Effects of Smoking on Outcomes of Thyroid Eye Disease Treated with Teprotumumab: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Smoking has been demonstrated to worsen the disease process and conventional treatment outcomes of thyroid eye disease. However, the effects of smoking on outcomes of thyroid eye disease treated with the novel therapeutic teprotumumab are currently unknown. Our study compares response to teprotumumab treatment between smokers and non-smokers with thyroid eye disease.

Bell's palsy following COVID-19 vaccine administration in HIV+ patient.

Purpose: COVID-19 immunizations are novel and there is widespread public concern for the lack of data on their potential adverse effects. Cases of Bell's palsy following COVID-19 vaccination were reported disproportionately in the vaccine group during phase 3 clinical trials and have now been reported multiple times post-licensure. The U.

Rates of bone reabsorption and union in mandibular reconstruction using the osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap.

Background: Historical concerns over bone resorption and malunion of the osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OCRFFF) limited its widespread adoption for head and neck reconstruction, despite lack of outcomes data evaluating this notion.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed including patients 18 years or older who underwent reconstruction of the mandible using an OCRFFF. Linear modeling and logistic regression were used to evaluate the change in bone volume and union over time.

Ceragenin CSA13 Reduces Clostridium difficile Infection in Mice by Modulating the Intestinal Microbiome and Metabolites.

Background & Aims: Clostridium difficile induces intestinal inflammation by releasing toxins A and B. The antimicrobial compound cationic steroid antimicrobial 13 (CSA13) has been developed for treating gastrointestinal infections. The CSA13-Eudragit formulation can be given orally and releases CSA13 in the terminal ileum and colon.

CSA13 inhibits colitis-associated intestinal fibrosis via a formyl peptide receptor like-1 mediated HMG-CoA reductase pathway.

Many Crohn's disease (CD) patients develop intestinal strictures, which are difficult to prevent and treat. Cationic steroid antimicrobial 13 (CSA13) shares cationic nature and antimicrobial function with antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin. As many functions of cathelicidin are mediated through formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1), we hypothesize that CSA13 mediates anti-fibrogenic effects via FPRL1.

Fidaxomicin and OP-1118 Inhibit Clostridium difficile Toxin A- and B-Mediated Inflammatory Responses via Inhibition of NF-κB Activity.

causes diarrhea and colitis by releasing toxin A and toxin B. In the human colon, both toxins cause intestinal inflammation and stimulate tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression via the activation of NF-κB. It is well established that the macrolide antibiotic fidaxomicin is associated with reduced relapses of infection.

Circulating cathelicidin levels correlate with mucosal disease activity in ulcerative colitis, risk of intestinal stricture in Crohn's disease, and clinical prognosis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Cathelicidin (LL-37) is an antimicrobial peptide known to be associated with various autoimmune diseases. We attempt to determine if cathelicidin can accurately reflect IBD disease activity. We hypothesize that serum cathelicidin correlates with mucosal disease activity, stricture, and clinical prognosis of IBD patients.