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Objective To describe EEG patterns of critical Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with suspicion of encephalopathy and test their association with clinical outcome. Methods EEG after discontinuation of sedation in all patients, and somesthesic evoked potentials and brainstem auditive evoked potentials when EEG did not show reactivity, were performed. Clinical outcome was assessed at day 7 and 14 after neurophysiological explorations. Results 33 patients were included for analysis. We found slowed background activity in 85% of cases, unreactive activity in 42% of cases, low-voltage activity in 21% of cases and rhythmic or periodic delta waves in 61% of cases. EEG epileptic events were never recorded. Clinical outcome at day 14 was associated with unreactive background activity and tended to be associated with rhythmic or periodic delta waves and with low-voltage activity. Results of multimodal evoked potentials were in favor of a preservation of central nervous system somatosensory and auditory functions. Conclusions Among critical COVID-19 patients with abnormal arousal at discontinuation of sedation, EEG patterns consistent with encephalopathy are found and are predictive for short term clinical outcome. Significance The abnormal EEG with presence of periodic discharges and lack of reactivity could be related to encephalopathy linked to COVID-19.

Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is defined as clinically detected weakness in critically ill patients in whom there is no plausible etiology other than critical illness. Using electrophysiological methods, patients with ICU-AW are classified in three subcategories: critical illness polyneuropathy, critical illness myopathy and critical illness neuromyopathy. ICU-AW is a frequent complication occurring in critical ill patients. Risk factors include illness severity and organ failure, age, hyperglycemia, parenteral nutrition, drugs and immobility. Due to short- and long-term complications, ICU-AW results in longer hospital stay and increased mortality. Its management is essentially preventive avoiding modifiable risk factors, especially duration of sedation and immobilization that should be as short as possible. Pharmacological approaches have been studied but none have proven efficacy. In the present review, we propose practical questions that the clinician should ask in case of acquired weakness during ICU stay: when to suspect ICU-AW, what risk factors should be identified, how to diagnose ICU-AW, what is the prognosis and how can recovery be improved?

Background Most studies evaluating career aspirations among gender are performed in Anglo-Saxon countries. Two recent French studies looked at the career choice of residents in obstetrics & gynecology. It seemed useful to us to broaden this questioning to other specialties, by proposing a study to all residents in the same Faculty. The objective of our study was to describe residents’ career aspirations and possible barriers according to gender. Methods Declarative cross-sectional survey, using questionnaires sent by email to the specialty residents of the Faculty of Medicine of Lille (France). An analysis by specialty group (i.e., medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, and anesthesia & resuscitation) and a comparison of the results according to gender were performed. Results Of the 1384 specialty residents currently in training, 462 answered the questionnaire (33.38%), among whom 289 women and 173 men (average age = 27.08 ± 0.091 years). Seventeen women (5.9%) were currently considering a university hospital career versus 37 men (21.4%) (p = 0.001). Gender analysis made it possible to identify obstacles to engaging in a university career: lacking a female model, more frequent doubting the ability to undertake this type of career among women (61.6%) than men (35.3%) (p p Conclusions Few residents plan to embark upon a university hospital career, let alone female residents. There are considerations specific to each specialty and marked gender differences regarding career aspirations. Many features have been identified as obstacles to access to university hospital positions for women. It is important to develop strategies to remove these barriers and enable women to pursue such university careers. Trial registration Not applicable (no intervention).

International audience; Objective: Previous studies have unveiled a relationship between the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and obesity. The aims of this multicenter retrospective cohort study were to disentangle the association of BMI and associated metabolic risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and current smoking status) in critically ill patients with COVID-19.Methods: Patients admitted to intensive care units for COVID-19 in 21 centers (in Europe, Israel, and the United States) were enrolled in this study between February 19, 2020, and May 19, 2020. Primary and secondary outcomes were the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and 28-day mortality, respectively.Results: A total of 1,461 patients were enrolled; the median (interquartile range) age was 64 years (40.9-72.0); 73.2% of patients were male; the median BMI was 28.1 kg/m2 (25.4-32.3); a total of 1,080 patients (73.9%) required IMV; and the 28-day mortality estimate was 36.1% (95% CI: 33.0-39.5). An adjusted mixed logistic regression model showed a significant linear relationship between BMI and IMV: odds ratio = 1.27 (95% CI: 1.12-1.45) per 5 kg/m2 . An adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model showed a significant association between BMI and mortality, which was increased only in obesity class III (≥40; hazard ratio = 1.68 [95% CI: 1.06-2.64]).Conclusions: In critically ill COVID-19 patients, a linear association between BMI and the need for IMV, independent of other metabolic risk factors, and a nonlinear association between BMI and mortality risk were observed.

The diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma secreting during pregnancy is a rare and serious situation, involving maternal-fetal prognosis. The purpose of this case series is to discuss the management of these patients.This is a retrospective study of cases of pheochromocytoma (n=2) or paraganglioma (n=2) managed during pregnancy between 2013 and 2020 in one center (Lille, France).We report four cases of patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma during pregnancy, at respectively 4, 28, 31 and 34 weeks of amenorrhea (AS). Their pregnancies were affected by a sudden onset of hypertension sometimes associated with headaches, sweating, and palpitations. All patients delivered by Caesarean section after calcium channel blocker impregnation, with a good outcome. Tumor removal took place at a distance from delivery for each patient.The therapeutic strategy includes antihypertensive treatment with calcium channel blockers or alphablockers and surgical curative treatment linked to gestational age. Multidisciplinary management as well as early diagnosis can improve the maternal-fetal prognosis. The preferred way of delivery is Caesarean section, but vaginal delivery can also be considered. Removal should ideally take place at a distance from the birth. The analysis of these cases has led to the development of a protocol for monitoring and management of parturients with diagnosis of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma during pregnancy.

International audience; Objective :The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7903146 on the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene in stress-related hyperglycaemia (SRH), defined as blood glucose ≥ 11 mmol/L in at least two blood samples during the first 3 days in the intensive care unit (ICU), and on 28-day and 1-year mortality, and incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) at 6 months and 1 year in patients hospitalized in the ICU. Methods :This prospective observational (non-interventional) multicentre READIAB study, carried out during 2012–2016 in six French ICUs, involved adult patients admitted to ICUs for at least two organ failures; patients admitted for < 48 h were excluded. During the 3-day ICU observational period, genetic testing, blood glucose values and insulin treatment were recorded.Main results :The association of rs7903146 with SRH was assessed using logistic regression models. Cox proportional hazards regression models assessed the associations between rs7903146 and mortality and between SRH and mortality, both at 28 days and 1 year. A total of 991 of the 1000 enrolled patients were included in the READIAB–G4 cohort, but 242 (24.4%) had preexisting diabetes and were excluded from the analyses. SRH occurred within the first 3 days in the ICU for one-third of the non-diabetes patients. The association between the rs7903146 polymorphism and SRH did not reach significance (P = 0.078): OR(per one T copy): 1.24, 95% CI: 0.98–1.58. A significant association was found between rs7903146 and 28-day mortality after adjusting for severity scores (P = 0.026), but was no longer significant at 1 year (P = 0.61). At 28 days, mortality was increased in patients with SRH (HR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.43–3.06; P < 0.001), and remained significant at 1 year after adjusting for severity scores (HR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.32–2.28; P < 0.001). On admission, non-diabetes patients with SRH had a higher incidence of T2D at 6 months vs. those without SRH (16.0% vs. 7.6%, RR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.07–4.20; P = 0.030). At 1 year, these figures were 13.4% vs. 9.2%, RR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.71–2.96; P = 0.31). Moreover, the rs7903146 polymorphism was not significantly associated with T2D development at either 6 months (P = 0.72) or 1 year (P = 0.64).Conclusion :This study failed to demonstrate any significant association between rs7903146 and SRH. Nevertheless, the issue remains an important challenge, as SRH may be associated with increased rates of both mortality and T2D development.

Comparing assessments of incapacity to work in patients with subjective health complaints (SHC) by physicians from 5 different European countries.Cross-sectional study.General practitioners from Norway (n=56), Sweden (n=29), Denmark (n=41), France (n=46) and occupational and insurance physicians from the Netherlands (n=93) watched and assessed incapacity to work in nine video vignettes of patients with SHC. We subsequently analysed differences between assessments (whether or not there was incapacity to work) by country, with Norway as a reference, as well as differences between general practitioners from the four countries and occupational and insurance physicians using a generalised linear mixed model.Assessments of incapacity to work by physicians from the 5 countries were generally very similar. However, compared to Norwegian general practitioners, Swedish general practitioners (odds ratio (OR) of 0.43 with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.23-0.79) and Dutch occupational and insurance physicians (OR of 0.55 with 95% CI of 0.36-0.86) concluded less often that the patients in the videos were unable to work. There were no differences between general practitioners from the other 2 European countries and those from Norway. The Dutch occupational and insurance physicians also concluded less often that there was an incapacity to work compared to all general practitioners from the other 4 European countries (OR of 0.67 with 95% CI of 0.49-0.93).There are significant differences between assessments of incapacity to work in patients with SHC between countries and professional groups, but these differences are generally small. Potential explanations for these differences could be found in occupational and insurance medicine specialist training and in the existence of professional guidelines.

