Distribution and phenotype of murine rotavirus-specific B cells induced by intranasal immunization with 2/6 virus-like particles

Virus-like particles containing the rotavirus (RV) internal proteins VP2 and VP6 (2/6-VLP) have been shown to induce serum and fecal antibodies as well as protection in mice after intranasal administration with a mutant of E. coli toxin, LT-R192G. To better understand the origin of fecal IgA induced by this protocol, we studied the RV-specific B cell response in systemic and mucosal lymphoid tissues using a flow cytometry assay that allows quantification and phenotypic characterization of RV-specific B lymphocytes. We also assessed the RV-specific antibody-secreting cells in the spleen and intestinal lamina propria (ILP). A remarkably high frequency of RV-specific B cells was found in the respiratory lymphoid tissues and spleen, of which only a minority expressed the alpha4beta7 integrin (intestinal homing receptor). In contrast, but in accordance with alpha4beta7 expression at the induction site, a very low response was observed in intestinal lymphoid tissues (mesenteric lymph nodes and ILP), which did not increase after a second immunization. Thus, intranasal immunization with a nonreplicating antigen does not induce an important number of RV-specific B cells with an intestinal homing profile.     

Early brain lesions and face-processing development

Studies of functional plasticity after pre- or perinatal brain damage can tell us whether the neural substrate normally involved in the development of a given ability is specific and, if so, when it becomes functionally specified and unique. Development of face processing was investigated in 5- to 17-year-old children who had a unilateral brain injury in the pre-, peri-, or postnatal period. In Studies 1 and 2, patients with a posterior injury involving the temporal regions exhibited a face-processing deficit that was independent of their age at test time. Even though differences were observed between the two hemispheres in face processing during infancy as well as in adults in cases of normal development, no clear differences between right and left injury were observed here in face-processing deficit. Poor postlesional face-processing plasticity seems to contrast with results of several studies on speech development after early unilateral injury. If the difference in the time window for postlesional plasticity between these two areas of competency is confirmed, it would suggest that the two kinds of abilities rely on neural cells which are sensitive to different plasticity factors.     

HLA-D typing in Austria. A panel study using 26 newly defined homozygous typing cells

A panel of 120 HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR typed Austrians has been typed for HLA-D by the use of 26 Homozygous Typing Cells (HTC). The new Austrian HTC, partly defined by the 9th International Histocompatibility Workshop (9WS), partly by a checkerboard experiment with internationally well defined reference HTC, type for HLA-Dw1 to -Dw7 and an obviously new, so far unknown HLA-DR2 related HLA-D determinant. Associations of HLA-DR and HLA-D antigens in Austria and their frequencies are determined. Antigen frequencies in Austria are compared to frequencies in other Caucasoid populations.     

Urgent desensitization in patients bridged to heart transplantation under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: A preliminary experience

Antihuman leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies restrict the access to cardiac allografts. Desensitization therapy is a major challenge in patients with cardiogenic shock waiting for urgent heart transplantation (HT). We retrospectively reviewed six patients (mean age of 37.5 years [16–70]) who underwent plasmapheresis (PP) under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) before transplant between January 2017 and September 2018. The average duration of follow‐up was 25 months [20–32]. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of HLA‐specific antibodies was reported as follows: score 4 for MFI < 1000, score 6 for 1000 < MFI < 3000 and score 8 for MFI > 3000. The mean duration of ECMO support was 29 days [1–74] and 6.8 [1–29] PP sessions were performed per patient before transplant. The mean number of HLA‐specific antibodies before HT was 9.6 for score 6 [4–13] and 5.8 for score 8 [1–12]. Four patients had major complications after transplantation (2 hemorrhagic shocks, 5 infectious events). Mean MFI reduction rate was 94% [79–100] for Class I and 44.2% for Class II [0–83]. Hospital survival was 100%, and early antibody‐mediated rejection was diagnosed in one patient at 7 days after HT. Plasmapheresis under ECMO support was associated with favorable early outcomes in highly sensitized candidates for urgent heart transplantation.     

