Coupling of photocatalysis and catalysis using an optical fiber textile for room temperature depollution

Herein, we investigate the interplay between a photocatalyst (TiO₂) and a catalyst (Pt/TiO₂ and Pt/CeO₂) for the oxidation of formaldehyde and toluene at room temperature. A luminous textile is used as support and as light source for the photocatalyst. Our results indicate that the presence of the catalyst and the photocatalyst increases the catalytic performance for the oxidation of formaldehyde, while the photocatalytic performance for toluene oxidation decreases. The overall performance (toluene and formaldehyde degradation) of the system can be optimized with respect to the choice of support for the catalyst (e.g. TiO₂ or CeO₂), the quantity of Pt used, and the ratio between the catalyst and photocatalyst. In addition, different configurations of the photocatalyst and the catalyst on the textile are studied: under leaching and flow-through gas streams, catalyst and photocatalyst deposition on the same and opposite site of the textile are tested. The performance of the system can be optimized by adapting a configuration where the gas stream goes through the textile, while the deposition side of the catalyst and/or photocatalyst with respect to the gas stream is of minor importance.

HCV cure: an appropriate moment to reduce cannabis use in people living with HIV? (ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH data)

BACKGROUND

Thanks to direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be cured, with similar rates in HCV-infected and HIV-HCV co-infected patients. HCV cure is likely to foster behavioral changes in psychoactive substance use, which is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH). Cannabis is one substance that is very commonly used by PLWH, sometimes for therapeutic purposes. We aimed to identify correlates of cannabis use reduction following HCV cure in HIV-HCV co-infected cannabis users and to characterize persons who reduced their use.

METHODS

We used data collected on HCV-cured cannabis users in a cross-sectional survey nested in the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort of HIV-HCV co-infected patients, to perform logistic regression, with post-HCV cure cannabis reduction as the outcome, and socio-behavioral characteristics as potential correlates. We also characterized the study sample by comparing post-cure substance use behaviors between those who reduced their cannabis use and those who did not.

RESULTS

Among 140 HIV-infected cannabis users, 50 and 5 had reduced and increased their use, respectively, while 85 had not changed their use since HCV cure. Cannabis use reduction was significantly associated with tobacco use reduction, a decrease in fatigue level, paying more attention to one's dietary habits since HCV cure, and pre-HCV cure alcohol abstinence (p = 0.063 for alcohol use reduction).

CONCLUSIONS

Among PLWH using cannabis, post-HCV cure cannabis reduction was associated with tobacco use reduction, improved well-being, and adoption of healthy behaviors. The management of addictive behaviors should therefore be encouraged during HCV treatment.

Microelimination or Not? The Changing Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection in France 2012–2018

Background

The arrival of highly effective, well-tolerated, direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) led to a dramatic decrease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV–coinfected patients are deemed a priority population for HCV elimination, while a rise in recently acquired HCV infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) has been described. We describe the variations in HIV-HCV epidemiology in the French Dat’AIDS cohort.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of persons living with HIV (PLWH) from 2012 to 2018. We determined HCV prevalence, HCV incidence, proportion of viremic patients, treatment uptake, and mortality rate in the full cohort and by HIV risk factors.

Results

From 2012 to 2018, 50 861 PLWH with a known HCV status were followed up. During the period, HCV prevalence decreased from 15.4% to 13.5%. HCV prevalence among new HIV cases increased from 1.9% to 3.5% in MSM but remained stable in other groups. Recently acquired HCV incidence increased from 0.36/100 person-years to 1.25/100 person-years in MSM. The proportion of viremic patients decreased from 67.0% to 8.9%. MSM became the first group of viremic patients in 2018 (37.9%). Recently acquired hepatitis represented 59.2% of viremic MSM in 2018. DAA treatment uptake increased from 11.4% to 61.5%. More treatments were initiated in MSM in 2018 (41.2%) than in intravenous drug users (35.6%). In MSM, treatment at the acute phase represented 30.0% of treatments in 2018.

Conclusions

A major shift in HCV epidemiology was observed in PLWH in France from 2012 to 2018, leading to a unique situation in which the major group of HCV transmission in 2018 was MSM.

Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02898987.

Direct-acting antiviral treatment against hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-Infected patients - "En route for eradication"?

OBJECTIVES

Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) opened a new era in HCV treatment. We report the impact of HCV treatment in French HIV-HCV coinfected patients.

METHODS

All HIV-HCV patients from the Dat'AIDS cohort followed between 2012 and 2015 were included. HCV status was defined yearly as naive, spontaneous cure, sustained virological response (SVR12), failure or reinfection.

RESULTS

Among 32,945 HIV-infected patients, 15.2% were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. From 2012 to 2015, HCV incidence rate increased from 0.35%PY to 0.69%PY in MSM, while median incidence was 0.08%PY in other patients. Median reinfection rate was 2.56%PY in MSM and 0.22%PY in other patients. HCV treatment initiation rate rose from 8.2% in 2012 to 29.6% (48.0% in pre-treated patients vs 22.6% in naïve patients). SVR12 rate increased from 68.7% to 95.2%. By the end of 2015, 62.7% of the patients were cured either spontaneously or following SVR.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV treatment dramatically increased in HIV-HCV patients in France from 2012 to 2015 resulting in HCV cure in nearly two-thirds of the patients in this cohort. Combined with a declining HCV prevalence, the prevalence of active HCV infection among HIV patients will drastically decrease in the forthcoming years.

Evolution of glomerular filtration rate in HIV-infected, HIV-HBV-coinfected and HBV-infected patients receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

We aimed to compare the evolution of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in HIV-, HIV-HBV- and HBV-infected patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Three groups of patients receiving TDF > 12 months were recruited: 194 HIV-infected patients, 85 HIV-HBV-coinfected patients and 50 HBV-infected patients. eGFR was estimated using the Modification of the Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Multivariate regression models were constructed to estimate factors associated with eGFR decrease from baseline. A total of 329 patients were studied. Median follow-up was 2.7 years. Median eGFR decrease was -4.9 (-16.6 to +7.2) mL/min/1.73 m(2) . After multivariate stepwise regression analysis, age (P = 0.0002), non-African origin (P < 0.0001), baseline eGFR (P < 0.0001) and TDF duration (P = 0.02) were associated with eGFR decrease in the whole population, while hypertension, diabetes and type of infection were not. Age (P < 0.0001), non-African origin (P = 0.0004), baseline eGFR (P < 0.0001) and TDF duration (P = 0.007) remained associated with eGFR decline in HIV and HIV-HBV-infected patients, while other variables including HIV risk factor, CDC stage, CD4 and HIV-RNA levels were not. Age (P = 0.03), non-African origin (P = 0.004), baseline eGFR (P < 0.0001) and baseline HBV-DNA > 2000 IU/mL (P = 0.04) were associated with eGFR decline in HBV and HIV-HBV-infected patients, while other variables including HBV risk factor and fibrosis stage were not. Estimated glomerular filtration rate decline under TDF therapy appears mainly associated with older age, non-African origin, higher baseline eGFR and longer TDF administration but not with the type of viral infection. Regular follow-up of renal function, especially tubular function is recommended during TDF therapy.

Factors associated with pandemic influenza A/H1N1 vaccine coverage in a French cohort of HIV-infected patients

BACKGROUND

A mass influenza A/H1N1 vaccination campaign took place in France during the 2009 winter. Overall, 7.9% of the general population was vaccinated. However, vaccine coverage data are missing for at-risk groups.

METHODS

A vaccination centre was implemented for HIV-infected patients followed-up in a French University Hospital. Demographical, clinical and biological characteristics were collected. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated to identify factors associated with being vaccinated against A/H1N1 influenza.

RESULTS

A/H1N1 vaccine coverage was 44.4% (635/1430) in HIV-infected patients. In univariate analysis, uptake of vaccination was significantly associated with male gender, men who have sex with men, age ≥ 50 years, ≥ 1 seasonal influenza risk factor, longer HIV disease, longer duration of antiretroviral therapy, greater number of lines of antiretroviral treatments, lower nadir CD4, recent HIV-RNA<50 copies/ml, previous pneumococcal vaccination, > 2 visits to the unit during the study period and follow-up by a physician who assessed ≥ 100 patients/year (senior physician). CDC stage, recent CD4 count, diabetes, BMI>30 and pregnancy were not associated with vaccination. After multivariate analysis, vaccination remained significantly associated with age ≥ 50 years (aOR 1.56, CI 1.16-2.09), time since HIV diagnosis (aOR per 1 year 1.02, CI 1.00-1.04), previous pneumococcal vaccination (aOR 2.56, CI 1.96-3.34), >2 visits to the unit (aOR 5.09, CI 3.87-6.68) and follow-up by a senior physician (aOR 1.73, CI 1.20-2.48).