The French health authorities recommend systematic screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) urogenital infections in dedicated sexual health centers (planning centers) for women under 25 years old and for women who have changed partners during the last year. The two main purposes of this study were to assess adherence to this recommendation in planning centers and to identify possible obstacles to this screening.We conducted an observational prospective study from April to August 2013 in planning centers of Poitou-Charentes. Data on declarative screening practices and possible obstacles to Ct screening were collected qualitatively. Real center practices were also recorded to assess conformity with guidelines. Quantitative data were collected about real activities in each center. Screening percentage among women younger than 25 years and among those who had changed partners during the year was computed for each center. The main endpoint was percentage of centers that did not follow the recommendations. Declared practices were compared to observational practices using real practices data.Twelve out of 17 planning centers in the region participated. Six centers declared they performed systematic screening for Ct infection in women under 25 and 2 centers in women who had changed partners during the year. No center fully complied with the recommendations. Forty-three percent (601/1390) of women with standard screening criteria were screened and 52 % (102/197) of women without these criteria were screened. Depending on the center, declared practices could overestimate or underestimate the observed practices. The declared obstacles were lack of time, patient refusal, budget issues and no specific organization.Poitou-Charentes planning centers screen for Ct infection in women younger than 25 years old and those who have changed partners during the last year depending on risk factors (unprotected sex, infected partner…). Which patients need this screening has to be clarified.

Multicentric Castleman's disease can mimic adult-onset Still disease. It is exceptionally associated with anasarca, thrombotic microangiopathy and dysautonomia.We report a 32-year-old woman with an association of oligoanuria, anasarca, thrombotic microangiopathy with features compatible with adult-onset Still disease. The outcome was initially favorable with corticosteroids, immunoglobulins and plasmapheresis but with the persistence of relapses marked by severe autonomic syndrome and necessity of high dose corticosteroids. The diagnosis of mixed type Castleman's disease, HHV8 and HIV negative, was obtained four years after the onset of symptoms by a lymph node biopsy. The outcome was favorable after tocilizumab and corticosteroids but tocilizumab had to be switched to anakinra to ensure a proper and long-lasting control of the disease.Our patient partially fits the description of TAFRO syndrome (Thrombocytopenia, Anasarca, myeloFibrosis, Renal dysfunction, Organomegaly), a MCM rare variant, recently described in Japanese patients.

To report the setting-up of a new educational program in the teaching of female pelvic and breast examinations and to investigate and compare the views and experience of undergraduate medical students and teachers on the program.Prospective evaluation of the teaching program through completion of a satisfaction questionnaire including items related to the educational value of the session by the students and the teachers.The educational program included an online preparation for the session, 3 workshops on training models (breast examination, pelvic examination, cervical snear procedure) and a video clip. In total, 419 (80.6%) of 520 second study year students (and 15 [50%] of 30 teachers [13 doctors and 17 midwifes] responded to the questionnaire). The students and the teachers were either very satisfied (56.6% and 13.4%, respectively) or satisfied (43.2% and 86.6%, respectively). On average, 89.7% of students wanted more lessons of this type and all teachers felt these useful or very useful training for students.Teaching sessions for pelvic and breast examination, which make combined use of videos and training models, are associated with a high degree of satisfaction from teachers and students in their second student's year.

The vast majority of myopericarditis are thought to be caused by viral infection.We here report a 46-year-old woman who was admitted twice for clinical presentations compatible with acute coronary syndromes despite normal coronary arteries at angiography. Diagnosis of myopericarditis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis was based on cardiac magnetic resonance and laboratory findings. Treatment with levofloxacin allowed for a full recovery.Chlamydia trachomatis infections affect young, sexually active individuals and are responsible for a large proportion of salpingitis, ectopic pregnancy or infertility. Myopericarditis in the setting of chlamydial infection has been seldom reported. Its identification is needed allowing for a specific treatment.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is rare. It should be considered if there is a reduction of at least 40% in the number of platelets and/or a level100,000/mm3 in any patients who have received heparin in the previous 100 days. On stopping heparin, the rise in platelets is classically rapid, and normal levels are usually obtained in under 7 days. We report a case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, which was marked by a severe thrombocytopenia that only returned to normal 19 days after stopping heparin, in a patient treated initially with non-fractionated heparin for a pulmonary embolism secondary to an extensive deep venous thrombosis of the right lower limb.

