[Caudal block and light sevoflurane mask anesthesia in high-risk infants: an audit of 98 cases].

Objective: In order to reduce the risk of postoperative apnoea, awake spinal anaesthesia or awake caudal anaesthesia are recommended for hernia surgery in newborn babies and former premature infants aged less than 60 weeks of amenorrhoea. However, additional sedation is sometimes necessary. Our working hypothesis was that a general anaesthesia with a face mask (sevoflurane) with no opiates nor neuromuscular blocking agents, maintaining the infant's spontaneous breathing and combined with a caudal anaesthesia, could provide a safe and effective alternative.

[Effectiveness of physical exercise in psychiatry: a therapeutic approach?].

Introduction: There is a general belief that physical activity and exercise have positive effects on mood and anxiety. Intervention studies describe an anxiolytic and antidepressive effect of exercise in healthy subjects and patients. However, the majority of published studies have substantial methodological inconsistencies.

Increased lymphatic vessel density and lymphangiogenesis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Involvement of the lymphatic system in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been suggested.

Aims: To examine the density and distribution of lymphatic vessels (LV) within inflamed and non-inflamed wall sections of IBD patients compared with controls, and to evaluate expression of major lymphangiogenic factors.

Methods: Ileal and colon specimens of 22 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 16 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 11 controls were studied.

H1N1 vaccines in a large observational cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with immunomodulators and biological therapy.

Background: Safety data are lacking on influenza vaccination in general and on A (H1N1)v vaccination in particular in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving immmunomodulators and/or biological therapy.

Aims And Methods: The authors conducted a multicentre observational cohort study to evaluate symptoms associated with influenza H1N1 adjuvanted (Pandemrix, Focetria, FluvalP) and non-adjuvanted (Celvapan) vaccines and to assess the risk of flare of IBD after vaccination. Patients with stable IBD treated with immunomodulators and/or biological therapy were recruited from November 2009 until March 2010 in 12 European countries.

Severe skin lesions cause patients with inflammatory bowel disease to discontinue anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.

Background & Aims: Psoriasiform and eczematiform lesions are associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapies. We assessed clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of skin disease in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases that presented with psoriasiform and eczematiform lesions induced by anti-TNF-α agents.

Methods: We studied 85 patients (69 with Crohn's disease, 15 with ulcerative colitis, and 1 with indeterminate colitis; 62 women) with inflammatory skin lesions (62 psoriasiform and 23 eczematiform lesions).

Evaluation of the Xpert MRSA assay for rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from nares swabs of geriatric hospitalized patients and failure to detect a specific SCCmec type IV variant.

Rapid and reliable detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers is crucial for control of MRSA nosocomial transmission. We aimed to evaluate the performance of the GeneXpert real-time PCR system using the Xpert MRSA assay on a collection of 40 representative Belgian MRSA strains and for MRSA screening of geriatric inpatients. Double nasal swabs were used: the first swab for the Xpert MRSA assay and the second for culture onto chromogenic selective medium and enrichment broth.

Prevention of opportunistic infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and implications of the ECCO consensus in Belgium.

In an era of increasing use of immunomodulator (IM) therapy, opportunistic infections have emerged as a pivotal safety issue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Today's challenge to the physician is not only to manage IBD, but also to recognise, prevent and treat common and uncommon infections. The recent European ECCO guidelines on the management and prevention of opportunistic infections in patients with IBD provide clinicians with guidance on the prevention, detection and management of opportunistic infections in patients with IBD.

Effect of freezing, long-term storage and microwave thawing on the stability of a mixture of diclofenac and sodium bicarbonate in glucose 5% polyolefin bags.

Objective: Preparation in advance of intravenous solution could be efficient to improve quality assurance, security, time management and cost saving of drug delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of a mixture of diclofenac 75 mg/100 ml and sodium bicarbonate 42 mg/100 ml in 5% glucose polyolefin bags after freezing, long-term storage, and microwave thawing.

Method: The stability of five polyolefin bags containing approximately 75 mg/100ml of diclofenac and 42 mg/100ml of sodium bicarbonate in 5% glucose prepared under aseptic conditions was studied after freezing for 2 months at -20 degrees C, thawing in a microwave oven with a validated cycle, and stored at 5 + or - 3 degrees C.

Review article: influenza A (H1N1) virus in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Infection with influenza A (H1N1)v (swine flu) has caused widespread anxiety, among patients who are potentially immunocompromised, such as those being treated for inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To provide guidance for physicians and their patients on the risk, prevention and management of influenza A (H1N1)v infection.

Methods: Medline was searched using the following key words: 'swine flu', 'immunosuppression', inflammatory bowel disease', 'recommendations', 'immunization', 'vaccination'.

