The proteolytic airway environment associated with pneumonia acts as a barrier for treatment with anti-infective antibodies.

Like pneumonia, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a massive infiltration of innate immune cells (such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes) into the airways and alveolar spaces. These cells release proteases that may degrade therapeutic antibodies and thus limit their effectiveness. Here, we investigated the in vitro and ex vivo impact on anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) IgG1s and other IgG subclasses (IgG2 and IgG4) of the neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3 and cathepsin G (the three main neutrophil serine proteases) found in endotracheal aspirates from patients with severe COVID-19.

[Statins and anesthesia: dilemma or obviousness? Is there still room for withdrawal of chronic statin therapy before surgery?].

Due to their action on the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-Cholesterol), statins efficiently take part in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Moreover, they exert various effects (called "pleiotropic") independently of their lipid lowering actions. All of these effects interact with inflammation, thrombosis and vasoconstriction during the perioperative period.

Entomological investigations in Chichaoua: an emerging epidemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Morocco.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica Wright seems to be an emerging disease in Chichaoua, a province located in southwestern Morocco. In this study, sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) were collected from 12 stations. Sticky traps were placed in domestic, peridomestic, and sylvatic sites.

Distribution of phlebotomine sandflies, of the subgenus Larroussius, in Morocco.

Adult sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the genus Phlebotomus and of the subgenus Larroussius were collected with sticky traps from thirty-four localities in central and south-western Morocco. Four Larroussius species were present in this area, Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, being the most widespread and abundant species particularly in the mountainous area, was sympatric with the closely related species Phlebotomus longicuspis Nitzulescu. Only one male of P.

Genetic determinism of parasitic circadian periodicity and subperiodicity in human lymphatic filariasis.

The larval parasites of the pantropical lymphatic filariasis exhibit two types of circadian behaviour. Typically, they only appear in the human bloodstream at nighttime, synchronised with their mosquito vectors. In Polynesia and parts of Southeast Asia, free of nocturnal vectors, they are found at all hours, and each population biorhythm differs.

Togetherness among Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes: interpretation through simulation and consequences for malaria transmission.

Previous experimental gametocyte infections of Anopheles arabiensis on 3 volunteers naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum were conducted in Senegal. They showed that gametocyte counts in the mosquitoes are, like macroparasite intakes, heterogeneous (overdispersed). They followed a negative binomial distribution, the overdispersion coefficient seeming constant (k = 3.

Limitation and facilitation in the vectors and other aspects of the dynamics of filarial transmission: the need for vector control against Anopheles-transmitted filariasis.

In certain filaria-mosquito combinations, the number of infective, third-stage larvae (L(3)) that develop in a mosquito is not proportional to the number of microfilariae (mff) ingested by that mosquito. As the number of mff ingested increases, the yield of L(3) per microfilaria may either increase (in a process known as 'facilitation') or decrease (in a process known as 'limitation'). Each ingested microfilaria that is successful (in terms of reaching the haemocoel) increases (facilitation) or decreases (limitation) the 'permeability' of the stomach wall for the next microfilaria.

High heterogeneity in the number of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in the bloodmeal of mosquitoes fed on the same host.

To investigate the quantitative distribution of Plasmodiumfalciparum gametocytes into the vector bloodmeal, Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes were fed on 3 volunteers naturally infected with gametocytes. The content of each mosquito midgut was smeared on a microscope slide and Giemsa stained. The distribution of gametocytes ingested by mosquitoes followed a negative binomial distribution, with apparently constant overdispersion (parameter k +/- S.

Intraoperative clonidine enhances postoperative morphine patient-controlled analgesia.

In this prospective study, the postoperative analgesic effects of intraoperative iv clonidine were evaluated. Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to either balanced anaesthesia with iv clonidine (Group 1) or balanced anaesthesia alone (Group 2). A PCA infuser was connected immediately after tracheal extubation.

Population dynamics of Loa loa and Mansonella perstans infections in individuals living in an endemic area of the Congo.

A follow-up of Loa loa and Mansonella perstans microfilaremia was carried out in an adult population living in a highly endemic area of the Congo. Infection rates and parasite loads were found to be stable in the general population, both in the short-term (two months) and long-term (3-4 years) followup. The microfilarial status of most of the subjects examined did not change between tests.

Crypto-periodicity in Mansonella ozzardi.

Studying nycthemeral microfilarial density in eight carriers of Mansonella ozzardi, Nathan et al. concluded that there is an absence of periodicity in M. ozzardi in Trinidad.

[Intake of microfilariae by the vector in the case of a low microfilareamia (author's transl)].

The study of the intake of microfilariae of Dipetalonema dessetae by Aedes aegypti leads to two conclusions with respect to the microfilaraemia: --there is no concentration of microfilariae in the uptake of blood by Aedes. --the microfilariae are nearly homogeneously distributed in the vertebrate host blood available to the vector for feeding. Such a distribution of microfilariae in the cutaneous blood supply of the host gives the maximum chance for a mosquito to become infected when taking a blood meal.

[Fluctuations affecting the measurement of microfilaremia (author's transl)].

A statistical analysis was conducted, in order to compare the variations in values of a) blood samples obtained with several finger-pricks from the same individual in a short period of time, and b) blood samples obtained from the same finger-puncture. No significant difference was observed: both groups seem to follow a negative binomial distribution, the exponent of which is not dependent on the microfilarial count average. This common exponent is roughly equal to the volume of the blood sample, expressed in cmm.

[Dengue outbreak by virus type 4 in French Polynesia. II. Preliminary biological observations on epidemiology and physiopathology of the disease (author's transl)].

Authors report some accurate epidemiologic and physiopathologic data about dengue 4. Thanks to virus intrathoracic inoculation in Toxorhynchites amboinensis (Doleshall, 1857), 202 viral strains have been isolated from 633 sera samples. The incidence of the disease has decreased very early after immunization of the whole population and resulted in an eradication of dengue type 1 virus which was endemic in French Polynesia since 1976.

[Dengue outbreak by virus type 4 in French Polynesia. I. General epidemiology - clinical specific aspects (author's transl)].

Authors describe an extensive outbreak of dengue 4 virus which is observed for the first time out of its Asian original focus. The whole archipelagos of French Polynesia have been contaminated in a space of four months. Usual form of the disease is typical with lightness of the symptoms.

[Studies of the numerical distribution of microfilariae in foci of lymphatic filariasis (author's transl)].

The frequency distribution of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae counts in capillary blood, at a community level, is shown to differ significantly from the log-normal distribution, commonly used (and recommended by WHO). A much better fit is obtained with a truncated negative-binomial distribution, the k exponent of which is estimated to 0.3.

[Evolution of filarial hemagglutinating antibodies 1 year after a single dose of diethylcarbamazine].

The authors compare the serological results obtained before and after a single dose with diethylcarbamazine (6 mg./kg.) in a homogeneous and strongly infected with Wuchereria bancrofti var, pacifica population.