Severe morel mushroom poisonings in France - a nationwide French poison centres study 2010-2020.

INTRODUCTION: In 2023, two fatalities attributed to the ingestion of uncooked morels (Morchella spp.) were reported in the United States; both patients developed severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Morel-induced gastrointestinal toxicity is well recognized, but no deaths had been reported until 2023, suggesting a potential shift in the severity of morel poisoning. METHODS: Using the Poisoning Severity Score, we analyzed the severity of symptomatic cases of morel ingestion recorded in the French National Database of Poisonings from 2010 to 2020. RESULTS: We found 446 cases of exposure in which morels were the sole mushroom species involved. Of these, 83.6 per cent and 53.3 per cent developed gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, respectively. Eight patients developed shock attributed to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, resulting in two deaths. DISCUSSION: Morel ingestion can lead to severe complications. As in the United States, the deaths reported in this study were attributed to imported cultivated morels. The shift, since 2006, towards a predominance of cultivated over wild morel sales may have played a role in the reporting of severe cases of morel poisoning. CONCLUSIONS: Reports of severe morel poisoning highlight the need for cautious consumption, particularly of raw or undercooked preparations. Emerging complications signal potential changes in toxicity. Surveillance and awareness are key to reducing the risks of consuming morels.

Short message service as a tool for mass follow-up of patients requesting a poison centre: a retrospective comparative study in France.

INTRODUCTION: The short message service is an alternative to telephone follow-up of exposure cases reported to poison centres. The aim of this study was to compare the proportion of exposure cases successfully followed up and the respective cost of telephone and short message service follow-up between two poison centres, one using both methods of follow-up (Paris centre) and the other using telephone follow-up only (Nancy centre). METHODS: In 2021, we included cases eligible for short message service follow-up at both centres. Eligibility criteria were calls from the public reporting non-toxic or minor toxic exposure not requiring medical consultation. We collected the follow-up type (telephone/short message service) and outcome (success/failure). The cost of each type of follow-up was estimated. RESULTS: In 2021, 16,867 and 11,107 exposure cases were eligible for short message service follow-up at the Paris and Nancy centres, respectively. The Paris centre followed up 86.2 per cent of cases by short message service, and the remainder by telephone, while the Nancy centre followed up all cases by telephone. The Paris centre had a greater follow-up rate compared to the Nancy centre (93.0 per cent versus 43.6 per cent; P < 0.0001). Overall, the success rates were similar between the two centres (P = 0.06), with short message service and telephone follow-up showing comparable success rates (88.1 per cent versus 88.7 per cent; P = 0.25). On average, telephone follow-up took almost twice as long (1.51 min versus 0.85 min) and cost 1.3 times more (0.59 euros versus 0.45 euros) than short message service follow-up. DISCUSSION: Short message service follow-up allows more patients to be successfully followed up at a lower cost compared to telephone-only follow-up, albeit with potential differences in information quality. CONCLUSIONS: Short message service follow-up is a promising tool for poison centres to follow up with patients. Further studies are needed to assess the quality of the data collected and caller satisfaction.

Poison control centres and alternative forms of communication: comparison of response rates between text message and telephone follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the number of patients managed by poison control centres (PCCs) has increased without a proportional increase in the number of physicians. To improve efficiency without neglecting patient follow-up, some PCCs have begun using text messages. We evaluated the difference in response rates between text messaging and traditional telephone follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, monocentric, non-randomised cohort study was conducted using data from calls made by the New Aquitaine PCC between February 27, 2019, and March 31, 2019. Patients were contacted up to three times by a phone call or short message service (SMS). RESULTS: For the analysis, 823 patients were included. At the end of follow-up, the response rates were similar in the phone call and SMS group (94 vs. 94%; p = 0.76) with median [interquartile range] response times of 0 min [0; 27 min] and 29 min [6; 120 min], respectively. The response rates did not differ in subgroups stratified according to sex, self-poisoning vs. relative response, age class, and solicitation during working hours vs. outside of working hours (all p > 0.5). Moreover, health practitioners required 2.4-fold more time to call than to send text messages (p < 0.001), and all practitioners were satisfied or very satisfied with text messaging implementation. CONCLUSION: Patients had good adherence to text messages. Text messages are easy to use, rapid, and allow the physician to easily prioritise follow-up without occupying the emergency line. Additionally, the costs of installation and maintenance are low for text message systems; these low costs facilitate the implementation of such services in various medical situations.

