Presse Med
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The two most frequent endocrine complications of hemochromatosis are diabetes mellitus and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Other endocrine disorders related to this disease are very rare and are described especially in the most severe and earliest posttransfusion iron overloads. Endocrine complications are evidence of advanced hemochromatosis, often already associated with cirrhosis. ⋯ Testing for iron overload is recommended in subjects with atypical type 2 diabetes (for example, patients who are not overweight) and in cases of hypogonadism, characteristic pigmentation, or cirrhosis. Phlebotomy plays an important role in the management of endocrine complications of hemochromatosis, especially when diagnosis is early. In all cases of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, primary hemochromatosis must be considered.
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Nurses play a crucial role in end-of-life care, especially for outpatients. It is important to assess their knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management during the end-of-life period. ⋯ Attitudes toward pain management at the end of life do not depend only on book learning. They are also influenced by more subjective factors that may cause inequality in care for women and the elderly. Nurse training programs should take such factors into account.
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Severe brain injuries, most often occurring in young subjects, are a major source of lost work years. These injuries are medical and surgical emergencies. Prehospital management of severe brain injuries requires intubation and mechanical ventilation aimed at normal arterial carbon dioxide pressure. ⋯ In the case of refractory intracranial hypertension, the cerebral perfusion pressure and osmotherapy should be adapted to the volume of the cerebral contusion. The use of deep hypothermia and barbiturates should be minimized as much as possible. Magnetic resonance imaging makes it possible to identify the cerebral lesions.
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The basic principle of radiofrequency ablation is that the deposit of electromagnetic energy in a tumor causes heat ("cooks the tumor") and thereby destroys it. In the liver, this ablation may be performed percutaneously (by needles) or surgically (laparotomy, laparoscopy). ⋯ There is no associated mortality and only slight morbidity, due principally to hemorrhage, infection or stenosis of the bile ducts. Results show a 5-year survival rate of 40% for hepatocellular carcinoma and 22% for metastases.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
[Comparative study of hospital costs associated with human albumin 20% (Vialebex 20%) or polygeline as a fluid resuscitation strategy for cirrhotic ascites].
To compare the hospital costs associated with two fluid resuscitation strategies for cirrhotic ascites: one with human albumin 20% (Vialebex 20%) and one with polygeline. ⋯ The economic results of this trial favor a fluid resuscitation strategy that uses human albumin 20% for cirrhotic patients. They are consistent with the clinical results and help assess the cost-benefit ratio of human albumin 20% for this indication.