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Objectives: To compare two learning methods for Lyme disease (e-learning versus face-to-face training) to assess knowledge and know-how., Methods: The study population was volunteer general medicine residents and family physicians (FP). Face-to-face training on Lyme disease was offered to each group. E-learning training was then offered to those who had not attended the face-to-face training. Theoretical knowledge was assessed by an identical pre- and post-test questionnaire and know-how by a script concordance test., Results: Seventy learners (47 FPs and 23 general medicine residents) were included in the face-to-face training group and 61 (33 FPs and 28 general medicine residents) in the e-learning group. The pre- and post-test scores were significantly improved in the FP group (difference of 29.3±1.9 [P<0.0001] out of 100) as well as in the general medicine resident group (difference of 38.2±2.7 [P<0.0001] out of 100). E-learning was more effective than face-to-face training, particularly among general medicine residents (progression of mean difference of 44.3±3.4/100 vs. 30.9±4.0/100; P=0.0138) and to a lesser extent among FPs (progression of 25.3±2.3/100 vs. 31.9±2.7/100; P=0.0757). Forty-six script concordance tests were completed by FPs and 20 by general medicine residents. Script concordance test results did not seem significant between the subgroups., Conclusions: E-learning seems to be a good alternative to face-to-face training for Lyme disease. It seems to be more effective than face-to-face training for the acquisition of theoretical knowledge. The script concordance test evaluation of know-how did not show any difference between the two learning methods., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the free choice of ultrasound propagation velocity on ultrasound image construction to improve the completion rate and anatomical quality of fetal second-trimester ultrasound examination in obese women., Materials and Methods: This repeated cross-sectional single-center study retrospectively collected second-trimester ultrasound images of 88 obese women. During the first period, ultrasound examinations were performed in 44 women (mean age, 31.4±5.9 [SD] years; range: 21.1 - 45.3 years) applying only the standard 1540m/s tissue ultrasound velocity (group 1). During the second period, ultrasound examinations were performed in other 44 women (mean age, 31.4±5.1 [SD] years; range: 20.6 - 41.6 years) with the operator free to choose among three available velocity settings (1420m/s, 1480m/s or 1540m/s) for the scanning planes for the morphological images (group 2). All women underwent mid-trimester ultrasound examination at 20 to 24 gestational weeks. Two observers assessed the examinations in both groups for completeness, quality, and duration of fetal ultrasound examinations., Results: No differences in age (P>0.99), body mass index (P=0.67), prevalence of previous cesarean delivery (P=0.30) or gestational age at the second-trimester scan (P=0.20) were found between the two groups. The mean cumulative duration of these ultrasound examinations was longer in group 1 than in group 2 (for both the complete (P=0.04) and incomplete (P=0.03) examinations). The quality of the anatomic images according to Salomon's criteria was less often acceptable in group 1 (5/44, 11.4%) than in group 2 (15/44, 34.1%) (P=0.02)., Conclusion: Free choice of ultrasound velocity improves the overall performance of fetal second-trimester ultrasound examinations in obese women., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: Optical coherence tomography is a high-resolution imaging technology that allows in vivo assessment of neointimal hyperplasia and strut coverage after coronary stenting., Aim: Assessment of spatial distribution of healing, 6 months after zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation., Methods: Forty-two zotarolimus-eluting stents were monitored by optical coherence tomography 6 months after implantation. Mean neointimal strut coverage thickness and percentage of neointimal hyperplasia were measured every millimetre. Non-covered strut ratios were assessed on each slice. In addition, the spatial distribution of neointimal hyperplasia and strut coverage were analysed longitudinally on five stent segments and axially on each slice., Results: There were no clinical events at 6 months under dual antiplatelet therapy. The optical coherence tomography analysis showed a mean neointimal hyperplasia thickness of 333±147μm and neointimal hyperplasia obstruction of 36.1±12.3%. The percentage of covered struts at 6 months was very high (98.9%). Only 6/745 slices analysed (0.8%) had non-covered strut ratios exceeding 30%. There was no significant heterogeneity in either longitudinal or axial neointimal hyperplasia distribution. No thrombi were observed., Conclusion: This optical coherence tomography study found relatively constant neointimal hyperplasia thickness, regardless of the zotarolimus-eluting stent length or diameter. This spatially homogeneous neointimal hyperplasia was associated with near-total coverage of all struts, 6 months after implantation., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Optical coherence tomography is an imaging method that enables cardiologists to study atheromatous plaques, and to check the implantation and evolution of coronary stents. It is an invasive technique, providing high-resolution (10 microm) in vivo images, but with limitations and artefacts that need to be understood before the field of application can be extended., Aim: To determine the feasibility and limitations of optical coherence tomography coronary imaging from a single-centre experience., Methods: We analysed the first 301 optical coherence tomography (version M2, LightLab Imaging) sequences obtained in our department from examination of 73 patients., Results: Results showed that 92% of sequences for selected lesions were usable, with a mean examination time of 17 min. Only one complication occurred (ventricular fibrillation, reduced by external electroshock). In our registry, sequence quality depended on operator experience (improving after 20 examinations), and was impaired by artefacts, especially in right coronary analysis and in arteries of greater than 3.5 mm calibre., Conclusions: Proximal coronary occlusion and the distal flush quality currently required for quality imaging should no longer be indispensable with the new generation of optical coherence tomography systems., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intrastent thrombosis, while rare, has a poor prognosis. Strut non-coverage is one causal factor, especially in cases of resistance to or premature discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy., Aim: To compare neointimal coverage with paclitaxel and zotarolimus drug-eluting stents, using optical coherence tomography (OCT)., Methods: Twenty-two drug-eluting stents (11 paclitaxel-eluting stents and 11 zotarolimus-eluting stents) were examined by OCT, 6 months after implantation. Mean neointimal strut-coverage thickness and percentage neointimal hyperplasia were measured every millimetre. On each OCT image, struts were classified into one of four categories: well-apposed to vessel wall with apparent neointimal coverage; well-apposed to vessel wall without neointimal coverage; malapposed to the vessel wall; or located on a major side branch., Results: OCT analysis showed a lower percentage of neointimal hyperplasia with paclitaxel-eluting stents than with zotarolimus-eluting stents (17% vs 38% and mean thickness 154 microm vs 333 microm, respectively; p<0.0001). The rate of strut-coverage was greater with zotarolimus-eluting stents than with paclitaxel-eluting stents (99.1% vs 87.1%, respectively; p<0.0001). A non-covered/covered strut ratio greater than 0.3 was observed in 0.5% of zotarolimus-eluting stent OCT images compared with 18% of paclitaxel-eluting stent OCT images (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: Six months after implantation, neointimal hyperplasia was greater with zotarolimus-eluting stents compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents. Conversely, neointimal strut-coverage was better with zotarolimus-eluting stents.

Introduction: The SPOT epidemiologic survey assessed the results of long-term cholesterol-lowering therapy in France and the reasons why patients do or do not meet their therapeutic objectives., Objective: To assess the guidelines on which doctors base their practices for cholesterol-lowering therapy and make suggestions to improve the match between recommendations and practices., Methods: LDL cholesterol was measured in 2479 French outpatients in 2003 and classified according to whether it met therapeutic objectives of 3 different scales: the official French (AFSSAPS) recommendations issued in 2000, the physician's opinion of the ideal level for the patient, and the physician's goal level for the patient. Agreement between these 3 criteria was analyzed., Results: French doctors used guidelines stricter than the official recommendations to assess the achievement of lipid-lowering objectives., Discussion: Physicians rely more on American than French guidelines. They also considered the patient's history and clinical condition in setting individual goals.