Farming Activities and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A French Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Epidemiological data regarding inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] are lacking, in particular for occupationally exposed populations. We investigated whether, among the entire French farm manager [FM] workforce, certain agricultural activities are more strongly associated with IBD than others.

Methods: Nationwide, population-based, insurance claims and electronic health records from all FMs who worked at least once over the period 2002-2016 were used [n = 1 088 561, 69% males].

Emerging structure-based computational methods to screen the exploding accessible chemical space.

Structure-based virtual screening can be a valuable approach to computationally select hit candidates based on their predicted interaction with a protein of interest. The recent explosion in the size of chemical libraries increases the chances of hitting high-quality compounds during virtual screening exercises but also poses new challenges as the number of chemically accessible molecules grows faster than the computing power necessary to screen them. We review here two novel approaches rapidly gaining in popularity to address this problem: machine learning-accelerated and synthon-based library screening.

Changes Over Time in the Lémann Index and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index in a Prospective Cohort of Patients With Crohn's Disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a progressive, destructive, and disabling disorder. Our study aimed to assess changes over time in the Lémann index (LI) and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index (IBD-DI) in a cohort of CD patients.

Methods: This was a single-center prospective cohort study of 130 consecutive CD patients with a follow-up of at least 4 years.

The International Fitness Scale (IFIS): A valid tool to assess physical fitness in French children.

Background: The need for monitoring regularly physical fitness in youth is well established for public health issues. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the International Fitness Scale questionnaire (IFIS) to assess physical fitness in French children in the school context.

Methods: A sample of 2 060 children (1054 boys), aged 10.

Prevalence of anti-Ro52-kDa/SSA (TRIM21) antibodies and associated clinical phenotype in systemic sclerosis: Data from a French cohort, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Estimate the global prevalence of anti-Ro52-kDa/SSA (TRIM21) autoantibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and describe the associated clinical phenotype, through a systematic review and meta-analysis of published reports and new data from our French cohort.

Methods: Anti-TRIM21 seropositivity and associated SSc characteristics were assessed in a cross-sectional study including 300 patients of Lille University Hospital. A systematic review of the literature was performed in Pubmed and Embase, followed by a meta-analysis, using data on prevalence, clinical/demographical/biological characteristics of SSc patients and the type of assay used for anti-TRIM21 antibodies detection (PROSPERO n° CRD42021223719).

Real-time glioblastoma tumor microenvironment assessment by SpiderMass for improved patient management.

Glioblastoma is a highly heterogeneous and infiltrative form of brain cancer associated with a poor outcome and limited therapeutic effectiveness. The extent of the surgery is related to survival. Reaching an accurate diagnosis and prognosis assessment by the time of the initial surgery is therefore paramount in the management of glioblastoma.

Early prediction of the impact of public health policies on obesity and lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes: A modelling approach.

Objective: Help public health decision-making requires a better understanding of the dynamics of obesity and type 2 diabetes and an assessement of different strategies to decrease their burdens.

Methods: Based on 97,848 individual data, collected in the French Health, Health Care and Insurance Survey over 1998-2014, a Markov model was developed to describe the progression of being overweight to obesity, and the onset of type 2 diabetes. This model traces and predicts 2022-2027 burdens of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and lifetime risk of diabetes, according to different scenarios aiming at minimum to stabilize obesity at 5 years.

B-cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension: friend, foe or bystander?

There is an unmet need for new therapeutic strategies that target alternative pathways to improve the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). As immunity has been involved in the development and progression of vascular lesions in PAH, we review the potential contribution of B-cells in its pathogenesis and evaluate the relevance of B-cell-targeted therapies. Circulating B-cell homeostasis is altered in PAH patients, with total B-cell lymphopenia, abnormal subset distribution (expansion of naïve and antibody-secreting cells, reduction of memory B-cells) and chronic activation.

Biomarker analysis from the phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled trial of riociguat in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To examine disease and target engagement biomarkers in the RISE-SSc trial of riociguat in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and their potential to predict the response to treatment.

Methods: Patients were randomized to riociguat (n = 60) or placebo (n = 61) for 52 weeks. Skin biopsies and plasma/serum samples were obtained at baseline and week 14.

Osteoporosis is associated with anti-topoisomerase I positivity and glucocorticoids use in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are at increased risk for osteoporosis (OP) and associated fragility fractures. This study aimed to identify underlying risk factors for these conditions in patients with SSc.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a large prospective cohort of patients with SSc using retrospectively collected bone health data.

Inclusion-body myositis associated with Sjögren's disease: clinical characteristics and comparison with other Sjögren-associated myositis.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of patients with Sjögren's disease (SjD) and inclusion-body myositis (IBM), and how they compare to SjD patients with other inflammatory myopathies (IM).

Methods: Patients were retrospectively recruited from 13 French centers and included if they met the ACR/EULAR criteria for SjD and for IM. They were categorized as SjD-IBM if sub-criteria for IBM were met, or as SjD-other IM if not.

Changes in HLA-B27 Transgenic Rat Fecal Microbiota Following Tofacitinib Treatment and Ileocecal Resection Surgery: Implications for Crohn's Disease Management.

