Convalescent plasma in patients receiving Rituximab or Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis or Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder with COVID-19: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Despite vaccination, patients receiving anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) have an increased risk of developing severe or protracted COVID-19. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) in patients with MS or NMOSD exposed to anti-CD20 and infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: This French national, retrospective cohort study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2023.

Cerebrovascular complications in patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis: occurrence and associated factors in the COMBAT multicenter prospective cohort.

Background: Community-acquired bacterial meningitis is a rare but severe central nervous system infection that may be associated with cerebrovascular complications (CVC). Our objective is to assess the prevalence of CVC in patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis and to determine the first-48 h factors associated with CVC.

Methods: We analyzed data from the prospective multicenter cohort study (COMBAT) including, between February 2013 and July 2015, adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis.

Evaluation of the acceptability in France of the vaccine against papillomavirus (HPV) among middle and high school students and their parents.

Background: The pathogenic and oncogenic roles of papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been documented and shown to occur in women as well as in men. While other countries have already extended their vaccination guidelines to include boys, in 2019 the French National Authority for Health validated implementation of HPV vaccination in the 2020 vaccination schedule. There is, however, a climate of distrust in regard to vaccination in France, and there have been few studies to date regarding the acceptability of HPV vaccination in boys in France.

Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism Following a Viper Envenomation in France: A Case Report and Review.

Complications following snake bites are not common in France. We report the case of a bilateral pulmonary embolism following a viper envenomation in France.A healthy 72-year-old female presented with a lower limb hematoma following a viper bite.

Emergence of HCV resistance-associated variants in patients failing sofosbuvir-based regimens: an observational cohort.

Background: Real-life effectiveness data of new hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals are now required. The present study aims to assess the rate of sustained viral response (SVR) and virological failure (VF) in patients infected with chronic HCV treated with sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens in routine medical practice.

Methods: This observational study included a total of 106 patients infected with HCV genotypes (G)1-4, who initiated SOF-based regimens in 2014.

Short communication: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in French HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy: relationship with the metabolic syndrome and inflammation.

Our goal was to determine if paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity relates to the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and inflammation in HIV patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This was a prospective, multicenter study including 269 patients receiving HAART for at least 1 year and a maximum of 4 years. PON1 and inflammatory markers [C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum amyloid A (SAA), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 2 (sTNF-R2)] were compared between patients with or without MS and the association between inflammatory markers and PON1 was assessed by logistic regression analyses.

Metabolic syndrome in French HIV-infected patients: prevalence and predictive factors after 3 years of antiretroviral therapy.

Treatment of HIV infection with highly active antiretroviral therapy can induce metabolic complications and increase the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome (MS). The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence and the risk factors for MS in HIV-infected patients who started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) after 2000. SYMET is a prospective, multicentric, cohort study evaluating the prevalence of MS in 269 patients who had received continuous HAART for 1 to 4 years up to September 2007.

FcγRIIIa (CD16) induction on human T lymphocytes and CD16pos T-lymphocyte amplification.

During serial assays designed to amplify natural killer (NK) cells in vitro, we observed that when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) patients were stimulated for 2 weeks with an Epstein-Barr virus-infected B lymphoblastic cell line and interleukin-2, a well known procedure to amplify NK cells in vitro, 44.4 ± 18% CD3CD16 T lymphocytes were recovered together with NK cells, of which 78.2% expressed an αβ T-cell receptor (TCR).

Evaluation of the tuberculin skin test and the interferon-gamma release assay for TB screening in French healthcare workers.

Introduction: Using French cut-offs for the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), results of the TST were compared with the results of an Interferon-gamma Release Assay (IGRA) in Healthcare Workers (HCW) after contact to AFB-positive TB patients.

Methods: Between May 2006 and May 2007, a total of 148 HCWs of the University Hospital in Nantes, France were tested simultaneously with IGRA und TST. A TST was considered to indicate recent latent TB infection (LTBI) if an increase of >10 mm or if TST >/= 15 mm for those with no previous TST result was observed.

European bat Lyssavirus transmission among cats, Europe.

We identified 2 cases of European bat lyssavirus subtype 1 transmission to domestic carnivores (cats) in France. Bat-to-cat transmission is suspected. Low amounts of virus antigen in cat brain made diagnosis difficult.

Impact of nevirapine or efavirenz co-administration on ritonavir-boosted amprenavir pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected patients.

The influence of nevirapine or efavirenz co-administration on ritonavir-boosted amprenavir pharmacokinetics was investigated in HIV-infected patients with a population pharmacokinetic approach. The analysis was performed with a population of 61 patients treated with fosamprenavir/ritonavir (700 mg/100 mg twice daily) combined with nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors +/- enfuvirtide and no other antiretroviral drugs (group A, n = 46) or nevirapine (group B, n = 10) or efavirenz (group C, n = 5). No significant increase in amprenavir clearance [mean +/- standard deviation: 22.

Acute respiratory failure revealing adult-onset Still's disease: diagnostic value of low glycosylated ferritin level.

The authors report three cases of adult-onset Still's disease with severe hypoxemic pulmonary involvement, mimicking severe pulmonary sepsis. Clinicians must be aware of this rare form of such disease. Low (<20%) glycosylated ferritin level in the presence of unexplained prolonged fever with leukocytosis can help in the diagnosis.