Combined use of a multiplex PCR and serum procalcitonin to reduce antibiotic exposure in critically ill patients with community-acquired pneumonia: the MULTI-CAP randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) testing has the potential to rapidly and accurately identify causative microorganisms in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Its use in a management strategy, along with biomarkers, may reduce antibiotic exposure and improve clinical outcomes.

Methods: The MULTI-CAP trial was a multicenter (n = 20), parallel-group, superiority, open-label, randomized trial.

Association between weather features and symptoms in hand osteoarthritis: Results from the DIGICOD cohort.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between weather and joint symptoms in patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Design: We used baseline data from the DIGICOD cohort, a monocentric cohort of patients with HOA, and meteorological measurements (temperature, humidity, barometric pressure) in the Paris region during the 72 ​h before inclusion in the cohort. Clinical outcomes were AUSCAN subscores (pain, stiffness, function), spontaneous and pressure tender joint count (TJC), visual analog scale (VAS) score for hand pain during activity and at rest, and the Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis score.

Room temperature storage and shipping of encapsulated synthetic RNAs as quality control materials for SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic assays.

The Coronavirus pandemic unveiled the unprecedented need for diagnostic tests to rapidly detect the presence of pathogens in the population. Real-time RT-PCR and other nucleic acid amplification techniques are accurate and sensitive molecular techniques that necessitate quality control strategies and stable quality control materials. To meet this need, Twist Bioscience has developed and released synthetic RNA controls.

Fertility preservation of vacuum-dried ram spermatozoa stored for four years at room temperature.

Dry storage at room temperature (RT) could simplify spermatozoa banking. Here, we explored DNA stability and in vitro and in vivo development of embryos derived from vacuum-dried encapsulated (VDE) ram spermatozoa stored for four years or after accelerated aging. While some genomic damage was detected at time 0, DNA fragmentation increased from 3.

Serum intestinal permeability biomarkers are associated with erosive hand osteoarthritis and radiographic severity: results from the DIGICOD cohort.

Objective: To investigate the association between intestinal permeability alteration and erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA).

Methods: Serum concentrations of four intestinal permeability biomarkers (lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), FABP2, sCD14, Zonulin-related proteins (ZRP) along with calprotectin, and high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) were assessed in 410 patients of the DIGICOD cohort. The study compared patients with EHOA (≥ 2 erosion in Verbruggen score N=140) to those without EHOA (N=270) using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with more pain in hand osteoarthritis: Results from the DIGICOD cohort.

Background: The role of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in osteoarthritis (OA) pain, particularly in non-weight-bearing joints like the hand (HOA), remains debated. This study assessed whether MetS is linked to increased hand pain in patients with HOA.

Methods: Using the DIGICOD cohort, 352 HOA patients (85 ​% women, mean age 66.

Reviving vacuum-dried encapsulated ram spermatozoa via ICSI after 2 years of storage.

Introduction: Freeze-drying techniques give alternative preservation mammalian spermatozoa without liquid nitrogen. However, most of the work has been conducted in the laboratory mouse, while little information has been gathered on large animals that could also benefit from this kind of storage.

Methods: This work adapted a technique known as vacuum-drying encapsulation (VDE), originally developed for nucleic acid conservation in anhydrous state, to ram spermatozoa, and compared it to canonical lyophilization (FD), testing long-term storage at room temperature (RT) and 4°C.

Association between combination antibiotic therapy as opposed as monotherapy and outcomes of ICU patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia: an ancillary study of the iDIAPASON trial.

Background: The optimal treatment duration and the nature of regimen of antibiotics (monotherapy or combination therapy) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator‑associated pneumonia (PA-VAP) remain debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a combination antibiotic therapy is superior to a monotherapy in patients with PA-VAP in terms of reduction in recurrence and death, based on the 186 patients included in the iDIAPASON trial, a multicenter, randomized controlled trial comparing 8 versus 15 days of antibiotic therapy for PA-VAP.

