[Assessing the wearing of jewellery by French healthcare professionals].

Objective: A prospective observation study was undertaken in seven medical centers, in the French region Alpes-Maritime, to assess nail hygiene of healthcare professionals and how often they wear hand jewellery.

Method: Seven hundred and six healthcare workers in seven medical centers were interviewed from March to April 2008.

Results: Among the 706 professionals, 306 (43%) were wearing one or several pieces of jewellery.

[Risk factors for dryness or irritation of staff hands in nine healthcare institutions].

Objective: We performed a prospective multicenter study to assess dryness and irritation of hands of staff in care facilities, and to show that disinfection with alcohol-based hand rub is better tolerated than classic hand washing with mild soap.

Method: Dryness and irritation were self-evaluated by volunteers and hetero-evaluated by a team of investigators. The study took into account most of the individual and environmental risk factors of dryness and irritation (season, age, gender, use of protective agent, constitutional, personal and external factors, institution, function, number of consecutive working days).

A prospective multicenter study evaluating skin tolerance to standard hand hygiene techniques.

We performed a prospective multicenter study to assess the dryness and irritation of the hands in health care facilities, and to evaluate whether that disinfection with an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is better tolerated than classic handwashing with mild soap and water. Our study was conducted in 9 sites in the summer and winter. A team of investigators evaluated dryness and irritation.

Increase in uncoupling protein-2 mRNA expression by BRL49653 and bromopalmitate in human adipocytes.

Uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) is a novel mitochondrial protein that may be involved in the control of energy expenditure. We have previously reported an upregulation of adipose tissue UCP2 mRNA expression during fasting in humans. Analysis of changes in metabolic parameters suggested that fatty acids may be associated with the increased UCP2 mRNA level.

De novo interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7:46,XY,del(7)(q23;q32).

A de novo interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7 is reported in a newborn boy. Our observation is compared with seven others deletions of the same bands. Clinical features showed the following: hypotonia, microcephalia, difficulty in swallowing, low-set dysplastic ears, an abnormal cry, upslanting and small palpebral fissures, and abnormalities of the hands and feet.

[Kniest's disease].

A one year old child with Kniest's disease was admitted for reconstructive surgery of the bone deficit of a palatine cleft. This syndrome is recognizable at a very early age by the shortness of the limbs or the increase in size of the joints. Clinically it associates mild facial dystrophy and nanism from reduction in height of the trunk and the shortness and deviations of the limbs.

[Rothmund-Thompson syndrome with glaucoma. Endocrine study].

Two cases of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome in siblings are described. The elder patient, whose case was best documented and who was followed for several years, had the characteristic skin changes of poikiloderma congenitale with small stature and mental deficiency. Upon ophthalmologic examination, this patient was shown to have bilateral glaucoma which was treated surgically, while the cataract typically found in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome was lacking.

[Purulent pericarditis with a subacute constrictive course. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature].

A case of purulent pericarditis due to Hemophilus influenzae is reported. In spite of management by antibiotics and pericardial drainage, the disease ran a subacute course towards pericardial constriction. Fifty-two previously reported cases are reviewed.