Need for analgesia after percutaneous liver biopsy: a real-life experience.

Objective: To evaluate variables affecting the need for analgesia after ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy performed on an outpatient basis.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 1,042 liver biopsies performed between 2012 and 2018. The data collected included the age and sex of the patient, as well as self-reported pain in the recovery room, the pain treatment used, the indication for the biopsy, and the lobe punctured.

Association between ventricular pacing and persistent atrial fibrillation in patients indicated to elective pacemaker replacement: Results of the Prefer for Elective Replacement MVP (PreFER MVP) randomized study.

Background: Pacing in the right ventricle can cause a variety of detrimental effects, including atrial tachyarrhythmias (atrial tachycardia [AT]/atrial fibrillation [AF]).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of persistent AT/AF in patients with long-term exposure to ventricular pacing.

Methods: In a multicenter international trial, 605 patients (age 75 ± 11 years, 240 women) referred for replacement of an implanted pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), with a history of high-percentage (>40%) ventricular pacing, were randomly allocated to standard dual-chamber pacing or managed ventricular pacing (MVP), a pacing modality that minimizes ventricular pacing.

Phase II study of weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin in combination with prophylactic G-CSF in the treatment of gynecologic cancers: A study in 108 patients by the Belgian Gynaecological Oncology Group.

Objective: To investigate the addition of prophylactic G-CSF to each weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin course in patients with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian (OC), or recurrent or advanced endometrial (EC) or cervical carcinoma (CC).

Methods: 108 patients were enrolled i.e.

Small bowel adenocarcinomas complicating Crohn's disease are associated with dysplasia: a pathological and molecular study.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with an increased risk of small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA). However, there are no guidelines for the screening and early diagnosis of SBA. Colorectal cancer associated with chronic colitis arises from dysplasia.

Adequate iron chelation therapy for at least six months improves survival in transfusion-dependent patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Background: Most patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) require transfusions at the risk of iron overload and associated organ damage, and death. Emerging evidence indicates that iron chelation therapy (ICT) could reduce mortality and improve survival in transfusion-dependent MDS patients, especially those classified as International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) Low or Intermediate-1 (Low/Int-1).

Methods: Follow-up of a retrospective study.

Managed ventricular pacing compared with conventional dual-chamber pacing for elective replacement in chronically paced patients: results of the Prefer for Elective Replacement Managed Ventricular Pacing randomized study.

Background: Several studies have shown that unnecessary right ventricular pacing has detrimental effects.

Objective: To evaluate whether minimization of ventricular pacing as compared with standard dual-chamber pacing (DDD) improves clinical outcomes in patients referred for pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement.

Methods: In an international single-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, we compared DDD with managed ventricular pacing (MVP), a pacing mode developed to minimize ventricular pacing by promoting intrinsic atrioventricular conduction.

Brain controls the heart: a case of ictal asystole.

Ictal asystole is a rare complication of epileptic seizures and is frequently unrecognized by non-neurologists. We describe a case of ictal asystole as first clinical manifestation of unknown temporal lobe epilepsy and we discuss epidemiologic, pathophysiologic and therapeutic features.

Multicenter evaluation of a new DNA microarray for rapid detection of clinically relevant bla genes from beta-lactam-resistant gram-negative bacteria.

A new commercial low-density microarray which identifies common extended-spectrum β-lactamase plasmid-mediated cephalosporinase genes, as well as carbapenemase (bla(KPC) and bla(NDM)) genes, was evaluated. We tested 207 clinical and reference/collection isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae possessing different bla genes. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of the microarray were 100% for the detection of the plasmid-mediated bla(AmpC), bla(KPC), and bla(NDM) genes using bla gene sequencing as the reference method.

Emergence of NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Belgium.

Five multidrug-resistant nonclonally related Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recovered in Belgium in 2010 from three patients who had been hospitalized in Pakistan, Montenegro, and Serbia/Kosovo. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) was detected in each of the isolates in addition to several extended-spectrum β-lactamases (CTX-M-15, SHV-12), plasmidic cephalosporinases (CMY-16, CMY-58), rRNA methylases (ArmA, RmtB), and Qnr genes (qnrA6, qnrB1, qnrB2). One patient died from uncontrolled sepsis, while the two others recovered.

Evaluation of clinical reasoning in basic emergencies using a script concordance test.

