BMP-4 and fetuin A in systemic sclerosis patients with or without calcinosis.

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease at the interface between inflammation and autoimmunity progressively leading to diffuse microvascular and fibrotic involvement of the skin and of multiple internal organs. Approximately, 20-40% of SSc patients suffer from cutaneous calcinosis, a debilitating manifestation due to calcium salt deposition in soft connective tissues, causing pain, ulceration, infection, and deformities, responsible of severe functional limitations. Pathomechanisms are poorly understood as well as markers/molecules capable to predict the risk of patients to develop calcinosis.

KINGELLA KINGAE SEQUENCE TYPE 25 MENINGITIS IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT TODDLER: CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR APPROACH.

Kingella kingae is a cause of bacteremia, endocarditis, and the leading cause of osteoarticular infections between 6 and 48 months of life. We report on a rare case of K. kingae meningitis in the absence of endocarditis and immune deficiency in a 26-month-old boy emphasizing the distinct genomic determinants of the strain which may be of importance to the pathogenesis of the disease.

The Role of Fibroblasts in Skin Homeostasis and Repair.

Fibroblasts are typical mesenchymal cells widely distributed throughout the human body where they (1) synthesise and maintain the extracellular matrix, ensuring the structural role of soft connective tissues; (2) secrete cytokines and growth factors; (3) communicate with each other and with other cell types, acting as signalling source for stem cell niches; and (4) are involved in tissue remodelling, wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer. This review focuses on the developmental heterogeneity of dermal fibroblasts, on their ability to sense changes in biomechanical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix, and on their role in aging, in skin repair, in pathologic conditions and in tumour development. Moreover, we describe the use of fibroblasts in different models (e.

Scalable microfluidic method for tunable liposomal production by a design of experiment approach.

Liposomes constitute a widespread drug delivery platform, gaining more and more attention from the pharmaceutical industry and process development scientists. Their large-scale production as medicinal products for human use is all but trivial, especially when parenteral administration is required. In this study an off-the-shelf microfluidic system and a methodological approach are presented for the optimization, validation and scale-up of highly monodisperse liposomes manufacturing.

First Isolation of the Heteropathotype Shiga Toxin-Producing and Extra-Intestinal Pathogenic (STEC-ExPEC) O80:H2 in French Healthy Cattle: Genomic Characterization and Phylogenetic Position.

The emerging heteropathotype shigatoxigenic (STEC) and extra-intestinal pathogenic (ExPEC) O80:H2 has been the second leading cause of pediatric HUS in France since the mid-2010s. In contrast with other highly pathogenic STEC serotypes, for which ruminants have clearly been identified as the main human infection source, this heteropathotype's reservoir remains unknown. In this context, we describe for the first time the isolation of seven STEC O80:H2 strains from healthy cattle on a single cattle farm in France.

A live attenuated vaccine to prevent severe neonatal Escherichia coli K1 infections.

Preterm birth is currently the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Genetic, immunological and infectious causes are suspected. Preterm infants have a higher risk of severe bacterial neonatal infections, most of which are caused by Escherichia coli an in particular E.

Temocillin for febrile urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in children: a monocentric exposed/non-exposed study.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of temocillin with standard of care (SOC) for treatment of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) febrile urinary tract infection (ESBL-E FUTI) in children.

Methods: A monocentric retrospective study of children hospitalized with confirmed ESBL-E FUTI from January 2015 to May 2022 was conducted, comparing clinical cure and a 3 month relapse between two groups of patients: 'exposed' patients (EP) and 'non-exposed' patients (NEP) to temocillin. EP received temocillin for at least 3 days.

MALDI-MS in first-line screening of newborns for sickle cell disease: results from a prospective study in comparison to HPLC.

Objectives: Newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) requires a robust, high-throughput method to detect hemoglobin S (HbS). Screening for SCD is performed by qualitative methods, such as isoelectric focusing (IEF), and both qualitative and quantitative methods such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). All these methods detect HbS, as well as low-level or absent HbA, and also other variants of hemoglobin.

Early-Onset Infection Caused by Escherichia coli Sequence Type 1193 in Late Preterm and Full-Term Neonates.

Using whole-genome sequencing, we characterized Escherichia coli strains causing early-onset sepsis (EOS) in 32 neonatal cases from a 2019-2021 prospective multicenter study in France and compared them to E. coli strains collected from vaginal swab specimens from women in third-trimester gestation. We observed no major differences in phylogenetic groups or virulence profiles between the 2 collections.

Development, Characterization, and Radiation Dosimetry Studies of F-BMS-986229, a F-Labeled PD-L1 Macrocyclic Peptide PET Tracer.

