Efficacy of a vein visualisation device for facilitating peripheral venous line placement in adult patients with sickle cell disease: A randomised clinical trial.

Background: Intravenous (IV) access is often required for the treatment of vaso-occlusive crises in patients with sickle cell disease, but can be particularly challenging due to recurrent venous damage. The AccuVein® device, uses near-infrared light technology to visualise veins for easier venepuncture.

Methods: A randomised, controlled trial of the efficacy of the AccuVeinAV400® device in the replacement of peripheral venous lines during a vaso-occlusive crisis was conducted at two centres in France.

Safety and Clinical Efficacy of Prostatic Artery Embolization in Patients with Indwelling Urinary Catheter for Benign Hyperplasia-A Multicenter Study.

: This multicentric study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) to remove indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Secondary objectives were to identify features associated with post-PAE catheter-free survival (PCFS). : All consecutive patients who underwent PAE for IUC related to BPH with a follow-up of at least 2 years (except for early death) in 6 French University Hospitals were retrospectively included.

Positivity of antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies identifies a subgroup of more severe antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

Objectives: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease combining the occurrence of thrombotic and/or obstetric events with the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (i.e. lupus anticoagulant (LA), anti-cardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies).

An iconodiagnosis for Joos Vijd, as painted by the van Eycks in the Ghent Altarpiece.

The Ghent Altarpiece, a jewel of Gothic art painted by the van Eyck brothers in the fifteenth century, is particularly noteworthy for its use of an innovative dilution of oil, giving it a realistic scope that is particularly conducive to iconodiagnostic hypotheses. For the first time in the literature, we are taking a medical look at this masterpiece, and more specifically at the representation of its patron, whose identity is well known: Joos Vijd, a powerful notable from the town of Ghent, in modern-day Belgium. A vascular turgidity of the temporal artery, which can be suggestive of temporal arteritis, Hertoghe's sign and a slight ear crease were observed.

Assessment of fatigue in adult patients with sickle cell disease: Use of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-fatigue) questionnaire.

Few studies have used validated scales to assess the intensity and determinants of fatigue, a major symptom of sickle cell disease (SCD). We aimed to assess the level of basal fatigue in adult patients with SCD, using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) questionnaire. We prospectively included 102 stable adult outpatients with SCD over 2 months, who answered the FACIT-Fatigue (ranging from 0 (worst imaginable fatigue) to 52 (no fatigue)) and reported on the intensity of fatigue and its impact on quality of life.

[Short antibiotic therapy in hospitalized pneumonia: A cohort study].

Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the most common indications for antibiotic. Shortening the duration of antibiotic therapy should help reduce bacterial resistance. To date, three randomized control trials have shown non-inferiority of short courses of antibiotic therapy (3 days) compared with 7 days in non-severe pneumonia.

Long-Term Outcome and Prognosis of Noninfectious Thoracic Aortitis.

Background: Aortitis is a group of disorders characterized by the inflammation of the aorta. The large-vessel vasculitides are the most common causes of aortitis. Aortitis long-term outcomes are not well known.

Preexisting autoantibodies as predictor of immune related adverse events (irAEs) for advanced solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now standard of care in many cancers. They can generate immune-related adverse events (irAEs), but no biomarkers are available to identify patients who are more likely to develop irAEs. We assess the association between pre-existing autoantibodies and occurrence of irAEs.

Impact of the First COVID-19 Pandemic Wave on Hospitalizations and Deaths Caused by Geriatric Syndromes in France: A Nationwide Study.

Background: The fear of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the preventive measures taken during the health crisis affected both people's lifestyles and the health system. This nationwide study aimed to investigate the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalizations and mortality related to geriatric syndromes (GS) in older adults in France.

Methods: The French National Health Data System was used to compare hospital admissions (excluding the main diagnosis of COVID-19) and mortality rates (using multiple-cause and initial-cause analyses, and both including or excluding confirmed/probable COVID-19) related to 10 different GS (dementia, other cognitive disorders and symptoms, delirium/disorientation, depression, undernutrition/malnutrition, dehydration, pressure ulcer, incontinence, fall/injury and femoral neck fracture) from January to September 2020 to rates observed in previous years.

[Contribution and limits of "OSCE", "long-case" and "global end-of-placement marking" as end-of-rotation assessment methods. Experience from two internal medicine wards].

Introduction: During placements, there is an opportunity to learn clinical skills and to assess their application. However, it represents two different goals. The validity of an end-of-placement assessment is questionable, as the medical competency is contextual.

JAK inhibitors in difficult-to-treat adult-onset Still's disease and systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: Excessive and inappropriate production of pro-inflammatory cytokines plays a key role in Still's disease. Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) agents mainly block pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways, notably IL-6 and IFN. The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of JAKi agents in difficult-to-treat systemic JIA or adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Risks and Benefits of Prophylactic Transfusion before Cholecystectomy in Sickle Cell Disease.

Preoperative transfusion (PT) reduces acute postoperative vaso-occlusive events (VOE) in sickle cell disease (SCD), but exposes patients to alloimmunization, encouraging a recent trend towards transfusion sparing. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit-risk ratio of PT before cholecystectomy on the occurrence of postoperative VOE. Adult SCD patients who underwent cholecystectomy between 2008 and 2019 in our center were included.

[Acute chest syndrome in adult sickle cell patients].

Sickle cell disease is a frequent genetic condition, due to a mutation of the β-globin gene, leading to the production of an abnormal S hemoglobin and characterized by multiple vaso-occlusive events. The acute chest syndrome is a severe complication associated with a significant disability and mortality. It is defined by the association of one or more clinical respiratory manifestations and a new infiltrate on lung imaging.

[Gallstone complications in sickle cell patients].

Chronic haemolysis exposes patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) to the development of black pigment gallstones, which can trigger biliary complications. In order to avoid these complications, elective cholecystectomy is recommended in France for all SCD patients with detected gallstones. However, all surgeries, and especially abdominal surgeries, entail an increased risk of vaso-occlusive complications in the peri- and post-operative periods, the most dreadful one being the acute chest syndrome.