Intra-articular injection of inorganic pyrophosphate improves IL-1β-induced cartilage damage in rat model of knee osteoarthritis in vivo.

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of chronic joint disease, affecting mainly the elderly population. This disorder is caused by cartilage degeneration with complex changes in the chondrocyte phenotype. Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) was shown to counteract the detrimental effect of interleukin (IL)-1β challenging in an in vitro OA model based on rat articular chondrocytes.

Humans need auditory experience to produce typical volitional nonverbal vocalizations.

Human nonverbal vocalizations such as screams and cries often reflect their evolved functions. Although the universality of these putatively primordial vocal signals and their phylogenetic roots in animal calls suggest a strong reflexive foundation, many of the emotional vocalizations that we humans produce are under our voluntary control. This suggests that, like speech, volitional vocalizations may require auditory input to develop typically.

Is Vesicular Therapy the Newcomer That Matters for the Medicine of Tomorrow?

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed particles released by cells into their extracellular environment [...

Beyond speech: Exploring diversity in the human voice.

Humans have evolved voluntary control over vocal production for speaking and singing, while preserving the phylogenetically older system of spontaneous nonverbal vocalizations such as laughs and screams. To test for systematic acoustic differences between these vocal domains, we analyzed a broad, cross-cultural corpus representing over 2 h of speech, singing, and nonverbal vocalizations. We show that, while speech is relatively low-pitched and tonal with mostly regular phonation, singing and especially nonverbal vocalizations vary enormously in pitch and often display harsh-sounding, irregular phonation owing to nonlinear phenomena.

Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter (PICC) Related Bloodstream Infection in Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy Compared with Noncancer Patients: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis.

The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has increased in cancer patients. This study aimed to compare the incidence of PICC-related bloodstream infections (PICCR-BSIs) in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and in noncancer patients. We performed a secondary analysis from a retrospective, single-center, observational cohort.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Enterococcal Bone and Joint Infections and Factors Associated with Treatment Failure over a 13-Year Period in a French Teaching Hospital.

Enterococcal bone and joint infections (BJIs) are reported to have poor outcomes, but there are conflicting results. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with enterococcal BJI and to assess the factors associated with treatment failure. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Nimes University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2020.

Continuous infusion of meropenem-vaborbactam for a KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection in a critically ill patient with augmented renal clearance.

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of continuous infusion of meropenem-vaborbactam to optimize the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Methods: Report of a case of a Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection comfirmed by whole genome sequencing and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of meropenem.

Time-temperature superposition for kinetic mapping of solventless autocatalytic addition of diisocyanates and macrodiols.

The migration of chemicals from polyurethane (PUR) is a concern in many applications, such as adhesives for food packaging. Low molecular weight catalysts, which are prone to migration, need to be eliminated from PUR, in particular those containing Sn or other metals. This is difficult partly due to many uncertainties of autocatalytic polyaddition between isocyanates and polyols.

Respiratory multiplex PCR and procalcitonin to reduce antibiotic exposure in severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: We aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety on antibiotic exposure of a strategy combining a respiratory multiplex PCR (mPCR) with enlarged panel and daily procalcitonin (PCT) measurements, as compared with a conventional strategy, in adult patients who were critically ill with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Methods: This multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomized controlled trial enrolled patients admitted to 13 intensive care units (ICUs) in France. Patients were assigned (1:1) to the control strategy, in which antibiotic streamlining remained at the discretion of the physicians, or interventional strategy, consisting of using mPCR and daily PCT measurements within the first 7 days of randomization to streamline initial antibiotic therapy, with antibiotic continuation encouraged when PCT was >1 ng/mL and discouraged if < 1 ng/mL or decreased by 80% from baseline.

Analytical Performances of the Novel i-STAT Alinity Point-of-Care Analyzer.

Many Point-of-Care devices have been released over the past decade. However, data regarding their analytical performances in real-world situations remains scarce. Herein, we aimed to assess the analytical performances of the i-STAT Alinity system.

Effect of Tocilizumab on Mortality in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia Caused by Delta or Omicron Variants: A Propensity-Matched Analysis in Nimes University Hospital, France.

