Publications

Abstract

Purpose: Registered nurses must have a level of scientific literacy to be able to interpret research data and access Scientific’s knowledge. Several studies have been conducted to explore barriers and levers to the dissemination of nurse’s knowledge; however, the scientific literacy that nursing students acquire has not been studied.
Objective: The aim was to examine and compare the way that research is taught to undergraduate nursing students in France and other countries.
Design: Cross-sectional, Internet survey.
Settings: Universities providing undergraduate nursing programs around the world.
Participants: Nurses educators.
Methods: Schools of nursing and universities were contacted by mail, through social networks and with the help of national or international nursing organizations. Respondents provided demographic data on schools and faculties of nursing, the teaching of scientific databases, Reading Critical Analysis and the teaching of scientific English. Information on the transmission of articles and access to scientific knowledge by students through the institution were also requested.
Findings: A total of 245 nursing schools/universities participated. Most respondents were educational research referees (52.2%), worked in a public institution (85.7%) and were in the nursing program leading to a bachelor’s degree (74.3%). Databases were taught at 56.8%, Critical Reading of Articles at 70.1%, scientific English at 60.6% of nursing schools or universities. Articles were provided to students at 89.6% of institution and students had access to data through the institution in 66.1% of nursing schools or universities. Several significant differences were found between French schools of nursing and nursing schools/universities in other countries.
Conclusions: Our results show that most schools or universities of nursing teach the three majors’ components to promote, provide articles to students and give access to scientific knowledge. However, there is wide heterogeneity between countries. There is a need to standardize research education for nursing students worldwide to promote the development of scientific literacy skills.

SARS-COV-2 IgG antibody response in pregnant women at delivery – PubMed

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is not known. COVIPREG is a prospective French multicenter study to assess the seroprevalence at the time of delivery and the maternal and neonatal impact of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. In order to study factors associated with poor outcomes after COVID-19 Infection during pregnancy and adapt the sample size of the study, a preliminary assessment of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG was planned after 500 inclusions in a one perinatal center of Paris area.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody response in pregnant women at the time of delivery during the COVID-19 pandemia.

Study design: A prospective observational study at Cochin hospital (Level III maternity). Patients admitted for delivery were offered to participate to the study. Each patient participating to the study was tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies using a commercially available ELISA.

Results: Among the 529 patients included in the COVIPREG study between April 29 and June 26, 529 were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody response and 25 had a positive test, ie 4.7 % with a confidence interval at 95 % [3.0 %-6.9 %]).

Conclusions: Four months after the beginning of the infection in Paris, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in pregnant women at the time of delivery is low. Studies evaluating the impact of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy should take this information in account in order to adapt the sample size.

Abstract

Objective: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) among very preterm infants is related to poor neurodevelopment, but lack of consensus on EUGR measurement constrains international research. Our aim was to compare EUGR prevalence in a European very preterm cohort using commonly used measures.
Design: Population-based observational study.
Setting: 19 regions in 11 European countries.
Patients: 6792 very preterm infants born before 32 weeks’ gestational age (GA) surviving to discharge.
Main outcome measures: We investigated two measures based on discharge-weight percentiles with (1) Fenton and (2) Intergrowth (IG) charts and two based on growth velocity (1) birth weight and discharge-weight Z-score differences using Fenton charts and (2) weight-gain velocity using Patel’s model. We estimated country-level relative risks of EUGR adjusting for maternal and neonatal characteristics and associations with population differences in healthy newborn size, measured by mean national birth weight at 40 weeks’ GA.Results: About twofold differences in EUGR prevalence were observed between countries for all indicators and these persisted after case-mix adjustment. Discharge weight <10th percentile using Fenton charts varied from 24% (Sweden) to 60% (Portugal) and using IG from 13% (Sweden) to 43% (Portugal), while low weight-gain velocity ranged from 35% (Germany) to 62% (UK). Mean term birth weight strongly correlated with both percentile-based measures (Spearman’s rho=-0.90 Fenton, -0.84 IG, p<0.01), but not Patel’s weight-gain velocity (rho: -0.38, p=0.25).

