ADHD Endophenotypes in Caribbean Families.

Objective: The aim of this study is to contrast the genetics of neuropsychological tasks in individuals from nuclear families clustering ADHD in a Caribbean community. Method: We recruited and clinically characterized 408 individuals using an extensive battery of neuropsychological tasks. The genetic variance underpinning these tasks was estimated by heritability. A predictive framework for ADHD diagnosis was derived using these tasks. Results: We found that individuals with ADHD differed from controls in tasks of mental control, visuospatial ability, visuoverbal memory, phonological and verbal fluency, verbal and semantic fluency, cognitive flexibility, and cognitive ability. Among them, tasks of mental control, visuoverbal memory, phonological fluency, semantic verbal fluency, and intelligence had a significant heritability. A predictive model of ADHD diagnosis using these endophenotypes yields remarkable classification rate, sensitivity, specificity, and precision values (above 80%). Conclusion: We have dissected new cognitive endophenotypes in ADHD that can be suitable to assess the neurobiological and genetic basis of ADHD.

Cluster of serogroup W invasive meningococcal disease in a university campus.

INTRODUCTION: In France, the expansion of an hypervirulent strain causing serogroup W invasive meningococcal disease (MenW) has been observed since 2015/16. We describe a cluster of three MenW cases, causing two deaths, at the end of 2016 in a university campus, and the vaccination campaign which was consequently organized. METHODS: Epidemiological and microbiological analyses led a multidisciplinary expertise group to recommend the organization of a mass vaccination campaign using ACWY vaccine targeting more than 30,000 students and staff in the university campus. Individual data on vaccination was collected using the lists of students and staff registered at the university to estimate vaccine coverage. RESULTS: Three MenW cases occurred within a 2-month period among students in different academic courses. All three isolates were identical and belonged to the "UK-2013 strain" phylogenetic branch. The attack rate was 10.8/100,000 students. The vaccination campaign was organized only 15 days after the third case occurred. In total, 13,198 persons were vaccinated. Vaccine coverage was estimated at 41% for students of the university and 35% for university staff. CONCLUSION: Timely notification of cases to health authorities was essential for the detection of the cluster and the rapid implementation of the vaccination campaign. No further cases occurred in the campus in the year following the vaccination campaign. This episode is the second cluster of MenW caused by the "UK-2013 strain" in a university since 2016.

Strengthened Ebola surveillance in France during a major outbreak in West Africa: March 2014-January 2016.

Introduction An unprecedented outbreak of Ebola virus diseases (EVD) occurred in West Africa from March 2014 to January 2016. The French Institute for Public Health implemented strengthened surveillance to early identify any imported case and avoid secondary cases. METHODS: Febrile travellers returning from an affected country had to report to the national emergency healthcare hotline. Patients reporting at-risk exposures and fever during the 21st following day from the last at-risk exposure were defined as possible cases, hospitalised in isolation and tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Asymptomatic travellers reporting at-risk exposures were considered as contact and included in a follow-up protocol until the 21st day after the last at-risk exposure. RESULTS: From March 2014 to January 2016, 1087 patients were notified: 1053 were immediately excluded because they did not match the notification criteria or did not have at-risk exposures; 34 possible cases were tested and excluded following a reliable negative result. Two confirmed cases diagnosed in West Africa were evacuated to France under stringent isolation conditions. Patients returning from Guinea (n = 531; 49%) and Mali (n = 113; 10%) accounted for the highest number of notifications. CONCLUSION: No imported case of EVD was detected in France. We are confident that our surveillance system was able to classify patients properly during the outbreak period.