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Resume Introduction Notre service d’hospitalisation a domicile (HAD) est specialise pour les enfants atteints de cancer et possede une activite palliative importante. Cette etude decrit les caracteristiques des patients suivis en fin de vie par l’HAD, afin de comprendre les facteurs pouvant influencer le lieu de deces. Methodes Nous avons mene une etude observationnelle retrospective monocentrique sur les patients pediatriques d’onco-hematologie, traites au moins un jour en HAD lors des 3 derniers mois de vie, et decedes entre le 1er juillet 2013 et le 31 decembre 2015. L’analyse statistique etait descriptive et analytique. Resultats Soixante-quatorze patients suivis en HAD sont decedes au cours de cette periode, parmi lesquels 8 ont ete exclus. Quarante-trois patients parmi ces 66 (65 %) sont decedes a domicile. Lors des 3 derniers mois de vie, les patients d’oncologie ont moins de jours d’hospitalisation conventionnelle que les patients d’hematologie. L’implication des medecins generalistes, des infirmieres liberales et les informations delivrees aux familles etaient plus importantes dans le groupe des patients decedes a domicile. Aucune association significative n’a ete retrouvee entre l’âge du patient, sa pathologie, l’eloignement du domicile par rapport a l’hopital et le lieu de deces. Conclusion Notre service d’HAD a une activite majeure en soins palliatifs et un nombre important de patients decede a domicile. Une collaboration efficiente entre l’equipe d’onco-hematologie et le service d’HAD, ainsi qu’entre l’HAD et les soignants liberaux permet d’optimiser les soins palliatifs.

Resume Introduction Notre service d’hospitalisation a domicile a developpe l’administration de chimiotherapies (CT) intraveineuses (IV) a domicile pour des enfants atteints de cancer. Methodes Analyse retrospective, monocentrique avec identification des patients ayant recu au moins une cure de chimiotherapie en hospitalisation a domicile en 2015. Resultats Deux cent quarante-quatre sequences de chimiotherapies ont ete realisees en 2015 pour des enfants. Nous avons identifie deux types de chimiotherapies a domicile. Le pediatre onco-hematologue de l’hopital de jour prescrit la chimiotherapie. L’enfant recoit le j1 a l’hopital. L’hospitalisation a domicile prend le relais pour les jours suivants. Pour une cure remplacant une hospitalisation conventionnelle, le medecin traitant examine l’enfant et valide l’absence de contre-indication clinique. Le pediatre onco-hematologue de l’hospitalisation a domicile, verifie les valeurs biologiques et prescrit la chimiotherapie. Dans tous les cas, la chimiotherapie est preparee par la pharmacie hospitaliere, livree a domicile ou en hopital de jour et l’equipe d’hospitalisation a domicile coordonne les soins et forme les infirmiers diplomes d’etat liberaux. Pour les deux prises en charge, l’equipe d’hospitalisation a domicile recupere les bilans, valide informatiquement la chimiotherapie, gere le materiel et organise les venues a l’hopital. Une collaboration etroite entre le service d’hospitalisation a domicile, les intervenants liberaux et les medecins oncologues referents est indispensable pour le bon fonctionnement. Discussion Ce type de fonctionnement permet de mettre en place une chimiotherapie a domicile pour un nombre croissant de patients. Il permet de limiter le nombre de transports pour des enfants habitant souvent a grande distance de l’hopital de reference et dont les traitements necessitent de nombreuses hospitalisations.

Our home-care unit (HCU) is specialized for pediatric cancer patients and has a strong palliative care activity. We believe that the introduction of home-care services can influence the place of palliative care and of death as well as the length of hospitalization. We aimed at describing characteristics and care course of patients treated in our HCU, and tried to identify some factors contributing to home care at the end of life.We conducted a retrospective, observational, monocentric study about patients in pediatric onco-hematology, treated at least one day in our home-care unit, who died between July 1st 2013 and December 31st 2015. Statistical analysis was descriptive and analytic.A total of 74 patients known by our HCU died during study period. Eight were excluded. Forty-three out of 66 patients died at home. During the last 3 months of life, oncology patients have significantly less classical hospitalization, when compared to hematology patients. The implication of general physicians (GP) and nurses and information given to the family increase the possibility for home death. No significant association was found between ages at death, distance between home and hospital, other life conditions and place of death.Our HCU has a strong palliative care activity and a high rate of children dying at home. Good collaborations between our pediatric onco-hematology team and our HCU as well as between our HCU and caregivers optimize palliative care.

Our home care unit (HCU) developed the administration of IV chemotherapy at home for some pediatric oncologic patients.We conducted a retrospective monocentric analysis, leading to identify patients with at least one sequence of chemotherapy at home in 2015.Two hundred and forty four sequences of home chemotherapy have been administered in 2015. We identified two situations for home IV chemotherapy. Pediatric oncologist of day hospital prescribes the sequence. The chemotherapy is delivered at hospital for the first day. HCU takes over for the next days at home. For a sequence replacing a conventional hospitalization, the attending physician examines the patient, and confirm the clinical validation. The pediatric oncologist of HCU checks lab exams, and prescribes the chemotherapy. For both situations, IV chemotherapy is prepared by our hospital pharmacy, delivers at home or at day hospital, and HCU team manages home material and organizes hospitalization.This kind of organization allows setting up home IV CT for more and more patients. It allows to limit daily hospitalization for some patients living far from the hospital, and whose therapies lead to several hospitalizations.

Aims Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an inherited X-linked muscular disease, is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy that is responsible for death in 40% of patients. Our objective was to determine whether inotropic reserve is predictive of LV trend over time. Methods and results A total of 69 DMD patients (age 12.2 ± 2.3 years) were investigated. At baseline, LVEF and the presence of inotropic reserve (defined as an increase in LVEF >10% during dobutamine infusion) were investigated using radionuclide ventriculography. During follow-up (FU), LVEF was remeasured after a mean 29 ± 19 months delay. In the whole population, mean LVEF was 58 ± 8% at baseline and declined to 54 ± 11% during FU (P = 0.004). At baseline, 21 patients (30.4%) had LVEF 45% or 55% at baseline. Conclusion Inotropic reserve assessment allows the distinction of DMD patients who will vs. those who will not show a deterioration in LVEF, thus offering a sensitive approach for delineating the presence and progression of cardiovascular disease in these patients.