Conclusions: Very preterm infants have a high prevalence of EUGR, with wide variations between countries in Europe. Variability associated with mean term birth weight when using common postnatal growth charts complicates international benchmarking.

Abstract

Background: PRIMVAC is a VAR2CSA-derived placental malaria vaccine candidate aiming to prevent serious clinical outcomes of Plasmodium falciparum infection during pregnancy. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of PRIMVAC adjuvanted with Alhydrogel or glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant in stable emulsion (GLA-SE) in French and Burkinabe women who were not pregnant.

Methods: This first-in-human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation trial was done in two staggered phases, a phase 1A trial in 18-35-year-old women who were malaria naive in a hospital in France and a subsequent phase 1B trial in women who were naturally exposed to P falciparum and nulligravid in the clinical site of a research centre in Burkina Faso. Volunteers were recruited into four sequential cohorts receiving PRIMVAC intramuscularly at day 0, 28, and 56: two cohorts in France receiving 20 μg or 50 μg of PRIMVAC and then two in Burkina Faso receiving 50 μg or 100 μg of PRIMVAC. Volunteers were randomly assigned (1:1) to two groups (PRIMVAC adjuvanted with either Alhydrogel or GLA-SE) in France and randomly assigned (2:2:1) to three groups (PRIMVAC adjuvanted with either Alhydrogel, GLA-SE, or placebo) in Burkina Faso. Randomisation was centralised, using stratification by cohort and blocks of variable size, and syringes were masked by opaque labels. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with any grade 3 or higher adverse reaction to vaccination up until day 35. Safety at later time points as well as humoral and cellular immunogenicity were assessed in secondary endpoints. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02658253.

Findings: Between April 19, 2016, and July 13, 2017, 68 women (18 in France, 50 in Burkina Faso) of 101 assessed for eligibility were included. No serious adverse event related to the vaccine occurred. PRIMVAC antibody titres increased with each dose and seroconversion was observed in all women vaccinated with PRIMVAC (n=57). PRIMVAC antibody titres reached a peak (geometric mean 11 843·0, optical density [OD] 1·0, 95% CI 7559·8-18 552·9 with 100 μg dose and GLA-SE) 1 week after the third vaccination (day 63). Compared with Alhydrogel, GLA-SE tended to improve the PRIMVAC antibody response (geometric mean 2163·5, OD 1·0, 95% CI 1315·7-3557·7 with 100 μg dose and Alhydrogel at day 63). 1 year after the last vaccination, 20 (71%) of 28 women who were vaccinated with PRIMVAC/Alhydrogel and 26 (93%) of 28 women who were vaccinated with PRIMVAC/GLA-SE still had anti-PRIMVAC antibodies, although antibody magnitude was markedly lower (452·4, OD 1·0, 95% CI 321·8-636·1 with 100 μg dose and GLA-SE). These antibodies reacted with native homologous VAR2CSA expressed by NF54-CSA infected erythrocytes (fold change from baseline at day 63 with 100 μg dose and GLA-SE: 10·74, 95% CI 8·36-13·79). Limited cross-recognition, restricted to sera collected from women that received the 100 μg PRIMVAC dose, was observed against heterologous VAR2CSA variants expressed by FCR3-CSA (fold change from baseline at day 63: 1·49, 95% CI 1·19-1·88) and 7G8-CSA infected erythrocytes (1·2, 1·08-1·34).

Interpretation: PRIMVAC adjuvanted with Alhydrogel or GLA-SE had an acceptable safety profile, was immunogenic, and induced functional antibodies reacting with the homologous VAR2CSA variant expressed by NF54-CSA infected erythrocytes. Cross-reactivity against heterologous VAR2CSA variants was limited and only observed in the higher dose group. An alternate schedule of immunisation, antigen dose, and combinations with other VAR2CSA-based vaccines are envisaged to improve the cross-reactivity against heterologous VAR2CSA variants.

