Chronic back pain is associated with significant burden, yet few epidemiological studies have provided data on chronic back pain, its predictors and correlates in France.
Data were drawn from a ...cross-sectional survey conducted in France (n = 17,249) using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Sample age ranges from 18 to 98 with a mean of 46.39 years (SD = 17.44), and was 56.7% female. Medical conditions were assessed using the CIDI, quality of life was assessed using both the physical and mental component scores of the SF-36.
Overall, 38.3% of adults reported chronic back pain. Female gender, older age, lower education, manual labor occupation, and population density were significantly associated with the distribution of chronic back pain. Chronic back pain was associated with lower scores on all SF-36 mean scores and on the Physical Composite Score and Mental Composite Score controlling for comorbid medical conditions including other types of chronic pain.
The study highlights the burden of chronic back pain in the general population and underscores its correlation with quality of life. Such data contribute to raise awareness among clinicians and health policy makers on the necessity of prevention, early diagnosis, proper management and rehabilitation policies in order to minimize the burden associated with chronic pain.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed to treat neuropathic pain but the quality of evidence remains low. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of neuronavigated ...rTMS to the primary motor cortex (M1) or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in neuropathic pain over 25 weeks. We carried out a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at four outpatient clinics in France. Patients aged 18-75 years with peripheral neuropathic pain were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to M1 or DLPFC-rTMS and rerandomized at a 2:1 ratio to active or sham-rTMS (10 Hz, 3000 pulses/session, 15 sessions over 22 weeks). Patients and investigators were blind to treatment allocation. The primary end point was the comparison between active M1-rTMS, active DLPCF-rTMS and sham-rTMS for the change over the course of 25 weeks (Group × Time interaction) in average pain intensity (from 0 no pain to 10 maximal pain) on the Brief Pain Inventory, using a mixed model repeated measures analysis in patients who received at least one rTMS session (modified intention-to-treat population). Secondary outcomes included other measures of pain intensity and relief, sensory and affective dimensions of pain, quality of pain, self-reported pain intensity and fatigue (patients diary), Patient and Clinician Global Impression of Change (PGIC, CGIC), quality of life, sleep, mood and catastrophizing. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02010281. A total of 152 patients were randomized and 149 received treatment (49 for M1; 52 for DLPFC; 48 for sham). M1-rTMS reduced pain intensity versus sham-rTMS (estimate for Group × Session interaction: -0.048 ± 0.02; 95% CI: -0.09 to -0.01; P = 0.01). DLPFC-rTMS was not better than sham (estimate: -0.003 ± 0.01; 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.03, P = 0.9). M1-rRMS, but not DLPFC-rTMS, was also superior to sham-rTMS on pain relief, sensory dimension of pain, self-reported pain intensity and fatigue, PGIC and CGIC. There were no effects on quality of pain, mood, sleep and quality of life as all groups improved similarly over time. Headache was the most common side effect and occurred in 17 (34.7%), 23 (44.2%) and 13 (27.1%) patients from M1, DLPFC and sham groups, respectively (P = 0.2). Our results support the clinical relevance of M1-rTMS, but not of DLPFC-rTMS, for peripheral neuropathic pain with an excellent safety profile.
We carried out a national survey on postoperative pain (POP) management in a representative sample (public/private, teaching/non-teaching, size) of 76 surgical centers in France. Based on medical ...records and questionnaires, we evaluated adult patients 24
h after surgery, concerning information: pre and postoperative pain, evaluation, treatment and side effects. A local consultant provided information about POP management. Data were recorded for 1900 adult patients, 69.3% of whom remembered information on POP. Information was mainly delivered orally (90.3%) and rarely noted on the patient’s chart (18.2%). Written evaluations of POP were frequent on the ward (93.7%) with appropriate intervals (4.1 (4.0)
h), but not frequently prescribed (32.7%). Pain evaluations were based on visual analog scale (21.1%), numerical scale (41.2%), verbal scale (13.8%) or non-numerical tool (24%). Pain was rarely a criterion for recovery room discharge (19.8%). Reported POP was mild at rest (2.7 (1.3)), moderate during movement (4.9 (1.9)) and intense at its maximal level (6.4 (2.0)). Incidence of side effects was similar according to patient (26.4%) or medical chart (25.1%) including mostly nausea and vomiting (83.3%). Analgesia was frequently initiated during anesthesia (63.6%). Patient-controlled analgesia (21.4%) was used less frequently than subcutaneous morphine (35.1%) whose prescription frequently did not follow guidelines. Non-opioid analgesics used included paracetamol (90.3%), ketoprofen (48.5%) and nefopam (21.4%). Epidural (1.5%) and peripheral (4.7%) nerve blocks were under used. Evaluation (63.4%) or treatment (74.1%) protocols were not available for all patients. This national, prospective, patient-based, survey reveals both progress and persistent challenges in POP management.