Objective.Myocardial perfusion defects using scintigraphy have been frequently observed in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) without coronary stenosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate coronary microcirculation in TA using thallium-201 (201Tl) myocardial scintigraphy and dipyridamole (DPM) as vasodilator agent.Methods.Twenty-five consecutive patients with TA were prospectively recruited. They were asymptomatic for cardiac issues and examined using 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy at rest and after coronary artery vasodilation with intravenous DPM. Factors associated with improvement in myocardial perfusion after DPM were identified in patients with TA.Results.Among 25 patients with TA, 21 (84%) had 201Tl myocardial perfusion defects and 4 (16%) had normal resting myocardial perfusion. Using a 17-segments model for quantitative image analysis, DPM significantly improved resting 201Tl myocardial perfusion in 14 patients (61%) versus 9 patients without improvement (39%). We were able to examine coronary artery stenoses in 11 patients, including 10 patients with thallium perfusion defects, and significant coronary artery stenoses were present in only 2 patients (18.2%). No significant difference was found in traditional cardiovascular risk factors between TA patients with or without improvement of myocardial perfusion after DPM. The absence of improvement in myocardial perfusion after DPM tended to be closely associated with specific features and prognostic factors of TA, such as aortic regurgitation at diagnosis, renovascular hypertension, longer duration of TA disease, and male sex.Conclusion.We found the significantly high prevalence of myocardial perfusion defects mostly improved after vasodilation with DPM, which may indicate the major role of microcirculatory dysfunction in myocardial ischemia in TA.

International audience; Evidence before this study We searched PubMed on June 30, 2016, for English-language cohort studies published since Jan 1, 1980, of patients with invasive listeriosis worldwide with the keywords " listeria " , " listeriosis " , " maternal " , and " neurolisteriosis ". Studies had to include epidemiological or clinical data on listeriosis. All clinical forms of infection were included (bacteraemia, neurolisteriosis, and maternal–neonatal infection). Host risk factors for listeriosis have been well identified, but the clinical features and prognostic factors of the disease are based on retrospective studies compiling heterogeneous data or random collected cases. Furthermore, no clinical trial has ever been done and medical management is not evidence based. Added value of the study Our study is the first prospective clinical study focusing on all forms of invasive listeriosis. The study is based on a national mandatory system that allowed the nearly complete capture of microbiologically proven cases. The study shows a higher burden of listeriosis than reported before: more than 80% of infected mothers experienced major fetal or neonatal complications (fetal loss, very high prematurity, early or late onset disease); only 39% of patients with neurolisteriosis survived and fully recovered. The study provides important new data to improve management and predict outcome in listeriosis, such as determination of the time window for fetal losses (

Resume Le myelome multiple (MM) est une hemopathie maligne caracterisee par une proliferation tumorale de plasmocytes intramedullaires. La mise en evidence de lesions osseuses est capitale dans le bilan d’extension initial et dans le suivi du MM, car elle conditionne la prise en charge therapeutique. Les radiographies standard sont d’un pietre rendement pour la mise en evidence de ces lesions. L’imagerie par resonance magnetique (IRM) est un examen interessant dans la detection de l’infiltration medullaire diffuse. Nous proposons, a travers l’experience de notre centre et une revue large de la litterature, de presenter le potentiel de la tomographie par emission de positons couplee a la tomodensitometrie (TEP/TDM) au fluoro-deoxy-glucose [18F]-FDG pour la mise en evidence et la prise en charge therapeutique des lesions osseuses dans le MM.

Major challenge in paediatric palliative home care is to anticipate management of future events. In our opinion, one of major approach is to avoid medical futility especially resuscitation attempts in terminally-ill children especially if home care will be organized. We therefore prospectively discussed with proxi what should be attempted (e.g. treat symptoms of pain or discomfort) and what should be avoided for the sake of the child. A crucial part of the discussion included anticipating non resuscitation of the terminally-ill child. We informed in writing local emergency unit coordinator on results of the discussion with care takers and suggested a procedure in case of an emergency call. To include the local emergency unit is now a standard in our paediatric oncology department since two situations may occur: 1) Parental panic while facing difficult terminal symptoms. We recommend that the local emergency unit coordinator dispatches an emergency team to the child's home in order to manage symptoms (seizures, pain, etc.) but avoid any futile resuscitation attempt. Parental decision to maintain the child at home should be re-evaluated regularly. 2) Parents who wish to stay at home as long as possible, refusing home-based death of their terminally-ill child. We recommend that the family doctor decides whether or not to refer the child to the hospital. Emergency team may be called upon based on the child's status and need for medicalised transport. Even if it should be rather rare that parents contact directly the emergency unit and not as usually the home care coordinator, such situation may occur and should be anticipated. Therefore, the anticipation of non-resuscitation recommendations is a key approach in paediatric palliative home care. This complex discussion should not be avoided as parental/medical panic may induce unrealistic requests for futile medical procedures.

Involvement of the dopaminergic system in orthostatic tremor is controversial. The aim of this study was to detect possible dopaminergic denervation in primary orthostatic tremor (OT). Twelve consecutive patients with a firm diagnosis of primary orthostatic tremor were compared with age-matched normal controls. All the patients had a neurological examination, surface polymyography, and quantification of striatal dopamine transporters with (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT imaging. There was no significant difference in (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT findings between controls and patients with OT. Longstanding primary orthostatic tremor is not necessarily associated with (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT abnormalities, as 8 of our patients had more than a 10-year history of OT. Primary orthostatic tremor without dopaminergic denervation remains a valid entity, although representing only a subtype of high-frequency OT. A new role may emerge for (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT in distinguishing between patients whose symptoms will be restricted to OT throughout the disease course and patients at an increased risk of developing PD. (c) 2008 Movement Disorder Society.

Although 18F-FDG examinations are widely used, data are lacking on the dose to human embryo tissues in cases of exposure in early pregnancy. Although the photon component can easily be estimated from available data on the pharmacokinetics of 18F-FDG in female organs and from phantom measurements (considering the uterus as the target organ), the intensity of embryo tissue uptake, which is essential for deriving the β+ dose, is not known. We report the case of a patient who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for tumor surveillance and who was later found to have been pregnant at the time of the examination (embryo age, 8 wk). Methods: The patient received 320 MBq of 18F-FDG. Imaging started with an unenhanced CT scan 1 h after the injection, followed by PET acquisition. PET images were used to compute the total number of β+ emissions in embryo tissues per unit of injected activity, from standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements corrected for partial-volume effects. A Monte Carlo track structure code was then used to derive the β+ self-dose and the β+ cross-dose from amniotic fluid. The photon and CT doses were added to obtain the final dose received by the embryo. Results: The mean SUV in embryo tissues was 2.7, after correction for the partial-volume effect. The mean corrected SUV of amniotic fluid was 1.1. Monte Carlo simulation showed that the β+ dose to the embryo (self-dose plus cross-dose from amniotic fluid) was 1.8E−2 mGy per MBq of injected 18F-FDG. Based on MIRD data for the photon dose to the uterus, the estimated photon dose to the embryo was 1.5E−2 mGy/MBq. Thus, the specific 18F-FDG dose to the embryo was 3.3E−2 mGy/MBq (10.6 mGy in this patient). The CT scan added a further 8.3 mGy. Conclusion: The dose to the embryo is 3.3E−2 mGy/MBq of 18F-FDG. The β+ dose contributes 55% of the total dose. This value is higher than previous estimates in late nonhuman-primate pregnancies.