Exposure to immediate-release tramadol in children 6 years and under - a nationwide French poison control center study.

INTRODUCTION: Data regarding immediate-release (IR)-tramadol exposures in children remain sparse. We aimed to investigate the incidence of IR-tramadol exposures in ≤6-year-old children, to describe the characteristics and resulting outcome of ingestions involving IR-tramadol alone, and to estimate a clinically relevant toxic dose in this population. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of IR-tramadol exposures in ≤6-year-old children, collected by the French Poison Control Centers (PCCs) in 2003-2019. The incidence was estimated using IR-tramadol prescription data from the Health Improvement Network database (the French version of THIN). The Poison severity score (PSS) was used to grade severity. RESULTS: We found 1260 IR-tramadol exposures in ≤6-year-old children. The number of cases per 100,000 IR-tramadol-treated patients increased over time (p < .0001). One hundred forty-five cases involving IR-tramadol alone were analyzed. The median age was 3.0 years (IQR: 1.9, 4.0), the M/F ratio was 1.5 and the median dose was 5.0 mg/kg (IQR 3.3-11.1). Half of the children (49.7%) remained asymptomatic (PSS0) while 29.6% and 14.5% developed minor (PSS1) or moderate-to-severe (PSS2-PSS3) neurological symptoms, respectively. Twelve children developed respiratory depression. No seizures and no fatality were reported. All symptomatic children recovered within 24 h. The ingested IR-tramadol dose was positively correlated with the PSS (p < .0001). Using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve approach (area under the curve, 0.92; p < .001), ingestion of ≥7.4 mg/kg IR-tramadol was appropriate to recommend hospital referral (sensitivity, 100% [95% confidence interval (CI), 85-100]; specificity, 73% [95% CI, 64-80]; predictive positive value, 39% [95% CI, 35-57]; negative predictive value, 100% [95% CI, 96-100]). Children who ingested <7.4 mg/kg IR-tramadol developed no (n = 68) or minor (n = 22) neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasing tramadol prescriptions in adults during the study period in France, oral exposure to IR-tramadol in ≤6-year-old children was rare but possibly responsible for severe toxicity. Children with no underlying disease and concomitant medication ingesting <7.4 mg/kg IR-tramadol alone could be observed at home. However, given the observed variability in the onset of seizures after tramadol ingestion, which can occur at ingested tramadol doses below 7.4 mg and even at therapeutic doses, parents or guardians should be specifically warned about the risk of seizures.

Bowel obstruction following ingestion of superabsorbent polymers beads: literature review.

