Low serum DHEA-S is associated with impaired lung function in women.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that androgens and estrogens have a role in respiratory health, but it is largely unknown whether levels of these hormones can affect lung function in adults from the general population. This study investigated whether serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), a key precursor of both androgens and estrogens in peripheral tissues, was related to lung function in adult women participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).

Methods: Lung function and serum DHEA-S concentrations were measured in  = 2,045 and  = 1,725 women in 1999-2002 and in 2010-2013, respectively.

Inhibition of Polyamine Biosynthesis Is a Broad-Spectrum Strategy against RNA Viruses.

Unlabelled: RNA viruses present an extraordinary threat to human health, given their sudden and unpredictable appearance, the potential for rapid spread among the human population, and their ability to evolve resistance to antiviral therapies. The recent emergence of chikungunya virus, Zika virus, and Ebola virus highlights the struggles to contain outbreaks. A significant hurdle is the availability of antivirals to treat the infected or protect at-risk populations.

Molecular epidemiology and mechanisms of resistance of azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in France during 2013-14.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and mechanisms of azithromycin resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae French isolates from 2013 to 2014.

Methods: N. gonorrhoeae samples isolated in a network of laboratories were tested for susceptibility to azithromycin between April 2013 and March 2014.

Postpartum haemorrhage related early increase in D-dimers is inhibited by tranexamic acid: haemostasis parameters of a randomized controlled open labelled trial.

Background: Beneficial effects of tranexamic acid (TA) have been established in surgery and trauma. In ongoing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a moderate reduction of blood loss was observed in a previously published randomized controlled trial. Analysis of haemostasis parameters obtained from samples collected as part of this study are presented.

TAVI or No TAVI: identifying patients unlikely to benefit from transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has spawned the evolution of novel catheter-based therapies for a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Newer device iterations are delivering lower peri- and early post-procedural complication rates in patients with aortic stenosis, who were otherwise deemed too high risk for conventional surgical valve replacement. Yet beyond the post-procedural period, a considerable portion of current TAVI recipients fail to derive a benefit from TAVI, either dying or displaying a lack of clinical and functional improvement.

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for the Early Evaluation of Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Influence of the Chemotherapy Regimen.

Unlabelled: Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have poor outcome when pathologic complete response (pCR) is not reached after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Early prediction would be helpful. We evaluated the association between metabolic response after 2 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pCR, and outcome in patients receiving 2 different anthracycline-based regimens (conventional and intensified).

Immediate remote ischemic postconditioning after hypoxia ischemia in piglets protects cerebral white matter but not grey matter.

Remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) is a promising therapeutic intervention whereby brief episodes of ischemia/reperfusion of one organ (limb) mitigate damage in another organ (brain) that has experienced severe hypoxia-ischemia. Our aim was to assess whether RIPostC is protective following cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in a piglet model of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) biomarkers and immunohistochemistry. After hypoxia-ischemia (HI), 16 Large White female newborn piglets were randomized to: (i) no intervention (n = 8); (ii) RIPostC - with four, 10-min cycles of bilateral lower limb ischemia/reperfusion immediately after HI (n = 8).

Pharmacokinetics of Raltegravir in HIV-Infected Patients on Rifampicin-Based Antitubercular Therapy.

Background: Rifampicin (RIF) induces UGT1A1, an enzyme involved in raltegravir (RAL) elimination, thereby potentially lowering RAL exposure. We examined the pharmacokinetics of RAL in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on RIF-based antitubercular therapy in the French National Agency for HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Research 12 180 Reflate Tuberculosis trial.

Methods: Patients started RAL in combination with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and lamivudine after initiation of RIF (10 mg/kg/day).

Step-down strategy of spacing TNF-blocker injections for established rheumatoid arthritis in remission: results of the multicentre non-inferiority randomised open-label controlled trial (STRASS: Spacing of TNF-blocker injections in Rheumatoid ArthritiS Study).

Unlabelled: Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-blocker tapering has been proposed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission.

Objective: The trial aims to compare the effect of progressive spacing of TNF-blocker injections (S-arm) to their maintenance (M-arm) for established patients with RA in remission.

Methods: The study was an 18-month equivalence trial which included patients receiving etanercept or adalimumab at stable dose for ≥1 year, patients in remission on 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) for ≥6 months and patients with stable joint damage.