Purpose: In cancer immunotherapy, the blockade of the interaction between programmed death-1 and its ligand (PD-1:PD-L1) has proven to be one of the most promising strategies. However, as mechanisms of resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition include variability in tumor cell PD-L1 expression in addition to standard tumor biopsy PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC), a comprehensive and quantitative approach for measuring PD-L1 expression is required. Herein, we report the development and characterization of an F-PD-L1-binding macrocyclic peptide as a PET tracer for the comprehensive evaluation of tumor PD-L1 expression in cancer patients.

Vaccine-preventable Pediatric Acute Bacterial Meningitis in France: A Time Series Analysis of a 19-Year Prospective National Surveillance Network.

Background: In France, vaccination has been implemented against Hi serotype b (Hib), pneumococcus with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (MenC). These interventions with different coverage and uptake have disrupted the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable acute bacterial meningitis (ABM).

Methods: We analyzed data from a French prospective surveillance network of ABM in children ≤15 years old enrolled by 259 pediatric wards (estimated national coverage: 61%).

The discovery and evaluation of [F]BMS-986229, a novel macrocyclic peptide PET radioligand for the measurement of PD-L1 expression and in-vivo PD-L1 target engagement.

Purpose: A same-day PET imaging agent capable of measuring PD-L1 status in tumors is an important tool for optimizing PD-1 and PD-L1 treatments. Herein we describe the discovery and evaluation of a novel, fluorine-18 labeled macrocyclic peptide-based PET ligand for imaging PD-L1.

Methods: [F]BMS-986229 was synthesized via copper mediated click-chemistry to yield a PD-L1 PET ligand with picomolar affinity and was tested as an in-vivo tool for assessing PD-L1 expression.

Antibiotic Resistance of in Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Children with Acute Otitis Media and in Middle Ear Fluid from Otorrhea.

(Hi) is one of the leading bacteria implicated in childhood acute otitis media (AOM). Recent concerns have been raised about the emergence of Hi-resistant strains. We aimed to analyze the evolution of β-lactam resistance to Hi among strains isolated from nasopharyngeal carriage in children with AOM and in mild ear fluid (MEF) after the spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane (SPTM) in France.

Sporadic Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli-Associated Pediatric Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, France, 2012-2021.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) remains an important public health risk in France. Cases are primarily sporadic, and geographic heterogeneity has been observed in crude incidence rates. We conducted a retrospective study of 1,255 sporadic pediatric STEC-HUS cases reported during 2012-2021 to describe spatiotemporal dynamics and geographic patterns of higher STEC-HUS risk.

Rapid, simple multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis: a reliable tool for Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak screening.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections is increasingly multi-drug-resistant. Rapid and efficient typing tools are required for monitoring.

Aim: To assess a simple, rapid (<5 h) multiplex polymerase chain reaction method based on multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) as a screening tool to determine whether or not K.

Comparison between Cultivated Oral Mucosa and Ocular Surface Epithelia for COMET Patients Follow-Up.

Total bilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency is a pathologic condition of the ocular surface due to the loss of corneal stem cells. Cultivated oral mucosa epithelial transplantation (COMET) is the only autologous successful treatment for this pathology in clinical application, although abnormal peripheric corneal vascularization often occurs. Properly characterizing the regenerated ocular surface is needed for a reliable follow-up.

Fatal Meningitis from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in 2 Full-Term Neonates, France.

We report fatal meningitis in 2 neonates in France caused by Shiga toxin 1-producing Escherichia coli. Virulence factors capsular K1 antigen and salmochelin were present in both strains, potentially representing a new hybrid pathotype. Clinicians should remain aware of emerging pathotypes and design therapeutic strategies for neonatal E.

Dynamics of Antibiotic Resistance of in France: A Pediatric Prospective Nasopharyngeal Carriage Study from 2001 to 2022.

Epidemiological surveillance of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage is important for monitoring serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance, particularly before and after the implementation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). With a prospective surveillance study in France, we aimed to analyze the dynamics of pneumococcal carriage, antibiotic susceptibility and serotype distribution in children aged 6 to 24 months who had acute otitis media between 2001 and 2022 with a focus on the late PCV13 period from May 2014 to July 2022. Trends were analyzed with segmented linear regression with autoregressive error.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Group A Streptococcus Rapid Antigen Detection Test on Middle Ear Fluid in Children With Acute Otitis Media With Spontaneous Perforation: A Prospective Multicenter Evaluation.

Group A Streptococcus is one of the leading causes of otorrhea. The performance of rapid antigen tests in 256 children with otorrhea showed excellent sensitivity, 97.3% (95% confidence interval: 90.

Otorrhea bacterial profile, epidemiology before widespread use of the third-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in French children, a prospective study from 2015 to 2023.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the bacterial profile of middle ear fluid from spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane (SPTM) prior to widespread utilization of third- generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs).

Patients And Methods: From October 2015 to January 2023, children with SPTM were prospectively enrolled by pediatricians.

Results: Among the 852 children with SPTM, 73.