RATIONALE: Superabsorbent polymers are marketed as toys, and cases of ingestion in children are increasingly reported. Even if these cases are usually considered benign, bowel obstruction has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the exposure characteristics, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of patients who developed bowel obstruction following ingestion of superabsorbent polymer-made products. METHODS: Databases were searched (no start date - 2020/01/31) using the following keywords: ("superabsorbent" OR "polymer" OR "hydrogel" OR "crystal" OR "jelly" OR "Orbeez" OR "beads") AND ("ingestion" OR "obstruction" OR "perforation") AND ("intestinal" OR "bowel"). All cases of bowel obstruction following superabsorbent polymer-made product ingestion were included. RESULTS: Report selection: We found 25 reports reporting 43 cases of bowel obstruction following superabsorbent polymer-made product ingestion. All the reports were retrospective, including 20 case reports and 4 case series. Patient characteristics and clinical presentation: Age ranged from 6 to 36 months, and the female/male sex ratio was 1.3. The median delay between the ingestion of the product and the onset of the first symptoms (available in only four reports) was 1.0 [0.7;1.8] day (from 15 h to 2 days). The median delay between the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms and hospital admission, available for all but 15 patients, was 3 [2;4] days (from 15 h to 30 days). The reported symptoms were persistent vomiting in all cases, associated with constipation (11/43), diarrhea (1/43), abdominal pain (1/43), and clinically assessed dehydration (14/43). Abdominal palpation found abdominal tenderness or distension in 11/43 and 28/43 patients, respectively. An abdominal mass was palpated in 3/43 patients. Two patients presented with fever, and three patients developed seizures. Characteristics of exposure: Ingestion of superabsorbent polymer-made products was reported by relatives on hospital admission in only 10/43 cases. Based on imaging and/or surgically/endoscopically removed products, all were bead-shaped objects. The median number of beads removed (available in 27/43) was 1 [1-2] (range from 1 to 6). Their median diameter (available in 21/43 patients) at the time of the diagnosis of bowel obstruction - i.e., at hydrated state - was 30 [30;36] mm (range from 25 to 65 mm). Imaging findings: Abdominal radiography, performed in 31/43 patients, never showed evidence of foreign body ingestion Abdominal computed tomography scanning, performed in 10/43 patients, visualized an intraluminal mass in 5/10 cases. Abdominal ultrasound performed in 34/43 patients allowed visualization of a rounded intraluminal image that corresponded to a bead in 28/34 patients but led to a correct diagnosis of foreign body-induced bowel obstruction in only 15/34 cases. One case reported the contributory use of abdominal MRI. Beads were always located in the small bowel (from the duodenum to the terminal ileum). Removal of beads: Bead removal required endoscopy in 2/43 cases and surgery in 41/43 cases (enterotomy or resection in 36/43 and 5/43 cases, respectively). In 3/36 cases, additional enterotomy was performed to remove beads that had not been found during the first surgery. The delay between the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms and removal procedures ranged from 1 to 7 days. Outcome: Except for two fatal cases, the outcome was favorable. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of superabsorbent polymer-made beads can be responsible for fatal bowel obstruction in children related to the increase in bead size within the intestinal tract. Diagnosis is made difficult by the radiolucent properties of the beads. The management of bowel obstruction probably most often requires endoscopic or surgical procedures. Children under 4 years of age are probably the most at risk of developing bowel obstruction.

Development of a Questionnaire for the Search for Occupational Causes in Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: The RHELYPRO Study.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are possibly related to environmental and/or occupational exposure. The primary objective of this study was to develop a questionnaire for screening patients with these blood disorders who might benefit from a specialized consultation for possible recognition of the disease as an occupational disease. The study included 205 subjects (male gender, 67.3%; mean age, 60 years; NHL, 78.5%). The questionnaire performed very satisfactorily in identifying the exposures most frequently retained by experts for their potential involvement in the occurrence of NHL. Its sensitivity and specificity in relation to the final expertise were 96% and 96% for trichloroethylene, 85% and 82% for benzene, 78% and 87% for solvents other than trichloroethylene and dichloromethane, 87% and 95% for pesticides, respectively. Overall, 15% of the subjects were invited to ask National Social Insurance for compensation as occupational disease. These declarations concerned exposure to pesticides (64%), solvents (trichloroethylene: 29%; benzene: 18%; other than chlorinated solvents: 18%) and sometimes multiple exposures. In conclusion, this questionnaire appears as a useful tool to identify NHL patients for a specialized consultation, in order to ask for compensation for occupational disease.

Increase in pregabalin recreational use in adolescents in France.

