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Background: In allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), prolonged nebulised antifungal treatment may be a strategy for maintaining remission., Methods: We performed a randomised, single-blind, clinical trial in 30 centres. Patients with controlled ABPA after 4-month attack treatment (corticosteroids and itraconazole) were randomly assigned to nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B or placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome was occurrence of a first severe clinical exacerbation within 24 months following randomisation. Secondary outcomes included the median time to first severe clinical exacerbation, number of severe clinical exacerbations per patient, ABPA-related biological parameters., Results: Among 174 enrolled patients with ABPA from March 2015 through July 2017, 139 were controlled after 4-month attack treatment and were randomised. The primary outcome occurred in 33 (50.8%) out of 65 patients in the nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B group and 38 (51.3%) out of 74 in the placebo group (absolute difference -0.6%, 95% CI -16.8- +15.6%; OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.50-1.90; p=0.95). The median (interquartile range) time to first severe clinical exacerbation was longer in the liposomal amphotericin-B group: 337 days (168-476 days) versus 177 days (64-288 days). At the end of maintenance therapy, total immunoglobulin-E and Aspergillus precipitins were significantly decreased in the nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B group., Conclusions: In ABPA, maintenance therapy using nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B did not reduce the risk of severe clinical exacerbation. The presence of some positive secondary outcomes creates clinical equipoise for further research., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: C. Godet reports having received speaker fees, travel support from Pfizer, MSD; fees for board memberships from SOS Oxygène and Pulmatrix; grant support from Ohre Pharma, Pfizer, MSD, SOS Oxygène, ISIS Medical and AstraZeneca. Conflict of interest: F. Couturaud reports having received research grant support from Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer and fees for board memberships or symposia from Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme and AstraZeneca, and having received travel support from Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer, Leo Pharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Actelion. Conflict of interest: S. Marchand-Adam reports having received consultancy for board membership, consultancy or speaker fees and travel support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis and Roche. Conflict of interest: C. Pison reports having received, outside of the submitted work, consultancy for board membership, consultancy or speaker fees, travel support from AGIR à Dom, Chiesi, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, SOS Oxygène, AstraZeneca and Novartis. Conflict of interest: F. Gagnadoux reports having received grants and personal fees from Resmed; personal fees and non-financial support from Boehringer Ingelheim, Nyxoah, Sefam; personal fees from Actelion, Cidelec, Novartis, and non-financial support from Asten, unrelated to the submitted work. Conflict of interest: E. Blanchard reports having received consultancy or speaker fees, travel support from Pfizer, MSD, Novartis, Gilead, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, SOS Oxygene and ISIS Medical. Conflict of interest: C. Taillé reports having received consulting or advisory fees from Sanofi, GSK, AstraZeneca, Novartis and Chiesi, and research grants from Sanofi and GSK, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: B. Philippe reports having received speaker fees, travel support from Chiesi, Novartis and Oxyvie. Conflict of interest: S. Hirschi reports having received research grant support from CSL Behring and Adiral, and fees for board membership from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche. Conflict of interest: C. Andréjak reports having received fees for board memberships or symposia and travel support from GSK, AstraZeneca, Zambon and Insmed. Conflict of interest: A. Bourdin reports having received grants from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cephalon/TEVA, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Sanofi-Regeneron; has provided consultancy for Actelion, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, MedinCell, Merck, Novartis, Roche and Sanofi-Regeneron; and has acted as an investigator or co-investigator for trials sponsored by Actelion, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Regeneron and Vertex. Conflict of interest: C. Chenivesse reports having received grants from AstraZeneca and Santelys outside the submitted work, personal fees from ALK-Abello, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKlein, Novartis, Sanofi-Regeneron and TEVA outside the submitted work and congress support from ALK-Abello, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Roche and TEVA. Conflict of interest: S. Dominique reports having received consultancy for board membership, speaker fees, travel support from Roche, Chiesi, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Novartis and Actelion, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: L. Bassinet has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: M. Murris-Espin reports having received consultancy for board membership or speaker fees, or travel support, from