Abstract

Aim: Although well documented in randomised trials, the efficacy of prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in real-word conditions is less studied. The objective was to assess the impact of partial versus full RSV prophylaxis for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and ARI-related hospital admissions in preterm children.

Methods: This study included children born preterm in 2011 in France who were eligible for RSV prophylaxis and received at least one palivizumab dose from October 2011 to March 2012. Full prophylaxis was defined as receiving at least one palivizumab dose for each month of RSV exposure in the community. Children with full and partial prophylaxis were matched, and odds of ARIs and ARI-related hospital admission were compared by logistic regression.

Results: Full prophylaxis concerned 861/1083 (80%) children. As compared with full prophylaxis, partial prophylaxis was not associated with ARI occurrence (odds ratio OR 1.3, 95% confidence interval CI 0.9-1.9) but was significantly associated with ARI-related hospital admission during the RSV epidemic (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9).

Conclusion: During the 2011-2012 RSV epidemic, hospital admission rates were higher for preterm children with partial than full RSV prophylaxis. Improving compliance could help alleviate the burden of RSV on healthcare systems.

Abstract

The freeze-all strategy is gaining popularity worldwide as an alternative to the conventional fresh embryo transfer. It consists of cryopreservation of the entire embryo cohort and the embryo transfer in a subsequent cycle that takes place separately from ovarian stimulation. The freeze-all strategy was initially a ‘rescue’ strategy for women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; however, this approach has been extended to other indications as a scheduled strategy to improve implantation rates. This assumes that ovarian stimulation can alter endometrial receptivity in fresh cycles owing to the effect of supraphysiological levels of steroids on endometrial maturation. The procedure, however, has not been associated with increased live birth rates in all infertile couples, and concerns have been raised about the occurrence of several adverse perinatal outcomes. It is, therefore, crucial to identify in which subgroups of patients a freeze-all strategy could be beneficial. The aim of this review is to summarize current scientific research in this field to highlight potential indications for this strategy and to guide clinicians in their daily practice.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020 Nov 23;20(1):720. doi: 10.1186/s12884-020-03413-w. PMID: 33228570.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate if women with a history of myomectomy have a modified preterm birth risk compared to women with myomas during pregnancy.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including all women with a history of myomectomy (operated group) or uterine myomas during pregnancy (unoperated group) who delivered in a tertiary center between January, 2011 and December, 2017. The operated group included women who had a myomectomy history with or without myomas during the ongoing pregnancy. The unoperated group included women with uterine myoma(s) seen on at least one ultrasound during pregnancy without history of myomectomy. The primary outcome was preterm birth < 37 weeks, and the secondary outcome spontaneous preterm birth < 37 weeks. To control for confounding factors, a propensity score approach was used. Two sensitivity analysis were performed, one repeating the analysis using the propensity score after excluding operated women with persistent myomas and one using a classical multivariable logistic regression model.

Results: The cohort included 576 women: 283 operated women and 293 unoperated women. The rate of preterm birth was similar in the two groups: 12.6% in the unoperated group and 12.0% in the operated group (p = 0.82). No difference in preterm birth risk was shown between unoperated and operated women in the cohort matched on the propensity score: OR 0.86; 95%CI [0.47-1.59]. These results were consistent for spontaneous preterm birth (OR 1.61; 95%CI [0.61-4.23]) and for the sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion: In women with a leiomyomatous uterus, a history of myomectomy is not associated with a reduced preterm birth risk.

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational age at delivery seems to be a risk factor of recurrence of preeclampsia. The objective of this study was to analyze adverse pregnancy outcomes and recurrence of preeclampsia during the subsequent pregnancy in women with a history of pre-eclampsia delivered before 26 weeks of gestation.

