Introduction: Intanza®/IDflu® (Sanofi Pasteur SA, Lyon, France), a split-virion, trivalent influenza vaccine delivered by intradermal injection with a microinjection system, became available in adults 18-59 years of age (9 μg) and ≥60 years of age (15 μg) as of the 2010/2011 northern hemisphere influenza season. Methods: This study assessed the acceptability of intradermal vaccination with Intanza/IDflu in routine clinical practice in adult vaccinees and their vaccine prescribers. Vaccine prescribers and adults who had elected to be vaccinated with Intanza/IDflu during the 2010/2011 northern hemisphere influenza season were recruited to complete surveys about their opinions of influenza vaccination and their acceptance of the intradermal vaccination. Czech subjects 18-59 years of age were vaccinated with the 9 μg formulation and those ≥60 years of age with the 15 μg formulation of Intanza/IDflu. All Turkish subjects were vaccinated with the 9 μg formulation, as Intanza/IDflu 15 µg was not available in Turkey at the time the survey was conducted. Results: One thousand and twelve vaccinees and 28 vaccine prescribers in the Czech Republic, and 249 vaccinees and 15 vaccine prescribers in Turkey completed questionnaires. Overall, 96.1% of vaccinees were satisfied or very satisfied with Intanza/IDflu. The main reason for satisfaction was that the injection was considered minimally painful. Most (93.9%) vaccines reported that they would prefer to receive the same vaccination next year. Furthermore, 95.3% of vaccine prescribers were satisfied or very satisfied with the intradermal vaccine, and 82.6% preferred intradermal over intramuscular vaccination. Conclusions: Intradermal vaccination for seasonal influenza using Intanza/IDflu is well accepted by adult vaccinees and vaccine prescribers. By providing an additional, well-accepted method, Intanza/IDflu might help increase seasonal influenza vaccination rates in adults.

Introduction: The purpose of this French survey was to evaluate the adherence to the guidelines (EORTC, American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO], French Standards/Options and Recommendations [SOR], European Society of Medical Oncology [ESMO], Food and Drug Administration [FDA], and National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN]) for the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) in the management of chemo-induced anemia for patients with advanced breast and lung cancers. Methods: The number of 200 patients were recruited for each malignancy. The collected items were characteristics of ESA initiation, treatment, adjustment, and discontinuation. Metastatic breast cancer and stage IIIb/IV lung cancer patients who had received chemotherapy were eligible. The endpoint was to compare French daily practices with national and international guidelines. Results: From November to December 2010, 185 breast cancer and 227 lung cancer files were collected. The main reason of ESA initiation was the correction of anemia (49% and 44%, respectively). The median baseline value of hemoglobin was 9.5 g/dL, and the median target value was 12 g/dL. The mean duration of treatment was 12 and 14 weeks, respectively. The mean gain of hemoglobin was 2.3 g/dL and 1.9 g/dL, respectively. In the breast cancer population, two patients (1%) developed a thromboembolic event, which is lower than what has been described in the literature. An iron supplement was prescribed in 55% of patients with breast cancer and 49% of those with lung cancer, with about one-third of intravenous iron. The interruption of ESA and chemotherapy was synchronous in about 20% of cases, and was earlier in lung cancer patients than in breast cancer patients. Conclusion: The quality and the rigor of the sampling represent one of the key points of this survey. The French and international guidelines for the use of ESA were well respected by the physicians. Overall, the management of chemo-induced anemia was improved compared with what was described in the historical surveys (European Cancer Anaemia Survey [ECAS], French Anaemia Cancer Treatment [F-ACT]).

Introduction: Self-monitoring home blood pressure (BP) devices are currently recommended for long-term follow-up of hypertension and its management. Some of these devices are integrated with algorithms aimed at detecting atrial fibrillation (AF), which is common essential hypertension. This study was designed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of two widely diffused home BP monitoring devices in detecting AF in an unselected population of outpatients referred to a hypertension clinic because of high BP. Methods: In 503 consecutive patients the authors simultaneously compared the accuracy of the Microlife® BP A200 Plus (Microlife) and the OMRON® M6 (OMRON) home BP devices, in detecting AF. Results: Systolic and diastolic BP as well as heart rate (HR) values detected by the two devices were not significantly different. Pulse irregularity was detected in 124 and 112 patients with the OMRON M6 and Microlife BP A200 Plus devices, respectively. Simultaneous electrocardiogram (ECG) recording revealed that pulse irregularity was due to AF in 101 patients. Pulse irregularity detected by the OMRON M6 device corresponded to AF in 101, to supraventricular premature beats in 18, and to frequent premature ventricular beat in five patients, respectively. Pulse irregularity detected by the Microlife BP A200 Plus device corresponded to AF in 93, to supraventricular premature beats in 14, and to ventricular premature beats in five patients. The sensitivity for detecting AF was 100%, the specificity was 92%, and diagnostic accuracy 95% for the OMRON M6 and 100%, 92%, and 95 for the Microlife BP A200 Plus, respectively. AF was newly diagnosed by ECG recordings in 47 patients, and was detected in all patients by the OMRON device, and in 42 patients by the Microlife device. Conclusion: These results indicate that OMRON M6 is more accurate than Microlife BP A200 Plus in detecting AF in patients with essential hypertension. Widespread use of these devices in hypertensive patients could be of clinical benefit for the early diagnosis and treatment of this arrhythmia and related consequences.