Performance of the GeneXpert® MRSA/SA SSTI Test in Periprosthetic Joint Infections: Rate of failure, Outcomes and Risk Factors.

Background: The GeneXpert® MRSA/SA SSTI test allows early detection of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in intraoperative samples of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) in order to stop early broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Questions/purpose: (1) What is the rate of false-negative GeneXpert® MRSA/SA SSTI test results? (2) Does a false-negative GeneXpert® MRSA/SA SSTI test result increase the risk of treatment failure for the patient with a PJI? (3) What are the risk factors of a false-negative result?

Method: A retrospective study was carried out to compare all GeneXpert® assays to conventional cultures in prosthetic joint infections from April 1, 2012 to October 1, 2016. False-negative (FN) results (absence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) with GeneXpert® test, but presence in the culture) were identified.

Associations of Changes in Knee Hyaline Cartilage Composition Measured With Dual-Energy Computed Tomography in Gout, Aging and Osteoarthritis.

Objective: To characterize dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) changes depicting hyaline cartilage changes in gout patients with and without osteoarthritis (OA) and in comparators without gout.

Design: Patients with suspected crystal-associated arthropathy were enrolled and underwent bilateral DECT scans of the knees. Standardized regions of interest were defined in the femorotibial hyaline cartilage.

Chorionicity and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5½ years among twins born preterm: the EPIPAGE2 cohort study.

Objective: To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm twins at 5½ years by chorionicity of pregnancy.

Design: Prospective nationwide population-based EPIPAGE2 (Etude Epidémiologique sur les Petits Âges Gestationnels) cohort study.

Setting: A total of 546 maternity units in France, between March and December 2011.

Recovery During a Congested Schedule and Injury in Professional Football.

Purpose: To analyze the relationships between the recovery kinetics experienced by professional football players and noncontact injury.

Methods: A cohort of 46 professional football players (age 24.2 [4.

Proposals from a French expert panel for respiratory care in ALS patients.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive diaphragm weakness and deteriorating lung function. Bulbar involvement and cough weakness contribute to respiratory morbidity and mortality. ALS-related respiratory failure significantly affects quality of life and is the leading cause of death.

Clinical trials in pediatric ALS: a TRICALS feasibility study.

Pediatric investigation plans (PIPs) describe how adult drugs can be studied in children. In 2015, PIPs for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) became mandatory for European marketing-authorization of adult treatments, unless a waiver is granted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). To assess the feasibility of clinical studies on the effect of therapy in children (<18 years) with ALS in Europe.

Diverting Enterostomy Improves Overall Survival of Patients With Severe Steroid-refractory Gastrointestinal Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of diverting enterostomy (DE) in patients with severe steroid-refractory (SR) gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host-disease (GI-aGVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (ASCT).

Summary And Background Data: Severe GI-aGVHD refractory to the first-line steroid therapy is a rare but dramatic life-threatening complication. Second lines of immunosuppressors have limited effects and increase the risk of sepsis.

A One-Day Prospective National Observational Study on Sedation-Analgesia of Patients with Brain Injury in French Intensive Care Units: The SEDA-BIP-ICU (Sedation-Analgesia in Brain Injury Patient in ICU) Study.

Background: Sedation/analgesia is a daily challenge faced by intensivists managing patients with brain injury (BI) in intensive care units (ICUs). The optimization of sedation in patients with BI presents particular challenges. A choice must be made between the potential benefit of a rapid clinical evaluation and the potential exacerbation of intracranial hypertension in patients with impaired cerebral compliance.

CARMN-NOTCH2 fusion transcript drives high NOTCH2 expression in glomus tumors of the upper digestive tract.

Glomus tumors (GTs) are perivascular tumors mostly occurring in the distal extremities. Rare cases arise in the digestive tract and may be misdiagnosed with neuroendocrine or gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We aimed to specify the features of GT of the upper digestive tract.

Utilization of focal therapy for patients discontinuing active surveillance of prostate cancer: Recommendations of an international Delphi consensus.

Background: With the advancement of imaging technology, focal therapy (FT) has been gaining acceptance for the treatment of select patients with localized prostate cancer (CaP). We aim to provide details of a formal physician consensus on the utilization of FT for patients with CaP who are discontinuing active surveillance (AS).

Methods: A 3-stage Delphi consensus on CaP and FT was conducted.

