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Background and Aims: Increasing evidence suggests that keratoconus may have an inflammatory component. The possible association of keratoconus with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of keratoconus and suspect keratoconus in patients with IBD. Methods: All consecutive adult IBD patients seen in the Department of Gastroenterology, Nancy, University Hospital, France, between March 2014 and June 2014 were included. Pregnant women, rigid lens wearers, patients with a family history of keratoconus and patients with a history of refractive surgery were excluded. A control group of healthy subjects was included. All included patients underwent a corneal topography (OPD-Scan III, Nidek) to detect keratoconus or suspect keratoconus. Rabinowitz videokeratographic indices were the basis of corneal topography interpretation. Results: Two hundred and one IBD patients were included, 150 with Crohn's disease and 51 with ulcerative colitis. Mean age was 38.7 years and 121 were women. Mean disease duration was 10.8 years. Two IBD patients were diagnosed with keratoconus (1%) and 38 with suspect keratoconus (18.9%). Overall prevalence of keratoconus and suspect keratoconus was 19.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.5-22.0). None of the 100 healthy subjects had keratoconus, while three were diagnosed with suspect keratoconus (p = 0.0002 versus IBD patients). Only smoking was identified as a risk factor (p = 0.029), especially in Crohn's disease. Conclusion: Inflammatory bowel disease patients may carry an increased risk of keratoconus and suspect keratoconus, smoking further increasing this risk. This supports the hypothesis of an inflammatory origin of keratoconus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Ocular manifestations are frequent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Aim: To evaluate for the first time the value of ocular symptoms in predicting ophthalmologic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: All consecutive inflammatory bowel disease patients seen in the Department of Gastroenterology (Nancy, University Hospital, France) between April 2009 and July 2011 were interviewed for this cross-sectional study using a pre-established questionnaire. If the patient had at least one ocular symptom, he systematically underwent an ophthalmologic examination (visual acuity, Break-Up Time test, Schirmer Test, slit-lamp exam with fundus examination). Results: This cross-sectional survey was completed by 305 patients: 169 were women (55.2%), 228 had Crohn''s disease (74.5%). Ninety-eight patients (32%) reported at least one ocular symptom: ocular irritation (56.8%), red eye (40.5%), blurred vision (37.8%), progressive visual loss (34.4%), ocular pain (31.1%), myodesopsia (23.3%), eyelid secretion (12.2%), dry eye (9.5%), watering (6.8%), diplopia (5.4%), metamorphopsia (4%), and sudden visual loss (4%). Following ophthalmologic examination (n =74), 41.9% patients had evidence of dry eye (n =31), 14.9% blepharitis (n =11) and 1.4% scleritis (n =1). No uveitis was reported. Conclusion: Ocular symptoms are frequent in inflammatory bowel disease, but are non-specific and rarely associated with ocular inflammation. Systematic ocular symptoms assessment is of poor value for diagnosing ocular inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: More attention should be paid to rare serious adverse events such as anaphylaxis to increase the safety of anesthesia. Objective: To report the results of an 8-year survey of anaphylaxis during anesthesia in France. Methods: Data from patients who experienced anaphylaxis between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2004, were analyzed. Estimated incidences were obtained by combining this database with data from the French pharmacovigilance system by using a capture-recapture method. The number of patients exposed to the offending agents was obtained from data collected during the national survey of anesthesia practice. Results: A total of 2516 patients was included. A diagnosis of IgE-mediated reaction was established in 1816 cases (72.18%). The most common causes were neuromuscular blocking agents ([NMBAs]; n = 1067; 58.08%), latex (n = 361; 19.65%), and antibiotics (n = 236; 12.85%). The median annual incidence per million procedures was higher for females 154.9 (5th-95th percentile, 117.2-193.1) than for males 55.4 (5th-95th percentile, 42.0-68.0). It reached 250.9 (5th-95th percentile, 189.8-312.9) for women in cases of allergic reactions to NMBAs. In children, a diagnosis of IgE-mediated reactions was obtained in 122 cases (45.9%). The most common causes were latex (n = 51; 41.8%), NMBAs (n = 39; 31.97%), and antibiotics (n = 11; 9.02%). In contrast with adults, no female predominance was observed. Conclusion: The incidence of allergic reactions during anesthesia, estimated on a national basis, is higher than previously estimated. These results should be taken into account in the evaluation of the benefit-to-risk ratio of the various anesthetic techniques in individuals. The similar incidence of reactions according to sex before adolescence suggests a role for sex hormones in the increase of anaphylaxis observed in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses cutaneous adverse drug reaction (CADR) caused by a substitute of generic drugs. Generic drugs have activity compounds that are similar to original drugs but their excipients can be different from quality and quantity. These excipients are responsible for CADR on patients. Information on the first case of CADR that occurred to a patient who had taken Zyloric pills is provided.

