Clinical features of H1N1 2009 infection in critically ill immunocompromised patients

Seasonal influenza virus has been described as an emerging and severe pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. Since the beginning of the 2009 influenza A novel H1N1 pandemic, several series have described the clinical course of the disease in various populations. We report the clinical course of H1N1 2009 infection in 10 immunocompromised patients. Half of the patients received long-term steroid therapy. Disease was characterized by a clinical picture similar to that of non-immunocompromised patients but with prolonged course and higher mortality

Correlates of HIV-1 Genital Shedding in Tanzanian Women

BACKGROUND: Understanding the correlates of HIV shedding is important to inform strategies to reduce HIV infectiousness. We examined correlates of genital HIV-1 RNA in women who were seropositive for both herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 and HIV-1 and who were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial of HSV suppressive therapy (aciclovir 400 mg b.i.d vs. placebo) in Tanzania. METHODOLOGY: Samples, including a cervico-vaginal lavage, were collected and tested for genital HIV-1 and HSV and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) at randomisation and 6, 12 and 24 months follow-up. Data from all women at randomisation and women in the placebo arm during follow-up were analysed using generalised estimating equations to determine the correlates of cervico-vaginal HIV-1 RNA detection and load. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Cervico-vaginal HIV-1 RNA was detected at 52.0% of 971 visits among 482 women, and was independently associated with plasma viral load, presence of genital ulcers, pregnancy, bloody cervical or vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal discharge, cervical ectopy, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, an intermediate bacterial vaginosis score and HSV DNA detection. Similar factors were associated with genital HIV-1 RNA load. CONCLUSIONS: RTIs were associated with increased presence and quantity of genital HIV-1 RNA in this population. These results highlight the importance of integrating effective RTI treatment into HIV care services

Oxy-PAHs: occurrence in the environment and potential genotoxic/mutagenic risk assessment for human health

International audienc

Remagnetization of lava flows spanning the last geomagnetic reversal

© The Authors 2017Large directional changes of remanent magnetization within lava flows that cooled during geomagnetic reversals have been reported in several studies. A geomagnetic scenario implies extremely rapid geomagnetic changes of several degrees per day, thus difficult to reconcile with the rate of the earth's core liquid motions. So far, no complete rock magnetic model provides a clear explanation. We revisited lava flows sandwiched between an underlying reverse and an overlying normal polarity flow marking the last reversal in three distinct volcanic sequences of the La Palma Island (Canary archipelago, Spain) that are characterized by a gradual evolution of the direction of their remanent magnetization from bottom to top. Cleaning efficiency of thermal demagnetization was not improved by very rapid heating and cooling rates as well as by continuous demagnetization using a Triaxe magnetometer. We did not observe partial self-reversals and minor changes in magnetic grain sizes are not related to the within-flow directional changes. Microscopic observations indicate poor exsolution, which suggests post-cooling thermochemical remagnetization processes. This scenario is strongly reinforced by laboratory experiments that show large resistance to thermal demagnetization when thermoremanence was acquired over a long time period. We speculate that in the present situation exsolution was reactivated during in field reheating and yielded formation of new magnetite, yet magnetic domain state rearrangements could also play a role. Initial reheating when the overlying flow took place, albeit moderate (less than 200¿300 °C), was enough to produce overlying components with significantly higher unblocking temperatures.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC advanced grant agreement GA 339899.Peer Reviewe