INTRODUCTION: Misuse/abuse of pregabalin is increasing worldwide. French Poison Control Centers (PCCs) recently received several unusual calls regarding the recreational use of pregabalin in adolescents. This study aims to describe this new and specific population of pregabalin misusers. METHODS: We extracted all cases of pregabalin intentional exposures reported to the French National Database of Poisonings (FNDP) from 2004 to 2020. We compared the proportion of recreational exposure to pregabalin between adolescents (10-17 years) and adults (>18 years). We reviewed all cases of pregabalin recreational exposures in adolescent in order to describe the characteristics of this population. RESULTS: During the study period, 382 cases of acute intentional exposure to pregabalin were reported in adolescents and 1188 in adults, 94/382 (24.6%) and 43/1188 (3.6%) were pregabalin recreational use, respectively (p < .0001). Almost all cases of pregabalin recreational use in adolescent were reported from 2018 (86/94; 91%). Most of those adolescent patients were males (male/female ratio - 5.3:1) and the median age was 15 years (range: 11-17.8). They were homeless or living in migrant shelters in most of the cases (73/90, 81%). Two-third of these exposures (62/94; 66%) involved other toxicant(s) than pregabalin. Most of the patients remains asymptomatic (10/94; 11%), or developed minor to moderate neurological symptoms (76/94; 81%). Eight developed severe symptoms (8/94; 8%) including coma (5/8) or generalized seizures (2/8). Five patients (5/8) required oro-tracheal intubation. No fatality was reported. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a sharp increase in pregabalin recreational use in adolescents in France. It should lead to prevention campaigns, targeted at the population at risk described in this study.

Unintentional exposure to pregabalin in ≤6-year-old children: a nationwide French Poison Control Center study.

INTRODUCTION: In France, pregabalin is widely prescribed in adults but still not approved for children. We aimed to investigate the incidence of pregabalin exposure in ≤6-year-old children, to describe the characteristics and outcome of ingestions involving pregabalin alone, and to estimate a clinically relevant toxic dose in this population. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of pregabalin exposures in ≤6-year-old children, collected by the French Poison Control Centers in 2004-2019. The incidence was estimated using pregabalin prescription data from the Health Improvement Network database (the French version of THIN). The poison severity score (PSS) was used to grade severity. RESULTS: We found 313 unintentional immediate-release pregabalin ingestions in ≤6-year-old children. The number of cases per 100,000 pregabalin-treated adults increased over time (p < 0.001). One hundred twenty-six cases involving pregabalin alone (age, 2 years [1.6-3.0] (median [25th-75th percentiles]); median ingested dose 6.4 mg/kg [3.6-10.9]) were analyzed. No child presented an underlying neurological/cardiac disease and/or took concomitant medications. Most of the children (77%) remained asymptomatic (PSS0) while 21% and 2% developed minor (PSS1) or moderate (PSS2) neurological symptoms, respectively. No severe complications/fatalities were reported. All symptomatic children recovered within 24 h. The ingested pregabalin dose was positively correlated with PSS (p < 0.0001). Using a ROC curve approach (area under the curve, 0.85; p < 0.001), ingestion of ≥19.4 mg/kg pregabalin was appropriate to recommend hospital referral (sensitivity, 39% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 24-56], specificity, 100% [95% CI, 96-100], predictive positive value, 100% [95% CI, 64-100], and negative predictive value, 85% [95% CI, 82-89]). Symptomatic children who ingested <19.4 mg/kg pregabalin developed minor symptoms. CONCLUSION: Despite increasing prescriptions in adults in France, unintentional pregabalin ingestions in ≤6-year-old children remain rare and cause minimal toxicity. Children with no underlying neurological/cardiac disease and concomitant medication ingesting <19.4 mg/kg immediate-release pregabalin alone can be safely observed at home.

Ocular Lesions Other Than Stings Following Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) Projections, as Reported to French Poison Control Centers.

Importance: Since the accidental introduction of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) in France in 2004, there have been reports of this insect unexpectedly projecting a liquid toward the human face, but ocular morbidity associated with this is unknown, to our knowledge. Objective: To describe a case series of ocular lesions after exposure to a liquid projection emitted by a hornet. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was an analysis of all cases of ocular exposure to a projection by a yellow-legged hornet (excluding stings in the eye) collected by French poison control centers between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: Symptoms were evaluated, and a fluorescein eye stain test was used. Results: Twenty-nine cases were recorded (24 in male and 5 in female patients; median age, 40 [interquartile range, 11] years); the first occurred in 2009. Most cases (20 [80%]) were occupational exposure among professionals dealing with hornet nests (eg, firefighters, wasp exterminators). Symptoms consistent with conjunctivitis often resolved quickly after ocular decontamination, but 5 patients developed a periorbital edema, 2 experienced radiating neuropathic pain, and 2 experienced keratitis. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that the projection of a liquid into the eyes by the yellow-legged hornet presents a new risk to human health, but its precise nature remains to be determined. Ocular lesions had a favorable outcome. For professionals who deal with these insects, adaptation of the usual protections designed for native hymenopterans may be warranted.

