Morphological and morphometric analysis of the Sacral Hiatus using lumbosacral spine CT scans: clinical relevance in Caudal Epidural Analgesia.

Background: To conduct a morphological and morphometric analysis of the sacral hiatus (SH) using lumbosacral spine CT scans and to evaluate its clinical relevance in caudal epidural analgesia (CEA).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 77 lumbosacral spine CT scans from a diverse patient population. The shape of the SH was classified into common types: inverted U, inverted V, irregular, and bilobed.

Evaluation of Health Pattern and Stress Levels among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Treatment-A Cross Sectional Study.

Alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 diseases and injuries. It is also classified as a risk factor for several types of neoplasms as well as infectious diseases (i.e.

Acceptance of Illness and Coping with Stress among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Therapy.

(1) Background: Acceptance of illness is a process in which a person with an illness accepts its presence and treats it as an integral part of their life. With regard to alcoholism, acceptance of illness is one of the important elements of the healing process. (2) Methods: The study group consisted of 104 residents in an addiction treatment ward.

The occipital-vertebral anastomosis revisited.

Background: The goal of the study was to provide relevant data about the location and prevalence of the occipital artery-vertebral artery (OA-VA) anastomosis in patients without visible occlusive disease, as well as to thoroughly discuss the clinical significance of these anastomotic channels. Furthermore, the morphometric properties of the OA and its branches were also analysed.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to indicate anatomical variations, their prevalence, and morphometrical data on the OA and its branches.

The Sense of Coherence and Health Behavior of Men with Alcohol Addiction.

Introduction: Alcohol dependence is one of the world's major health challenges. The salutogenic concept of health developed by Antonovsky focuses on the search for resources and factors supporting health. Its basic concept of the sense of coherence (SOC) focuses on strengthening the global orientation of the patient, and creating permanent internal resources that translate into the improvement of pro-health behavior, including the fight against alcoholism.

Thermography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by chronic compression of the median nerve. The diagnosis is made mainly on the basis of clinical image and confirmed with electrodiagnostic testing (electromyography and nerve conduction study); however, these methods do not always aid in reaching the diagnosis of CTS. Moreover, they are invasive examinations, unpleasant for the patient and have to be performed by a qualified physician.

Incorporation of the sphenoid sinuses' septum / septa in the carotid canal - evaluation before the FESS.

Unlabelled: The purpose of the research was to define the frequency prevalence of the incorporation of sphenoid sinuses' septum / septa in the carotid canal of the adult population.

Materials And Methods: 296 computed tomography (CT) scans of the patients (147 females, 149 males), who did not present any pathology in the sphenoid sinuses, were evaluated in this retrospective analysis. Spiral CT scanner - Siemens Somatom Sensation 16 - was used to glean the medical images.

How should we diagnose and treat blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm patients?

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and aggressive leukemia for which we developed a nationwide network to collect data from new cases diagnosed in France. In a retrospective, observational study of 86 patients (2000-2013), we described clinical and biological data focusing on morphologies and immunophenotype. We found expression of markers associated with plasmacytoid dendritic cell origin (HLA-DRhigh, CD303+, CD304+, and cTCL1+) plus CD4 and CD56 and frequent expression of isolated markers from the myeloid, B-, and T-lymphoid lineages, whereas specific markers (myeloperoxidase, CD14, cCD3, CD19, and cCD22) were not expressed.

[A primitive plasma cell leukemia with immunoglobulin (Ig) E].

We report here a case of primitive plasma cell leukemia with immunoglobulin (Ig) E. IgE myeloma is an exceptional variant of multiple myeloma, with a very poor prognosis. Its biological diagnosis requires specific analyzes in order to detect IgE gammopathy.

Outcomes and mutational analysis of patients with lower-risk non-del5q myelodysplastic syndrome treated with antithymocyte globulin with or without ciclosporine A.

Immunosuppressive treatment is a disease-modifying therapy for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, IST is relatively rarely used and long-term outcomes of patients are seldom reported. We retrospectively studied outcomes of 20 patients with lower-risk non del 5q MDS with transfusion dependency, with horse or rabbit antithymocyte globulin ± ciclosporine A, and frontline eltrombopag in two of them.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with isolated trisomy 8: a type of MDS frequently associated with myeloproliferative features? A report by the Groupe Francophone des Myélodysplasies.