Far-Infrared Emission Properties and Thermogravimetric Analysis of Ceramic-Embedded Polyurethane Films.

The far-infrared ray (FIR) is one kind of electromagnetic wave employed for numerous bio-interactive applications such as body thermoregulation, infrared therapy, etc. Tuning the FIR-emitting property of the functional textile surface can initiate a new horizon to utilize this property in sportswear or even smart textiles. Ceramic particles were studied for their unique ability to constantly emit FIR rays.

Management of pancreatic ascites complicating alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.

Introduction: Pancreatic ascites (PA) is an unusual and little studied complication of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Management is complex and is based mainly on empirical data. The aim of this retrospective work was to analyse the management of PA at our centre.

Opioid effect on the autonomic nervous system in a fetal sheep model.

Purpose: Opioid use during labour can interfere with cardiotocography patterns. Heart rate variability indirectly reflects a fluctuation in the autonomic nervous system and can be monitored through time and spectral analyses. This experimental study aimed to evaluate the impact of nalbuphine administration on the gasometric, cardiovascular, and autonomic nervous system responses in fetal sheep.

Mendelian randomization analysis does not support causal associations of birth weight with hypertension risk and blood pressure in adulthood.

Epidemiology studies suggested that low birthweight was associated with a higher risk of hypertension in later life. However, little is known about the causality of such associations. In our study, we evaluated the causal association of low birthweight with adulthood hypertension following a standard analytic protocol using the study-level data of 183,433 participants from 60 studies (CHARGE-BIG consortium), as well as that with blood pressure using publicly available summary-level genome-wide association data from EGG consortium of 153,781 participants, ICBP consortium and UK Biobank cohort together of 757,601 participants.

The impact of chorionicity on pregnancy outcome and neurodevelopment at 2 years old among twins born preterm: the EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

Objective: To compare the short- and mid-term outcomes of preterm twins by chorionicity of pregnancy.

Design: Prospective nationwide population-based EPIPAGE-2 cohort study.

Setting: 546 maternity units in France, between March and December 2011.

Rare and private spliceosomal gene mutations drive partial, complete, and dual phenocopies of hotspot alterations.

Genes encoding the RNA splicing factors SF3B1, SRSF2, and U2AF1 are subject to frequent missense mutations in clonal hematopoiesis and diverse neoplastic diseases. Most "spliceosomal" mutations affect specific hotspot residues, resulting in splicing changes that promote disease pathophysiology. However, a subset of patients carries spliceosomal mutations that affect non-hotspot residues, whose potential functional contributions to disease are unstudied.

Genetic, Structural, and Functional Evidence Link TMEM175 to Synucleinopathies.

Objective: The TMEM175/GAK/DGKQ locus is the 3rd strongest risk locus in genome-wide association studies of Parkinson disease (PD). We aimed to identify the specific disease-associated variants in this locus, and their potential implications.

Methods: Full sequencing of TMEM175/GAK/DGKQ followed by genotyping of specific associated variants was performed in PD (n = 1,575) and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) patients (n = 533) and in controls (n = 1,583).

The enzyme-modified comet assay: Enzyme incubation step in 2 vs 12-gels/slide systems.

The enzyme-modified comet assay is a commonly used method to detect specific DNA lesions. However, still a lot of errors are made by many users, leading to dubious results and even misinterpretations. This technical note describes some critical points in the use of the enzyme-modified comet assay, such as the enzyme concentration, the time of incubation, the format used and the equipment.

Association of Birth Weight With Type 2 Diabetes and Glycemic Traits: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Importance: Observational studies have shown associations of birth weight with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and glycemic traits, but it remains unclear whether these associations represent causal associations.

Objective: To test the association of birth weight with T2D and glycemic traits using a mendelian randomization analysis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This mendelian randomization study used a genetic risk score for birth weight that was constructed with 7 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

The comet assay in animal models: From bugs to whales - (Part 1 Invertebrates).

The comet assay, also called single cell gel electrophoresis, is a sensitive, rapid and low-cost technique for quantifying and analysing DNA damage and repair at the level of individual cells. The assay itself can be applied on virtually any cell type derived from different organs and tissues of eukaryotic organisms. Although it is mainly used on human cells, the assay has applications also in the evaluation of DNA damage in yeast, plant and animal cells.