In this study, the incidence of leg ulcers was not reduced after a 3-week spa therapy course. Nevertheless, our study demonstrates that spa therapy provides a significant and substantial improvement in clinical status, symptoms, and quality of life of patients with advanced venous insufficiency for at least 1 year.

Background:The advantages of adapted physical activity and nutritional education (APANE) on breast cancer prognosis and quality of life (QoL) are well known, but long-term results are lacking.Methods:A randomised controlled trial testing a 2-week intervention in hydrothermal centres including APANE enrolled 251 patients post-chemotherapy. QoL and weight control were significantly improved at 12 months. A 5-year follow-up was performed to evaluate the persistence of improvements.Results:QoL increase (SF36) was persistent: effect-size at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years equalled respectively 0.27 (−0.01; 0.56), 0.28 (−0.02; 0.58), 0.41 (0.02; 0.81) and 0.45 (0.11; 0.80). Weight control observed after intervention lasted 2 years: 2.7% decrease at 1 year (P=0.0085), 2.5% at 2 years (P=0.025); and respectively for waist −2.4% (−3.6; −1.1) (P=0.000014) and −1.3% (−2.5; −0.1) (P=0.0072).Conclusions:A 2-week intervention in hydrothermal centres performed shortly after chemotherapy can durably improve breast cancer patients’ QoL and reduce weight.

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The development of an in vitro model simulating the oral cavity has allowed the antiplaque activity of a toothpaste containing 0.004% chlorhexidine to be tested. The model is based on the continuous irrigation of bovine tooth samples with artificial saliva. Scanning electron microscopy showed homogeneous colonization of monobacterial plaque by Streptococcus mutans on dental surfaces under these model conditions. The enamel was colonized with regular cell clusters showing a globular appearance. The globules coalesced with increasing plaque thickness. Treatment with toothpaste containing 0.004% chlorhexidine showed a more marked inhibition of bacterial colonization on enamel surfaces than placebo paste lacking this antimicrobial agent. These results indicate that the toothpaste formulation is compatible with chlorhexidine. It is concluded that the in vitro model developed in this study is suitable for the testing of the antiplaque activity of antimicrobial agents, particularly when in a semisolid form such as in a toothpaste.

Objective. To assess the one-year effectiveness on weight loss of a 3-week balneotherapy program (BT). Method. A Zelen double consent randomised controlled trial to compare one-year BMI loss between a 3-week BT program versus usual care (UC) for overweight or obese patients (BMI: 27–35 kg/m2), associated or not with a dietary motivational interview (DMI) during the follow-up, using a 2 × 2 factorial design. Main analysis was a per protocol analysis comparing patients attending BT to patients managed by UC, matched on sex, overweight or obese status, DMI randomisation and a propensity score to attend BT or to be managed by UC. Results. From the 257 patients who completed the follow-up, 70 patients of each group could be matched. Mean BMI loss was 1.91 kg/m2 [95%CI: 1.46; 2.35] for the BT patients and 0.20 kg/m2 [−0.24; 0.64] for the UC patients (P < 0.001), corresponding to a significant BT benefit of 1.71 kg/m2 [1.08; 2.33]. There was no significant effect of DMI and no interaction with BT or UC. No adverse reaction was observed for patients attending BT. Conclusion. A 3-week BT program provided a significant one-year benefit over the usual GP dietary advice for overweight and obese patients.