Effect of herpes simplex suppression on incidence of HIV among women in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is associated with an increased risk of acquiring infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study tested the hypothesis that HSV-2 suppressive therapy reduces the risk of HIV acquisition. METHODS: Female workers at recreational facilities in northwestern Tanzania who were 16 to 35 years of age were interviewed and underwent serologic testing for HIV and HSV-2. We enrolled female workers who were HIV-seronegative and HSV-2-seropositive in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of suppressive treatment with acyclovir (400 mg twice daily). Participants attended mobile clinics every 3 months for a follow-up period of 12 to 30 months, depending on enrollment date. The primary outcome was the incidence of infection with HIV. We used a modified intention-to-treat analysis; data for participants who became pregnant were censored. Adherence to treatment was estimated by a tablet count at each visit. RESULTS: A total of 821 participants were randomly assigned to receive acyclovir (400 participants) or placebo (421 participants); 679 (83%) completed follow-up. Mean follow-up for the acyclovir and placebo groups was 1.52 and 1.62 years, respectively. The incidence of HIV infection was 4.27 per 100 person-years (27 participants in the acyclovir group and 28 in the placebo group), and there was no overall effect of acyclovir on the incidence of HIV (rate ratio for the acyclovir group, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 1.83). The estimated median adherence was 90%. Genital HSV was detected in a similar proportion of participants in the two study groups at 6, 12, and 24 months. No serious adverse events were attributable to treatment with acyclovir. CONCLUSIONS: These data show no evidence that acyclovir (400 mg twice daily) as HSV suppressive therapy decreases the incidence of infection with HIV. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN35385041 [controlled-trials.com].)

Projet Bargip. Action Données professionnelles. Rapport final

La décroissance des rendements de capture professionnelle de bar européen Dicentrarchus labrax à partir des années 2010-2011 a amené la DPMA à demander à l’Ifremer de proposer un programme de recherche visant à mieux connaitre la biologie de l’espèce et à acquérir des données et connaissances permettant d’envisager sa gestion. Parmi les actions de recherche identifiées comme prioritaires, l’action « Données professionnelles » a compris deux grands volets : - utilisation des données de captures professionnelles françaises afin de produire des indices annuels d’abondance en bars adultes, - acquisition de données biologiques (maturité sexuelle principalement et courbe de croissance) sur le bar dans le golfe de Gascogn

NourDem 2019-2021. Rapport final

Ce rapport présente la synthèse des données des campagnes scientifiques NourDem réalisées entre 2016 et 2021 en estuaire de Loire, entre 2017 et 2021 en estuaire de Seine et entre 2019 et 2021 en estuaire de Gironde. Les échantillonnages de la macrofaune benthique épigée, démersale et pélagique sont réalisés au moyen du chalut à Grande Ouverture Verticale Ifremer-NourDem (GOV 16,45 x 11,90 m) qui ouvre à 7m x 2m et est tracté à partir de petits chalutiers professionnels locaux. Ceci permet d'échantillonner les estuaires depuis le zéro de salinité jusqu'à 35 pour mille, et par des bathymétries comprises entre -3 et + 15 m (campagnes annuelles de 8 journées chacune par estuaire, permettant la réalisation de 60 à 75 traits de 15 minutes selon les estuaires). Les peuplements des trois estuaires sont présentés (espèces principales, migrateurs amphihalins, indices d'abondance et de biomasse, biodiversité, cartographie de répartition des espèces, indentification des secteurs de nourricerie), l'un des objectifs du rapport étant de produire un état des lieux des biocœnoses (échantillonnables au chalut) à la fin 2021. Différentes méthodes de production d'indice d'abondance sont testées (mono-stratification de l'espace, post-stratification automatisée s'adaptant aux données obtenues, outils géostatistiques). Une première comparaison de la qualité des trois estuaires en tant que nourricerie est menée, par analyse de courbes de croissance et d'indices de condition, ainsi que par la réalisation de dosages de cortisol (hormone de stress) chez des juvéniles de bar européen Dicentrarchus labrax (de différentes classes d'âge), ainsi que d'éléments trace métalliques et de composés organiques. NourDem 2019-2021 a été mené dans le cadre d'une collaboration entre l'Ifremer et le Comité National des Pêche Maritimes et Elevages Marins (CNPMEM), avec le soutien opérationnel des trois comités régionaux des pêches concernés : le CRPN de Normandie, le COREPEM des Pays de la Loire et le CRPMEM de Nouvelle Aquitaine. Ce projet a bénéficié de financements du fonds européen pour la pêche FEAMP (mesure 40), de la Direction des Pêches Maritimes et de l'Aquaculture (DPMA) du Ministère en charge de la Pêche, et de France Filière Pêche (FFP). Il a été géré pour le compte de l'Union et de l'Etat par la Direction Interministérielle de la Mer de Manche-Est et de la Mer du Nord (DIRM MEMN)