Molecular epidemiology identifies the expansion of the DENV2 epidemic lineage from the French Caribbean Islands to French Guiana and mainland France, 2023 to 2024

In 2023, dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) affected most French overseas territories. In the French Caribbean Islands, viral circulation continues with > 30,000 suspected infections by March 2024. Genome sequence analysis reveals that the epidemic lineage in the French Caribbean islands has also become established in French Guiana but not Réunion. It has moreover seeded autochthonous circulation events in mainland France. To guide prevention of further inter-territorial spread and DENV introduction in non-endemic settings, continued molecular surveillance and mosquito control are essential.

Comparing the Performance of Three Models Incorporating Weather Data to Forecast Dengue Epidemics in Reunion Island, 2018-2019

We developed mathematical models to analyze a large dengue virus (DENV) epidemic in Reunion Island in 2018-2019. Our models captured major drivers of uncertainty including the complex relationship between climate and DENV transmission, temperature trends, and underreporting. Early assessment correctly concluded that persistence of DENV transmission during the austral winter 2018 was likely and that the second epidemic wave would be larger than the first one. From November 2018, the detection probability was estimated at 10%-20% and, for this range of values, our projections were found to be remarkably accurate. Overall, we estimated that 8% and 18% of the population were infected during the first and second wave, respectively. Out of the 3 models considered, the best-fitting one was calibrated to laboratory entomological data, and accounted for temperature but not precipitation. This study showcases the contribution of modeling to strengthen risk assessments and planning of national and local authorities.

Ophthalmic complications during the dengue epidemic in Reunion Island in 2020: a case series and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Dengue is an arboviral disease transmitted by the dengue virus, whose vectors are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The acute phase with its cohort of well-known symptoms is usually spontaneously favorable. Since 2020 in Reunion Island, a new symptom has appeared: the ocular damage of dengue fever, which has already been described in South Asia and South-East Asia. We therefore decided to describe the clinical, biological, ophthalmological, therapeutic, and outcomes of patients with ocular manifestations during dengue fever in Reunion Island in 2020.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study. Patients were included from January 2020 to August 2020 and then reassessed by teleconsultation 1 year later. The patients were identified from the French public health surveillance network by all ophthalmologists on the island. Medical data were collected directly from medical records.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were included. The mean age was 41.9 years. Ocular involvement occurred approximately 9.2 days after the onset of dengue symptoms. The main symptoms were scotoma (71.4%) and sudden decrease of visual acuity (39.2%). Eighteen patients (64.2%) had macular involvement. Fourteen patients were treated with oral or intravenous corticosteroids. Twenty-two (78.5%) patients were evaluated by telephone one year later. Scotoma and decreased visual acuity persisted in 15 patients. Thirteen patients (59%) were bothered by night driving, 32% of patients had reading difficulties and 27% of patients became sensitive to prolonged exposure to screens.

CONCLUSION

Ocular complications of dengue require early and collegial management to limit the risk of long-term sequelae. Further studies on the characteristics and complications of dengue fever are needed to better understand this disease.

Audiological phenotyping evaluation in KBG syndrome: Description of a multicenter review

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to reinforce clinical knowledge of hearing impairment in KBG syndrome. KBG syndrome is a rare genetic disorder due to monoallelic pathogenic variations of ANKRD11.The typical phenotype includes facial dysmorphism, costal and spinal malformation and developmental delay. Hearing loss in KBG patients has been reported for many years, but no study has evaluated audiological phenotyping from a clinical and an anatomical point of view.

METHODS

This French multicenter study included 32 KBG patients with retrospective collection of data on audiological features, ear imaging and genetic investigations.

RESULTS

We identified a typical audiological profil in KBG syndrome: conductive (71%), bilateral (81%), mild to moderate (84%) and stable (69%) hearing loss, with some audiological heterogeneity. Among patients with an abnormality on CT imaging (55%), ossicular chain impairment (67%), fixation of the stapes footplate (33%) and inner-ear malformations (33%) were the most common abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

We recommend a complete audiological and radiological evaluation and an ENT-follow up in all patients presenting with KBG Syndrome. Imaging evaluation is necessary to determine the nature of lesions in the middle and inner ear.

