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Objectives: report on acceptance of voluntary interruption of pregnancy in 2021 in the French 18-to-24-year-old population and to compare the results with the acceptance reported in 2014 in the Institut Français d'Opinion Publique survey., Methods: A French cross-sectional study with questionnaires administered between February and April 2021. The target population was 18 to 24 years of age. For purposes of comparison, the question on acceptance of voluntary interruption of pregnancy was basically the same as that of the 2014 Institut Français d'Opinion Publique survey, as were the proposed response modalities. Data were described in terms of means ± standard deviation and number (percentage). Conditions for acceptance of voluntary interruption of pregnancy were compared with the results of the 2014 Institut Français d'Opinion Publique survey using the Chi-square test. Factors associated with acceptance of voluntary interruption of pregnancy without restrictive conditions were studied using univariate analysis (Student, Chi-square or Fisher exact tests) and multivariate analysis (logistic regression)., Results: Close to 2000 (1936) questionnaires were completed, including 1225 among 18-to-24-year-olds. Voluntary interruption of pregnancy was accepted without restrictive conditions by 92.1% of the study population (95%CI: 90.4-93.5) compared to 79.0% in 2014 (p < 0.0001). Female gender (93.4 % versus 85.8%; OR = 2.1 [1.4-3.4]; p = 0.0009) and residence outside of Paris (94.9% versus 86.6%; OR = 2.8 [1.9-4.3]; p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with acceptance of voluntary interruption of pregnancy without restrictive conditions., Conclusion: In 2021 in France, the 18-to-24-year-old population is massively favorable to voluntary interruption of pregnancy without restrictive conditions, in a significantly higher proportion than in 2014., Competing Interests: Déclaration de liens d'intérêts Les auteurs déclarent ne pas avoir de liens d'intérêts., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Systemic sclerosis is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by skin and several internal organ fibrosis, systemic vasculopathy and immune abnormalities. Even if fibroblasts and endothelial cells dysfunction, as well as lymphocytes and other immune cells implication are now well described, the exact origin and chronology of the disease pathogenesis remain unclear. Oxidative stress, influenced by genetic and environmental factors, seems to play a key role. Indeed, it seems to be implicated in the early phases of fibrosis development, vasculopathy and in immune tolerance abnormalities shared by all patients, although disease expression is heterogeneous. To date, no curative treatment is available. Even if immunosuppressive treatment or drugs acting on vascular system are proposed for some patients, overall, treatment efficiency remains modest. Only autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation, reserved for patients with severe or rapidly progressive fibrosis, has recently demonstrated efficiency, with lasting regression of fibrosis. Nevertheless, this treatment can expose to important, life-threatening toxicity. In the last decade, new mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis have been unraveled, bringing new therapeutic opportunities. In this review, we offer to focus on recent insights in the knowledge of systemic sclerosis pathogenesis and its implication in current and future medical care., (Copyright © 2019 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Red blood cell allo-immunization is the immune response of an individual to foreign red blood cell antigens not present on the surface of their own cells. The aim of that paper is to clarify the different factors influencing the antibody response against red blood cell antigens., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Since the discovery of blood groups in humans, several hundred new red blood cell antigens have been identified. Multiple terminology modes have been used to denote each new antigen identified, but without any consistent rules, nor international consensus. This was largely due to the many discoverers of these antigens, using either letters of the alphabet, numbers, part of the patient or donor's name, place of discovery or animal names. Besides, alternative terminologies for the Rh system were implemented in the middle of the twentieth century (Rosenfield, Fisher-Race, Wiener). The International Society of Blood Transfusion described for the first time in 1980 the advantages of an alphanumeric and homogeneous nomenclature, keeping with the genetic bases of blood groups, as well as a classification of all RBC antigens within several families. A variant of this new terminology, exclusively numerical, was simultaneously established, mainly designed for computer data exchange. Nearly 30 years later, 308 red blood cell antigens are described within 30 systems, 12 collections, one 700 series and one 901 series of blood groups. Any person involved in the field of immuno-haematology must master both the usual and international nomenclatures. The Wiener nomenclature used for Rh haplotypes, still largely used today, is also important to be known. The systematic use of the international nomenclature should be strongly encouraged, either in the labelling of blood products, clinical laboratory reports or blood type cards.

