Transient Elastography Accurately Screens for Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease in Patients With Ongoing or Recent Alcohol Withdrawal.

Background & Aims: Liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography (TE) is a promising method for staging fibrosis in alcohol-related liver disease, but uncertainties remain regarding the influence of alcohol consumption and thus the ideal timing for TE performance. We evaluated the performance of TE compared with liver biopsy to exclude compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) in patients hospitalized for alcohol detoxification.

Methods: Patients were recruited prospectively at 6 in-patient addiction centers in France.

Epidemiological surveillance linked to an outreach psychological support program after the Xynthia storm in Charente-Maritime, France, 2010.

Introduction: Following the Xynthia storm of February 2010 in France, an outreach program was initiated by the regional health authorities during the post-emergency phase to improve access to mental health care for the population exposed to the floods. The program was designed to complement routine health and social care services. It relied on a special telephone service and outreach consultations located in the town halls of the five most affected cities.

Stroke and sleep apnoea: cause or consequence?

The relationships between obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and stroke are still under discussion, but increasing evidence demonstrates that the OSAS is an independent risk factor for stroke. However, in rare cases, OSAS could be a consequence of strokes, especially if located in the brainstem. Many recent studies have found a 70 to 95% frequency of OSAS (defined by an apnoea/hypopnoea index >10) in patients with acute stroke.

Habitual snoring as a risk factor for brain infarction.

The association of habitual snoring with cerebral ischaemia was studied, in a case control-study, in 133 patients aged 45-75 years (103 men and 30 women) and 133 controls matched for sex and age. Ischaemic stroke was confirmed by brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. History of risk factors, especially of snoring and sleeping habits was recorded with structured questionnaire during interview.

[Datura stramonium poisoning: the diagnosis is clinical, treatment is symptomatic].

Datura stramonium is a hallucinogenic plant found in urban or rural areas. It contains three main toxic alkaloids: atropine, scopolamine, and hyosciamine. Consumption of any part of the plant can result in severe anticholinergic toxicity.

[Differences in efficiency of continuous positive pressure respiration on the diurnal somnolence of patients with sleep apnea/hypoapnea syndrome].

Diurnal hypersomnia was studied in sixteen patients suffering from the sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SHAS) Group I, and seventeen snorers Group II. The groups were studied in their basal state then after 51 +/- 14 days of continuous positive pressure (CPP) in Group I with the aid of clinical scores and of multiple latency tests of sleeping episodes (TLME). The patients in Group I presented with increased and pathological diurnal somnolence (TLME = 3.

Predictive factors of long-term compliance with nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment in sleep apnea syndrome.

The long-term acceptability of treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was studied prospectively in 44 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. At 14 months on the average after starting treatment with CPAP, 30 patients (68 percent) were found to be compliant (characterized by use of the apparatus every night throughout the night, for more than 5 h per night). The daily use of nasal CPAP was significantly correlated to the initial apnea/hypopnea index (p = 0.

[Datura: an easily accessible hallucinogen, a poisoning to be evoked. Apropos of 10 cases].

A retrospective study of ten cases of intoxication due to Datura were reported. Clinical symptoms were those of atropinic intoxication, associated with hallucinations and aggressiveness. The diagnostic is supported by clinical examination.