We aimed to assess the factors associated with mortality in patients treated with tocilizumab for a SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia due to the delta or omicron variants of concern (VOC) and detect an effect of tocilizumab on mortality. We conducted a prospective cohort study in a tertiary hospital from 1 August 2021 to 31 March 2022 including patients with severe COVID-19, treated with tocilizumab. Factors associated with mortality were assessed in a Cox model; then, the 60-day mortality rates of COVID-19 patients treated with standard of care (SoC) +/- tocilizumab were compared after 1:1 propensity score matching.

Outcomes of Beta-Lactam Allergic and Non-Beta-Lactam Allergic Patients with Intra-Abdominal Infection: A Case-Control Study.

Background: In the case of intra-abdominal infections (IAI) in beta-lactam (BL) allergic patients, empiric antimicrobial therapy without BL is recommended; however, data regarding the outcome with alternative regimens are scarce. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of BL allergic (BLA) patients with IAI to those who were non-BLA (NBLA). Method: We conducted a case−control study in a French teaching hospital, between 1 January 2016 and 31 August 2021.

Last resort beta-lactam antibiotics for treatment of New-Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase producing Enterobacterales and other Difficult-to-Treat Resistance in Gram-negative bacteria: A real-life study.

Introduction: Novel last resort beta-lactam antibiotics are now available for management of infections due to New-Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase (NDM) producing Enterobacterales and non-fermenters with Difficult-to-Treat Resistance. However, data regarding the use of imipenem-cilastatin-relebactam (IMI-REL), cefiderocol (CFD) and ceftazidime-avibactam plus aztreonam (CAZ-AVI-ATM) are scarce in real-life settings. This study aimed to describe the use of last resort beta-lactam antibiotics, the microbiology and the outcome, in patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital.

Sodium flux during hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration treatment of acute kidney injury: Effects of dialysate and infusate sodium concentration at 140 and 145 mmol/L.

Background: A higher sodium (Na) dialysate concentration is recommended during renal replacement therapy (RRT) of acute kidney injury (AKI) to improve intradialytic hemodynamic tolerance, but it may lead to Na loading to the patient. We aimed to evaluate Na flux according to Na dialysate and infusate concentrations at 140 and 145 mmol/L during hemodialysis (HD) and hemodiafiltration (HDF).

Methods: Fourteen AKI patients that underwent consecutive HD or HDF sessions with Na dialysate/infusate at 140 and 145 mmol/L were included.

Acquisition of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: epidemiology and risk factors in a 6-year cohort of 507 severe trauma patients.

Objectives: Severe trauma patients are at higher risk of infection and often exposed to antibiotics, which could favor acquisition of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we aimed to assess prevalence, acquisition, and factors associated with acquisition of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (ESCR-GNB) in severe trauma patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric cohort study in a French level one Regional Trauma Centre between 01 January 2010and 31 December 2015.

Hop Extract Anti-Inflammatory Effect on Human Chondrocytes Is Potentiated When Encapsulated in Rapeseed Lecithin Nanoliposomes.

Hop ( L.) is a plant used as an ingredient in beer or employed for its anti-inflammatory properties. The cultivation of hops is currently dedicated to the brewing industry, where mainly female flowers are used, whereas aerial parts, such as leaves, are considered coproducts.

General practitioners' attitude towards cooperation with other health professionals in managing patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Cooperation between general practitioners (GPs) and other healthcare professionals appears to help reduce the risk of polypharmacy-related adverse events in patients with multimorbidity.

Objectives: To investigate GPs profiles according to their opinions and attitudes about interprofessional cooperation and to study the association between these profiles and GPs' characteristics.

Methods: Between May and July 2016, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a panel of French GPs about their management of patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy, focussing on their opinions on the roles of healthcare professionals and interprofessional cooperation.

Efficient TGF-β1 Delivery to Articular Chondrocytes In Vitro Using Agro-Based Liposomes.

The low efficiency in transfecting rat- and human-derived chondrocytes have been hampering developments in the field of cartilage biology. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 has shown positive effects on chondrocytes, but its applications remain limited due to its short half-life, low stability and poor penetration into cartilage. Naturally derived liposomes have been shown to be promising delivery nanosystems due to their similarities with biological membranes.