regression (BSLR) to assess the best combination to classify individuals with or without insomnia symptoms. From the 1624 participants, 50.64% suffered from mild to severe insomnia symptoms as assessed by the ISI. The best combination for explaining insomnia symptoms with 74.26% of accuracy included: age (OR = 1.15), females (OR = 1.26), smaller home sizes (OR = 0.77), environmental noises (OR = 1.59), anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.24), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.15), regularity of sleep–wake schedules (OR = 1.25), exposure to screen during the morning (OR = 1.13), and LED light during the evening (OR = 1.17). Thus, lifestyle schedule and exposure to natural synchronizers such as light, are primordial in considering in insomnia physiopathology, prevention and treatment, as well as the associated mental health status.     

1p36 deletion syndrome: Review and mapping with further characterization of the phenotype,a new cohort of 86 patients

Chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome (1p36DS) is one of the most common terminal deletion syndromes (incidence between 1/5000 and 1/10,000 live births in the American population), due to a heterozygous deletion of part of the short arm of chromosome 1. The 1p36DS is characterized by typical craniofacial features, developmental delay/intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, cardiomyopathy/congenital heart defect, brain abnormalities, hearing loss, eyes/vision problem, and short stature. The aim of our study was to (1) evaluate the incidence of the 1p36DS in the French population compared to 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and trisomy 21; (2) review the postnatal phenotype related to microarray data, compared to previously publish prenatal data. Thanks to a collaboration with the ACLF (Association des Cytogénéticiens de Langue Française), we have collected data of 86 patients constituting, to the best of our knowledge, the second-largest cohort of 1p36DS patients in the literature. We estimated an average of at least 10 cases per year in France. 1p36DS seems to be much less frequent than 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and trisomy 21. Patients presented mainly dysmorphism, microcephaly, developmental delay/intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, brain malformations, behavioral disorders, cardiomyopathy, or cardiovascular malformations and, pre and/or postnatal growth retardation. Cardiac abnormalities, brain malformations, and epilepsy were more frequent in distal deletions, whereas microcephaly was more common in proximal deletions. Mapping and genotype–phenotype correlation allowed us to identify four critical regions responsible for intellectual disability. This study highlights some phenotypic variability, according to the deletion position, and helps to refine the phenotype of 1p36DS, allowing improved management and follow-up of patients.     

Non-endotoxinic tumour necrosis factor-{alpha}-inducing factors in haemodialysis

A transmembrane passage of endotoxins may account for the dysfunctionof cytokine production which has been often reported in haemodialysis.We developed an assay based on the ability of patient serumto stimulate tumour necrosis factor (TNF) secretion in normalperipheral blood mononuclear cells. Three groups of subjectswere investigated: normal controls (n=14), patients with chronicrenal failure, CRF (n=15), and patients dialysed with poly-acrylonitrile(n=7), polysulphone (n=8), and cellulose acetate (n=7). Serafrom dialysed patients displayed a significantly higher TNF-inducingactivity than those of controls and CRF patients. The abilityof serum to elicit TNF secretion was neither modified duringthe dialysis session nor influenced by the type of haemodialysismembrane. TNF-inducing activity in serum was not inhibited bypolymyxin B, known to impair endotoxin-dependent cell responses,thus suggesting that it was not related to circulating endotoxins.We conclude that non-endotoxinic factors are present in serumfrom dialysed patients and are able to induce cytokine secretion.     

The hemodynamic effects of anesthetic induction in vascular surgical patients chronically treated with angiotensin II receptor antagonists

The use of angiotensin II receptor subtype-1 antagonists (ARA), recently introduced as antihypertensive drugs, is becoming more prevalent. We studied the prevalence and severity of hypotension after the induction of general anesthesia in 12 patients treated with ARA until the morning of surgery. The hemodynamic response to induction was compared with that of patients treated with beta-adrenergic blockers (BB) and/or calcium channel blockers (CB) (BB/CB group, n = 45) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (ACEI group, n = 27). A standardized anesthesia induction protocol was followed for all patients. Hypotension occurred significantly (p < or = 0.05) more often in ARA-treated patients (12 of 12) compared with BB/CB-treated patients (27 of 45) or with ACEI-treated patients (18 of 27). There was a significantly (P < or = 0.001) increased ephedrine requirement in the ARA group (21+/-3 mg) compared with the BB/CB group (10+/-6 mg) or the ACEI group (7+/-4 mg). Hypotension refractory to repeated ephedrine or phenylephrine administration occurred significantly (P < or = 0.05) more in the ARA group (4 of 12) compared with the BB/CB group (0 of 45) or the ACEI group (1 of 27), but it was treated successfully by using a vasopressin system agonist. Treatment with angiotensin II antagonism until the day of surgery is associated with severe hypotension after the induction of anesthesia, which, in some cases, can only be treated with an agonist of the vasopressin system. IMPLICATIONS: Hypotensive episodes occur more frequently after anesthetic induction in patients receiving Angiotensin II receptor subtype-1 antagonists under anesthesia than with other hypotensive drugs. They are less responsive to the vasopressors ephedrine and phenylephrine. The use of a vasopressin system agonist was effective in restoring blood pressure when hypotension was refractory to conventional therapy.     

Physicians' opinions and practices on the use of medical referrals at hospitals

This work aims to take stock of the actual utilisation of medical standards (references), through a study of opinions and practices of the medical managers working in the clinical services of a university hospital centre. A survey through interviews was proposed to 103 medical managers, 101 responded to the questionnaire (38 Unit directors and 63 directors of "UF" units). Medical standards are used essentially as a teaching aid by 80% of doctors. Some of them (48%) make them available to prescribing doctors in the unit, and for 36% there exists an informational procedure for new residents. Evaluation studies concerning the implementation of medical standards remain rare (7 studies). Medical standards appear to be more useful for improving quality of care (90%) then for controlling health expenditures (72%). The majority of medical managers (72%) consider that certain standards should be opposable to hospitals. The medical managers of the university hospital centre are in favour of developing standards of clinical practice.     

Aneurysmal cysts located in the maxilla or mandible (author's transl)]

Aneurysmal cysts of the mandible and maxilla are rare conditions, though not exceptional, which are seen in particular in the child and adolescent. A part from facial asymmetry and tumefaction, it is rare to find other clinical manifestations. No neurological signs were seen in the present study. An aneurysmal cyst gives a radiological appearance of non-characteristic lysis compatible with a large range of diagnoses. Histological study permits early diagnosis but must always involve the whole specimen with careful examination to detect any other associated lesion. The pathogenesis of the condition remains obscure and, at the extreme, it may be questioned whether the aneurysmal cyst is a separate entity or a particular form of chronic osteopathy.