Regulatory B cells in myasthenia gravis are differentially affected by therapies.

We analyzed the number and functionality of regulatory B (Breg) cells in well-defined myasthenia gravis patients. We first showed a decreased number of circulating CD19 CD24 CD38 Breg cells and an altered functionality of Breg cells in untreated myasthenia gravis patients. Next, we demonstrated that the proportion of circulating Breg cells was restored in myasthenia gravis patients after thymectomy, probably as Breg cells could be sequestered in the myasthenia gravis thymus.

Predictors of all-cause mortality and ischemic events within and beyond 1 year after an acute coronary syndrome: Results from the EPICOR registry.

Background: Patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have substantial risk of recurrent ischemic events or dying.

Hypothesis: A difference may exist in risk predictors for all-cause mortality and ischemic events between year 1 and 2 of follow-up post-ACS.

Methods: EPICOR (NCT01171404) was a prospective, international, real-world cohort study of consecutive patients hospitalized for ACS within 24 hours of symptom onset and surviving to discharge.

Corneal epithelial stem cells for corneal injury.

Introduction: Ocular surface diseases with limbal insufficiency represent a therapeutic challenge for restoring vision. This corneal deficiency includes both classical ocular diseases (as chemical burns) and rare ocular diseases (as congenital aniridia and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid).

Areas Covered: Our understanding of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) has increased the potential for treatment options.

Impact of comorbidities on fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Results from a nurse-led program for comorbidities management (COMEDRA).

Objectives: To analyze the factors associated with fatigue focusing on comorbidities in a large cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were performed on RA patients from the French COMEDRA cohort study, a nurse-led program for comorbidities management. Fatigue was assessed using Question 3 of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) score on a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS).

Mid-term Outcomes of Stent Assisted Balloon Induced Intimal Disruption and Relamination in Aortic Dissection Repair (STABILISE) in Acute Type B Aortic Dissection.

Objectives: This article reports mid-term results of 41 patients treated by the stent assisted balloon induced intimal disruption and relamination (STABILISE) technique for acute type B aortic dissection.

Methods: Between November 2011 and November 2017, 41 patients (10 male; median age 50 years) underwent proximal descending aortic stent grafting plus stent assisted balloon induced intimal disruption of the thoraco-abdominal aorta for acute type B aortic dissection. Serial computed tomography angiography was used to assess aortic remodelling.

Stroke prevention, 1-year clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in patients with atrial fibrillation in France: Data from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Background: GARFIELD-AF is a non-interventional worldwide study of adults with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To analyse the characteristics of the 1399 patients recruited in France from August 2010 to July 2015, their 1-year outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.

Method: Patients aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (≤6 weeks' duration) and ≥1 stroke risk factor were eligible.

Regional variations in hospital management and post-discharge mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Therapeutic variability not explained by patient clinical characteristics is a potential source of avoidable morbidity and mortality. We aimed to explore regional variability in the management and mortality of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

Methods And Results: 11,931 NSTE-ACS hospital survivors enrolled in two prospective registries: EPICOR [5625 patients, 555 hospitals, 20 countries in Europe (E) and Latin America (LA), September 2010-March 2011] and EPICOR Asia (6306 patients, 218 hospitals, 8 countries, June 2011-May 2012) were compared among eight pre-defined regions: Northern E (NE), Southern E (SE), Eastern E (EE); Latin America (LA); China (CN), India (IN), South-East Asia (SA), and South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore (KS).

Efficacy of cabazitaxel rechallenge in heavily treated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Treatment option in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with docetaxel (DOC), cabazitaxel (CABA) and new hormone therapy (NHT) is limited. Rechallenge with DOC is limited because of cumulative toxicities. This study investigated the activity and safety of CABA rechallenge in mCRPC.

Impact of known or new-onset atrial fibrillation on 2-year cardiovascular event rate in patients with acute coronary syndromes: results from the prospective EPICOR Registry.

Background:: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity in acute coronary syndrome patients, but impact on outcomes beyond 1 year is unclear.

Methods:: This was a post-hoc analysis from the long-tErm follow-uP of antithrombotic management patterns In acute CORonary syndrome patients (EPICOR) registry (NCT01171404), a prospective, observational study conducted in Europe and Latin America, which enrolled acute coronary syndrome survivors at discharge. Antithrombotic management patterns, mortality, a composite endpoint of death/new non-fatal myocardial infarction/stroke and bleeding events were assessed after 2 years of follow-up in patients with or without AF.

Intralacrimal migration of Masterka stents.

Background: Tearing and conjunctivitis in children are commonly due to lacrimal drainage system obstruction. Congenital nasolacrimal obstruction is a common pathology treated by probing with or without silicone stent insertion, depending upon the age of the child. The silicone stent is self-retaining and placed for at least one month.