Aim of the Study: Determination of blood group antigens from data obtained by using molecular methods (genotyping) has become an indispensable tool in the specialized immunohematology laboratories. The French National Reference Centre for Blood group typing (CNRGS) routinely performs genotyping of the FY, JK and MNS system (common genotyping), providing a phenotype deduced from genotyping data for FY1, FY2, JK1, JK2, MNS3 and MNS4 antigens., Patients and Methods: We performed a study to evaluate the common genotyping prescriptions referred to the CNRGS over the last three years., Results: Between February 2006 and February 2009, the CNRGS performed 2392 genotyping, including 981 common genotyping. Analysis of 172 common genotyping performed in 2008 showed that 63.8% of the prescriptions expressed a genotyping demand. Of the latter, 42.7% were genotyping prescriptions only, whereas 57.2% were prescriptions of genotyping associated with alloantibody identification. All prescriptions refer to blood group genotyping indications issued from guidelines, with no incorrect prescription, that are patients transfused within four months before blood sampling in 63.6% of cases or a positive direct antiglobulin test in 24.5% of cases. Lastly, 36% of the blood samples referred to the CNRGS had no genotyping prescription. Yet, common genotyping was performed by the CNRGS to get complete immunohematology data for antibody identification., Conclusion: Usefulness of blood group genotyping in specialized immunohematology laboratories is obvious. However, the strategy for implementation of molecular methods remains to be defined. Use of high-throughput DNA analysis should change our way of working.

A rare blood group is usually defined as the absence of a high prevalence antigen or the absence of several antigens within a single blood group system, if its prevalence in France is 4/1000 or less in the general population. An individual with a rare blood phenotype can develop a naturally-occurring or immune antibody corresponding to his rare specificity. In case an extremely low stock of compatible blood is available at the national level, a so-called "transfusion deadlock" is described. Most of the individuals with a rare blood group are coincidently identified when a routine pretransfusion testing or pregnancy follow-up is performed, if the antibody(ies) corresponding to the rare specificity is(are) present. Other individuals are discovered following a systematic red cell typing, or family investigations in siblings. One hundred and twenty-one rare blood specificities and 42 rare blood genotypes are currently defined at the French National Reference Laboratory for Blood Groups (CNRGS-Paris). The French national registry of individuals with a rare blood phenotype/genotype includes about 9600 people, who are urged to regularly donate blood for the National Rare Blood Bank. This bank, based on a homologous blood transfusion program, is in charge of the long-term storage of rare frozen blood units, that can only be delivered after receiving authorization from the CNRGS. The global and individual care management of the individuals with a rare blood group, concerning potentially several hundred thousand people in France, requires a close cooperation between all the protagonists within the transfusion chain.

The French Health Products Safety Agency organized in 2005, for the scheme of the national external quality assessment, a survey on antibodies against thyroid constituents which included for the first time the quantitative assay. The purpose of this survey was to assess the quality of the different methods of these assays. The overall qualitative results are satisfactory. However, this survey pointed out a lower performance for immunodot which appeared to have been misused. Concerning the titer of antibodies, results show a broad dispersion between reagents. This confirms the lack of a real standardisation despite of the existence of the international MRC standards.

In 2003, for the scheme of the French national external quality assessment, Afssaps organized for the first time a survey on auto-antibodies detected on liver, kidney and stomach tissues. This survey had two purposes: first to make an inventory of the methodology applied by the medical laboratories and secondly to assess the quality of the results. The survey sample contained M2 anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Overall results are satisfactory. Concerning the titer of antibodies, a broad dispersion of results was observed (12% of titers were upper than the expected titer). Delivered information to the participants, at the end of the survey, should improve analytical procedures applied by the biologists. An effort of standardization by using titrated internal controls would be suitable.

In 2003, for the scheme of the French national external quality assessment, Afssaps sent to medical laboratories a sample for which two analyses could be carried out: the electrophoresis of proteins and the characterization for monoclonal immunoglobulin. The purpose of this new approach was to make it possible to the laboratories to transpose their usual diagnostic reasoning. This survey recalled to the biologists that it is necessary to check the sensitivity of the test of electrophoresis of proteins used in first intention and to use advisedly the anti-serums anti-free chains. Moreover this operation reinforced the educational aspect of the external quality assessment, pointing out the importance to ensure the coherence of the results of these two analyses carried out with a same diagnostic aim.