Patients with low-risk neutropenic fever as defined by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score might benefit from ambulatory treatment. Optimal management remains to be clearly defined, and new oral antibiotics need to be evaluated in this setting.Cancer patients with febrile neutropenia and a favorable MASCC score were randomized between oral moxifloxacin and intravenous ceftriaxone. All were fit for early hospital discharge. The global success rate was related to the efficacy of monotherapy, as well as to the success of ambulatory monitoring.The trial was closed prematurely because of low accrual. Ninety-six patients were included (47 in the ceftriaxone arm and 49 in the moxifloxacin arm). A total of 65% were women, 30.2% had lymphoma, 34.4% had metastatic, and 35.4% had non-metastatic solid tumors. The success rates of home antibiotics were 73.9% and 79.2% for ceftriaxone and moxifloxacin, respectively. Seven patients were not discharged, and 14 required re-hospitalization. There were 17% of microbiologically documented infections that were, in most cases, susceptible to oral monotherapy.These results suggest that MASCC is a valid and useful tool to select patients for ambulatory treatments and that oral moxifloxacin monotherapy is safe and effective for the outpatient treatment of cancer patients with low-risk neutropenic fever.

Hybrid positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has now become available, as well as whole-body, low-dose multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The radioactive glucose analogue 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the most widely used tracer but has a relatively low sensitivity in detecting multiple myeloma (MM). We compared FDG with a more recent metabolic tracer, 18F-fluorocholine (FCH), for the detection of MM lesions at time of disease relapse or progression. We analyzed the results of FDG and FCH imaging in 21 MM patients undergoing PET/CT for suspected relapsing or progressive MM. For each patient and each tracer, an on-site reader and a masked reader independently determined the number of intraosseous and extraosseous foci of tracer and the intensity of uptake as measured by their SUVmax and the corresponding target/non-target ratio (T/NT). In the skeleton of 21 patients, no foci were found for two cases, uncountable foci were observed in four patients, including some mismatched FCH/FDG foci. In the 15 patients with countable bone foci, the on-site reader detected 72 FDG foci vs. 127 FCH foci (+76 %), whereas the masked reader detected 69 FDG foci vs. 121 FCH foci (+75 %), both differences being significant. Interobserver agreement on the total number of bone foci was very high, with a kappa coefficient of 0.81 for FDG and 0.89 for FCH. Measurement of uptake in the matched foci that took up both tracers revealed a significantly higher median SUVmax and T/NT for FCH vs. FDG. Almost all unmatched foci were FCH-positive FDG-negative (57/59 = 97 % on-site and 56/60 = 93 % on masked reading); they were more frequently observed than matched foci in the head and neck region. These findings suggest that PET/CT performed for suspected relapsing or progressive MM would reveal more lesions when using FCH rather than FDG.

Summary Objective The American consensus statement on patients with low-risk thyroid cancer, published in 2003, suggests repeat 131I therapy if the thyroglobulin value is elevated at first follow-up. We evaluated this strategy in our practice. Methods Among 407 patients with thyroid cancer who had total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation between January 2000 and December 2003, 12 patients with stage I thyroid cancer (any tumour (T), any node (N), metastasis (M)0 if 45 years), were re-treated on the basis of their thyroglobulin level at first follow-up. Mean patient age was 32·8 years. None of them had a T4 tumour. Thyroglobulin levels after thyroid hormone withdrawal ‘off-T4’ ranged between 4·5 and 251 ng/ml (median 8). One to four courses of 3·7 GBq 131I were given. Results Three patients had a negative 131I therapy scan and an uneventful course. Two patients had slight residual uptake only in the thyroid bed and negative ultrasound examination. Four patients had isolated 131I uptake in the mediastinal region. No abnormalities were found on complementary mediastinal imaging. This finding was interpreted as benign 131I thymic uptake. The last three patients also had mediastinal thymic uptake associated with a slight thyroid bed uptake. One patient had a gradual increase in the thyroglobulin level, and underwent resection of nonfunctioning neck lymph nodes. Thyroglobulin levels declined in all other patients. Conclusions No distant lesions were found in a group of young ‘low-risk’ thyroid cancer patients given empirical 131I therapy for residual thyroglobulin. When blind 131I therapy shows no uptake, or uptake limited to the thymus, 131I therapy should not be repeated. The authors also briefly discuss the hypothesis that enhanced thymus might be a source of benign thyroglobulin secretion.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an inherited X-linked muscular disease, is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy that is responsible for death in 40% of patients. Our objective was to determine whether inotropic reserve is predictive of LV trend over time.A total of 69 DMD patients (age 12.2±2.3 years) were investigated. At baseline, LVEF and the presence of inotropic reserve (defined as an increase in LVEF10% during dobutamine infusion) were investigated using radionuclide ventriculography. During follow-up (FU), LVEF was remeasured after a mean 29±19 months delay. In the whole population, mean LVEF was 58±8% at baseline and declined to 54±11% during FU (P =0.004). At baseline, 21 patients (30.4%) had LVEF55% and 38 had no LV inotropic reserve. LVEF declined in the 38 patients (55.1%) without LV inotropic reserve (58±8% to 52±10%, P =0.001), and not in the other patients (58±8% to 57±11%, P =0.516) (P =0.042 for trends in LVEF between groups after adjustment for age, FU duration, and baseline LVEF). Fewer patients with vs. without inotropropic reserve at baseline show a depressed LVEF55% during follow-up(35.5% vs. 63.2%, respectively, P =0.030). Similar findings were observed in the subgroups of patients with LVEF45% or 55% at baseline.Inotropic reserve assessment allows the distinction of DMD patients who will vs. those who will not show a deterioration in LVEF, thus offering a sensitive approach for delineating the presence and progression of cardiovascular disease in these patients.

FDG PET can detect thyroid cancer in patients referred for exploration of a different cancer. Because of its lack of specificity, however, this modality is not indicated for examination of thyroid nodules: ultrasonography and fine needle biopsy with cytology allow histological diagnosis, which can be completed by iodine-123 scintigraphy when an autonomous nodule is suspected. No information is currently available about the utility of FDG PET in preoperative staging. In follow-up of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for adenocarcinoma, FDG PET is useful for detecting recurrence in cases where serum thyroglobulin levels rise and iodine-131 scintigraphy is negative: surgical resection may be appropriate. Nonetheless FDG PET should be performed more widely and earlier: the initial presence of foci positive for FDG is a major predictor of shorter survival, and most cancer lesions take up either iodine or FDG. In follow-up of medullary carcinoma, FDG PET detects residual tissue better than any other scintigraphic procedures, especially when serum levels of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) are rising rapidly. FDOPA PET seems to have better sensitivity than FDG-PET and may be useful in occult recurrence, as three case reports indicate.

Home care is developing for patients suffering from haematological-oncological pathologies. The nurses and the whole team of the home hospitalisation department of the Leon-Berard Centre in Lyon are prepared to deal with aplasia. Depending on its seriousness, the patient may be hospitalised or treated at home.

