Is a homemade cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trainer non-inferior to a commercially available CPR mannequin in teaching high-quality CPR? A non-inferiority randomized control trial.

Introduction: Studies demonstrate that feedback devices help students achieve mastery of critical CPR skills and shorten the time from demonstration to competence. CPR feedback devices are costly and may not be available in low resource settings or in the context of online classes. We have developed a homemade feedback enabled CPR trainer.

Vitamins and carotenoids in human milk delivering preterm and term infants: Implications for preterm nutrient requirements and human milk fortification strategies.

Differences in vitamin and carotenoids content of human milk (HM) produced for infants born at term and preterm is poorly understood. In this study, HM was collected weekly for four and two months post-partum for preterm and term groups, respectively. Nutrients of interest, from single full breast expressions were measured by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Quantification of Vitamins A, E, and K and Carotenoids in Submilliliter Volumes of Human Milk.

Human milk is the optimal nutrition for all newborns in the first 6 months of life. In order to assess the nutritional needs of the breastfed infant, human milk is often characterized for multiple nutrients. To ensure that we minimize the volume of milk dedicated for research and optimize the number of nutrients characterized, we developed analytical methodologies for the determination of vitamins A (retinol), E (alpha and gamma tocopherol), K (phylloquinone and menaquinone-4), and five carotenoids (β-carotene, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin) using <1 mL human milk.

Evaluation of Hirst-type spore traps in outdoor Aspergillaceae monitoring during large demolition work in hospital.

Demolition can generate fungal spore suspensions in association with various adverse health effects, such as high risk of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. One block of Edouard Herriot Hospital was entirely demolished. The aim of the present study was to evaluate Hirst-type spore traps utility in monitoring outdoor Aspergillaceae (Aspergillus spp.

[Patient education in psychiatry: Representations of caregivers, patients and their families].

Introduction: Why do caregivers working in psychiatry seem to wonder about their practices, in front of the recent mediatisation of patient education in France? Do our educational practices meet the needs and the expectations of patients and their families? These questions led us to carry out this qualitative and prospective study concerning the representations of patient education of the main actors in psychiatry.

Objective: This work aims to assess the representations of patient education of the main actors in psychiatry, in particular to assess convergences and divergences.

Methods: This is a qualitative and prospective study.

Prediction of response factors for gas chromatography with flame ionization detection: Algorithm improvement, extension to silylated compounds, and application to the quantification of metabolites.

We previously showed that the relative response factors of volatile compounds were predictable from either combustion enthalpies or their molecular formulae only . We now extend this prediction to silylated derivatives by adding an increment in the ab initio calculation of combustion enthalpies. The accuracy of the experimental relative response factors database was also improved and its population increased to 490 values.

Persistence assessment of cyclohexyl- and norbornyl-derived ketones and their degradation products in different OECD screening tests.

The persistence of synthetic cyclohexyl- and norbornyl-derived ketones was assessed by using OECD 301F and 301D biodegradation tests. While cyclohexyl-derived ketones either reached or came close to the pass level (60%) after 60 d, the corresponding norbornyl derivatives yielded significantly less biodegradation (<40%). By analyzing extracts at 60 d, the key degradation products of four norbornyl derivatives were identified.

Quantification of selected furocoumarins by high-performance liquid chromatography and UV-detection: capabilities and limits.

The performance of HPLC-UV as a means of quantifying selected furocoumarins in essential oils has been evaluated, based on a ring test validation approach. Accuracy profiles were generated, to determine bias and statistical confidence associated with determination at different concentrations, along with lower limits of quantification (LOQ). From these findings, it can be concluded that the method described may only be used in simple cases (essential oils), to measure individual furocoumarin compounds at concentrations greater than 10mg/l; the non compound-specific nature of detection by absorption in the UV range is unable to overcome the effect of interferences arising from chromatographic coelutions, such as those encountered in the analysis of complex commercial fragrance mixtures.

Pain as the only consistent sign of acute appendicitis: lack of inflammatory signs does not exclude the diagnosis.

Background: The clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults remains tricky, but radiological examinations are very helpful to determine the diagnosis even when the adult patient presents atypically. This study was designed to quantify the proportion of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis that had isolated right lower quadrant pain without biological inflammatory signs and then to determine which imaging examination led to the determination of the diagnosis.

Methods: In this monocentric study based on retrospectively collected data, we analyzed a series of 326 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis and isolated those who were afebrile and had isolated right lower quadrant pain and normal white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein levels.

Diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous group A streptococcal peritonitis.

Background: Primary group A streptococcal peritonitis (PSAP) is a rare, fulminant and often fatal infection. The clinical manifestations include diffuse peritoneal signs with toxic shock syndrome and sometimes fasciitis.

Methods: Patients with PSAP diagnosed between December 2002 and December 2006 were studied retrospectively, focusing on the initial presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome.

Initial management of extensive mesenteric venous thrombosis: retrospective study of nine cases.

Background: The development of mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) does not necessarily require surgical intervention. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of avoiding early operative intervention, which can lead to significant sacrifice of the small bowel.

