Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with critical influenza pneumonia

In an international cohort of 279 patients with hypoxemic influenza pneumonia, we identified 13 patients (4.6%) with autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-alpha and/or -omega, which were previously reported to underlie 15% cases of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia and one third of severe adverse reactions to live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) can underlie critical COVID-19 pneumonia and yellow fever vaccine disease. We report here on 13 patients harboring autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 alone (five patients) or with IFN-omega (eight patients) from a cohort of 279 patients (4.7%) aged 6-73 yr with critical influenza pneumonia. Nine and four patients had antibodies neutralizing high and low concentrations, respectively, of IFN-alpha 2, and six and two patients had antibodies neutralizing high and low concentrations, respectively, of IFN-omega. The patients' autoantibodies increased influenza A virus replication in both A549 cells and reconstituted human airway epithelia. The prevalence of these antibodies was significantly higher than that in the general population for patients 70 yr of age (3.1 vs. 4.4%, P = 0.68). The risk of critical influenza was highest in patients with antibodies neutralizing high concentrations of both IFN-alpha 2 and IFN-omega (OR = 11.7, P = 1.3 x 10(-5)), especially those <70 yr old (OR = 139.9, P = 3.1 x 10(-10)). We also identified 10 patients in additional influenza patient cohorts. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs account for similar to 5% of cases of life-threatening influenza pneumonia in patients <70 yr old

MIKE 3 versus HARTMANN apparatus : comparison of measured minimum ignition energy (MIE)

International audienceIn this study, MIE values measured with two different explosion tubes, HARTMANN and MIKE 3, are compared. Generally, MIKE 3 apparatus provides MIE results, which are equal or lower to those measured with the HARTMANN apparatus; this is particularly true for the energy ranges between 1 and 10 mJ and higher than 100 mJ. Differences observed can modify samples classification according to their sensitivity to electrostatic ignition sources. Nevertheless, ignition of a dust cloud by an electrostatic discharge is complex, and implies a different mechanism from that occurring during MIE tests. Thus, it seems difficult to synchronise dust dispersion and spark triggering to obtain optimal concentration in the spark area. Moreover, spark characteristics such as duration or energy feeding rate of spark cannot reproduce exactly industrial-world ones. On this point, it is not possible to conclude if characteristics of MIKE 3 electric circuit, e.g., resistance and inductance, are more relevant than HARTMANN circuit ones

Safety Evaluation of a Sodium-Ion Cell: Assessment of Vent Gas Emissions under Thermal Runaway

International audienceNa-ion batteries are presented as a complementary technology to Li-ion batteries, that comply with the performance requirements of various applications without being submitted to the critical raw material dependencies pertaining to Li-ion batteries. Several major industrial actors are now committed to produce these batteries, advocating among others the safety gain of such technology. Available data on their behavior under thermal runaway are nonetheless very limited. This experimental work brings new elements of vent gas characteristics of Na-ion (Na3V2(PO4)2F3, NVPF) cells when thermally abused. A detailed gas analysis was performed in order to determine both composition of the gas mixture and related emitted volume. In our test configuration, no flames were observed, and the fumes were mainly composed of electrolyte compounds (organic carbonates). A simple comparison with Li-ion technology showed similarities with LiFePO4 (LFP) chemistries in terms of the nature and quantity of emitted gas