CONCLUSION

A/H1N1 vaccination was more successful in HIV-infected patients than in the French general population. Organization of the vaccination in a convenient location and implication of the physicians seem to be determining factors for A/H1N1 acceptability in this population.

Capucin: a novel striatal marker down-regulated in rodent models of Huntington disease

In an initial study, we compared quantitative transcriptome data across mouse brain territories using the serial analysis of gene expression method. Among the novel regional markers that we discovered, we focused on a striatum-enriched transcript with no available experimental cDNA sequence. Here, we report its cloning, gene structure, and detailed distribution in mouse brain. Quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization demonstrated predominant expression in dorsolateral striatum. We therefore named it capucin for caudate-and putamen-enriched sequence. Mouse capucin is a 237-amino-acid protein, without any registered ortholog in mammalian species. It contains no recognizable motif other than two predicted carboxy-terminal transmembrane domains. When expressed in fusion with a fluorescent protein, it localized to the Golgi apparatus in two mammalian cell lines. Interestingly, we observed a significant down-regulation of capucin mRNA levels in two rodent models of Huntington disease, indicating a possible contribution to the pathogenesis of this disorder.

On the conceptual difficulties in rooting the tree of life

Rooting the 'tree of life' represents a major challenge for evolutionists. Without such a root, many of the first steps in biological evolution cannot be reconstructed. However, the nature of the last common ancestor of all living beings remains elusive, proof of the difficulty in shedding light on such an ancient event. Here, we highlight the practical difficulties and conceptual reasons that hinder the placement of a universal root. We discuss how, when addressing the question of the root of the tree of life, scientists unconsciously risk using the reasoning pattern of ancient skeptics, unfortunately known only to lead to further uncertainty. Hence, we argue that the root of the tree of life will not be established unless radically new approaches are considered. We propose a hypothetical means to overcome several of the conceptual difficulties pointed out, and suggest that a so-called 'transition analysis' of the structural evolution of the cytoplasmic membrane might be helpful, especially if evolutionary steps involving the rooting issue are polarized accounting more for physicochemical knowledge rather than hypothetical and controversial selective advantages.

Quality of life assessment in psychiatry: the Subjective Quality of Life Profile (SQLP)--first results of a new instrument

This article describes early results of a new instrument for measuring quality of life--the French Subjective Quality of Life Profile (SQLP) questionnaire. This 36-item, self-administered questionnaire has been previously validated in a large sample population with somatic disorders. It is characterized by its multidimensional pattern and subjective approach (i.e., the degree of satisfaction with various domains of life, the degree of change anticipated and the importance attributed to these domains). The SQLP was tested with three psychiatric patient samples: people with depression, psychosis or substance abuse. Preliminary findings indicate that the questionnaire is useful in describing psychiatric patients, their characteristics, and explaining some of their changes.

[Pseudo-myasthenic syndromes. Clinical and electromyographic review of 4 cases, one with an unusual reaction to lidocaine (author's transl)]

The authors report 4 cases of pseudo-myasthenic syndrome followed with EMG for a period varying from a few months to 4 years. They go over the electrophysiological points which led to the diagnosis: small amplitude of the muscle potential evoked by simple shock and, in particular, the phenomenon of potentiation which may reach 2000 p. 100 during repetitive stimulation at high frequencies. Study of the behaviour of the muscle potential during ischaemia, which was carried out twice, showed an absence of fatigue of the potential which may be considered a sign of disturbance at the muscle level of the motor-end plate. On the other hand, EMG signs of peripheral neuropathy, which were found 3 times, rather suggests a motor neuropathy responsible for the presynaptic block. In 3 patients guanidine had a beneficial effect and no signs of paraneoplastic aetiology had occurred yet. The fourth case, with a bronchial neoplasm discovered at autopsy, was clearly improved by injectable lidocaine, for which no explanation can be supplied.