Search

BackgroundHealth care workers (HCW) are more likely to be exposed to Ebola virus (EBOV) during an outbreak compared to people in the general population due to close physical contact with patients and potential exposure to infectious fluids. However, not all will fall ill. Despite evidence of subclinical and paucisymptomatic Ebola virus disease (EVD), prevalence and associated risk factors remain unknown.MethodsWe conducted a serosurvey among HCW in Boende, Tshuapa Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Human anti-EBOV glycoprotein IgG titers were measured using a commercially available ELISA kit. We assessed associations between anti-EBOV IgG seroreactivity, defined as ≥2.5 units/mL, and risk factors using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Sensitivity analyses explored a more conservative cutoff, >5 units/mL.ResultsOverall, 22.5% of HCWs were seroreactive for EBOV. In multivariable analyses, using any form of personal protective equipment when interacting with a confirmed, probable, or suspect EVD case was negatively associated with seroreactivity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, .07-.73).DiscussionOur results suggest high exposure to EBOV among HCWs and provide additional evidence for asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic EVD. Further studies should be conducted to determine the probability of onward transmission and if seroreactivity is associated with immunity.

MONIQUE S'EVADE EDOUARD LOUIS 180pp. Seuil. 18 [euro]. As well as his autobiographical works--The End of Eddy (TLS, April 7, 2017), A History of Violence (TLS, June 22, 2018) and [...]

BRULER L'EMPREINTE MARINA DE VAN 306pp. Abstractions. 19.99 [euro]. Marina de Van is best known for Dans ma peau (In My Skin, 2002) a film she wrote and directed, and [...]

BANDE DESSINEE, 1964-2024 Centre Pompidou, Paris, until November 4 BANDE DESSINEE, 1964-2024 THIERRY GROENSTEEN, LUCAS HUREAU, ANNE LEMONNIER AND EMMANUELE PAYEN, EDITORS 296pp. Editions du Centre Pompidou. 45 [euro]. Outsiders [...]

ALIX CLEO ROUBAUD A portrait in fragments HELENE GIANNECCHINI Translated by Thea Petrou 190pp. Sylph Editions. 14 [pounds sterling]. Alix Cleo Roubaud (1952-83) is probably best remembered for her marriage [...]

Here we describe baseline validation studies and field performance of a research-use-only chemiluminescent multiplex serology panel for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster virus used with dried blood spots in support of the 2013-2014 Democratic Republic of the Congo Demographic and Health Survey. Characterization of the panel using U.S. FDA-cleared commercial kits shows good concordance for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster with average sensitivity across assays of 94.9% and an average specificity of 91.4%. As expected, performance versus available standards validated for plaque-reduction assays does not provide a 1:1 correspondence with international units and yet demonstrates excellent linearity (average Hill's slope = 1.02) and ∼4 logs of dynamic range. In addition, for the four assays, the multiplexed format allowed for inclusion of three positive and two negative controls for each sample. A prototype Dynex Multiplier chemiluminescent automated immunoassay instrument with a charge-coupled device camera provided a rugged and robust processing and data acquisition platform. Performance of a multiplex instrument for serological testing in a substantially resource-limited environment shows excellent reproducibility, minimal cross-reactivity, and a clear discrimination between specific assays and should be considered a viable option for future serosurveys.IMPORTANCE The critical evaluation of immunization programs is key to identifying areas of suboptimal vaccination coverage, monitoring activities, and aiding development of public health policy. For evaluation of vaccine effectiveness, direct antibody binding assay methods, including enzyme immunoassay, enzyme-linked fluorescence assays, and indirect immunofluorescence assay, are most commonly used for detection of IgG antibodies. However, despite their well-demonstrated, reliable performance, they can be labor-intensive and time-consuming and require separate assays for each individual marker. This necessitates increased sample volumes, processing time, and personnel, which may limit assessment to a few key targets in resource-limited settings, that is, low- and middle-income locations where funding for public health or general infrastructure that directly impacts public health is restricted, limiting access to equipment, infrastructure, and trained personnel. One solution is a multiplexed immunoassay, which allows for the detection of multiple analytes in a single reaction for increased efficiency and rapid surveillance of infectious diseases in limited-resource settings. Thus, the scope of the project precluded a full validation, and here we present abbreviated validation studies demonstrating adequate sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility.

