Early antiviral treatment fails to completely prevent herpes-related pain.

Objectives: Antiviral therapy does not completely relieve herpes zoster (HZ)-related pain, including post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The 12-month longitudinal prospective observational ARIZONA study was conducted in primary care in France between November 20, 2006 and September 12, 2008. The ARIZONA study included data from 1358 patients 50 years of age or more, presenting with acute eruptive HZ.

Clinical validation of IFNγ/IL-10 and IFNγ/IL-2 FluoroSpot assays for the detection of Tr1 T cells and influenza vaccine monitoring in humans.

The type of T cell polarization and simultaneous production of multiple cytokines have been correlated with vaccine efficacy. ELISpot is a T cell detection technique optimized for the measurement of a secreted cytokine at the single cell level. The FluoroSpot assay differs from ELISpot by the use of multiple fluorescent-labeled anticytokine detection antibodies, allowing optimal measurement of multiple cytokines.

Impact of late presentation on the risk of death among HIV-infected people in France (2003-2009).

Objective: A recent consensus defines "late presentation" (LP) during the course of HIV infection as presentation with AIDS whatever the CD4 cell count or with CD4 <350 cells per cubic millimeter. Here, using this new definition, we examined the frequency and predictors of LP and its impact on mortality.

Methods: In antiretroviral-naive patients enrolled in the French Hospital Database on HIV between 2003 and 2009, we studied risk factors for LP by multivariable logistic regression.

Extended antigen sparing potential of AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccines in children, and immunological equivalence of two formulations of AS03-adjuvanted H1N1 vaccines: results from two randomised trials.

Background: Pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity and distribution agility is enhanced through the availability of equivalent antigen-sparing vaccines. We evaluated equivalence in terms of immunogenicity between GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines' A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v-like-AS03 vaccines manufactured in Dresden (D-Pan), and Quebec (Q-Pan).

Methods: In two studies, 334 adults 18-60 years of age received 2 doses of D-Pan or Q-Pan containing 3.

Long-term CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses induced in HIV-uninfected volunteers following intradermal or intramuscular administration of an HIV-lipopeptide vaccine (ANRS VAC16).

Background: We have shown that the intradermal (ID) administration of an HIV-1 lipopeptide candidate vaccine (LIPO-4) is well tolerated in healthy volunteers, with one fifth the IM dose delivered by this route inducing HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses of a magnitude and quality similar to those achieved by IM administration. In this long-term follow-up, we aimed to investigate the sustainability and epitopic breadth of the immune responses induced.

Methods: In a prospective multicentre trial, 68 healthy volunteers were randomised to receive, at weeks 0, 4 and 12, either a 0.

Persistence of yellow fever vaccine-induced antibodies after solid organ transplantation.

Immunization using live attenuated vaccines represents a contra-indication after solid organ transplantation (SOT): consequently, transplant candidates planning to travel in countries where yellow fever is endemic should be vaccinated prior to transplantation. The persistence of yellow fever vaccine-induced antibodies after transplantation has not been studied yet. We measured yellow-fever neutralizing antibodies in 53 SOT recipients vaccinated prior to transplantation (including 29 kidney recipients and 18 liver recipients).

Factors associated with vaccination for hepatitis B, pertussis, seasonal and pandemic influenza among French general practitioners: a 2010 survey.

Our objectives were to describe the vaccine coverage (VC(1)) for some occupational vaccines (hepatitis B, pertussis, seasonal and pandemic influenza) among French General Practitioners (GPs(2)) and to study the factors associated with being vaccinated for each of these four diseases. We surveyed a representative national sample of 1431 self-employed GPs in France. Self-reported VC was 76.

Longitudinal and integrative biomodeling of effector and memory immune compartments after inactivated influenza vaccination.

Most vaccines, including those against influenza, were developed by focusing solely on humoral response for protection. However, vaccination activates different adaptive compartments that might play a role in protection. We took advantage of the pandemic 2009 A(H1N1) influenza vaccination to conduct a longitudinal integrative multiparametric analysis of seven immune parameters in vaccinated subjects.

Control of humoral immunity and auto-immunity by the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in lupus patients following influenza vaccine.

Background: CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor with multiple effects on the immune system, upregulated in patients with SLE, and correlated with disease severity.

Objective: This study has investigated whether the levels of CXCR4 expressed on leucocyte subsets in lupus patients are correlated with the efficacy and the safety of the influenza vaccine.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients were vaccinated and vaccine immunogenicity and tolerance were evaluated.

The follow-up of patients with postoperative infection of the spine.

The follow-up of patients with postoperative infection of the spine required a multidisciplinary teamwork under the guidance of the spine surgeon and the infectious disease (ID) specialist. During follow-up, the spine surgeon has to ensure the absence of neurological, mechanical and implant-related complications using clinical parameters and different imaging modalities. The ID physician has to give particular attention to antimicrobial efficacy and toxicity, especially during the first weeks when patients necessitate high-dose intravenous treatment.

[Influenza infection and pregnancy].

