Quality of life measurement in atopic dermatitis. Position paper of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force on quality of life.

There is a need for researchers to have easy reference to the wide spectrum of different types of quality of life (QoL) instruments that can be used in atopic dermatitis (AD). Previous reviews on QoL in AD do not cover the full spectrum of QoL measures used in studies on AD. This study, on behalf of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force on QoL, contains information on instruments available for health-related QoL and family QoL assessment in AD including information on validation, experience of QoL assessment in AD for different purposes, peculiarities of QoL assessment in different age groups, expert analysis of available instruments including data on limitations of their use and recommendations of the Task Force.

The practice of laparoscopic liver surgery in Belgium: a national survey.

Background: Laparoscopic liver surgery (LLS) gained popularity bringing several advantages including decreased morbidity and reduction of length of hospital stay compared to open.

Methods: To understand practice and evolution of LLS in Belgium, a 20-questions survey was sent to all members of the Royal Belgian Society for Surgery, the Belgian Section of Hepato-Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery and the Belgian Group for Endoscopic Surgery.

Results: Thirty-seven surgical units representing 61 surgeons performing LLS in Belgium responded: 50% from regional hospitals, 28% from university and 22% from peripheral hospitals.

Evaluation of the new LIAISON(®) CMV IgG, IgM and IgG Avidity II assays.

Background: The diagnosis of CMV infection is challenging and the quality of serological laboratory testing is critical, especially in pregnancy and in the determination of transplant recipients and donors serostatus.

Objectives: Evaluate the performances of the new LIAISON(®) CMV II line: LIAISON(®) CMV IgG II, LIAISON(®) CMV IgM II and LIAISON(®) CMV IgG Avidity II in comparison with the routine methods used in our laboratory.

Study Design: The evaluation of LIAISON(®) CMV IgG II and LIAISON(®) CMV IgM II was performed on both prospective routine samples and retrospective selected samples for a total of 383 sera.

Femoral curvature variability in modern humans using three-dimensional quadric surface fitting.

Introduction: This study analysed femoral curvature in a population from Belgium in conjunction with other morphological characteristics by the use of three-dimensional (3D) quadric surfaces (QS) modelled from the bone surface.

Methods: 3D models were created from computed tomography data of 75 femoral modern human bones. Anatomical landmarks (ALs) were palpated in specific bony areas of the femur (shaft, condyles, neck and head).

Sex determination using the Probabilistic Sex Diagnosis (DSP: Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste) tool in a virtual environment.

The hip bone is one of the most reliable indicators of sex in the human body due to the fact it is the most dimorphic bone. Probabilistic Sex Diagnosis (DSP: Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste) developed by Murail et al., in 2005, is a sex determination method based on a worldwide hip bone metrical database.

Glucose variability assessed by low blood glucose index is predictive of hypoglycemic events in patients with type 1 diabetes switched to pump therapy.

Objective: To determine whether subgroups of type 1 diabetic patients with different glucose variability indices respond differently to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in terms of reduced hypoglycemic events.

Research Design And Methods: We studied 50 adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes switched to CSII because of persistently high A1C or frequent hypoglycemia despite well-managed intensive basal-bolus therapy. We compared A1C, hypoglycemic events, and glucose variability from self-monitoring of blood glucose profiles at baseline and after 6 months of CSII.

Complications of mesh repair in hiatal surgery: about 3 cases and review of the literature.

Primary repair of large hiatal hernia is associated with high recurrence rate. The use of prosthetic mesh to reinforce the cure seems to lead to less recurrence. Unfortunately, this procedure is still controversial in regard of the possible complications that may occur.

Obstetric and neonatal outcome after surgical treatment of cervical dysplasia.

Objectives: Conization is the gold standard today for the management of severe cervical dysplasia. However, with the increasing delay until first pregnancy, obstetric follow-up of patients with a history of conization is a growing concern.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study using data from the electronic database of a university hospital.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: clinicopathological features and long term outcome related to histopathological group.

Background/aims: To investigate the clinicopathological features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and evaluate the prognosis between histopathological groups.

Methodology: Retrospective review of 55 consecutive patients operated between 1991 and 2006, analysis of clinicopathological features and survival.

Results: Group I comprised of 9 mild and 14 moderate dysplasias, group II of 11 carcinomas in situ and group III of 21 invasive cancers.

"Benign" myoclonic epilepsy of infancy as the initial presentation of glucose transporter-1 deficiency.

We report the case of a young boy carrying a de novo missense mutation (c.1199G>T; p.R400L) in the SLC2A1 gene who presented initially with benign myoclonic epilepsy of infancy.

Early NT-proBNP is able to predict spontaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates, but not the need of its treatment.

The objective of this study was to establish the potential utility of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). This was a monocentric prospective blind study that was conducted in a referral neonatal intensive care unit. The patients were very low-birth-weight/gestational-age neonates.

Republished review: Mitral regurgitation in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement.