The evaluation of aortic root dilation is of major importance for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with diverse diseases, including the Marfan syndrome. However, we noted that the available ...nomograms suggested a lower aortic root dilation rate in adults (75%) than in children (90%), when the opposite would have been expected. To establish new nomograms, we selected a population of 353 normal children. We took transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of the aortic root diameters at the level of the aortic annulus, sinuses of Valsalva, sinotubular junction, and ascending aorta according to the American Society of Echocardiography recommendations. All diameters correlated well with the height, weight, body surface area, and age (r = 0.75 to 0.84, p <0.0001). Covariance analysis adjusting for body surface area showed slightly larger diameters at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva in male children than in female children (+1 mm, p = 0.0002). Equations and derived nomograms were developed, giving the upper limit of normal (allowing simple recognition of aortic dilation) and the Z score (allowing fine quantification of dilation and differentiation of normal growth from pathologic dilation) for all 4 aortic root diameters (ie, aortic annulus, sinuses of Valsalva, sinotubular junction, and proximal ascending aorta) according to body surface area and gender. We applied the nomograms to 282 children with confirmed Marfan syndrome, of whom 65.2% presented with dilation of the sinuses of Valsalva. In conclusion, we propose equations to calculate the upper limit of normal and Z-score for aortic root diameters measured by 2-dimensional echocardiography, which should be useful tools for the diagnosis and follow-up of aortic root aneurysms in children.
Despite improved surveillance capacities and WHO recommendations for subdistrict analysis, routine epidemic surveillance of acute bacterial meningitis in the African meningitis belt remains ...largely limited to the district level. We evaluated the appropriateness and performance of analyses at higher spatial resolution. We used suspected meningitis surveillance data at health centre (HC) resolution from Burkina Faso from 14 health districts spanning years 2004-2014 and analysed them using spatio-temporal statistics and generative models. An operational analysis compared epidemic signals at district and HC-level using weekly incidence thresholds. Eighty-four percent (N = 98/116) of epidemic clusters spanned only one HC-week. Spatial propagation of epidemic clusters was mostly limited to 10-30 km. During the 2004-2009 (with serogroup A meningitis) and 2010-2014 (after serogroup A elimination) period, using weekly HC-level incidence thresholds of 100 and 50 per 100,000 respectively, we found a gain in epidemic detection and timeliness in 9 (41% of total) and 10 (67%), respectively, district years with at least one HC signal. Individual meningitis epidemics expanded little in space, suggesting that a health centre level analysis is most appropriate for epidemic surveillance. Epidemic surveillance could gain in precision and timeliness by higher spatial resolution. The optimal threshold should be defined depending on the current background incidence of bacterial meningitis.
Studies have linked the use of corporal punishment of children to the development of mental health disorders. Despite the recommendation of international governing bodies for a complete ban of the ...practice, there is little European data available on the effects of corporal punishment on mental health and the influence of laws banning corporal punishment. Using data from the School Children Mental Health Europe survey, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the prevalence and legal status of corporal punishment across six European countries and to evaluate the association between parental use of corporal punishment and children's mental health. The study found that odds of having parents who reported using occasional to frequent corporal punishment were 1.7 times higher in countries where its use is legal, controlling for socio-demographic factors. Children with parents who reported using corporal punishment had higher rates of both externalized and internalized mental health disorders.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Exposure to traffic is an established risk factor for the triggering of myocardial infarction (MI). Particulate matter, mainly emitted by diesel vehicles, appears to be the most important stressor. ...However, the possible influence of benzene from gasoline-fueled cars has not been explored so far.
We conducted a case-crossover study from 2,134 MI cases recorded by the local Coronary Heart Disease Registry (2000-2007) in the Strasbourg Metropolitan Area (France). Available individual data were age, gender, previous history of ischemic heart disease and address of residence at the time of the event. Nitrogen dioxide, particles of median aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM10), ozone, carbon monoxide and benzene air concentrations were modeled on an hourly basis at the census block level over the study period using the deterministic ADMS-Urban air dispersion model. Model input data were emissions inventories, background pollution measurements, and meteorological data. We have found a positive, statistically significant association between concentrations of benzene and the onset of MI: per cent increase in risk for a 1 µg/m3 increase in benzene concentration in the previous 0, 0-1 and 1 day was 10.4 (95% confidence interval 3-18.2), 10.7 (2.7-19.2) and 7.2 (0.3-14.5), respectively. The associations between the other pollutants and outcome were much lower and in accordance with the literature.
