Letter by Marlu et al Regarding Article, “Reversal of Rivaroxaban and Dabigatran by Prothrombin Complex Concentrate: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects”

International audienc

Letter by Marlu et al Regarding Article, “Reversal of Rivaroxaban and Dabigatran by Prothrombin Complex Concentrate: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects”

International audienc

Better Fields or Currents? A Head-to-Head Comparison of Transcranial Magnetic (rTMS) Versus Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Neuropathic Pain

International audienceWhile high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) is now included in the armamentarium to treat chronic neuropathic pain (NP), direct-current anodal stimulation (a-tDCS) to the same cortical targets may represent a valuable alternative in terms of feasibility and cost. Here we performed a head-to-head, randomized, single-blinded, cross-over comparison of HF-rTMS versus a-tDCS over the motor cortex in 56 patients with drug-resistant NP, who received 5 daily sessions of each procedure, with a washout of at least 4 weeks. Daily scores of pain, sleep, and fatigue were obtained during 5 consecutive weeks, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to a motor task was performed in a subgroup of 31 patients. The percentage of responders, defined by a reduction in pain scores of > 2 SDs from pre-stimulus levels, was similar to both techniques (42.0% vs. 42.3%), while the magnitude of "best pain relief" was significantly skewed towards rTMS. Mean pain ratings in responders decreased by 32.6% (rTMS) and 29.6% (tDCS), with half of them being sensitive to only one technique. Movement-related fMRI showed significant activations in motor and premotor areas, which did not change after 5 days of stimulation, and did not discriminate responders from non-responders. Both HF-rTMS and a-tDCS showed efficacy at 1 month in drug-resistant NP, with magnitude of relief slightly favoring rTMS. Since a significant proportion of patients responded to one procedure only, both modalities should be tested before declaring a patient as unresponsive

Effect of non-specific reversal agents on anticoagulant activity of dabigatran and rivaroxaban

International audienc

Long-term analgesic effect of trans-spinal direct current stimulation compared to non-invasive motor cortex stimulation in complex regional pain syndrome

International audienceAbstract The aim of the present study was to compare the analgesic effect of motor cortex stimulation using high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct current stimulation and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. Thirty-three patients with complex regional pain syndrome were randomized to one of the three treatment groups (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, n = 11; transcranial direct current stimulation, n = 10; transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, n = 12) and received a series of 12 sessions of stimulation for 3 weeks (induction phase) and 11 sessions for 4 months (maintenance therapy). The primary end-point was the mean pain intensity assessed weekly with a visual numerical scale during the month prior to treatment (baseline), the 5-month stimulation period and 1 month after the treatment. The weekly visual numerical scale pain score was significantly reduced at all time points compared to baseline in the transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation group, at the last two time points in the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation group (end of the 5-month stimulation period and 1 month later), but at no time point in the transcranial direct current stimulation group. A significant pain relief was observed at the end of induction phase using transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation compared to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (P = 0.008) and to transcranial direct current stimulation (P = 0.003). In this trial, transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation was more efficient to relieve pain in patients with complex regional pain syndrome compared to motor cortex stimulation techniques (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation). This efficacy was found during the induction phase and was maintained thereafter. This study warrants further investigation to confirm the potentiality of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation as a therapeutic option in complex regional pain syndrome

Humoral response after mRNA COVID-19 primary vaccination and single booster dose in people living with HIV compared to controls: a French nationwide multicenter cohort study - ANRS0001s COV-POPART

International audienceBACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the humoral responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in PWH and HIV-negative individuals. METHODS: We included PWH with an undetectable viral load under ART and HIV-negative participants from the French nationwide ANRS COV-POPART cohort who had received two doses of vaccine as a primary vaccination. We compared humoral response between controls and PWH, stratified by CD4 cell count (< 200/mm(3) and ≥ 200/mm(3) CD4 cell counts) at 1, 6 and 12 months after primary vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 1776 participants were included in this analysis, 684 PWH (99% were on ART, median CD4 counts 673 cells/mm(3)) and 1092 controls. At 1 month, after adjustment on age, sex and BMI, PWH had lower seroneutralization titers than controls and PWH with < 200 CD4 cell/mm3 had lower anti- Spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Same results were found at 6 months. However, in participants who received a booster dose between 6 and 12 months post primary vaccination, we did not observe differences between PWH and controls at 12 months. CONCLUSION: PWH had high responses to primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. In those who received a booster dose after six months, the humoral response at 12 months increased to similar levels to controls, even in those with low CD4 counts at baseline