Introduction: Many trauma patients die from hemorrhagic shock in the military and civilian settings. Although two-thirds of hemorrhagic shock victims die of reasons other than exsanguination, such as the consequent cytokine storm, anti-inflammatory therapies failed to be utilized. Apoptotic cell-based treatments enhance innate ability to exert systemic immunomodulation as demonstrated in several clinical applications and hence might present a novel approach in hemorrhagic shock treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnticoagulants are a cornerstone of treatment in atrial fibrillation. Nowadays, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are extensively used for this condition in developed countries. However, DOAC treatment may be inappropriate in certain patient populations, such as: patients with chronic kidney disease in whom DOAC concentrations may be dangerously elevated; frail elderly patients with an increased risk of falls; patients with significant drug-drug interactions (DDI) affecting either DOAC concentration or effect; patients at the extremes of body mass in whom an "abnormal" volume of distribution may result in inappropriate drug concentrations; patients with recurrent stroke reflecting an unusually high thromboembolic tendency; and, lastly, patients who experience major hemorrhage on an anticoagulant and in whom continued anticoagulation is deemed necessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoronaviruses are the causative agents of several recent outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic. One therapeutic approach is blocking viral binding to the host receptor. As binding largely depends on electrostatic interactions, we hypothesized possible inhibition of viral infection through application of electric fields, and tested the effectiveness of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), a clinically approved cancer treatment based on delivery of electric fields.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Treatment of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a significant challenge in the face of increased worldwide morbidity and mortality. The acute illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 is initiated by a viral phase, followed by an inflammatory phase. Numerous anti-inflammatory and anti-viral therapies, with a relatively minor clinical effect, have been applied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdropin is a peptide that was suggested to have a role in cirrhosis. The present study aimed to determine the ability to use serum adropin levels to improve their prediction accuracy as an adjunct to the current scores. In a single-center, proof-of-concept study, serum adropin levels were determined in thirty-three cirrhotic patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It is unknown whether convalescent immunoglobulins (cIgGs) are better than convalescent plasma (CP) for patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we assigned high risk COVID-19 patients with ≤10 days of symptoms, to receive cIgGs or CP. The primary endpoint was improvement on day 14 according to the World Health Organization scale.
Background: The drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome represents a severe hypersensitivity reaction. Up-to-date treatment is based on withdrawal of medication, supportive care, and immunosuppression using high-dose corticosteroid (CS) therapy. However, evidence-based data are lacking regarding second-line therapy for steroid-resistant or steroid-dependent patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSepsis is a significant public health challenge. The immune system underlies the pathogenesis of the disease. The liver is both an active player and a target organ in sepsis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMyocardial injury and hemodynamic compromise following toxic mushroom ingestion is rare. Here we present a case of cardiogenic shock after ingestion, presenting with severe hemodynamic collapse necessitating mechanical circulatory support. Prompt identification, multidisciplinary clinical decision making, and timely treatment resulted in an outstanding complete clinical resolution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is an increasing global pandemic affecting more than 30 million individuals worldwide. Importantly, HFrEF is frequently accompanied by the presence of cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities that may greatly influence the management and prognosis of the disease. In this review article, we will focus on three important comorbidities in HFrEF; atrial fibrillation (AF), advanced renal disease, and elderly, which all have a paramount impact on progression of the disease, management strategies, and response to therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
October 2021
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common, incapacitating complication of cirrhosis that affects many patients with cirrhosis. Although several therapies have proven effective in the treatment and prevention of this condition, several patients continue to suffer from covert disease or episodes of relapse. The circadian rhythm has been demonstrated to be pivotal for many body functions, including those of the liver.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report the case of a 56-year-old male patient, who over two decades, sequentially presented with a combination of clinical manifestations. These included thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), right leg deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and eventually constitutional symptoms, arthralgia, diffuse lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, skin rash, pericarditis, and glomerulonephritis. Serologic tests and renal pathology uncovered a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and immunosuppressive therapy was initiated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is comprised of both cellular and humoral arms. While current diagnostic methods are mainly based on polymerase chain reaction, they suffer from insensitivity. Therefore, antibody-based serologic tests are being developed to achieve higher sensitivity and specificity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe diagnosis and treatment of brain abscesses have advanced due to the utilization of modern microbiological and neurosurgical methods. Here we present a 49-year-old female patient presented with headache and neurological symptoms. Initial evaluation revealed multiple ring-enhanced brain lesions and a lung cavitary lesion initially suspected to represent a malignant process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPancreatitis, in both acute and chronic forms, poses a major therapeutic challenge and is associated with great morbidity and several complications. The nature of pancreatic injury in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and the wide range of causative processes that lead to CP have made effective therapy a true unmet need. Multiple physiological, genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors contribute to the development of CP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, and it has created a pressing global need for effective antiviral therapies against it. COVID-19 disease pathogenesis is characterized by an initial virus-mediated phase, followed by inappropriate hyperactivation of the immune system leading to organ damage. Targeting of the SARS-CoV-2 viral receptors is being explored as a therapeutic option for these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF