Pain in women with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis is related to systemic inflammation and to adipose tissue dysfunction: Cross-sectional results of the KHOALA cohort.

Background: Considering the role of metabolic diseases in osteoarthritis (OA), we investigated whether biomarkers of adipose tissue dysfunction could be associated with OA-related pain.

Design: We cross-sectionally analyzed patients with knee and/or hip OA at inclusion in the KHOALA cohort. We used visual analogic scale (VAS) for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and Osteoarthritis Knee and Hip Quality of Life (OAKHQOL) pain subscores.

Deep cutaneous fungal infections in solid-organ transplant recipients.

Background: Deep cutaneous fungal infections (DCFIs) are varied in immunosuppressed patients, with few data for such infections in solid-organ transplant recipients (s-OTRs).

Objective: To determine DCFI diagnostic characteristics and outcome with treatments in s-OTRs.

Methods: A 20-year retrospective observational study in France was conducted in 8 primary dermatology-dedicated centers for s-OTRs diagnosed with DCFIs.

Extended Injection Intervals after Switching from Ranibizumab to Aflibercept in Macular Edema due to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Purpose: To assess treatment interval extension after switching from ranibizumab to aflibercept intravitreal injections in macular edema (ME) due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with an insufficient response or frequent recurrences to initial treatment.

Methods: CRVO eyes treated with ranibizumab injections on a treat-and-extend (TAE) basis with an insufficient response or frequent recurrences were switched to aflibercept. Primary endpoint was the change in injection intervals before and after the switch.

Macrophage-derived oncostatin M contributes to human and mouse neurogenic heterotopic ossifications.

Neurogenic heterotopic ossification (NHO) is the formation of ectopic bone generally in muscles surrounding joints following spinal cord or brain injury. We investigated the mechanisms of NHO formation in 64 patients and a mouse model of spinal cord injury-induced NHO. We show that marrow from human NHOs contains hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niches, in which mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial cells provide an environment supporting HSC maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation.

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION: Correlations Between Macular Vascular Density, Visual Acuity, and Peripheral Nonperfusion Area on Fluorescein Angiography.

Purpose: To study correlations in patients with retinal vein occlusion between the automatically quantified macular vascular densities in the superficial and deep capillary plexus (DCP) obtained using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and the data from conventional examination, particularly visual acuity and peripheral retinal nonperfusion assessed using fluorescein angiography (FA).

Methods: Retrospective, observational study of patients with retinal vein occlusion who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination including FA and OCTA using the AngioVue OCTA system version 2015.100.

Lenalidomide with or without erythropoietin in transfusion-dependent erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-refractory lower-risk MDS without 5q deletion.

After failure of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), lenalidomide (LEN) yields red blood cell (RBC) transfusion independence (TI) in 20-30% of lower-risk non-del5q myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Several observations suggest an additive effect of ESA and LEN in this situation. We performed a randomized phase III study in 131 RBC transfusion-dependent (TD, median transfusion requirement six RBC units per 8 weeks) lower-risk ESA-refractory non-del5q MDS.

Can nicotine be used medicinally in Parkinson's disease?

The risk of Parkinson's disease is reduced by cigarette smoking, which raises some unanswered questions. Nicotine, a major component of tobacco smoke, could exert either nonreceptor-mediated biological effects or, more importantly, act on the different subtypes of nicotinic brain receptors, in particular those associated with the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. There is now robust experimental evidence for a neuroprotective effect of nicotine upon dopaminergic neurons.

Matrix therapy with RGTA OTR4120 improves healing time and quality in hairless rats with deep second-degree burns.

Background: ReGeneraTing Agents (RGTAs) are biodegradable polymers engineered to mimic heparan-sulfate in the extracellular matrix of damaged tissue. RGTAs improve tissue healing in several animal models by stabilizing and protecting heparin-binding growth factors and matrix proteins. RGTA restores the normal matrix architecture and supports tissue regeneration.

Updated guidelines for managing fungal diseases in hematology patients.

Many prospective open or comparative studies have been published over the last few years on antifungals. As invasive fungal disease remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in high-risk hematology patients, the correct use of antifungal drugs, either as prophylaxis, empirical treatment in neutropenic patients or for therapy of overt disease, is of the utmost importance. Several international or national groups, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia, have elaborated practice guidelines to improve the correct usage of antifungals.

A retrospective series of gut aspergillosis in haematology patients.

Gut invasive aspergillosis is an extremely rare infection in immunocompromised patients. The goal of this retrospective multicentre study is to report on cases of gut aspergillosis in haematology patients, including clinical presentation, risk factors, and outcome. Twenty-one patients from nine centres were identified.

Intravitreal ranibizumab for macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion: a retrospective study of 34 eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of intravitreal ranibizumab injection (Lucentis) in eyes with macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: The files of consecutive patients (34 eyes, 15 CRVO, 19 BRVO) were retrospectively analysed. Intravitreal injections of 0.

Immune response to the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine after the 7-valent conjugate vaccine in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients: results from the EBMT IDWP01 trial.

