THE PROZAC and his fellows would not be more effective against depression

THE PROZAC and his fellows would not be more effective against depression that ... Sugar! This is the result of a British study published yesterday in the American journal serious online Plos Medicine. " Researchers from the University of Hull (Yorkshire) brought together, in order to compare various surveys published in recent years on several antidepressants in the same family as Prozac, Effexor or Deroxat.



But scientists English did not stop there as they managed to get their hands on studies not previously disclosed by the laboratories manufacturing these drugs. The result, after an analysis of all these data on people slightly depressant, the effects of these antidepressants are similar to those of placebo molecules filled with sugar.

"Pills of happiness" are significantly more effective than capsules sweet only when administered to severe depression, according to the scale usually used by psychiatrists to establish their diagnosis.

"The results of this study are not so different from what France recommends the High Authority of health, Professor Maurice decrypts Ferreri, chief of psychiatry at the Hospital Saint-Antoine in Paris. The drugs should be administered only when there is a serious depression. "When it is light, we must focus on psychotherapy, according to the specialist. When severe - weight loss, inability to leave home, suicidal ideation, and so on. -- Hospitalization or there, we can not do without drugs associated with therapy.

"Too many antidepressants are given no reason"

"But in practice," the psychiatrist, this is not always the way it is. Too many antidepressants are given no reason to non depression. And too many have not severe depression treatments. Same story on the side of David Servan-Schreiber, author of "Healing" (Robert Laffont). "It has been shown that for mild depression, make a half-hour of jogging three times a week for four months was as effective as medication," said psychiatrist. Similarly light therapy has proved its worth. However, for severe depression, antidepressants are of course essential. "The two psychiatrists advise patients troubled by the study of" Plos "But do not stop their treatment without medical advice. "These are drugs that can create a shortage, warns David Servan-Schreiber. We must not stop on its own. "

the tuberculosis epidemic is gaining ground

A consultation in a hospital in Uzbekistan.
A consultation in a hospital in Uzbekistan. Photo credits: Imke LASS / REDUX-REA
Of the 9 million new cases each year, 400000 resistant to many antibiotics and some to treatment.

Are we on the brink of a global epidemic of tuberculosis known as "XDR" due to a mycobacterium that is resistant to all known TB? The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are now 9 million new cases of tuberculosis every year proved, and among these cases are multidrug approximately 400000. In other words, TB infects who can not be destroyed by the usual TB (isoniazid and rifampicin) that make up the treatment of "front lines".

Worse: experts from WHO are now convinced that nearly 27000 patients are victims each year from infection with a tubercle bacillus "trim" naturally invincible by all known antibiotics TB. And this is only an approximation, since many African countries had no means to collect such statistics!

A study commissioned by the WHO and released this week reinforces this fear: an analysis of 90000 new cases in 81 countries selected and monitored between 2002 and 2006 confirms, if necessary, all projections epidemiologists. The resistance rates reached records in Russia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe: to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, 22.3% of cases are resistant to standard therapy. In Moldova, it is 19% of the subjects which contain a sick bacillus resistant, and in several regions of Ukraine and Russia rates exceed 15%. But in the last survey in 2000, the world record was held by Kazakhstan with 14%: it is widely beaten today. It must not be forgotten in this grim Mongolia winners of the Interior and the region of Heilongjiang, China, with resistance lowest (7.5%), but very real.

"Fire Storm"

While a normal treatment lasts only six to eight months for a bacillus sensitive, it may be extended to two years in the event of resistance. Costs soar, according to the journal Science, between 3 and 100 times the normal price. But funding is inadequate to stem this trend: of the $ 4.8 billion deemed necessary by WHO, it lacks 2.5 billion. 27000 ultra cases are present in 45 of 81 countries surveyed, and would represent the tip of the iceberg of an iceberg.

Gerald Friedland, from Yale University, believes that the two epidemics of AIDS and tuberculosis can create a "fire storm" in South Africa. That threat was announced for some time: in August 2006 (see box), researchers announced the first epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis had reached the community of Zulu Tugela Ferry, South Africa (in KwaZulu-Natal). It has affected 217 people with a mortality rate of 84%, and since then, the bacterial strain has infected the nine South African provinces. And molecular biologists have taken thousands of samples frozen samples of diseased Oldest: DNA showed that the resistant strain was present as early as 2001 in Natal and 9% of cases classified as resistant were in fact already resistant to all antibiotics !

