Sarracenia carnivorous plants cannot serve as efficient biological control of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax in Europe

Vespa velutina nigrithorax, an invasive species, a direct result of increased trade and climate change, is spreading rapidly in Europe and endangering entomofauna in general and more alarmingly honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations, and therefore their pollination services. All traps used now, to try to control this species, seem to be not efficient enough and non-selective. However, in the current context of massive disappearance of insects in general, it is urgent to find means of protection for the entomofauna. While no selective trapping is still occurring, we performed a pilot study to test a carnivorous plant as a potential biocontrol tool to trap V. velutina. In our study, we analyzed the hornet-capturing ability of two Sarracenia hybrids (S. juthatip soper and S. evendine) on a 2-years period (2015 and 2016). Our results show that these plants trapped more dipterans than other taxa, and they do not attract many hornets. In such condition, both Sarracenia hybrids cannot therefore be used in a mass trapping system, because they are not selective, and too few hornets are trapped. To maximize captures of V. velutina while minimizing captures of non-target species, other systems need to be thus developed, as traps using hornet pheromone-based baiting

Outbreak of Serogroup W135 Meningococcal Disease after the Hajj Pilgrimage, Europe, 2000

The 2000 Hajj (March 15–18) was followed by an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis W135 2a: P1.2,5 in Europe. From March 18 to July 31, 2000, some 90 cases of meningococcal infection were reported from nine countries, mostly the United Kingdom (UK) and France; 14 cases were fatal. Although most early cases were in pilgrims, the outbreak spread to their contacts and then to those with no known pilgrim contact. In France and the UK, the outbreak case-fatality rate was compared with the rate reported from national surveillance. The risk of dying during this outbreak was higher in France and the UK, although the difference was not statistically significant. Prophylaxis for all pilgrims and their household contacts was offered in France; in the UK and other European countries, prophylaxis was recommended only for close contacts. No difference in transmission rates following intervention was detected between France and the UK

Cost-analysis of XELOX and FOLFOX4 for treatment of colorectal cancer to assist decision-making on reimbursement

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) and FOLFOX 4 (5-FU + folinic acid + oxaliplatin) have shown similar improvements in survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). A US cost-minimization study found that the two regimens had similar costs from a healthcare provider perspective but XELOX had lower costs than FOLFOX4 from a societal perspective, while a Japanese cost-effectiveness study found XELOX had superior cost-effectiveness. This study compared the costs of XELOX and FOLFOX4 in patients with MCRC recently treated in two oncology departments in Hong Kong.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cost data were collected from the medical records of 60 consecutive patients (30 received XELOX and 30 FOLFOX4) from two hospitals. Drug costs, outpatient visits, hospital days and investigations were recorded and expressed as cost per patient from the healthcare provider perspective. Estimated travel and time costs were included in a societal perspective analysis. All costs were classed as either scheduled (associated with planned chemotherapy and follow-up) or unscheduled (unplanned visits or admissions and associated tests and medicines). Costs were based on government and hospital sources and expressed in US dollars (US$).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>XELOX patients received an average of 7.3 chemotherapy cycles (of the 8 planned cycles) and FOLFOX4 patients received 9.2 cycles (of the 12 planned cycles). The scheduled cost per patient per cycle was$2,046 for XELOX and $2,152 for FOLFOX4, while the unscheduled cost was$240 and $421, respectively. Total treatment cost per patient was$16,609 for XELOX and $23,672 for FOLFOX4; the total cost for FOLFOX4 was 37$17,836 for XELOX and $27,455 for FOLFOX4. Sensitivity analyses showed XELOX was still less costly than FOLFOX4 when using full drug regimen costs, incorporating data from a US model with costs and adverse event data from their clinical trial and with the removal of oxaliplatin from both treatment arms. Capecitabine would have to cost around four times its present price in Hong Kong for the total resource cost of treatment with XELOX to equal that of FOLFOX4.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>XELOX costs less than FOLFOX4 for this patient group with MCRC from both the healthcare provider and societal perspectives.</p

L'érythropoïétine humaine recombinante (son utilisation dans la prise en charge de l'anémie chez le patient atteint de tumeur solide et traité par chimiothérapie)

Le patient atteint de tumeur solide et traité par chimiothérapie est très souvent sujet à une complication : l'anémie. Ses conséquences importantes sur l'organisme et la qualité de vie du patient imposent sa correction. Le développement de l'érythropoïétine humaine recombinante a considérablement amélioré sa prise en charge et son usage constitue aujourd'hui une alternative valide à la transfusion. Cependant, alors que l'expérience acquise a permis de définir de façon sûre un certain nombre de points relatifs à son utilisation, d'autres restent encore à préciser. C'est ainsi que sur des questions aussi essentielles que le début du traitement, le schéma posologique à adopter et l'effet de ces produits sur la survie du patient, nous ne disposons pas actuellement de réponse claire. Ainsi, ce travail fait une synthèse des connaissances actuelles sur l'utilisation, dans la pratique courante, de l'érythropoïétine humaine recombinante chez le patient cancéreux traité par chimiothérapie.NANTES-BU Médecine pharmacie (441092101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Sarracenia carnivorous plants cannot serve as efficient biological control of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax in Europe

