β-Glucan as Trained Immunity-Based Adjuvants for Rabies Vaccines in Dogs.

The mechanisms of trained immunity have been extensively described and the beneficial effects are starting to be deciphered in settings. Prototypical compounds inducing trained immunity, such as β-glucans, act through epigenetic reprogramming and metabolic changes of innate immune cells. The recent advances in this field have opened new areas for the development of Trained immunity-based adjuvants (TIbAs).

Characterization of recombinant OspA in two different Borrelia vaccines with respect to immunological response and its relationship to functional parameters.

Background: Prevention of Lyme disease in dogs in North America depends on effective vaccination against infection by the tick vector-born spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Most vaccines effectively prevent spirochete transmission to dogs during tick feeding based on immunization with the outer-surface lipoprotein A (OspA) of B. burgdorferi.

Microbiota Quality and Mitochondrial Activity Link with Occurrence of Muscle Cramps in Hemodialysis Patients using Citrate Dialysate: A Pilot Study.

Background/aims: Hemodialysis-associated muscle cramp (HAMC) is a common complication under citrate dialysate (CD) occurring in 30% of cases. Our objectives were to assess the gut microbiota quality, mitochondrial activity, and to investigate their possible relationship with HAMC.

Methods: Ten end-stage renal disease patients (78.

[Focusing on peritoneal dialysis adequacy].

The optimal method to assess the adequacy of peritoneal dialysis therapies is controversial. Today, the adequacy must not be considered as a number or a concept assessed only by two parameters (total KT/V urea and total solute clearance) but defined by many more items. In the absence of data, based on theoretical considerations, the reanalysis of the CANUSA study showed that renal kidney function, rather than peritoneal clearance, was associated with improved survival.

Blockade of LTB(4) /BLT(1) pathway improves CD8(+) T-cell-mediated colitis.

Background: Leukotriene B4 (LTB(4) ) has chemotactic properties for activated T cells expressing the high-affinity receptor BLT(1) . This study investigated whether the LTB(4) antagonist (CP-105,693), selective for BLT(1) receptor, could protect mice from colitis mediated by specific cytotoxic CD8(+) T lymphocytes (CTL).

Methods: Virus-specific colitis was induced in C57Bl/6 mice transferred with lymphoid cells from P14 TcR Tg mice which are specific to class I GP33 peptide of LCMV.

CD4+ T cells and Lactobacillus casei control relapsing colitis mediated by CD8+ T cells.

Evidence that CD4(+) regulatory T cells can control Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell-mediated colitis in immunocompetent mice is poorly documented. To examine the potential of CD4(+) T cells to control colitis, we used our model of CD8(+) T cell-mediated colitis induced by intracolonic sensitization followed by challenge with the hapten 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. The defect of CD4(+) T cells in MHC class II-deficient (Abeta(degrees/degrees)) mice allowed priming of 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-specific IFN-gamma-producing CD8 colitogenic effectors and development of colitis in the otherwise resistant C57BL/6 strain.

Regional discrepancies in peritoneal dialysis utilization in France: the role of the nephrologist's opinion about peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is underused in France compared with other countries. In addition, there are tremendous regional discrepancies concerning the utilization rate of PD. This study was carried out to evaluate the opinion of French nephrologists regarding the optimal rate of PD utilization and to determine which factors limit PD development in France.

Changes in health-related quality of life in patients of self-care vs. in-center dialysis during the first year.

Objective: In the Lorraine area (France), dialysis centers propose an educational program to improve patient's ability to perform dialysis by themselves. The objective was to assess changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the first year of dialysis, comparing independent patients with patients on in-center dialysis.

Method: All patients aged between 18 and 70 and having started their first dialysis between June 1997 and June 1999 in the Lorraine area were included.

[Iron therapy: is it different with peritoneal dialysis compared to haemodialysis?].

This paper reviews literature data on iron replacement (loading) for peritoneal dialysis patients. The 3 main sources of clinical guidelines (American NKF-K/DOQI, European EBPG and French AFSSAPS) agree about the definition of iron deficience, but are not similar about the haemoglobin/hematocrit targets for EPO treatment, and for the route of iron administration (oral versus intravenous). Iron requirements are less in PD HD patients.

Influence of autonomy and type of home assistance on the prevention of peritonitis in assisted automated peritoneal dialysis patients. An analysis of data from the French Language Peritoneal Dialysis Registry.

Background: In France, 48% of home-based peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients require assistance to perform their exchange and manage their treatment. A total of 7% are aided by their family, and 41% by a private nurse. Of all the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, 61.

APD schedules and clinical results.

This chapter exposes the clinical effects of different APD schedules. Clinical studies have shown that Na removal is lower with APD compared to CAPD. Therefore the loss of residual renal function requires continuous therapy with long day-dwell of polyglucose dialysate.

Impact of first dialysis modality on outcome of patients contraindicated for kidney transplant.

Background: We compared, in patients contraindicated for kidney transplant, outcomes between those patients who were only on hemodialysis (HD) and those who were given peritoneal dialysis (PD) as first renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Design: Prospective, population-based cohort study of incident cases of end-stage renal disease between June 1997 and June 1999.

Setting: A network of dialysis care: NEPHROLOR, that is, all the renal units in Lorraine, one of the 22 French administrative regions (population over 2.

Surfactant-free anionic PLA nanoparticles coated with HIV-1 p24 protein induced enhanced cellular and humoral immune responses in various animal models.

Microparticles and nanoparticles prepared with poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) or poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) polymers represent a promising method for in vivo delivery of encapsulated peptide, protein or DNA antigens. However, one major issue that limits the potential of these delivery systems is the instability or the degradation of the entrapped antigen. Charged microparticles carrying surface adsorbed antigen were developed to resolve this problem and appear more suitable for vaccine applications.

The efficacy and safety of once-weekly and once-fortnightly subcutaneous epoetin beta in peritoneal dialysis patients with chronic renal anaemia.

Background: Reducing the dosage frequency of subcutaneous epoetin in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is convenient and should improve patient satisfaction and, possibly, compliance. We investigated if a weekly dosage of epoetin beta in PD patients safely maintained haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations equivalent to those obtained with previous twice- or thrice-weekly administration. In addition, we investigated if a fortnightly dosage of epoetin beta was safe and as effective as previous weekly administration.

Short communication: retrospective study to time the introduction of HIV type 1 non-B subtypes in Lyon, France, using env genes obtained from primary infection samples.

Using blood samples from primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) patients obtained in Lyon, France, we characterized the newly transmitted HIV-1 variants in this area during the 1992-1996 period. As PHI samples allowed the precise timing of the transmission event, we were able to date the introduction of non-B subtypes or recombinant forms of the virus in Lyon. Genomic DNA from 18 HIV-1-positive patients at primary infection was used to amplify the full-length env gene by nested PCR; after cloning, the gene was sequenced for subsequent phylogenetic analysis.

Evaluation in rhesus macaques of Tat and rev-targeted immunization as a preventive vaccine against mucosal challenge with SHIV-BX08.

Recent evidence suggests that a CD8-mediated cytotoxic T-cell response against the regulatory proteins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) may control infection after pathogenic virus challenge. Here, we evaluated whether vaccination with Tat or Tat and Rev could significantly reduce viral load in nonhuman primates. Rhesus macaques were primed with Semliki forest Virus (SFV) expressing HIV-1 tat (SFV-tat) and HIV-1 rev (SFV-rev) and boosted with modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing tat and rev.