Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the myometrium with cardio-vascular symptoms

BACKGROUND: Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis is a severe complication of cancer, rarely reported in gynecologic tumors. However, it can be inaugural and lead to complex diagnostic pathways. CASE: A 40-year-old woman presented with a stroke, related to an endocarditis. The valvular vegetation was surgically removed, and a malignant node was resected. A PET-scan led to the diagnosis of a myometrial tumor, which was found to be a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). The patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and systemic chemotherapy which allowed a complete remission of tumoral and cardio-vascular symptoms. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a PNET of the myometrium revealed by cardio-vascular symptoms.     

STUDIES ON THE SEROLOGICAL TYPING OF STREPTOCOCCUS HEMOLYTICUS

The cross-reactions which interfere with satisfactory serological identification of hemolytic streptococcus are due to anticarbohydrate in the sera used for typing. This antibody can be removed easily by absorption with purified streptococcus carbohydrate, and type identification is then readily established. The serological classification of hemolytic streptococcus from throat infections contracted in New York during 1935 and 1936 showed the predominance of types 4, 13 and 22. Type 13 appeared to be the most serious in initiating rheumatic activity during this period of observation.     

One Health surveillance of West Nile and Usutu viruses: a repeated cross-sectional study exploring seroprevalence and endemicity in Southern France, 2016 to 2020

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), two closely related flaviviruses, mainly follow an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds, but also infect humans and other mammals. Since 2010, their epidemiological situation may have shifted from irregular epidemics to endemicity in several European regions; this requires confirmation, as it could have implications for risk assessment and surveillance strategies.AimTo explore the seroprevalence in animals and humans and potential endemicity of WNV and USUV in Southern France, given a long history of WNV outbreaks and the only severe human USUV case in France in this region.MethodsWe evaluated the prevalence of WNV and USUV in a repeated cross-sectional study by serological and molecular analyses of human, dog, horse, bird and mosquito samples in the Camargue area, including the city of Montpellier, between 2016 and 2020.ResultsWe observed the active transmission of both viruses and higher USUV prevalence in humans, dogs, birds and mosquitoes, while WNV prevalence was higher in horses. In 500 human samples, 15 were positive for USUV and 6 for WNV. Genetic data showed that the same lineages, WNV lineage 1a and USUV lineage Africa 3, were found in mosquitoes in 2015, 2018 and 2020.ConclusionThese findings support existing literature suggesting endemisation in the study region and contribute to a better understanding of USUV and WNV circulation in Southern France. Our study underlines the importance of a One Health approach for the surveillance of these viruses.     

Travel-Associated Rabies in Pets and Residual Rabies Risk,Western Europe

In 2015, countries in western Europe were declared free of rabies in nonflying mammals. Surveillance data for 2001–2013 indicate that risk for residual rabies is not 0 because of pet importation from countries with enzootic rabies. However, the risk is so low (7.52 × 10⁻¹⁰) that it probably can be considered negligible.     

Social origins,early hardship and obesity: A strong association in women,but not in men?

This study investigates the relation between early life conditions and adult obesity in France, using a rich data set collected through the 2003 nationally representative Life History Survey. No salient factor emerged in men, while in women, after controlling for current socio-demographic characteristics, a relation was found between obesity and the following factors: father's occupation (OR = 3.2 for women whose father was a clerical worker, versus those whose father was in a higher-level occupation); experience of economic hardship in childhood (OR = 2.0), and; high parity (OR = 2.1 for parities of more than 3 versus parity of 1). Neither early family history nor mother's working status surfaced as significant factors. Those findings highlight a definite gender pattern, with a strong association between early disadvantage and obesity in women, but not in men. Potential mechanisms are discussed, particularly the “habitus”, the “thrifty phenotype” and the “feast–famine” hypotheses, and possible interactions with childbearing and motherhood. An integration of social and biological perspectives is needed to reach a better understanding of the processes involved, and to achieve progress in primary and secondary prevention.