Anthropometric markers for detection of the metabolic syndrome in adolescents.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate, in a large group of Algerian adolescents, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), using four definitions (by Cook, De Ferranti, Viner and the IDF), and to test the validity of unique thresholds of waist circumference, waist/height ratio and BMI in screening for the MetS regardless of the definition used.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 1100 adolescent students, aged 12-18 y, were randomly selected from schools and classrooms in the city of Constantine; all had anthropometric measurements taken and 989 had blood tests.

Results: Prevalences of the MetS were: 2.

[Resilience engineering in intensive care].

The process of health care delivery in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is subject to significant workload fluctuations and unpredictable events. Medical and nursing staff, while relying on protocols, must adjust to these "out of the routine" disturbances by displaying initiative and innovation. The aim is to maintain the ratio risk-performance in admissible margins for the institution despite severe disruptions of operation.

Association between cardiac autonomic neuropathy and hypertension and its potential influence on diabetic complications.

Aims: To examine the association between cardiac autonomic neuropathy and hypertension and the role of this association in diabetic complications.

Methods: We included 310 patients, 138 with Type 1 and 172 with Type 2 diabetes, 62 of them with hypertension. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was assessed by analysing heart rate variations during three standard tests (deep breathing, lying to standing and Valsalva) and looking for postural hypotension.

[Determining factors of pulmonary function in healthy Tunisian children].

Introduction Pulmonary function parameters are known to vary with age, sex, height and ethnic extraction. No normal values have been reported for pulmonary function in Tunisian children. Moreover, little attention has been paid to the factors affecting the development of lung function in Tunisian healthy children.

Multicentre, randomised, controlled study of the impact of continuous sub-cutaneous glucose monitoring (GlucoDay) on glycaemic control in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients.

Aim: This randomised study was designed to investigate the impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for 48h on glycaemic control with a 3-month follow-up in patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes.

Methods: A total of 48 patients with poor glycaemic control (HbA(1c): 8-10.5%) underwent CGM for 48h using the GlucoDay((R)) system (A.

A lipohydroxyacid-containing shampoo improves scalp condition and quality of life in patients with seborrheic dermatitis and light-to-moderate scalp psoriasis.

Background: Dandruff is a common scalp disorder affecting almost half of the post-pubertal population of any ethnicity and both genders. It is one of the major reasons for patients to consult a dermatologist and it is the cause of significant psychological and social distress.

Aims: The aim of this open study was to evaluate the benefit of a 4-week treatment with a shampoo containing 0.

Liver insulin-like growth factor 2 methylation in hepatitis C virus cirrhosis and further occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To assess the predictive value of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) methylation profile for the occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis C (HCV) cirrhosis.

Methods: Patients with: (1) biopsy-proven compensated HCV cirrhosis; (2) available baseline frozen liver sample; (3) absence of detectable HCC; (4) regular screening for HCC; (5) informed consent for genetic analysis were studied. After DNA extraction from liver samples and bisulfite treatment, unbiased PCR and DHPLC analysis were performed for methylation analysis at the Igf2 locus.

Factors affecting the development of lung function in Tunisian children.

We undertook to evaluate the impacts of morphology at birth, physical activity, anthropometric, socioeconomic and environmental factors on lung function in healthy Tunisian children. Pulmonary function parameters were measured with a Minato portable spirometer in a randomized population of 756 healthy children (388 males and 368 females) aged between 6 and 16. The morphology at birth, the gestational age, the physical activity, the socioeconomic status, the type of habitation, and the environmental factors were all assessed by a standard questionnaire.

Vasculitides associated with malignancies: analysis of sixty patients.

Objective: To describe characteristics and outcomes of vasculitides associated with malignancies.

Methods: The requirement for inclusion in this retrospective, 10-year study was development of vasculitis in patients with a progressing malignancy. Malignancies secondary to immunosuppressants used to treat vasculitis were excluded.