We evaluated the concordance between independent clinical, electrophysiological, and [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT scan explorations as a staged procedure for an accurate diagnosis in 9 patients referred with a diagnosis of suspected psychogenic parkinsonism. Three patients were reclassified as pure psychogenic parkinsonism (PP), 6 with a form of combined psychogenic parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease (PP + PD), and none with pure Parkinson's disease (PD). Electrophysiological recordings showed the characteristics of psychogenic tremor in 5 of 7 patients with tremor. In two of these 5, PD tremor was also recorded. SPECT scan results were abnormal in five of 9 patients. In one case of clinically suspected PP + PD, SPECT scan results were normal. Long-term follow-up supported the final diagnosis of PP (initial clinical misdiagnosis). Electrophysiology contributes to the clinical diagnosis of psychogenic tremor and may help confirm associated organic PD tremor. [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT is a robust test to ascertain dopaminergic denervation and increase the confidence of the clinical and electrophysiological diagnosis of associated PD. A combination of clinical, electrophysiological, and [123I]-FP-CIT SPECT scan explorations improves diagnostic accuracy in order to distinguish PP from PP + PD. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society

Home care is developing for patients suffering from haematological-oncological pathologies. The nurses and the whole team of the home hospitalisation department of the Léon-Bérard Centre in Lyon are prepared to deal with aplasia. Depending on its seriousness, the patient may be hospitalised or treated at home.

BACKGROUND Stimulation testing in the first year following thyroid ablation has important prognostic value in thyroid cancer patients. Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is better tolerated than thyroid hormone withdrawal but provides only transient stimulation so that the TSH threshold of 30 mIU x l(-1) which defines adequate testing during thyroid hormone withdrawal is not appropriate for rhTSH stimulation. We looked at rhTSH levels after a standard two intramuscular injections of 0.9 mg rhTSH. METHODS Plasma rhTSH levels were measured 24 h after the second injection in 143 consecutive patients. RESULTS rhTSH levels showed large inter-patient variation (range: 44-240; mean+/-SD: 131+/-48). There was a strong inverse correlation between TSH levels and body weight (P

Background: Technetium Tc 99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxine ( 99m Tc-HMPAO) has been used to radiolabel leukocytes with promising results for its clinical use in inflammatory bowel disease. During active ulcerative colitis, colonoscopy is indicated to determine the extent and the intensity of the disease for proper management. The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether 99m Tc-HMPAO–labeled leukocyte scintigraphy can give information similar to that obtained with colonoscopy during acute attacks of ulcerative colitis. Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients with 50 acute episodes of ulcerative colitis underwent 99m Tc-HMPAO scintigraphy and colonoscopy with biopsies. Scintigraphic determination of disease extent and intensity were compared with those obtained by colonoscopy with biopsies and clinico-biologic markers. Results: The scintigraphic index of disease intensity was correlated with endoscopic index, Truelove index, biologic markers, and local release of interleukin-8. The extent measured by scintigraphy was well correlated to the endoscopic and histologic extent. Conclusions: 99m Tc-HMPAO scintigraphy accurately determines the extent and the intensity of acute ulcerative colitis lesions. This noninvasive method can specify the extent and the intensity of an acute attack in patients with previously known ulcerative colitis. (Gastrointest Endosc 1998;48:491-6.)

In vitro RBC production from stem cells could represent an alternative to classic transfusion products. Until now the clinical feasibility of this concept has not been demonstrated. We addressed the question of the capacity of cultured RBCs (cRBCs) to survive in humans. By using a culture protocol permitting erythroid differentiation from peripheral CD34+ HSC, we generated a homogeneous population of cRBC functional in terms of their deformability, enzyme content, capacity of their hemoglobin to fix/release oxygen, and expression of blood group antigens. We then demonstrated in the nonobese diabetes/severe combined immunodeficiency mouse that cRBC encountered in vivo the conditions necessary for their complete maturation. These data provided the rationale for injecting into one human a homogeneous sample of 1010 cRBCs generated under good manufacturing practice conditions and labeled with 51Cr. The level of these cells in the circulation 26 days after injection was between 41% and 63%, which compares favorably with the reported half-life of 28 ± 2 days for native RBCs. Their survival in vivo testifies globally to their quality and functionality. These data establish the proof of principle for transfusion of in vitro–generated RBCs and path the way toward new developments in transfusion medicine. This study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT0929266.

After thyroidectomy and 131I ablation for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), serum thyroglobulin (Tg) became a sensitive marker of residual disease. It is not uncommon to find patients at follow-up with persistent serum Tg levels and no other clinical or imaging evidence for the disease. The vast majority of these patients, most probably, have occult foci of disease, often in minute cervical lymph nodes. A review of the literature including papers published on PubMed/Medline until June 2010 was made. In this study we speculated that a minority of patients who had undergone surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer might have benign sources of Tg secretion at follow-up. These sources may be foci of radio-resistant ectopic thyroid tissue or a thyroid stimulating hormone-stimulated thymus.

Major challenge in paediatric palliative home care is to anticipate management of future events. In our opinion, one of major approach is to avoid medical futility especially resuscitation attempts in terminally-ill children especially if home care will be organized. We therefore prospectively discussed with proxi what should be attempted (e.g. treat symptoms of pain or discomfort) and what should be avoided for the sake of the child. A crucial part of the discussion included anticipating non resuscitation of the terminally-ill child. We informed in writing local emergency unit coordinator on results of the discussion with care takers and suggested a procedure in case of an emergency call. To include the local emergency unit is now a standard in our paediatric oncology department since two situations may occur: 1) Parental panic while facing difficult terminal symptoms. We recommend that the local emergency unit coordinator dispatches an emergency team to the child's home in order to manage symptoms (seizures, pain, etc.) but avoid any futile resuscitation attempt. Parental decision to maintain the child at home should be re-evaluated regularly. 2) Parents who wish to stay at home as long as possible, refusing home-based death of their terminally-ill child. We recommend that the family doctor decides whether or not to refer the child to the hospital. Emergency team may be called upon based on the child's status and need for medicalised transport. Even if it should be rather rare that parents contact directly the emergency unit and not as usually the home care coordinator, such situation may occur and should be anticipated. Therefore, the anticipation of non-resuscitation recommendations is a key approach in paediatric palliative home care. This complex discussion should not be avoided as parental/medical panic may induce unrealistic requests for futile medical procedures.

