Dosing of Enteric-Coated Mycophenolate Sodium Under Routine Conditions: An Observational, Multicenter Study in Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Dosing of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) should be adjusted to reflect concomitant immunosuppression, but it is largely undocumented whether such modifications are carried out during routine clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS MyLIFE was an observational study of adult kidney-only or kidney-pancreas transplant patients starting -EC-MPS at 33 French transplant centers. Data were collected at first EC-MPS dose and 6 months later.

Inverse correlation between varicella severity and level of anti-Varicella Zoster Virus maternal antibodies in infants below one year of age.

Varicella, a widespread disease of childhood, is usually benign but may in some instances lead to complications and eventually death. The aim of this study was to assess whether varicella severity in infants below one year of age was associated with the level of anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) maternal antibodies. Two different data sets were used.

PneumococcaL meningitis in french children before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

In France, despite a high rate of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage, the number of cases of pneumococcal meningitis in children did not decline significantly between 2001–2002 (n = 264) and 2007–2008 (n = 244). A decline was observed among children < 2 years old (185 [70.1%] to 134 [54.

Hospitalization of newborns and young infants for chickenpox in France.

Chickenpox is often considered more severe during the first year of life, but its course is usually mild during the first 3 months of life, presumably owing to the persistence of maternal antibodies. Hospitalization and intravenous acyclovir therapy are generally restricted to severe cases but also systematically recommended in newborns in France, irrespective of the clinical severity of the infection. This recommendation was launched in 1998 when Varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific immunoglobulins were not available in the country and has remained unchanged since.

Association of meningococcal phenotypes and genotypes with clinical characteristics and mortality of meningitis in children.

Background: Neisseria meningitidis meningitis represents approximately one-half of the meningococcal cases in French children. To explore the contribution of bacterial typing in improving the management of cases, we aimed to describe clinical characteristics and mortality of meningococcal meningitis in children reported to the multicenter survey system, GPIP/ACTIV, in association with phenotypes/genotypes of bacterial isolates.

Methods: From 2001 to 2005, 259 pediatric wards and 168 microbiology laboratories enrolled all children with bacterial meningitis.

Study of the acceptability of antibiotic syrups, suspensions, and oral solutions prescribed to pediatric outpatients.

This observational study was designed to evaluate the acceptability of oral antibiotics (including generics) commonly prescribed to children by community practitioners in France. Between February and July 2006, the parents of 953 children enrolled by 46 pediatricians completed a questionnaire, including a taste assessment based on representations of five facial expressions. The proportions of "satisfactory" taste judgments showed a significant difference between amoxicillin-clavulanate reference product and its generics (77.

Evaluation of a model for efficient screening of tuberculosis contact subjects.

Rationale: Contact tracing is an important component of tuberculosis (TB) control programs. Standardization of contact investigation protocols can make them more efficient.

Objectives: To develop a model to select contact subjects for screening.