[SPA therapy for pain of patients with chronic low back pain, knee osteo-arthritis and fibromyalgia].

The data of 33 randomized controlled trials suggest that chronic pain of patients with chronic low back pain, knee osteo-arthritis, fibromyalgia is significantly improved by balneotherapy and significantly better improved than by control treatments. For chronic low back pain (10 RCT, 1192 patients) pain was better improved in balneotherapy group and the weighted mean of the differential improvement was 19.66 (95 % CI: 16.

Frequency and severity of adverse drug reactions due to self-medication: a cross-sectional multicentre survey in emergency departments.

Background: Little is known about the relation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to self-use of medications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of ADRs related to self-medication (ADR-SM) among emergency department (ED) patients and to describe their main characteristics.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted over a period of 8 weeks (1 March to 20 April 2010), in the ED of 11 French academic hospitals.

[What therapeutic goals in the aged diabetic patients?].

Diabetes in the elderly is a growing public health problem, impacting both quality of life and autonomy. In the absence of prospective studies, the therapeutic goal will depend both on classical diabetes-related criteria and on geriatric assessment to determine the degree of frailty. The glycemic goal for elderly diabetic patients in good general health is roughly the same as for younger patients, while the target should be less strict for frail patients, in order to avoid both hypoglycemia and excessive treatment constraints that have no direct benefit.

Hepar lobatum carcinomatosum revealing an occult metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast.

Hepar lobatum carcinomatosum is an unusual cause of chronic liver failure, usually maskerading as cirrhosis. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is unclear. We report a case of liver failure revealing an occult lobular carcinoma of the breast, which offers the opportunity to gain further insight into the mechanisms of this rare cause of chronic liver disease.

Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound in solid lesions of the pancreas: results of a pilot study.

Background And Study Aims: Distinguishing pancreatic adenocarcinoma from other pancreatic masses remains challenging with current imaging techniques. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a new procedure, imaging the microcirculation pattern of the pancreas by contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CEH-EUS) with a new Olympus prototype echo endoscope.

Patients And Methods: 35 patients presenting with solid pancreatic lesions were prospectively enrolled.

[Crenobalneotherapy: a medical and scientific update].

The PubMed database contains about eighty scientific papers on crenobalneotherapy (i.e., medical balneology or spa therapy) published in the last three years, mostly in journals with an impact factor.

[Definitive treatment of anal canal carcinoma with radiotherapy: adverse impact of a pre-radiation resection. A retrospective study of 57 patients treated with curative intent].

Purpose: To describe retrospectively the overall survival, the cancer specific survival and the tumor control in an homogeneous series of patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal treated with definitive radiotherapy; to assess the impact of brachytherapy, chemotherapy and pre-radiotherapy resection on the risk of recurrence.

Patients And Methods: From 1997 to 2007, 57 patients (pts) presenting with an epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal (T1: 14, T2: 33, T3-4: 10, N0: 31, N1: 19, N2: 3, N3: 4, M0: 57) were treated with definitive radiotherapy by the same radiation oncologist. The treatment included an external beam irradiation (EBRT) given to the posterior pelvis (45Gy/25 fractions) and, six weeks later, a boost delivered with interstitial brachytherapy (37/57) or external beam irradiation (20/57).

Treatment of arteriovenous malformation of the pancreas: a case report.

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare disease, generally asymptomatic, but sometimes complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding or pancreatitis. We report a case of a 55-year-old man presenting with a large pancreatic AVM. The diagnosis was obtained on a computed tomography scan.

Effectiveness of a lumbar belt in subacute low back pain: an open, multicentric, and randomized clinical study.

Study Design: Multicentric, randomized, and controlled study of clinical evaluation of medical device in subacute low back pain.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an elastic lumbar belt on functional capacity, pain intensity in low back pain treatment, and the benefice on medical cost.

Summary Of Background Data: There is limited evidence of efficiency of lumbar supports for treatment of low back pain.

[Admissions of elderly to French emergency departments related to adverse drug events].

Aims: To investigate the characteristics of adverse drug events (ADE) causing emergency medical admissions in the elderly.

Methods: Data were obtained from two prospective cross sectional studies with similar experimental design which were carried out in seven French emergency departments in 1999 and 2003. The proportion of ADE leading to admission, their severity and preventability were assessed in patients aged > or =70 (group A) and compared to those of patients < 70 years (group B).

[When "deprescribing" drugs can improve the elderly patient's health].

Elderly people are frequently prescribed unnecessary and/or dangerous medications. The resulting polymedication carries four types of risk : an increased risk of adverse drug events (ADEs), decreased benefits of appropriate drugs, decreased compliance with appropriate treatments, and increased cost. Physicians should thus, when possible, deprescribe, reduce, replace or withdraw inappropriate medications.

[Not Available].

Aims: To investigate the characteristics of adverse drug events (ADE) causing emergency medical admissions in the elderly.

Methods: Data were obtained from two prospective cross sectional studies with similar experimental design which were carried out in seven French emergency departments in 1999 and 2003. The proportion of ADE leading to admission, their severity and preventability were assessed in patients aged ≥70 (group A) and compared to those of patients <70years (group B).

[Pitfalls of polypharmacy, particularly in the elderly].

Many patients, especially those aged over 70 years, receive variable types of polypharmacy in western countries. Polytherapy may be naturally in accordance with good clinical practice, or vice versa, it may be unjustified, whether it results from inappropriate prescribing or self-medication. Major causes of polytherapy include the presence of multiple disease states, thereby necessitating multiple drug therapy, particularly in patients with chronic debilitating disorders; increasing demand for health care; therapeutic advances as well as excessive prescribing (which may be related to poor coordination between practitioners).

Emergency department visits caused by adverse drug events: results of a French survey.

Background: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a substantial cause of hospital admissions. However, little is known about the incidence, preventability and severity of ADEs resulting in emergency department visits. To address this issue, we conducted a prospective survey in emergency departments of French public hospitals.

[Adverse drug reactions in the elderly].

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are more frequent and more serious in elderly patients (>65 years). Signs and symptoms of ADRs are varied and sometimes atypical. The culprit drugs are mainly cardiovascular and psychotropic agents, anticoagulants, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

[Adverse drug effects: a prospective study by Apnet performed in seven emergency care units in France: propositions for preventive measures].

Various studies have shown that adverse drug effects (ADEs) are a substantial cause of hospital admissions. However, little is known about the incidence and severity of ADEs resulting in hospital visits. To address this issue, we conducted a prospective survey in primary care and emergency departments of French public hospitals.