The current recommendations for active immunization after stem cell transplant (SCT) include 3 doses of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) from 3 months after transplant, followed by a 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23). However, until now, the immune response to PPV23 after PCV7 has not been assessed after SCT. In the EBMT IDWP01 trial, 101 patients received 1 dose of PPV23 at 12 or 18 months, both after 3 doses of PCV7.

Relationship between IgG titers and opsonocytophagocytic activity of anti-pneumococcal antibodies after immunization with the 7-valent conjugate vaccine in allogeneic stem cell transplant.

The European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation has recently run a prospective, randomized trial comparing an early (3 months) vs a late (9 months) immunization program after allo-SCT with three doses of the conjugate 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine. This trial has shown that the response rate assessed 1 month after the third dose of conjugate vaccine was not inferior after an early vaccination vs a late vaccination. Part of the responder cohort of these patients (n=28) were chosen to assess the functionality of the anti-pneumococcal antibodies through an opsonophagocytic assay, 1 month after the third dose of conjugate vaccine.

Complete remission of gastric Burkitt's lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Burkitt's lymphoma is a highly aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, often presenting in extra-nodal sites. It generally has a poor spontaneous outcome and needs aggressive treatment with systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy. Occurrence at the gastric site is rare.

Interim 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: qualitative or quantitative interpretation--where do we stand?

Interim 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography performed early during the course of therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is highly predictive of outcome and now used in many clinical trials to validate risk-adapted strategies. However, interpretation criteria of interim PET are not yet appropriately defined for the evaluation of tumor response and chemosensitivity. From the results of our studies, a quantitative approach based on SUV(max) reduction between baseline PET (PET0) and interim PET demonstrated a higher predictive value than visual analysis when PET was performed at two cycles (PET2) but was equivalent to visual analysis at four cycles (PET4).

The epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in onco-haematology and haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients in France. Are the serotypes covered by the available anti-pneumococcal vaccines?

The pneumococcal antigens contained in the polysaccharide (PPV23) and conjugate (7-valent, PCV7; 13-valent, PCV13) vaccines have been chosen since they represent the serotypes that more frequently cause invasive pneumococcal disease. Whether these vaccines cover the serotypes most frequently isolated in haematology patients is unclear. The serotype distribution among Streptococcus pneumoniae in 25 consecutive pneumococcal infections that occurred over the last 3 years in two French haematology departments was investigated.

Report on the First International Workshop on Interim-PET-Scan in Lymphoma.

An international workshop, under the auspices of Group d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) took place in Deauville, France, in April 3-4, 2009. The European experts with a published or personal experience on interim-PET in lymphoma were invited to the meeting. The aim of the workshop was twofold: (1) to reach a consensus on simple, reproducible criteria for interim-PET interpretation in Hodgkin lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and (2) to launch two or more international validation studies, in an attempt to validate these rules.

Dopamine transporter imaging under high-dose transdermal nicotine therapy in Parkinson's disease: an observational study.

Objectives: Nicotine therapy might improve the course of Parkinson's disease. This observational study evaluated the performance of dopamine transporter imaging in follow-up patients under nicotine therapy.

Methods: Six Hoehn and Yahr stage III patients underwent 123I-FP-CIT imaging prior to, 3 months, and 1 year after the onset of nicotine therapy.

Randomized study of early versus late immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease is a life-threatening complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and at least 20% of cases occur within 1 year after transplantation. The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) has limited efficacy, especially during the first year after transplantation. The immune response to the conjugated vaccines is expected to be better than that to the polysaccharide vaccine, but the optimal timing of vaccination is not defined.

New insight in aetiopathogenesis of aortic diseases.

Background: Knowledge in the aetiopathogeny of aortic disease helps to characterise aortic lesions better and determine the risk of evolution and therapeutic strategies as well. This article focusses on aneurysms and dissections, and excludes causes related to infection, systemic inflammatory diseases and trauma.

Methods And Results: The biomedical literature of the past 10 years has been reviewed here.

Prognostic value of interim 18F-FDG PET in patients with diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma: SUV-based assessment at 4 cycles of chemotherapy.

Unlabelled: Interim (18)F-FDG PET (after 1-4 cycles of chemotherapy) may be useful for tailoring a risk-adapted therapeutic strategy in lymphoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether semiquantification of standardized uptake values (SUVs) may help to improve the prognostic value of (18)F-FDG PET, compared with visual analysis, after 4 cycles of chemotherapy.

Methods: In a previous report, we showed that a 65.

Empirical versus preemptive antifungal therapy for high-risk, febrile, neutropenic patients: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Empirical antifungal therapy is the standard of care for neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies who remain febrile despite broad-spectrum antibacterial treatment. Recent diagnostic improvements may ensure the early diagnosis of potentially invasive fungal disease. Reserving antifungals for this stage may achieve similar survival rates and reduce treatment toxicity and costs.

Impact of neurofibromatosis 1 upon quality of life in childhood: a cross-sectional study of 79 cases.

Background: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL).

Objectives: To evaluate QoL in NF1 according to phenotype from the viewpoint of children and proxy.

Methods: One hundred and forty families with a child aged between 8 and 16 years, seen consecutively at the National Academic Paediatric Referral Centre for NF1 for a phenotype evaluation, were contacted by mail.