The therapeutic management of Crohn's disease (CD), a chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is highly challenging. Surgical resection is sometimes a necessary procedure even though it is often associated with postoperative recurrences (PORs). Tofacitinib, an orally active small molecule Janus kinase inhibitor, is an anti-inflammatory drug meant to limit PORs in CD.

Macrophage-induced reduction of bacteriophage density limits the efficacy of pulmonary phage therapy.

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has led to renewed interest in evaluating phage therapy. In murine models highly effective treatment of acute pneumonia caused by relies on the synergistic antibacterial activity of bacteriophages with neutrophils. Here, we show that depletion of alveolar macrophages (AM) shortens the survival of mice without boosting the .

Beyond MEN1, When to Think About MEN4? Retrospective Study on 5600 Patients in the French Population and Literature Review.

Context: Germline CDKN1B variants predispose patients to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 (MEN4), a rare MEN1-like syndrome, with <100 reported cases since its discovery in 2006. Although CDKN1B mutations are frequently suggested to explain cases of genetically negative MEN1, the prevalence and phenotype of MEN4 patients is poorly known, and genetic counseling is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of MEN4 in MEN1-suspected patients and characterize the phenotype of MEN4 patients.

High hydrostatic pressure is similar to Holder pasteurization in preserving donor milk antimicrobial activity.

Background: The microbiological safety of donor milk (DM) is commonly ensured by Holder pasteurization (HoP, 62.5 °C for 30 min) in human milk banks despite its detrimental effects on bioactive factors. We compared the antimicrobial properties of DM after Holder pasteurization treatment or High Hydrostatic Pressure processing (HHP, 350 MPa at 38 °C), a non-thermal substitute for DM sterilization.

Hospital Surgical Volume-Outcome Relationship of Postoperative Morbidity for Ileocolic Resection in Crohn's Disease: A French Nationwide Study of 4205 Patients.

Background And Aims: Despite the development of medical therapy, nearly 50% of patients with Crohn's disease [CD] undergo surgery during their lifetime. Several studies have suggested some risk factors for postoperative morbidity [POM] after ileocolic resection [ICR]. However, the impact of surgical hospital volume on POM in CD has not been extensively studied.

Studying antigen-specific T cells through a streamlined, whole blood-based extracellular approach.

Techniques currently used for the study of antigen-specific T-cell responses are either poorly informative or require a heavy workload. Consequently, many perspectives associated with the broader study of such approaches remain mostly unexplored in translational research. However, these could benefit many fields including but not limited to infectious diseases, oncology, and vaccination.

Steroid hormones in systemic sclerosis: associations with disease characteristics and modifications during scleroderma renal crisis.

Objective: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and glucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in vascular remodeling and fibrosis, but have not been extensively studied in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to investigate the RAAS and GC hormones in SSc patients.

Methods: Serum levels of renin (dosage and activity), aldosterone and its precursors (DOC, B, 18-OH-DOC, 18-OH-B), and GCs (cortisol, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 18-OH-F) were assessed in 122 SSc patients and 52 healthy controls.

An Overview of the Influence of Breastfeeding on the Development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The first 1000 days of life is a critical period that contributes significantly to the programming of an individual's future health. Among the many changes that occur during this period early in life, there is growing evidence that the establishment of healthy gut microbiota plays an important role in the prevention of both short- and long-term health problems. Numerous publications suggest that the quality of the gut microbiota colonisation depends on several dietary factors, including breastfeeding.

Loss of function of XBP1 splicing activity of IRE1α favors B cell tolerance breakdown.

Anti-nuclear antibodies are the hallmark of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma. However, the molecular mechanisms of B cell tolerance breakdown in these pathological contexts are poorly known. The study of rare familial forms of autoimmune diseases could therefore help to better describe common biological mechanisms leading to B cell tolerance breakdown.

MiRNAs in Alcohol-Related Liver Diseases and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Step toward New Therapeutic Approaches?

Alcohol-related Liver Disease (ALD) is the primary cause of chronic liver disorders and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in developed countries and thus represents a major public health concern. Unfortunately, few therapeutic options are available for ALD and HCC, except liver transplantation or tumor resection for HCC. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of these diseases is therefore of major importance to identify early biomarkers and to design efficient therapeutic options.

Long-term effectiveness and acceptability of switching from intravenous to subcutaneous infliximab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with intensified doses: The REMSWITCH-LT study.

Background: The long-term risk of relapse after switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab remains unknown in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aims: To assess the long-term effectiveness and acceptability of switching from IV to SC infliximab in patients with IBD treated with or without an intensified IV regimen.

Methods: We extended the follow-up of the REMSWITCH study including patients with IBD in clinical remission who were switched from IV to SC infliximab (120 mg/2 weeks).

IgG4-related uveitis. A French cohort and literature review.

Introduction: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibro-inflammatory disorder that can affect almost any organ. IgG4-related ophthalmic disease is a protean condition involving the orbit and ocular adnexa. Although a few cases of uveitis have been reported, the exact pattern of IgG4-related intraocular manifestations remains unclear.