From dengue outbreaks to endemicity: Reunion Island, France, 2018 to 2021

BackgroundAfter 40 years of limited viral circulation, Reunion Island has since 2018 experienced recurrent dengue outbreaks of increasing intensity and severity.AimWe aimed to report on the epidemiology and characteristics of dengue in Reunion Island between 2018 and 2021.MethodsBetween 2018 and August 2021, we systematically collected data on dengue cases via an automated transmission system between the health authorities and the medical laboratories. We set up additional surveillance systems for dengue-related activity in primary care, in emergency departments and in inpatient departments.ResultsUntil 2020, despite numerous cases, outbreaks had a limited public health impact because of few severe cases, low lethality and no heavy burden for the health care system. In 2021, however, the number of severe cases increased (from 0.4% of all cases in 2018 to 0.8% in 2021), as did the number of paediatric cases (from 8% in 2018 to 15% in 2021) and atypical clinical forms of dengue (108 cases of post-dengue maculopathy). Of note, haemorrhagic forms were rare and multi-organ failure was the most frequent severity throughout the study period. In parallel, the dominant serotype switched from DENV2 to DENV1 in 2020 and DENV1 became the only serotype detected in 2021.ConclusionThese findings indicate that dengue is becoming endemic in Reunion Island. Since comorbidities associated with severity of dengue are common in the population, health authorities should carefully consider the impact of dengue when addressing public health policies.

NOTCH2 related disorders: Description and review of the fetal presentation

Signs of skeletal dysplasias are relatively common in fetuses with abnormal ultrasound (US) findings. The diversity of congenital skeletal disorders, the possibility of late-onset severe phenotypes and overlapping syndromes can be a challenge in the way of diagnosis, even if prenatal high-throuput sequencing allows for a better diagnosis, prognosis and genetic counseling. Hajdu-Cheney spectrum pathologies are rarely described in prenatal, and the signs associated remain poorly known, and do not include specific postnatal signs as acro-osteolysis and premature osteoporosis. We hereby report a couple for whom a medical termination of pregnancy was performed because a severe polymalformative syndrome associating severely short limbs with bowed long bones, severe cardiopathy, hyperechogenic kidneys and dysmorphism. After fetopathological and radiological examinations, Exome Sequencing (ES) was performed and revealed a de novo truncating mutation in the last exon of NOTCH2, responsible for Hajdu-Cheney or Serpentine Fibula Polycystic Kidney syndromes.

Accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for Response Evaluation of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer following Neoadjuvant or Induction Chemotherapy

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of a second FDG-PET/CT following neoadjuvant or induction chemotherapy (NAIC) prior to radical cystectomy for patients with localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

METHODS

Retrospective review of 62 consecutive patients with MIBC, that had a first FDG-PET/CT between April 2016 and September 2021. Patients then underwent NAIC, followed by a second FDG-PET/CT and radical cystectomy. Patients with no hypermetabolism in the bladder and lymph nodes on the second FDG-PET/CT were considered metabolic complete responders, while patients with no evidence of residual disease on histopathology were considered pathologic complete responders. The accuracy of the second FDG-PET/CT to distinguish complete responders from patients with residual disease was calculated, with histopathology as gold standard.

RESULTS

Of 62 patients, 1 was lost to follow-up, 5 died before radical cystectomy, 5 had delay >2 months between the second FDG-PET/CT and radical cystectomy, and 6 did not undergo radical cystectomy and instead underwent alternative treatment. The study cohort comprised 45 patients, 39 males and 6 females, with an age of 66 ± 6 years. In comparison to histopathology, FDG-PET/CT provided (i) sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 42%, for the overall disease; (ii) sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 36%, for the primary tumor only; and (iii) sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 30%, for the lymph nodes only.

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT has over 95% sensitivity for distinguishing complete responders from patients with residual disease. Thus, FDG-PET/CT can be used for early response evaluation following NAIC to identify patients that did not completely respond to chemotherapy and may require alternative treatment pathways.

Overview of dengue outbreaks in the southwestern Indian Ocean and analysis of factors involved in the shift toward endemicity in Reunion Island: A systematic review

Background

Dengue is the world’s most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease. It is endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries and represents a significant global health burden. The first reports of dengue virus (DENV) circulation in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) islands date back to the early 1940s; however, an increase in DENV circulation has been reported in the SWIO in recent years. The aim of this review is to trace the history of DENV in the SWIO islands using available records from the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, and Reunion. We focus in particular on the most extensive data from Reunion Island, highlighting factors that may explain the observed increasing incidence, and the potential shift from one-off outbreaks to endemic dengue transmission.