Pregnant woman have an increased risk of respiratory complications and hospitalization related to influenza. The flu, like any systemic infection, may also be responsible for uterine contractions constituting a threat of miscarriage or premature labor according to gestational age at which it occurs. There is no specific recommendation regarding the management of influenza-like illness in pregnant women, but a nasopharyngeal sample can be performed in the presence of respiratory or general symptoms occurring during an epidemic to search influenza and establish if a specific treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu(®)).

Vaccine coverage of healthcare students in hospitals of the Paris region in 2009: the Studyvax survey.

Introduction: Healthcare students should comply with the same vaccination recommendations as employed healthcare professionals. Vaccination coverage data for healthcare students are lacking

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out on medical, nursing and midwifery students in 15 hospitals of the Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris with a maternity ward. All midwifery students were surveyed, and a subset of medical and nursing students were selected from 10 hospitals by three-stage random sampling.

2011-12 seasonal influenza vaccines effectiveness against confirmed A(H3N2) influenza hospitalisation: pooled analysis from a European network of hospitals. A pilot study.

Background: Influenza vaccination strategies aim at protecting high-risk population from severe outcomes. Estimating the effectiveness of seasonal vaccines against influenza related hospitalisation is important to guide these strategies. Large sample size is needed to have precise estimate of influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against severe outcomes.

Safety and immunogenicity of yellow fever 17D vaccine in adults receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy: an observational cohort study.

Objective: To assess the safety and immunogenicity of live attenuated yellow fever (YF) 17D vaccine in adults receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy.

Methods: All adult travelers on systemic corticosteroid therapy who had received the YF17D vaccine in 24 French vaccination centers were prospectively enrolled and matched with healthy controls (1:2) on age and history of YF17D immunization. Safety was assessed in a self-administered standardized questionnaire within 10 days after immunization.

AS03-adjuvanted versus non-adjuvanted inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine against seasonal influenza in elderly people: a phase 3 randomised trial.

Background: We aimed to compare AS03-adjuvanted inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) with non-adjuvanted TIV for seasonal influenza prevention in elderly people.

Methods: We did a randomised trial in 15 countries worldwide during the 2008-09 (year 1) and 2009-10 (year 2) influenza seasons. Eligible participants aged at least 65 years who were not in hospital or bedridden and were without acute illness were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either AS03-adjuvanted TIV or non-adjuvanted TIV.

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of general practitioners towards measles and MMR vaccination in southeastern France in 2012.

As a result of sub-optimal immunization levels, measles has re-emerged in the EU since 2008 (30 ,567 cases in 2011), and nearly half of the cases reported are in France. Our objectives were to assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of French general practitioners (GPs) towards measles and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination. In 2012, we surveyed 329 GPs in southeastern France.

Measles immunity and measles vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in Paris, France.

Background: In Europe, including France, a measles outbreak has been ongoing since 2008. Unprotected healthcare workers (HCWs) may contract and spread the infection to patients.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate HCWs' measles immunity and vaccine acceptance in our setting.

Influence of environmental factors on disease activity in spondyloarthritis: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a complex inflammatory disorder. We investigated the influence of environmental factors on SpA disease activity.

Methods: A prospective cohort of adults with SpA was followed for 3 years.

Mucosal imprinting of vaccine-induced CD8⁺ T cells is crucial to inhibit the growth of mucosal tumors.

Although many human cancers are located in mucosal sites, most cancer vaccines are tested against subcutaneous tumors in preclinical models. We therefore wondered whether mucosa-specific homing instructions to the immune system might influence mucosal tumor outgrowth. We showed that the growth of orthotopic head and neck or lung cancers was inhibited when a cancer vaccine was delivered by the intranasal mucosal route but not the intramuscular route.

Neonatal plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) display subset variation but can elicit potent anti-viral innate responses.

Neonates are highly susceptible to infectious diseases and defective antiviral pDC immune responses have been proposed to contribute to this phenomenon. Isolated cord blood pDCs innately responded to a variety of TLR7 and TLR9 dependent viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or herpes-simplex virus (HSV) by efficiently producing IFN-α, TNF-α as well as chemokines. Interestingly, following activation by CpGA, but not viruses, cord pDCs tend to survive less efficiently.

Low rate of pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza infection and lack of severe complication of vaccination in pregnant women: a prospective cohort study.

Background: In 2009, pregnant women were specifically targeted by a national vaccination campaign against pandemic A/H1N1 influenza virus. The objectives of the COFLUPREG study, initially set up to assess the incidence of serious forms of A/H1N1 influenza, were to assess the consequences of maternal vaccination on pregnancy outcomes and maternal seroprotection at delivery.

Methods: Pregnant women, between 12 and 35 weeks of gestation, non vaccinated against A/H1N1 2009 influenza were randomly selected to be included in a prospective cohort study conducted in three maternity centers in Paris (France) during pandemic period.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection with microsurgically retrieved spermatozoa in azoospermic men infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 or hepatitis C virus: the EP43 AZONECO ANRS study.

Objective: To evaluate the viral contamination of sperm obtained after testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) in men with azoospermia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus infection.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Fertility clinic, and reproductive technology and virology laboratories.