Two-dimensional Dirac TiB2C2 as a potential anode material for Li-ion batteries: a first-principles study.

The development and design of anode materials with good stability, high capacity, low diffusion barrier and excellent cyclability is an important challenge for further improvement of the battery industry. In this context, a promising 2D anode material TiB2C2 with Dirac cone states is investigated through the first-principles prediction. We found this material to be thermodynamically, dynamically, and thermally stable, suggesting the possibility of its experimental synthesis. Considering its lightweight, planar structure and Dirac cone features, we systematically investigated the feasibility of the TiB2C2 monolayer as an anode material for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Based on the adsorption energy of lithium on the monolayer surfaces, we determined the sites that can hold lithium ions with high adsorption energy. Moreover, TiB2C2 exhibits good ionic and electronic conductivity, a suitable voltage profile, and high structural stability upon the Li-loading process; it also shows 1.12% change in cell parameters. Importantly, a high storage capacity of up to 1075 mA h g-1 was found. All these criteria conclude the appealing electrochemical performance of the TiB2C2 monolayer as a promising anode material for LIBs.

Enhancement in photocatalytic water splitting using van der Waals heterostructure materials based on penta-layers.

Recently, van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) have been used to improve the performance of 2D materials, enabling more applications. By using first-principles calculations, we have studied the electronic and optical properties of vdWHs composed of penta-siligraphene and other penta-layers (p-Si2C4/p-X; X = Si2N4, ZnO2, Ge2C4 or SiGeC4). The stability of the vdWHs is verified by computing their binding energy, vibrational phonon spectra and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. By assessing the electronic properties, we have found that the p-Si2C4/p-ZnO2, p-Si2C4/p-Ge2C4 and p-Si2C4/p-SiGeC4 vdWHs are semiconductors with an indirect band gap characterized by type-I band alignment. Meanwhile, the p-Si2C4/p-Si2N4 vdWH is a quasi-direct band gap semiconductor characterized by type-II band alignment. Bader charge analysis and charge density of p-Si2C4/p-Si2N4 vdWHs showed that photogenerated electrons move from the p-Si2N4 monolayer to the p-Si2C4 monolayer limiting the recombination of photogenerated charges and improving the photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the p-Si2C4/p-Si2N4 vdWH exhibits suitable band edge positions compared to isolated monolayers suggesting its potential applicability in photocatalytic water splitting. The calculated optical absorption revealed that the p-Si2N4 monolayer exhibits substantial optical absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) range, while the p-Si2C4 monolayer and the p-Si2C4/p-Si2N4 vdWH show outstanding optical absorption on the order of 105 cm-1 in the visible and UV ranges. More importantly, the p-Si2C4/p-Si2N4 vdWH can greatly improve the optical absorption in these regions, which leads to high-efficiency usage of solar energy. Our study provides a route to design new vdWHs based on pentagonal monolayers, as well as an efficient photocatalyst for photocatalytic water splitting and optical devices.

Shape transition and coalescence of Au islands on Ag (110) by molecular dynamics simulation.

We have used molecular dynamics simulations based on many body semi-empirical potentials described by the embedded atom method, to analyze and understand the diffusion and coalescence phenomena of Au-clusters during the heteroepitaxial growth on Ag (110) surface. Temperature ranging from 300 to 700 K were considered. In this study, we examined the heterogeneous system Aun/Ag(110), where n is the number of atoms in each cluster/island (with n = 15, ….35). Our results show that the clusters diffuse on the Ag (110) surface via different diffusion processes, namely, the exchange mechanism and the simple jump, which generate a 2D to 3D transition. Formation and adsorption energies of clusters with different sizes have been computed using static simulations. The dynamic study of coalescence for two islands of system Au15; Au0 - 9/Ag(110) at different temperatures makes it possible to deduce the detail of cluster shape and the influence of its temperature on the stability of the system and its growth during this evolution.

Thymelaea lythroides extract attenuates microglial activation and depressive-like behavior in LPS-induced inflammation in adult male rats.