Insmed, MSD, Pfizer, Asten, LVL, Vertex, Vivisol and Zambon. Conflict of interest: F. Rivière reports having received consultancy fees from Roche and Boehringer Ingelheim. Conflict of interest: G. Garcia reports having received grants from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Sanofi-Regeneron and Chiesi; has provided consultancy for AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Sanofi-Regeneron; and has acted as an investigator or co-investigator for trials sponsored by AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi-Regeneron. Conflict of interest: D. Caillaud reports having received consultancy or speaker fees, travel support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GSK, Menarini and Novartis. Conflict of interest: F-X. Blanc has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: F. Goupil reports having received travel support from Aliseo/Asten Santé, GSK, Chiesi, Novartis and Actelion. Conflict of interest: A. Bergeron reports having received consultancy or speaker fees, from Pfizer, Gilead, MSD, AstraZeneca and Takeda, and grants from SOS Oxygene. Conflict of interest: A. Gondouin reports having received consultancy or speaker fees, or travel support from Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vitalaire, Actelion, LFB, GSK and Pfizer. Conflict of interest: J-P. Frat reports having received grants from the French Ministry of Health, outside the submitted work; grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Fisher & Paykel HealthCare, outside the submitted work; personal fees and non-financial support from SOS Oxygène, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: T. Flament has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: B. Camara reports having received outside of the submitted work, consultancy for speaker fees, travel supports from AGIR à Dom. Conflict of interest: P. Priou received travel support from Asten Santé. Conflict of interest: A-L. Brun has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: F. Laurent reports having received consultancy for board membership, consultancy or speaker fees, travel support from Bayer, Roche, Chiesi, Boehringer Ingelheim, SOS Oxygène, AstraZeneca, Basilea, Novartis and Actelion. Conflict of interest: S. Ragot has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J. Cadranel reports having received speaker fees from MSD and Pfizer., (Copyright ©The authors 2022. For reproduction rights and permissions contact permissions@ersnet.org.)

Background: etiological investigations are not done for all adult patients with bronchiectasis because of the availability and interpretation of tests. The aim of the study was to elaborate a score to identify patients at high risk of having cystic fibrosis or primary ciliary dyskinesia (CF/PCD), which require appropriate management., Methods: diagnostic work-ups were carried out on a French monocenter cohort, and results were subjected to logistic-regression analyses to identify the independent factors associated with CF/PCD diagnosis and, thereby, elaborate a score to validate in a second cohort., Results: among 188 patients, 158 had no obvious diagnosis and were enrolled in the algorithm-construction group. In multivariate analyses, age at symptom onset (8.69 (2.10-35.99); p = 0.003), chronic ENT symptoms or diagnosed sinusitis (10.53 (1.26-87.57); p = 0.03), digestive symptoms or situs inversus (5.10 (1.23-21.14); p = 0.025), and Pseudomonas. aeruginosa and/or Staphylococcus aureus isolated from sputum (11.13 (1.34-92.21); p = 0.02) are associated with CF or PCD. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, using a validation group of 167 patients with bronchiectasis, confirmed the score's performance with AUC 0.92 (95% CI: 0.84-0.98)., Conclusions: a clinical score may help identify adult patients with bronchiectasis at higher risk of having CF or PCD.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is the foremost manifestation in adult patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We present a retrospective series of 41 adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PCD followed in our reference centers. As part of the diagnostic work up in our centers, sinus computed tomography scans (CTs) are systematically performed. All patients also undergo a sampling of purulent secretions sampled from the middle meatus under endoscopic view for bacteriological analysis. In our series, CT opacities were consistent in all the patients, as well as mainly partial and located in ethmoid cells (100% of patients) and in maxillary sinuses (85.4% of patients), and stayed stable over time. In the 31 patients who had purulent secretions, bacteriological culture showed at least one bacterium in 83.9% ( n = 26). There was no significant difference in positive cultures for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients >40 years old versus those <40 ( p = 0.17; Fisher). Surgical management was performed in only 19% of patients in order to improve sinonasal mechanical drainage. Our data support the hypothesis that the sinuses can be considered as a bacterial reservoir. From this retrospective study, we have introduced several changes into our routine clinical practice in our reference centers. Based on our analyses, medical and surgical treatments benefit from incorporating bacteriological information and sinonasal symptoms much more than CT scan evaluation alone. All patients now undergo systematically an annual simultaneous bacteriological sampling of the middle meatus and sputum to follow the relationship between ENT and lung disease and to help to antibiotic therapy strategy.

