Use of iron sucrose and red blood cell transfusions in anaemic cancer patients in France (OncoFer study).

Purpose: This report describes the results of an observational, retrospective cohort study, evaluating the use of iron sucrose (IS) and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in patients with cancer in routine clinical practice in France. A parallel investigated cohort treated with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) has been reported earlier.

Methods: Data of patients with a solid tumour or haematological malignancy who have received IS or an RBC transfusion during 2010 from 3 months prior (M) to 3 months post first treatment (M) were analysed.

Association of menopause and hormone replacement therapy with large artery remodeling.

Objective: To evaluate the remodeling of large arteries according to age at menopause, duration of menopause, and use of hormone therapy (HT).

Design: A cross-sectional study consisting of baseline measurements of a multicentric randomized trial were used to evaluate arterial parameters.

Setting: The study was conducted in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in academic hospitals and private clinics.

Country-based reference values and impact of cardiovascular risk factors on carotid intima-media thickness in a French population: the 'Paroi Artérielle et Risque Cardio-Vasculaire' (PARC) Study.

Aim: To define reference values for mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT(mean)) from subjects without conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: This nationwide study involved cardiologists at 246 centres in France. A total of 5,433 subjects with and without conventional cardiovascular risk factors participated.

[The best of clinical pharmacology in 2004].

The year 2004 was not marked by major pharmacological advances, but by confirmation of previous "evidence". Several innovative drugs for stable angina (ranolazine, ivabradine), some interesting results in acute coronary syndrome (PROVE IT study), some classic concepts (cannabinoid receptors and their antagonists such as rimonabant) applied to novel indications (treatment of obesity), hopes for the "sartans" revived in the light of new evidence (VALUE study), advances in the management of diabetes and hypertension (ASCOT and CARDS studies), nebivolol which is not just a betablocker but also produces the NO radical (is this why it decreased the mortality of heart failure in the elderly in the SENIOR study?). In contrast, although Chronadalate did not live up to expectations for coronary insufficiency, the year was marked above all by the much heralded withdrawal of Vioxx for increasing cardiovascular risk.