Thymelaea lythroides extract is widely used as a traditional folk medicine in Morocco, especially for the treatment of diabetes, rheumatism and Inflammatory disease. The aim of the study is to evaluate the possible effect of methanolic extract of Thymelaea lythroides in repressing the inflammatory responses and long-lasting depression-like behavior associated with neuroinflammation in adult rats after neonatal LPS exposure. Male rat pups were treated systemically with either LPS (250??g/kg) or vehicle (phosphate buffer saline) on postnatal day 14. Six hours later, the LPS groups were assigned to intraperitoneal (ip) injection of Minocycline (50?mg/kg) or Thymelaea lythroides (200?mg/kg). Thereafter, in adulthood (postnatal days 90-97), the spontaneous locomotor activity and depression-like behavior were assessed successively in open field and forced swim tests. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative damage, and activation of microglia were determined in the hippocampus (HP) of male rats on (PND90-97). Our results showed that open field hypoactivity and increased immobility period in LPS-induced adult rats were normalized on treatment with Thymelaea lythroides and minocycline. Both treatments attenuate the overactivated microglial cells in the CA1 and CA3 of hippocampus (HP) and significantly reduced the oxidative-nitrosative stress markers and cytokine (TNF ?) production in the HP. Thymelaea lythroides seems to have similar neuroprotective effects to Minocycline, and such protection may be due to: reduction of oxidative stress, upregulation of inflammatory mediators production, antidepressant behavior which all are associated with neuroinflammation.

Postnatal melatonin treatment protects against affective disorders induced by early-life immune stimulation by reducing the microglia cell activation and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation induced by neonatal infection may result as long-term hyper-activation of microglial cells followed by an overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation. Those inflammation mediators can trigger behavioral disruption and/or cognitive disorders. OBJECTIVE: The present work aims to evaluate the effect of melatonin (a cytokine release modulator and antioxidant agent) in the reduction of the prefrontal microglia activation and depressive-like behaviors induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in adult rats. RESULTS: The effect of melatonin (5 mg/kg) was compared to minocycline (50 mg/kg), a well-known anti-inflammatory drug with potent inhibitory effect on microglial activation. Our results showed that LPS injection induced a significant increase in prefrontal cortex tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation and microglial activation were highly increased in the prefrontal cortex compared to control. The melatonin treatment induced a significant decrease on nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation levels in the prefrontal cortex and significant decrease on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and microglia activation. Melatonin can also induce a significant reduction in the anxiety and depression-like effect induced by PND9 LPS administration. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that melatonin possesses potent protective effect against the depression and anxiety induced by LPS. The underlying effect of melatonin is probably due to the reduction of nitric oxide toxic effect and lipid peroxidation in addition to its anti-inflammatory effect.

Thermodynamic and structural properties of binary calcium silicate glasses: insights from molecular dynamics.

We study calcium silicate glass of composition (CaO)X(SiO2)(1-X), where X = 40-70 mol%, by means of molecular dynamics for different cooling rates between 1011-1013 K s-1. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of calcium silicate materials are determined, discussed, and correlated to local structures at short and intermediate range orders and to the potential energies of the oxygen atoms. We show that the amount of non-bridging oxygens and the appearance of free oxygens are related to the increase of the glass transition temperature for an increasing CaO content. Our results are analyzed and discussed in connection with the available experimental data.

[Disseminated cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient]. / Cryptococcose disséminée chez un patient immunocompétent.

Disseminated cryptococcosis is a serious opportunistic fungal infection caused by a yeast-encapsulated fungus of the genus Cryptococcus neoformans. It occurs most often in patients with a significant deficit of cellular immunity and preferentially affects the central nervous system. The skin and the lungs are the most commonly affected sites outside the neuro-subarachnoid location. We report the case of a patient apparently immunocompetent who had a disseminated cryptococcosis. The disease started with the multiple purplish skin lesions, large umbilicated on the face, groin, forearm and leg with progressively increasing volume. This symptomatology had evolved in the context of weight loss and poor general condition. The diagnosis was established by the presence of cryptococcal at the skin biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid. Research of immunosuppression common pathologies were negative. Treatment was initiated based on amphotericin B for 40 days. The patient's condition deteriorates onset of paraplegia and swallowing disorders causing death in an array of cachexia. This observation points out that disseminated cryptococcosis can occur in an immunocompetent patient. The skin lesions may be the first sign of the disease.

The GRIM2005 study of migraine consultation in France. III: Psychological features of subjects with migraine.

The objective of this analysis was to describe psychological and cognitive variables in subjects with migraine and to identify those associated with chronicity. Data were collected from 10 000 subjects during face-to-face interview. Subjects with episodic migraine (n = 1127) or chronic daily headache (n = 407) with migrainous features were identified using an algorithm based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn classification. Data on headache impact was obtained with the Headache Impact Test-6, on psychological distress with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, on coping with the Coping Strategy Questionnaire catastrophizing score and the Brief COPE inventory, on illness perception with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and on locus of control. Psychological variables associated with chronicity include perceived headache impact, psychological distress, the use of catastrophizing and avoidance coping strategies and an externalized locus of control. In conclusion, maladaptive coping strategies should be taken into account in the management of patients with migraine. Longitudinal studies will be necessary to address the causality of the relationship observed.