Effect of sustained virological response on long-term clinical outcome in 113 patients with compensated hepatitis C-related cirrhosis treated by interferon alpha and ribavirin.

Aim: To assess the long-term clinical benefit of sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis treated by antiviral therapy using mostly ribavirin plus interferon either standard or pegylated.

Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients with uncomplicated HCV biopsy-proven cirrhosis, treated by at least one course of antiviral treatment > or = 3 mo and followed > or = 30 mo were included. The occurrence of linical events [hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), decompensation and death] was compared in SVR and non SVR patients.

[Microalbuminuria, a marker of artery rigidity and cardiac dysfunction].

Introduction: Microalbuminuria is considered as a marker of endothelial dysfunction and is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate this parameter as a potential marker of artery rigidity and left ventricle (LV) function.

Subjects And Methods: We included 375 subjects referred to a health assessment center.

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with alcoholic or viral C cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Influence of being overweight and diabetes mellitus on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis has not been evaluated prospectively. The aim of this study was to show the predictive value of these factors in a cohort of 771 patients with well-compensated alcohol- or hepatitis C (HCV)-related cirrhosis who were screened prospectively for HCC.

Methods: The predictive value for HCC occurrence was assessed by using the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model.

Universal rather than selective screening for gestational diabetes mellitus may improve fetal outcomes.

Aim: The benefit of treating gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has recently been shown. The aim of this study was to compare offspring and maternal health benefits from selective or universal screening for GDM.

Methods: The incidence of outcomes was compared in three series of pregnant women: 1) the 159 consecutive women with GDM out of the 1909 women who delivered between October 2000 and September 2001: during this period screening for GDM was based on risk factors (risk factor-GDM); 2) the 265 consecutive women with GDM out of the 2111 women who delivered during the year 2002: during this period screening for GDM was universal (universal-GDM); 3) 1255 women with no GDM during year 2002 (controls).

Impaired coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation is associated with microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Objective: Microalbuminuria and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation are both predictors for cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether microalbuminuria correlated with coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

Research Design And Methods: We evaluated 84 patients (47 men, mean age 50.

Predictive value of silent myocardial ischemia for cardiac events in diabetic patients: influence of age in a French multicenter study.

Objective: Silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) in asymptomatic subjects with no history of myocardial infarction or angina is a frequent condition in diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to examine the predictive value of SMI for cardiac events in a multicenter cohort and to determine whether this value is higher in patients with a particular clinical profile.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 370 asymptomatic diabetic patients with at least two additional cardiovascular risk factors was recruited in four departments of diabetology.

Influence of nutrients on cardiac autonomic function in nondiabetic overweight subjects.

The current study sought to determine whether there is a link between cardiac autonomic dysfunction and food intake in overweight subjects. One hundred five nondiabetic overweight (body mass index >27 kg/m2) subjects were studied. Heart rate variations were analyzed during 3 bedside standard tests investigating mainly vagal control: deep breathing, lying-to-standing, and Valsalva tests.

High prevalence and severity of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in Vietnamese diabetic patients.

Aims: Malnutrition is frequent in Vietnamese people and may influence cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). The aim of the present study was to investigate cardiac autonomic function in healthy subjects living in Vietnam and the prevalence of CAN in Vietnamese diabetic patients.

Methods: One hundred and five diabetic patients (BMI = 19.

Serum albumin and platelet count but not portal pressure are predictive of death in patients with Child-Pugh A hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis.

Aim: The presence of esophageal varices has been reported to be a prognostic factor in patients with compensated hepatitis viral C induced cirrhosis. We studied the prognostic value of hepatic venous pressure gradient in addition to epidemiological and clinical parameters in these patients.

Methods: Among patients with Child-Pugh A hepatitis C induced cirrhosis, prospectively followed in two Parisian centres, 100 had measurement of occluded and free hepatic venous pressures.

Clinical and biological features associated with taste loss in internal medicine patients. A cross-sectional study of 100 cases.