Long-term stability of tramadol chlorhydrate and metoclopramide hydrochloride in dextrose 5% polyolefin bag at 4 degrees C.

Objectives: Preparation of intravenous solution in advance could be efficient to improve quality assurance, security, time management, and cost saving of drug delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of a mixture of tramadol chlorhydrate and metoclopramide hydrochloride in dextrose 5% polyolefin bags at 4 degrees C.

Methods: The stability of five bags of solution containing 100 mg tramadol and 10 mg metoclopramide per 100 mL dextrose 5% and stored at 4 degrees C was studied during 32 days and concentrations measured by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection.

Long-term stability of sodium folinate in dextrose 5% polyolefin bags at 4degreesC.

Objectives: Preparation of intravenous solutions in advance could be an efficient approach to improve quality assurance, security, time management, and cost saving of drug provision. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the stability of sodium folinate solutions at 3.2 mg mL-1 in 5% dextrose polyolefin bags at 4degreesC.

CT of saber-sheath trachea. Correlation with clinical, chest radiographic and functional findings.

The diagnosis of saber-sheath trachea is easy at CT due to its cross-sectional imaging, but the significance of this CT sign has not been evaluated in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Various signs of COPD were compared between a series of 20 patients with a saber-sheath trachea at CT (tracheal index < or = 66%) and a group of 20 pneumologic control patients without saber-sheath trachea (tracheal index > or = 70%). These signs included clinical and standard radiographic indices of COPD, sternum-spine distance and 3 functional tests of COPD: forced expiratory volume in one second, carbon monoxide diffusing lung capacity, and functional residual capacity (FRC).

Radiologic findings of normal and compromised thoracic venous catheters.

We review the radiologic findings of normal positioning, malpositioning, and complications related to the more commonly used thoracic venous catheters. These include central venous catheters, long-term central venous access catheters, and pulmonary artery catheters. The radiologist plays an important role in the early recognition of the complications of these catheters.

[Intracranial plasmocytoma manifesting multiple myeloma: apropos of a case].

Neurological complications of myeloma are multiple and various. Cranial and intracranial locations have been rarely reported. They can be classified into three clinical groups: (1) cranial nerve palsies secondary to single or multiple lesions in the base of the skull, (2) intraorbital tumors, (3) intracranial tumors, either cranial myeloma extending intracranially or pure intracranial tumor (dural and/or cerebral).

Alcoholic liver disease: value of the left-to-right portal vein ratio in its sonographic diagnosis.

A study group of 50 patients in whom the left portal vein diameter was equal to or greater than the right portal vein diameter (LPVD greater than or equal to RPVD) was prospectively compared on ultrasonography with a control group of 50 patients with LPVD less than RPVD. Clinical and laboratory data indicating chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD) were observed with a significantly higher frequency in the study group than in the control group. It emerges from this study that LPVD greater than or equal to RPVD represents a useful ultrasonographic sign of CALD, corresponding to a relative enlargement of the left hepatic lobe compared with the right.

Male genital tract malformations associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis: sonographic findings.

Ten male patients with ultrasonographic evidence of an internal genital anomaly associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis are presented. The abnormalities consist of seminal vesicle agenesis in 4, seminal vesicle cyst in 3, Wolffian duct remnant in 2, and Mullerian duct remnant in 1. Such developmental defects are due to a primary anomaly of the mesonephros.

Subglottic haemangioma in the infant: contribution by CO2 laser.

The availability of the low intensity CO2 laser beam, and the possibility of defocalization that is associated with control of subglottic high frequency jet ventilation, requires a more interventionist attitude regarding dyspnoea caused by a subglottic haemangioma in the infant. It is indeed possible reliably to reduce the size of the subglottic haemangioma, and thus to avoid a lengthy period of intensive care, as well as the problems of prolonged intubation or tracheostomy for drainage, while also avoiding long term steroid therapy. This approach in no way affects the spontaneous evolution of subglottic haemangioma in the infant; there is a tendency for the haemangioma to regress after the age of one year.

[Extraction of a foreign body from the elbow using arthroscopy].

Arthroscopy of the elbow is now a good diagnostic and therapeutic method, particularly for the removal of loose bodies which are frequently found in the elbow, whatever their etiology. The authors have investigated the advantages and disadvantages of different sites of entry and the technique of removal of loose bodies in five cases. The technical ease of the procedure and the simplicity of the after-care makes it the method of choice in this condition.

Comparison of B-mode ultrasound, radiography and sinuscopy in the diagnosis of maxillary sinusitis. Report on 177 cases.

The authors report their experience in the ultrasonic investigation of the maxillary sinuses over a series of 177 cases. The method of examination is presented (B-mode ultrasound scanning) and the results are compared with those of radiology and sinuscopy, the latter being used as the method of reference. The anterior bone wall of the sinus appeared to be the main limitation of the technique.