Association Between Psychotropic and Cardiovascular Iatrogenic Alerts and Risk of Hospitalizations in Elderly People Treated for Dementia: A Self-Controlled Case Series Study Based on the Matching of 2 French Health Insurance Databases.

Background: Elderly people are at risk of repeated hospitalizations, some of which may be drug related and preventable. In 2011, a group of French healthcare experts selected 5 iatrogenic alerts (IAs), based on criteria identified in a literature search and from their professional experience, to assess the appropriateness of medication in elderly patients.

Objectives: Our objective was to examine the association between hospitalizations and IAs in elderly patients treated for Alzheimer disease who are particularly sensitive to adverse drug events.

Exposure to psychotropics in the French older population living with dementia: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Little is known about the level of psychotropic chronic exposure in all patients living with dementia. The aim of the study was to quantify chronic psychotropic exposure in older adults with dementia compared with the general population of the same age.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in France between 2009 and 2011.

[Metabolic testing rates after initiation of antipsychotic treatment in persons initially treated by conventional mood-stabilizers].

Objectives: To assess the rate of metabolic testing after initiation of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) prescription in persons initially treated by conventional mood-stabilizers (lithium or anticonvulsants, as a proxy of bipolar disorder diagnosis) and to compare the rates of metabolic testing in these persons with those in persons with initiation of first-generation antipsychotics (FGA) prescription or with no antipsychotic prescription.

Method: Data were anonymously extracted from the 2004 to 2006 French national health database of the Régime Social des Travailleurs Indépendants (RSI). Patients aged 18 years and over were included in the cohort if they fulfilled the following criteria over a three-month inclusion period: refunding of lithium or anticonvulsant over the 3 months without discontinuation (as a proxy of bipolar disorder diagnosis), no concomitant refunding over the 3months of antipsychotic, and no concomitant refunding over the 3 months of an anti-diabetic drug (as a marker of diabetes) or a lipid-lowering drug (as a marker of hyperlipidemia).

Influence of the drug exposure definition on the assessment of the antipsychotic metabolic impact in patients initially treated with mood-stabilizers.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: • Metabolic disturbances represent a well-known side effect of second generation antipsychotics. However, studies comparing second generation antipsychotic drugs (SGAPs) and first generation antipsychotic drugs (FGAPs) through administrative databases have shown contrasting findings, which may be attributable to methodological differences.

What This Paper Adds: • The definition of antipsychotic exposure impacts on the association between antipsychotics and metabolic risk in studies carried out through administrative databases.

Drug exposure during the periconceptional period: a study of 1793 women.

Background: Many studies have described the prescribing of drugs to pregnant women, but only very few have data concerning the periconceptional period specifically.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of exposure to teratogenic drugs during early pregnancy and to determine whether a safer drug exists.

Methods: In a French health insurances database, we analyzed drugs prescribed during the period starting 1 month before and ending 2 months after the beginning of pregnancy between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007.

Antipsychotic use patterns in persons initially treated with mood stabilizers: a naturalistic study.

Introduction: Little information is available on the pattern of use of antipsychotics in naturalistic conditions in persons initially treated with "conventional" mood stabilizers (lithium and anticonvulsants).

Methods: Data on community prescriptions were extracted from the 2004-2006 claims database of a French health care insurance fund for self-employed workers. Patients included were those continuously exposed to mood stabilizers without concomitant dispensing of antipsychotics over at least a 3-month period.

Psychotropic medication in the French child and adolescent population: prevalence estimation from health insurance data and national self-report survey data.

Background: The aim of this work is to estimate the French frequencies of dispensed psychotropic prescriptions in children and adolescents. Prevalence estimations of dispensed prescriptions are compared to the frequencies of use of psychotropic reported by 17 year-old adolescents.

Methods: Prescription data is derived from national health insurance databases.

Morphology and ultrastructure of paired prototergal glands in the adult rove beetle Philonthus varians (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

Philonthus and other genera of Philonthina possess a pair of prototergal glands located in the first abdominal tergum and hidden at rest by hind wings and elytra. In Philonthus varians they occupy the whole length of the tergum and form a pouch-like invaginated reservoir with a scaly glandular zone and a smooth outlet. A grille of long setae covers the opening of each gland.

Prevalence and patterns of methylphenidate use in French children and adolescents.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and utilization patterns of methylphenidate (MPH) in children and adolescents in France.

Methods: This was a population-based retrospective study in which the cohort consisted of patients for whom data were extracted from the dispensation drug claims database of the national health insurance (NHI) fund for self-employed workers. Annual prevalence of MPH use was evaluated on patients aged 6-18 years who were reimbursed for at least one MPH prescription a year.

IRSN methodological guide to conducting workplace studies in compliance with French regulations.

Under French regulations governing radiation protection of workers, dosimetric workplace studies are mandatory. However, their practical implementation is not described. IRSN has developed a guide to help stakeholders in the radiological protection of workers conduct such studies.

Antipyretic drug use in children in French office based medical practice.

Purpose: To analyse antipyretics (APs) prescriptions profile in children, particularly the frequency of AP combinations.

Methods: APs (acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, ibuprofen or ketoprofen) prescribed to children below 12 years and refunded by a public health insurer in 2003, throughout France, were examined.

Results: A total of 513 034 prescriptions were refunded for 240 720 children.

[Prenatal screening of cytomegalovirus in France: an increasing frequency practices of screening from 2000 to 2003 despite no recommendation in favor].

Background: Screening cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women is still controversial in 2004 in France. In this context, we evaluated the interest of such a screening in 2004 in France. This paper was designed to describe trends in CMV prenatal screening practices in 2000-2003 in France.

[Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A population-based analysis of use in France over a three-year period and comparison with randomised clinical trials].

Objectives: The use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors is highly controversial today, mainly because of doubts about cardiovascular tolerance. Few studies have assessed the use of these drugs in daily clinical practice. This study aims to assess the changes in their use in daily practice in France and to compare it with their use in randomized clinical trials.

Absolute contraindications in relation to potential drug interactions in outpatient prescriptions: analysis of the first five million prescriptions in 1999.

Objectives: Adverse drug interactions increase morbidity and mortality. To prevent these, situations leading to adverse prescriptions must be clarified. This study quantifies and analyses prescriptions with potential adverse drug interactions in primary health care in the North of France over a 3-month period.

Absolute contraindications in relation to potential drug interactions in outpatient prescriptions: analysis of the first five million prescriptions in 1999.

Objectives: Adverse drug interactions increase morbidity and mortality. To prevent these, situations leading to adverse prescriptions must be clarified. This study quantifies and analyses prescriptions with potential adverse drug interactions in primary health care in the north of France over a 3-month period.

Is spa therapy cost-effective in rheumatic disorders?

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of spa therapy for rheumatic diseases and sequelae of bone and joint injuries.

Patients And Methods: A prospective randomized, case-control design was used with health care cost reimbursements during the year before and after spa therapy as the measure of efficacy. Spa therapy is reimbursed by the national health insurance system in France, subject to prior agreement.

[Scanner and mechanical lumbar diseases in private practice. Apropos of 106 patients covered by the Caisse Maladie Régionale du Nord].

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate use of computed tomography (CT) of the lumbar spine in office practice. The "Caisse Maladie Régionale du Nord" provides health insurance to self-employed retailers and craft persons (92,500 people at the end of 1991). The authors prospectively studied 106 patients insured by this organisation (60 males, 46 females, mean age: 51.