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac progenitors for severe heart failure treatment: first clinical case report.

Aims: Comparative studies suggest that stem cells committed to a cardiac lineage are more effective for improving heart function than those featuring an extra-cardiac phenotype. We have therefore developed a population of human embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived cardiac progenitor cells.

Methods And Results: Undifferentiated human ESCs (I6 line) were amplified and cardiac-committed by exposure to bone morphogenetic protein-2 and a fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor.

Urinary creatinine excretion, measured glomerular filtration rate and CKD outcomes.

Background: Muscle wasting predicts mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but its role in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is uncertain. We studied CKD outcomes associated with low muscle mass, assessed by urinary creatinine excretion (UCr).

Methods: The NephroTest cohort included 1429 patients with CKD stages 1-4 and both measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) (by (51)Cr-EDTA) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (by CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration equation).

Comparison of cardiac output measured by oesophageal Doppler ultrasonography or pulse pressure contour wave analysis.

Background: Maintaining adequate organ perfusion during high-risk surgery requires continuous monitoring of cardiac output to optimise haemodynamics. Oesophageal Doppler Cardiac Output monitoring (DCO) is commonly used in this context, but has some limitations. Recently, the cardiac output estimated by pulse pressure analysis- (PPCO) was developed.

Assessment of coinfection of sexually transmitted pathogen microbes by use of the anyplex II STI-7 molecular kit.

Anyplex STI-7 is a new molecular kit that detects seven sexually transmitted pathogens. Among 202 subjects screened for genital infection, 143 (70.4%) were diagnosed with at least one pathogen, in concordance with reference methods.

IPH4102, a humanized KIR3DL2 antibody with potent activity against cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) remains an unmet medical need, which lacks effective targeted therapies. In this study, we report the development of IPH4102, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the immune receptor KIR3DL2, which is widely expressed on CTCL cells but few normal immune cells. Potent antitumor properties of IPH4102 were documented in allogeneic human CTCL cells and a mouse model of KIR3DL2(+) disease.

Towards a clinical use of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac progenitors: a translational experience.

Aim: There is now compelling evidence that cells committed to a cardiac lineage are most effective for improving the function of infarcted hearts. This has been confirmed by our pre-clinical studies entailing transplantation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cardiac progenitors in rat and non-human primate models of myocardial infarction. These data have paved the way for a translational programme aimed at a phase I clinical trial.

Predictive factors of early mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: individual risk assessment using a simple score.

Objective: Decision making for intervention in symptomatic aortic stenosis should balance the risks of surgery and of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We identified the factors associated with early mortality after TAVI and aimed to develop and validate a simple risk score.

Methods: A population of 3833 consecutive patients was randomly split into two cohorts comprising 2552 and 1281 patients, used respectively to develop and validate a scoring system predicting 30-day or in-hospital mortality.

Predictors of return rate for an HIV-positive result in a French Voluntary Counseling and Testing centre.

Bichat Hospital's free and anonymous Voluntary Counseling and Testing centre in Paris is widely visited, with a high rate of HIV-positive diagnosis. This study proposed, in this centre, to describe the HIV newly-diagnosed patients over an 8-year period and to determinate risk factors for failure to return for a positive result. Higher risk for failure to return was found among the heterosexual subjects regardless of their socio-economic background.

Analysing urban resilience through alternative stormwater management options: application of the conceptual Spatial Decision Support System model at the neighbourhood scale.

Recent changes in cities and their environments, caused by rapid urbanisation and climate change, have increased both flood probability and the severity of flooding. Consequently, there is a need for all cities to adapt to climate and socio-economic changes by developing new strategies for flood risk management. Following a risk paradigm shift from traditional to more integrated approaches, and considering the uncertainties of future urban development, one of the main emerging tasks for city managers becomes the development of resilient cities.

Crystal structure and functional mapping of human ASMT, the last enzyme of the melatonin synthesis pathway.

Melatonin is a synchronizer of many physiological processes. Abnormal melatonin signaling is associated with human disorders related to sleep, metabolism, and neurodevelopment. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of human N-acetyl serotonin methyltransferase (ASMT), the last enzyme of the melatonin biosynthesis pathway.