Background The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess risk factors for bleeding in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) adults, including the determination of platelet count thresholds. Methods We selected all newly diagnosed ITP adults included in the Cytopénies Auto-immunes Registre Midi-PyrénéEN (CARMEN) register and at the French referral center for autoimmune cytopenias. The frequencies of any bleeding, mucosal bleeding and severe bleeding (gastrointestinal, intracranial, or macroscopic hematuria) at ITP onset were assessed. Platelet count thresholds were assessed by the use of receiver operating characteristic curves. All potential risk factors were included in logistic regression models. Results Among the 302 patients, the frequencies of any, mucosal and severe bleeding were 57.9%, 30.1%, and 6.6%, respectively. The best discriminant threshold of platelet count for any bleeding was 20 × 10 L . In multivariate analysis, factors associated with any bleeding were platelet count (< 10 × 10 L versus ≥ 20 × 10 L , odds ratio [OR] 48.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 20.0-116.3; between 10 × 10 L and 19 × 10 L versus ≥ 20 × 10 L , OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.3-11.6), female sex (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.0), and exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.1-20.7). A low platelet count was also the main risk factor for mucosal bleeding. Exposure to anticoagulant drugs was associated with severe bleeding (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.3-14.1). Conclusions Platelet counts of < 20 × 10 L and < 10 × 10 L were thresholds for major increased risks of any and mucosal bleeding. Platelet count, female sex and exposure to NSAIDs should be considered for assessment of the risk of any bleeding. Exposure to anticoagulant drugs was a major risk factor for severe bleeding.

The sequential interaction between the two components S and F of leukocidin from Staphylococcus aureus and the membrane of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils has been investigated in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+. With 125I-labeled components, it has been shown that binding of the F component occurred only after binding of the S component. The kinetic constants of binding of both components were not statistically different (Kd, approximately 5 nM; Bm, approximately 35,000 molecules per cell), and both Hill coefficients were 1. The application of increasing concentrations of leukocidin provoked a dose-dependent secretion of the granule content, as determined by hexosaminidase and lysozyme activity measurements. Furthermore, the separate perfusion of S and F components on human polymorphonuclear neutrophils deposited on a filter induced secretion of the granules content only when the perfusion of the S component preceded that of the F component. We conclude, therefore, that (i) S-component binding is a prerequisite for F-component binding and for subsequent activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and (ii) there is a specific binding site for the S component in the plasma membrane.

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We report the case of a 56-year-old HIV-seropositive man who presented a facial Demodex infection developed 2 months after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The Demodex infection was confirmed by scrapings and histopathologic examination and by the dramatic response to antiparasitic treatment with oral ivermectin associated with 5% permethrin cream.

This article focuses on the computation time and precision of a linear 2D magnetic gear analytical model. Two main models of magnetic gears are studied: the first with an infinite relative permeability of yokes, and the second with a finite relative permeability of yokes. These models are based on the subdomain resolution of Laplace and Poisson equations. To accurately compute the magnetic field distribution, it is necessary to take into account certain harmonics of the various rings and other system harmonics due to modulation. Global system harmonics, which increase the value of computation time, must also be taken into account. If the magnetic gear has a high pole number, then computation time increases even more and no longer allows for system optimization. This article proposes to compute magnetic field distribution using different harmonic selection methods in order to significantly reduce the computation time for the magnetic torque without any loss of accuracy.

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We report the case of a patient hospitalized with endocarditis. The etiological diagnosis of Bartonella was suggested by detection of high titers of antibodies by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Two different nested PCRs performed on sera identified Bartonella vinsonii subsp. arupensis by sequencing

We report 4 cases of community-acquired infections due to Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentin leukocidin (SA-PVL) with uncommon multivisceral localizations. These cases highlight the need to screen for PVL in patients with serious staphylococcal infections. All patients were cured. Two of them received intravenous immunoglobulins in addition to antibiotics.