Effectiveness of guideline-consistent heart failure drug prescriptions at hospital discharge on 1-year mortality: Results from the EPICAL2 cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of recommended drug prescriptions at hospital discharge on 1-year mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from the EPICAL2 cohort study. HF patients ≥18years old with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% and alive at discharge were included and followed up for mortality. Socio-demographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected at admission. Therapeutic data were collected at discharge and at 6month. Prescription of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (or an angiotensin II receptor blocker [ARB] in case of ACE inhibitor intolerance) and a ß-blocker at discharge were considered "guideline-consistent discharge prescription" (GCDP). A frailty Cox model after propensity score (PS) matching was used to assess the association of GCDP with survival. RESULTS: Among 624 patients included, the mean (SD) age was 73.6 (12.8) years; 65% were male. A total of 412 (65.6%) patients received GCDP, and 82.8% still had guideline consistent prescription at 6months. A total of 166 patients died during the follow-up, 78 in the GCDP group and 88 in the other group. Before PS matching, patients with GCDP were younger (|StDiff|=48.32%) and had higher body mass index (BMI) (|StDiff|=11.71%), lower LVEF (|StDiff|=23.13%) and lower Charlson index (|StDiff|=55.27%) than patients without GCDP. After PS matching, all characteristics were balanced between the two treatment groups, and GCDP was associated with reduced mortality (pooled HR=0.51, 95% CI [0.35-0.73]). CONCLUSION: Prescription of ACE (or ARB) inhibitors and ß-blockers for patients with HFREF may be low despite the evidence for morbidity and mortality improvement with these medications but remains associated with reduced 1-year mortality in unselected HFREF patients.

Effectiveness of a patient education programme in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Results from the ODIN cohort study using propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: Patient education programmes (PEP) are recommended for patients with heart failure but have not been specifically assessed in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). AIM: To assess the effectiveness of a structured PEP in reducing all-cause mortality in patients with HFpEF. METHODS: Patients with HFpEF were selected from the ODIN cohort, designed to assess PEP effectiveness in patients with HF whatever their ejection fraction, included from 2007 to 2010, and followed up until 2013. Baseline sociodemographic, clinical, biological and therapeutic characteristics were collected. At inclusion, patients were invited to participate in the PEP, which consisted of educational diagnosis, education sessions and final evaluation. Education focused on HF pathophysiology and medication, symptoms of worsening HF, dietary recommendations and management of exercise. Propensity score matching and Cox models were performed. RESULTS: Of 849 patients with HFpEF, 572 (67.4%) participated in the PEP and 277 (32.6%) did not. Patients who participated in the PEP were younger (67.0±13.1 vs 76.1±13.2 years; standardized difference [StDiff] =-54.6%), less often women (39.7% vs 48.4%; StDiff =-17.6%) and presented more often with hypercholesterolaemia (55.2% vs 35.2%; StDiff 41.2%), smoking (35.1% vs 28.7%; StDiff 13.8%), alcohol abuse (14.1% vs 8.9%; StDiff 16.5%) and ischaemic HF (38.7% vs 29.2%; StDiff 20.0%) than those who did not; they also presented with better clinical cardiovascular variables. After propensity score matching, baseline characteristics were balanced, except hypertension (postmatch StDiff 19.1%). The PEP was associated with lower all-cause mortality (pooled hazard ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.99; P=0.042). This association remained significant after adjustment for hypertension (adjusted pooled hazard ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.48-0.97; P=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: In this investigation, a structured PEP was associated with lower all-cause mortality. Patient education might be considered an effective treatment in patients with HFpEF.

Employment, work disability and quality of life in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides. The EXPOVAS study.