To date, no study precisely described ear, nose and throat (ENT) disease in adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and its relationship with ciliary function/ultrastructure. A retrospective study of standardized ENT data (exam, audiogram, sinus Computed tomography (CT), and bacteriology) was conducted in 64 adults with confirmed PCD who were followed in two ENT reference centers. Rhinorrhoea and hearing loss were the main symptoms. Symptom scores were higher in older patients. Nasal endoscopy was abnormal in all patients except one, showing nasal polyps in one-third of the patients and stagnant nasal mucus secretions in 87.5% of the patients. Sinus CT opacities were mainly incomplete and showed one-third of the patients with sinus hypoplasia and/or agenesis. Middle meatus mainly grew Haemophilus influenzae , Streptoccocus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Otitis media with effusion (OME), which is constant in childhood, was diagnosed in less than one-quarter of the patients. In two-thirds of the patients, audiogram showed hearing loss that was sensorineural in half of the patients. ENT disease severity was not correlated with ciliary function and ultrastructure, but the presence of OME was significantly associated with a forced expiratory volume (FEV1) < 70%. Rhinosinusitis is the most common clinical feature of PCD in adults, while OME is less frequent. The presence of active OME in adults with PCD could be a severity marker of lung function and lead to closer monitoring.

Background:: There is a medial bulging of the lateral nasal wall in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF)., Aims:: Uncinate process (UP) angulation measurements in patients and controls to objectify this bulging., Materials and Methods:: Thirty CF, 17 primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), 13 chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (CRSwp), and 30 controls were included. Angles were measured bilaterally on computed tomography (CT) scans: A, B, C on coronal sections, D and E on axial sections. Angle A was between the UP and the orbit inner wall, whereas the others were between UP and midline., Results:: There was no significant difference between controls, PCD, and CRSwp. However, CF had 3 statistically different angles with controls, 5 with CRSwp, and 4 with PCD. Angle A average value was 126° (±16°) in patients with CF, 138° (±19°) in controls ( P = .007), 145° (±15°) in PCD ( P = .001), and 138° (±14°) in CRSwp ( P = .001). Angle E average value was 35° (±10°) in patients with CF, 20° (±6°) in controls ( P < .001), 21° (±4°) in PCD ( P < .001), and 22° (±6°) in CRSwp ( P < .001)., Conclusion:: Uncinate process's anatomy is only modified in CF: Angle between UP and inner wall of orbit is closed, and angles between UP and midline are opened., Significance:: These measures quantify the medial bulging of lateral nasal wall and support nasofibroscopic observations.

