Background: Despite vaccination, patients receiving anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) have an increased risk of developing severe or protracted COVID-19. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) in patients with MS or NMOSD exposed to anti-CD20 and infected by SARS-CoV-2.
Methods: This French national, retrospective cohort study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2023.
Background: Receiving gifts from patients could generate an ethical dilemma for physicians and refusing a present may be perceived as an offence.
Objective: To differentiate the particular physician characteristics that are associated with receiving gifts from outpatients. To propose a strategy to avoid gifts and thus ethical dilemma.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
March 2024
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has led to a complete reconfiguration of the therapeutic landscape, with all monoclonal antibodies having lost any neutralization activity. We report here a case series of 75 immunocompromised patients infected by the Omicron variant who benefited from COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). At Day 28, the overall survival was 76% (95% CI 67-86) with no significant difference in the clinical outcome between patients with hematological malignancies, solid organ transplantation or autoimmune diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe highlighted in this current paper similar prolonged respiratory presentation with COVID-19 pneumonia in four severely immunocompromised patients currently being treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as ocrelizumab and rituximab, for multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid polyarthritis. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on a nasopharyngeal swab specimen was negative in all patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Preclinical and clinical data suggest a potential benefit in the addition of radiotherapy (RT) to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) during the treatment of advanced cancers. Nevertheless, the ideal patients for this approach and the optimal RT regimen is still debated.
Material And Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the effect RT schedule has on survival for advanced non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma patients (pts) treated with ICI (anti-PD1 or anti-CTLA4) and concomitant RT.
PATHOGENESIS OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION COVID-19 follows a rather stereotyped and reproducible course. While the first events are mediated by direct viral toxicity, resolution of the infection relies on a finely tuned immune response. In patients with severe forms, defects of the initial immune response have been reported, including insufficient type 1 interferon production or signaling, attenuated or skewed adaptative immune response, sometimes due to viral immune escape properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, and considering the lack of efficacy of antiviral strategies to this date, and the reactive hyperinflammation leading to tissue lesions and pneumonia, effective treatments targeting the dysregulated immune response are more than ever required. Immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive drugs have been repurposed in severe COVID-19 with contrasting results. The heterogeneity in the timing of treatments administrations could be accountable for these discrepancies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Evaluate efficacy and toxicity of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) for patients treated for pituitary adenoma (PA) with an alternative HSRT escalating protocol delivering 35Gy in 5 fractions.
Material And Methods: From June 2007 to March 2017, 29 patients with pituitary adenoma were treated in Antoine Lacassagne Cancer Centre with an alternative HSRT protocol. Prescribed dose was 35Gy in 5 fractions of 7Gy.
Recent evidence showed greater efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) in the subgroups of COVID-19 patients who presented with symptoms for less than 7 days and in those only receiving oxygen. We retrospectively analyzed a compassionate use cohort to determine the best timing for TCZ injection. We showed no association between the timing of injection after symptom onset and the efficacy of TCZ on mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-CoV-2 infection, named COVID-19, can lead to a dysregulated immune response and abnormal coagulation responsible for a viral sepsis. In this review, we specify physiopathological mechanisms of each phase of COVID-19 - viral, immune and pro-thrombotic - notably because they involve different treatment. Finally, we specify the physiopathological mechanisms of organ injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe spread of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, discovered in China in January 2020, led to a pandemic as early as March 2020, forcing every health care system in the affected countries to adapt quickly. In order to better address this major health crisis, which has given rise to numerous scientific publications, we have synthesized the main original clinical studies to facilitate the day-to-day management of patients with COVID-19. We detail the early signs and progression of the disease as well as the different clinical forms, including extra-pulmonary, as known at the beginning of this pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe malaria parasite, Plasmodium, requires iron for growth, but how it imports iron remains unknown. We characterize here a protein that belongs to the ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-like Protein) family of metal ion transport proteins and have named ZIP domain-containing protein (ZIPCO). Inactivation of the ZIPCO-encoding gene in Plasmodium berghei, while not affecting the parasite's ability to multiply in mouse blood and to infect mosquitoes, greatly impairs its capacity to develop inside hepatocytes.
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