Karine Goueslard

Introduction Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are frequently overlapping conditions. Unlike in GCA, vascular inflammation is absent in PMR. Therefore, serum biomarkers reflecting vascular remodelling could be used to identify GCA in cases of apparently isolated PMR. Materials and methods 45 patients with isolated PMR and 29 patients with PMR/GCA overlap were included. Blood samples were collected before starting glucocorticoids for all patients. Serum biomarkers reflecting systemic inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), CXCL9), vascular remodelling (MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9) and endothelial function (sCD141, sCD146, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, vWFA2) were measured by Luminex assays. Results Patients with GCA had higher serum levels of sCD141 (p=0.002) and CXCL9 (p=0.002) than isolated PMR. By contrast, serum levels of MMP-3 (p=0.01) and IL-6 (p=0.004) were lower in GCA than isolated PMR. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for sCD141, CXCL9, IL-6 and MMP-3. Separately, none of them were >0.7, but combinations revealed higher diagnostic accuracy. The CXCL9/IL-6 ratio was significantly increased in patients with GCA (p=0.0001; cut-off >32.8, AUC 0.76), while the MMP-3/sCD141 ratio was significantly lower in patients with GCA (pConclusion Combined serum biomarkers such as CXCL9/IL-6 and MMP-3/sCD141 could help identify GCA in patients with isolated PMR. It could allow to select patients with PMR in whom complementary examinations are needed.

The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and breast cancer (BC) risk is complex. We aimed to examine this association in a systematic review of the literature. This review was done using the PubMed/Medline and Web of Science databases, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used for the assessment of bias and quality of studies. Only English-language articles published before 1 June 2021, were included. Fourteen studies were included in this systematic review. Among them, eight did not find statistically significant results. Three studies showed a statistically significant increased risk of BC after GDM, and they explained this potential increased risk by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and low-grade inflammation. However, three studies showed a statistically significant decreased risk of BC after GDM, suggesting a possible protective effect of hormonal changes induced by GDM during pregnancy. These controversial results should be interpreted with caution due to both quantitative and qualitative methodological shortcomings. Further investigations are thus needed in order to gain a better understanding of the associations between GDM and BC, and their underlying mechanisms.

The aim of this large retrospective cohort study was to use a quasi-exhaustive national medico-administrative database of deliveries in France to determine the risk of developing pancreatic cancer (PC) in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This nationwide population-based study included women aged 14–55 who gave birth between 1st January 2008 and 31 December 2009. The women were followed-up epidemiologically for eight years. Survival analyses using Cox regression models, adjusted for age, subsequent type 2 diabetes, and tobacco consumption, were performed on the time to occurrence of hospitalization for PC. The onset of GDM, tobacco consumption and subsequent type 2 diabetes were considered as time-dependent variables. Among 1,352,560 women included, 95,314 had a history of GDM (7.05%) and 126 women were hospitalized for PC (0.01%). Over the eight years of follow-up, GDM was significantly associated with a higher risk of hospitalization with PC in the first Cox regression model adjusted for age and subsequent type 2 diabetes (HR = 1.81 95% CI [1.06–3.10]). The second Cox regression model adjusted for the same covariates, plus tobacco consumption, showed that GDM was still significantly associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for PC with nearly the same estimated risk (HR = 1.77 95% CI [1.03–3.03]). Gestational diabetes was significantly associated with a greater risk of hospital admission for pancreatic cancer within eight years, regardless of subsequent type 2 diabetes.

Since the 2000s, selective episiotomy has been systematically recommended worldwide. In France, the recommended episiotomy rate in vaginal deliveries is less than 30%. The aims of this study were to describe the evolution of episiotomy rates between 2007 and 2014, especially for vaginal deliveries without instrumental assistance and to assess individual characteristics and birth environment factors associated with episiotomy. This population-based study included all hospital discharge abstracts for all deliveries in France from 2007 to 2014. The use of episiotomy in vaginal deliveries was identified by one code in the French Common Classification of Medical Procedures. The episiotomy rate per department and its evolution is described from 2007 to 2014. A mixed model was used to assess associations with episiotomy for non-operative vaginal deliveries and the risk factors related to the women’s characteristics and the birth environment. There were approximately 540,000 non-operative vaginal deliveries per year, in the study period. The national episiotomy rate for vaginal deliveries overall significantly decreased from 26.7% in 2007 to 19.9% in 2014. For non-operative deliveries, this rate fell from 21.1% to 14.1%. For the latter, the use of episiotomy was significantly associated with breech vaginal delivery (aOR = 1.27 [1.23–1.30]), epidural analgesia (aOR = 1.45 [1.43–1.47]), non-reassuring fetal heart rate (aOR = 1.47 [1.47–1.49]), and giving birth for the first time (aOR = 3.85 [3.84–4.00]). The episiotomy rate decreased throughout France, for vaginal deliveries overall and for non-operative vaginal deliveries. This decrease is probably due to proactive changes in practices to restrict the number of episiotomies, which should be performed only if beneficial to the mother and the infant.

The effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is not assessed within the first 10 years postpartum, regardless of subsequent diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of CVD events related to GDM within 7 years of postpartum. This nationwide population-based study of deliveries in 2007 and 2008 with a follow-up of 7 years was based on data from the French medico-administrative database. Two groups were formed: women with a history of GDM and women without GDM or previous diabetes. CVD included angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty, carotid endarterectomy and fibrinolysis. Hypertensive disease was assessed separately. Determinants studied included age, obesity, subsequent diabetes mellitus and hypertensive diseases during pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratios for outcomes were calculated using multiple logistic regressions. The hospital database recorded 1,518,990 deliveries in 2007 and 2008. Among these, 62,958 women had a history of GDM. After adjusting for age, DM, obesity and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, GDM was significantly associated with a higher risk of CVD (adjusted Odds Ratio aOR = 1.25 [1.09–1.43]). Considering each variable in a separate model, GDM was associated with angina pectoris (aOR = 1.68 [1.29–2.20]), myocardial infarction (aOR = 1.92 [1.36–2.71]) and hypertension (aOR = 2.72 [2.58–2.88]) but not with stroke. A history of GDM was identified as a risk factor of CVD, especially coronary vascular diseases, within the 7 years postpartum. A lifestyle changes from postpartum onwards can be recommended and supported.