Which are the main features associated with taste loss in patients exposed to a wide range of drugs and diseases? In 100 consecutive patients admitted to a ward of internal medicine, we assessed taste complaints, performance status, alcohol and tobacco consumptions, diseases, drugs and laboratory data, measuring the electrical taste threshold as primary outcome. After adjusting for age, taste thresholds were not associated with sex, body mass index, tobacco, thrush, drugs, aliageusia and phantogeusia. Features associated with threshold increase included alcohol intake>or=10 gd-1, impaired performance status, complaint of taste loss, atrophic glossitis, cerebral disease, and an erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume.

Fas/Fas-Ligand pathway is impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes. Influence of hypertension and insulin resistance.

Objectives: In type 2 diabetic patients with no cardiac history or symptoms, 1) to evaluate whether the soluble forms of Fas (sFas) and Fas-ligand (sFasL), involved in apoptosis, may be markers of silent coronary disease or related to hypertension or microangiopathic complications; 2) to examine the effect of short-term glycemic control on sFas and sFasL.

Methods: (1) sFas and sFasL were measured with the ELISA method in 44 asymptomatic diabetic patients, 33 with hypertension, and with a normal myocardial scintigraphy (n=14), with silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) and without (n=15) or with (n=15) significant coronary stenoses; and in 14 controls; (2) sFas and sFasL were measured in 15 poorly controlled diabetic patients before and after 7 days of CSII treatment.

Results: (1) sFas and sFasL differed in the four groups of patients (p=0.

Prospective evaluation of uterine artery flow velocity waveforms at 12-14 and 22-24 weeks of gestation in relation to pregnancy outcome and birth weight.

Objective: Uterine artery flow velocity was prospectively assessed using Doppler ultrasound at 12-14 and 22-24 weeks of gestation in the prediction of subsequent complications related to uteroplacental insufficiency: preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, fetal growth restriction, fetal death and placental abruption, and to elucidate its relationship with birth weight.

Methods: Uterine artery Doppler assessment was obtained during routine ultrasound screening in 263 unselected women. Flow velocity waveforms were coded according to the number of notches present at each scanning, respectively: none (0, 0), uni-/bilateral notches that disappeared (1, 0) or (2, 0), uni-/bilateral notches that persisted unilaterally (1, 1) or (2, 1), and persistent bilateral notches (2, 2).

Detecting silent coronary stenoses and stratifying cardiac risk in patients with diabetes: ECG stress test or exercise myocardial scintigraphy?

Aims: To determine whether performing a myocardial scintigraphy immediately after a maximal electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test is effective in detecting silent coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events.

Methods: Asymptomatic patients (n = 262) aged 57.6 +/- 8.

Are silent coronary stenoses predictable in diabetic patients and predictive of cardiovascular events?

Objectives: We have previously shown that silent coronary stenoses (CS) were predictors of subsequent major cardiac events in diabetic patients with silent myocardial ischemia (SMI). The aim of this study was to determine their correlates and their prognostic value for other cardiovascular events.

Methods: 362 asymptomatic diabetic patients, without prior myocardial infarction, with > or =1 additional risk factor and a normal resting electrocardiogram underwent a myocardial scintigraphy to detect SMI.

Hypovitaminosis C in hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, cases of scurvy have mainly been described in populations at risk. The prevalence and risk factors for hypovitaminosis C among hospitalized patients in a department of internal medicine are largely unknown. METHODS: We determined serum ascorbic acid level (SAAL) and searched for clinical and biological signs of scurvy in 184 patients hospitalized during a 2-month period.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients: influence of diabetes duration, obesity, and microangiopathic complications--the French multicenter study.

The current study sought to examine in a large series of diabetic patients the prevalence of symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and subclinical cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and their determinants, particularly the influence of diabetes duration, obesity, and microangiopathic complications. Three hundred ninety-six patients, 245 type 1 and 151 type 2, were recruited in 7 French departments of diabetology. CAN was detected by measuring heart rate variability during 3 standardized tests: deep-breathing, Valsalva, and lying-to-standing tests.