Methods

Following the PRISMA guidelines, the literature review focused queried different databases using the keywords “dengue” or “Aedes albopictus” combined with each of the following SWIO islands the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, and Reunion. We also compiled case report data for dengue in Mayotte and Reunion in collaboration with the regional public health agencies in these French territories. References and data were discarded when original sources were not identified. We examined reports of climatic, anthropogenic, and mosquito-related factors that may influence the maintenance of dengue transmission independently of case importation linked to travel.

Findings and conclusions

The first report of dengue circulation in the SWIO was documented in 1943 in the Comoros. Then not until an outbreak in 1976 to 1977 that affected approximately 80% of the population of the Seychelles. DENV was also reported in 1977 to 1978 in Reunion with an estimate of nearly 30% of the population infected. In the following 40-year period, DENV circulation was qualified as interepidemic with sporadic cases. However, in recent years, the region has experienced uninterrupted DENV transmission at elevated incidence. Since 2017, Reunion witnessed the cocirculation of 3 serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3) and an increased number of cases with severe forms and deaths. Reinforced molecular and serological identification of DENV serotypes and genotypes circulating in the SWIO as well as vector control strategies is necessary to protect exposed human populations and limit the spread of dengue.

Flow Marks in Injection Molding of PP

Flow marks in injection moulding is quite often encountered on different type of polymers. This defects is known as successive and periodic bright and dull bands oriented perpendicular to the flow direction. Their appearances meanly depend on processing and observation conditions. This study was lead on two industrial polypropylene polymers with a simplified polished rectangular mould geometry. We show that this defect appears during the filling stage and comes from a local change of morphological and molecular orientation along the filling direction on the surface. An instability of the flow front due to a limited sliding at the contact combined to the strong changed of molecular orientation before and after the stagnation point are invoked to explain this instability.

Injection Molding of Reinforced Thermosets

The orientation of glass fibers (initial length 20 mm) and the mold filling of reinforced unsaturated polyester compounds have been studied. Observations of the fiber orientation have been made in three molds where shear and elongational flows occur in variable ways. A part of the fibers are split and broken into filaments. Reinforcement can be more or less buckled. A thin skin layer without fibers is observed. The great thickness of a core region with an orientation perpendicular to the flow direction shows the importance of negative elongational flows. Efficiency of positive elongational flows to suppress buckling and to give a well flow aligned orientation is also observed. On the contrary the efficiency of shear flows is limited compared to elongational flows. The incidence of injection conditions on the pressure inside a rectangular plaque has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Experimental difficulties due to the material heterogeneity leads to measure viscosity data of the uncured material on a special capillary rheometer and rheological kinetic data on a simplified compound. Numerical results are in good agreement with experimental measurements. For instance the effect of crosslinking which leads to a pressure rise at low flow rate or high mold temperature is well predicted.

Confirmation of the systematic presence of tin particles in fallopian tubes or uterine horns of Essure implant explanted patients: A study of 18 cases with the same pathological process

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between local and systemic symptoms and the wear of the tin weld of Essure implants.

DESIGN

study of a series of cases.

SETTINGS

Two French hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighteen patients explanted by hysterectomy and salpingectomy for removal of their Essure implants between September 2019 and July 2020, have had a common anatomopathological process.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

anatomopathological examination by optical microscopy and mineralogical analysis of the fallopian tube or uterine horn with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Evaluation of local and systemic symptoms with a questionnaire. Examination of blood metal assays (nickel, chromium, and tin).

