Rehabilitation Modulates High-Order Interactions Among Large-Scale Brain Networks in Subacute Stroke

The recovery of motor functions after stroke is fostered by the functional integration of large-scale brain networks, including the motor network (MN) and high-order cognitive controls networks, such as the default mode (DMN) and executive control (ECN) networks. In this paper, electroencephalography signals are used to investigate interactions among these three resting state networks (RSNs) in subacute stroke patients after motor rehabilitation. A novel metric, the O-information rate (OIR), is used to quantify the balance between redundancy and synergy in the complex high-order interactions among RSNs, as well as its causal decomposition to identify the direction of information flow. The paper also employs conditional spectral Granger causality to assess pairwise directed functional connectivity between RSNs. After rehabilitation, a synergy increase among these RSNs is found, especially driven by MN. From the pairwise description, a reduced directed functional connectivity towards MN is enhanced after treatment. Besides, inter-network connectivity changes are associated with motor recovery, for which the mediation role of ECN seems to play a relevant role, both from pairwise and high-order interactions perspective.

Overview of dermatologic tele-expertise in areas of low physician density: A retrospective study at Le Mans general hospital

BACKGROUND

In areas of low physician density, especially as regards dermatologists in France, there is an increasing interest in tele-expertise. This is particularly the case in the Sarthe department, where the number of physicians continues to decline and access to care was further limited by the COVID 19 epidemic.

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively collected data from tele-expertise requests submitted to Le Mans General Hospital by general practitioners via a dedicated platform between May 6, 2019, and April 9, 2021.

RESULTS

Six hundred and forty three requests relating to 90 different diagnoses were recorded during this period. One hundred and thirty four patients (20% of requests) were invited to attend a face-to-face consultation within an average of 29 days.

DISCUSSION

Through the use of tele-expertise at Le Mans Genreal Hospital it was possible to introduce a means of tackling the problem of the lack of dermatologists in the Sarthe department. Rapid responses enabled the number of consultation requests to be reduced, leading to fewer population displacements in the context of the present pandemic.

CONCLUSION

These initial results are encouraging and confirm that tele-expertise seems a satisfactory option to optimize access to care for populations in areas of low physician density.

Folliculotropic T-cell infiltrates associated with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or MALT lymphoma may reveal either true mycosis fungoides or pseudolymphomatous reaction: seven cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and pseudo-MF (or MF simulant) can be associated with B-cell malignancies, but distinction between a true neoplasm and a reactive process may be difficult.

OBJECTIVES

To report seven patients with B-cell malignancy and folliculotropic MF or pseudo-MF and emphasize on criteria allowing distinction between the two conditions.

METHODS

We retrospectively and prospectively included seven patients with B-cell malignancy who presented skin lesions histologically consisting in a folliculotropic T-cell infiltrate and reviewed the literature on the topic.

RESULTS

Four men and three women had a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (n = 6) or a MALT-type lymphoma (n = 1). Five patients had localized papules, and two had patches and plaques. Histological examination showed in all cases a diffuse dermal T-cell infiltrate with folliculotropic involvement and follicular mucinosis associated with clusters of the B-cell lymphoma, without significant expression of follicular helper T-cell markers. T-cell rearrangement studies showed a polyclonal pattern in the patients with papules and a monoclonal pattern in the cases of patches and plaques. Papular lesions had an indolent evolution, whereas patches and plaques persisted or worsened into transformed MF.

CONCLUSION

Folliculotropic T-cell infiltrates associated with B-cell malignancies can be either a true folliculotropic MF or a pseudo-MF. The distinction between both conditions cannot rely only on the histopathological aspect, but needs both a clinical pathological correlation and the search for a dominant T-cell clone. Whether the neoplastic T and B cells derive from a common ancestor or the T-cell proliferation is promoted by the underlying B-cell lymphoma remains unsolved, but interaction between B and T cell in the skin does not appear to be dependent on a TFH differentiation of the T-cell infiltrate.

