Head-to-Head Comparison Between Phosphatidylethanol Versus Indirect Alcohol Biomarkers for Diagnosis of MetALD Versus MASLD: A Prospective Study.

Background: The current subclassification of steatotic liver disease (SLD) relies on validated questionnaires, such as Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Lifetime Drinking History (LDH), which, while useful, are impractical and lack precision for their use in routine clinical practice. Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a quantitative, objective alcohol biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity.

Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of PEth for differentiating metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD) from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in a large, population-based, prospective, multiethnic cohort of individuals with overweight or obesity.

Midline venous catheter: New insights for its use in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

In a prospective study we found that in hospitalized patients with diabetes the use of mid line venous catheter (MVC) resulted in a significantly lower rate of vascular complications than short cannulas. However, a special attention should be paid to catheter obstruction when MCV is used.

A Rare But Fatal Toxicity: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy resulting from decreased activation of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13). TTP can cause organ damage and is often fatal if the appropriate treatment is not started immediately. Although primary immune TTP is the most common form of TTP, secondary immune etiologies, including complications from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have also been reported.

Assessing the Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Men who have Sex with Men in San Francisco during COVID-19: A Socio-ecological Analysis.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections, a disparity that has only worsened in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an overall increasing trend remained.

Methods: We utilized data from the MSM cycle of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) study in San Francisco, California, conducted from June 2021 through December 2021, to identify socio-ecological disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic that were associated with sexually transmitted infections.

The Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Patients Hospitalized with Respiratory Symptoms: A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Brazil.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a known risk factor for adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, affecting both maternal and neonatal health. Mounting evidence suggests that even a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine protects against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is safe for both pregnant persons and neonates. Southern Brazil was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protective effects of the vaccine on maternal and neonatal health are not well described.