Safety of Fertility Treatments in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Data From a Prospective Population-Based Study.

Objective: To assess safety of fertility treatments in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Design: Data from the multicentre French observational GR2 (Groupe de Recherche sur la Grossesse et les Maladies Rares) study (2014-ongoing).

Setting: Seventy-six centres in France.

Methotrexate versus conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.

Aims: To compare the safety and efficacy of methotrexate (MTX), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) in non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.

Methods: Retrospective study including non-anterior sarcoidosis-associated uveitis according to the revised International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis criteria. The primary outcome was defined as the median time to relapse or occurrence of serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation.

Hydroxychloroquine levels in pregnancy and materno-fetal outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients.

Objectives: Data about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) levels during pregnancy are sparse. We assessed HCQ whole blood levels at first trimester of pregnancy as a potential predictor of maternal and obstetric/fetal outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We included pregnant SLE patients enrolled in the prospective GR2 study receiving HCQ, with at least one available first-trimester whole-blood HCQ assay.

Outcome and prognosis of isolated carotid vasculitis.

Objective: To assess the prognosis and outcome of patients with isolated carotid vasculitis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter study of 36 patients (median age at diagnosis was 37 [IQR 27-45] years and 11 [31 %] patients were men) with initial presentation as isolated carotid vasculitis. Study endpoints included vascular complications, relapses, and progression to large vessel vasculitis (i.

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.

Cutaneous Involvement in Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome in a Multicenter Cohort of 65 Patients.

Importance: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a severe, rare complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but cutaneous involvement has not yet been adequately described.

Objective: To describe cutaneous involvement during CAPS, its clinical and pathological features, and outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study was a retrospective analysis of patients included in the French multicenter APS/systemic lupus erythematosus register (ClinicalTrials.

Tensions Ahead: How Do We Build Feasible Digital Health Systems That Are Person-Centred and Usable?

Globally, the term person-centred care has become all-pervasive across healthcare delivery. It has been suggested that it has become synonymous with good quality care. The term is used frequently in the aims and objectives for healthcare service and provision, although what lies behind the rhetoric in terms of practice may be questionable.

Alginate@TiO hybrid microcapsules with high in vivo biocompatibility and stability for cell therapy.

Designing new materials to encapsulate living therapeutic cells for the treatment of the diseases caused by protein or hormone deficiencies is a great challenge. The desired materials need to be biocompatible towards both entrapped cells and host organisms, have long-term in vivo stability after implantation, allow the diffusion of nutrients and metabolites, and ensure perfect immune-isolation. The current work investigates the in vivo biocompatibility and stability of alginate@TiO hybrid microcapsules and the immune-isolation of entrapped HepG2 cells, to assess their potential for cell therapy.

Rituximab plus belimumab in non-infectious refractory cryoglobulinemia vasculitis: A pilot study.

Objective: To report the efficacy of rituximab plus belimumab in patients with refractory cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (CV).

Methods: Belimumab was administered intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/kg on days 0, 14, 28 and then every month in association with rituximab in 4 patients with refractory CV. Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment modalities and outcomes were recorded.

Hydroxychloroquine levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: whole blood is preferable but serum levels also detect non-adherence.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) levels can be measured in both serum and whole blood. No cut-off point for non-adherence has been established in serum nor have these methods ever been compared. The aims of this study were to compare these two approaches and determine if serum HCQ cut-off points can be established to identify non-adherent patients.

Functional brain connectivity changes across the human life span: From fetal development to old age.

The dynamic of the temporal correlations between brain areas, called functional connectivity (FC), undergoes complex transformations through the life span. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of these changes in the nonpathological brain from fetal life to advanced age. After a brief description of the main methods, we propose that FC development can be divided into four main phases: first, before birth, a strong change in FC leads to the emergence of functional proto-networks, involving mainly within network short-range connections.

Different phenotypes in dermatomyositis associated with anti-MDA5 antibody: Study of 121 cases.

Objectives: The predominance of extramuscular manifestations (e.g., skin rash, arthralgia, interstitial lung disease [ILD]) as well as the low frequency of muscle signs in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive (anti-MDA5+) dermatomyositis caused us to question the term myositis-specific antibody for the anti-MDA5 antibody, as well as the homogeneity of the disease.

Seascape Genetics and the Spatial Ecology of Juvenile Green Turtles.

Understanding how ocean currents impact the distribution and connectivity of marine species, provides vital information for the effective conservation management of migratory marine animals. Here, we used a combination of molecular genetics and ocean drift simulations to investigate the spatial ecology of juvenile green turtle () developmental habitats, and assess the role of ocean currents in driving the dispersal of green turtle hatchlings. We analyzed mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequenced from 358 juvenile green turtles, and from eight developmental areas located throughout the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO).

Exposures associated with making or playing with viscoelastic polymer toys known as Slime: a retrospective case series from French Poison Control Centres.

Slime is a slow-flowing material with viscoelastic properties which is attractive to children. Its preparation is based on the crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or starch with boric acid. The goal of this study was to describe the adverse effects of Slime.

Hybrid Alginate@TiO Porous Microcapsules as a Reservoir of Animal Cells for Cell Therapy.

The number of patients suffering from diseases linked with hormone deficiency (e.g., type 1 diabetes mellitus) has significantly increased in recent years.

A Prospective International Study on Adherence to Treatment in 305 Patients With Flaring SLE: Assessment by Drug Levels and Self-Administered Questionnaires.

Nonadherence to treatment is a major cause of lupus flares. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a major medication in systemic lupus erythematosus, has a long half-life and can be quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. This international study evaluated nonadherence in 305 lupus patients with flares using drug levels (HCQ < 200 ng/ml or undetectable desethylchloroquine), and self-administered questionnaires (MASRI < 80%).

Efficacy and safety of biologics in relapsing polychondritis: a French national multicentre study.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and the safety of biologics in a cohort of patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP).

Methods: We conducted a French multicentre retrospective cohort study including patients treated with biologics for RP. Efficacy outcomes were clinical response (partial or complete) and complete response during the first 6 months of exposure, plus daily corticosteroid dose at 6 months.