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The incidence of chronic respiratory failure is underestimated in Martinique. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine local particularities. Between December 1991 and December 1995, 128 patients (55% men, mean age 60 years, range 18-89 years) were hospitalized in our pneumology unit to receive a respiratory device (oxygen concentrator, respirator, continuous positive pressure generator). The high percentage of continuous positive pressure generators contrasted with the low number of oxygen concentrators prescribed indicating that obstructive disease is relatively less common due to the absence of widespread smoking habits. Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was particularly frequent in women (44% of the SAS patients). 10% of the SAS patients had perturbed blood gases unexplained by an associated bronchopathy. SAS in obese, hypertensive, diabetic women in Martinique is a public health problem and should be assessed by a prospective study. We observed that home care was particularly difficult for the most severely diseased patients, especially those with a tracheotomy, due to the lack of a management structure.

A rare small-cell carcinoma of the trachea was observed in a 27 year-old man. Treatment included chemotherapy and radiotherapy as for bronchogenic small cell carcinomas. This treatment regimen led to complete but temporary remission. The patient died 4 months after the end of the treatment due to multiple cerebral metastases.

The effect of eating on the transit of radiolabelled particles through the small intestine has been monitored in eight healthy subjects dosed after an overnight fast. Each subject participated on three occasions and either remained fasting for 9 h after dosing or consumed a meal at 1.5 h or 4 h. The mean +/- 1 S.D. small intestinal transit time during the fasting study was 5.5 +/- 2.1 h and during the 1.5h and 4 h fed studies 4.8 +/- 2.9 h and 4.7 +/- 2.2 h, respectively. These times were not significantly different, nor were the rates of entry of the particles into the colon. These findings indicate that once in the small intestine the efficacy of orally administered pharmaceutical preparations is unlikely to be affected by eating.

International audience; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is changing the landscape of HIV prevention, and may bring changes in sexual behaviors. The double-blind phase (DBP) and open-label extension (OLE) study of the ANRS-IPERGAY trial allowed us to assess changes in sexual behavior of men who have sex with men (MSM) taking sexual activity-based (i.e., on-demand) PrEP. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models found a significant decrease in the number of sexual partners (Coefficient [CI95%], p value; - 0.37[- 0.70 to - 0.04], p = 0.03) between the DBP and OLE as well as in the number of sexual relations (- 0.25 [- 0.49 to 0.00], 0.04). GEE estimates also showed that respondents' most recent sexual relation was less likely to have been with an unknown casual partner during the OLE than during the DBP (Odds Ratio [CI95%], p value: 0.75[0.62-0.92], 0.005). Furthermore, they showed an increase in the proportion of condomless anal sex in the OLE (1.32[1.04-1.67], 0.02), a decrease in the proportion of 'suboptimal PrEP adherence' over time (0.75[0.58-0.97], p = 0.03), a decrease in PrEP only use (0.73[0.55-0.96], 0.03) and in both PrEP and condom use over time (0.70[0.51-0.95], 0.02) and finally, a decrease in alcohol consumption between the DBP and OLE (0.74[0.61-0.90], 0.002). We observed both protective and risky behaviors in terms of HIV and STI risk after on-demand PrEP uptake in the OLE phase. Our findings are consistent with results from previous PrEP trials.