18 F-FDG is the most widely used PET radiopharmaceutical. Nevertheless, no data for 18 F-FDG uptake in the human placenta have been reported. We recently reported on embryo dosimetry in a woman who underwent an 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan during early pregnancy. In the present work we attempt an in vivo quantification of the 18 F-FDG uptake by the placenta. The 27-y-old woman received 320 MBq of 18 F-FDG for a follow-up study for Hodgkin's lymphoma and was later discovered to be pregnant (embryo age = 8 wk). Imaging started 1 h after injection. The maximum placental tissue uptake (SUVmax) was 2.5. This value was conservatively attributed to the entire placental volume, i.e., 45 mL, a value representative of the average dimensions of a normal placenta at 8 wk. On the basis of these measurements, placenta 18 F-FDG uptake in our patient was 0.19% of the injected activity. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to derive the photon dose to the embryo from the placenta (0.022 × 10 ―2 mGy per MBq of injected 18 F-FDG) and from the surrounding amniotic fluid (0.017 × 10 ―2 mGy MBq ―1 ). This increases our previously calculated dose (3.3 × 10 ―2 mGy MBq ―1 ) by only a small fraction (1.18%), which does not justify modifying the previous estimate given the overall uncertainties.

Intensive sequential chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2/d on days 1 through 3, etoposide, 200 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 8 through 10, and cytarabine, 500 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 1 through 3 and 8 through 10 was administered to 72 patients aged less than 60 years with previously treated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Forty patients had refractory AML (nonresponse to prior therapy, early first relapse, or multiple relapse) and 32 had late first relapse. Sixty-one percent of patients, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 49% to 72%, achieved complete remission (CR), including 45% (CI: 30% to 62%) of refractory patients and 81% (CI: 64% to 93%) of late first relapse patients. Twenty-nine percent of patients (CI: 19% to 41%) did not respond to therapy and 10% (CI: 4% to 19%) died from therapy-related toxicity. Median duration of aplasia was 30 days. Nonhematologic WHO grade 3 or more toxicity included sepsis (57% of patients), vomiting (10%), mucositis (35%), diarrhea (7%), skin rash (6%), and hyperbilirubinemia (11%). Postinduction therapy was attempted in 36 of 44 CR patients: 16 of them received a second course of the same regimen, 7 received maintenance chemotherapy, 4 underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and 9 allogeneic BMT. At a median follow-up of 20 months, 23 of the 44 complete remitters have relapsed, 1 to 14 months after achievement of CR, including 19 of 31 patients not undergoing BMT. Median survival is 7 months with 16% (CI: 4% to 28%) projected survival at 47 months. Median disease-free survival is 6 months with 21% (CI: 3% to 39%) of CR patients projected to remain disease-free at 46 months. Twenty-six percent (CI: 13% to 43%) of the evaluable patients who did not receive transplantation had inversion of CR duration. Among patients younger than 50 years, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival between patients receiving postinduction chemotherapy and those receiving BMT. We conclude that this chemotherapy regimen is highly efficient and could be used as first-line therapy in young patients with AML.

Home blood transfusion (HBT) is as safe and effective as hospital transfusion. If HBT can potentially cause anxiety, it can also improve patients' quality of life. The different factors influencing patients' preference for home or hospital are examined on the basis of a prospective study including 139 patients from the comprehensive cancer center of Lyon, and who received transfusions in the hospital outpatient department or at home between 2003 and 2004. A Probit model was used to identify the determinants of the choice of place of transfusion. The intensity of preference for this choice was assessed with the contingent valuation method. Of 139 patients included in the study, 97 chose HBT in the eventuality of a new transfusion. This preference was significantly related to a previous experiment of HBT and to the distance between patient's home and hospital. Mean willingness to pay was 60.9 euro for home and 47.3 euro for hospital transfusion. These results, in favour of HBT, are probably related to the strong involvement of physicians of the blood centre and their active collaboration with a high-level homecare network.

Les prises en charge a domicile (PAD), solution alternative a l’hospitalisation, voient leur developpement encourage par les pouvoirs publics qui leur assignent notamment des objectifs en termes de reduction des couts, de rationalisation de la production des soins ou d’amelioration du bien-etre du patient. Trois modalites d’organisation de la PAD sont possibles: l’hospitalisation a domicile, les soins a domicile par des liberaux en dehors de tout cadre ou la coordination par un reseau ville/hopital. En meme temps que nous presentons les differentes dimensions constitutives de la satisfaction du patient, nous montrons comment les PAD sont en mesure d’influencer chacune de ces dimensions. Sur la base de la litterature et de notre experience, nous dressons enfin un bilan positif des PAD relativement a la satisfaction du patient, malgre des limites methodologiques.

Rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP) is a rare, autosomal-dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by abrupt onset, over hours to days, of dystonic and parkinsonian symptoms. To date, RDP has been described in a small number of families, and in only four sporadic cases. Methods We here report a new sporadic case of RDP who has a novel de novo mutation in the ATP1A3 gene. Striatal dopamine transporters have been assessed quantitatively using [ 123 I]-FP-CIT SPECT. A volume of interest (VOI) was drawn within the occipital cortex to obtain non-specific activity and specific to non-specific binding ratios (BR) were calculated. A single template of predefined VOI 3D-drawn on right and left caudate nucleus and putamen was applied to the spatially normalized BR images. BR values were compared to those obtained from an age-matched control group and from a group of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr score 2 or 3). A [ 99m Tc]-HMPAO cerebral blood flow study was also performed. Results In the control group, BR values (mean ± Standard Deviation) were 3.5 ± 0.4 for the left striatum and 3.3 ± 0.3 for the right one. RDP patient's values were 3 and 2.7, respectively. In the Parkinson group, values were 1.6 ± 0.3 and 1.7 ± 0.4, respectively. [ 99m Tc]-HMPAO scan showed homogeneous cortical and sub-cortical perfusion. Conclusion Quantification of striatal [ 123 I]-FP-CIT uptake in a new sporadic case of RDP with a novel mutation in the ATP1A3 gene showed values just within the range of normality. [ 99m Tc]-HMPAO scan was normal.

Although 18F-FDG examinations are widely used, data are lacking on the dose to human embryo tissues in cases of exposure in early pregnancy. Although the photon component can easily be estimated from available data on the pharmacokinetics of 18F-FDG in female organs and from phantom measurements (considering the uterus as the target organ), the intensity of embryo tissue uptake, which is essential for deriving the beta+ dose, is not known. We report the case of a patient who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for tumor surveillance and who was later found to have been pregnant at the time of the examination (embryo age, 8 wk).The patient received 320 MBq of (18)F-FDG. Imaging started with an unenhanced CT scan 1 h after the injection, followed by PET acquisition. PET images were used to compute the total number of beta+ emissions in embryo tissues per unit of injected activity, from standardized uptake value (SUV) measurements corrected for partial-volume effects. A Monte Carlo track structure code was then used to derive the beta+ self-dose and the beta+ cross-dose from amniotic fluid. The photon and CT doses were added to obtain the final dose received by the embryo.The mean SUV in embryo tissues was 2.7, after correction for the partial-volume effect. The mean corrected SUV of amniotic fluid was 1.1. Monte Carlo simulation showed that the beta+ dose to the embryo (self-dose plus cross-dose from amniotic fluid) was 1.8E-2 mGy per MBq of injected 18F-FDG. Based on MIRD data for the photon dose to the uterus, the estimated photon dose to the embryo was 1.5E-2 mGy/MBq. Thus, the specific 18F-FDG dose to the embryo was 3.3E-2 mGy/MBq (10.6 mGy in this patient). The CT scan added a further 8.3 mGy.The dose to the embryo is 3.3E-2 mGy/MBq of 18F-FDG. The beta+ dose contributes 55% of the total dose. This value is higher than previous estimates in late nonhuman-primate pregnancies.