Background: The present study aimed to develop an automated computed tomography (CT) score based on the CT quantification of high-attenuating lung structures, in order to provide a quantitative assessment of lung structural abnormalities in patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)., Methods: Adult (≥18 years) PCD patients who underwent both chest CT and spirometry within a 6-month period were retrospectively included. Commercially available lung segmentation software was used to isolate the lungs from the mediastinum and chest wall and obtain histograms of lung density. CT-density scores were calculated using fixed and adapted thresholds based on various combinations of histogram characteristics, such as mean lung density (MLD), skewness, and standard deviation (SD). Additionally, visual scoring using the Bhalla score was performed by 2 independent radiologists. Correlations between CT scores, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were evaluated., Results: Sixty-two adult patients with PCD were included. Of all histogram characteristics, those showing good positive or negative correlations to both FEV 1 and FVC were SD (R = - 0.63 and - 0.67; p < 0.001) and Skewness (R = 0.67 and 0.67; p < 0.001). Among all evaluated thresholds, the CT-density score based on MLD + 1SD provided the best negative correlation with both FEV 1 (R = - 0.68; p < 0.001) and FVC (R = - 0.71; p < 0.001), close to the correlations of the visual score (R = - 0.60; p < 0.001 for FEV 1 and R = - 0.62; p < 0.001, for FVC)., Conclusions: Automated CT scoring of lung structural abnormalities lung in primary ciliary dyskinesia is feasible and may prove useful for evaluation of disease severity in the clinic and in clinical trials.

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a severe lung disease complication caused by an Aspergillus fumigatus-induced hypersensitivity that affects 2-15% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The mainstay treatment consists of a combination of corticosteroids and antifungals. However, repeated or long-term corticosteroid therapies can lead to serious side effects. The monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab, has demonstrated its efficacy in allergic asthma. As ABPA results from a hypersensitivity to a specific allergen, omalizumab might benefit CF patients with ABPA. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to investigate the effects of omalizumab on ABPA in CF patients., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of young patients with CF treated with omalizumab for an ABPA in several French CF centers. The clinical data were collected 3 months before the start of omalizumab treatment, at initiation, and every 3 months up to 12 following initiation. These data comprised clinical, biological, nutritional, and functional parameters., Results: Eighteen patients were included (mean age: 17.1 ± 5.2 yrs). Under omalizumab was observed a stabilization of the lung function decline associated with a significant decrease in the corticosteroid daily dose (p = 0.0007) and an improvement in the nutritional status (p = 0.01). No serious side effect of omalizumab was reported., Conclusions: This study suggests that omalizumab might be an interesting therapeutic strategy in ABPA, associated with less side effects compared to long-term corticosteroids. Further randomized-controlled trials are needed to ascertain the efficacy of omalizumab in CF patients with ABPA., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate the short-term adverse events and effectiveness of lumacaftor/ivacaftor combination treatment in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) and severe lung disease in a real life setting., Methods: A multicentre observational study investigated adverse events, treatment discontinuation, FEV 1 and body mass index (BMI) one month and three months after lumacaftor/ivacaftor initiation in adults with CF and FEV 1 below 40% predicted., Results: Respiratory adverse events (AEs) were reported by 27 of 53 subjects (51%) and 16 (30%) discontinued treatment. The mean absolute change in FEV 1 was +2.06% after one month of treatment (P=0.086) and +3.19% after 3 months (P=0.009). BMI was unchanged., Conclusions: Treatment with lumacaftor/ivacaftor in patients with CF and severe lung disease was discontinued more frequently than reported in clinical trials, due to respiratory AEs. Nevertheless, the patients who continued treatment had an increase in lung function comparable to what was observed in pivotal trials., (Copyright © 2017 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ivacaftor, a CFTR potentiator, has been found to improve CFTR function and clinical outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) gating mutations. We investigated the effects of ivacaftor on CFTR functional measurement in CF patients carrying gating mutations other than p.Gly551Asp. Two siblings aged 13 and 12 carrying the p.Ser549Asn mutation, two sisters (45 and 43years