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Radiation overexposure accidents are rare but can have severe long-term health consequences. Although underreporting can be an issue, some extensive literature reviews of reported radiation overexposures have been performed and constitute a sound basis for conclusions on general trends. Building further on this work, we performed a systematic review that completes previous reviews and provides new information on characteristics and trends of reported radiation accidents. We searched publications and reports from MEDLINE, EMBASE, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Radiation Protection Association, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site radiation accident registry over 1980-2013. We retrieved the reported overexposure cases, systematically extracted selected information, and performed a descriptive analysis. 297 out of 5189 publications and reports and 194 records from the REAC/TS registry met our eligibility criteria. From these, 634 reported radiation accidents were retrieved, involving 2390 overexposed people, of whom 190 died from their overexposure. The number of reported cases has decreased for all types of radiation use, but the medical one. 64% of retrieved overexposure cases occurred with the use of radiation therapy and fluoroscopy. Additionally, the types of reported accidents differed significantly across regions. This review provides an updated and broader view of reported radiation overexposures. It suggests an overall decline in reported radiation overexposures over 1980-2013. The greatest share of reported overexposures occurred in the medical fields using radiation therapy and fluoroscopy; this larger number of reported overexposures accidents indicates the potential need for enhanced quality assurance programs. Our data also highlights variations in characteristics of reported accidents by region. The main limitation of this study is the likely underreporting of radiation overexposures. Ensuring a comprehensive monitoring and reporting of radiation overexposures is paramount to inform and tailor prevention interventions to local needs.

This study developed a human plasma‐based epidermal substitute (hPBES) as an alternative to traditional cultured epithelial autografts for epidermal coverage in cases of massive burn, and critical quality controls were put in place for preclinical and clinical studies. This work highlights the importance of integrating relevant multiparameter quality controls into the bioengineering of new skin substitutes before they reach clinical development. Cultured epithelial autografts (CEAs) produced from a small, healthy skin biopsy represent a lifesaving surgical technique in cases of full‐thickness skin burn covering >50% of total body surface area. CEAs also present numerous drawbacks, among them the use of animal proteins and cells, the high fragility of keratinocyte sheets, and the immaturity of the dermal‐epidermal junction, leading to heavy cosmetic and functional sequelae. To overcome these weaknesses, we developed a human plasma‐based epidermal substitute (hPBES) for epidermal coverage in cases of massive burn, as an alternative to traditional CEA, and set up critical quality controls for preclinical and clinical studies. In this study, phenotypical analyses in conjunction with functional assays (clonal analysis, long‐term culture, or in vivo graft) showed that our new substitute fulfills the biological requirements for epidermal regeneration. hPBES keratinocytes showed high potential for cell proliferation and subsequent differentiation similar to healthy skin compared with a well‐known reference material, as ascertained by a combination of quality controls. This work highlights the importance of integrating relevant multiparameter quality controls into the bioengineering of new skin substitutes before they reach clinical development. Significance This work involves the development of a new bioengineered epidermal substitute with pertinent functional quality controls. The novelty of this work is based on this quality approach.

Introduction and hypothesis Cell therapy for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) management has been experienced with encouraging results. Methods We conducted an open prospective study on 12 women presenting severe SUI with fixed urethra, after previous failed surgical management. Patients underwent intrasphincteric injections of autologous progenitor muscular cells isolated from a biopsy of deltoid muscle. Primary endpoint focused on safety (measurement of Q max variation after 3 months). Secondary endpoints assessed side effects and efficacy. Results No variation was diagnosed on Q max measurements. Efficacy data show that three of 12 patients are dry at 12 months, seven other patients are improved on pad test but not on voiding diary, and two patients were slightly worsened by the procedure. Quality of life was improved in half of patients. Conclusions Cell therapy for severe multioperated cases of SUI is a mini-invasive, feasible, and safe procedure that can improve urinary condition in as a second line therapy.

