Discordance of peripheral artery disease diagnosis using exercise transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement and post-exercise ankle-brachial index.

In patients with exertional limb symptoms and normal ankle-brachial index (ABI) at rest, exercise testing can be used to diagnose lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). Post-exercise ABI decrease or Exercise transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurement (Exercise-TcPO2) can be used to diagnose LEAD. Objectives were (i) to assess the agreement between both methods (ii) to define the variables associated with the discordance, and (iii) to present results of healthy subjects.

Proficiency of Medical Students at Obtaining Pressure Measurement Readings Using Automated Ankle and Toe Measuring Devices for Diagnosis of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background: Pressure measurement is a key component in the diagnosis of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) but is technically challenging and time-consuming for nonvascular specialists, thus hindering its wider implementation. The aim of this study was to assess the proficiency of students at obtaining satisfactory ankle or toe pressure readings for PAD diagnosis using 2 automated devices.

Methods: Medical students followed a training session after which they performed ankle and toe pressure measurements to calculate the ankle-brachial index (ABI) using the MESI ABPI MD® device, and the toe-brachial index (TBI) using the SYSTOE® device.

[Improvement of quality of practices for the preparation of cytotoxic drugs: results of a "before-after" study].

Despite the publication of guidelines for handling antineoplastic agents, measurable amounts of these drugs are still found at various hospital sites. In this context, the French cancer network ONCORA supported the present study to assess the impact of environmental contamination controls on the quality of practices during the preparation of cytotoxic drugs. The first part of the study was conducted at five voluntary hospitals.