Comments on a study on the link between thalidomide and sexual dysfunction in men. Appearance of sexual dysfunction in men following increase in the dose of thalidomide.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Phototherapy burns and fluoxetine," by T. O'Brien published in a 1996 issue.

Allergic reactions to vaccines can be classified as sensitivity to one of the vaccine components, pseudo-allergic reactions, often after hyperimmunization, and exacerbation of atopic symptoms or vasculitis. Pseudo-allergic reactions, some possibly due to hyperimmunization, are probably more common than true allergies. Atopic reactions should not be confused with the "flash" phenomenon, defined as an exacerbation of an allergic reaction due to a reduction in the allergic reactivity threshold following the vaccine injection. BCGitis occurs frequently, and for this reason, guidelines for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) have been modified. The vaccine is now reserved for people at risk of exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This review provides an update on the vaccination modalities for people allergic to eggs, on the assessment that should be performed when a reaction occurs due to tetanus vaccination, on the urticaria after hepatitis vaccination, on an aluminum granuloma, which is more and more frequent in young children, and vasculitis after flu vaccination and BCGitis. The side effects associated with new, recently released vaccines, such as anti-influenza A H1N1 or anti-human papilloma virus (HPV) will also be presented.

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR) during chemotherapy are not rare, but difficult to manage. Case 1, a 49-year-old man was treated with 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin for a pancreatic tumour. He developed a generalized urticaria during his seventh course of chemotherapy. 2 months later, skin tests determined a granisetron allergy with an ondansetron cross-reaction. Substituting the anti-emetic allowed continuation of the chemotherapy. Case 2, a 44-year-old woman, having recurring breast cancer that was treated with doxorubicin, and docetaxel developed a maculo-papular rash (MPR) the day after the first chemotherapy treatment. 2 weeks later, skin tests determined a corticosteroid class A allergy. Using a class C corticosteroid, no other reaction occurred. Case 3, a 44-year-old woman, having breast cancer treated with 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, and epirubicin developed an MPR after the second chemotherapy treatment. 12 days later, skin tests showed a granisetron allergy. Using alizapride, chemotherapy was continued with no further reaction. CADR necessitate a thorough investigation, modified according to the patient's chemotherapy treatment chronology and precautions while testing the molecules. Tests are rarely carried out, however, these tests allow for continuation of effective chemotherapy once the responsible agent has been determined. The 3 cases reported underline the role of complementary treatment and the necessity to test those molecules.

We report a documented severe immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity reaction associated with use of 1% methylene blue for detection of tubal permeability occurring during general anesthesia. Clinical symptoms, biological assessment results, and cutaneous test positivity confirmed an anaphylactic reaction to methylene blue. This case report confirms the need for systematic allergological investigation of all drugs and substances administered during the perioperative period in the event of a hypersensitivity reaction occurring during anesthesia. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the possibility of hypersensitivity reactions involving any drug or substance used during surgery.

Following the second series of intravenous human immunoglobulins (IVIg; 0.4 g/kg) prescribed to treat a sensorimotor polyneuritis, a 28-year-old woman developed pompholyx that recurred after each of the following monthly treatments with IVIg. During the administration of the 10th series, the patient developed a typical baboon syndrome. Immunohistochemical studies of a skin biopsy revealed an unexpected epidermal expression of P-selectin, usually expressed by endothelial cells. Patch, prick and intradermal tests performed with IVIg on the back, arms and buttocks gave negative results on immediate and delayed readings. IVIg were re-administered, with the informed consent of the patient, and induced a generalized maculopapular rash. This is the first reported case of baboon syndrome induced by IVIg. Although extensive skin testing was performed, all test sites remained negative. We wonder whether IVIg could reproduce immunological mechanisms involved in the 3 types of systemic contact dermatitis (pompholyx, baboon syndrome and maculopapular rash), including the epidermal expression of P-selectin.

Aspiration of foreign bodies occurs mainly in children and elderly people. When the foreign body is a tablet, this event can be more severe due to the local release of active molecules. We observed spontaneously regressing bronchial necrosis and granuloma due to the aspiration of a tablet of ferrous sulphate. We stress the need to consider the possibility of aspiration of a tablet in elderly patients with acute respiratory symptoms, and the importance of an early removal of the tablet.

We report a case of amiodarone-induced hepatitis accompanied by hyperthyroidism in which estimations of amiodarone in blood and in the liver and histological examinations were performed at the start and end of a 3-month interval. Our observation demonstrates the persistence in the liver of amiodarone and its principal metabolite for 3 months after the drug was withdrawn. There was no correlation between the persistence of the drug, the elevation of enzyme levels, and the extent of histological damage in the liver.