old) compound heterozygotes for p.Asp1152His and p.Gly1244Glu, a 37year old man homozygous for the p.Gly1244Glu mutation, and a 7year old girl with p.Arg352Gln and p.Gly1244Glu mutations commenced treatment with ivacaftor. NPD was performed in all the patients and approached normal for four patients who had also clinical improvement (p.Ser549Asn compound heterozygotes, and p.Asp1152His/p.Gly1244Glu siblings). Beta-adrenergic sweat chloride secretion performed in thep.Asp1152His/p.Gly1244Glu patients improved significantly. The p.Gly1244Glu mutation homozygous patient, who had undergone an ileal resection with ileostomy and enterocutaneous fistula, did not respond clinically to ivacaftor and did not modify his sweat test. These results highlight the importance of different CFTR activity measurements to explore CFTR modulator efficacy., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Viral infections such as influenza are thought to impact respiratory parameters and to promote infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the real morbidity of the influenza virus in CF needs to be further investigated because previous studies were only observational., Methods: CF patients were included in a case-control study (n = 44 cases and n = 371 controls) during the 2009 pandemic A/H1N1 influenza. Cases were patients with polymerase reaction chain-confirmed influenza A/H1N1 infection. Controls did not report any influenza symptoms during the same period. Sputum colonization and lung function were monitored during 1 year after inclusion., Results: Cases were significantly younger than controls (mean(SD) 14.9 years(11) versus 20.1 years (13.2) and significantly less frequently colonized with P. aeruginosa (34 % versus 53 %). During influenza infection, 74 % of cases had pulmonary exacerbation, 92 % had antibiotics adapted to their usual sputum colonization and 82 % were treated with oseltamivir. Two cases required lung transplantation after A/H1N1 infection (one had not received oseltamivir and the other one had been treated late). The cases received a mean number of antibiotic treatments significantly higher during the year after the influenza infection (mean(SD) 2.8 (2.4) for cases versus 1.8(2.1) for controls; p = 0.002). An age-matched comparison did not demonstrate any significant modification of bronchopulmonary bacterial colonization during the year after influenza infection nor any significant change in FEV1 at months 1, 3 and 12 after A/H1N1 infection., Conclusions: Our results do not demonstrate any change in sputum colonization nor significant lung disease progression after pandemic A/H1N1 influenza., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials.gov registration number: NCT01499914.

Backgrounds: Recent reports have pointed the low vaccine coverage in patients with chronic diseases. Data are lacking in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Gaining more information on coverage both for mandatory vaccines and those more specifically recommended would help to optimize care of these patients., Methods: Data were extracted from the "MucoFlu" study, which was a prospective study performed in 2009 in the 5 cystic fibrosis centers of the Paris metropolitan area. Data on mandatory and recommended vaccines in CF were collected in the health booklet and compared to the coverage of the general population., Results: A total of 134 CF children were included. Vaccination coverage for mandatory vaccines was insufficient (DTPCaHi, conjugate pneumococcal, BCG, MMR and hepatitis B) at 1year of age with no catching-up with age in contrast to the general population. Approximately 66% of the children had immunization for seasonal influenza and 91% for 2009 pandemic flu. Coverage for vaccines specifically recommended in CF was low for hepatitis A, non conjugate pneumococcal and varicella., Conclusion: This study shows a defect in vaccine coverage for both routine immunization and vaccines more specifically recommended in CF., (Copyright © 2015 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare autosomal-recessive respiratory disorder resulting from defects of motile cilia. Various axonemal ultrastructural phenotypes have been observed, including one with so-called central-complex (CC) defects, whose molecular basis remains unexplained in most cases. To identify genes involved in this phenotype, whose diagnosis can be particularly difficult to establish, we combined homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing in a consanguineous individual with CC defects. This identified a nonsense mutation in RSPH1, a gene whose ortholog in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encodes a radial-spoke (RS)-head protein and is mainly expressed in respiratory and testis cells. Subsequent analyses of RSPH1 identified biallelic mutations in 10 of 48 independent families affected by CC defects. These mutations include splicing defects, as demonstrated by the study of RSPH1 transcripts obtained from airway cells of affected