RESULTS

anatomopathological examination highlights foreign body granulomas, fibrosis, adenomyosis, nonspecific inflammation, cysts and myomas in the Fallopian tubes, uterine horns, or both and mentions the presence of foreign bodies in seven cases. SEM-EDX analyses showed, systematically, the presence of tin particles integrated in the wall near the weld, generally in clusters, and with a size ranging from about one micron to several dozen microns. The questionnaire shows that the most frequent local symptoms were pelvic pain, urinary disorders, bleeding, and pains during intercourse. The most common systemic symptoms were: asthenia, visual disturbances, amnesia, giddiness, dorsal pains, headaches, and joint pains. The majority of local and systemic symptoms decreased after explantation, but sometimes incompletely. Before explantation, high levels of nickel, tin and chromium were observed in 11/17, 1/7 and 2/17 patients. After explantation, tin levels were high in 3/11 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

our new anatomopathological process systematically demonstrates the presence of tin particles in tissue near the weld. These particles could be responsible for granulomatous inflammations as well as local symptoms. Many of the systemic symptoms are consistent with chronic organotin poisoning but further studies are needed to find out whether tin from the solder can be converted to organotin in the patients' bodies.

Hyperoxia is associated with adverse outcomes in the cardiac intensive care unit: insights from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMI-III) database

Background

Hyperoxia produces reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, and vasoconstriction, and is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure and cardiac arrest. Our aim was to evaluate the association between hyperoxia and mortality in patients (pts) receiving positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU).

Methods

Patients admitted to our medical center CICU who received any PPV (invasive or non-invasive) from 2001 through 2012 were included. Hyperoxia was defined as time-weighted mean of PaO2 >120mmHg and non-hyperoxia as PaO2 ≤120mmHg during CICU admission. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between hyperoxia and in-hospital mortality adjusted for age, female sex, Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score, creatinine, lactate, pH, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, PCO2, PEEP, and estimated time spent on PEEP.

Results

Among 1493 patients, hyperoxia (median PaO2 147mmHg) during the CICU admission was observed in 702 (47.0%) pts. In-hospital mortality was 29.7% in the non-hyperoxia group and 33.9% in the hyperoxia group ((log rank test, p=0.0282, see figure). Using multivariable logistic regression, hyperoxia was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 1.507, 95% CI 1.311–2.001, p=0.00508). Post-hoc analysis with PaO2 as a continuous variable was consistent with the primary analysis (OR 1.053 per 10mmHg increase in PaO2, 95% CI 1.024–1.082, p=0.0002).

Conclusions

In a large CICU cohort, hyperoxia was associated with increased mortality. Trials of titration of supplemental oxygen across the full spectrum of critically ill cardiac patients are warranted.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

From the threat to the large outbreak: dengue on Reunion Island, 2015 to 2018

Background

With more than 300 million infections estimated annually worldwide, dengue is the most prevalent arboviral infection. On Reunion Island, after a large outbreak in 1977–78, only limited episodes of viral circulation or sporadic cases were reported till 2015.

Aim

Our objective was to document and report on the circulation of dengue virus after the occurrence of a small outbreak during austral summer 2015/16 and until the large outbreak of 2018.

Methods

Beside the mandatory notification of biologically confirmed dengue cases, additional systems of surveillance were set up: estimation of dengue-like syndrome in people seeking care by their family doctor, surveillance of emergency department visits related to dengue, surveillance of hospitalised dengue patients and deaths classifications.

Results

After a moderate outbreak during summer 2015/16 with 231 cases, 2017 was characterised by limited viral circulation (97 cases) which, however, persisted during the austral winter. By February 2018, the number of cases had increased and led to a peak at the beginning of May 2018. More than 6,000 cases were reported this year (dengue virus type 2 only). In addition, six deaths of dengue patients were notified.

Conclusion

In 2017, the persistence of transmission during winter created favourable conditions for the emergence of an epidemic during summer 2018. After this moderate epidemic wave, the viral circulation persisted during winter 2018 for the second year, opening the door for the second wave in 2019 and for potential endemisation of the disease on Reunion Island in the near future.

Somatic profile in lung cancers is associated to reproductive factors in never-smokers women: Results from the IFCT-1002 BioCAST study

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer in women is on the rise, with a higher proportion occurring in lifelong never-smokers. Lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS) exhibits a high frequency of driver oncogene alterations. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether exposure to reproductive factors in women with LCINS may modulate the molecular pattern.

METHODS

All newly diagnosed LCINSs were included in a prospective, observational study (IFCT-1002 BioCAST). Each patient responded to a questionnaire including reproductive factors. Biomarker test results were also collected.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixty women were included in this analysis, and 166 alterations were characterized. EGFR mutation frequency proved greater among patients with late menarche (74% in age>14 vs. 40% and 41% for 12-14 and ≤12 years, respectively; P=0.020) and tended to decrease with increasingly late age at menopause. In multivariate analysis, EGFR mutation frequency increased by 23% per increment of 1 year of age at menarche (P=0.048), and by 9% for each year at age at first birth (P=0.035). ALK alteration frequency was greater in women with high parity (50% in≥5 vs. 12% and 7% for 1-4 and nulliparity, respectively; P=0.021).

CONCLUSION

In a cohort of women LCINSs, female hormonal factors appear to impact molecular pattern.

91 To What Extent are Patients’ Future Care Preferences Shared Between Secondary and Primary Care? A Retrospective Chart Review

Introduction

When a doctor is informed of a patient’s future care preferences if they were to lose capacity, there is an ethical and legal obligation to share this information with the treating medical team. In frail older patients, conversations about treatment preferences often occur during hospital admission. We sought to assess the communication of these preferences to the patient’s GP.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of consecutive discharges from acute geriatric wards across seven hospitals. Records were excluded if the patient was admitted for less than 48 hours, was under orthogeriatric care, or died in hospital.

Results

339 notes were included, 41-50 from each hospital. GPs were informed of the resuscitation status of 28% of all patients. 52% of patients had an inpatient DNACPR, the GP was informed of 54% of these. 36% of patients had an inpatient ceiling of treatment documented, of which GPs were informed of 19%. 53% of hospital DNACPRs were converted into community DNACPRs on discharge: GPs were informed of only 24% of new community DNACRPs. 47% of patients discharged with a new community DNACPR lacked capacity to be involved in that decision; for just 6% of these was the GP asked to review the DNACPR order in the community. Inpatient Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussions were held for 9% of patients, of which the GP was informed in 59% of cases. 49% of ACP conversations involved the next-of-kin but not the patient. Among patients who had a new DNACPR decision made during their admission (n=124), there was documentary evidence in only 25% that the patient or next-of-kin was informed whether this was time-limited or indefinite.

Conclusions

Communication from hospitals to GPs about resuscitation, ceiling of care and ACP discussions is very limited. For patients who have expressed ongoing future care preferences, there is a legal obligation to share this information with the treating medical team, which on discharge is the GP.

There is poor documentary evidence of discussions with patients about whether DNACPR decisions are time-limited or indefinite. Furthermore, many hospitalised frail patients lack capacity to make DNACPR decisions but they may subsequently regain capacity, particularly those with delirium. Despite this, GPs are rarely asked to review new community DNACPRs, including those made for patients without capacity.

Investigation of the antibacterial activity of Ag-NPs conjugated with a specific antibody against Staphylococcus aureus after photoactivation

AIM

This work reports a new method for the use of lasers for the selective killing of bacteria targeted using light-absorbing Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) conjugated with a specific antibody against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Ag-NPs were synthesized using a chemical reduction method and characterized with respect to their surface plasmon resonance, surface morphology via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The bacterial surface was targeted using 20 nm Ag-NPs conjugated with an anti-protein A antibody. Labelled bacteria were irradiated with blue visible laser at 2·04 W/cm² . The antibacterial activity of functionalized Ag-NPs was investigated by fluorescence microscopy after irradiation, and morphological changes in S. aureus after laser treatment were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The laser-irradiated, functionalized Ag-NPs exhibited significant bactericidal activity, and laser-induced bacterial damage was observed after 10 min of laser irradiation against S. aureus. The fluorescence microscopic analysis results supported that bacterial cell death occurred in the presence of the functionalized Ag-NPs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that a novel method for the preparation of functionalized nanoparticles has potential as a potent antibacterial agent for the selective killing of resistant disease-causing bacteria.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study shows that Ag-NPs functionalized with a specific antibody, could be used in combination with laser radiation as a novel treatment to target resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens with minimal impact on normal microflora.