National audience; La réalisation de transfusions sanguines est fréquente au cours du traitement des pathologies cancéreuses. Une anémie et/ou une thrombopénie surviennent habituellement après une chimiothérapie et/ou un envahissement médullaire et caractérisent le plus souvent un stade avancé de la maladie cancéreuse où le pronostic vital peut être engagé à court terme. La grande majorité de ces transfusions sanguines ont lieu à l'hôpital, en hospitalisation de jour principalement. Néanmoins, certains établissements de transfusion sanguine disposent de centres de soins ou d'équipes mobiles pouvant pratiquer la transfusion sanguine à domicile (TAD). Par exemple, en collaboration avec l'établissement régional de transfusion sanguine Rhône-Alpes, le Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer de Lyon - Léon Bérard (CLB) organise depuis plusieurs années une partie des transfusions sanguines de ses patients au domicile. Ces transfusions ont été développées dans le cadre plus global d'un réseau de soins à domicile et d'une structure d'hospitalisation à domicile coordonnés par l'hôpital, et qui prennent en charge une part importante des traitements anticancéreux (chimiothérapies, alimentation parentérale, antibiothérapie, contrôle de la douleur...). Le site transfusionnel de Lyon, appartenant à l'Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS) réalise près de 800 transfusions à domicile chaque année, et deux médecins transfuseurs participent à cette activité. En pratique, les modalités d'administration de la TAD sont les suivantes : pour les patients suivis par la coordination des soins à domicile du centre, le médecin coordinateur des soins à domicile décide, sur la base des numérations sanguines, de la nécessité d'une transfusion et la prescription est alors transmise à l'antenne transfusionnelle de l'EFS. Pour certains patients transfusés fréquemment, la décision peut être prise directement par le médecin transfuseur en concertation avec la coordination.Le médecin transfuseur de l'EFS prend alors rendez-vous avec le patient. Il apporte les produits sanguins au domicile, met en place la perfusion et reste pendant tout le temps d'administration le jour de la transfusion. S'il est indépendant du centre, le médecin transfuseur est donc identifié par les patients comme un professionnel de santé avec des compétences particulières dans la transfusion, travaillant en étroite collaboration avec la coordination des soins à domicile et avec lequel ils pourront être en rapports répétés.

Left ventricular dysfunction in systemic sclerosis may be due in part to myocardial ischemia caused by a disturbance in coronary microcirculation. We evaluated the pharmacodynamic effect of the calcium channel blocker nicardipine on left ventricular function assessed by radionuclide ventriculography in 20 patients with systemic sclerosis. Resting gated, blood-pool images were obtained at baseline and 90 min after 40 mg of oral nicardipine. The mean (+/- SEM) left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased from 65.4 +/- 2.3% at baseline to 71.3 +/- 2.3% after nicardipine (p less than 0.005). The mean global defect score significantly decreased from 2.90 +/- 0.73 without nicardipine to 1.50 +/- 0.52 with nicardipine (p less than 0.01). The mean number of left ventricular sectors with severe hypokinesis significantly decreased from 0.80 +/- 0.24 at baseline to 0.20 +/- 0.09 after nicardipine (p less than 0.05). No significant side effects were observed with nicardipine. These results demonstrate short-term improvement in left ventricular function with nicardipine in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Nests of thyroid tissue in the tongue are described in about 10% of necropsies. This ectopic thyroid tissue usually lies dormant, but may manifest itself during times of increased stimulation. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of lingual thyroid visualization on I-131 diagnostic whole-body scan during the follow-up of thyroid cancer patients.We reviewed the files of 548 consecutive patients who underwent a diagnostic whole-body scan with 200 MBq of I-131 between January 2000 and December 2005, as part of the follow-up for a differentiated thyroid cancer. Every patient had been previously treated with a total thyroidectomy and had received 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) of I-131 for remnant ablation.A focus of uptake located between the 2 submandibular salivary glands, suggestive of ectopic thyroid tissue in the tongue or in the upper part of the thyroglossal duct, was found in 5 of the 548 patients (0.9%). In only one of these patients was the uptake visible at the time of postsurgery thyroid remnant ablation scan. Thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were positive under stimulation in 3 of the 5 patients, and another patient had undetectable Tg, but positive anti-Tg antibodies. Radiologic imaging (MRI and/or ultrasound) was performed in 3 patients and confirmed the presence of a mass suggestive of ectopic thyroid tissue in two. Invasive lingual biopsy was not performed to verify the benign nature.When examining whole-body scans (therapeutic or diagnostic) in a patient with persistent Tg detection after thyroid ablation, one should carefully search for any uptake between the submandibular glands that may be suggestive of ectopic tissue.

Bone is the second most frequent target of distant metastases in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, and such forms carry a very poor prognosis. The impact of 131I therapy in this setting is controversial. We describe the diagnostic circumstances and outcome of patients with bone metastases recently managed in two institutions. Among 921 consecutive thyroid cancer patients who had total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation between January 2000 and December 2004 and who were subsequently monitored, bone metastases had been diagnosed in 16 patients. In three cases, the bone metastases were non-functioning (negative 131I uptake) . These patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy but progressed rapidly. The other 13 patients had functioning (positive 131I uptake) bone metastases. In five of them, thyroid cancer was revealed by signs of distant involvement (bone pain, n = 4; dyspnea, n = 1). The bone metastases progressed in these five patients, despite local therapy and multiple courses of 131I. The bone metastases in the remaining eight patients were discovered on the post-surgery 131I therapy scan. Complementary radiological studies were negative except in one patient in whom one of the metastases (a 5 mm lesion of the right humerus) was visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six of these patients showed a good response to 131I therapy, with 131I uptake and Tg levels becoming undetectable or showing a sharp fall. One patient refused 131I therapy; bone metastases became visible on MRI within 1 year and the Tg level rose tenfold. The disease progressed in one patient despite 131I therapy. Post-surgical 131I ablation can contribute to early detection of bone metastases at a time when the Tg level may be only moderately elevated, when other radiological studies are negative, and when the disease is potentially curable by 131I therapy.

FDG PET can detect thyroid cancer in patients referred for exploration of a different cancer. Because of its lack of specificity, however, this modality is not indicated for examination of thyroid nodules: ultrasonography and fine needle biopsy with cytology allow histological diagnosis, which can be completed by iodine-123 scintigraphy when an autonomous nodule is suspected. No information is currently available about the utility of FDG PET in preoperative staging. In follow-up of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for adenocarcinoma, FDG PET is useful for detecting recurrence in cases where serum thyroglobulin levels rise and iodine-131 scintigraphy is negative: surgical resection may be appropriate. Nonetheless FDG PET should be performed more widely and earlier: the initial presence of foci positive for FDG is a major predictor of shorter survival, and most cancer lesions take up either iodine or FDG. In follow-up of medullary carcinoma, FDG PET detects residual tissue better than any other scintigraphic procedures, especially when serum levels of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) are rising rapidly. FDOPA PET seems to have better sensitivity than FDG-PET and may be useful in occult recurrence, as three case reports indicate.

Recurrences are frequent in thyroid cancer patients and long-term follow-up is therefore necessary. We evaluated the yield of rhTSH stimulation in three groups of patients, classified according to the UICC/TNM risk stratification and the results of first follow-up testing.The study population comprised 129 patients referred for rhTSH testing. All had undergone first follow-up testing after thyroid hormone withdrawal (off-T4) within 1 year of 131I ablation. Negative first follow-up testing was defined as Tg2 ng/ml and no neck uptake on 131I diagnostic whole-body scan. Seventy-five patients had stage I thyroid cancer and negative first follow-up testing (group A), 19 had stage I disease and positive first follow-up testing (group B), and 35 had stage II-IV disease (group C). RhTSH stimulation was performed an average of 6 years after first follow-up testing.131I diagnostic scanning after rhTSH was negative in all 75 group A patients. Only one group A patient had detectable Tg after rhTSH injection (1.5 ng/ml), but Tg had also been detected at baseline in this patient (1.45 ng/ml). Given the absence of a response to stimulation, suggesting an interference, Tg was reassessed with a different technique and proved to be undetectable (0.1 ng/ml). Stimulation with rhTSH in group B showed residual Tg in seven patients and residual 131I uptake in the thyroid bed in two patients, but none of these patients had signs of disease progression. Five group C patients (14%) had a positive rhTSH test result, and this was suggestive of disease progression in at least two cases.The first follow-up testing is essential for prognostic classification after 131I ablation of thyroid cancer. In stage I patients, undetectable Tg and negative 131I scan 1 year after ablation define a large population of subjects who have a very low risk of recurrence and who do not require further stimulation tests. In contrast, periodic rhTSH stimulation tests appear useful in higher-risk patients.

We evaluated the concordance between independent clinical, electrophysiological, and [(123)I]-FP-CIT SPECT scan explorations as a staged procedure for an accurate diagnosis in 9 patients referred with a diagnosis of suspected psychogenic parkinsonism. Three patients were reclassified as pure psychogenic parkinsonism (PP), 6 with a form of combined psychogenic parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease (PP + PD), and none with pure Parkinson's disease (PD). Electrophysiological recordings showed the characteristics of psychogenic tremor in 5 of 7 patients with tremor. In two of these 5, PD tremor was also recorded. SPECT scan results were abnormal in five of 9 patients. In one case of clinically suspected PP + PD, SPECT scan results were normal. Long-term follow-up supported the final diagnosis of PP (initial clinical misdiagnosis). Electrophysiology contributes to the clinical diagnosis of psychogenic tremor and may help confirm associated organic PD tremor. [(123)I]-FP-CIT SPECT is a robust test to ascertain dopaminergic denervation and increase the confidence of the clinical and electrophysiological diagnosis of associated PD. A combination of clinical, electrophysiological, and [(123)I]-FP-CIT SPECT scan explorations improves diagnostic accuracy in order to distinguish PP from PP + PD.

This study aimed to determine factors favoring home death for cancer patients in a context of coordinated home care. A retrospective study was conducted among patients followed up by the home care coordinating unit of the cancer center of Lyon. The main endpoint was place of death. Univariate analysis included general characteristics (age, gender, rural or urban residence, disease), Karnofsky Index (KI), type of care at referral (chemotherapy, palliative care, or other supportive care), and coordinating medical oncologist (MCO) home visits. Significant factors were used in a logistic regression analysis. Of 250 patients, 90 (36%) had home death. Low KI and MCO home visit were correlated with home death (odds ratio, respectively, 2.1 and 3.1). These results indicate that health care support favors home death. A hospital-based home care unit is effective for bridging the gap between community and hospital. MCO home visits offer concrete support to health care professionals, patients, and relatives.

The preferences of advanced cancer patients and the impact of cancer management on relatives remain partly unknown. We present the preliminary results of a prospective study evaluating quality of care (QC), quality of life (QoL) and family impact (FI) in advanced cancer patients treated at home or in hospital, depending on their own choice. QC is evaluated using STAS questionnaire, and QoL and symptom control using EORTC QLQ-C30, Spielberger questionnaire and VAS for pain evaluation. FI is evaluated using GHQ28 and semi-structured interviews conducted at days 0, 15, 30, then monthly until death. Intermediate analysis of 52 patients (100 expected) of whom 63 % had chosen home care, 26 % in-hospital care. Actual assignment is home care: 56 %, in-hospital care: 44 %. Place of death is home: 15 %, hospital: 85 %. In the QC study, the two symptoms most frequently rated by nurses are anxiety and pain, in either group. Patient information and communication are also similar in both groups. The QoL and symptom study shows that patients also rate pain as frequent (84 %) but moderate (mean VAS score 2.5/10). However, the most frequent symptom is fatigue (100 %). Anxiety is rated higher at hospital, as well as FI (anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction and global score). Palliative care research is sometimes difficult but feasible. In this study, most patients prefer home care. Anxiety and FI seem lower at home. However, re-hospitalisations just before death are frequent and death generally occurs in hospital.

