Les yaouleds : entre marginalisation sociale et sédition politique

Cet article tente d’analyser pourquoi les enfants des rues, dont l’existence est liée à la pauvreté, à la déstructuration des sociétés traditionnelles, à l’exode rural et à la naissance d’un sous-prolétariat dans les agglomérations urbaines coloniales, sont aussi souvent le produit de l’inter-communautarité et de l’hybridation sociale, de la déviance sexuelle (prostitution et « homosexualité ») et de la sédition politique. Catégorie complexe et problématique de la société coloniale et de la société algérienne post-coloniale, les yaouleds permettent de saisir avec force les tensions qui les ont agitées conjointement des années 1930 aux années 1960.The Yaouleds : Between Social Marginalisation and Political Sedition. Return to a Hybrid Category of Algier’s Casbah in 1930-1960’s Years This article tries to analyse why the street boys – whose existence is due to poverty, rural depopulation, destruction of traditional societies and birth of a sub-proletarian category of people in colonial urban areas – are often the product of inter-communautary, social hydridation, sexual deviance (prostitution and « homosexuality ») and political sedition. Complex and problematical category of colonial society and post-colonial Algerian society, the yaouleds allow to discern the tensions that stir up both of them during the 30-60’s years of the past century

GWAS in the SIGNAL/PHARE clinical cohort restricts the association between the FGFR2 locus and estrogen receptor status to HER2-negative breast cancer patients

International audienceGenetic polymorphisms are associated with breast cancer risk. Clinical and epidemiological observations suggest that clinical characteristics of breast cancer, such as estrogen receptor or HER2 status, are also influenced by hereditary factors. To identify genetic variants associated with pathological characteristics of breast cancer patients, a Genome Wide Association Study was performed in a cohort of 9365 women from the French nationwide SIGNAL/PHARE studies (NCT00381901/RECF1098). Strong association between the FGFR2 locus and ER status of breast cancer patients was observed (ER-positive n=6211, ER-negative n=2516; rs3135718 OR=1.34 p=5.46x10-12). This association was limited to patients with HER2-negative tumors (ER-positive n=4267, ER-negative n=1185; rs3135724 OR=1.85 p=1.16x10-11). The FGFR2 locus is known to be associated with breast cancer risk. This study provides sound evidence for an association between variants in the FGFR2 locus and ER status among breast cancer patients, particularly among patients with HER2-negative disease. This refinement of the association between FGFR2 variants and ER-status to HER2-negative disease provides novel insight to potential biological and clinical influence of genetic polymorphisms on breast tumors

Long-term cellular immunity of vaccines for Zaire Ebola Virus Diseases

Recent Ebola outbreaks underscore the importance of continuous prevention and disease control efforts. Authorized vaccines include Merck’s Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) and Johnson & Johnson’s two-dose combination (Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo). Here, in a five-year follow-up of the PREVAC randomized trial (NCT02876328), we report the results of the immunology ancillary study of the trial. The primary endpoint is to evaluate long-term memory T-cell responses induced by three vaccine regimens: Ad26–MVA, rVSV, and rVSV–booster. Polyfunctional EBOV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses increase after Ad26 priming and are further boosted by MVA, whereas minimal responses are observed in the rVSV groups, declining after one year. In-vitro expansion for eight days show sustained EBOV-specific T-cell responses for up to 60 months post-prime vaccination with both Ad26-MVA and rVSV, with no decline. Cytokine production analysis identify shared biomarkers between the Ad26-MVA and rVSV groups. In secondary endpoint, we observed an elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines at Day 7 in the rVSV group. Finally, we establish a correlation between EBOV-specific T-cell responses and anti-EBOV IgG responses. Our findings can guide booster vaccination recommendations and help identify populations likely to benefit from revaccination

Never-ending yams in Guadeloupe

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Virus-like particle vaccine induces cross-protection against human metapneumovirus infections in mice.

Affiliation + remerciements ECOFECTInternational audienceHuman metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a paramyxovirus that causes acute respiratory-tract infections in children and adults worldwide. A safe and effective vaccine could decrease the burden of disease associated with this novel pathogen. We engineered HMPV viral-like particles (HMPV-VLPs) derived from retroviral core particles that mimic the properties of the viral surface of two HMPV viruses of either lineage A or B. These VLPs functionally display F and G HMPV surface glycoproteins. When injected in mice, HMPV-VLPs induce strong humoral immune response against both homologous and heterologous strains. Moreover, the induced neutralizing antibodies prevented mortality upon subsequent infection of the lungs with both homologous and heterologous viruses. Upon challenge, viral titers in the lungs of immunized animals were significantly reduced as compared to those of control animals. In conclusion, a HMPV-VLP vaccine that induces cross-protective immunity in mice is a promising approach to prevent HMPV infections

Longitudinal investigation of cognitive deficits in breast cancer patients and their gray matter correlates: impact of education level