Lack of referral for genetic counseling and testing in BRCA1/2 and Lynch syndromes: a nationwide study based on 240,134 consultations and 134,652 genetic tests

Based on nationwide data from the French national cancer institute (INCa), we analyzed the evolution of cancer genetics consultations and testing over time, and the uptake of targeted tests in relatives of families with BRCA1/2 or MMR genes mutation. Genetic testing and consultations for familial high-risk individuals are exclusively funded and monitored by the INCa in France. All nationwide cancer genetics centers reported annually standardized parameters of activity from 2003 to 2011. The analysis included a total of 240,134 consultations and 134,652 genetic tests enabling to identify 32,494 mutation carriers. Referral for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) or colorectal cancer predisposition syndromes represented 59 % (141,639) and 23.2 % (55,698) consultations, respectively. From 2003 to 2011, we found a dramatic and steady increase of tests performed for BRCA1/2 (from 2,095 to 7,393 tests/year, P < 0.0001) but not for MMR genes (from 1,144 to 1,635/year, P = NS). The overall percentage of deleterious mutations identified in the probands tested was 13.8 and 20.9 % in HBOC and Lynch syndromes, respectively. Pooled analysis for BRCA1/2 and Lynch syndrome tests showed an inverse relationship between the percentage of mutation detected and the absolute number of tests performed over the time (overall Cochran-Armitage test for trend: P < 0.001). In families with BRCA1/2 or MMR identified mutations, there was an average number of 2.94 and 3.28 relatives performing targeted tests, respectively. This nationwide study shows a lack of referral and genetic testing in Lynch as compared to HBOC syndromes. Only a third of relatives of a proband with a predisposing mutation performed a targeted test. Enhanced information about benefit of genetic testing should be given to clinicians and patients for Lynch syndrome and relatives of a proband carrying an identified predisposing mutation.

Everolimus is associated with a reduced incidence of cytomegalovirus infection following de novo cardiac transplantation

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes several complications following cardiac transplantation including cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Previous studies suggested that immunosuppressive treatment based on everolimus might reduce CMV infection. Aiming to better characterize the action of everolimus on CMV and its interplay with patient/recipient serology and anti-CMV prophylaxis, we analyzed data from 3 large randomized studies comparing various everolimus regimens with azathioprine (AZA)- and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based regimens.

METHODS

CMV data were analyzed from 1009 patients in 3 trials of de novo cardiac transplant recipients who were randomized to everolimus 1.5 mg/day, everolimus 3 mg/day, or AZA 1-3 mg/kg/day, plus standard-dose (SD) cyclosporine (CsA; study B253, n = 634); everolimus 1.5 mg/day plus SD- or reduced-dose (RD)-CsA (study A2403, n = 199); and everolimus 1.5 mg/day plus RD-CsA or MMF plus SD-CsA (study A2411, n = 176).

RESULTS

In study B253, patients allocated to everolimus experienced almost a 70% reduction in odds of experiencing CMV infection compared with AZA (P < 0.001). In study A2403, CMV infection was low in both everolimus arms, irrespective of CsA dosing, and in study A2411, patients allocated to everolimus experienced an 80% reduction in odds of experiencing CMV infection, compared with MMF (P < 0.001). CMV syndrome/disease was rare and less frequent in everolimus-treated patients. Subgroup analyses showed that the benefit everolimus provides, in terms of CMV events, is retained in CMV-naïve recipients and is independent of anti-CMV prophylaxis or preemptive approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Everolimus is associated with a lower incidence of CMV infection compared with AZA and MMF, which combined with its immunosuppressive efficacy and antiproliferative effects may positively impact long-term outcomes.

Renal comorbidity after solid organ and stem cell transplantation

After transplantation of solid organs or hematopoietic stem cells, a significant acute decrease in renal function occurs in the majority of patients. Depending on the degree of kidney injury, a large number of patients develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) and some develop end-stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy. The incidence varies depending on the transplanted organ, but important risk factors for the development of CKD are preexisting renal disease, hepatitis C, diabetes, hypertension, age, sex, posttransplant acute kidney injury and thrombotic microangiopathy. This review article focuses on the risk factors of posttransplant chronic kidney disease after organ transplantation, considering the current literature and integrates the incidence and the associated mortality rates of acute and chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, we introduce the RECAST (REnal Comorbidity After Solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell Transplantation) registry.