individuals. Wild-type RSPH1 localizes within cilia of airway cells, but we were unable to detect it in an individual with RSPH1 loss-of-function mutations. High-speed-videomicroscopy analyses revealed the coexistence of different ciliary beating patterns-cilia with a normal beat frequency but abnormal motion alongside immotile cilia or cilia with a slowed beat frequency-in each individual. This study shows that this gene is mutated in 20.8% of individuals with CC defects, whose diagnosis could now be improved by molecular screening. RSPH1 mutations thus appear as a major etiology for this PCD phenotype, which in fact includes RS defects, thereby unveiling the importance of RSPH1 in the proper building of CCs and RSs in humans., (Copyright © 2013 The American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare congenital respiratory disorder characterized by abnormal ciliary motility leading to chronic airway infections. Qualitative evaluation of ciliary beat pattern based on digital high-speed videomicroscopy analysis has been proposed in the diagnosis process of PCD. Although this evaluation is easy in typical cases, it becomes difficult when ciliary beating is partially maintained. We postulated that a quantitative analysis of beat pattern would improve PCD diagnosis. We compared quantitative parameters with the qualitative evaluation of ciliary beat pattern in patients in whom the diagnosis of PCD was confirmed or excluded., Methods: Nasal nitric oxide measurement, nasal brushings and biopsies were performed prospectively in 34 patients with suspected PCD. In combination with qualitative analysis, 12 quantitative parameters of ciliary beat pattern were determined on high-speed videomicroscopy recordings of beating ciliated edges. The combination of ciliary ultrastructural abnormalities on transmission electron microscopy analysis with low nasal nitric oxide levels was the "gold standard" used to establish the diagnosis of PCD., Results: This "gold standard" excluded PCD in 15 patients (non-PCD patients), confirmed PCD in 10 patients (PCD patients) and was inconclusive in 9 patients. Among the 12 parameters, the distance traveled by the cilium tip weighted by the percentage of beating ciliated edges presented 96% sensitivity and 95% specificity. Qualitative evaluation and quantitative analysis were concordant in non-PCD patients. In 9/10 PCD patients, quantitative analysis was concordant with the "gold standard", while the qualitative evaluation was discordant with the "gold standard" in 3/10 cases. Among the patients with an inconclusive "gold standard", the use of quantitative parameters supported PCD diagnosis in 4/9 patients (confirmed by the identification of disease-causing mutations in one patient) and PCD exclusion in 2/9 patients., Conclusions: When the beat pattern is normal or virtually immotile, the qualitative evaluation is adequate to study ciliary beating in patients suspected for PCD. However, when cilia are still beating but with moderate alterations (more than 40% of patients suspected for PCD), quantitative analysis is required to precise the diagnosis and can be proposed to select patients eligible for TEM.

Background: Our study analyses the main determinants of refusal or acceptance of the 2009 A/H1N1 vaccine in patients with cystic fibrosis, a high-risk population for severe flu infection, usually very compliant for seasonal flu vaccine., Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews in 3 cystic fibrosis referral centres in Paris, France. The study included 42 patients with cystic fibrosis: 24 who refused the vaccine and 18 who were vaccinated. The two groups differed quite substantially in their perceptions of vaccine- and disease-related risks. Those who refused the vaccine were motivated mainly by the fears it aroused and did not explicitly consider the 2009 A/H1N1 flu a potentially severe disease. People who were vaccinated explained their choice, first and foremost, as intended to prevent the flu's potential consequences on respiratory cystic fibrosis disease. Moreover, they considered vaccination to be an indirect collective prevention tool. Patients who refused the vaccine mentioned multiple, contradictory information sources and did not appear to consider the recommendation of their local health care provider as predominant. On the contrary, those who were vaccinated stated that they had based their decision solely on the clear and unequivocal advice of their health care provider., Conclusions/significance: These results of our survey led us to formulate three main recommendations for improving adhesion to new pandemic vaccines. (1) it appears necessary to reinforce patient education about the disease and its specific risks, but also general population information about community immunity. (2) it is essential to disseminate a clear and effective message about the safety of novel vaccines. (3) this message should be conveyed by local health care providers, who should be involved in implementing immunization.

