Inflammatory markers and auto-Abs to type I IFNs in COVID-19 convalescent plasma cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) contains neutralising anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that may be useful as COVID-19 passive immunotherapy in patients at risk of developing severe disease. Such plasma from convalescent patients may also have additional immune-modulatory properties when transfused to COVID-19 patients.

Methods: CCP (n = 766) was compared to non-convalescent control plasma (n = 166) for soluble inflammatory markers, ex-vivo inflammatory bioactivity on endothelial cells, neutralising auto-Abs to type I IFNs and reported adverse events in the recipients.

Impact of donor ferritin testing on iron deficiency prevention and blood availability in France: A cohort simulation study.

Background And Objectives: Implementing a ferritin testing policy for whole blood (WB) donors may prevent iron deficiency (ID, ferritin <26 ng/mL) and anaemia, but may induce donation losses. As part of a national prevention plan in France, we aimed to estimate its impact on ID, anaemias and WB donations among donors at high risk of ID.

Materials And Methods: A micro-simulation model was developed to evaluate different scenarios compared to the current situation without ferritin testing as a reference scenario.

Iron deficiency among French whole-blood donors: first assessment and identification of predictive factors.

Background: The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) among French whole-blood (WB) donors to identify factors associated with ID and to generate decision trees.

Study Design And Methods: A prospective National multicentre study was performed on WB donors from March 11, to April 5th, 2019. Samples were selected randomly to perform serum ferritin.

Predisposing factors for anti-D immune response in D patients with chronic liver disease transfused with D platelet concentrates.

Background: Recent reports have indicated that the risk of anti-D alloimmunization following D-incompatible platelet (PLT) transfusion is low in hematology and oncology patients. We investigated the rate of anti-D alloimmunization in RhD-negative (D ) patients with chronic liver disease transfused with D platelet concentrates (PCs) and the factors involved, at a liver transplant (LT) center.

Study Design And Methods: We reviewed the blood bank database from January 2003 to October 2016.

[Prevention of anemia in blood donors].

The prevention of anemia of blood donor is a main issue for donor safety and self-supplying. This prevention is done in one hand by donor deferral whose haemoglobin level is under defined threshold and in other hand by preventing iron deficiency. Some subgroups of donors are at increased risk for developing iron deficiency and adverse effects of iron deficiency: premenopausal females; donors with haemoglobin values near the minimum for eligibility and frequent donors.

Blood products use in France: a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Background: Blood products use has increased in France between 2000 and 2011. To understand the reasons for this increase, data about transfused patients and transfusion practices needed to be updated.

Study Design And Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was performed with health care establishments.

Case-control study of immediate and delayed vasovagal reactions in blood donors.

Background And Objective(s): Vasovagal reactions (VVRs) are the most common adverse events associated with blood donations. To assess the relative importance of VVR risk factors, a retrospective case-control study of severe immediate and delayed VVRs was performed.

Study Design: Vasovagal reactions were defined as immediate when occurring at the transfusion site and as delayed when occurring outside the transfusion site and within 24 h following donation.

Outcome of occupational electrical injuries among French electric company workers: a retrospective report of 311 cases, 1996-2005.

This study reviewed records of all electrical incidents involving work-related injury to employees Electricité de France (EDF) from 1996 through 2005 and analysed data for 311 incidents. The results are compared with 1231 electrical incidents that occurred during 1970-1979 and 996 incidents during 1980-1989. A total of 311 electrical incidents were observed.

Monitoring of human cytomegalovirus infection in immunosuppressed patients using real-time PCR on whole blood.

Background: Quantitative monitoring of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is currently used in the follow-up of immunosuppressed patients.

Objective: To investigate whether real-time PCR quantification (QPCR) of HCMV DNA could replace pp65 antigenemia.

Study Design: We compared HCMV QPCR on whole blood (WB) and on plasma with a pp65-antigenemia assay on 192 samples.

Toward universal varicella-zoster virus (VZV) genotyping: diversity of VZV strains from France and Spain.

Thirty-one isolates from France and Spain were genotyped using a published method analyzing DNA sequence variation in open reading frame (ORF) 22, together with an evaluation of three well-characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in ORF 38, 54, and 62. Nineteen were allocated to the European (E) genotype, six were mosaic-1 (M1), and two were mosaic-2 (M2). Four strains were assigned to a new genotype, mosaic-4 (M4).

[A novel colorimetric test to study the susceptibility of human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase to foscarnet].