Mitral regurgitation is a frequent finding in patients with aortic stenosis scheduled for aortic valve replacement. Detection of mitral regurgitation in such patients has important implications, as it can independently affect functional status and prognosis. When mitral regurgitation is moderate to severe, a decision to operate on both valves should only be made following a careful clinical and echocardiographic assessment.

Neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas: how can we apply the 2006 TNM proposal?

Background/aims: In 2006, a TNM system for foregut neuroendocrine tumors has been proposed. Our study aimed to present the management of neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas according to this classification and to highlight some of its limitations.

Methodology: Clinical, biochemical, radiological, surgical and pathological data were retrospectively collected on 22 consecutives patients, who underwent surgery for neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas between November, 1991 and September, 2005.

Thrombophilic factors do not predict outcomes in renal transplant recipients under prophylactic acetylsalicylic acid.

A cohort of recipients of renal transplant after 2000 (N=310) was prospectively screened on the day of transplantation and 1 month later for a panel of 11 thrombophilic factors to assess their effect on posttransplant outcomes. All patients received prophylactic acetylsalicylic acid, started before transplantation. The rate of thromboembolic events or acute rejection episodes during the first posttransplant year (primary composite endpoint) was 16.

Mitral regurgitation in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement.

Mitral regurgitation is a frequent finding in patients with aortic stenosis scheduled for aortic valve replacement. Detection of mitral regurgitation in such patients has important implications, as it can independently affect functional status and prognosis. When mitral regurgitation is moderate to severe, a decision to operate on both valves should only be made following a careful clinical and echocardiographic assessment.

Randomized controlled trial comparing somatostatin with octreotide in the prevention of complications after pancreatectomy.

Background/aims: The postoperative morbidity following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains very high. Somatostatin or octreotide are indicated in the prevention of pancreatic stump-related complications. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of somatostatin and octreotide after PD.

Effects of valve replacement for aortic stenosis on mitral regurgitation.

We aimed to prospectively and quantitatively assess the effects of aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS) on mitral regurgitation (MR) and to examine the determinants of the changes in MR. Fifty-two patients with AS scheduled for AVR were included if holosystolic MR not being considered for replacement or repair was detected. MR was quantified using the proximal isovelocity surface area method before and 8 +/- 4 days after surgery.

Associations of apolipoprotein E gene with ischemic stroke and intracranial atherosclerosis.

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele is associated with elevated cholesterol and risk of atherosclerosis. However, its role in ischemic stroke (IS) remains controversial. We investigated a possible link between IS or the severity of intracranial atherosclerosis and the APOE promoter polymorphisms -219G/T and +113G/C, involved in regulating APOE transcription.

Pancreatic ductal system obstruction and acute recurrent pancreatitis.

Acute recurrent pancreatitis is a clinical entity largely associated with pancreatic ductal obstruction. This latter includes congenital variants, of which pancreas divisum is the most frequent but also controversial, chronic pancreatitis, tumors of the pancreaticobiliary junction and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. This review summarizes current knowledge about diagnostic work-up and therapy of these conditions.

Gene set enrichment analyses revealed several affected pathways in Niemann-pick disease type C fibroblasts.

Niemann-pick type C (NPC) disease is characterized by endosomal and lysosomal accumulation of lipids, impaired tubulovesicular trafficking, and neurodegeneration leading to premature death. Current treatment options are limited to mainly symptomatic treatments. Thus, new and efficient drug targets are needed, and therefore we performed a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) on NPC and healthy fibroblasts to identify globally affected pathways in NPC that could serve as targets for later drug discovery programs.

Travellers to high UV-index countries: sun-exposure behaviour in 7822 French adults.

Background: Travel health information includes warning on sun exposure, particularly for fair-skinned individuals travelling to tropical countries.

Method: A self-completed questionnaire on sun exposure behaviour was sent to the 12,741 French adults enrolled in the SU.VI.

Basic knowledge in psychodermatology.

Background: The authors try to define the framework of this approach, what should be acquired by "well-informed" dermatologists and what is required to be a pyschodermatologist.

Objective: To better define the necessary knowledge to practice psychodermatology.

Results: 1) The first level is dermatology psychology: there is a psychotherapeutical implicit effect of the dermatological consultation with a goal that is not psychological change.

Stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation in sub-saharan Africa.

Stroke is emerging as a leading cause of preventable death and disability in adults in many developing nations. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), stroke mortality and case fatality in some countries exceed those in the developed world. Stroke also occurs at much earlier ages in SSA, resulting in a greater number of years of potential life lost.

Delayed gastric emptying after pancreatoduodenectomy.

With pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) the goal is to reduce long-term morbidities such as gastric dumping, marginal ulceration or bile-reflux gastritis. Compared with te classical Whipple procedure, PPPD is affected by an equal postoperative morbidity but is known to induce delayed gastric emptying (DGE). It is difficult to evaluate the true incidence of DGE after PPPD (from 5 to 50% according to the literature).