International audienceCognitive deficits are a major complaint in breast cancer patients, even before chemotherapy. Comprehension of the cerebral mechanisms related to cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients remains difficult due to the scarcity of studies investigating both cognitive and anatomical imaging changes. Furthermore, only some of the patients experienced cognitive decline following chemotherapy, yet few studies have identified risk factors for cognitive deficits in these patients. It has been shown that education level could impact cognitive abilities during the recovery phase following chemotherapy. Our main aim was to longitudinally evaluate cognitive and anatomical changes associated with cancer and chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of education level on cognitive performances and gray matter (GM) atrophy in these patients. Twenty patients were included before chemotherapy (T1), 1 month (T2) and 1 year (T3) after chemotherapy. Twenty-seven controls without a history of cancer were assessed at T1 and T3 only. Cluster groups based on education level were defined for both groups and were further compared. Comparison between patients and controls revealed deficits in patients on verbal episodic memory retrieval at T1 and T3 and on executive functions at T3. After chemotherapy, breast cancer patients had GM atrophy that persisted or recovered 1 year after chemotherapy depending on the cortical areas. Increase in GM volumes from T1 to T3 were also found in both groups. At T2, patients with a higher level of education compared to lower level exhibited higher episodic memory retrieval and state anxiety scores, both correlating with cerebellar volume. This higher level of education group exhibited hippocampal atrophy. Our results suggest that, before chemotherapy, cancer-related processes impact cognitive functioning and that this impact seems exacerbated by the effect of chemotherapy on certain brain regions. Increase in GM volumes after chemotherapy were unexpected and warrant further investigations. Higher education level was associated, 1 month after the end of chemotherapy, with greater anxiety and hippocampal atrophy despite a lack of cognitive deficits. These results suggest, for the first time, the occurrence of compensation mechanisms that may be linked to cognitive reserve in relationship to state anxiety. This identification of factors, which may compensate cognitive impairment following chemotherapy, is critical for patient care and quality of life

Prognostic value of CEC count in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients treated with bevacizumab and chemotherapy: a prospective validation study (UCBG COMET)

International audienceProof of concept studies has reported that circulating endothelial cell (CEC) count may be associated with the outcome of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients treated by chemotherapy and the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab. We report the results obtained in an independent prospective validation cohort (COMET study, NCT01745757)

Management and outcome of male metastatic breast cancer in the national multicenter observational research program Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics (ESME)

International audienceBackground and Aims: Because of its low prevalence, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in males is managed based on clinical experience with women. Using a real-life database, we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of male MBC characteristics, management and outcome. Methods: The Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics Data Platform collected data for all men and women ⩾18 years with MBC in 18 participating French Comprehensive Cancer Centers from January 2008 to November 2016. Demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics were retrieved, as was treatment modality. Men were matched 1:1 to women with similar characteristics. Results: Of 16,701 evaluable patients, 149 (0.89%) men were identified. These men were older (median age 69 years) and predominantly had hormone receptor HR+/HER2– disease (78.3%). Median overall survival (OS) was 41.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI: 26.9–49.7)] and similar to women. Median progression-free survival (PFS) with first-line therapy was 9.3 months [95% CI (7.4–11.5)]. In the HR+/HER2– subpopulation, endocrine therapy (ET) alone was the frontline treatment for 43% of patients, including antiestrogens ( n = 19), aromatase inhibitors ( n = 15) with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs ( n = 3), and various sequential treatments. Median PFS achieved by frontline ET alone was similar in men [9.8 months, 95% CI (6.9–17.4)] and in women [13 months, 95% CI (8.4–30.9)] ( p = 0.80). PFS was similar for HR+/HER2– men receiving upfront ET or chemotherapy: 9.8 months [95% CI (6.9–17.4)] versus 9.5 months [95% CI (7.4–11.7)] ( p = 0.22), respectively. Conclusion: MBC management in men and women leads to similar outcomes, especially in HR+/HER2– patients for whom ET should also be a cornerstone. Unsolved questions remain and successfully recruiting trials for men are still lacking

Inherited TNFSF9 deficiency causes broad Epstein–Barr virus infection with EBV+ smooth muscle tumors

International audienceEpstein–Barr virus (EBV) can infect smooth muscle cells causing smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) or leiomyoma. Here, we report a patient with a heterozygous 22q11.2 deletion/DiGeorge syndrome who developed a unique, broad, and lethal susceptibility to EBV characterized by EBV-infected T and B cells and disseminated EBV+SMT. The patient also harbored a homozygous missense mutation (p.V140G) in TNFSF9 coding for CD137L/4-1BBL, the ligand of the T cell co-stimulatory molecule CD137/4-1BB, whose deficiency predisposes to EBV infection. We show that wild-type CD137L was up-regulated on activated monocytes and dendritic cells, EBV-infected B cells, and SMT. The CD137LV140G mutant was weakly expressed on patient cells or when ectopically expressed in HEK and P815 cells. Importantly, patient EBV-infected B cells failed to trigger the expansion of EBV-specific T cells, resulting in decreased T cell effector responses. T cell expansion was recovered when CD137L expression was restored on B cells. Therefore, these results highlight the critical role of the CD137–CD137L pathway in anti-EBV immunity, in particular in the control of EBV+SMT

Impact of breast cancer on prospective memory functioning assessed by virtual reality and influence of sleep quality and hormonal therapy: PROSOM-K study

International audienceBackground: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer in women with more than 70% of BC patients being treated with hormonal therapy (HT). Among these patients, some report difficulties in remembering what they are supposed to do at the right moment, referring to prospective memory (PM). PM is essential for autonomy and medical adherence of patients, and requires an ecological assessment. Virtual reality, that recreates naturalistic environment, seems to be a promising method to evaluate PM. Several BC patients also report sleep disturbances. Given the role of sleep on memory consolidation, it is imperative to explore the influence of sleep quality on PM in BC patients treated with HT. The purpose of PROSOM-K study is to assess PM functioning using virtual reality and sleep quality in BC treated or not with HT