[Incidence and risk factors of depression after a first coronary acute syndrome: A prospective study among 110 patients]. / Incidence et facteurs de risque de la dépression post syndrome coronarien aigu : étude prospective auprès de 110 patients.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) depression and to identify predictive factors for the onset of this disorder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicentric study across four cardiology departments, during the period from June to December 2018. A depressive symptom screening was performed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, in-hospital (T0) and on average 42.1±7.9 days after hospital discharge (T1). RESULTS: A total of 110 patients were enrolled with an average age of 57±8.1 years. Sex ratio was 3.78. The incidences of depressive symptomatology at T0 and T1 were respectively 19.1% and 6.2%. Mean and cumulative incidences of depressive symptomatology were respectively 12.7% and 25.5%. According to the univariate analysis, drinking alcohol, overweight and anxiety were associated with the incidence of depressive symptomatology after SCA at T0. In binary logistic regression, drinking alcohol was the independent predictor of the incidence of depression after ACS at T0 with an odds ratio of 4.680 and CI of 95% [1.449; 15,107]; P=0.01. In univariate analysis, drinking alcohol, high risk of hospital mortality, according to the GRACE score, and non performing coronary angiography were statistically associated with the overall incidence of depressive symptomatology. CONCLUSION: Depression screening must be a part of the evaluation of the ACS. A repeated evaluation of depression is also recommended.

[Impact of duration of untreated psychosis on quality of life and cognitive functions]. / Impact de la durée de psychose non traitée sur la qualité de vie et les fonctions cognitives.

OBJECTIVES: The duration of untreated psychosis is defined as the interval between the first psychotic symptoms and the first starting treatment. The duration of untreated psychosis is highly variable but often prolonged and may be influenced by several factors. Some studies suggested that duration of untreated psychosis is associated with poor outcome. The objectives of this study were to assess the duration of untreated psychosis in a Tunisian cohort and its impact on the quality of life and the cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients at 2 years. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional study at Razi Hospital between January 2014 and June 2014 that included patients with Schizophrenia diagnosis as defined in the DSMIV-TR with regular monitoring for at least 2 years. Eligible participants are those who had been hospitalized for the first time, between January 2011 and December 2012 for a first psychotic episode. Data were collected from medical records and by interviewing the patients and their family. Duration of untreated psychosis was determined using the Symptom Onset in Schizophrenia Inventory. The quality of life was assessed by the 'Short Form-36 Health Survey' scale in its Arabic version. All patients were evaluated with 'The Tunisian Cognitive Battery' composed of 7 tests. Patient scores are expressed as 'Z scores', which represents the position of the scores in a term of standard deviation from the mean of healthy subjects established by the authors of the battery. We divided the population into two groups based on the duration of untreated psychosis median. A short duration of untreated psychosis was lower than the median, and a long duration of untreated psychosis was equal to or greater than the median. RESULTS: Our sample involved 42 patients with a mean age of 31.38 years. The average duration of untreated psychosis was 75.38 weeks with a range from 2 to 364 weeks and a median duration of 47.5 weeks. Patients with a short duration of untreated psychosis had a better quality of life with better scores for the majority of the dimensions and a significant difference in the limitations score due to the mental state (P=0.01). For cognitive function, the short duration of untreated psychosis was significantly correlated with a free recall of 'Hopkins Verbal Learning Test'. CONCLUSION: Our study suggest that the average duration of untreated psychosis in Tunisia is comparable to the one reported in the literature and that a short duration of untreated psychosis is correlated with better outcomes in terms of quality of life and verbal learning.

[Place of normovolemic hemodilution in oncologic cervicofacial and ENT surgery]. / Place de l'hémodilution normovolémique dans la chirurgie oncologique cervico-faciale et ORL.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the use of normovolaemic haemodilution in cervico-facial oncologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, simple blinded study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 38 ASA I and II patients were studied: a control group (n = 21) and a haemodilution group (n = 17) in whom 5.5-8 mL.kg-1 blood were withdrawn before induction, replaced by an equivalent amount of colloids. In both groups, the transfusional strategy was to keep the haemoglobin level above 100 g.L-1 throughout the procedure and the recovery phase, using in priority the autologous blood in the haemodilution group. Blood losses during surgery were evaluated by weighing the sponges and by measuring the aspirated blood. RESULTS: Demographic and anaesthetic data, and blood losses were similar. The haemoglobin levels dropped significantly in the haemodilution group (138 +/- 10 g.L-1 to 107 +/- 11 g.L-1) as well as in the control group (131 +/- 11 g.L-1 to 110 +/- 10 g.L-1). Infectious complications were slightly higher in the haemodilution group, although this difference did not reach the level of significance. CONCLUSION: Normovalaemic haemodilution does not seem to be indicated in cervico-facial and ENT oncologic surgery.