Methods: Patients with MVT were identified using the inpatient registry for the years between 2003 and 2007.

Elytrocele with and without a history of hysterectomy (303 defecography studies).

Objective: To search for clinical risk factors and symptoms of elytrocele in female patients without hysterectomy.

Patients And Methods: Of 1060 women who underwent defecography, radiographic evidence of elytrocele was observed in 303. History-taking was standardized, and included obstetric, surgical and medical history as well as clinical symptoms and their duration.

Cost-of-illness study of severe haemophilia A and B in five French haemophilia treatment centres.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the consumption of anti-haemophilic drugs by adults and children with severe haemophilia A or B (residual activity of FVIII or FIX < or =2%) and to quantify the average direct medical costs.

Method: A retrospective multicentre cost-of-illness study from the perspective of French national health insurance system. The costs include only the use of clotting factors.

[Gas gangrene of the abdominal wall due to underlying GI pathology: seven cases].

Objective: Gas gangrene of the abdominal wall is a rare clinical occurrence with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The primary source of the infection is often unknown. To analyze the primary underlying intestinal etiologies and diagnostic approaches of gas gangrene of the abdominal wall, and to highlight specific treatment problems, particularly that of constructing a colostomy exteriorized through a massively infected abdominal wall.

Portal venous gas detected on computed tomography in emergency situations: surgery is still necessary.

Background: Portal venous gas (PVG) has been reported to be associated with lethal surgical diagnosis. Recent studies tend to confirm the clinical significance of gas in the portal vein; however, some patients are managed without surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to assess both the diagnoses and the treatment of patients with PVG in an emergency surgical setting.

Bat rabies surveillance in France, from 1989 through May 2005.

In France, the passive surveillance of lyssaviruses in bats started in 1989, with the first positive case found in the East of the country. In 2000, the French bat rabies surveillance network in France was improved on the basis of the one used for the surveillance of fox rabies. The objectives of this network are to improve bat rabies surveillance by increasing the number of specimens and to provide an estimation of rabies incidence in bat populations across the country.

Pneumatocele formation in adult Escherichia coli pneumonia revealed by pneumothorax.

Pulmonary pneumatoceles are a rare complication of nosocomial pneumonia. They occur most often in staphylococcal infections and are hence more frequent in children. We report the case of an immunocompromised adult who shortly after digestive surgery developed Escherichia coli pneumonia which evolved rapidly towards pneumatocele formation revealed by pneumothorax.

In vitro susceptibility testing of Candida and Aspergillus spp. to voriconazole and other antifungal agents using Etest: results of a French multicentre study.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antifungal agent voriconazole were determined using the Etest and compared with those of amphotericin B, itraconazole and fluconazole using 1986 clinical isolates of Candida spp. Voriconazole MICs were also compared with those of amphotericin B and itraconazole using 391 clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. Voriconazole was found to have more potent activity and lower MIC values than amphotericin B, itraconazole and fluconazole against C.

Genetic analysis of European bat lyssavirus type 1 isolates from France.

European bat lyssavirus type 1a (EBLV-1a) was first identified in central France from a serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) collected at the end of 2002. Rabies was diagnosed by reference rabies diagnosis methods and molecular tools. Phylogenetic analysis of 14 viral isolates obtained from French bats infected with EBLV-1 between 1989 and the end of 2002 against 47 nucleoprotein sequences showed a north-west to east distribution of EBLV-1a virus and a south to north distribution of EBLV-1b virus, isolates of which could be divided into two groups: group 1 in north-eastern France and group 2 in central and north-western France.

[Abdominal wound injuries: diagnosis and treatment. Report of 79 cases].

Introduction: - Traditionally, penetrating abdominal wounds justify routine laparotomy. However, this policy can be adapted to mechanism of injury (stab or firearm) and accuracy of imaging procedures if they eliminate visceral injury thus allowing close follow up.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective study of 79 patients (May 1995-May 2002) with a penetrating abdominal wound: (47 (59%) stab wounds and 32 (41 %) firearm wounds).

Development of a hemi-nested RT-PCR method for the specific determination of European Bat Lyssavirus 1. Comparison with other rabies diagnostic methods.

A simplified hemi-nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (hnRT-PCR) has been developed to determine specifically the European Bat Lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1) nucleoprotein gene. The specificity of this method was determined by using the seven genotypes of lyssavirus by RT-PCR, Southern blot and sequence analysis. Compared to the rabies diagnostic methods, the hnRT-PCR showed a higher sensitivity for the detection of small amounts of EBLV-1 virus.

Observational study of potential risk factors of medication administration errors.

Objective: Medication administration errors (MAEs) are the second most frequent type of medication errors, as has been shown in different studies in the literature. The aims of this observational study were to assess the rate and the potential clinical significance of MAEs and to determine the associated risk factors.

Design: In two departments, Geriatric Unit (GU) and Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery Unit (CTSU) of Besançon University Hospital (France), MAEs were identified using the undisguised observation technique and classified according to the definitions of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.