Gemcitabine-induced pseudocellulitis: a case report and review of the literature

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent used in a wide variety of solid tumours. Known side effects include a dose-limiting myelosuppressive toxicity, mild rash, and radiation-dependent dermatitis. Rarely, localized inflammation in the form of pseudocellulitis has also been observed. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman with a history of a Whipple procedure for pancreatic adenocarcinoma who presented to the emergency department after the start of gemcitabine therapy with increased erythema, swelling, and tenderness in her lower legs. Relevant past medical history included peripheral vascular disease, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. A diagnosis of gemcitabine-induced pseudocellulitis aggravated by venous stasis was confirmed after an extensive workup. This case report and the literature review describe this rare reaction, highlighting the need for increased recognition to avoid unnecessary therapeutic intervention.

Polyoxazolines based mixed micelles as PEG free formulations for an effective quercetin antioxidant topical delivery

This study aims to prove the value of the polyoxazolines polymer family as surfactant in formulations for topical application and as an alternative to PEG overuse. The amphiphilic polyoxazolines (POx) were demonstrated to have less impact on cell viability of mice fibroblasts (NIH3T3) than their PEG counterparts. Mixed micelles, made of POx and phosphatidylcholine, were manufactured using thin film and high pressure homogenizer process. The mixed micelles were optimized to produce nanosized vesicles of about 20 nm with a spherical shape and stable over 28 days. The natural lipophilic antioxidant, quercetin, was successfully encapsulated (encapsulation efficiency 94 ± 4% and drug loading 3.6 ± 0.2%) in the mixed micelles with no morphological variation. Once loaded in the formulation, the quercetin impact on cell viability of NIH3T3 was decreased while its antioxidant activity remained unchanged. This work highlights the capacity of amphiphilic POx to create, in association with phospholipids, stable nanoformulations which show promise for topical delivery of antioxidant and ensure skin protection against oxidative stress.

What is a clinically meaningful survival benefit in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer?

Assessment of the clinical benefit of cancer treatments can be highly subjective, influenced by both perspective and context. Such assessments are required in regulatory and policy decision-making, but consistency between jurisdictions is often lacking. Clear and consistent standards for determining when a treatment offers a meaningful benefit, relative to the current standard of care, can help to address issues of equity and transparency in health technology assessment. For metastatic colorectal cancer (mcrc), no standardized Canadian definition of clinically meaningful benefit has yet been proposed. Colorectal Cancer Canada therefore convened a group of medical oncologists expert in colorectal cancer to review the literature about clinical significance. The resulting consensus is intended to apply to any therapeutic agent being considered in the setting of chemotherapy-refractory mcrc. It was agreed that overall survival is the appropriate measure of clinical efficacy in chemorefractory mcrc. As quantitative targets for efficacy, an improvement of 2 months or more in median overall survival or a hazard ratio for survival of 0.75 or lower (or both) are proposed as the threshold for clinically meaningful benefit. That threshold could be influenced by a treatment's effect on quality of life. Treatment toxicity is also relevant to the assessment of clinical benefit in this setting, specifically when significant differences in treatment tolerability are evident.

Simulations of Heat Transfer in Thermoplastic Injection Molds Manufactured by Additive Techniques

The cost and quality of complex thermoplastic parts manufactured by injection are traditionally limited by the design constraints on the mold cooling system. A possible way to overcome this problem is to produce the mold by additive manufacturing, which makes it possible to freely design the shape and position of the cooling channels. Such molds can have hollow spaces in order to reduce the manufacturing time by Selective Laser Melting and the use of costly materials. The complex geometry resulting from optimized cooling channels and hollow regions makes the prediction of the cooling system performance difficult. This work aims to devise a numerical methodology for the simulation of heat transfer phenomena between the polymer, the mold and the cooling channels. An Immersed Volume approach is chosen, where the different parts of the domain (i.e. the polymer, the cooling channels, the hollow regions and the mold) are represented implicitly and the thermo-mechanical properties of the materials vary smoothly at the interface between the parts. The energy and momentum equations are solved by a stabilized Finite Element method. In order to accurately resolve the large variations of material properties and the steep temperature gradients at interfaces, state-of-the art anisotropic mesh refinement techniques are employed. In a first step, we perform thermal calculations only. We then consider the proper thermo-mechanical coupling in the packing stage, as well as the ejection stage and the thermal contact resistance between the polymer part and the mold, in order to weight their influence on the part and the mold temperatures. The modeling strategy is first validated on a simple geometry of a center-gated disk and compared with experimental measurements. The agreement between the experimental results and the simulation is good. Simulations are then performed on an industrial case which illustrates the ability of the method to deal with complex geometries.