We described a colorimetric method to determine the biochemical phenotype of wild-type and mutated cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA polymerases by measuring the incorporation of digoxigenin-labelled nucleotides into the growing DNA chain. Mutations V715M and E756K, which are known to confer foscarnet-resistance, were used as controls. Mutation N495K and a combination of changes K415R and S291P, both observed in foscarnet-resistant isolates, were studied.

Repertoire, diversity, and differentiation of specific CD8 T cells are associated with immune protection against human cytomegalovirus disease.

To determine the correlates of immune recovery from active human CMV (HCMV) disease, we compared the antigenic repertoire, diversity, magnitude, and differentiation of HCMV-specific CD8+ T cells in HIV-HCMV coinfected subjects with no, cured, or active HCMV disease and in healthy HIV-negative HCMV-positive controls. ELISPOT-IFN-gamma assays using peptide pools spanning the pp65 and immediate early 1 (IE1) HCMV proteins showed that HCMV-specific CD8+ T cells had a significantly broader antigenic repertoire and greater diversity in HIV-positive patients controlling HCMV replication than in those with active HCMV disease, but the magnitude of the CD8 T cell response did not differ between the different groups. HCMV-specific T cells mainly were focused against IE1 during the short-term recovery from retinitis, and switched toward pp65 during long-term recovery.

Phenotypic characterisation of cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase: a method to study cytomegalovirus isolates resistant to foscarnet.

A phenotypic method was developed to test mutations in the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA polymerase gene (UL54) suspected to confer resistance to foscarnet. This method was used to determine the biochemical phenotype of wild-type and mutated HCMV DNA polymerases that had been synthesised in vitro as follows. The UL54 genes were amplified from foscarnet-resistant and -sensitive isolates by PCR and the products were cloned into an expression vector under the control of a T7 promoter.

Early selection of a new UL97 mutant with a severe defect of ganciclovir phosphorylation after valaciclovir prophylaxis and short-term ganciclovir therapy in a renal transplant recipient.

We describe the emergence of a new ganciclovir resistance mutation in the UL97 gene of human cytomegalovirus, deletion of codon 601, after valaciclovir and short-term ganciclovir therapy following kidney transplantation. Its role in ganciclovir resistance was supported by decreased ganciclovir phosphorylation in a recombinant vaccinia virus system.

Detection of ganciclovir resistance after valacyclovir-prophylaxis in renal transplant recipients with active cytomegalovirus infection.

Whether valaciclovir (VCV) prophylaxis could be responsible for ganciclovir (GCV)-resistance of Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in transplantation has never been documented. A multicentric retrospective pilot study was undertaken to detect GCV-resistance through mutations within the UL97 gene in renal transplant recipients who experienced active HCMV infection and received valacyclovir prophylaxis. Twenty-three patients who experienced HCMV antigenaemia or DNAemia during or at the end of prophylaxis were included.

Natural polymorphism of cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase lies in two nonconserved regions located between domains delta-C and II and between domains III and I.

We described the natural polymorphism of cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase in 42 unrelated isolates susceptible to ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir. All variations, including an eight-amino-acid deletion, were located between domains delta-C and II and between domains III and I, suggesting that these specific residues are not involved in enzymatic functions.

Prevalence of viral infection markers by polymerase chain reaction amplification and interferon-alpha measurements among patients undergoing lumbar puncture in an emergency department.

Aseptic meningitis is a frequent diagnosis in emergency departments. Nevertheless, viral investigations are not carried out currently and the viral etiology in adult population has not been studied extensively. We conducted a prospective study including all consecutive patients undergoing lumbar puncture during a 15 months period in an adult emergency department.

Monitoring of human cytomegalovirus infections in heart transplant recipients by pp65 antigenemia.

Background: Rapid diagnostic techniques offer the opportunity of early diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromized patients at risk of developing CMV disease and syndrome. The use of CMV pp65 antigenemia as a predictor of CMV syndrome and disease in heart transplant recipient after induction therapy was studied retrospectively.

Methods: One hundred and nineteen consecutive heart transplant recipients treated with induction therapy who survived more then 14 d were monitored for CMV infection.

Borna disease virus RNA in immunocompromised patients in southwestern France.

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic RNA virus with a wide host range. Human infections, although controversial, have been described in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The present study investigated the existence of BDV infections in immunocompromised human beings, namely, 82 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 80 therapeutically immunosuppressed patients.

Quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA by real-time PCR for occurrence of CMV disease in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

In HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) included in the Predivir cohort, we have evaluated the usefulness of CMV DNA quantitation by a TaqMan PCR assay from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) to predict CMV disease occurrence. In parallel with the immune restoration after treatment by HAART, the percentage of positive samples decreased progressively from 7.3% at Day 0 to 3.