OBJECTIVES: Improved therapeutic strategies for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have transformed acute and life-threatening diseases into chronic ones responsible for marked morbidity that could impact employment, work disability and quality of life (QoL). We aimed to analyse work, handicaps and QoL of AAV patients and identify their determinants. METHODS: Patients with AAV were included in a cross-sectional study assessing employment, work disability and QoL. Specific and non-specific questionnaires, including SF-36, were sent to patients, and clinical-biological data that could affect QoL and their determinants were analysed. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 189 patients. Among 94 working-age (<60 years) patients, 57% had jobs, consistent with their qualifications for 81%, 77% were stably employed; 23% of workers felt that their disease qualitatively limited the nature of their work, while 43% felt it limited the quantity of work they could do; 50% thought their disease had hindered their careers and 43% that it had led to a salary reduction. These results were comparable for the different vasculitides. QoL was significantly impaired for AAV patients compared to the general population (p<0.0001). Physical health determinants for our population were diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), long disease duration and its neurological involvement, whereas mental health determinants tended to be ear, nose and throat and cardiovascular involvement, and unemployment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that AAV patients' QoL was impaired compared to the general population, mainly for patients with EGPA and long-standing disease. In contrast, normal employment seemed to be preserved for the majority of the patients.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary heart failure disease management programme on 1-year mortality: Prospective cohort study.

We performed a multicenter prospective observational cohort study (Epidémiologie et Pronostic de l'Insuffisance Cardiaque Aiguë en Lorraine, Epidemiology and Prognosis of Acute Heart Failure in Lorraine [EPICAL2]) to evaluate the effectiveness on mortality of a community-based multidisciplinary disease management programme (DMP) for heart failure (HF) patients.Between October 2011 and October 2012, 1816 patients, who were hospitalized for acute HF or who developed acute HF during a hospitalization, were included from 21 hospitals in a northeast region of France. At hospital admission, their mean age was 77.3 (standard deviation [SD] 11.6) years and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 45.0 (SD 16.0)%. A subset of patients were enrolled in a multidimensional DMP for HF (n = 312, 17.2%), based on structured patient education, home monitoring visits by HF-trained nurses, and automatic alerts triggered by significant clinical and biological changes to the patient. The DMP involved general practitioners, nurses, and cardiologists collaborating via an individual web-based medical electronic record. The outcome was all-cause mortality from the 3rd to the 12th month after discharge. During the follow-up, a total of 377 (20.8%) patients died: 321 (21.3%) in the control group and 56 (17.9%) in the DMP group. In a propensity score analysis, DMP was associated with lower 1-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.92). Instrumental variable analysis gave similar results (hazard ratio 0.56, 0.27-1.16).In a real world setting, a multidimensional DMP for HF with structured patient education, home nurse monitoring, and appropriate physician alerts may improve survival when implemented after discharge from hospitalization due to worsening HF.

Antiplatelet and oral anticoagulant therapies in chronic hemodialysis patients: prescribing practices and bleeding risk.

PURPOSE: Results of previous studies assessing the risk of bleeding associated with prescription of antiplatelet (AP) and/or oral anticoagulant (AC) therapy to hemodialysis patients are conflicting. Our purpose was to describe practices for prescription of AP and AC in hemodialysis patients in the Lorraine region, and to assess their effect on the risk of major bleeding events. METHODS: All adults with chronic kidney disease who began a first renal replacement therapy by hemodialysis in 2009 or 2010 in one of the 12 dialysis centers in Lorraine were included in the Thrombosis and Hemorrhage in HemoDialysis patients (T2HD) study and followed up until 30 June 2013. The association of each treatment (AP, AC, AP + AC) with the risk of major bleeding was estimated by three Cox proportional hazard models with an inverse probability of treatment weighting on a propensity score, considering the untreated patients as the reference. RESULTS: Among 502 patients included, 227 (45.2%) received an AP, 68 (13.5%) an AC, 81 (16.1%) a combination AP + AC, and 126 (25.1%) were untreated. As compared with untreated patients, those given AP (HR 5.52, 95% CI [3.11-9.80]), AC (HR: 4.15, 95% CI: [3.46-4.99]), and AP + AC (HR: 5.59, 95% CI [2.62-11.91]) were at greater risk of major bleeding events. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of major bleeding is higher in patients receiving an oral AC compared with untreated patients and those receiving an AP agent. A combination of the two drugs does not seem to increase the risk. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Performing both propensity score and instrumental variable analyses in observational studies often leads to discrepant results: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Propensity score (PS) and instrumental variable (IV) are analytical techniques used to adjust for confounding in observational research. More and more, they seem to be used simultaneously in studies evaluating health interventions. The present review aimed to analyze the agreement between PS and IV results in medical research published to date. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Review of all published observational studies that evaluated a clinical intervention using simultaneously PS and IV analyses, as identified in MEDLINE and Web of Science. RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies, most of them published during the previous 5 years, reported 55 comparisons between results from PS and IV analyses. There was a slight/fair agreement between the methods [Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.00, 0.41)]. In 23 cases (42%), results were nonsignificant for one method and significant for the other, and IV analysis results were nonsignificant in most situations (87%). CONCLUSION: Discrepancies are frequent between PS and IV analyses and can be interpreted in various ways. This suggests that researchers should carefully consider their analytical choices, and readers should be cautious when interpreting results, until further studies clarify the respective roles of the two methods in observational comparative effectiveness research.