Background: The identification by CFTR mRNA studies of a new deep-intronic splicing mutation, c.870-1113&#95;1110delGAAT, in one patient of our series with mild CF symptoms and in three CF patients of an Italian study, led us to evaluate the mutation frequency and phenotype/genotype correlations., Methods: 266 patients with CF and related disorders and having at least one undetected mutation, were tested at the gDNA level in three French reference laboratories., Results: In total, the mutation was found in 13 unrelated patients (5% of those already carrying a mutation) plus 4 siblings, including one homozygote and 12 heterozygotes having a severe CF mutation. The sweat test was positive in 10/14 documented cases, the diagnosis was delayed after 20 years in 9/15 and pancreatic insufficiency was present in 5/16., Conclusion: c.870-1113&#95;1110delGAAT should be considered as CF-causing with phenotype variability and overall delayed diagnosis. Its frequency highlights the potential of mRNA studies., (Copyright © 2011 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Although in patients with diffuse bronchiectasis (DB) and a normal sweat test the presence of one mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene is frequently observed, its pathogenic role in the development of DB remains unclear., Objectives: To evaluate the association between CFTR heterozygosity and CFTR protein dysfunction in the airways of patients with DB., Methods: Nasal potential difference was measured in 122 patients with DB of unknown origin and with a normal sweat test (Cl(-) < 60 mmol/L). They were classified according to the presence of CFTR mutations: zero (85 patients), one (22 patients), or two mutations (15 patients). Control groups comprised 26 healthy subjects, 38 obligate heterozygotes for CFTR, and 92 patients with classic cystic fibrosis (CF) with an abnormal sweat test (Cl(-) > or = 60 mmol/L). Patients classified as mild-CF were carrying at least one mild mutation and patients classified as severe-CF were homozygous for the F508del mutation., Measurements and Main Results: There was a continuum of airway CFTR dysfunction in the study population as shown by nasal potential difference measurements, ranging from normal values in healthy subjects, to intermediate values in subjects with DB, to highly abnormal values in subjects classified as severe-CF. This continuum of airway CFTR dysfunction was thus strongly associated with defects in the CFTR gene. Moreover, among patients with DB, a similar continuum in intermediate nasal potential difference was identified that was associated with the bearing of zero, one, or two CFTR mutations. These electrophysiological phenotypes and CFTR genotypes were also associated with the clinical phenotype, as shown by the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bronchial colonization., Conclusions: Our study supports the hypothesis that a unique CFTR mutation may have pathogenic consequences in patients with DB.

Mycotic aneurysm secondary to tuberculous infection of the aorta is a rare and life-threatening disease. We report a single-center experience of three patients treated with a combination of surgical aortic replacement and prolonged antituberculosis therapy. The first case is a 34-year-old woman with a suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, the second case is a 77-year-old man with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and a right psoas abscess, the third case is a 37-year-old woman with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. All patients had a favorable outcome with a mean follow-up of 6.2 years (range, 6 months-10 years). Early diagnosis and a combination of surgical intervention (aortic reconstruction and extensive excision of the infected field) and prolonged antituberculous drug therapy provide long-term survival without evidence of recurrence after tuberculous aortic involvement.

Background: Bordetella pertussis is highly contagious, and because immunity wanes after vaccination, it continues to be a cause of cough among adults., Objective: To describe the healthcare services used and productivity losses accrued by healthcare workers (HCWs) missing work due to pertussis., Methods: After 3 pertussis cases were confirmed among HCWs, all hospital employees and patients with a cough were screened between November 2000 and March 2001. Each potential case underwent diagnostic tests and received antibiotics (spiramycin or azithromycin) when appropriate. Symptomatic employees were not allowed to return to work until they received an antibiotic for at least 5 days. Services used (physician visits and calls, antibiotics, diagnostic tests, hospitalization, and treatment provided to their contacts) were combined with cost estimates (in 2002 euros) for these services in France., Results: Ninety-one potential cases were identified (77 HCWs, 12 patients, and 2 family members). Of them, 89% received antibiotics and 22% had at least one contact who was also treated. Approximately half (55%) of the HCWs who were cases missed 5 days of work. Four patients were admitted to the hospital as a result of the infection. The average medical cost was 297 euros per potential case: diagnostic tests accounted for 32% and hospitalization for 31%. Total cost (medical and productivity) was 46,661 euros for 91 cases, 42% from productivity losses. An investigation to identify these potential cases also accrued additional costs., Conclusion: Serious adverse health and economic consequences arose from transmission of pertussis among HCWs, their families, and patients.