Prognostic model for high-tumor-burden follicular lymphoma integrating baseline and end-induction PET: a LYSA/FIL study.

Both total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV), computed on baseline positron emission tomography (PET), and end of induction (EOI) PET are imaging biomarkers showing promise for early risk stratification in patients with high-tumor-burden follicular lymphoma. A model was built incorporating these 2 factors in 159 patients from three prospective trials: 2 Lymphoma Study Association (LYSA) studies and 1 Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL) trial. Median follow up was 64 months.

Endonasal measurements by acoustic rhinometry in children: A preliminary study.

Unlabelled: The acoustic reflection method (ARM) is a non-invasive technique which uses the reflection of acoustic waves to measure the cross sectional area of nasal cavities in adults and patency of endotracheal tubes. Characteristics and volume of normal nasal cavities in pre-school children has so far not been studied.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal ARM recording and the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and volume (NV) values in healthy children.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of strategies using new immunological diagnostic tests of latent tuberculosis infection before TNF-blockers therapy.

Unlabelled: Several tests have been proposed to detect latent tuberculosis (LTB).

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different interferon-gamma release assays based strategies used to screen LTB before tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers initiation.

Methods: Consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis or Crohn's disease for whom TNF-blockers were considered, were recruited in 15 tertiary care centres.

Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia (DIPNECH) Syndrome and Carcinoid Tumors With/Without NECH: A Clinicopathologic, Radiologic, and Immunomolecular Comparison Study.

The diagnostic criteria of diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) are not well defined, and DIPNECH can be mistaken for carcinoids associated with neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (NECH). In this study, we compared clinical, radiologic, histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of DIPNECH and isolated carcinoids with/without NECH. The study population included 151 cases (77 female patients and 74 male patients), 19 with DIPNECH and 132 with carcinoids with/without NECH.

COMET: a multicomponent home-based disease-management programme routine care in severe COPD.

The COPD Patient Management European Trial (COMET) investigated the efficacy and safety of a home-based COPD disease management intervention for severe COPD patients.The study was an international open-design clinical trial in COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s <50% of predicted value) randomised 1:1 to the disease management intervention or to the usual management practices at the study centre. The disease management intervention included a self-management programme, home telemonitoring, care coordination and medical management.

Sleep quality and functional gastrointestinal disorders. A psychological issue.

Objective: Sleep disorders are often associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). This study aims to evaluate the association of sleep disorders with specific FGIDs and to assess the related importance of psychological disorders.

Methods: We included 1009 consecutive patients with FGIDs (70.

Effective concentration of levobupivacaine and ropivacaine in 80% of patients receiving epidural analgesia (EC80) in the first stage of labour: A study using the Continual Reassessment Method.

Background: A comparison of the effective dose in 50% of patients (ED50) has suggested that the potency of levobupivacaine lies between that of bupivacaine and ropivacaine. However, for clinical purposes, knowledge and use of doses close to the ED95 are more relevant. This study was designed to determine the EC80 (effective concentration) for both epidural levobupivacaine and ropivacaine using the Continual Reassessment Method (CRM) during obstetric analgesia.

Atezolizumab versus chemotherapy in patients with platinum-treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (IMvigor211): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomised controlled trial.

Background: Few options exist for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after progression with platinum-based chemotherapy. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of atezolizumab (anti-programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-L1]) versus chemotherapy in this patient population.

Methods: We conducted this multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomised controlled trial (IMvigor211) at 217 academic medical centres and community oncology practices mainly in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Impact of gender on the response and tolerance to abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the 'ORA' registry.

Objective: The impact of gender on the response and tolerance to abatacept was assessed in a large prospective cohort during 2 years of follow-up.

Methods: From the 1017 patients included in the Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis registry, disease activity was assessed at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. The relationship between the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) remission, rate of adverse events and gender was explored in multivariate analysis.

Complications of regional citrate anticoagulation: accumulation or overload?

Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is now recommended over systemic heparin for continuous renal replacement therapy in patients without contraindications. Its use is likely to increase throughout the world. However, in the absence of citrate blood level monitoring, the diagnosis of citrate accumulation, the most feared complication of RCA, remains relatively complex.

Anticancer Activity and Tolerance of Treatments Received Beyond Progression in Men Treated Upfront with Androgen Deprivation Therapy With or Without Docetaxel for Metastatic Castration-naïve Prostate Cancer in the GETUG-AFU 15 Phase 3 Trial.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus docetaxel is the standard of care in fit men with metastatic castration-naive prostate cancer (mCNPC) following results from GETUG-AFU 15, CHAARTED, and STAMPEDE. No data are available on the efficacy of treatments used for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in men treated upfront with ADT plus docetaxel for mCNPC.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and tolerance of subsequent treatments in patients treated upfront with chemo-hormonal therapy for mCNPC.