Dispensing of antibiotics, antitussives and mucolytics to asthma patients: a pharmacy-based observational survey.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics, antitussives and mucolytics are commonly used in asthma, despite limited evidence for their effectiveness. The correlates of use for these medication classes in asthma were identified. METHODS: Asthma patients aged 18-50 who were regular customers of pharmacies were included in an observational study. Patients completed a questionnaire, which was complemented by computerised pharmacy records of previously dispensed medications. Users of each drug class were compared to non-users in terms of demographics, asthma characteristics and management. RESULTS: Among 886 patients (mean age: 37; 55% females), 63.2%, 55.8% and 27.2%, respectively, were users of antibiotics, mucolytics and antitussives during the previous 12 months. In multivariate analysis, dispensing of >2 units of oral corticosteroids was the major correlate of receiving antibiotics (OR=5.47; 95% CI=[3.00-9.97]), mucolytics (OR=3.93; 95% CI=[2.38-6.50]) and antitussives (OR=1.86; 95% CI=[1.18-2.94]). Compared to well-controlled patients, the probability of receiving antibiotics was significantly higher for poorly controlled patients (OR=2.01; 95% CI=[1.28-3.15]). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that these drugs are mainly used during asthma exacerbations. A better understanding of the use of co-medication in asthma is required.

The GRIM2005 study of migraine consultation in France II. Psychological factors associated with treatment response to acute headache therapy and satisfaction in migraine.

The objective of this analysis was to identify variables associated with treatment response in subjects with migraine. Data were collected from a sample of 10,000 subjects. A battery of questionnaires assessing clinical and psychological variables was completed. Migraine diagnosis was attributed using an algorithm based on the IHS criteria and treatment response using the ANAES criteria. We identified 1534 subjects, of whom 1443 were treated. For 54.2%, at least one ANAES criterion for treatment response was unfulfilled. Non-response was associated with female gender, high HIT-6 impact scores and high HAD psychological distress scores. The strongest associations with non-response were identified for four psychological variables: elevated scores on the CSQ catastrophization subscale and the 'Consequences' and 'Acceptance' dimensions of the Brief COPE, and low scores on the 'Positive Reinterpretation' Brief COPE dimension. In conclusion, many individuals with migraine respond inadequately to treatment. Behavioural interventions aimed at modifying coping strategies may improve outcome.

Epidemiology of orofacial herpes simplex virus infections in the general population in France: results of the HERPIMAX study.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of clinically manifest orofacial herpes in the general population is poorly characterized. Objectives To establish the lifetime prevalence of clinically manifest orofacial herpes and its relationship with herpes simplex virus (HSV) serotype in the French general population. PATIENTS/METHODS: Subjects (N = 2796) were serotyped for HSV1 and HSV2 and provided data on herpetic symptoms by questionnaire. Subjects reporting at least one episode of orobuccal ulcerative mucosal lesions were classified as clinically manifest orofacial herpes. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of clinically manifest orofacial herpes was 38.3% (42.1% in women, 32.4% in men). Prevalence in subjects seropositive for HSV1 was 50.3%. This prevalence rate was independent of HSV2 serotype. Prevalence in subjects infected with HSV2 alone was similar to that in subjects seronegative for HSV. LIMITATIONS: Lack of case ascertainment limits precision of the data. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically manifest orofacial herpes was reported in one third of the sample, principally associated with HSV1 infection. HSV2 infection did not produce orofacial lesions nor influence clinical manifestations of HSV1 infection.

The GRIM2005 study of migraine consultation in France I. Determinants of consultation for migraine headache in France.

The aim of this study was to evaluate determinants of consultation for migraine in a representative sample of the French general adult population. We interviewed 10,032 subjects, of whom 1534 fulfilled the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria for migraine. These were categorized into migraine, probable migraine and chronic migraine. Information was collected on consultation experience; 436 subjects (28.4%) had never consulted for headache, 473 (30.8%) were in active consultation and 625 (40.7%) had previously consulted but lapsed. Subjects with chronic migraine showed the highest active consultation rates (51.8%). All subjects completed rating instruments for headache [Headache Impact Test (HIT)-6], psychiatric (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scale) and psychological [Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Brief COPE Inventory and Coping Strategy Questionnaire] variables. The strongest determinants of active consultation were BIPQ scores, HIT-6 scores and migraine type. Consultation was associated with maladaptive coping strategies (social support, emotional expression and acceptance). Determinants of remaining in consultation were catastrophizing coping scores and previous consultation experience.