Canadian perspectives: update on inhibition of ALK-positive tumours in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Background

Inhibition of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (alk) oncogenic driver in advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (nsclc) improves survival. In 2015, Canadian thoracic oncology specialists published a consensus guideline about the identification and treatment of ALK-positive patients, recommending use of the alk inhibitor crizotinib in the first line. New scientific literature warrants a consensus update.

Methods

Clinical trials of alk inhibitor were reviewed to assess benefits, risks, and implications relative to current Canadian guidance in patients with ALK-positive nsclc.

Results

Randomized phase iii trials have demonstrated clinical benefit for single-agent alectinib and ceritinib used in treatment-naïve patients and as second-line therapy after crizotinib. Phase ii trials have demonstrated activity for single-agent brigatinib and lorlatinib in further lines of therapy. Improved responses in brain metastases were observed for all second- and next/third-generation alk tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients progressing on crizotinib. Canadian recommendations are therefore revised as follows:■ Patients with advanced nonsquamous nsclc have to be tested for the presence of an ALK rearrangement.■ Treatment-naïve patients with ALK-positive disease should initially be offered single-agent alectinib or ceritinib, or both sequentially.■ Crizotinib-refractory patients should be treated with single-agent alectinib or ceritinib, or both sequentially.■ Further treatments could include single-agent brigatinib or lorlatinib, or both sequentially.■ Patients progressing on alk tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be considered for pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.■ Other systemic therapies should be exhausted before immunotherapy is considered.

Summary

Multiple lines of alk inhibition are now recommended for patients with advanced nsclc with an ALK rearrangement.

Relationship between mold exposure, specific IgE sensitization, and clinical asthma: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Most of the findings related to the noxious effect of mold sensitization on asthma come from investigations based on Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, and Aspergillus fumigatus. However, species such as Penicillium spp, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, or Aspergillus versicolor display a more pronounced indoor tropism, and their potential harmful respiratory effects cannot be neglected.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this work was to relate mold sensitizations with asthma severity and with the level of indoor mold contamination among mold-sensitized patients with asthma and nonsensitized patients with asthma.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted and several asthma severity markers were compared between patients with asthma with and without mold sensitization. Indoor contamination of patients' dwellings was also investigated.

RESULTS

Our findings confirmed the association between sensitization to A fumigatus and severity for patients with asthma in contrast with sensitization to other species. Indoor mold contamination was detected in approximately 90% of dwellings. Overall mold exposure was not associated with asthma severity. However, regardless of the sensitization, exposure to A fumigatus and Penicillium spp in dust was linked to an increased risk of severe asthma.

CONCLUSION

The harmful nature of mold sensitization and mold exposure for patients with asthma was not confirmed in this study. However, sensitization to A fumigatus was associated with an increased risk for severe asthma. A better investigation of the properties of Penicillium spp is recommended because its exposure was found to be associated with a more pronounced impairment of lung function.

Analysis of the No-Flow Criterion Based on Accurate Crystallization Data for the Simulation of Injection Molding of Semi-Crystalline Thermoplastics

It is well known in practice that the shape and dimensions of injected parts are highly dependent on the packing-holding stage. A major problem in semi-crystalline polymers is the prediction of the solidified layer, whose thickness has an important effect on shrinkage and warpage. We propose a pragmatic approach based on the concept of no-flow temperature. This temperature should be related to crystallization temperature, but the choice is not easy because it depends on cooling rate and pressure which are functions of time and position. The objective of the work is to evaluate the sensitivity of an injection molding computation to the no-flow temperature and to evaluate the relevance of its choice. The crystallization temperature of an isotactic polypropylene is determined as a function of cooling rate and pressure in laboratory experiments. The pressure dependence is measured using the original Cristapress cell. As a case study, we simulate the filling and post-filling of a plate mold using Rem3D, a 3D code for injection molding. Three no-flow temperatures and two sets of parameters for temperature dependence of viscosity are tested. Their respective influences on the pressure evolution are shown, and the crystallization temperature calculated a posteriori using the experimental material data is compared to the “arbitrary” no-flow temperature.

