Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Helicobacter pylori against eight antibiotics: A study from North India.

Background: The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of eight drugs effective against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains and the genetic diversity of H. pylori virulence genes to foresee clinical outcomes in North India.

Artificial Intelligence: An Emerging Intellectual Sword for Battling Carcinomas.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that deals with mathematical algorithms to mimic the abilities and intellectual work performed by the human brain. Nowadays, AI is being effectively utilized in addressing difficult healthcare challenges, including complex biological abnormalities, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical prognosis of various life-threatening diseases, like cancer. Deep neural networking (DNN), a subset of AI, is prominently being applied in clinical research programs on cancer.

Epidemiology and Characteristics of Spondyloarthritis in the Predominantly Afro-Descendant Population of Martinique, a French Caribbean Island.

(1) Background: The prevalence of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) varies significantly in different regions and ethnic groups due several factors such as heterogeneity in study populations, the diversity of classification criteria used in epidemiological studies, the prevalence variability of HLA-B27 or disparity in healthcare access. To our knowledge, there is no data on SpA in Martinique, a French region in the Caribbean with a predominantly Afro-descendant population and a high level of healthcare. (2) Methods: This was a retrospective study of all SpA patients treated at the Fort de France University Hospital between 1 January 1997 and 1 January 2008.

In Depth Analysis of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Patch-Assisted Delivery of Memantine and Donepezil Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and in Vitro/in Vivo Correlations.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of transdermal delivery of two widely prescribed dementia drugs for the Alzheimer's disease. In this regard, the drug in adhesive patches of memantine (ME) co-loaded with donepezil (DO) was prepared using an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer and characterized for drug content, the crystallinity of drugs in the polymer matrix, and in vitro permeation. To understand the different physical and chemical processes underlying the percutaneous absorption, it is required to employ a comprehensive model that accounts for the anatomy and physiology of the skin.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis according to geographic origin and ethnicity: clinical-biological presentation and outcome in a French population.

Objectives: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) mainly affects white Europeans, but rarely GPA may also affect non-Europeans. This study aimed to describe GPA clinical-biological presentation and outcome in black sub-Saharan Africans and Afro-Caribbeans and in North Africans.

Methods: Among 914 GPA patients included in the French Vasculitis Study Group database, geographic origin and ethnicity were known for 760.

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the French West Indies: Results of the EPPPRA study in Martinique.

Objectives: Studies suggest that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less frequent in African populations. However, no recent precise data exists for Afro-Caribbeans. The EPPPRA project is a prospective epidemiological survey to describe prevalence and clinical aspects of RA in the French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana).

Brief Report: Management of Chronic Post-Chikungunya Rheumatic Disease: The Martinican Experience.

Objective: To describe chronic chikungunya manifestations seen during the outbreak in the Caribbean from December 2013 to January 2015.

Methods: Patients were seen at our center, the only rheumatology department in Martinique Island, and were examined by a senior rheumatologist using a standard care report form. Chikungunya was diagnosed collectively based on consensus among all clinicians.

Epidemiology and Characteristics of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in the African-Descent Population of Martinique, French West Indies.

Objective: To provide an epidemiologic description of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), and to describe its relationship with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a population of sub-Saharan origin.

Methods: Patients were retrospectively included on the basis of lymph node histology compatible with KFD reported in Martinique from 1991 until 2013. In order to describe the characteristics of the disease in a larger cohort, we subsequently included more patients of Afro-Caribbean origin from Guadeloupe and French Guiana.

Dengue fever in patients under biologics.

Dengue fever (DF) is an epidemic viral mosquito-borne infection limited to tropical and subtropical countries. Biological therapies have been frequently used for the last 15 years in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. However, no data is available regarding the characteristics of this infection in patients on biological therapy.

Pure cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a population of African descent in French Guiana: a retrospective population-based description.

The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, excluding systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in patients of African descent. Indeed, since the description of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), which had been included in chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE), there has been no description of the disease in black patients. In 2000, we performed a retrospective epidemiological study by querying multiple sources to identify all patients with lupus in French Guiana--a part of France in South America having western living conditions, free healthcare and 157,000 inhabitants, most of whom are of African origin.

Incidence of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus in French Guiana: a retrospective population-based study.

Objective: To retrospectively study the incidence of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) in French Guiana (FG), South America, during the period 1995-1999.

Methods: Private and public physicians specializing in dermatology, rheumatology, and internal medicine were asked during the year 2000 about lupus cases. We reviewed hospitals' files in data-processing departments.

New onset of myasthenia gravis after treatment of systemic sclerosis by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: sustained autoimmunity or inadequate reset of tolerance?

Autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) showed promising results for the treatment of primary severe autoimmune diseases (ADs). In this context, development of secondary AD after HSCT has exceptionally been observed, further questioning the roles of patient propensity for AD and of the HSCT procedure. Herein, we report new onset of myasthenia gravis 3 years after successful HSCT in a patient with severe systemic sclerosis, while in complete remission from her first AD.

Lytic bone lesions in lupus-associated myelofibrosis.

Myelofibrosis is associated with numerous causes other than hematologic malignant neoplasms, including autoimmune diseases. We describe a 44-year-old woman who suffered bone lytic lesions with extramedullary haematopoiesis in the setting of myelofibrosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Is African descent an independent risk factor of peripartum cardiomyopathy?

Risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are controversial. PPCM seems to be more prevalent in women of African descent, the highest observed incidence is in Haiti (1 per 300 live births). Our retrospective study conducted in Martinique showed an incidence of 1 per 5500 live births.

[Diabetic muscular necrosis: three Afrocaribbean cases].

Introduction: Diabetic muscular infarction is an exceptional complication of diabetes mellitus. Patients with macro- and microvascular manifestations are mostly concerned. Muscular pain with swelling of the thigh is the main manifestation, sometimes associated with fever.

Characteristics and outcome of connective tissue diseases in patients with sickle-cell disease: report of 30 cases.

Objectives: To analyze the main characteristics of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and concurrent connective tissue disease (CTD).

Methods: A retrospective investigational study was performed. CTD was diagnosed according to standard international criteria.