The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 disease in the French national population of dialysis patients, their course of illness and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality. Our study included all patients on dialysis recorded in the French REIN Registry in April 2020. Clinical characteristics at last follow-up and the evolution of COVID-19 illness severity over time were recorded for diagnosed cases (either suspicious clinical symptoms, characteristic signs on the chest scan or a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 1,621 infected patients were reported on the REIN registry from March 16th, 2020 to May 4th, 2020. Of these, 344 died. The prevalence of COVID-19 patients varied from less than 1% to 10% between regions. The probability of being a case was higher in males, patients with diabetes, those in need of assistance for transfer or treated at a self-care unit. Dialysis at home was associated with a lower probability of being infected as was being a smoker, a former smoker, having an active malignancy, or peripheral vascular disease. Mortality in diagnosed cases (21%) was associated with the same causes as in the general population. Higher age, hypoalbuminemia and the presence of an ischemic heart disease were statistically independently associated with a higher risk of death. Being treated at a selfcare unit was associated with a lower risk. Thus, our study showed a relatively low frequency of COVID-19 among dialysis patients contrary to what might have been assumed.

CD4 cell depletion is associated with skin cancer in long-term renal transplant recipients.

No abstract

A commercial P-glucan known for its ~mmunostimulatory effects in several fish species was tested in turbot ScophthalniusmaximusL.. both as an oral immunostimulant and as an adjuvant for oral vaccination. Some non-specific immune parameters were tested after a 5 wk feeding period with a commercial diet mixed with yeast P-glucan. Furthermore, during the last 5 d of the feeding period, half of the fish were orally vaccinated by mixing the commercial pellets with an anti-vibriosis vaccine (Vibriffa bain ND). The oral administration of P-glucan induced no reduction in mortality after a challenge with a virulent Vibrio anguillarum (strain 408). In contrast, a single oral vaccination resulted in protection against V anguillarum. The use of P-glucan as an adjuvant did not reduce the mortality rate more than did the single vaccination. An increase in white blood cell count was observed after the administration of only P-glucan. The plasma complement activity was not influenced by any of the treatments. In contrast, lysozyme activity was enhanced after administration of the adjuvanted vaccine. An increase in the chemiluminescent response of opsonised zymosan-stimulated head-kidney leucocytes was less obvious and no significant results were recorded.

Risk factors for HUS recurrence in renal transplantation could be identified through this meta-analysis.