Material and method: We performed a retrospective study in two French tertiary care hospitals between 2000 and 2018. Patients with a history of pre-eclampsia delivered before 26 weeks of gestation were analyzed. Information on the immediate subsequent pregnancy was collected. Adverse composite outcome was defined as recurrent preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, placental abruption, fetal growth restriction <3rd percentile or <10^e percentile with Doppler abnormalities, maternal death and fetal death.

Results: Among the 107 patients who met the criteria, 48 were analyzed for a subsequent pregnancy. Seventeen women (35.4 %) developed an adverse composite outcome, occurring for 15 women (31.2 %) before 34 weeks. Ten women (20.8 %) developed a recurrent preeclampsia occurring for 5 women (10.4 %) before 34 weeks. We related 3 HELLP syndromes, 1 placental abruption, 9 fetal growth restrictions, 3 fetal deaths and no maternal death. Compared to baseline normotensive women, chronic hypertension was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse composite outcome (19.3 vs 58.8 %, p-value 0.014).

Conclusion: In our population, preeclampsia with delivery before 26 weeks is associated with 35.4 % of adverse composite outcomes and 20.8 % of recurrent preeclampsia during the immediate subsequent pregnancy. These results justify the importance of an ongoing monitoring of these patients during subsequent pregnancy.

Abstract

Data on placental transfer is lacking for the recent HIV integrase inhibitors, bictegravir and cabotegravir, although their future use in pregnancy is to be expected. The objective of this study was to determine their transplacental pharmacokinetics. Maternal-to-fetal transfer was investigated using the open-circuit ex-vivo dually perfused human cotyledon model. Cabotegravir or bictegravir was added to a maternal perfusate containing 2 g/l of human albumin and antipyrine, a marker to validate the cotyledon’s viability, and cotyledons were dually perfused for up to 90 min. For cabotegravir, in five experiments, the median (IQR 25-75) concentrations in the maternal and in the fetal compartments were, respectively, 550 ng/ml (344-788) and 48 ng/ml (37-54), with a maternal-to-fetal ratio of 10% (5-16) and a clearance index (in comparison with antipyrine transfer) of 22% (19-28). The median cotyledon accumulation index was 10% (2-21). For bictegravir, in six experiments, the median (IQR 25-75) concentrations in the maternal and in the fetal compartments were, respectively, 1650 ng/ml (1455-1960) and 126 ng/ml (112-142), with a maternal-to-fetal ratio of 7% (6-9.5) and a clearance index (in comparison with antipyrine transfer) of 21% (17-29). The median cotyledon accumulation index was 4% (3-5). Placental transfer of cabotegravir and bictegravir were low. This may not only limit the potential for fetal toxicities but also be a limit to their usefulness at the time of labor and delivery to reduce the risk of vertical HIV transmission. The safety and efficacy of these new integrase inhibitors in pregnancy require more investigation.

Abstract

In a previous monocentric study in preterm neonates (PN), we described a high Clostridioides difficile colonization rate (74%) with two uncommon non-toxigenic strains (NTCD) belonging to PCR-ribotype (RT) (CE)847 and (CE)032. To determine the extent of carriage of both NTCD in other spatio-temporal settings, strains isolated in PN stools from two multicenter cohorts were characterized by PCR-ribotyping, MLVA and MLST. We also evaluated the protective role of two NTCD from these RT against C. difficile infection in a hamster caecitis model. Animals were administered either each NTCD alone (n = 7), or followed by a 027 strain (n = 9). A control group received only the 027 strain (n = 8). Clinical activity and colonization by C. difficile in stools were monitored daily until death or sacrifice at D20. We isolated 18 RT(CE)032 (ST-83) strains and 2 RT(CE)847 (ST-26) strains among 247 PN from both cohorts. Within each RT, strains were genetically related. The survival rate was significantly increased when animals received a RT(CE)847 or (CE)032 strain before the 027 strain (4/9 deaths, p = 0.029; 1/9 death, p = 0.0004, respectively). We describe two predominant uncommon NTCD strains, in a PN population from different healthcare facilities. Both NTCD provide a potential protection against C. difficile infection.