[Postoperative quality of life of patients with a bacterial necrotizing dermis-hypodermitis or necrotizing fasciitis, a ten-year study]. / Qualité de vie des patients opérés d'une dermo-hypodermite ou fasciite nécrosante, une étude sur 10ans.

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial necrotizing dermis-hypodermitis and necrotizing fasciitis (BNDH-NF) are serious life-threatening soft-tissue infections. The object is to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients who have been operated in our plastic surgery departement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of cases who have been treated at Nancy University Hospital between 2005 and 2014. We analyzed the perioperative data (demographic, clinical, bacteriological), the surgical data (excision, reconstruction) and the follow up data (consequences, mortality). The quality of life was assessed by the Short-Form 36 score, and the patients' satisfaction was assessed by a four-level scale. RESULTS: We analyzed 23 patients with an average age of 60 years (28-84 years). The main comorbidities were diabetes (43 %) and obesity (39 %). The average number of surgical excision was about 1.9 (1-5) and the average excised body surface area was about 5 % (1-16 %). The short-term mortality was about 17 %. The mortality rate has been statistically correlated with the surgically excised body surface area (short-term 95 days: P=0.02; and long-term: P=0.003). The statistical analysis has shown a strong relative linear relationship between number of surgical excision and the physical score of QOL (P<0.001), between number of surgical excision and mental score of QOL (P=0.032), and between age and physical score of QOL (P≤0.021). The statistical analysis has also shown a strong relative linear relationship between E. coli infections and physical score of QOL (P=0.01). The percentage of patients' satisfaction in our study was evaluated at 86 %. CONCLUSION: We have found that multiple surgical excisions, an advanced age of patients and E. coli infections have been associated with poor QOL. The mortality rate increased in relation with the importance of excised body surface. In spite of the gravity of these infections, our patients were satisfied of their treatment.

Patients' preferences and health utility assessment with SF-6D and EQ-5D in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with sofosbuvir regimens.

BACKGROUND: Health utilities measure patients' preferences for a health state. AIM: To assess health utilities for sofosbuvir-containing therapy for chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: The SF-6D utility scores were derived from the SF-36 instrument administered at baseline, during and post-treatment to participants of the previously reported clinical trials of sofosbuvir. EQ-5D utility scores were also approximated from the SF-36 using a regression model. RESULTS: Nine hundred and ninety-four patients were enrolled. Baseline SF-6D and EQ-5D scores were 0.66 ± 0.13 and 0.71 ± 0.22, respectively (the POSITRON trial), 0.71 ± 0.16 and 0.76 ± 0.23 (FISSION), 0.70 ± 0.14 and 0.75 ± 0.22 (FUSION), 0.72 ± 0.15 and 0.79 ± 0.22 (NEUTRINO). In all studies, SF-6D and EQ-5D scores were highly correlated with each other. (r = 0.83-0.87, P < 0.0001). After 12 weeks, patients receiving sofosbuvir + ribavirin (POSITRON) had similar utility scores to placebo (P > 0.05). Patients receiving 12 and 16 weeks of sofosbuvir + ribavirin (FUSION) had similar utility scores (P > 0.05). In FISSION, patients receiving sofosbuvir + ribavirin had significantly better utilities compared to patients receiving interferon + ribavirin (P < 0.001). Patients receiving sofosbuvir + ribavirin + interferon (NEUTRINO) had a decrease in utilities during treatment (SF-6D: from 0.72 to 0.62, EQ-5D: 0.79 to 0.65; P < 0.0001) similar to that observed in patients receiving pegylated interferon + ribavirin for 24 weeks in FISSION (0.72 to 0.62 and 0.77 to 0.65, respectively, P < 0.0001). After 12 weeks post-treatment, patients with SVR (FUSION) had improvement in SF-6D (+0.026 from baseline, P = 0.013) and EQ-5D (+0.043, P = 0.013). In multivariate analyses, baseline depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia and treatment-related anaemia were the most consistent predictors of utilities. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' health utilities are minimally impacted by sofosbuvir + ribavirin treatment, as compared to interferon-based, therapy regardless of treatment duration. Clinical trials' numbers: NCT01542788 (POSITRON), NCT01497366 (FISSION), NCT01604850 (FUSION), NCT01641640 (NEUTRINO).

[Prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use in patients attending a methadone center. Evaluation by urinary biomarkers]. / Prévalence de la consommation de cannabis et de tabac chez les patients d'un centre méthadone. Evaluation par dosages urinaires.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use in a population attending a Methadone Center. METHODS: We studied 49 patients over a 3-month period. Urine samples were obtained at three different times from each patient for analysis. We measured urinary cannabinoids using an immunopolarization assay to identify cannabinoid use. Cotinine concentrations were quantified in urine using a colorimetric assay to assess total urinary nicotine metabolites. RESULTS: The prevalence of cannabis use was high in this population. Urinary cannabinoids were present in 63% of the samples. Similarly 90% had high-urinary cotinine concentrations. CONCLUSION: Measurement of urinary biomarkers showed that tobacco and cannabis use was high among patients attending a Methadone Center.

[A rare cause of upper digestive tract hemorrhage: an esophageal fistula in mediastinal tuberculous adenopathy]. / Une cause rare d'hémorragie digestive haute: la fistule oesophagienne d'une adénopathie médiastinale tuberculeuse.

We report a case of esophageal fistula of a tubercular mediastinal adenopathy revealed by melena and which was diagnosed partly by means of endoscopy and partly by scanning after carrying out endoscopic fistulography. Endoscopic ultrasound, which was carried out as a complementary examination, confirmed this diagnosis.

Determination of beta-endorphin in alcoholic patients in the acute stage of intoxication: relation with naloxone therapy.

beta-Endorphin was measured in the plasma of control subjects and 12 chronic alcoholics in the acute stage of ethanol intoxication. Naloxone was administered and the level of beta-endorphin was compared before and after treatment. The increased level of beta-endorphin in the intoxicated subjects supports the presence of ethanol interactions with the opioid system, since pituitary secretion does not seem to be involved. Furthermore, the coexistence of high levels of beta-endorphin and an effective naloxone response suggest a possible link between the two.