Isolated trisomy 8 (+8) is a frequent cytogenetic abnormality in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but its characteristics are poorly reported. We performed a retrospective study of 138 MDS patients with isolated +8, classified or reclassified as MDS (excluding MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm). Myeloproliferative (MP) features were defined by the repeated presence of one of the following: white blood cell count >10 × 10 /l, myelemia (presence of circulating immature granulocytes with a predominance of more mature forms) >2%, palpable splenomegaly.

Harmonisation of full blood count reports, recommendations of the French-speaking cellular haematology group (GFHC).

Aims: To propose recommendations related to the presentation, content and formulation of full blood count analysis reports.

Methods: Strong professional agreement among a group of experts from the French-Speaking Cellular Haematology Group (GFHC) was obtained.

Results: The following two proposals emerged from the consensus: (1) stratification of comments into three parts upon the discovery of an anomaly in blood cell analysis and (2) selection and/or redefinition of the terms recommended for designating the cell types found in normal and pathological peripheral blood.

In vivo and in vitro sensitivity of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm to SL-401, an interleukin-3 receptor targeted biologic agent.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is an aggressive malignancy derived from plasmacytoid dendritic cells. There is currently no accepted standard of care for treating this neoplasm, and therapeutic strategies have never been prospectively evaluated. Since blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm cells express high levels of interleukin-3 receptor α chain (IL3-Rα or CD123), antitumor effects of the interleukin-3 receptor-targeted drug SL-401 against blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

Schistocytes in disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Introduction: The presence of schistocytes on the peripheral blood film during disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) remains controversial.

Methods: We examined schistocytes count on blood films from 35 DIC patients and checked morphological anomalies of all RBCs.

Results: Thirty of 35 patients presented with schistocytes and 22 with acanthocytes, which was the commonest shape anomaly.

Longitudinal study assessing the return of chloroquine susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum in isolates from travellers returning from West and Central Africa, 2000-2011.

Background: Chloroquine (CQ) was the main malaria therapy worldwide from the 1940s until the 1990s. Following the emergence of CQ-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, most African countries discontinued the use of CQ, and now promote artemisinin-based combination therapy as the first-line treatment. This change was generally initiated during the last decade in West and Central Africa.

[Analytical characteristics of Vitros 3600 analyzer].

The newly developed, high throughput, Vitros 3600 immunoassay system associates different technologies on board: MicroWell (analytes immunocapture), MicroSensor (visible interference analysis), and Intellicheck (real time process control for analytical error detection). During a three months period, Vitros 3600 system, ease of use, practicability and MicroSensor technology efficiency have been tested using the following assays: betaHCG, troponin, ferritin, aHBcT, HBsAg, aHCV, AFP and CEA. Within-day and within-batch, between-calibration precisions are acceptable.

Feto-maternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to HPA-5b incompatibility: a case report.

Feto-maternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FMAIT) results from the maternal production of antibodies against fetal platelets with incompatible antigens inherited from the father. We present a case where this condition was diagnosed prenatally without previously affected siblings. The severe fetal thrombocytopenia was due to anti-HLA-5b maternal alloantibodies.

Dicentric chromosome 3 associated with binucleated lymphocytes in atypical B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorder.

Binucleated lymphocytes on blood smear are known in PPBL characterized by stable and polyclonal lymphocytosis, polyclonal increase of serum IgM, HLA DR7 and strong correlation with additional i(3q) and premature chromosome condensation. In this disorder some reports of clonal Ig rearrangement suggest a follow up of these patients with immunological and genetic studies. Binucleated lymphocytes are rarely described in other clonal B-CLPD as B-CLL or marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZL).

Airport malaria : four new cases in suburban Paris during summer 1999.

During the summer 1999, four clustered cases of airport malaria were observed in France. The cases analysis revealed that airport malaria, which is a rare disease whose diagnosis is difficult, can be observed outside occupations at risk, in people livin