Contact killing and antimicrobial properties of copper

With the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the interest for antimicrobial agents has recently increased again in public health. Copper was recognized in 2008 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the first metallic antimicrobial agent. This led to many investigations of the various properties of copper as an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agent. This review summarizes the latest findings about 'contact killing', the mechanism of action of copper nanoparticles and the different ways micro-organisms develop resistance to copper.

Combined genetic approaches yield a 48% diagnostic rate in a large cohort of French hearing-impaired patients

Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder and because of its high genetic heterogeneity, implementation of Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) in diagnostic laboratories is greatly improving the possibilities of offering optimal care to patients. We present the results of a two-year period of molecular diagnosis that included 207 French families referred for non-syndromic hearing loss. Our multi-step strategy involved (i) DFNB1 locus analysis, (ii) MPS of 74 genes, and (iii) additional approaches including Copy Number Variations, in silico analyses, minigene studies coupled when appropriate with complete gene sequencing, and a specific assay for STRC. This comprehensive screening yielded an overall diagnostic rate of 48%, equally distributed between DFNB1 (24%) and the other genes (24%). Pathogenic genotypes were identified in 19 different genes, with a high prevalence of GJB2, STRC, MYO15A, OTOF, TMC1, MYO7A and USH2A. Involvement of an Usher gene was reported in 16% of the genotyped cohort. Four de novo variants were identified. This study highlights the need to develop several molecular approaches for efficient molecular diagnosis of hearing loss, as this is crucial for genetic counselling, audiological rehabilitation and the detection of syndromic forms.

Using a standardised protocol was effective in reducing hospitalisation and treatment use in children with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia

AIM

Childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has been associated with low bleeding rates and a high frequency of spontaneous remission. Although current guidelines suggest that most patients are just observed, children still receive platelet-enhancing therapies for fear of bleeding complications. We hypothesised that a standardised protocol with a step-down approach would reduce hospitalisation and treatment use.

METHOD

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients diagnosed with acute ITP between January 2010 and December 2014, before (n = 54) and after (n = 37) the standardised protocol, which was introduced in January 2013. Management and events during the first 3 months following diagnosis were recorded.

RESULTS

The protocol resulted in a 34% decrease in the hospitalisation rate (p < 0.001) at diagnosis. Prednisone treatment duration at diagnosis was also significantly reduced (13.1 versus 5.8 days, p = 0.004). Children over 3 years of age were 3.8 times less likely to be hospitalised (95% CI 1.94-7.61) and 2.3 times less likely to receive treatment (95% CI 1.2-4.3). There was no difference in the rate of persistent ITP (38% versus 30%, p = 0.43) or serious bleeding complications (7% versus 5%, p = 0.70).

CONCLUSION

Our ITP management protocol significantly reduced hospitalisation rates and length of prednisone treatment without any increase in disease complications.

Investigation of inflammatory and allergic responses to common mold species: Results from in vitro experiments, from a mouse model of asthma, and from a group of asthmatic patients

Most studies on molds focus on Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus fumigatus. Here, we report on inflammatory and allergenic properties of more typical indoor species Aspergillus versicolor, P. chrysogenum, C. cladosporioïdes, and C. sphaerospermum that were compared to A. alternata and A. fumigatus. In a mouse model, after intranasal instillation, A. alternaria, A. versicolor, and C. sphaerospermum induced the early recruitment of neutrophils and the strong expression of inflammatory markers in the bronchoalveolar lavages fluids. A. fumigatus also induced the early accumulation of neutrophils but with lower levels of inflammatory markers. Chronic treatment induced variable response according to species: P. chrysogenum and A. fumigatus appeared strong pro-allergenic inducers compared to A. alternata and C. sphaerospermum while A. versicolor and C. cladosporioides induced a mixed pro-allergenic/pro-inflammatory response. In mold-sensitized asthmatics, mold-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) were detected with an in-house dot-blot assay. A. fumigatus and A. alternata were the most frequent sensitizers. Altogether, P. chrysogenum, P. brevicompactum, C. sphaerospermum, and C. cladosporïoides were the "major sensitizer" (defined as the strongest response against a single mold species) for almost 30% of the asthmatics. These results show that, not only A. alternata and A. fumigatus, but also indoor species have strong inflammatory and allergic properties and a harmful potency.