IL-15 is a novel cytokine active through the IL-2R/betagamma. Since several human melanoma cell lines display functional IL-2Rs, we studied the IL-15/melanoma cells interactions. Ten out of 17 melanoma cell lines express the IL-15 transcript and four of them express levels of IL-15 mRNA similar to those detected in control activated monocytes. Nine out of ten cell lines also express two transcripts for the IL-15R alpha originated by the alternative splicing of exon'3'. Two melanoma cell lines, MELP and MELREO, derived from patients with rapidly progressive primary melanomas, co-express the two IL-15 transcripts, originated by alternative splicing of exon 'A'. Intracellular IL-15 protein was only detected in these two cells lines and it is mainly retained in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). However, a small amount of IL-15 is also found in the Golgi apparatus and in the early endosomes, suggesting production and intercellular trafficking of endogenous IL-15 protein. Nevertheless, no biologically active IL-15 could be detected in the supernatant of all melanoma cells. The anti IL-15 blocking mAb M111 causes the up regulation of HLA Class I in dense MELP and MELREO cultures. These data suggest that IL-15 is probably active through juxtacrine loops negatively controlling HLA Class I molecules expression. These data offer, for the first time, a likely explanation to the controversial issue of IL-15 secretion and constitute a natural model for understanding IL-15 routing. Moreover, we identify a subset of melanoma cells producing IL-15, possibly involved in tumor escape mechanisms.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a severe autoimmune systemic disease. Chronic synovial inflammation results in destruction of the joints. No conventional treatment is efficient in RA. Gene therapy of RA targets mainly the players of inflammation or articular destruction: TNF‐α or IL‐1 blocking agents (such as anti‐TNF‐α monoclonal antibodies, soluble TNF‐α receptor, type II soluble receptor of IL‐1, IL‐1 receptor antagonist), antiinflammatory cytokines (such as IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐1), and growth factors. In this polyarticular disease, the vector expressing the therapeutic protein can be administered as a local (intra‐articular injection) or a systemic treatment (extra‐articular injection). All the main vectors have been used in experimental models, including the more recent lentivirus and adeno‐associated virus. Ex vivo gene transfer was performed with synovial cells, fibroblasts, T cells, dendritic cells, and different cells from xenogeneic origin. In vivo gene therapy is simpler, although a less controlled method. Clinical trials in human RA have started with ex vivo retrovirus‐expressing IL‐1 receptor antagonists and have demonstrated the feasibility of the strategy of gene therapy. The best target remains to be determined and extensive research has to be conducted in preclinical studies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To fight the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown has been decreed in many countries worldwide. The impact of pregnancy as a severity risk factor is still debated, but strict lockdown measures have been recommended for pregnant women. To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the seroprevalence and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in a maternity ward in an area that has been significantly affected by the virus. Prospective study at the Antoine Béclère Hospital maternity ward (Paris area, France) from May 4 (one week before the end of lockdown) to May 31, 2020 (three weeks after the end of lockdown). All patients admitted to the delivery room during this period were offered a SARS-CoV-2 serology test as well concomitant SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR on one nasopharyngeal sample. A total of 249 women were included. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 8%. The RT-PCR positive rate was 0.5%. 47.4% of the SARS-CoV-2-IgG-positive pregnant women never experienced any symptoms. A history of symptoms during the epidemic, such as fever (15.8%), myalgia (36.8%) and anosmia (31.6%), was suggestive of previous infection. Three weeks after the end of French lockdown, SARS-CoV-2 infections were scarce in our region. A very high proportion of SARS-CoV-2-IgG-negative pregnant women, which is comparable to that of the general population, must be taken into consideration in the event of a resurgence of the pandemic. The traces of a past active circulation of the virus in this fragile population during the spring wave should encourage public health authorities to take specific measures for this independent at-risk group, in order to reduce viral circulation in pregnant patients.

The responses of tropical forests to environmental change are critical uncertainties in predicting the future impacts of climate change. The positive phase of the 2015–2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation resulted in unprecedented heat and low precipitation in the tropics with substantial impacts on the global carbon cycle. The role of African tropical forests is uncertain as their responses to short-term drought and temperature anomalies have yet to be determined using on-the-ground measurements. African tropical forests may be particularly sensitive because they exist in relatively dry conditions compared with Amazonian or Asian forests, or they may be more resistant because of an abundance of drought-adapted species. Here, we report responses of structurally intact old-growth lowland tropical forests inventoried within the African Tropical Rainforest Observatory Network (AfriTRON). We use 100 long-term inventory plots from six countries each measured at least twice prior to and once following the 2015–2016 El Niño event. These plots experienced the highest temperatures and driest conditions on record. The record temperature did not significantly reduce carbon gains from tree growth or significantly increase carbon losses from tree mortality, but the record drought did significantly decrease net carbon uptake. Overall, the long-term biomass increase of these forests was reduced due to the El Niño event, but these plots remained a live biomass carbon sink (0.51 ± 0.40 Mg C ha−1 y−1) despite extreme environmental conditions. Our analyses, while limited to African tropical forests, suggest they may be more resistant to climatic extremes than Amazonian and Asian forests.

Large tropical trees and a few dominant species were recently identified as the main structuring elements of tropical forests. However, such result did not translate yet into quantitative approaches which are essential to understand, predict and monitor forest functions and composition over large, often poorly accessible territories. Here we show that the above-ground biomass (AGB) of the whole forest can be predicted from a few large trees and that the relationship is proved strikingly stable in 175 1-ha plots investigated across 8 sites spanning Central Africa. We designed a generic model predicting AGB with an error of 14% when based on only 5% of the stems, which points to universality in forest structural properties. For the first time in Africa, we identified some dominant species that disproportionally contribute to forest AGB with 1.5% of recorded species accounting for over 50% of the stock of AGB. Consequently, focusing on large trees and dominant species provides precise information on the whole forest stand. This offers new perspectives for understanding the functioning of tropical forests and opens new doors for the development of innovative monitoring strategies.

Background Infection-related glomerulonephritis with IgA deposits (IRGN-IgA) is a rare disease but it is increasingly reported in the literature. Data regarding epidemiology and outcome are lacking, especially in Europe. We aimed to assess the clinical, pathologic and outcome data of IRGN-IgA. Methods Clinical and outcome data from patients from 11 French centers over the 2007–2017 period were collected retrospectively. We reviewed pathologic patterns and immunofluorescence of renal biopsies and evaluated C4d expression in IRGN-IgA. We analyzed the correlation between histological presentation and outcome. Results Twenty-seven patients (23 men, mean age: 62 ± 15 years) were included. Twenty-one (78%) had Staphylococcus aureus infection and twelve (44%) were diabetic. At the time of biopsy, 95.2% had haematuria, 48.1% had a serum creatinine level of > 4 mg/dL, and 16% had hypocomplementemia. The most common pathologic presentation included mesangial (88.9%) and endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (88.9%) with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) (85.1%). Diffuse and global glomerular C4d expression was found in 17.8%, mostly in biopsies with acute or subacute patterns, and was associated with a short delay between infection and renal biopsy compared to segmental and focal staining. After median follow-up of 13.2 months, 23.1% died, 46.2% had persistent renal dysfunction and 15.4% reached end-stage renal disease. Renal outcome was correlated to IF/TA severity. Conclusions Infection-related glomerulonephritis with IgA deposits is usually associated with Staphylococcus infections and mainly affects adult men. This entity has a poor prognosis which is correlated to interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy severity.