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The worldwide emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria are severely limiting therapeutic options and thus constitute a major public health threat. The timely accurate detection of carbapenemase producers and the determination of carbapenemase class according to the Ambler classification can guide antimicrobial therapy and facilitate infection control measures. A modified version of the carbapenemase inactivation method (CIM), mCIM, was described and approved by the CLSI in 2017. We evaluated the performance of a faster new mCIM-based assay, mCIMplus, which can detect carbapenemase activity within 8 h and characterize the carbapenemase according to the Ambler classification in 20 h. A panel of 137 isolates producing carbapenemases (GES, IMP, KPC, NDM, OXA-48, OXA-48-like, and VIM enzymes) and 22 non-carbapenemase-producing isolates was used to evaluate the performance of mCIMplus. We evaluated the detection of carbapenemase activity at 8 and 20 h. Carbapenemase class was determined, with specific inhibitors, at 20 h. The sensitivities of mCIMplus were 99.3% at 8 h and 98.5% at 20 h. Its specificity was 100% regardless of culture time. Based on a decision algorithm, this test successfully identified the carbapenemase class for 98.4% of the tested isolates (127/129). Characterization was correct for 100, 95, and 100% of Ambler class A, B, and D isolates, respectively. This test can, therefore, be used to detect carbapenemase activity within 8 h and to determine carbapenemase class within 20 h. It constitutes a very affordable (

L’utilisation de la therapie par pression negative est recommandee en geriatrie comme en soins palliatifs. Il existe un certain nombre de restrictions a son utilisation en pratique, mais l’acces a ces technologies est possible a l’hopital, en service de geriatrie, comme en ambulatoire, aussi bien dans les etablissements d’hebergement pour personnes âgees dependantes qu’au lit du patient, grâce a l’hospitalisation a domicile. Les TPN ambulatoires et les nouvelles TPN avec instillation et mousse a trous sont indiquees pour accelerer la fermeture des plaies y compris chez les personnes âgees. Les TPN standard, TPN portables non motorisees et pansements TPN restent dans certains cas accessibles aussi aux patients en fin de vie de facon palliative.

Radiometer® has developed a point-of-care test for fast PCT measurement on whole blood in micromethod on a AQT90 FLEX® instrument. We have verified the analytical performances of the AQT90 FLEX® PCT assay in heparinized macrotube and EDTA microtube for pediatric use, according to modified French Society of Clinical Biology (SFBC) protocol to the requirements of the standard NF EN ISO 15189: 2012. The samples (n=61, 30 macrotubes, 31 microtubes) were analyzed by the Brahms Kryptor Compact Plus® reference method vs the AQT90 FLEX®. In a second step, we studied the stability of the PCT at room temperature for 24 h. A good correlation between the two methods on macro- or microtubes is observed (respectively r=0.990 and 0.993). The Bland-Altmann representations confirm the excellent correlation with a deviant, above the acceptable limit, which was calculated according to ISO 5725-6, for each type of tube and for the two concentration ranges (lower and greater than 1 ng/mL). The biases observed do not affect the clinical decision. No degradation of PCT after 24 h was demonstrated by the Mann and Whitney test on macro- and microtubes (p=0.50 and 0.34, respectively). The determination of PCT on AQT90 FLEX® has satisfactory analytical characteristics and can be used as point-of-care testing device on whole blood without pre-analytical treatment. In heparinized macrotube and EDTA microtube, the PCT is stable at room temperature up to 24 h.

Lignosulfonates (LS) are water-soluble polyphenolic macromolecules derived from lignins and common industrial additives in plasticizers and dispersants. A key feature for a more efficient utilization of modified LS is the monitoring of their free phenol (OHphen) content during various reactions as these phenols govern a large part of their chemical reactivity. Against this background, the UV difference spectroscopy (Δεi method) and ClO2 titration have been revisited. Synthetic LS model compounds with a SO3H group on their benzylic position and H, G, and S aromatic rings were synthesized and used to assess the suitability of both the ClO2 titration and the Δεi method on LS. The methodology combining the two analytical methods was then used to determine the molar extinction coefficient of a given LS allowing the calibration of the Δεi method for a convenient and rapid monitoring of OHphen in the course of LS reactions involving the OHphen groups.

International audience; High two-photon photolysis cross sections and water solubility of probes are important to avoid toxicity in biomedical applications of photolysis. Systematic variation of the position of a carboxyl electron-withdrawing group (EWG) on photolysis of 8-dimethylaminoquinoline protecting groups identified the C5-substituted isomer as a privileged dipole. The 5-benzoyl-8-DMAQ substitution yields a caging group with an enhanced two-photon uncaging cross section (δu = 2.0 GM) and good water solubility (c ≤ 50 mM, pH 7.4).

Pneumatic tube delivery system (PTS) enables to reduce considerably turnaround times. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the PTS on the quality of routine biochemical and hematological tests in our laboratory. Blood samples from 6 hospitalized patients and 8 healthy volunteers were analyzed. Blood samples were delivered to the laboratory by a PTS and by a human courier. We performed the following analysis: ionized calcium, sodium, potassium, lactate deshydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), arterial blood gas, complete blood count and coagulation test as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, factors V and VIII. Results were compared between the both method of transport according to the recommendation of the Societe francaise de biologie clinique and the French committee for accreditation (SH-GTA01, norme NF ISO 5275-6). The hemolysis index of plasma was similar between the groups and no morphological differences were found on blood cells. For three samples, when delivered by PTS, LDH levels (two samples) and neutrophil polynuclear count (one sample) were above the recommended guidelines compared to those delivered by courier. Conversely, LDH levels and FVIII were below in two samples delivered by PTS. LDH levels, PNN count or factor VIII can be affected by PTS without the clinical interpretation being modified. We concluded that the PTS can be used to transport blood samples for routine biochemical and hematological analysis in our hospital.

For the reliable urinary measurement of calcium, phosphate and uric acid, a pre-analytical process by adding acid or base to urine samples at laboratory is recommended in order to dissolve precipitated solutes. Several studies on different kind of samples and analysers have previously shown that a such pre-analytical treatment is useless. The objective was to study the necessity of pre-analytical treatment of urine on samples collected using the V-Monovette® (Sarstedt) system and measured on the analyser Architect C16000 (Abbott Diagnostics). Sixty urinary samples of hospitalized patients were selected (n=30 for calcium and phosphate, and n=30 for uric acid). After acidification of urine samples for measurement of calcium and phosphate, and alkalinisation for measurement of uric acid respectively, differences between results before and after the pre-analytical treatment were compared to acceptable limits recommended by the French society of clinical biology (SFBC). No difference in concentration between before and after pre-analytical treatment of urine samples exceeded acceptable limits from SFBC for measurement of calcium and uric acid. For phosphate, only one sample exceeded these acceptable limits, showing a result paradoxically lower after acidification. In conclusion, in agreement with previous study, our results show that acidification or alkalinisation of urine samples from 24 h urines or from urination is not a pre-analytical necessity for measurement of calcium, phosphate and uric acid.

During the last decade, the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has changed the natural history of chronic myeloid leukemia and prolonged survival.[1] Imatinib mesylate (IM) has been the first ...

The recently described electrochemical procedure for the preparation of phthalocyanines has been successfully applied for the synthesis of octasubstituted phthalocyanines (dihydrogen PcH 2 and radical lithium PcLi o forms). Yields of isolated materials are in the 50-70% range, i.e. better than those generally obtained using conventionnal chemical procedures. Results agree with the electrochemical properties of the starting disubstituted phthalonitriles and the previously suggested mechanism of the electrosynthesis