A Fumonisin Prevention Tool for Targeting and Ranking Agroclimatic Conditions Favoring Exposure in French Maize-Growing Areas

The levels of fumonisins (FUMO)—mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides—in maize for food and feed are subject to European Union regulations. Compliance with the regulations requires the targeting of, among others, the agroclimatic factors influencing fungal contamination and FUMO production. Arvalis-Institut du végétal has created a national, multiyear database for maize, based on field survey data collected since 2003. This database contains information about agricultural practices, climatic conditions and FUMO concentrations at harvest for 738 maize fields distributed throughout French maize-growing regions. A linear mixed model approach highlights the presence of borers and the use of a late variety, high temperatures in July and October, and a water deficit during the maize cycle as creating conditions favoring maize contamination with Fusarium verticillioides. It is thus possible to target a combination of risk factors, consisting of this climatic sequence associated with agricultural practices of interest. The effects of the various possible agroclimatic combinations can be compared, grouped and classified as promoting very low to high FUMO concentrations, possibly exceeding the regulatory threshold. These findings should facilitate the creation of a national, informative and easy-to-use prevention tool for producers and agricultural cooperatives to manage the sanitary quality of their harvest.     

Differing effects of prosaccades and antisaccades on postural stability

The goal of the study was to examine the effect of different types of eye movements on postural stability. Ten healthy young adults (25 ± 3 years) participated in the study. Postural control was measured by the TechnoConcept© platform and recorded in Standard Romberg and Tandem Romberg conditions while participants performed five oculomotor tasks: two fixation tasks (central fixation cross, without and with distractors), two prosaccade tasks toward peripheral targets displayed 4° to the left or to the right of the fixation cross (reactive saccades induced by a gap 0 ms paradigm and voluntary saccades induced by an overlap 600 ms paradigm) and one antisaccade task (voluntary saccade made in the opposite direction of the visual target). The surface, the length, and the mean speed of the center of pressure were analyzed. We found that saccadic eye movements improved postural stability with respect to the fixation tasks. Furthermore, antisaccades were found to decrease postural stability compared to prosaccades (reactive as well as voluntary saccades). This result is in line with the U-shaped nonlinear model described by Lacour et al. (Neurophysiol Clin 38:411–421, 2008), showing that a secondary task performed during a postural task could increase (prosaccade task) or decrease (antisacade task) postural stability depending on its complexity. We suggest that the different degree of attentional resources needed for performing prosaccade or antisaccade tasks are, most likely, responsible for the different effect on postural control.     

Acute effects and long-term outcome of pulmonary vein isolation in combination with electrogram-guided substrate ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation

Complex fractionated atrial electrographic (CFAE) catheter ablation is a new approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). It is unclear if acute results of this approach correspond to long-term outcome. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess acute and long-term successes of an ablation approach combining pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and ablation of CFAE areas for treatment of persistent AF. PVI and ablation of CFAE areas were performed in 35 patients with persistent AF (30 men, 57+/-9 years of age). At the end of the ablation procedure AF had terminated in 23 of 35 patients (66%) by conversion to sinus rhythm (8 of 23 patients, 35%) or organization to atrial tachycardia (15 of 23 patients, 65%). AF persisted in 12 of 35 patients (34%). At the end of the follow-up period (19+/-12 months), sinus rhythm was present in 26 of 35 patients (74%), including 9 patients with a repeat procedure. This group of 26 patients consisted of 7 of 8 patients (88%) with acute sinus rhythm after the first ablation, 11 of 15 patients (73%) with organization, and 8 of 12 patients (66%) with ongoing AF (p=0.32). In conclusion, a combined approach of PVI and CFAE ablation in persistent AF leads to acute AF termination in 66% and long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm in 74% of cases. However, long-term outcome was not predictable by acute results of the ablation procedure.