To assess right ventricular (RV) function in patients with early systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the acute effects of calcium channel blockers on RV ejection fraction (RVEF).Forty-two consecutive patients with SSc with less than 5 years' disease duration and normal pulmonary arterial pressure (35 women, 7 men; mean age 54.3 +/- 9.7 years; 16 with diffuse and 26 with limited cutaneous forms, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure 30.3 +/- 5.4 mmHg) were prospectively evaluated. All underwent pulmonary function testing, echocardiography, and radionuclide ventriculography at rest and 2 hours after receiving 40 mg oral nicardipine, and were compared at baseline with 20 gender and age matched controls.None of the patients with SSc had clinical evidence of heart failure. At baseline, SSc patients had significantly lower LVEF (68.5% +/- 7.9 vs 72.4% +/- 5.0, p = 0.049) and RVEF (36.5% +/- 7.0 vs 45.8% +/- 5.7, p0.0001). Sixteen patients had reduced RVEF (35%), 3 had reduced LVEF (55%), and 10 had reduced peak filling rate (PFR). RVEF correlated to both LVEF and PFR (r = 0.64, p0.0001, and r = 0.36, p = 0.0037, respectively), whereas no correlation was found with pulmonary function impairment or pulmonary arterial pressure. Nicardipine resulted in a significant increase in RVEF (from 36.5% +/- 7.0 to 42.3% +/- 8.4, p0.001) whereas afterload indicated by mean arterial pressure did not differ significantly.Reduced RVEF appears to be a common feature in early SSc; it may be due to intrinsic myocardial involvement and is acutely improved by nicardipine.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by frequent myocardial involvement. Alteration in left ventricular (LV) function is reported to be rare; however, it may be underestimated by conventional measurements. Our aim was to prospectively investigate LV function in SSc patients, using Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE), a modern and accurate method of assessing myocardial function.Seventeen consecutive SSc patients with normal cardiac examination, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and radionuclide LV ejection fraction (EF) were prospectively investigated. Myocardial perfusion was investigated using single-photon-emission computerized tomography (SPECT). Echocardiography (ECHO), systolic and diastolic strain-rate (SR) measured in the posterior wall by TDE were used to investigate myocardial function, and compared with results of 15 matched controls. All patients (53+/-8 years; 14 women; systolic PAP 33+/-6 mmHg; LVEF 67+/-8%) had myocardial SPECT perfusion abnormalities. Despite normal ECHO, they had lower systolic SR than controls (1.7+/-0.5 versus 3.8+/-1.7 cm-1, p0.0001), and lower diastolic SR (3.7+/-1.5 versus 5.6+/-1.2 cm-1, p=0.0004). Ten SSc patients had reduced systolic SR1.7 cm-1 and 11 reduced diastolic SR3.5 cm-1.Frequent abnormal myocardial perfusion is confirmed in SSc patients. Reduced contractility is also frequent as detected by TDE, despite normal radionuclide LVEF.

Purpose To assess myocardial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in sarcoidosis. Methods Cardiac assessment was prospectively performed in patients with sarcoidosis and included physical examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy, and coronary angiography if coronary disease was suspected. T2-weighted black-blood single-shot and inversion recovery fast spin echo, functional gradient echo, and T1-weighted gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced cardiac MRI examinations were performed in 40 patients while other cardiac disease was excluded. Results Results of the MRI images were normal in cardiac-asymptomatic stage I or Lofgren syndrome patients (n = 4). Among the patients with cardiac-asymptomatic multiple organ sarcoidosis, 17 of 31 patients (54%) had MRI myocardial abnormalities similar to those observed in five patients with cardiac symptoms: nodular peripheral increased intramyocardial signal intensity on both T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced images (n = 5), focal or patchy increased signal on contrast-enhanced images with or without myocardial thickening (n = 10), and focal increased signal only on T2-weighted images with or without myocardial thinning (n = 2). Focal contractility abnormalities were noticed in nine patients. Conclusions These preliminary results emphasize the occurrence of subclinical myocardial MRI abnormalities in patients with ongoing systemic sarcoidosis.

Comparative economic evaluations of chemotherapy administered in hospital day-care units or in the home are relatively scarce. Furthermore, most existing evaluations do not include methodologic studies. This study seeks to compare the costs of anticancer chemotherapy with hospital at-home care versus a hospital day-care unit in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.This study is based on a randomized controlled crossover trial that included 42 patients, to whom chemotherapy courses were alternatively given in both settings. All cost categories were taken into account according to microcosting methods. A detailed assessment was performed on coordination and health care in both structures (marginal costs and average costs), from the viewpoint of society.The marginal cost for one chemotherapy administration was significantly higher with hospital at-home care than in the hospital day-care unit ($232.5 vs. $157, p.0001). Conversely, the average cost was significantly lower with home care than at the hospital ($252.6 vs. $277.3, p = .0002).The results show that the interest of developing home care in anticancer chemotherapy is questionable regarding costs. In the French healthcare system, where there is a surplus of hospital beds, marginal costs seem to be more relevant indicators in most cases than average costs.

PURPOSE: To determine whether intensifying the dose of adjuvant chemotherapy improves the outcome of women with primary breast cancer and 10 or more involved axillary nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 150) were randomized to receive either four cycles of standard doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (arm A) or four courses of intensified mitoxantrone 23 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, with filgrastim 5 g/kg/d from days 2 to 15, every 3 weeks (arm B). Disease-free survival (DFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS) were determined using life-table estimates. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in DFS (P = .44), DDFS (P = .67), or OS (P = .99) between the two groups at 5 years; DDFS was 45% (arm A) versus 50% (arm B), and DFS was 41% versus 49%, respectively. Five-year survival was similar in both arms (61% v 60%, respectively). Failure to note an intergroup difference in outcome was unrelated to relative dose-intensity. Analysis of patients with 15 or more positive nodes revealed a significant difference in 5-year DDFS (19% v 49% in arm B; P = .01). Toxicity was generally mild in both groups, with no toxic death. The incidence of febrile neutropenia was low (0.3% v 3%). Alopecia was less frequent in arm B (P < .001). CONCLUSION: This randomized trial confirms the feasibility of administering mitoxantrone 23 mg/m2 with cyclophosphamide and filgrastim. Although there was no significant difference between conventional and intensified arms at 5 years, according to subgroup analysis, intensified treatment may decrease the risk of relapse in patients with 15 or more positive nodes compared with doxorubicin an cyclophosphamide.

In Crohn's disease (CD), labeled leukocyte scintigraphy results are highly correlated with radioendoscopic findings and the degree of histologic inflammation. We evaluated the correlation between leukocyte activity measured by two complementary methods. polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-elastase concentration and leukocyte scintigraphy. In 20 patients with CD, labeled leukocytes, 99m technetium hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) scintigraphy, and PMN-elastase concentration were evaluated on the same day. A good correlation was found between PMN-elastase concentrations and the scintigraphic scores (p = 0.005; rs = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.20-0.83). Scintigraphy results were significantly correlated with CD activity index (p = 0.023, rs = 0.50). In four patients, scintigraphic scores and clinical disease activity were not consistent due to the state of PMN leukocyte activation, measured by elastase concentration. In CD, PMN-elastase can provide information about the degree of activation of PMN leukocytes and may explain discrepancy between clinical and scintigraphic indexes.

Background The optimal management of spinal cord astrocytomas remains to be defined, as aggressive surgery and radiotherapy are associated with a high risk of morbidity. The value of chemotherapy has not been assessed. Procedure The patient in the present report harbored an infiltrating spinal cord tumor causing paraplegia. A limited biopsy showed a grade II astrocytoma. Following biopsy, the patient received sequential chemotherapy with vincristine and carboplatin. Results Full neurological recovery and complete radiologically-confirmed remission were achieved after eight months of treatment. Chemotherapy was discontinued after eleven months due to carboplatin hypersensitivity. No adjuvant radiotherapy was given, and the patient remains in complete remission fourteen months after completion of treatment. Conclusions Chemotherapy demonstrates a promising activity and could change the standard practice if its efficacy is confirmed in larger studies. It could be used alone or combined with radiotherapy when post-operative treatment is recommended. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 29:560–562, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.