International audienceCitation: Wycke M-A, Perrocheau R, Darrouzet E (2018) Sarracenia carnivorous plants cannot serve as efficient biological control of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax in Europe. Rethinking Ecology @: @-@. https://doi. Abstract Vespa velutina nigrithorax, an invasive species, a direct result of increased trade and climate change, is spreading rapidly in Europe and endangering entomofauna in general and more alarmingly honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations, and therefore their pollination services. All traps used now, to try to control this species, seem to be not efficient enough and non-selective. However, in the current context of massive disappearance of insects in general, it is urgent to find means of protection for the entomofauna. While no selective trapping is still occurring, we performed a pilot study to test a carnivorous plant as a potential biocontrol tool to trap V. velutina. In our study, we analyzed the hornet-capturing ability of two Sarracenia hybrids (S. juthatip soper and S. evendine) on a 2-years period (2015 and 2016). Our results show that these plants trapped more dipterans than other taxa, and they do not attract many hornets. In such condition, both Sarracenia hybrids cannot therefore be used in a mass trapping system, because they are not selective, and too few hornets are trapped. To maximize captures of V. velutina while minimizing captures of non-target species, other systems need to be thus developed, as traps using hornet pheromone-based baiting

Investigating outbreaks of initially unknown aetiology in complex settings: findings and recommendations from 10 case studies.

BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of unknown aetiology in complex settings pose challenges and there is little information about investigation methods. We reviewed investigations into such outbreaks to identify methods favouring or impeding identification of the cause. METHODS: We used two approaches: reviewing scientific literature and soliciting key informants. Case studies were developed through interviews with people involved and triangulated with documents available from the time of the investigation. RESULTS: Ten outbreaks in African or Asian countries within the period 2007-2017 were selected. The cause was identified in seven, of which two had an unclear mode of transmission, and in three, neither origin nor transmission mode was identified. Four events were caused by infectious agents and three by chemical poisoning. Despite differences in the outbreaks, similar obstacles were noted: incomplete or delayed description of patients, comorbidities confounding clinical pictures and case definitions wrongly attributed. Repeated rounds of data collection and laboratory investigations were common and there was limited capacity to ship samples. DISCUSSION: It was not possible to define activities that led to prompt identification of the cause in the case studies selected. Based on the observations, we conclude that basing case definitions on precise medical observations, implementing initial comprehensive data collection, including environmental, social and behavioural information; and involving local informants could save precious time and hasten implementation of control measures

Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique

International audienceThe COVID-19 pandemic and its extensive media coverage had the consequence of "putting epidemiology in the spotlight." However, even though responding to epidemics is a core missions of epidemiologists involved in public health, many felt that their profession was inadequately positioned among public health actors and that their scientific knowledge and skills were underutilized during the response to the pandemic.In this context, the Association for the Development of Field Epidemiology (Epiter) and the Association of French-speaking Epidemiologists (Adelf) conducted a survey in late 2020 and 2021, following the first wave of the epidemic, among epidemiologists belonging to both associations. This survey aimed to describe their roles and the activities they had undertaken during the pandemic response. .

Discovery of APL-1030, a Novel, High-Affinity Nanofitin Inhibitor of C3-Mediated Complement Activation

Uncontrolled complement activation contributes to multiple immune pathologies. Although synthetic compstatin derivatives targeting C3 and C3b are robust inhibitors of complement activation, their physicochemical and molecular properties may limit access to specific organs, development of bifunctional moieties, and therapeutic applications requiring transgenic expression. Complement-targeting therapeutics containing only natural amino acids could enable multifunctional pharmacology, gene therapies, and targeted delivery for underserved diseases. A Nanofitin library of hyperthermophilic protein scaffolds was screened using ribosome display for C3/C3b-targeting clones mimicking compstatin pharmacology. APL-1030, a recombinant 64-residue Nanofitin, emerged as the lead candidate. APL-1030 is thermostable, binds C3 (KD, 1.59 nM) and C3b (KD, 1.11 nM), and inhibits complement activation via classical (IC50 = 110.8 nM) and alternative (IC50 = 291.3 nM) pathways in Wieslab assays. Pharmacologic activity (determined by alternative pathway inhibition) was limited to primate species of tested sera. C3b-binding sites of APL-1030 and compstatin were shown to overlap by X-ray crystallography of C3b-bound APL-1030. APL-1030 is a novel, high-affinity inhibitor of primate C3-mediated complement activation developed from natural amino acids on the hyperthermophilic Nanofitin platform. Its properties may support novel drug candidates, enabling bifunctional moieties, gene therapy, and tissue-targeted C3 pharmacologics for diseases with high unmet need

Construction d'une carte physique du génome du porc

National audienc

Enhancing Oral Delivery of Biologics: A Non-Competitive and Cross-Reactive Anti-Leptin Receptor Nanofitin Demonstrates a Gut-Crossing Capacity in an Ex Vivo Porcine Intestinal Model

International audienceBiotherapeutics exhibit high efficacy in targeted therapy, but their oral delivery is impeded by the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and limited intestinal absorption. This article presents a strategy to overcome the challenges of poor intestinal permeability by using a protein shuttle that specifically binds to an intestinal target, the leptin receptor (LepR), and exploiting its capacity to perform a receptor-mediated transport. Our proof-of-concept study focuses on the characterization and transport of robust affinity proteins, known as Nanofitins, across an ex vivo porcine intestinal model. We describe the potential to deliver biologically active molecules across the mucosa by fusing them with the Nanofitin 1-F08 targeting the LepR. This particular Nanofitin was selected for its absence of competition with leptin, its cross-reactivity with LepR from human, mouse, and pig hosts, and its shuttle capability associated with its ability to induce a receptor-mediated transport. This study paves the way for future in vivo demonstration of a safe and efficient oral-to-systemic delivery of targeted therapies