Clinical and Epidemiologic Characteristics and Therapeutic Management of Patients with Vibrio Infections, Bay of Biscay, France, 2001-2019.

Noncholera vibriosis is a rare, opportunistic bacterial infection caused by Vibrio spp. other than V. cholerae O1/O139 and diagnosed mainly during the hot summer months in patients after seaside activities. Detailed knowledge of circulating pathogenic strains and heterogeneities in infection outcomes and disease dynamics may help in patient management. We conducted a multicenter case-series study documenting Vibrio infections in 67 patients from 8 hospitals in the Bay of Biscay, France, over a 19-year period. Infections were mainly caused by V. alginolyticus (34%), V. parahaemolyticus (30%), non-O1/O139 V. cholerae (15%), and V. vulnificus (10%). Drug-susceptibility testing revealed intermediate and resistant strains to penicillins and first-generation cephalosporins. The acute infections (e.g., those involving digestive disorder, cellulitis, osteitis, pneumonia, and endocarditis) led to a life-threatening event (septic shock), amputation, or death in 36% of patients. Physicians may need to add vibriosis to their list of infections to assess in patients with associated risk factors.

[The anti-dsDNA antibodies: validation of an original two step strategy of detection]. / Les anticorps anti-ADN natif : validation d'une stratégie originale de détection en deux temps.

Detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies is one of the major biological criteria of use in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Sensitivity and specificity vary greatly between existing techniques, and differ largely from one study to another. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate a new strategy of detection comprising two steps, first, the use of a sensitive automated technique, ELISA Phadia EliA™, and second, if necessary, a more specific technique: the Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test (CLIFT). The latter was used in case of discrepancy with previous laboratory findings or according to the available clinical data. During the study period of 18 months, 1729 tests were requested of which 96 were finally assayed using CLIFT. Analysis of 53 discordant results showed 14 cases of lupus identified only with ELISA, and 3 only by Crithidia. In addition, 35 likely false positives of ELISA were evidenced by negative CLIFT results. These data show a clear gain in sensitivity without any loss of specificity due to the use of a second technique. Thus, this strategy was validated in our lab; it can be useful by any medical laboratory because the cost of few Crithidia luciliae slides is very low.

Aquaporins and Fetal Membranes From Diabetic Parturient Women: Expression Abnormalities and Regulation by Insulin.

CONTEXT: During pregnancy, aquaporins (AQPs) expressed in fetal membranes are essential for controlling the homeostasis of the amniotic volume, but their regulation by insulin was never explored in diabetic women. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the involvement of AQPs 1, 3, 8, and 9 expressed in fetal membranes in diabetic parturient women and the control of their expression by insulin. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: From 129 fetal membranes in four populations (controls, type 1, type 2 [T2D], and gestational diabetes [GD]), we established an expression AQP profile. In a second step, the amnion was used to study the control of the expression and functions of AQPs 3 and 9 by insulin. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The expression of transcripts and proteins of AQPs was studied by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. We analyzed the regulation by insulin of the expression of AQPs 3 and 9 in the amnion. A tritiated glycerol test enabled us to measure the impact of insulin on the functional characteristics. Using an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, we analyzed the insulin intracellular signaling pathway. RESULTS: The expression of AQP3 protein was significantly weaker in groups T2D and GD. In nondiabetic fetal membranes, we showed for the amnion (but not for the chorion) a significant repression by insulin of the transcriptional expression of AQPs 3 and 9, which was blocked by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor. CONCLUSION: In fetal membranes, the repression of AQP3 protein expression and functions observed in vivo is allowed by the hyperinsulinism described in pregnant women with T2D or GD.