Bilateral juvenile temporal arteritis: a case-based review.

Juvenile Temporal Arteritis (JTA) is a rare non-granulomatous vasculitis affecting the superficial temporal arteries, mostly in individuals under 45 years old. It is often misdiagnosed due to its benign nature and the absence of systemic symptoms. Herein, we present a case report of a 40-year-old woman who initially presented with painless nodules in the left temporal area.

Comparing pregnancy outcomes in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD): a descriptive cohort study.

Background: Females diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face an elevated risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). However, the evidence regarding whether a similar association exists in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is inconclusive.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review (2006-2019) of pregnancy outcomes among patients with SLE (n = 51) and UCTD (n = 20) within our institution.

Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Peripheral Immune Cell Profile in Long COVID.

In Long COVID, dysfunction in the pituitary-adrenal axis and alterations in immune cells and inflammatory status are warned against. We performed a prospective study in a cohort of 42 patients who suffered COVID-19 at least 6 months before attending the Long COVID unit at Althaia Hospital. Based on Post-COVID Functional Status, 29 patients were diagnosed with Long COVID, while 13 were deemed as recovered.

Loss of opportunities in the diagnosis and treatment of primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS): from theory to reality.

Objectives: (I) To identify and measure the clinical consequences of a delayed diagnosis in patients with primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS), in terms of time and events associated to antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and (II) to evaluate the impact of their treatment status on perinatal outcomes, before and after diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included 99 POAPS women who were separated in two groups of timelines based on their diagnostic status: group 1: women who met the clinical criteria for POAPS; group 2: included the same patients from group 1 since they meet the laboratory criteria for APS. In group 1, we assessed the following variables: obstetric events, thrombotic events and time (years) to diagnosis of APS.

Massive perivillous fibrin deposition: Diagnosis, obstetrical features, and treatment.

MPVFD (Massive perivillous fibrin deposition) is placental lesion characterized by extensive massive deposits of fibrin in the intervillous space, extending over at least 25 % of the placental volume. Currently, this pathology can only be detected through histopathological examination of the placenta after a pregnancy has ended. The underlying mechanisms are poorly studied, there is no biomarker available for the diagnosis of MPVFD and treatment protocols are experimental and still lacking.

Thrombosis and Hyperinflammation in COVID-19 Acute Phase Are Related to Anti-Phosphatidylserine and Anti-Phosphatidylinositol Antibody Positivity.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are strongly associated with thrombosis seen in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. In COVID-19, thrombosis has been observed as one of the main comorbidities. In patients hospitalised for COVID-19, we want to check whether APLA positivity is associated with COVID-19-related thrombosis, inflammation, severity of disease, or long COVID-19.

Key elements of cellular senescence involve transcriptional repression of mitotic and DNA repair genes through the p53-p16/RB-E2F-DREAM complex.

Cellular senescence is a dynamic stress response process that contributes to aging. From initiation to maintenance, senescent cells continuously undergo complex molecular changes and develop an altered transcriptome. Understanding how the molecular architecture of these cells evolve to sustain their non-proliferative state will open new therapeutic avenues to alleviate or delay the consequences of aging.

Predictive Model for Preeclampsia Combining sFlt-1, PlGF, NT-proBNP, and Uric Acid as Biomarkers.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and uric acid are elevated in pregnancies with preeclampsia (PE). Short-term prediction of PE using angiogenic factors has many false-positive results. Our objective was to validate a machine-learning model (MLM) to predict PE in patients with clinical suspicion, and evaluate if the model performed better than the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone.

Differences in Antiphospholipid Antibody Profile between Patients with Obstetric and Thrombotic Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune condition characterised by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) associated with vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy complications. In a cohort of 74 yet diagnosed APS individuals fulfilling Sydney laboratory criteria (twice positive for lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, aCL, and/or anti-β2glycoprotein I, aβ2GPI), 33 out of 74 were obstetric APS (OAPS) and 41 thrombotic APS (TAPS) patients. 39% of TAPS patients were women.

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes prior to the onset of an autoimmune rheumatic disease: a systematic review.

Objectives: An increased risk of adverse maternal and foetal pregnancy complications (including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and small for gestational age) is well described in women with autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) compared with the general population (GenPop). It is less clear, however, whether this risk of adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) also exists in women with 'preclinical ARD' (pre-ARD) before they are diagnosed with an ARD many years post-partum. Therefore, we have undertaken a systematic review of the available evidence on APO in patients who subsequently were diagnosed with a rheumatic disease to identify whether there is an increased risk in pre-ARD.

Inflammatory immune-mediated adverse reactions induced by COVID-19 vaccines in previously injected patients with soft tissue fillers: A case series of 20 patients.

Background: Adverse events (AE) after COVID-19 vaccines, particularly, but not solely, with those messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines, have rarely been reported in patients previously treated with dermal fillers (DF).

Objective: To evaluate the morphology, clinical characteristics, the timing of presentation, and outcomes of inflammatory AE appeared in patients injected with DF, after anti-COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: Descriptive study of a case series of 20 consecutive patients collected after the occurrence of AE in previously filled areas post COVID-19 vaccination.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in women with recurrent embryo implantation failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are related to poor pregnancy outcomes, but their effect on embryo implantation is unclear. We aimed to assess the prevalence of different aPL in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

Methods: We searched studies in PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus and Cochrane Library.

Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management of Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity associated with persistent antiphospholipid antibody positivity. Cases fulfilling the Sydney criteria for obstetric morbidity with no previous thrombosis are known as obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS). OAPS is the most identified cause of recurrent pregnancy loss and late-pregnancy morbidity related to placental injury.

Clinical and therapeutic value of the adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: (1) To assess the clinical utility of the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS) to predict new obstetric events during follow-up in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS) patients under standard-of-care treatment (SC) based on the use of low-dose aspirin (LDA) + heparin and (2) to study the risk of a first thrombotic event and to evaluate whether stratification according to this score could help to identify POAPS patients who would benefit from long-term thromboprophylaxis.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study. 169 women with POAPS were evaluated for the presence of a new obstetric event and/or a first thrombotic event during follow-up [time period: 2008-2020, median: 7 years (6-12 years)].

Comparing pregnancy outcomes in patients with criteria and non-criteria autoimmune disease: A systematic review.

Background: Not all patients fulfil criteria for specific autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) and are then defined as having non-criteria (nc)ARD. It is uncertain whether well-recognised associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with criteria ARD also exist in patients with ncARD or undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD). Therefore, we undertook a systematic review of the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in various ncARD and UCTD compared with criteria ARD to identify whether there are increased risks and to examine for any benefits of treatment.

Proteomics and enriched biological processes in Antiphospholipid syndrome: A systematic review.

Identification of differentially expressed proteins in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a developing area of research for unique profiles of this pathology. Advances in technologies of mass spectrometry brings improvements in proteomics and results in assessment of soluble or cellular proteins which could be candidates for clinical biomarkers of primary APS. The use of blood as a source of proteins ease the acquisition of samples for proteomics analyses and later for disease diagnosis.

Chronic Villitis of unknown etiology (VUE): Obstetrical features, outcome and treatment.

Villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) is characterized by lympho-histiocytic infiltrates, which are predominant within the villous stroma. VUE can be of low grade i.e.

Bleeding and antithrombotic therapy during pregnancy in women with poor aPL-related obstetric outcomes: A survey of 1075 cases from EUROAPS registry∗.

Background: The combination of low-dose aspirin (LDA) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) until the end of gestation are the currently the accepted standard of care for the treatment of antiphospholipid-related obstetric disorders. In refractory cases, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can be added to this standard of care.

Objective: To evaluate the haemostatic safety of LDA and LMWH (medium to high prophylactic doses) during pregnancy and the puerperium in women with both full-blown obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS) (Sydney criteria) and noncriteria - incomplete - OAPS.