Rapid immunochromatographic detection of carbapenemases directly from positive blood cultures in patients colonized by carbapenemase-producing bacteria.

Objective: Carbapenem resistance is increasing worldwide. Earlier detection of this resistance, combined with appropriate treatment, could improve the prognosis of bloodstream infection. This study aims to evaluate the detection of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria directly from positive blood cultures to quickly adapt antibiotic therapy before the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing are available.

Reassessing the association between bacterial vaginosis and preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: For the past three decades, researchers have proposed an association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and preterm birth. This association has been questioned since treating BV with antibiotics during pregnancy hasn't led to a decreased risk of preterm birth.

Objective: To re-assess the connection between BV and preterm birth by reviewing existing literature.

Identification of distinct subgroups of Sjögren's disease by cluster analysis based on clinical and biological manifestations: data from the cross-sectional Paris-Saclay and the prospective ASSESS cohorts.

Background: Sjögren's disease is a heterogenous autoimmune disease with a wide range of symptoms-including dryness, fatigue, and pain-in addition to systemic manifestations and an increased risk of lymphoma. We aimed to identify distinct subgroups of the disease, using cluster analysis based on subjective symptoms and clinical and biological manifestations, and to compare the prognoses of patients in these subgroups.

Methods: This study included patients with Sjögren's disease from two independent cohorts in France: the cross-sectional Paris-Saclay cohort and the prospective Assessment of Systemic Signs and Evolution of Sjögren's Syndrome (ASSESS) cohort.

Real-life practice of reflectance confocal microscopy in France: A prospective multicenter study.

Background: Studies demonstrating the potential utility of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) have been performed under experimental conditions.

Objective: To provide an overview of RCM practice in real-life.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective study carried out in 10 university dermatology departments in France.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of selective Pepstatin based trifluoromethylated inhibitors of Cathepsin D.

Cathepsin D (CD) is overexpressed in several types of cancer and constitutes an important biological target. Pepstatin A, a pentapeptide incorporating two non-proteinogenic statin residues, is among the most potent inhibitor of CD but lacks selectivity and suffers from poor bioavailability. Eight analogues of Pepstatin A, were synthesized, replacing residues in P3 or P1 position by non-canonical (S)- and (R)-α-Trifluoromethyl Alanine (TfmAla), (S)- and (R)-Trifluoromethionine (TFM) or non-natural d-Valine.

Clinical presentation, course, and prognosis of patients with mixed connective tissue disease: A multicenter retrospective cohort.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to better characterize the features and outcomes of a large population of patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).

Methods: We performed an observational retrospective multicenter cohort study in France. Patients who fulfilled at least one diagnostic criterion set for MCTD and none of the criteria for other differentiated CTD (dCTD) were included.

Drivers to improve metal(loid) phytoextraction with a focus on microbial degradation of dissolved organic matter in soils.

Bioaugmentation of soils can increase the mobilization of metal(loid)s from the soil-bearing phases. However, once desorbed, these metal(loid)s are mostly complexed to the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the soil solution, which can restrict their availability to plants (roots mainly taking up the free forms) and then the phytoextraction performances. Firstly the main drivers influencing phytoextraction are reminded, then the review focuses on the DOM role.

Activation of TLRs Triggers GLP-1 Secretion in Mice.

The gastrointestinal tract constitutes a large interface with the inner body and is a crucial barrier against gut microbiota and other pathogens. As soon as this barrier is damaged, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are recognized by immune system receptors, including toll-like receptors (TLRs). Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an incretin that was originally involved in glucose metabolism and recently shown to be rapidly and strongly induced by luminal lipopolysaccharides (LPS) through TLR4 activation.

Loss of function of ADNP by an intragenic inversion.

ADNP is a well-known gene implicated in intellectual disability and its molecular spectrum consists mainly in loss of function variant in the ADNP last and largest exon. Here, we report the first description of a patient with intellectual disability identified with an intragenic inversion in ADNP. RNAseq experiment showed a splice skipping of the inversed exons.

Precipitating factors of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: the role of anticoagulant treatment in a series of 112 patients.

Background: The prevention of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), a rare complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), is a major goal.

Objectives: We analyzed its precipitating factors, focusing on anticoagulation immediately before CAPS episodes.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients in the French multicenter APS/systemic lupus erythematosus database with at least 1 CAPS episode.

Patterns of immunosuppressive drug use during pregnancy in women with systemic vasculitis: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objective: Systemic vasculitis (SV) rarely affects women of childbearing age and only small series have been reported to date in pregnant patients. The discovery of an unplanned pregnancy can be an urgent cause for modifying treatments. This study aimed to describe immunosuppressive drugs use before, during and after pregnancy in women with SV.

Labeled TEMPO-Oxidized Mannan Differentiates Binding Profiles within the Collectin Families.

Establishing the rapid and accurate diagnosis of sepsis is a key component to the improvement of clinical outcomes. The ability of analytical platforms to rapidly detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) in blood could provide a powerful host-independent biomarker of sepsis. A novel concept was investigated based on the idea that a pre-bound and fluorescent ligand could be released from lectins in contact with high-affinity ligands (such as PAMPs).

Progressive in vivo development of resistance to cefiderocol in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We report in vivo development of cefiderocol (FDC) resistance among four sequential Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates ST244 recovered from a single patient, without exposure to FDC, which raises concern about the effectiveness of this novel drug. The first recovered P. aeruginosa isolate (P-01) was susceptible to FDC (2 μg/mL), albeit this MIC value was higher than that of a wild-type P.

Health Outcomes of 215 Mothers of Children With Autoimmune Congenital Heart Block: Analysis of the French Neonatal Lupus Syndrome Registry.

Objective: Transplacental passage of maternal anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies, potentially associated with maternal autoimmune diseases, can cause neonatal lupus syndrome. Given the paucity of data in this setting, we report short- and long-term outcomes of mothers of offspring with congenital heart block (CHB).

Methods: This retrospective study included anti-SSA/SSB antibody-positive mothers of fetuses with high-degree CHB and focused on their health status before pregnancy, at CHB diagnosis, and thereafter.

One last effort. Are high out-of-pocket payments at the end of life a fatality?

Only few studies outside of the US have addressed the issue of out-of-pocket payments (OOP) at the end of life because of a lack of data. We use an exclusive dataset from a major French health insurance company (MGEN), including claim data, both mandatory and voluntary health insurance details, income and individual characteristics, for individuals aged 65 or older who died in 2017. We address three main issues: (1) What is the magnitude of OOP in France at the end of life? (2) How are OOP distributed, and do they present a financial risk to patients? (3) What are the determinants of OOP and what health system reforms could reduce them? Our results indicate that OOP expenses increase in the last year of life and accelerate in the last trimester.

Colonization resistance against multi-drug-resistant bacteria: a narrative review.

Colonization resistance by gut microbiota is a fundamental phenomenon in infection prevention and control. Hospitalized patients may be exposed to multi-drug-resistant bacteria when hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers is not adequate. An additional layer of defence is provided by the healthy gut microbiota, which helps clear the exogenous bacteria and acts as a safety net when hand hygiene procedures are not followed.