Is the incidence of aliphatic amine-induced occupational rhinitis and asthma underestimated?

BACKGROUND: Amines, some of which are known to cause asthma, are frequently present in the work environment, but are rarely identified as being responsible for occupational rhinitis (OR) or asthma (OA). However, amine-induced OR/OA may be underreported. To discuss this hypothesis, we report a series of patients with positive amine-specific nasal provocation test (NPT). METHODS: Review of the medical charts of 37 patients with OR (alone or associated with asthma), submitted to a NPT with an aliphatic or alicyclic amine (except for EDTA) present in a product used at work. RESULTS: Most patients worked in the healthcare sector or for a cleaning company. Amines were mostly present in cleaning products. Seven patients had a positive NPT. NPTs were positive for the following amines: bis(aminopropyl)laurylamine, C12-C18 alkyldimethylamine oxides, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)tallowamine oxides, 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, 2,2'-dimethyl-4,4'-methylene-bis(cyclohexylamine), lauryldimethylamine oxide. NPTs were negative for the following amines: monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, isopropanolamine, triethylamine, triethylenetetramine, aminopropyltriethoxysilane, alkylpropylenediamineguanidine acetate. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of amine-induced OR/OA may be underestimated, particularly when cleaning products are incriminated. Comprehensive investigation of all cases is mandatory to ensure an efficient prevention policy and consequently a good clinical and socio-occupational prognosis of occupational respiratory disease.

Chest X-ray screening examinations among French uranium miners: exposure estimation and impact on radon-associated lung cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Medical surveillance of uranium miners can include periodic chest X-ray examinations. This study aimed to assess the X-ray exposure due to occupational health monitoring in the French cohort of uranium miners, and to test whether consideration of this additional radiation exposure impacts the excess risk of lung cancer death associated with radon exposure. METHOD: X-ray exposure due to occupational health monitoring was estimated retrospectively based on review of a sample of miners' medical records and bibliographic data. Four exposure scenarios were designed, differing in their assumptions about the type of procedures performed, their frequency, and the lung dose delivered. Radon exposure and lung doses from exposure to α-particle emitters and external γ rays have previously been individually assessed. Exposure-risk and dose-risk relations were estimated by Poisson regression with a linear excess relative risk (ERR) model. RESULTS: The cohort included 5086 miners with a mean follow-up duration of 30.1 years. The mean number of chest X-ray examinations ranged from 15.1 in the lowest to 34 in the highest-exposure scenario, and produced a mean cumulative lung dose ranging from 4.6 to 34.2 mGy. The role of occupation-related imaging screening X-ray procedures in total equivalent lung dose appeared insignificant compared to α-emitter exposure. X-ray exposure was not associated with lung cancer mortality risk. The ERR associated with radon remained significantly positive when X-ray exposure was included in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: X-ray exposure did not confound the exposure-risk relation between radon and lung cancer.