The psychosocial rehabilitation and the quality of life of schizophrenics have constituted the main concern in the taking care of these patients since their return into our society. Thus, the emergence of atypical neuroleptics allows us to imagine very interesting and important perspectives concerning these 2 concepts. The adaptation to social and professional life, and the quality of life have been rarely compared according to the antipsychotic therapeutic used (classical neuroleptics or atypical neuroleptics). As many authors underline it, there are still very few studies undertaken concerning this subject because of the diverse methodological and ethical limitations implied. That is why we established a transversal study of the psychosocial adaptation and of the quality of life of 2 stabilized schizophrenic groups. These 2 different groups are: the NC group under classical neuroleptics on the one hand, and the NA group under atypical neuroleptics on the other hand. The main target of this study is to observe the influence of the atypical neuroleptics independently of the other factors. Three evaluation scales were used: the PANSS, the psychosocial skill scale (EAPS) of G. Darcourt and the French translation by P. Martin of the Functional Statut Questionnaire (FSQ), and a collection of the clinical and therapeutic socio-demographic data. Concerning the psychosocial capacities, the total results revealed one significant difference (p-value0.01) between the two groups. The NA group showed a better psychosocial adaptation (80 +/- 10.89 versus 72 +/- 13.39). Besides 4 key-domains are statistically different, but are always in favour of the NA group; the domains are family life (p=0.01), social life (p=0.0026), presentation (p=0.003) and housing and food (0.029). These observations incite to modify our cure. The analysis of the total score of the FSQ did not reveal a statistically significant difference between both groups but this total score seems high in both groups, conveying an important feeling of satisfaction about the quality of life of our sample of schizophrenics. Literature data also abound along the same lines. Indeed, authors underline that patients clearly prefer to live outside rather than in the hospital. Besides, this study allows to confirm the literature data while studying some domains (such as sexuality) rarely brought to light in studies. As a conclusion, we can say that our sample is representative of a population of schizophrenics, and in spite of the difficulties of methodology inherent to this type of study, we can make a comparison between our 2 groups thanks to the stu-died data. Data in which differences could be found, did not show any influence on the results of scales, thus, they cannot be considered as a confounding factor. The NA group showed a better psychosocial adaptation. Furthermore the FSQ did not reveal a difference between both groups. It seems important to remind that a prospective study, conducted for several months and with several evaluations, is essential to confirm the results obtained on both types of treatment.

The unrestricted activity of leukocyte proteinases is thought to contribute to the degradation of plasma proteins and thus amplify the coagulation disorders occurring in septic shock. Inter-alpha-inhibitor (I alpha I) is a plasma protein particularly susceptible to their action. Therefore we investigated its behavior in a porcine model of endotoxin shock which reproduces the coagulation changes observed in human sepsis. We did not detect any qualitative or quantitative modification of porcine I alpha I in plasmas collected from pigs after endotoxin infusion. To explain these data, I alpha I was incubated with polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) stimulated by FMLP in the presence of cytochalasin B. We found that, unlike human PMN, porcine cells were unable to proteolyze I alpha I. Moreover, in the incubation medium of pig PMN, triggered either by FMLP or PMA, no measurable elastase activity was evidenced. Therefore, we urge to better take into account species differences in functional responses of PMN, to explain the experimental results obtained in animal models of septic shock.

Estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), FSH, and LH levels were daily measured during a ten day period in 50 critically ill patients (38 men, 12 post-menopausal women). Patients were separated into four groups: A) no circulatory failure, no sepsis, B) sepsis syndrome without circulatory failure, C) circulatory failure without sepsis syndrome, D) septic shock. Results of hormonal measurements were compared 1) among the 4 groups, 2) between male and female patients, 3) between septic and nonseptic patients. The potential for the infusion of the vasoactive drug dobutamine to induce sex hormonal changes was documented in ten additional septic shock patients by measuring cortisol, E1, and T at base-line and after dobutamine infusion. Changes in active renin and plasma renin activity (PRA) were used as indirect witness of the dobutamine-induced beta 2-stimulation.A dramatic increase in E1 and E2 levels was observed in women of groups B and D, and only in male patients of group D. In the septic patients, estrogen levels peaked at days 1 and 2 and trended to normal from day 6 after the onset of sepsis, while FSH and LH decreased. No difference was found between survivors and non-survivors. Whatever the group, male patients had low T levels throughout the study. Dobutamine induced a significant increase in active renin levels and a decrease in the regression slope between renin and PRA. Cortisol levels remained normal. No significant change in E1 and T was observed after dobutamine.High estrogen levels were specifically observed in patients with sepsis and septic shock, either males or females. Decreased LH and FSH levels were consistent with the negative feed-back effect of high estrogen levels on pituitary secretion. Circulating T levels were decreased in all male patients. We found no correlation between sequential estrogen levels and outcome. These levels were not modified by a dobutamine-induced beta-2 stimulation.