[Prevalence of smoking cessation during pregnancy according to trimester]. / Taux de sevrage tabagique chez la femme enceinte en fonction des trimestres.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the smoking cessation period during pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Questionnaire-based, descriptive study of 979 pregnant women in four regions of France. The variables analysed included the characteristics of the mother and neonate at delivery, the smoking habits of the mother before and during pregnancy, the perception of risk linked to smoking, and the reasons for giving up smoking. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of women smoked until delivery. Forty-five percent of women gave up smoking during pregnancy, usually in the first trimester. More precisely, about one woman who smoked out of 50 gives up in order to prepare pregnancy. The proportion of women who stop smoking in each of the three trimesters of pregnancy is 84,1, 8,8 and 7,1% respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Most women appear to stop smoking before any intervention therapy is possible. The first contact with a midwife or an obstetrician takes place whereas smoking cessation is already successful.

A prospective study of the evolution of lamivudine resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with lamivudine.

Lamivudine resistance has been described in subjects with chronic hepatitis B infections, associated with mutations in the viral polymerase gene. The objective of this study was to estimate the emergence rate of lamivudine-resistant viral strains and their consequences over a 2-year period. We evaluated 283 lamivudine-naïve subjects with chronic hepatitis B. Clinical and virological features were assessed at inclusion and every 6 months thereafter. Viral DNA was characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sequencing. Potential risk factors for the emergence of lamivudine resistance mutations were assessed using logistic regression analysis. The annualized incidence rate for viral polymerase mutations was 22%. The only independent risk factor identified was high viral load, at inclusion. Detectable viral DNA and elevated transaminases were more frequent in subjects harbouring mutant viral strains, and these underwent a lower rate of hepatitis B e seroconversion. All subjects responded favourably to treatment, with no difference in symptoms between the two groups. This prospective cohort study identified lamivudine-resistant mutations emerging in 22% of subjects, yearly, which were apparently not associated with clinical aggravation over the study period.

[Migraine in general practice. A French multicenter study]. / Prise en charge de la migraine en médecine générale. Une étude multi-centrique française.

INTRODUCTION: A national survey has been conducted with 349 general practitioners in order to analyze the management of concerned episodic headache in general practice. METHOD: This survey enabled collection of data from 2537 headache patients. The main data concered IHS diagnosis, severity of headache using the MIGSEV scale, management, practices and the impact on daily living (QVM and HIT-6 scales). RESULTS: Out of the 2537 included patients, 52 percent were migraine sufferers according to IHS criteria (code 1.1/1.2), 34 percent presented with migrainous disorders (code 1.7), and 14 percent were non-migraine headache patients. The distribution of management practices showed that 71 percent of them were given non-specific treatments, 46 percent of them specific treatments and 27 percent of them prophylactic treatments. Analysis of the impact of headache using the QVM or the HIT-6 demonstrated a relationship between diagnosis, migraine severity and disability. Analysis of the correlation between the severity of the last migraine attack as evaluated by the patient and that estimated by the doctor showed that the practitioner tended to underestimate the patient's pain. These results highlight the importance of communication between practitioners and migraine sufferers. CONCLUSION: Training of general practitioners in the use of simple tools such as the HIT-6 scale, should be helpful for a better evaluation of the impact of headache on daily living, and hence should lead to more optimal therapeutic management of headache patients.

Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic study of 3,5-dithio-2,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]-triazepine: qualitative analysis of tautomeric behaviour.

Room temperature UV-vis absorption spectra of the tautomeric system 3,5-dithio-2,7-dimethyl-[1,2,4]-triazepine in solution, in acetonitrile (CH3CN), are measured at different water volume percentages. The comparison of the obtained measures to the calculated allowed absorption transitions, using ZINDO/S package, reveals the coexistence of all the tautomeric forms in aprotic polar solution with a high dominance of the dithione form. The solute-water hydrogen bond, which seems to be of 1:n-type, favours the dithiol and monothiol conformers to the detriment of the dithione one. Further experimental investigations lead to the result that standing at ambient Laboratory conditions in the dark favours the dithione tautomeric isomer, while standing at indirect sunlight shifts the tautomeric equilibrium away from this species.