Lan - Téchiné and Diagana to rescue the health of young

The filmmaker André Téchiné and the athlete Stephane Diagana will participate in the "youth health plan" presented Wednesday by the Council of Ministers by the Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot, said the government spokesman. They will be charged respectively with a mission on suicide prevention and the development of sport at the university.

The plan Roselyne Bachelot focuses on the prevention of risk that are anorexia, "Practical addiction or suicide. The government plans and the generalization of "Houses of adolescents", aimed at young people in a situation of "extreme vulnerability." By 2010, there will be one for each department, "said Lawrence Wauquiez. A hotline "Over youth health" will also be set up for both adolescents and parents and will be extended to calls from mobile phones.

An annual consultation free for youth

From 1 January 2009, the plan was finally open for all young people aged 16 to 25 the possibility of a free annual consultation at the general practitioner of their choice, "according to Lawrence Wauquiez. The annual cost of this measure is estimated at a maximum of 10 million euros. "The situation of 16-25 years is a situation which may give rise to real or psychological distress, either by lack of resources (...). The announcement of a real health plan for young people has been eagerly awaited" commented government spokesman, who added that the plan "will be further enhanced in the future".

Health Minister went to the house of adolescents "La Casita" at the Ibn Sina Hospital in Bobigny, in Seine-Saint-Denis. "The use of drugs, new forms of alcohol, suicide or the importance of eating behavior disorders such as anorexia are many indicators worrying among young people," said Roselyne Bachelot, claiming that "900,000 adolescents in a state of psychological distress. "

f Health includes a medical consultation annual free for all young people aged 16 to 25.

CHU "assume its responsibilities"

After hearing two reports published on Tuesday, February 26 overexposure to radiation of 145 patients at the Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse in 2006 and 2007, the Director General of the hospital, Jean-Jacques Romatet acknowledged responsibility for its establishment face what he calls "disaster" and "failure".

"Catastrophe and failure"

"When we are hospitable and we have the desire to heal, an accident like this is a disaster for us. You can use the keywords most terrible, the most appalling for us it is a failure," at he said at a press conference in the presence of Bernard Pradère, Chairman of the Medical Commission of establishment.

Organization insufficient

Jean-Jacques Romatet acknowledged "inadequate organization at the root of poor calibration, only the cause of the accident", and "the lack in the quality of the announcement" to the sick. "We will take all measures that are necessary for the organization in place should be improved, not only in this business but also in the field of risk management throughout the hospital," he continued.
According to him, the report by the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) was determined with precision the number of patients who have had damage, by types of pathology, and those that must be followed during the three to five years to come. "
According to the report, 31 patients are in this case and 11 others who for the moment have no effect but, as a precautionary measure, should be monitored. "

"Taking responsibility"

"Faced with the failures, we want to assume our responsibilities, ie at the same time correcting and draw conclusions with respect to our expertise sick after the damage and suffering," said the director of CHU Toulouse, who stated that "it can not be translated as compensation." On compensation, he said that the amount of 5,000 euros to "those who were told there had been an accident." "Those for whom life has changed benefit after expertise, compensation, which has nothing to do with the 5,000 euros," he said. The hospital hopes lead to "an agreement in April."
Jean-Jacques Romatet has however refused to recognize "a lack of competence" in Toulouse Rangueil-and competition with the Institute of Cancer Control Claudius-Régaud. "We are not on the same field," he said.
Finally, he said that Igas relieved suggested it "was not necessary to go to court". "Setting this question by looking for culprits is not the solution," he concluded.