Objectives: To develop and assess the reliability of a script concordance test (SCT) to evaluate pharmacy students' clinical reasoning when facing basic emergency situations.

Design: A first aid course was designed that consisted of 8 weekly instructional sessions (4 on internal medicine, including life threatening situations; 2 on pediatrics; and 2 on trauma) in which the instructor presented case studies in a small-group format. In the first and final sessions of the course, a practice SCT was administered to familiarize students with the test format.

Centralized intravenous additive services (CIVAS): the state of the art in 2010.

In hospitals, the major part of the drugs is administered by intravenous way and the majority of the reconstitution of injectable drugs are carried out right before the administration to the patient by the nursing staff. The risks and errors related to the preparation and the administration of the injectable drugs are numerous. The standardization then the centralization of the preparations and reconstitution by the hospital pharmacy make it possible to reduce these various risks and errors.

Clinical profiles of patients colonized or infected with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates: a 20 month retrospective study at a Belgian University Hospital.

Background: Description of the clinical pictures of patients colonized or infected by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates and admitted to hospital are rather scarce in Europe. However, a better delineation of the clinical patterns associated with the carriage of ESBL-producing isolates may allow healthcare providers to identify more rapidly at risk patients. This matter is of particular concern because of the growing proportion of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae species isolates worldwide.

Recurrence of cluster headache with pramipexole.

Cluster headache (CH) is among the most painful headache disorders. There is still no unifying pathophysiological hypothesis to explain the trigeminal distribution, the circadian periodicity and the autonomic symptoms of the syndrome. We report the case of a patient with worsening of CH following administration of pramipexole for a restless legs syndrome (RLS).

GES extended-spectrum β-lactamases in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in Belgium.

During a PCR-based surveillance study of β-lactam resistance, 125 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were obtained from 18 hospitals in Belgium from January 2008 to December 2009. Nine GES-positive A. baumannii isolates were detected at 6 Belgian hospitals.

Long-term stability of the hydrochlorides of tramadol and alizapride in dextrose 5% polyolefin bag at 5+/-3 degrees C.

Objective: To investigate the stability of tramadol hydrochloride 100mg associated with alizapride 50mg in 100ml of 5% dextrose solution stored at 5+/-3 degrees C.

Methods: Solutions of 5% dextrose 100ml in polyolefin bags (n=5) containing approximately tramadol hydrochloride 100mg associated with alizapride 50mg were prepared under aseptic conditions and stored about 32 days at 5+/-3 degrees C. The tramadol hydrochloride and alizapride concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Prehypoxic clonidine administration improves vasomotricity of isolated rat aorta during reoxygenation.

Background And Objective: Clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor (A2A) agonist, improves posthypoxic function of several organs in humans and animal models. Mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood. A competent vasomotricity during reperfusion participates in the organ's recovery.

Effect of tDCS with an extracephalic reference electrode on cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used in human physiological studies and for therapeutic trials in patients with abnormalities of cortical excitability. Its safety profile places tDCS in the pole-position for translating in real-world therapeutic application. However, an episode of transient respiratory depression in a subject receiving tDCS with an extracephalic electrode led to the suggestion that such an electrode montage could modulate the brainstem autonomic centres.

[Dengue shock syndrome].

Célia, 21 month-old child, presented to our pediatric clinic a few months ago with a fever of unknown origin after a stay in St-Domingue with her parents. Complementary investigations led to a diagnosis of Dengue Fever. The condition, not very frequent and thus not well known in our countries, represents a major world health problem especially because of the global failure of prophylactic measures.

Molecular characterization of AmpC-producing Escherichia coli clinical isolates recovered at two Belgian hospitals.

Objective: To characterize the genetic determinants associated with an AmpC phenotype in clinical Escherichia coli isolates.

Methods: E. coli strains recovered at two Belgian hospitals between 2004 and 2006 were selected on the basis of an AmpC-producing phenotype.

Assessment of left atrial shape and volume in structural remodeling secondary to atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Assessment of volume in relation with left atrial (LA) shape alteration before and after PV isolation.

Methods: We compared trapezoidal modification of LA using echocardiography with the ellipsoid formula (EEL: ) and CT, with both ellipsoid (CTEL: ) and truncated cone formulas (CTTR: ), in 40 patients, before and +/-3 months after AF ablation.

Results: A trapezoidal shape was present in 76.