From 1968-1992 1503 endometrial carcinomas have been evaluated at Bad Trissl Clinic retrospectively. All double and triple carcinomas have been histologically recorded, doubtful cases have been excluded. Double malignomas that occurred within 6 months are termed simultaneous, all others are termed successive ones. Of 1503 endometrial carcinomas 163 (10.8%) were multiple tumors. Of these 100 (6.6%) occur together with breast cancer and 63 (4.2%) with other primary malignomas. 145 (9.6%) are double, 18 (1.2%) are triple malignomas. 10 precancerous cases (0.7%) have been included in the survey. The average latency period from the first to the second malignoma was 4.5 years. Patients with endometrial carcinoma run higher risks of secondary tumors. One out of 10 develops a double malignoma, one out of 100 a triple malignoma. The combination of endometrial and breast cancer occurs in 60% of cases, the combination of genital and breast cancer in nearly 80% of cases. After-care of endometrial carcinoma must also include early detection of potential double and triple malignomas.

In 1987/88 a prospective study was undertaken of 750 patients with postoperative carcinoma of the breast but no evidence as yet of skeletal metastases. A thorough history regarding pain was taken with pre-set questions and an exact clinical examination conducted to reveal any skeletal pain. Subsequently whole-body skeletal scanning was performed, plus additional X-ray films, determination of tumour markers CA-15-3 and CEA, and further tests as indicated. Clinical and imaging results agreed in 649 patients. In 70 patients the clinical suspicion or questionable finding of metastases was not confirmed by radiology or a scan. Bone metastases would have been missed in only 14 patients (1.9%) without a skeletal scan. Eleven of these 14 patients were in high-risk groups (negative hormone receptor status; axillary lymph node metastases). Skeletal metastases were undiscovered in only three of the 750 patients (0.4%). It is thus sufficient to limit skeletal scans to high-risk groups, as long as a careful history of pain is taken and a thorough clinical examination conducted.

Clinical findings and fluorescein angiographies of 293 eyes affected with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were reviewed with the specific aim of looking for a possible correlation between rubeosis iridis and the localization of the new vessels in the ocular fundus. In this series there was a highly significant correlation between rubeosis iridis and optic disc new vessels. Rubeosis iridis was present in 49% of the eyes with optic disc new vessels against only 5.5% of the eyes with retinal new vessels not associated with optic disc new vessels. Among the 97 eyes affected with rubeosis iridis, 91 (93.8%) had also optic disc neovascularization. This clinical correlation allows for predicting which of the eyes affected with proliferative diabetic retinopathy are at a high risk of developing rubeosis iridis. In addition to this, this clinical correlation leads to the hypothesis that there is uveal hypoxia associated to retinal hypoxia in those eyes with rubeosis iridis. Thus iris new vessels may result from uveal hypoxia rather than from retinal hypoxia.

A hormonally active oxyphil adenoma of the parathyroid masqueraded as a thyroid nodule and was present as a palpable neck mass for more than six years prior to the onset of clinically obvious hyperparathyroidism. The slow evolution of the hyperparathyroidism in the presence of a relatively large adenoma was correlated with the presumptive low hormonal synthetic capacity of oxyphil cells that formed the bulk of the tumor.

Out of 1220 (100%) cases of endometrial carcinomas, registered at the Klinik Bad Trissl during a period of 20 years (1968-1988), over 127 cases (10.4%) of double and triple malignomas were found. 86 cases (7.0%) are correlated with a second primary breast cancer, 41 (3.4%) with other primary malignomas. 14 cases (1.1%) show triple malignomas. 8 precancerous cases (0.7%) were included in the survey. Contrary to medical literature the survey reveals a different distribution of neoplasms among the affected organs. Four fifths of the tumour combinations were located in the female genital tract including the breast. Therefore the early detection of potential secondary malignomas should be included in the aftercare of endometrial cancer.

This report presents the clinical and pathologic features of diffuse cystic transformation of a lobe of the lung in a newborn. Because of the rather unusual but interesting histologic picture which distinctly segregated it from the so-called congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lungs, the name congenital diffuse bronchio-alveoliectasis was suggested. This apparently rare anomaly manifested as respiratory distress since the patient's birth. The patient underwent lobectomy with an uneventful postoperative course.