Healthcare settings have played a major role in propagation of Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreaks. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have elevated risk of contact with EBOV-infected patients, particularly if safety precautions are not rigorously practiced. We conducted a serosurvey to determine seroprevalence against multiple EBOV antigens among HCWs of Boende Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the site of a 2014 EBOV outbreak. Interviews and specimens were collected from 565 consenting HCWs. Overall, 234 (41.4%) of enrolled HCWs were reactive to at least 1 EBOV protein: 159 (28.1%) were seroreactive for anti-glycoprotein immunoglobulin G (IgG), 89 (15.8%) were seroreactive for anti-nucleoprotein IgG, and 54 (9.5%) were VP40 positive. Additionally, sera from 16 (2.8%) HCWs demonstrated neutralization capacity. These data demonstrate that a significant proportion of HCWs have the ability to neutralize virus, despite never having developed Ebola virus disease symptoms, highlighting an important and poorly documented aspect of EBOV infection and progression.

EXTERIEURS Annie Ernaux et la photographie Maison europeenne de la photographie (MEP), Paris, until May 26 EXTERIEURS Annie Ernaux et la photographie LOU STOPPARD 144pp. MEP/MACK. 30 [pounds sterling] (35 [...]

BRUTALIST PARIS NIGEL GREEN AND ROBIN WILSON 192pp. Blue Crow Media. 24 [pounds sterling]. Paris is often celebrated for its nineteenth-century Haussmannian architecture; its broad, airy boulevards, its decorative apartment [...]

IN THE JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE Keeping time with the Brian Jonestown Massacre JOEL GION 368pp. White Rabbit. 22 [pounds sterling]. Joel Gion is an unusual figure in the history of [...]

LITTERATURE ET REVOLUTION JOSEPH ANDRAS AND KAOUTAR HARCHI 236pp. Editions Divergences. 16 [euro]. Joseph Andras and Kaoutar Harchi are two of the most visible, prolific and politically engaged writers on [...]

METROPOLITAIN An ode to the Paris Metro ANDREW MARTIN 256pp. Corsair. 16.99 [pounds sterling]. The Paris Metro is the world's fifth-oldest underground transport network. London (whose Metropolitan Railway inspired its [...]

THE POLITICS AND POETICS OF EVERYDAY LIFE KRISTIN ROSS 320pp. Verso. Paperback, 19.99 [pounds sterling]. Kristin Ross is one of the most clear-sighted, creative and inspiring scholars of contemporary France. [...]

Functional expression of voltage-gated Na(+) channels (VGSCs) has been demonstrated in multiple cancer cell types where channel activity induces invasive activity. The signaling mechanisms by which VGSCs promote oncogenesis remain poorly understood. We explored the signal transduction process critical to VGSC-mediated invasion on the basis of reports linking channel activity to gene expression changes in excitable cells. Coincidentally, many genes transcriptionally regulated by the SCN5A isoform in colon cancer have an over-representation of cis-acting sites for transcription factors phosphorylated by ERK1/2 MAPK. We hypothesized that VGSC activity promotes MAPK activation to induce transcriptional changes in invasion-related genes. Using pharmacological inhibitors/activators and siRNA-mediated gene knockdowns, we correlated channel activity with Rap1-dependent persistent MAPK activation in the SW620 human colon cancer cell line. We further demonstrated that VGSC activity induces downstream changes in invasion-related gene expression via a PKA/ERK/c-JUN/ELK-1/ETS-1 transcriptional pathway. This is the first study illustrating a molecular mechanism linking functional activity of VGSCs to transcriptional activation of invasion-related genes.

PERSPECTIVE(S) LAURENT BINET 293pp. Grasset. 21.50 [euro]. Florence, January i, 1557. The painter Jacopo da Pontormo is found dead. Murder is suspected: he has been struck with a blunt instrument [...]

MAISON GAINSBOURG 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, Paris Serge Gainsbourg died at his home on Rue de Verneuil on March 2, 1991. When he was alive, what went on in [...]

MONDES INVISIBLES SYLVAIN LEDDA, EDITOR 280pp. Editions de L'Herne. 33 [euro]. France is often imagined, at least by the French, as a crucible for rational thinking: one thinks of Rousseau, [...]

ObjectivesThis study analyzes our experience using stents to salvage dysfunctional hemodialysis access sites at a single institution.MethodsWe examined the outcomes of 42 consecutive patients who had covered (36 patients) or bare-metal (9 patients) stent intervention for hemodialysis access salvage.ResultsOf our 42 male patients, 11 had stent salvage of an arteriovenous fistula, which yielded postintervention primary and secondary 6-month patencies of 27% and 55%, respectively. For 31 patients with arteriovenous grafts, the postintervention primary and secondary 6-month patencies were 26% and 29%, respectively. Patency rates were superior for stents placed in patent access sites, in fistulas compared to grafts, and when stents were placed in forearm sites although only the latter achieved statistical significance.ConclusionsStents can extend patency for the thrombosed or failing arteriovenous access, but results are poor once thrombosis has occurred. Stent placement appears to be more effective in fistulas compared to grafts.