Epidemiology of restless legs syndrome in French adults: a nationwide survey: the INSTANT Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in France. METHODS: In this population-based survey, face-to-face home interviews were conducted among a random sample of 10,263 French adults. A French translation of the four features defined by the International RLS Study Group in 1995 was used to assess the prevalence of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of RLS. Data on severity of symptoms and their management were also collected. RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of RLS symptoms in the French adult population was estimated to be 8.5% (95% CI 8.0%, 9.0%), with a higher prevalence (p < 0.001) observed in women (10.8%) than in men (5.8%). Prevalence increases with age until 64 years and decreases thereafter in both sexes. Half of the identified subjects reported symptoms once a week at least. Symptoms were more severe in subjects reporting symptoms once a week at least compared to subjects with less frequent symptoms. In this group, half of the subjects reported a family history, the age at onset was earlier, and severity of symptoms higher. RLS had been previously diagnosed in only 5.3% of the subjects who reported previous medical diagnosis, and recommended RLS drug treatment was received by 3.4% of the 28.7% currently treated subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) occurred in 10% of women and 5% of men. RLS prevalence decreases after the age of 64. RLS is often underdiagnosed and few subjects receive recommended RLS drug treatment.

Characteristics of intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis: DREAMS study group.

BACKGROUND: In the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification, intermittent and persistent rhinitis were proposed to replace seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (AR). AIM: To better understand the ARIA classification of rhinitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 591 patients consulting ENT or allergy specialists for AR and 502 control subjects. The diagnosis of AR was based on a score for allergic rhinitis (SFAR) > or =7. Patients were classified according to the four ARIA classes (mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate/severe intermittent and moderate/severe persistent). Allergen sensitization (skin prick tests (SPTs) or specific IgE) and co-morbidities were examined according to the ARIA classes. RESULTS: Ten percent of patients had mild intermittent rhinitis, 14% mild persistent rhinitis, 17% moderate/severe intermittent rhinitis and 59% moderate/severe persistent rhinitis. Most patients with intermittent rhinitis had a pollen sensitivity, but 5% had a single house dust mite (HDM) sensitization. Over 50% of patients with persistent rhinitis were allergic to pollens or HDM. Asthma was present in 24% of rhinitis patients and in only 2% of the control population (P<0.0001). Patients with moderate/severe persistent rhinitis had the highest asthma prevalence (33%). DISCUSSION: Intermittent and persistent rhinitis are not synonymous of seasonal and perennial rhinitis. Most patients consulting specialists have severe rhinitis. Asthma prevalence increases with duration and severity of rhinitis supporting the ARIA major recommendation that patients with persistent rhinitis should be evaluated for asthma.

[Psychotropic drug use and mental psychiatric disorders in France; results of the general population ESEMeD/MHEDEA 2000 epidemiological study]. / Usage des psychotropes et troubles psychiatriques en France: résultats de l'étude épidémiologique ESEMeD/MHEDEA 2000/ (ESEMeD) en population générale.

