Comparison of an in-house real-time duplex PCR assay with commercial HOLOGIC® APTIMA assays for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in urine and extra-genital specimens

Abstract Background Extra-genital Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections are mostly asymptomatic, and important reservoir sites of infection as they often go undetected and may be more difficult to eradicate with recommended therapeutic regimens. Commercial nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have not received regulatory approval for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis in extra-genital specimens. The HOLOGIC® APTIMA Combo2 assay for N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis has performed well in evaluations using extra-genital specimens. Methods We assessed the performance of an in-house real-time duplex PCR assay for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis in urine and extra-genital specimens using the HOLOGIC® APTIMA assays as gold standard comparators. Urine, oropharyngeal and ano-rectal specimens were collected from each of 200 men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) between December 2011 and July 2012. Results For N. gonorrhoeae detection, the in-house PCR assay showed 98.5–100% correlation agreement with the APTIMA assays, depending on specimen type. Sensitivity for N. gonorrhoeae detection was 82.4% for ano-rectal specimens, 83.3% for oropharyngeal specimens, and 85.7% for urine; and specificity was 100% with all specimen types. The positive predictive value (PPV) for N. gonorrhoeae detection was 100% and the negative predictive value (NPV) varied with sample type, ranging from 98.5–99.5%. For C. trachomatis detection, correlation between the assays was 100% for all specimen types. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the in-house PCR assay was 100% for C. trachomatis detection, irrespective of specimen type. Conclusion The in-house duplex real-time PCR assay showed acceptable performance characteristics in comparison with the APTIMA® assays for the detection of extra-genital N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Diagnosis and Treatment of Listeria monocytogenes Endophthalmitis: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Describe patient characteristics, treatment, and vision outcomes of Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis, an exceedingly rare form of listeriosis. Methods: L. monocytogenes endophthalmitis cases in human adults, located through Medline (32) and from disease surveillance centers (11). L. monocytogenes conjunctivitis and keratitis were excluded. Results: Most cases occurred in 2000-2015 (22/43), and almost all in Europe or North America (40/43). Patients were a median 61 years, 57% male (24/42) and half were immunosuppressed. Median days from entering care to diagnosis was 8 (IQR = 5-17). Only four were exogenous infections. L. monocytogenes was identified in 31/35 of anterior eye fluid samples (89%). Antibiotic regimens varied markedly (mostly ≥3 drugs). At diagnosis, most were blind in the affected eye (85%, 28/33), only a third regained normal vision (12/36). Older patients had poorer outcomes. Conclusions: Cases increased over time. Diagnostic delays were common and visual impairment often refractory to treatment, especially in older adults. The condition\u27s rarity and variation in treatment makes it difficult to identify optimum therapy

Diagnosis and Treatment of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Endophthalmitis: A Systematic Review

<p><i>Purpose</i>: Describe patient characteristics, treatment, and vision outcomes of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> endophthalmitis, an exceedingly rare form of listeriosis.</p> <p><i>Methods: L. monocytogenes</i> endophthalmitis cases in human adults, located through Medline (32) and from disease surveillance centers (11). <i>L. monocytogenes</i> conjunctivitis and keratitis were excluded.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: Most cases occurred in 2000–2015 (22/43), and almost all in Europe or North America (40/43). Patients were a median 61 years, 57% male (24/42) and half were immunosuppressed. Median days from entering care to diagnosis was 8 (IQR = 5–17). Only four were exogenous infections. <i>L. monocytogenes</i> was identified in 31/35 of anterior eye fluid samples (89%). Antibiotic regimens varied markedly (mostly ≥3 drugs). At diagnosis, most were blind in the affected eye (85%, 28/33), only a third regained normal vision (12/36). Older patients had poorer outcomes.</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i>: Cases increased over time. Diagnostic delays were common and visual impairment often refractory to treatment, especially in older adults. The condition’s rarity and variation in treatment makes it difficult to identify optimum therapy.</p

