Optimization of drug therapy in elderly individuals admitted to a geriatric unit.

Background: A substantial share of adverse drug events involves inappropriate prescribing (IP). Specialized geriatric units are supposed to pay particular attention to prescribing appropriateness and to promoting a higher prescribing quality.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reality of such assessment and optimization in real life (usual care) in a population of elderly individuals admitted to a geriatric unit.

Cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension-related bleeding and an indication for early-TIPS: a large multicentre audit with real-life results.

Background: The Baveno VI consensus meeting concluded that an early TIPS must be considered in high-risk cirrhotic patients presenting with variceal bleeding (VB) (Child B + active bleeding at endoscopy or Child C10-13 patients). Whether this therapeutic approach is feasible in a real-life setting remains unclear.

Aims: To determine (1) the proportion of patients eligible for early-TIPS among cirrhotic patients with VB, (2) the proportion of these patients who underwent early-TIPS placement and the main reasons for discarding TIPS, and (3) the outcomes of patients who experienced early-TIPS placement in a large, national, prospective, multicentre audit including academic and non-academic centres.

Paediatric optic neuritis: factors leading to unfavourable outcome and relapses.

Objectives: To identify prognostic factors associated with poor visual recovery and chronic relapsing diseases, for example, multiple sclerosis (MS), in children with optic neuritis (ON) at onset.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective study included 102 children with a first ON episode between 1990 and 2012. The primary criterion was poor visual recovery determined by visual acuity, and the secondary was relapses following ON.

Estetrol, a Fetal Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, Acts on the Vagina of Mice through Nuclear Estrogen Receptor α Activation.

The genitourinary syndrome of menopause has a negative impact on quality of life of postmenopausal women. The treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy includes administration of estrogens. However, oral estrogen treatment is controversial because of its potential risks on venous thrombosis and breast cancer.

Incident Cerebral Microbleeds Detected by Susceptibility Weight-Imaging Help to Identify Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment Progressing to Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: The relationship between cerebral microbleeds (CMB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not yet been clearly determined, particularly with susceptibility weight-imaging (SWI).

Objective: To evaluate the SWI sequence using 3T MRI for the detection of CMB, and its ability to differentiate elderly control subjects (CS), stable mild cognitive impairment patients (MCI-s), MCI patients progressing to AD (MCI-p), and AD patients.

Methods: It was a prospective, monocentric, observational study that took place in Toulouse, France.

Safety and Efficacy of Aneurysm Treatment with the WEB: Results of the WEBCAST 2 Study.

Background And Purpose: Flow disruption with the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is an innovative technique for the endovascular treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms. The initial version of the device (WEB Double-Layer) was evaluated in the WEB Clinical Assessment of IntraSaccular Aneurysm Therapy (WEBCAST) study, whereas the French Observatory study evaluated both WEB Double-Layer and Single-Layer versions of the device. WEBCAST 2 was designed to evaluate the WEB Single-Layer with Enhanced Visualization.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Anterolateral Ligament Injuries: Correlation With Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Pivot-Shift Testing.

Purpose: (1) To compare the diagnostic ability of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect anterolateral ligament (ALL) injuries in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient patients, and (2) to evaluate the correlation between ALL injury status (as determined by US and MRI) and the knee's rotational stability.

Methods: Thirty patients with an isolated ACL injury were included prospectively over a 3-month period. The condition of the ALL was evaluated by 2 experienced radiologists using both US and MRI.

Predictive model of 1-year postoperative renal function after living donor nephrectomy.

Objective: Kidney transplantation from a living donor nephrectomy (LDN) is the best treatment for end-stage renal disease, but decrease in donor renal function is often revealed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative factors and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and test a predictive model to estimate postoperative eGFR, 1 year after LDN.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed 226 records of consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy between 2006 and 2014 in a single tertiary center.

European Multicenter Study on Analytical Performance of DxN Veris System HCV Assay.

The analytical performance of the Veris HCV Assay for use on the new and fully automated Beckman Coulter DxN Veris Molecular Diagnostics System (DxN Veris System) was evaluated at 10 European virology laboratories. Precision, analytical sensitivity, specificity, and performance with negative samples, linearity, and performance with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes were evaluated. Precision for all sites showed a standard deviation (SD) of 0.

A Phase 1/1b Study Evaluating Trametinib Plus Docetaxel or Pemetrexed in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Objectives: This two-part study evaluated trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, in combination with anticancer agents. Inhibition of MEK, a downstream effector of KRAS, demonstrated preclinical synergy with chemotherapy in KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines. Part 1 of this study identified recommended phase 2 doses of trametinib combinations.

Bone age estimation based on multislice computed tomography study of the scapula.

Progress in medical imaging has opened new areas of research in forensic anthropology, especially in the context of the study of bone age assessment. The study of bone age has become a useful tool for age estimation at death or age of young adult migrants in an anthropological context. We retrospectively evaluated multislice computed tomography (MSCT) explorations focused on scapulae of 232 individuals (123 males; 109 females) aged between 8 and 30 years old.

Platelet function monitoring to adjust antiplatelet therapy in elderly patients stented for an acute coronary syndrome (ANTARCTIC): an open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled superiority trial.

Background: Elderly patients are at high risk of ischaemic and bleeding events. Platelet function monitoring offers the possibility to individualise antiplatelet therapy to improve the therapeutic risk-benefit ratio. We aimed to assess the effect of platelet function monitoring with treatment adjustment in elderly patients stented for an acute coronary syndrome.

Downregulation of sphingosine kinase-1 induces protective tumor immunity by promoting M1 macrophage response in melanoma.

The infiltration of melanoma tumors by macrophages is often correlated with poor prognosis. However, the molecular signals that regulate the dialogue between malignant cells and the inflammatory microenvironment remain poorly understood. We previously reported an increased expression of sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1), which produces the bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), in melanoma.

Physical health conditions and quality of life in adults with primary immunodeficiency diagnosed during childhood: A French Reference Center for PIDs (CEREDIH) study.

Background: Most children with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) now reach adulthood. However, few studies have evaluated their health status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Objective: To investigate long-term morbidity, the French Reference Center for PIDs initiated a prospective multicenter cohort: the French Childhood Immune Deficiency Long-term Cohort.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts With Covered Stents Increase Transplant-Free Survival of Patients With Cirrhosis and Recurrent Ascites.

Background & Aims: There is controversy over the ability of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) to increase survival times of patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. The high rate of shunt dysfunction with the use of uncovered stents counteracts the benefits of TIPS. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of TIPS with stents covered with polytetrafluoroethylene in these patients.

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Lung.

Background: Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer, which has aggressive behavior. We present information on the clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical outcomes of these tumors.

Patients And Methods: From January 2000 to December 2012, the clinicopathologic data from 93 patients treated at 2 French cancer centers were retrospectively analyzed.

People living with HIV and procreation: 30 years of progress from prohibition to freedom?

The emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the 1980s drastically changed the prospects of conceiving a child for the man or woman infected with the virus. Advances in treatment then made it possible to envisage pregnancy while decreasing the risk of transmission to the child when the mother was infected. For couples where one partner was HIV-positive and who desired a child, recourse to medical help, notably medically assisted procreation, was discouraged, and very few centres offered such assistance in the 1980s and 1990s.

Liver transplantation for adenomatosis: European experience.

The aim of this study was to collect data from patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) for adenomatosis; to analyze the symptoms, the characteristics of the disease, and the recipient outcomes; and to better define the role of LT in this rare indication. This retrospective multicenter study, based on data from the European Liver Transplant Registry, encompassed patients who underwent LT for adenomatosis between January 1, 1986, and July 15, 2013, in Europe. Patients with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type IA were not excluded.

Propensity Score Analysis Comparing Videothoracoscopic Lobectomy With Thoracotomy: A French Nationwide Study.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has recently become the recommended approach for stage I non-small cell lung cancer. However, these guidelines are not based on any large randomized control trial. Our study used propensity scores and a sensitivity analysis to compare VATS lobectomy with open thoracotomy.

Therapy with natalizumab is associated with high JCV seroconversion and rising JCV index values.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze John Cunningham virus (JCV) serology in natalizumab-treated patients over time and assess whether they are influenced by natalizumab treatment.

Methods: German (n = 1,921; 525 longitudinally) and French (n = 1,259; 711 longitudinally) patients were assessed for JCV serology alongside their therapy with natalizumab.

Results: JCV serostatus changed in 69 of 525 longitudinally followed German patients (13.