INTRODUCTION: The use of psychotropic drugs is high in France and has increased over the last two decades. To date, no national study evaluating psychotropic drug use in the context of the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders has been performed. Such data has now been generated in the ESEMeD/MHEDEA 2000 study, which has allowed comparison of the situation in France with that in five other European countries (Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy). OBJECTIVES: 1) To describe the declared use of psychotropic drugs (globally and by therapeutic class) in order to evaluate annual prevalence, treatment duration and demographic factors associated with use. 2) To estimate the proportion of subjects with an anxiety disorder, mood disorder or alcohol-related disorder (abuse or dependence) that have been appropriately treated with an antidepressant or anxiolytic drug. 3) to evaluate the proportion of psychotropic drug users who fulfil diagnostic criteria for these three classes of psychiatric disorder. METHODS: This was a transversal survey carried out between 2001 and 2003 of non-institutionalised subjects aged 18 or over in the general population of Germany (n = 3,555), Belgium (n = 2,419), Spain (n = 5,473), France (n = 2,894), the Netherlands (n = 2,372) and Italy (n = 4,712). In France, the sampling source used was a randomly generated list of telephone numbers. Subjects were interviewed at home by professional interviewers. The WMH-CIDI questionnaire was used. RESULTS: In France, 21% of subjects interviewed (n = 580) had taken at least one psychotropic drug during the year. For 19%, this was an anxiolytic or hypnotic (AX-HY), for 6.0% an antidepressant (AD), for 0.8% an antipsychotic (AP) and for 0.4% a mood regulating drug (TY). The distribution of users of AX-HY according to treatment duration was the following: 44% (1 to 15 days), 13% (16 to 30 days), 14% (1 to 3 months), 6.7% (3 to 6 months) and 23% (> 6 months). For users of ADs, the distribution was: 21% (1 to 15 days), 7.8% (16 to 30 days), 18% (1 to 3 months), 12% (3 to 6 months) and 42% (> 6 months). For subjects fulfilling diagnostic criteria for a mood disorder in the previous year or over their lifetime, 43% and 29% respectively had taken an AX-HY in the last twelve months and 29% and 16% an AD. For those who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder in the previous year or over their lifetime, the use of an AX-HY, in the last twelve months, concerned 43% and 30% of subjects respectively, whilst that of AD concerned 16% and 14%. For previous year or lifetime alcohol-related disorders, AX-HY use, in the last twelve months, concerned 63% and 22% of subjects respectively and use of ADs 9.3% and 7.2%. Amongst users of AX-HY in the last twelve months, a previous year or lifetime diagnosis of mood disorders was made for 16% and 39% of subjects respectively. Amongst users of ADs, the respective prevalence was 31% and 64%. A twelve-month and lifetime diagnosis of anxiety disorders was identified in 22% and 37% of users of AX-HY and among 27% and 50% of users of AD respectively. A twelve-month and lifetime diagnosis of alcohol-related disorders was found in 2.5% and 6.6% of users of AX-HY and among 1.1% and 7.8% of users of AD respectively. 68% of users of AX-HY had fulfilled none of these diagnostic criteria in the previous 12 months and 46% had never fulfilled them in their lifetime. With respect to AD users, the proportion who did not meet these diagnostic criteria in the previous 12 months was 56%, compared to 20% over their lifetime. Comparison of the French data from the study with those of the entire European sample showed that the annual prevalence of AX-HY and AD use was higher in France with mean treatment durations that were shorter. For antipsychotics and mood regulators, no clear differences were observed between France and the six countries of the study taken together. DISCUSSION: Over the last two decades, use of AX-HY seems to have decreased in France, even though it remains higher than that observed in the other European countries participating in this study. This high use can be explained in part by the observation that, in around half the cases, it corresponds to occasional use. In contrast, the use of antidepressants has increased. In subjects with recent mood disorders or anxiety disorders, the use of AX-HY remains higher than that of antidepressants. Finally among users of AX-HY, only half of them had presented a mood disorder, anxiety disorder or alcohol use disorder during their lifetime, whereas this proportion rose to 80% for users of antidepressants.

Incidence of herpes simplex virus keratitis in France.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of herpes simplex keratitis in France. DESIGN: National multicenter prospective study on herpetic keratitis. PARTICIPANTS: During a 3-month study period (September-December 2002), all cases of herpes simplex keratitis were prospectively reported by a randomly selected sample of 412 ophthalmologists representative of the 5471 French ophthalmologists in terms of gender, geographic distribution, and clinical practice. METHODS: The following set of assumptions were made to calculate the incidence of herpectic keratitis: (1) the participating (self-selected) ophthalmologists in the study could adequately represent French ophthalmologists, (2) estimates based on the 3-month study period could be used to calculate the annual incidence (i.e., no significant seasonal variations), and (3) all patients suffering from herpetic corneal lesions consult or are referred to an ophthalmologist. We calculated the incidence of herpetic keratitis by (1) estimating the average number of incident cases per ophthalmologist per year, (2) multiplying the average number of incident cases by the total number of French ophthalmologists (n = 5471), and (3) dividing the result by the French population. RESULTS: Four hundred twelve ophthalmologists reported 357 cases of herpes keratitis. We estimated that the overall incidence of herpetic keratitis during the study period was 31.5 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.5-37.5), and incidences were 13.2 per 100,000 person-years for new cases (95% CI, 10.4-15.9) and 18.3 per 100,000 person-years for recurrences (95% CI, 14.6-22.1). The most frequent types were dendritic keratitis (56.3%, n = 153), stromal keratitis (29.5%, n = 81), and geographic keratitis (9.8%, n = 27). Other ocular lesions were associated with keratitis in 35.0% (n = 125) of cases; the most frequent were conjunctivitis (18.8%, n = 67), uveitis (11.8%, n = 42), and/or lid involvement (8.6%, n = 31). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective epidemiological study provides an estimate of the incidence of herpes keratitis in France. Herpetic keratitis remains an epidemiologically important eye disease that justifies the need to pursue health care and research programs aimed at improving the outcome of ocular herpetic disease.