We have observed that benzene in ambient air is strongly associated with the triggering of MI. This novel finding needs confirmation. If so, this would mean that not only diesel vehicles, the main particulate matter emitters, but also gasoline-fueled cars--main benzene emitters-, should be taken into account for public health action.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
IntroductionDuring spring 2020, four regions of France faced a surge of severe COVID-19 patients which threatened to overflow local intensive care units (ICU) capacities. As an emergency response, ...between 13 March 2020 and 10 April 2020, an estimated 661 patients were transferred from overcrowded ICUs to eight other French regions and four neighbouring countries. The intensity, geographical spread and the diversity of vectors used are unprecedented. The study aims at assessing the impact of these inter-ICU transfers on the short-term and medium-term physical and psychological outcomes in this population of severe COVID-19 patients.Methods and analysisThe TRANSCOV cohort is a multicentre observational retrospective study. All transferred patients between ICUs outside the origin region will be invited to take part. For each transfer, up to four control patients will be selected among those admitted in the same ICU during the same period (±4 days of transfer date). Clinical data will be extracted from medical records and will include haemodynamic and respiratory parameters, as well as clinical severity scores before, during and after transfer. Data linkage with medicoadministrative data will enrich the clinical database and allow follow-up up to 1 year after initial admission.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the French Ethics and Scientific Committee on the 16 July 2020 (file no. 2046524). The results will be disseminated via publication of scientific articles and communications in national and international conferences.Trial registration number20 CO 015 CZ.
Children's fear of a car accident occurring to parents or themselves has been used as a concrete example to illustrate one of the symptoms of anxiety disorders such as separation anxiety and ...generalized anxiety. However, its usage across countries may be questionable where the prevalence of this specific type of injury differs. This cross-sectional study compares samples from seven diverse European countries (Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Turkey) to see if an environmental exposure, car accident death rate per 100,000 people (country-wide from WHO data), is associated with children's self-report of car accident fears. In this study, 6-11 year-old children were surveyed by a diagnostic instrument (Dominic Interactive) about several situations and asked if they believed they were similar to a fictional child depicted in said situations. Mothers were surveyed for additional sociodemographic information. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for covariates including mother's age, mother's education, single parenting, and mother's professional inactivity. We report a monotonic relationship between higher car accident death rates and the prevalence of children reporting fear of parent's or own accident. Relative to a reference of 3.9 deaths per 100,000 people, children's odds of reporting fear of parent's accident ranged from 1.99 (95% CI 1.51-2.61) times to 4.84 (95% CI 3.68-6.37) times as the risk of death by car accident increased across countries. A similar result arose from fear of child's own accident, with significant ORs ranging from 1.91 (95% CI 1.53-2.40) to 2.68 (95% CI 2.07-3.47) alongside increased death rates. Given that reporting of these fears accompanies correspondingly high accident death rates, the pertinence of using fear of car accidents as an illustration for some diagnostic item for mental disorders cross-nationally appears to be an issue.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aortic root dilatation is the principal life-threatening complication in Marfan syndrome, leading to aortic regurgitation, dissection, and rupture. Beta blockade slows aortic dilatation in adults, ...but there has been no definitive evidence in children. Therefore, the evolution of aortic diameter at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva in 155 children (82 males, 73 females) aged <12 years who had been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome according to international criteria was retrospectively studied. Affected children treated by β blockade ≥1 time during their lives (n = 77, mean age at diagnosis 6.1 ± 3.2 years) were compared with affected children who had never received β blockers (n = 78; 42 males, mean age 7.4 ± 5.2 years). A mean delay of 1.3 years was observed between diagnosis and the initiation of β blockade in the treated group (mean age at initiation 7.5 years). At the time of diagnosis, aortic diameters were similar in the 2 groups, but after 1.3 years, aortic diameters were greater in the group of children in whom β blockers had been initiated. On univariate analysis, aortic diameter was related to age and height, but not gender or familial history of aortic dissection. On multivariate analysis, treatment and age remained significant determinants of aortic diameter. Beta blockade significantly decreased the rate of aortic dilatation at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva by a mean of 0.16 mm/year (p <0.05), an effect that increased with treatment duration. A trend toward lower cardiac mortality, decreased need for preventive aortic surgery, and less dissection was observed. In conclusion, β blockade appears to limit aortic dilatation during childhood in patients affected by Marfan syndrome. Therefore, this treatment should be recommended as soon as the diagnosis is made.
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