Two investigative reports published

Earlier in the day, two reports were published Tuesday on the website of the Ministry of Health: one of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS), the other at the Institut de Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN). According to them, an error calibration of the machine by the manufacturer and a malfunction of the hospital would be at the root of surirradiations of 145 patients in the Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse
"The team from CHU Rangueil initially made a technical error calibration of a beam on the aircraft (...) It was only after a year that the firm went Brainlab account of the mistake. Meanwhile, 145 people received doses of radiation too strong, "explained the Minister of Health, Roselyne Bachelot, questioned Tuesday in" Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France. "

5000 euros per patient concerned

Roselyne Bachelot, who also reconnaîssait "breakdowns in the organisation of the hospital" and "information to victims (...) partial and too late", specified that "the insurer of the hospital agreed to pay 5,000 euros for each of the patients involved. "
According to the report of IGAS, "the error in causing the accident occurred during the calibration phase of the multi-blade collimator (...) At this stage, a measurement error leads to a mistake in the modeling of the dose and, ultimately, in the dose to the patient. " However, "the most advanced teams, especially the cancer centre of Nantes who came to install the same equipment, have not been adequately consulted" and "controls implemented could not detect the anomaly."

"No patient has been informed"

The same report points out that after the discovery of an overdose, "no patient has been informed in the statutory limit of 15 days." It was "by the media that the majority of patients have learned of the overdose of which they were victims."
The report of the IRSN also indicates that the calibration error is "exclusively due to non-compliance with the procedures established by the manufacturer to a single point, including the criticality be shielded from personal non-specialists Dosimetry.

Euthanasia - Marie Humbert: "inhumane to deny what Chantal"

Interview - The battle to die with dignity conducted by Chantal Sébire, disfigured for life by an incurable disease, similar to that conducted by Marie Humbert for his son Vincent. The latter reflects on LCI.fr
Marie Humbert France wants the "stop the hypocrisy" and "legislating" in this area, as has just done LuxembourgIn 2003, you helped your son quadriplegic, Vincent, to die. What inspires you the story of Chantal Sébire, disfigured by an incurable disease and scalable, and asked the head of State to help him leave with dignity by providing euthanasia?
Marie Humbert: When I saw her testify on France 3, it has returned. It is a traumatized mother who no longer knows what to do. She does not want her three children help because she knows that it is too traumatic for them. It was exactly like Vincent requesting euthanasia to the president. But as for us, unfortunately, I think it will not give anything. Before contacting the media, with Vincent, we had waited for three long months for a response from the Elysée Palace. It should not be for human beings not to grant this lady what she wants. It's incredible.

LCI.fr: Will you try to contact Chantal to help?
Marie Humbert: I do that this morning returned to Guadeloupe. I went to see it now with my association "Should you busy." For two nights I think about what I could say to him. I will not tell him "Come fly with us and wait." It's impossible. "You can not tell someone to do this way or that way. Therefore it to find the solution on its own.

LCI.fr: His doctor said he refused to act against the law, although his conscience commanded him to help her patient to die?
Marie Humbert: Before the case of my son Vincent, the law was worse than today and Dr Chaussoy has still taken the risk to help him leave. I think this doctor could try to help, because it is treated at home. If you knew all the people who are assisting in the quiet. That is what is abominable. We need to hide, not to tell anybody. While these people ask just goes faster, surrounded by their families.

LCI.fr: Luxembourg has just legalize euthanasia. In France, since your struggle, we Leonetti Act of 2005. We need to go further?
Marie Humbert: Léonetti The law has not solved anything at all! It is only for people at the end of life. It proposes to stop all treatment and food. That means that after two days, many leave, but only after 7 days, there are those who are still not parties, which die slowly of starvation. If this law had existed time my son, never, oh never, I would have agreed to implement it!

You know, all these stories whenever revive the debate, but every time the soufflé falls. And during that time, there are lots of people who are suffering. It is lamentable! It's going to be like abortion. France was one of the last countries in Europe to accept it. Euthanasia was legalized in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg. There are talks underway in Spain and Italy and many other European countries. France will still be the last. While this is not a political issue. Right or left, on s'en fout. Suffice it to be for the respect of human beings. If medicine can do nothing for us and we are tired of suffering, we should be able to choose to leave. Until recently, I have a lady who wrote to me to say that his son met with multiple sclerosis dramatically, came to commit suicide at the age of 36 without saying anything to anyone that nobody can be regarded as an accomplice. It's atrocious. That suggests how. We must stop the hypocrisy and legislate.