We describe a pertussis outbreak among adult patients in a French general hospital following transmission from a healthcare worker. This index case transmitted pertussis to other healthcare workers, who, in turn, contaminated other staff and two immunosuppressed patients. This raises questions about infection control.

After interaction with tracheal epithelial cells, Bordetella pertussis induces the secretion of interleukin-6. This secretion is dependent on the expression of adenylate cyclase-hemolysin by the bacterium but not on the expression of other characterized bacterial toxins or adhesins. This finding confirms the important role of adenylate cyclase-hemolysin in the pathogenicity of the bacterium.

Bordetella pertussis, the agent of whooping cough, can invade and survive in several types of eukaryotic cell, including CHO, HeLa 229, and HEp-2 cells and macrophages. In this study, we analyzed bacterial invasiveness in nonrespiratory human HeLa epithelial cells and human HTE and HAE0 tracheal epithelial cells. Invasion assays and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that B. pertussis strains invaded and survived, without multiplying, in HTE or HAE0 cells. This phenomenon was bvg regulated, but invasive properties differed between B. pertussis strains and isolates and the B. pertussis reference strain. Studies with B. pertussis mutant strains demonstrated that filamentous hemagglutinin, the major adhesin, was involved in the invasion of human tracheal epithelial cells by bacteria but not in that of HeLa cells. Fimbriae and pertussis toxin were not found to be involved. However, we found that the production of adenylate cyclase-hemolysin prevents the invasion of HeLa and HTE cells by B. pertussis because an adenylate cyclase-hemolysin-deficient mutant was found to be more invasive than the parental strain. The effect of adenylate cyclase-hemolysin was mediated by an increase in the cyclic AMP concentration in the cells. Pertactin (PRN), an adhesin, significantly inhibited the invasion of HTE cells by bacteria, probably via its interaction with adenylate cyclase-hemolysin. Isolates producing different PRNs were taken up similarly, indicating that the differences in the sequences of the PRNs produced by these isolates do not affect invasion. We concluded that filamentous hemagglutinin production favored invasion of human tracheal cells but that adenylate cyclase-hemolysin and PRN production significantly inhibited this process.

Background: Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I is the major component of HDL, and it displays antiatherogenic properties., Methods and Results: The human apoA-I gene has been transferred into different mouse models by use of a recombinant adenovirus under the control of an RSV-LTR promoter (AV RSV apoA-I). Administration of AV RSV apoA-I to C57BL/6 mice resulted in moderate expression of human apoA-I for 3 weeks, leading to a transient elevation (40% at day 11 after injection) of HDL cholesterol concentration. In contrast, administration of AV RSV apoA-I to human apoA-I-transgenic mice induced a large increase of human apoA-I and HDL cholesterol concentrations (300% and 360%, respectively, at day 14 after injection) for 10 weeks, indicating that an immune response to the transgene was one major hurdle for long-term duration of expression. Recombinant adenovirus expressing human apolipoprotein A-I (AV RSV apoA-I) was also injected into human apoA-I-transgenic/apoE-deficient mice, which are prone to develop atherosclerosis. Over a 6-week period, overexpression of human apoA-I inhibited fatty streak lesion formation by 56% in comparison with control., Conclusions: Somatic gene transfer of human apoA-I prevents the development of atherosclerosis in the mouse model.