[Longitudinal follow-up of contact subjects of cases of tuberculosis in Paris].

Aim: To our knowledge, the proportion of active tuberculosis diagnosed after 12-18 months during a screening tuberculosis process in a specialized centre (centre de lutte antituberculeuse [CLAT]) has not been described in France. The majority of other countries do not have any recommendation to screen at this time.

Methods: We evaluated the number of treated or not treated latent tuberculosis infections (LTI) identified during tuberculosis screening.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant in systemic sclerosis: quantitative high resolution computed tomography of the chest scoring.

Objective: Using high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), to assess the lung involvement outcome after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) in patients with scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc).

Methods: HCRT scans prospectively performed before (n = 9 patients) and after (n = 47) AHSCT were blindly reviewed by 2 independent investigators using the Wells score.

Results: After a median 60 months' followup, the overall disease extent score from HCRT scans decreased from 10 (0-45) to 4 (0-36) (p = 0.

[Follow-up with the assistance of TB-info software of 208 tuberculosis patients who were treated in 2004].

Introduction: The impact of the TB-info software was assessed on the care of patients treated with antituberculosis regimen (ATT).

Methods: Cohort study of patients with tuberculosis who received an ATT in 2004 in two hospitals and five medical centres in Paris. Follow-up was implemented with the TB-info software.

[Do specific antifibrotic properties of immunosuppressive drugs used in the treatment of systemic sclerosis exist?].

Better understanding of the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis, and especially the pivotal role of the extracellular matrix components, shed new light on the use of several immunosuppressive drugs to treat systemic sclerosis. We review the recent experimental data demonstrating the specific antifibrotic effect of several immunosuppressive drugs, independent of their immunosuppressive action, in light of the clinical results obtained when treating severe systemic sclerosis patients. Refined analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying the direct antifibrotic effects of these immunosuppressive drugs (rapamycin and mycophenolate mofetil) will contribute to improve the therapeutic strategy in systemic sclerosis patients.

Tuberculosis in European cities: establishment of a patient monitoring system over 10 years in Paris, France.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a persistent public health problem in European cities. France has been unable to report on treatment outcomes until now, and it is not known whether the World Health Organization (WHO) target cure rate of 85% has been met.

Methods: All patients placed under treatment in four hospitals and five out-patient Social Medical Centres in Paris were followed up between 1996 and 2005.