Increased Risk of Myositis-Specific and Myositis-Associated Autoantibodies After COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination: A Spanish Multicenter Collaborative Study.

: Emerging evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines may trigger autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are diseases with diverse clinical manifestations, often associated with myositis autoantibodies (MAs). Diagnosing IIM is challenging due to limitations in classification criteria and diagnostic assays.

Nutritional Support Reduces Circulating Cytokines in Patients with Heart Failure.

Increased inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). Increased circulating levels of cytokines have been previously reported and generally associated with worse clinical outcomes. In this context, the modulation of inflammation-related parameters seems to be a reasonable therapeutic option for improving the clinical course of the disease.

Systemic Inflammation in Oncologic Patients Undergoing Systemic Treatment and Receiving Whey Protein-Based Nutritional Support.

There is increasing evidence about the role of inflammation in sarcopenia and tumor progression; thus, its modulation would represent a valuable strategy for improving clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. Several studies have reported that whey protein has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics in humans. We aimed to evaluate the effects of whey protein-based oral nutritional support on circulating cytokines in patients with solid tumors undergoing systemic treatment.

Recommendations for the use of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies in the diagnosis and follow-up of systemic lupus erythematosus - A proposal from an expert panel.

Anti-dsDNA autoantibodies are listed as one of the classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are relatively effective indicators for monitoring disease activity and treatment response. Therefore, clinicians rely on them to diagnose and adjust medication and treatment strategies for SLE patients. However, the use of anti-dsDNA antibodies is not free from controversy.

Longitudinal study of patients with discrepant results in CLIFT and a solid-phase dsDNA antibody assay: does a gold standard dsDNA assay exist?

Objective: Antidouble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies are essential for diagnosis and follow-up of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). To ensure the best diagnostic approach, most healthcare laboratories opt for a combination of highly sensitive methods, such as solid-phase immunoassays, and highly specific methods, such as the indirect immunofluorescence test (CLIFT). Even so, discordant results are common, thus hindering the diagnostic process.

Improved gestational diabetes screening protocol.

Objectives: This work aimed to assess the diagnostic validity of two approaches for the screening of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with less discomfort for pregnant women.

Methods: A prospective diagnostic validation study was conducted with 2007 pregnant women. According to risk factors for GDM, women were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups.

Association of anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-La antibodies with diagnostic, clinical and laboratory features in a referral hospital in Jerez, Spain.

Objective: Several antibodies have proven to be useful in autoimmune diseases, as markers for diagnosis, prognosis or clinical manifestations. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnosis and manifestations associated for antibodies anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-La at a referral hospital in Spain.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the antigenic specificities of the consecutive samples submitted to the Immunology Unit for antinuclear antibody screening between 2002 and 2012.