Dépôt d'oxyde de silicium par procédé plasma hors équilibre à basse pression et à pression atmosphérique sur de l'acier (application aux propriétés anticorrosion)

Deux procédés de traitement de surface par voie plasma ont été développés afin d amélioration les propriétés anticorrosion d un acier. Des films d oxyde de silicium ont été déposés par PECVD à basse pression et à pression atmosphérique. L héxaméthyldisiloxane a été utilisé comme précurseur. Les performances de perméabilité aux gaz et aux liquides des couches déposées sont très fortement liées à leur composition chimique (présence de C, absence de SiOH) et à leur structure (épaisseur, densité ) qui dépendent directement des conditions de traitement. La morphologie du dépôt ainsi que sa composition ont été analysées afin de caractériser les dépôts. Nous avons pu obtenir des couches épaisses, continues, lisses, peu poreuses, avec du carbone. L efficacité des procédés de dépôts a été validée par l étude des propriétés anticorrosion des films par voltampérométrie et par impédancemétrie. Les propriétés anticorrosion ont été nettement améliorées et persistent pour des temps long d immersionPARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Global, regional, and national burden of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, 1990-2016 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are increasingly recognised as global health priorities in view of the preventability of most injuries and the complex and expensive medical care they necessitate. We aimed to measure the incidence, prevalence, and years of life lived with disability (YLDs) for TBI and SCI from all causes of injury in every country, to describe how these measures have changed between 1990 and 2016, and to estimate the proportion of TBI and SCI cases caused by different types of injury. Methods We used results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study 2016 to measure the global, regional, and national burden of TBI and SCI by age and sex. We measured the incidence and prevalence of all causes of injury requiring medical care in inpatient and outpatient records, literature studies, and survey data. By use of clinical record data, we estimated the proportion of each cause of injury that required medical care that would result in TBI or SCI being considered as the nature of injury. We used literature studies to establish standardised mortality ratios and applied differential equations to convert incidence to prevalence of long-term disability. Finally, we applied GBD disability weights to calculate YLDs. We used a Bayesian meta-regression tool for epidemiological modelling, used cause-specific mortality rates for non-fatal estimation, and adjusted our results for disability experienced with comorbid conditions. We also analysed results on the basis of the Socio-demographic Index, a compound measure of income per capita, education, and fertility. Findings In 2016, there were 27.08 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 24.30-30.30 million) new cases of TBI and 0.93 million (0.78-1.16 million) new cases of SCI, with age-standardised incidence rates of 369 (331-412) per 100 000 population for TBI and 13 (11-16) per 100 000 for SCI. In 2016, the number of prevalent cases of TBI was 55.50 million (53.40-57.62 million) and of SCI was 27.04 million (24 .98-30 .15 million). From 1990 to 2016, the age-standardised prevalence of TBI increased by 8.4% (95% UI 7.7 to 9.2), whereas that of SCI did not change significantly (-0.2% [-2.1 to 2.7]). Age-standardised incidence rates increased by 3.6% (1.8 to 5.5) for TBI, but did not change significantly for SCI (-3.6% [-7.4 to 4.0]). TBI caused 8.1 million (95% UI 6. 0-10. 4 million) YLDs and SCI caused 9.5 million (6.7-12.4 million) YLDs in 2016, corresponding to age-standardised rates of 111 (82-141) per 100 000 for TBI and 130 (90-170) per 100 000 for SCI. Falls and road injuries were the leading causes of new cases of TBI and SCI in most regions. Interpretation TBI and SCI constitute a considerable portion of the global injury burden and are caused primarily by falls and road injuries. The increase in incidence of TBI over time might continue in view of increases in population density, population ageing, and increasing use of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The number of individuals living with SCI is expected to increase in view of population growth, which is concerning because of the specialised care that people with SCI can require. Our study was limited by data sparsity in some regions, and it will be important to invest greater resources in collection of data for TBI and SCI to improve the accuracy of future assessments. Copyright (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe