Julie Descy

Julie Descy


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
29 April 2021 in Metabolites
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JHJustine Huart
Justine Huart
ACArianna Cirillo
Arianna Cirillo
BTBernard Taminiau
Bernard Taminiau
JDJulie Descy
Julie Descy
ASAnnie Saint-Remy
Annie Saint-Remy
FJFrançois Jouret
François Jouret
Dysbiosis of gut microbiota (GM) has been involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension (HT), via a putative role of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Its role in the circadian regulation of blood pressure (BP), also called “the dipping profile”, has been poorly investigated. Sixteen male volunteers and 10 female partners were subjected to 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring and were categorized in normotensive (NT) versus HT, as well as in dippers versus non-dippers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics was performed on stool samples. A 5-year comparative follow-up of BP profiles and stool metabolomes was done in men. Significant correlations between stool metabolome and 24 h mean BP levels were found in both male and female cohorts and in the entire cohort (R2 = 0.72, R2 = 0.79, and R2 = 0.45, respectively). Multivariate analysis discriminated dippers versus non-dippers in both male and female cohorts and in the entire cohort (Q2 = 0.87, Q2 = 0.98, and Q2 = 0.68, respectively). Fecal amounts of acetate, propionate, and butyrate were higher in HT versus NT patients (p = 0.027; p = 0.015 and p = 0.015, respectively), as well as in non-dippers versus dippers (p = 0.027, p = 0.038, and p = 0.036, respectively) in the entire cohort. SCFA levels were significantly different in patients changing of dipping status over the 5-year follow-up. In conclusion, stool metabolome changes upon global and circadian BP profiles in both genders.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Ysaline SeynaeveYsaline Seynaeve
Ysaline Seynaeve
JHJustine Heylen
Justine Heylen
CFCorentin Fontaine
Corentin Fontaine
FMFrançois Maclot
François Maclot
CMCécile Meex
Cécile Meex
JDJulie Descy
Julie Descy
(1) Background: In the current context of the COVID-19 crisis, there is a need for fast, easy-to-use, and sensitive diagnostic tools in addition to molecular methods. We have therefore decided to evaluate the performance of newly available antigen detection kits in “real-life” laboratory conditions. (2) Methods: The sensitivity and specificity of two rapid diagnostic tests (RDT)—the COVID-19 Ag Respi-Strip from Coris Bioconcept, Belgium (CoRDT), and the coronavirus antigen rapid test cassette from Healgen Scientific, LLC, USA (HeRDT)—were evaluated on 193 nasopharyngeal samples using RT-PCR as the gold standard. (3) Results: The sensitivity obtained for HeRDT was 88% for all collected samples and 91.1% for samples with Ct ≤ 31. For the CoRDT test, the sensitivity obtained was 62% for all collected samples and 68.9% for samples with Ct ≤ 31. (4) Conclusions: Despite the excellent specificity obtained for both kits, the poor sensitivity of the CoRDT did not allow for its use in the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19. HeRDT satisfied the World Health Organization’s performance criteria for rapid antigen detection tests. Its high sensitivity, quick response, and ease of use allowed for the implementation of HeRDT at the laboratory of the University Hospital of Liège.

1 August 2019 in Journal of Virological Methods
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SBSébastien Bontems
Sébastien Bontems
RBRaphaël Boreux
Raphaël Boreux
VCValérie Capraro
Valérie Capraro
PHPascale HUYNEN
Pascale HUYNEN
JDJulie Descy
Julie Descy
CMCécile Meex
Cécile Meex