Methods: Patients with PA-VAP randomized in the iDIAPASON trial (short-duration-8 days vs.

Respiratory multiplex PCR and procalcitonin to reduce antibiotic exposure in severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: We aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety on antibiotic exposure of a strategy combining a respiratory multiplex PCR (mPCR) with enlarged panel and daily procalcitonin (PCT) measurements, as compared with a conventional strategy, in adult patients who were critically ill with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Methods: This multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomized controlled trial enrolled patients admitted to 13 intensive care units (ICUs) in France. Patients were assigned (1:1) to the control strategy, in which antibiotic streamlining remained at the discretion of the physicians, or interventional strategy, consisting of using mPCR and daily PCT measurements within the first 7 days of randomization to streamline initial antibiotic therapy, with antibiotic continuation encouraged when PCT was >1 ng/mL and discouraged if < 1 ng/mL or decreased by 80% from baseline.

Does hyaluronic acid gel reduce intrauterine adhesions after dilation and curettage in women with miscarriage? A Multicentric randomized controlled trial (HYFACO Study).

Background: Miscarriage is a frequent problem that requires dilation and curettage in 30% of cases. This routine surgery may lead to intrauterine adhesions and severe infertility. Hyaluronic acid gel is known to reduce intrauterine adhesions after hysteroscopic surgery.

Efficacy of a nurse-led patient education intervention in promoting safety skills of patients with inflammatory arthritis treated with biologics: a multicentre randomised clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a nurse-led patient education on safety skills of patients with inflammatory arthritis treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs).

Methods: This is a multicentre, open-labelled, randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention group (face-to-face education by a nurse at baseline and 3 months later) with a control group (usual care) at the introduction of a first subcutaneous bDMARD. The primary outcome was score on the BioSecure questionnaire at 6 months (0-100 scale), a validated questionnaire assessing competencies in dealing with fever, infections, vaccination and daily situations.

Analgesia Nociception Index-Guided Remifentanil versus Standard Care during Propofol Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The clinical benefits to be expected from intraoperative nociception monitors are currently under investigation. Among these devices, the Analgesia Nociception-Index (ANI) has shown promising results under sevoflurane anesthesia. Our study investigated ANI-guided remifentanil administration under propofol anesthesia.

Long term conservation of DNA at ambient temperature. Implications for DNA data storage.

DNA conservation is central to many applications. This leads to an ever-increasing number of samples which are more and more difficult and costly to store or transport. A way to alleviate this problem is to develop procedures for storing samples at room temperature while maintaining their stability.

Randomised trial of first-line bronchial artery embolisation for non-severe haemoptysis of mild abundance.

Background: Whereas first-line bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) is considered standard of care for the management of severe haemoptysis, it is unknown whether this approach is warranted for non-severe haemoptysis.

Research Question: To assess the efficacy on bleeding control and the safety of first-line BAE in non-severe haemoptysis of mild abundance.

Study Design And Methods: This multicentre, randomised controlled open-label trial enrolled adult patients without major comorbid condition and having mild haemoptysis (onset <72 hours, 100-200 mL estimated bleeding amount), related to a systemic arterial mechanism.

Metacarpophalangeal Joint Impairment in Hand Osteoarthritis and Its Association With Mechanical Factors: Results From the Digital Cohort Osteoarthritis Design Hand Osteoarthritis Cohort.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, distribution, and characteristics associated with radiographic metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of baseline data from the Digital Cohort Osteoarthritis Design, a French monocentric cohort including patients with symptomatic hand OA. We evaluated the prevalence of radiographic MCP joint OA, defined as ≥2 MCP joints with a Kellgren/Lawrence score of ≥2.

Efficacy of a combination of hypnosis and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for chronic non-cancer pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chronic non-cancer pain, which persists for at least three months, seriously affects quality of life. Chronic non-cancer pain patients are usually managed by a multidisciplinary team using pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. Nurses perform transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and hypnosis, which are widely used in France for the treatment of chronic pain in pain departments.